Battles Fought

I am a person that does not take a lot of glory in material possessions but I am thankful for what I have and I do enjoy having tools that work well for me.  I bought a new mixer in the past week because my 22 year old Kitchen Aid had bit the dust, no more eating metal dust from the beater and bowl banging each other, just kidding!  I also have a new washer and dryer arriving this coming week as my 23 year old Maytag washer died.  A washing machine that in 23 years had NEVER been serviced!  That is pretty good in my book.  I went to Best Buy to buy another set and when  told the salesperson that story he commented that I had better not set my heart on another experience like that!   “What!” I said, “You mean I can pay a small fortune for a new set and not get the same quality?”  He just said that they do not make things the way they used to.  Sad.  I bought Maytags anyway, if you are still reading this blog in 20 years ( I hope that Lord does not tarry that long!) I will let you know that status on them.  By the way, when one has not shopped for washers and dryers in 23 years the prices can be a little shocking!   And they do not make large ones that do not have all the bulls and whistles as in multiple buttons.  I remember helping my sister Angela with her new washer with all the buttons, one that looked like a small rocket with control panel to match!    It was confusing, although with 7 boys she needed something powerful!  Ours will have the same amount or more,  I am holding classes between CHRISTmas and New Years for everyone in the family to learn to use it.  I should teach Rick but I am sure that he will use every excuse in the book to avoid this class!   Maybe when he hears about all the buttons!!!!!!

Battles,  so things break down in the real world as I can attest to in the past few months.  One thing that stands strong is our family.  Material in flesh and blood but oh so filled with the the mystery of the human mind and emotions and feelings and thoughts and dreams… beautiful.  The last two weeks have been a time of praying and interceding on behalf on one of us, not the first time by any means and not the last I am sure.  How wonderful to battle as a family, to gird ourselves up in the Word and pray and intercede.  How beautiful to see the fruit of teaching and training that God’s WORD is enough, is the Sword, is our shelter, is the only TRUTH, that the Holy Spirit does minister to us, that we can TRUST our God and call out to Him.  How beautiful to see the power of GOOD worship music as it feeds the soul and lifts the spirit and brings TRUTH to our mind.  How beautiful to experience as a mom the trust that a child has in me, that I will only tell them the truth, that I will walk with them through this time in their life, that more than a mother I am their older sister in Christ.   I write this with tears in my eyes because this battle fought by my child challenged my faith as well, brought me to my knees in complete abandonment to God knowing that in this war between good and evil I must rely on God and believe Him to be all He says He is.    I can not teach my child what I do not believe whole-heartedly in and KNOW myself.  God showed Himself strong as always, calming, strengthening, giving the Wisdom of the ages to me and giving me sleep when my mind was not at rest.  He is so good, I cannot say it enough.  I have never been afraid to battle for the Lord and this victory just shows me one more time that we serve a Mighty God!

Because God is so cool………   We were supposed to start reading Pilgrim’s Progress in Nov. for school.  It did not happen.  Why?  Because God wanted it for the last two weeks.  That powerful book written ages ago has ministered to us EVERY day.  Every day the next adventure for Christian exactly fits what we have experienced in the previous day, completely!   And if you have read the story you know how the Scriptures just floods your mind as you read every page and encourages.  What a bonus!  Isn’t God the bonus God?   He takes you through life, this incredible adventure with it’s many hard times and non-eventful times, and hair-raising times, and hysterical times and then……….. bonus, you get a bonus round of Spiritual Wisdom, insights, blessings and delights!   Who says this Christian life is boring…. they are missing out on the ride of a lifetime!

Blessed to be in the Army of God, blessed to not be alone in the battle, blessed to know that I do not need to fear, blessed to have a God-fearing family who believe in prayer!

Joyce

There was a beautiful full moon the beginning of November. My sister Laurel commented on it and so I thought that although we are thousands of miles apart, we can still see the same moon. I went outside and called her and called Mom and Angela and we all watched the full moon together. Wisconsin, Tennessee and Florida, sisters and daughters, three generations with eyes seeing the same sight at the same time. I can’t help but think that other than the moon the only thing we will all see at the same time is Christ’s return. How cool is that?

Casting Crowns concert

Below you will see many pictures from a recent Casting Crowns/ Matt Redman concert that came to Green Bay.  I have to tell you about the surprise that God gave me with this concert.

First, I enjoy going to concert that are about worship, sometimes I go to big multi-group events and I am reminded that there is indeed a difference between entertainment and worship.  As for me, I have seven children and a funny husband so I get all the entertainment I need at home!  I want to worship with the body of Christ, a little taste of heaven before we get there!

Here’s the thing;  I ALWAYS get fantastic seats, ALWAYS!   I am spoiled by God over and over again with fine seats every time I attend a concert.  After all these years I am used to sitting right up front where the music is not only heard, but felt, right in the heart region.  I love it.  I know I may be deaf earlier in life but I figure it will be worth it!

