He gathers the lambs in his arms...

We have posted before about our friend Sandra, who suffered an aneurysm late November last year.  She miraculously pulled through the delicate brain surgeries and has physically recovered remarkably well.  This truly is a miracle from God, as the doctors didn't give her much chance to survive.  What a huge change from seeing her almost lifeless body a few months ago being kept alive by machines.  Now she can freely move about the room.


A couple of weeks ago she was moved to another hospital a little closer to her family.  And although she recognizes people, there is still a lot of confusion in her memory.  She has difficulty communicating and we have a hard time understanding what she means.  At times the frustration is hard for her and will bring tears to her eyes.  And it is hard to see her go through this.


Yesterday morning (Friday) the apartment building where she resided before her hospitalization was destroyed by fire.  Thankfully no one was hurt in the fire, but the residents are left homeless and may have lost everything.  It is still too early to know if anything Sandra and her daughter had in the apartment survived this devastating fire.    Please pray for Sandra's family as they are now trying to cope with this loss.  Sandra herself is unaware of this recent development due to her brain injury.


Doesn't this story almost seem to parallel the story of Job in the Bible?  His health was taken and everything he owned was gone.  We don't understand why some people have to endure many hardships in life.  Yet God has promised to walk with us in the deep dark valleys.  A few weeks ago when we visited Sandra, we shared the story of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  She listened intently as we shared that Jesus even now is carrying her like a shepherd carrying an injured lamb.    


We read in Isaiah 40: 10-12
See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.


O Lord, please carry our dear sister Sandra in this very hard time, when things don't seem to make sense.  We know that You are our Good Shepherd who will never let us go.  And no matter how difficult the journey, you have promised to gently guide us home.

A thankful heart

l to r: Emily, Elijah, Jannie, Alexis, Nat

I realize that I haven't blogged for a little while.  And I think I had a valid reason.  I was visiting our brand new grandchild in Omaha.  


What a delight to be able to fly down there and meet Alexis for the first time and spend time with the family.  The flight had a delay in Calgary due to mechanical problems with the plane.  I came in on the tail end of a winter storm that hit the midwest pretty hard.  It was well after midnight before the plane landed in Omaha.  On the way home the streets were pretty deserted except for the snow removal crews that were trying to clean up the snow before morning rush hour.  I was glad to make it to their house, even though my luggage didn't.  Eventually it did arrive on my second day there.  I had a wonderful time with everyone, getting lots of 'oma' (Dutch for grandma) time in with the grandkids.  Playing games all sorts :) reading stories and getting lots of hugs and smiles sure made my stay there very special.  I am so thankful to God that I was able to do this.


I am also thankful that Howard let me go away for these 8 days.  My trip happened to be during a very busy ministry week for him.  And now he had to manage things on his own, which by the way he did very well, including officiating at a wedding.  Good thing though that he still thinks that I am an important part of our team here, and it is good to be back home again.


The day after I came back from the States, I had my check-up appointment at the cancer clinic in Kelowna.  The oncologist was satisfied with the check-up and blood test.  My next check-up is three months from now.  Thanks to God for His healing hand on my life.  Please pray for relief of some of the side effects, like numbness in fingers and toes and joint aches and pains that I experience every day.  In spite of the chronic aches and pains, God continues to be my source of joy, peace and strength.


"I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and rejoice in you;  I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High." - Psalm 9:1-2

It's a girl...Alexis Joy

This afternoon our daughter Jen gave birth to her fourth child.  This is our tenth grand baby. A precious little girl, weighing 7 lbs 8 oz.  Her name is Alexis Joy Jamal.  Mom and baby are doing both well and the whole family is excited to welcome their baby sister.


I (Jannie) am really looking forward to traveling there next week and spending some time with everyone and meeting the newest addition to the Johnson clan.


We praise God for this wonderful blessing!


For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Psalm 139:13-16

Snow fun...

On Saturday we had our Creator's Talking Circle kids outing.  It was a perfect day for sledding.  It had snowed the day before and the sledding hill just about a kilometer from our house looked good to go.


Howard was busy clearing snow from the roof of the shop in the morning!  He was able to get some done before giving his back a break.  I put on my snow shoes and went to the back of our property to find suitable hot dog roasting sticks.  Our dog Daisy came along and had a great time frolicking in the snow.