When I heard about the CC concert I really wanted to go.  Matt Redman is one of my favorite worship leaders and I have used his music for years in our services at church.  The girls wanted to see him because he has an English accent…..  anyway!   I was so busy and I did not call to get tickets, and the concert was at the end of the fishing season and I did not know if it would be a good time to be gone.   The concert was on a Thursday night.  On the Monday before I felt ok to go and Rick said yes.   Since the concert was being held in a smaller and fancier performing arts hall I knew there were limited seats, I knew what would be available would be in the third balcony.  The tickets were not cheap as it was a fund raising event, cheapest were $30 with anything down on the floor and up front at $100.  So………. I called to order my cheap tickets through Acts 1:8 ministries.  I had to leave the tickets at the will call window to be picked up the night of the concert and they couldn’t tell me where we would be seated.  Oh well, I thought.

That night we arrived and I got our tickets from will call.  I went to one of the ushers and they pointed me NOT to the stairs heading up, but toward the doors for the main floor.  I thought this could not be correct but went and stood in line.  When we were allowed to enter I gave my tickets to an elderly usher who started leading us toward our seats and as he did he commented that we had really great seats.  I honestly thought that he was not reading the tickets correctly and that we were going to be seated in the wrong seats.   To my amazement he walked  down to the second row to the right side of the stage.  Literally 6 feet from the stage.  I could not believe it and we were all amazed.  All I could do was praise the Lord.  It was so fun to thank Him right there and then I promised Him that I would praise Him really well because that was what I was there for!!!  I know He likes it when we praise!

All I can tell you about the concert is that it was one of the top 3 concerts I have ever been to.  The concert was 3.5 hours long of which we stood worshiping for most of the songs.  It was the highest praise and adoration of our God.  CC has songs that are heavy in spiritual warfare and to hear 3 thousand from the Kingdom singing together was powerful to say the least.  The leaders spoke and challenged us and ministered with words.  They have redone some hymns that were stunning.  It was a fantastic night of praise with guitars and drums and violins and cellos and flute and piano………. and voices.

One of the beautiful parts of the night was watching my girls worship.  I know worship is very personal and intimate but part of the mystery of worship is the drawing in that witnessing another worship does.  It was so beautiful to see my girls respond to the Holy Spirit at different songs, sometimes with full voices blending with the rest and sometimes with hands raised, adoring their Heavenly Father.  I am so thankful to have children who love to worship and worship unashamedly.

It was a great night.  God surprised me again, blessed this daughter of His with second row seats so she could worship in her “comfort zone.”  He is so good, He is a detail God who cares about everything including where we sit at concerts.  He is so worthy of our praise and worship.  With all my heart I believe that these worship events going on around the country are because God want to hear us singing to Him as He prepares to return to get us……..  can’t wait.  I am ready.

If you have a chance to see CC with Matt Redman, go, you will not regret it.

Blessed today and singing His praises

Joyce

Matt Redman and Casting Crowns, and incredible night of worship!

I would love to say that he was pointing this at me, but the truth is that we were sitting behind a row of adults with special needs. I have never had the privilege, and I do mean privilege, of watching these precious folks worship their God, our God, together. It moved me to tears many times, and drew me in as well. He was definitely wanting their voices, purest praise from innocent hearts. God be glorified!

The Haven of Rest

I just returned on Tuesday night from a quick surprise trip to see my Dad.  God was good as always, and I booked the trip including a car for half the price of what it had been for the last 6 weeks.  God said to go and then He gave me a deal!   God is a detail God!

I arrived and walked up on the porch and hugged my Dad.  He was surprised and teared up, asking me “what in the world are you doing here?”  Mom was in town shopping and so we sat on the porch with Guy and the kids talking until she came up the drive.   I went into the kitchen and hugged her.  She had known it was me on the porch by my hair.  I thought for sure that she might think it was Angela…….     The sweetest words from her were “How did you know I needed you to come?” and then for two days I heard “I need to pinch you to see if you are real because I can’t believe you are here!”  So much fun.

Dad was in good spirits and we spent the 2.5 days talking, digging in God’s Word singing by the piano and my feeding him Uncle Tom’s peanut brittle.   He was precious, so very precious.   Jeni had called with a question about death and so Dad and I went through the scriptures about death and I taped him explaining the end of life for a Christian.  ( I hope to figure out a way to have that on here soon)    He would give me scriptures from memory, minus the reference and then I was to find where it was in the Bible.  Now I know why I can’t remember references, I got that from my Dad!    The beauty of God’s Word calmed, brought joy, answered questions, blessed, encouraged and brought truth to the present situations of our lives.  Oh how good God is to have left us with His Word.  I cannot thank Him enough for having His Word written down….    We talked about the way Dad will most likely pass as the infection spreads into his body.  Hard words to speak to someone I love and adore so much, EXCEPT, that I could speak with complete assurance to my Dad that heaven is his REWARD!   I could not believe the sense of joy that came over me as I spoke about heaven to my Dad.  He already knew all the verses and everything I was saying, but it is real for him as he lay there listening.  It was a moment of my faith hitting the pavement called death and being able to know that everything I believe is REAL and I have no doubt about what God’s Word says.  My Dad has repented of his sins, lived with Christ as his Lord and Savior and has served God out of love.   God’s Word says that to he who overcomes is given the crown of life, my Dad has overcome and shown faith all of his days so the crown of life is waiting.  That is good news folks!

There is one thing my Dad said that will stick with me forever, he said “I am going to heaven and you make sure that you and yours will meet me on the other side, this circle is to be unbroken.”   In my logical brain I was saying to myself “well, that is the job of the Holy Spirit …..)  but I knew what my Bible believing evangelical father was saying; teach the gospel to my children, for it is the good news unto salvation.  That is what Jesus said we are to be doing here on earth, teaching and sharing with everyone, not just our family.  Spread the gospel, making disciples.   My dad did that well, showing hundreds the path to salvation and walking them into the Kingdom.  His mantle falls on us, on my children, but it is a choice to pick it up.  Dad knows I have chosen that mantle, not to please my parents, although it does, but in obedience to God and His Word.    But all that said, when your Daddy speaks words like that to you it is love that makes one promise with everything in them to do their best to see it happen.

I played piano for my Dad, lots of old hymns.  I asked a couple of times if he wanted to sing.   No, no, was the answer.  Until I played the Haven of Rest.  I was singing the verses and when I got to the chorus my Dad’s voice came through strong singing:

I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest, I’ll sail the wide seas no more

The tempest may sweep o’re the wild stormy deep,  In Jesus I’m safe evermore

What great words being sung by a great man……

Blessed to be his daughter

Joyce

To Everything there is a Season

One of the things I adore about northern Wisconsin is our change of seasons.  I welcome the changes of each season with it’s uniqueness.  My favorite season is upon me…. Fall through Winter.

Fall brings me back to what is dearest to my heart; being with my children more, the hope that the summer work is done, supper tables with candles lit, reading by the fire, digging into God’s Word consistently and canning the produce from our gardens and the gardens of those who love us.   I enjoy Fall sunsets which are more pink and blues than the summery orange and leave the sky in a pale yellow for some time after the sun actually sets.

I admire God’s artist supremacy as I drive down the roads comparing all of His reds and oranges or hunting in our acreage for the deepest colors to wax and keep as treasures, reminding me of this awesome Creator that I love.

I am humbled by the blessing of abundance as I can jars of tomato sauces and tomato soup, chopped tomatoes and juice.  I can beautiful pink plums and rose colored jelly from gifts given to my husband.  Fall brings out love and sharing as he came in the house last night, arms laden with squashes, organic eggs, deep purple plums.  All thank-you gifts for his generous blessings of fish given throughout the year.  It’s the continuous cycle of blessing….  one thing given out of love for another gift of love.   It is community at it’s finest.

There is another season of life going on as well.

It is again the season of loss,  these are the days of loss as I remember the loss of my dear friend Donna five years ago and the loss of my dear friends daughters 3 years ago and a few others as well.

It is also a season for my family where we are reckoning with the loss of our dearest Father as his health is declining rapidly.

I tasted this season last Spring, sitting beside his bed, praying with him and wondering how long.  This season is back and I am torn between tears of sadness for knowing I may not hear his voice for long and a satisfying happiness that my Dad will walk again, hip restored, muscles strong, nerves healed, body redeemed as well as his soul.   Our faith is always lined with that thread that keeps us tied to the eternal, the heavens, that place we do not know yet long for with all of our hearts.   A heart heavy with earthly things and yet hopeful for things I know of only through faith.

God, in His infinite wisdom will control when this season will be over, for He knows and loves best.   In God’s cycle of love He gave His Son which my Father received and in return lived his life to serve God out of his love for God.  Now my Father will receive again when he enters heaven to be with his Heavenly Father to enjoy Him for eternity.   God is so good and I praise His name.

I am blessed to have seasons in my life and I will enjoy them,

Joyce

God is good!

Psalm 25:8 says; Good and upright is the Lord.  So TRUE!

I have lived by a principle for many years of stating what ever good thought come to my mind out loud.  God challenged me to this years ago as the power to bless is within the tongue.   So…… if I think something good about someone, I tell them, even a stranger.  And when I see God’s goodness in my life I will speak out loud “God is good.”    This is a fact, the Bible teaches us this.

After the last week of out life, I am able to say over and over again that GOD is GOOD.

Here is why:

God brought us dear friends and family to celebrate this wedding with us.

God provided the most beautiful weather for us over this week, and sunsets galore.

God provided wisdom for us to work with flowers and decorating the tent which was all done beautifully.

God provided the love for Jeni and jason

God provided our family times together where we could love and support one another

God helped me find things that were missing, keep track of very important things, have enough food in the pantry and fridge and trunks of cars ( very convenient place for storing liters of soda and canned items when you lack storage areas as I do! )

God provided a friend to take care of a need I had

God provided friends and family who helped, filled in the gaps, did what we could not do, stood with us to see this wedding to completetion

God provided patience for me with the bathroom only getting done on Friday, and the ability to NOT see the tools that were left in the living room and outside that bathroom…..    ggrrrrrrr.

I could go on and on.  I will in later posts, but I just have to praise Him right now and say that He is indeed good!

Blessed, so blessed

Joyce

Women gathered at the conference, there were even a few brave men who came.