We left an hour before the kids were to arrive, to get the site ready and start a nice fire.  Pretty soon cars started arriving and kids piled out.  There were sleds, snowboards, inner tubes and saucers everywhere.  We gathered them around the fire and had a time of prayer for safety for the day.  The kids waisted no time and jumped on the sleds heading down the hill.  Some ended up all the way on the icy lake below.  They went by threes and fours and sometimes even more.  Making a big chain and hanging on for dear life.  There was so much laughter.  In between sledding, kids would find their way to the fire to roast their hot dog or get a hot cocoa and snacks and then it was back to the sledding hill.

  

 We were grateful for safety and for the great weather conditions for this event.  I think everyone slept well that night...we sure were tired!

a hospital visit...

We just returned from a visit to Sandra at the hospital.  We were both amazed at how well she is doing.  As soon as we walked in the door of the hospital room she sat up in bed and had a big smile on her face.  We got a big hug and she held on to our hands.  We were also able to understand her a bit better.  God is so good and has answered so many prayers on her behalf.  She may graduate to the rehabilitation floor pretty soon.  That is an awesome answer to prayer.  


She really was surprised and happy to receive a couple of cards from people she didn't even know.  The days in the hospital are long and difficult as she would love to come home.  Your prayers and cards are lifting her spirit, knowing that people care and pray for her.  If you want to send a card or e-mail, send it to us and we will make sure she gets it.  It will still be a while before she gets released from hospital.  


Pray for her family (daughter, sisters, nieces and nephews) who try to go in to see her on a regular basis.  The winter weather has made it difficult at times to make the trip to the hospital.

"...prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out."  - Ephesians 6:18 (the Message)

Our place of safety....

There are times when we are confronted with such a mix of emotions as we live and share life with each other.  We all experience that from time to time.  This past week has been one of those in our life where we shared tears and laughter, sorrow and joy, sickness and health, worry and relief, adventure and routine.  
Some of our week in review...  

• Sharing lunch with a dear Christian friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  
• Digging into God's Word with our Sunday night care group.  
• Bringing a meal to a home where a dear loved one just died and sit with the family.
• Connecting with family and friends at a funeral.
• Counselling a young couple who are getting married.
• Playing games and having supper with a couple of kids we are mentoring.
• Taking our car in to the mechanic to replace a very worn wheel bearing.
• Meeting with our weekly prayer group.
• Planning our next Creator's Talking Circle kids club with our team members.
• Surprising a young lady at her bridal shower.
• Hearing about a friend's son who had a serious accident and who is in a drug induced coma in hospital.
• Praying for our friend Sandra today, who had another surgery to fix the bone flap that was removed.
• Clearing more snow from the driveway again.
• Cutting wood for the bonfire we hope to build when we go sledding with the kids on Saturday.
• Getting the hot cocoa and hot dogs ready for our fun in the snow.
• Not to mention phone calls, e-mails and paperwork that need attention.

Isn't it a comfort to know that we can trust God with whatever life brings to us?  He is our hope, our rock, our place of security and safety.  Be at peace and rest in God.


   Psalm 62:5-8

 5 I will find my rest in God alone.

      He is the One who gives me hope. 

 ⁶ He alone is my rock. He is the One who saves me. 
      He is like a fort to me. I will always be secure. 
 ⁷ I depend on God to save me and to honor me. 
      He is my mighty rock. He is my place of safety. 
 ⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people. 
      Tell him all of your troubles. 
      God is our place of safety.  

Lessons from our dog...

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

Daisy the dog is ahead of Howard just before she gets stuck in a deep snow drift!

Yesterday Howard and I put on our snowshoes and went for a walk in our back yard.  We have about 2.5 acres in the back of our house.  Our dog Daisy was eager to accompany us.  At first we followed a nice clear cut path that Howard had cleared with the snowblower.  But then we blazed our own trail through the wooded area.  Daisy was enjoying herself and decided to jump ahead of us and  explore on her own.  She soon discovered that her short body would not be able to move ahead since she was buried in deep snow drifts.  She would try to hop like a rabbit out of that hole, only to find another one.  Not long after that, she decided that maybe she should just follow the path that Howard and I were making with our snowshoes.  She learned to walk in step with us and found out how much easier and better it was.

That made me think about our relationship with God.  So often we are like our little dog Daisy when it comes to following God.  We think we know what trail we want to take.  We may run ahead or take a side trail that looks good, only to find out that it can lead us into dangerous places and away from God.  God tells us in Joshua to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.  We need to keep in step with God, not run ahead or follow our own paths.

O God you are my God and I will always praise you. 

I will seek you in the morning and I will learn to walk in your ways.

And step by step You lead me, and I will follow you all of my days.