Beth Moore Conference. Yes, the lady all lit up is Beth Moore at the end of our row! What a blessing to hear her speak to us from God’s Word. I am so thrilled that four of our five daughters could make the conference. The worship was incredible, a little taste of heaven.

This is for you Mom!

My sweet mother has been hinting to me that I have not written a post, I have just been throwing pictures at this blog instead.  She is such a support to me and so today I am responding.

This also gets me out of doing all those reports to my left on the desk and the pile of forms at my back, and the kitchen that looks like a bomb went through it or taking down the  clothes on the line that went through the night out there…..  you see my life

I will do summaries of events.

Nephews:

We had the most wonderful time with our nephews while they visited the first two weeks of July.  They are WONDERFUL guys.  They came on a weekend when all of our children and Jason were home as well, due to the 4th.  This was planned and not supposed to be a problem…… but, as my life tends to roll, the shower that we ordered to go in the bathroom so it would be decent for guests……….. didn’t arrive.  So, 3 days before the boys arrive Rick came home and needed to tell me something.  He walked to the other side of our eight foot table to tell me that the shower did not come on the truck.   This may give you the impression that I am a violent person, on the contrary, I am not.  Rick just thought that if there was a limit that I could be pushed to where I might get angry, well, this might be it.  I did not.  I just started to let my mind think about 11-12 folks all using our master bath for four days…. then I decided I had better not go there either.  So, everyone arrived and we made shower lists where you had to sign up for a time slot and stick with it.  Of course there were a few who did not sign up as in Alex and Rick!!!!  Always a few rounders.  They had to sneak in between gaps.  Sunday morning was a hoot to say the least.  We survived.

I enjoyed the guitar playing and Matteo singing a beautiful song while playing his classical guitar only to find out the song was an Italian love song in which I believe  a Maffia leader had an unfaithful wife and she had to be killed!!!!  The music was SO beautiful and then to find out the story line was such amazed me.  So, don’t be taken in by some handsome Italian singing some beautiful music…  the lyrics might be fatal….  Just Saying!!

We took the boys to the races, to Lifest for their first concerts and mosh-pit experience!  One of my favorite memories was coming home from either of these places.  We were driving north of Sturgeon Bay and the boys were in the back of the suburban and they were raising their hands as if they were on a roller coaster ride.  Alex explained that in Miami it is flat, as in absolutely flat without hardly a small hill or bump in the road.  Here we were driving 60, I mean 55  ;)  miles per hour over our rolling hills and they said it felt like as roller coaster ride.  So cute!

The boys cooked us a wonderful Italian meal for which they will be forever welcomed in our home, as long as they promise to cook like that again!  :)   I enjoyed times of talking and discussing things like politics and books that Matteo read from my library, or music etc..   These are intelligent guys and we enjoyed hearing them share their knowledge with us.  They also have girlfriends so it was fun to see them looking for a spot in our home where theit phones would get a signal so that they could call their girls!  Verizon people, Verizon!

I am missing their voices, Alex constantly tattling on the girls for picking on him… poor baby.  Alex walking, or should I say strutting through the house with only a towel on…and hearing a boy’s perspective on life in the Johnson house.  I miss looking at the boys and seeing their Mom and then missing her, and Floriano too!  I miss their help as they were a great help on one of our huge job sites where they showed some muscle and worked for hours doing landscaping.   I miss their humor and banter between themselves and our girls, it is so good to laugh together.  I thoroughly enjoyed the boys challenging their Uncle Rick to a racing competition on go-carts in which Rick showed them that although he lives with a bunch of females he can dominate testosterone as well!!!  Fun, it was just plain fun.  The girls loved having the guys here and we hope that they can do it again!

Door County:

Living in Door County in the summer as a local is always a trip..  a long one.  For the months of May- Oct. all three of our businesses run at full speed.  It is good as we like to be busy and we want out children to have a good work ethic so these businesses give them the chance to learn it well!

It is not all work, our days are filled with friends visiting from all over.  As each friend makes their yearly visit, we scramble to connect with them for coffee or a cook-out at our house, time snatched away from the normal hours of work to grow these precious relationships with those we love.  It is a joy to be loved by so many  :)  You know who you are !

Fishing continues to be exciting, what a life of faith where God continues to be faithful over and over again.  Our dream of being debt free is getting so close and we can’t wait.  While he was here, Matteo mentioned how diversified Uncle Rick is in his work.  That is something we have prayed for and one of Rick’s qualities that I am so proud of.  My man can do SO many jobs and it has lead to many avenues of work and meeting so many different people who hire us which has brought more opportunity to bless and influence!  God is SO cool.  While the boys were here Rick was dealing with political issues as he is the elected representative for Commercial Fishermen before the local DNR, State DNR and the Governor.  When new legislation is being worked on that may effect fishing, our home and email is inundated with messages and people’s opinions and conference calls of which Rick has to head up and use discernment as he speaks.  It is interesting to hear him in action but I learned years ago that there are some areas of his life I am not to give my opinion on unless asked.  This is one of those areas!

Gardening:

It has been a wonderful summer, but the coolness has had it’s toll on the garden.  Many of my first seeds did not sprout,  What did is doing beautifully and my second plantings are doing very well.  I also have an issue with some insect that eats my plants in June, but later plantings do not get bit at all.  Over all things are looking good thanks to many waterings.  We have started canning so from now until Nov. canning jars, rings and lids will be a permanent sight in our kitchen.  I will be doing raspberry and cherry jelly this afternoon.  Love it!

Wedding:

As you know, we have a wedding in the making and that is going well.  Quite a new experience in EVERY way.  Jeni and Jason are really doing everything themselves as far as decisions.  Then, I find out what we need to work on and go from there.  I have learned lots.  Last weekend Jeni had her first wedding shower given by Jason’s mom at their church in Zion.  The girls and I drove down to be with her and work on wedding things.  We stayed at the home where Jeni works as her family always tells her to invite us down and use the house.  WHAT a treat.  This beautiful home is so peaceful and we enjoyed it so much.  Jason and Melody played the WII together which made her day, he is so loving to all of our girls!  We stayed up late singing around their grand piano in their living room.  The acoustics were perfect for three part harmony!

One of the things we worked on while there was making the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets.  We bought two different types of roses and I wrapped each set ending in colored ribbon.  We then set them in water to watch them unfold.  I am glad we did this little test because we have a really good idea of the time frame for making them and it won’t be last minute as we had thought. This will also save us hundreds of dollars for the wedding.  They turned out beautifully and we got so excited to know that we can pull this off.  We also listened to a song that Jeni had chosen for the wedding and the words are so powerful about the commitment of marriage, it will be beautiful.  The shower was lovely and so much fun.  I had such an emotional moment that morning as I was thinking about one of our six treasures being taken in to another family.  Jason’s family is wonderful and love Jeni so that was not the issue.  In fact, I can’t explain it as my husband can attest .  Our treasure being given.  Rick and I are not materialistic in any way….  well maybe I am about my library….  anyway, our children are our treasure, that’s it, they are what matters most and nothing compares with them. So, there is this deep emotion in the letting go and having her under her husband’s care and authority.  It is a good feeling as Jason is a wonderful, strong, leader who loves God, but it is a force to be reckoned with none the less.  All the letting go through the last 6 years was really practice for this time when the “two become one.”   God is good, His ways are perfect, He can be trusted, He is our final answer and He will be their final answer and, ultimately they are God’s treasure first and last, He has much more at stake in them then we could ever.  It is all good even when it is emotional.

P.S.

Yesterday Rick and I went to Green Bay to pick up some things for that never ending bathroom project.  As we headed out I mentioned that we needed to go and buy a good suit for the wedding.   Rick kicked into high gear about all the reasons that he did not need a suit, would never wear the suit again, blah, blah, blah as only he can reason!!  Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in being a submissive wife, but every wife over the years of marriage learns that moments come where we have to take a “little” stand on things and tho the husband may mutter under his breath, he will be glad things get done or decided.  This was one of those times.  So, after wandering Home Depot making decisions and frying my brain on cabinets and tiles of which Rick and I are complete opposite in taste, we headed to Men’s Wearhouse.

Rick just about broke into a sweat when we walked in.  He hates shopping, hates being measured, you get the picture.  After an hour of trying on black suits, pants, shirts and shoes, we walked out with a beautiful black wool suit and new shoes.  Everything was on sale, and tho it was slightly more than renting the tux, he owns it!!   He will wear it again, and it should  last for years. Might I add that he looked stunning.  He may steal the show at the wedding….  Just Saying!  :)

Dad:

My dear Father is home, being cared for by my Mother.  We talk as often as I get a chance.  His spirit is sweet as ever although his voice is weaker.  He has been fighting an infection for 2 months that gets better for a few days and then reappears.  It is not easy on either of them but we continue to pray for God’s will in all of this.  We are hoping Mom may make the wedding but nothing is for sure in that.  Thank you for all the prayers for them.

So, life is busy, fun, challenging.  It is good and we are blessed.

Joyce

I will now put on my accounting hat and deal with these papers floating around me!

Church Sledding

We are a church that enjoys doing things together.  We also have the blessing of having managers of a Christian camp as family.  They open up the camp to us now and then and boy do we have fun.  After church, a few weeks ago, we headed out to the camp and went sledding and skiing and fire-sitting ( you know, where northerners sit nice and cozy by a roaring fire under the excuse of illness, age, or watching the babies and toddlers of the church).  Jerry, one of our deacons, the man wearing shorts below, manned the hill for over three hours!  We had fun,  Melody, being the brave girl that she is, went cross-country skiing for the first time and did well.  I was proud of her.  

I went for a walk with a friend and took pictures and encouraged racing down the hill.  What a beautiful day God gave us.

Beautiful sisters in Christ hauling wood in bitter cold weather. Because that’s just how we do it around here!

Door County

Door County has it’s issues, many of which are SO sad and inexcusable.

BUT,  THe little community of Gills Rock has some  rules by which we live by that are BEAUTIFUL!

The picture above was from about three weeks ago.

It was a bitter cold day with winds coming off the bay at 35 MPH and no guessing the wind chill.

The ladies came for Bible study and as they were getting ready to leave one of the girls mentioned she needed to get wood off the family property for her wood stove.  Annie, the one in need, has had neck pain for weeks and migraines.  Immediately we all said. “we are going with!”  She tried to stop us to no  avail as we bundled up and followed her to the property located here in Gills Rock on the water.  

We started hauling wood from a shelter, but as you came along the lake side of the house the wind was hurling icy pellets at 35 MPH which stung and went into you mouth and felt like sand.  THe wind would take your breath away as you rounded the corner.  I am  proud to say that these strong Northern women filled the back of Annie’s truck, not stopping till the job was done!   That’s just how we do it here!

Or how about this morning when my husband was out snowplowing and came upon a stranded woman who is part of a Hollywood crew up here filming a movie.  She was buried far from the highway.  He called a friend and they plowed a path for the woman and freed her from the snow drift for no charge.  She was the first of a few he helped after today’s storm.  That’s just how we do it around here.

How about volunteering to watch a young couple’s children so they can attend AA meetings for free, and drive them if needed.

If our daughter’s need help with their cars and dad can’t help they have a neighbor up the road who help them and myself ANYTIME.

Our daughters were home alone for the weekend and some boys started to take a scaring prank too far.  No problem in Gills Rock, they knew who to call to help them, and let’s just say those boy will NEVER go to far again!

A neighbor needs food, we pass the hat

A neighbor needs money,  we pass the hat

A neighbor needs a break, we watch the children

A neighbor is sick and needs food, meals, cleaning, care is all given for days on end.

Someone runs out of money while we are at a youth outing.  Teens pass the hat so nobody is left out.

That’s just how we do it around here

Parents could not afford to send their teens to camp last weekend. we pass the hat and all went paid in full.

Someone falls off the wagon, again.  We go and love and encourage.

A missionary family comes for six months and they are given a home to stay in, full pantry, clothing for all their family members.

That’s just how we do it around here.

We may not always get it right, but we share in the sorrows and the joys.  We pray hard for one another.

We brought home two boys for foster care and we were inundated with clothes for them and toys, everyone rallying around us to help take up the burden we had taken on.  Our burdens are never our own because we are a community.

We had a wedding recently and the family did not have a lot of money.  THe decorations were beautifully done by a lady in our church and afterwards many of us stayed for a couple hours un-decorationg the church because the groom was one of our own and we try to take care of each other even at weddings!

That’s just how we do it around here!

SO, 35 MPH winds and bitter cold didn’t stop a bunch of sisters in the Lord from helping out another sister.

That’s just how we do it around here.

These are the precious girls that I teach in a Bible Study in Wed. nights. We are on the Mississippi River while attending our Fall Youth Conference.

Abiding, and living!

Today I continue to pray for those I love.  It is so comforting to meet with God by my fire, coffee in hand, heart prepared by His Word and spend some time talking and listening to Him.  I am so thankful that abiding in Him can be done because He left the Holy Spirit to be in us, keeping that connection stable and strong. He says in John 15 that IF I abide in Him I will bear much fruit which is what I want to do for His glory. Abiding means a continual sense of His presence in my day, thanks to the Holy Spirit.  I am relying on this today.

I know I did not sleep well last night.  My eyes are so sore and puffy.  My sister and I agreed to pray and trust God when we talked last night before bed.  I believe I did that, but my face does not show that this morning.   God spoke clearly to me by my fire that I am to trust and move on with  my day.

 

So……..  my day.

It is still very dark here, but, I love mornings where I can light a candle for breakfast.  There is something about the smell of a pumpkin-spice candle to make the house seem more homey and warm.  Since I did not get a roaring fire going this morning I am hoping that the candle  smell will make my children “feel” warm despite the 58 degree temp in the house.  Mind over matter right?

We will get school going very soon as  we have a full day.  We have to get wood again from a friends home where they asked us to remove a pile.  It is already split and ready to go.  What a delight!  We also have a dentist apt. for Annie.  She had a fit when I told her last night.  She just went through a root canal for a tooth that was having pain, can anyone say enough about the curse of enamel deficiency on teeth!  The girls did not want to go to our old dentist, a woman, who I thought was wonderful.  Come to find out she had moved to Sturgeon Bay, 40 miles away, which made her less available to use.  I decided to try someone local who I had to see as well as a couple of older daughters.  Well, as of last night Annie does not like him and thinks he is mean.  Can anyone say dental-phobia?  Actually it could be more of a familial issue just coming to light in this teenager!  Most of us have a strong distain for dental offices from the sound and smell of the waiting room to the hard chairs they make us sit on.  If the waiting room is so distasteful you can only imagine our thoughts about the actual work areas…….  you do not want to know.  Hence all the excitement when a few weeks ago the children heard me make an appointment for their Father.  The youngest could not wait to announce to him the audacity of my decision.  After much discussion I called and canceled his appointment……..  

Our dentist is 15 miles away so while we are in town we will need to make other errands as well.  Groceries, Pamida stop and a quick visit with a friend who lives south and I rarely get to see.  Rick really appreciates my limiting trips to town and with all the driving to Green Bay it is essential that I am careful.  On the bright side, I did find gas for $2.49 at a little town on the way to Green Bay.  It is $2.98 locally so the saving made Rick very happy.  Unfortunately it is at a station where I do not feel comfortable letting our daughters go in alone, their coffee is horrible and their restrooms are not clean, ever!  So we pay at the pump and move on quickly!

I need to get supper in the crock pot so that it is ready when we return later this afternoon.

Rick is again on the water and it is blowing.  This is one of the hardest times to be a fisherman’s wife…    He is exhausted and his muscles ache.  I need to have a roaring fire later for him to warm up to, better than last night’s.  What a man!

We also need to pick up supplies to play a prank on one of the teen boys who TP’d our home a month ago. Worse than TPing, they left a Obama sign in our yard and stole our signs……. yikes!    I asked permission from his mother to TP and balloon his car, which is his prize possession.  She said to go ahead and suggested quite a few ideas.  I will stick with fun stuff and will leave a plate of cookies in the car for him as all of this is in fun and love.  The girls who come to my Wed. night Bible study will be my cohorts in this adventure.  Gotta love Gills Rock living.

We will also need to get out our winter clothing today and tomorrow, the chill in the air is permanent!

Graciously abiding in Him today,

Blessed

Joyce

Grapes, how God provides!

The other day Melody and hiked to the area we have picked wild grapes at for many years.  There were very few grapes, in fact the whole wild mass of vines looked terrible.  My heart sank as we have had more difficulty each year finding vines with adequate amounts of fruit.  I see more and more vines along the highway but the organic side of me screams “don’t even be tempted!”  

So while visiting with a friend I mentioned that  I was looking for grapes.  She said that her SIL’s property has an abundance and that I should go pick there.  My friend had been told to pick and she is a gardner but not a canner.  

My favorite work-crew ( my beautiful girls) and I went up to scout out the situation and found the most beautiful grapes I have seen in years.  There were so many!  We picked and picked and came home with at least a bushel.   

There is something spiritual about making grape juice, maybe it is because the fruit of the vine is what Jesus used to represent His blood.  I do not know what it is, but when I squeeze the huge bag of cooked grapes and I watch the dark juice drip out into the pan and turn my hands red I think of the cross every time!  The color and the amount pouring over my hands does a small flip in my stomach.  To think of the the powerful blood of Jesus running down wood and mingling with the dirt and rocks at the foot of the cross moves me.   Jesus told us to be reminded of Him and His death when we drink the cup of communion.  I can see why He said that….

The squeezing and twisting of the bag, the thoughts pondered in my mind last for a few minutes, and then the job is finished, that experience stored away until next year’s grape harvest.

The juice and jelly turned out beautifully.  The juice will be for Christmas breakfast, birthdays and the Seder meal at Easter time.  We are having some juice this morning to celebrate the harvest!

I already have 6 jars of the jelly spoken for as some folks make their wishes known the minute they know I am canning some wild grape jelly.  

I also canned 6 qts. of our spaghetti sauce that Rick likes.  It turned out delicious, we all had to taste it of course and give opinions on what might be needed to be adjusted.  In the end we let it be and decided that the taste was just perfect.  God still does miracles!

So the harvest continues.  Today will be plums, green beans, and more spaghetti sauce.  I am making a turkey for supper so the house should smell wonderfully by the end of the day.

Our hands traced with our favorite verses at the church on the Island.

I Choose Love

One of the most frequent taught lessons ( I wish I could say asked for!) that I speak to the children is that of choosing love.    I have learned many lessons about love and relationships through my many years, and there is a truth in that we sometimes have to choose to love.

I read a quote this morning about how God must of chosen us before birth because after He saw how we acted after birth He may never have chosen us at all….  I know that is not doctrinally sound, but it makes me think, especially in regard to how I love.

Living in a small, end of a peninsula, rarely any newcomers kind of place has challenged everything I thought I understood about loving others, and I have a ways to go by God’s grace. But BECAUSE of where I live I have HAD to learn HOW to love, and it is a constantly practiced unfinished lesson.

God is so good to give us lots of opportunity to practice what He is teaching us, doesn’t He?  He gave me lots of opportunities personal and up close this past year.  But, now that I look back at this year I realize that last winter’s time of teaching was only preparing me for harder times.  Those winter moments of loving in some tough times were practice times for later.  Not that those earlier relationships were less important than the tested relationships to come for indeed they are equally important.

So, when in a small community relationships get harder, things get said, truth gets twisted, lets just say, “it is imperative that love conquers!”  

I am not talking about a Santa Claus model of love, keeping everyone’s self-esteem at an all time high at the cost of truth.   I am talking about the love that becomes heavy in my heart, the love that longs for complete reconciliation even if the others involved don’t want that same end.  This love that I know is only in my heart because God is so big, and so generous, and gives in doses larger than asked for because He knows how well I underestimate my need for this great love when in crisis.  This God-love that makes me weep at the sadness of lives being altered and truth being scorned, of homes hurting and needing healing, of pride that raises it’s fist leaving myself and onlookers puzzled and taken back.  The love that gives me wisdom, keeps me from choosing sides, keeps me from seething in sinful anger as my blood runs cold at the words I hear from broken wounded, confused hearts.

And then love steps in.  After prayer, after seeking God’s Word, when gently speaking truth, when obeying what God tells me to say and do, it then boils down to consistent diligent love.  When things don’t  make sense and I  even feel the fear of man nipping at my heart, I choose love.

Can you relate?  

Oh, how I praise God for teaching me a new depth of love.  I praise Him for leading me to love with words and deeds that I know are not in me humanly speaking.  I praise Him for patient love that stays in action through His power, not giving up or caving in to fear or vain imaginations.

I praise Him MOST for all of these things acted out toward ME when I have been the one needing the loving, when I have sinned.  I know mercy and am grateful for it, from God first and then at the hand of my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Lessons learned cause me to to know and to realize that this body of Christ is SO important to my spiritual growth.  I am thankful for my patient heavenly Father Who uses life to cultivate in me a desire and hope for His way in my life, for Godly choices in the every day happenings of my life in this community He has put me in.

Because He chose me and chose to love me, I have chosen love, and will by God’s power choose to love in day’s to come.

Blessed through it all,

Joyce

Words to think about

This morning I was studying Eph. 4.  It always reveals so much more to me when I dig into the Greek meanings of the Word.  Here are two verses that really made me think;

Eph. 4:22 –   that you put off, concerning your former conduct (some translations say former conversation, which is interesting),  the old man which grows corrupt according to deceitful lusts.

Put off = G = apotothemi = to give up and renounce.  Renounce is a strong word it means more than just a slight pushing away, shrugging off, it means an intense and deliberate choice of the heart reflected and manifested in a change of behavior.  Wow, good stuff.  So if I am a new creature in Christ I will have an evident change in my behavior as I renounce my old man.

Eph. 4:24 –  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Put on = G = endyo = to sink into, envelop in, to hide in.  Wow this is good.  So, I renounce the old man which, let’s face it, is NOT easy, but, we then put on the new man by sinking into it, envelop in, almost the idea of falling back into a big comfy feather bed where the covers just come up around us and envelope us.  Isn’t it just like God to make the new man which He created, something that we can really do with ease IF we let God do the work.  I know it is a perpetual action, regeneration and renewing, but it is also a choice.  Today I choose to sink into the new man, through Christ, it should look as  good as it sounds, it’s God’s design.

Blessed

Joyce

This is what I bring to the beach; my Bible because there is something special about studying God’s Word our in His creation, my recipe schedule and a few cook books, homeschool catalogs and planner, and my music notebook for worship team.

Megan and I, sweet sister in Christ

Worth Waiting for……….

I have been wanting a metal table and chair set for years.  I am one who enjoys eating outdoors and although we have a large plastic table and chair set, with a hole in the middle, I still wanted a smaller set for when it is just a few of us eating.  I shopped all spring and was stunned by the asking price for wicker sets and even some plastic sets.  While shopping at a used store that I frequent when south, I saw just what I wanted, a green metal table and chairs with pretty scroll work and comfy seats.  Price – $85.  That was three weeks ago and I had not been paid for any of my cleaning jobs and…….. I was afraid to be extravagant.  So…….. I applied my Crown Financial wisdom from their latest book and decided to wait and pray.  Last week as I was heading south to Green Bay taking some youth to youth group we drove by the store and the set was still out there!  I really got excited because I felt it was an OK from God to go get the set.  My only issue left was my sweet Ricky who does NOT enjoy eating outside and I knew it would be a tough sell.  I pulled him aside and asked him if I could ask him about something and he gave his standard response, “no.”  I laughed and told him about the set and how I had waited and saw it was still for sale.  He figured that it was probably junk and that was the reason that it had not sold, but he said that I could take his truck to Sturgeon Bay and look at it, but since I was heading south I offered to deliver fish for him.  Annie and I hit the road with 60 pounds of fish balancing between us in the front seat and 100 pound in the bed of the truck.  We actually made each stop and did as we were told as far as the bills and collection plastic tubs…….. it was actually fun!  As we got farther south I was a little concerned that we would drive all the way down the peninsula and it would be gone….. but decided to have faith that this was a gift and answer to prayer.  It was THERE!  Annie and I tested it out and found one chair that needed some welding but not anything necessary for use.  SOLD!  We loaded it up in the truck with excitement.  

We headed over to get groceries as when in Sturgeon Bay I never pass up the chance to save money at the large grocery stores.  I also went and filled Rick’s truck with gas that is 25 cents cheaper than up north.  We headed home with a full truck, talking all the way as I rarely get one on one time with each of my girls.  it was sweet.

Due to rain, it was Sunday before we got to use the set.  We girls ate outside and Rick sat inside!  He wanted to watch NASCAR anyway.  I grilled pork chops with a side of vegetables and a salad.  Dessert was a few strawberries with some vanilla yogurt on top.  It was delightful to enjoy the breeze and talk with our girls.  I have always noticed that they are so more talkative when we eat outside.  Someday I hope to have a deck outside our patio doors, but I know THAT will be worth waiting for as well!

Call me Blessed!

Joyce