Pray to the Lord of the harvest

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6,7

The warmer weather has been inviting to get busy in the garden.  I love seeing the plants grow and bloom.  Right now the wildflowers are blooming.  The air is filled with such a wonderful sweet scent from the crab apple tree to the sweet aroma of the flowering Solomon Seal plants that cover the forest floor around here. 

Two years ago when we bought this place I was excited to plant a vegetable garden.  There is a large garden plot in back of our lot, but it hadn’t been cultivated in the past few years.  Weeds had taken over the garden.  Finally this spring I decided that it was time to clear just a small area.  It took several days of tilling and hoeing just to get the soil ready.  Our backs and legs ached after pulling out roots and rocks that were deeply embedded in the soil.  So much work just to get it ready for the seeds.  

I was reminded of the Scripture in Corinthians as I placed the seeds in the warm soil.  I found myself praying for the people around here.  “Lord as the seed of your Word is placed in the hearts of our friends and neighbours, may it take root in the soil of their heart and grow and flourish to bring forth fruit.” 

Ministry work is very much like gardening.  We spend much time preparing the soil for planting and watering.  It takes a lot of effort to pull out the rocks and gnarly roots of distrust, misconceptions and hurts of the people we work with.  As we come alongside people, we share God’s hope and love and healing.  Over time the soil of hearts is softening to receive the seed of God’s Word.  We look forward to the Word of God growing mature and fruit bearing believers.  So we press on and continue to cultivate, plant and water and pray to the Lord of the harvest to bring forth fruit for His glory.

the birds of the air...

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? " Matthew 6:26

In the last couple of days we have been noticing some activity just outside our living room window.  Two robins have been busy flying back and forth with little twigs and leaves in their beaks.  Sure enough they found a perfect spot perched on top of our light fixture to build their nest.  It certainly has been a team effort as they both have been busy bringing the building materials together to make their little home for their offspring.   It has been fun to watch them.  And it reminded  me of the above passage in Matthew 6.  Sometimes circumstances  in our lives can give way to worry and anxiety, yet we need to remember these words of Jesus.  As the Father cares for and feeds the birds of the air, we who are more valuable than they can trust Him to care for us whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Thank you God for using the robins to remind us of your care and love for us.  

Creator's Talking Circle - Easter 2011 (short)

the silver lining...

People sometimes say that every cloud has a silver lining to comfort somebody who's having problems. They mean that it is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem.

The cloud is the painful time of losing a loved one. Knowing that we won't be able to call them, or send them an e-mail telling them about our day. Realizing that the part they played in our life here on earth has ended. We all will face the death of a loved one at some point in our lives. It is something that we don’t like to talk about or even try to imagine. Death is a reality we cannot escape. But God tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 that "we do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope". Christ won the victory over death. Those who believe in him will have the hope of eternal life. That’s the silver lining to the dark cloud. Death is not the end, in reality it is a new birth into eternity with Christ and God the Father.

Kim - Howard - Amanda

This Tuesday is the memorial service for Howard’s dad Carl. Because he put his faith in Christ, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is even now celebrating eternal life with his Lord and Saviour. He is free from the pain and suffering that is part of this sinful world. That is the silver lining and something to celebrate.
Howard flew to Wisconsin to be with the family to celebrate the life of his dad. Another silver lining is spending time with the kids and grandkids. He met our granddaughter Grace for the very first time in person. I just wanted to share a couple of the pictures that Kim took of opa and his girls and the grandkids.

Lauren - Delilah - Grace - opa Howard - Topher

obituary...

Carl L. Johnson 
(April 15, 1923 - April 25, 2011)

Carl L. Johnson, age 88, a long time resident of Downers Grove, IL for 45 years, died Monday, April 25, 2011, at Elmbrook Memorial Hospital in Brookfield, WI. He was born April 15, 1923 in Exeland, WI.Carl was a member of Wheaton Bible Church for about 46 years. He worked over 35 years at Western Electric in Cicero, IL. The last ten months he lived in New Berlin, WI with his son Bernard. He had the ability to fix just about anything and showed others how to do so as well. He anchored his life in Christ and devoted himself to the diligent study of God's word. His unwavering example gave guidance to his family and a strong bond to his friends. He truly was a part the “Greatest Generation” and will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his three children, David (Barb) of Littleton, CO, Howard (Jannie) of Tappen, British Columbia, and Bernard (Sharon) of New Berlin, WI; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 3, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of a memorial service to be held at 12:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL.
Private interment will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Bible Related Ministries, PO Box 272, Hinsdale IL 60522.

Carl Johnson…April 15, 1923 – April 25, 2011

The years I have known you have been thirty five

That’s when I became your son’s wife

Your place in Downers Grove I remember so well

I loved to visit there and stay a spell

Walking on the grass in the large back yard

Which you and mom worked on so hard

The flowers and vegetables flourished and grew

Lots of produce for casseroles and stew

The harvest was abundant and good

And shared with family and friends for food

I remember how you would spend your days

Fixing things around the house in your own quiet ways

You never made a big fuss about it

But just took action rather than sit

I remember seeing you fixing cars

By the garage filled with nuts and bolts in a hundred jars

I was always amazed at your ability to find

That special tool or item that was one of a kind

Nothing was thrown away

“I might need it” you would say

You watched the daily weather reports and news

Always informed of the current temperatures and views

And if I were to take a hard look

I could still find them written in your notebook.

Your faithful reading of God’s Word each day

Is a picture in my mind that will forever stay

Sitting by the window in that big brown chair

You would pray and cast on Him your care

God has been faithful to you over these years

Given you times of joy, but also times of tears

Saying goodbye to your wife,

Who was the love of your life

Was a hard thing for you to do

But God was still holding on to you.

Your time here on earth has come to an end

We will miss you and ask God our hearts to mend

From the time of your birth

Your years numbered eighty eight on earth

And now you have been ushered into heaven above

Experiencing God’s very presence and love

And eternally present in His Kingdom

Reunited with other loved ones and mom.

Poem by: Jannie Johnson (April 25, 2011)

God gives and takes away...

Mya Jannie Johnson - born April 15, 2011

In the last 10 days we have been blessed with new life.  The birth of a new granddaughter, Mya Jannie Johnson.  Mya is the third child of our youngest son Tim and his wife Charity.  We have been able to see her almost right away since they live close by us.  Mya weighed 7 lbs 11oz and is a healthy girl.  Mom Charity is doing well too.  Big sister Katie and big brother Jesse are pretty excited to have a new baby in the house.  We have been richly blessed by another grandbaby.  This is our eleventh grandchild!  God is the giver of good things...blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Carl Johnson, April 15, 1923 - April 25, 2011

Mya was born on the same day as her great grandpa, Carl Johnson.  When Mya came into this world, Carl was celebrating already 88 years on this earth!  And this morning we learned that Howard's dad Carl passed away peacefully after suffering from a brain aneurysm last night.  Ten days after his birthday, and after the birth of our new grandbaby Mya.  We are comforted to know that Carl is in the presence of the risen Saviour and reunited with his wife Beverly and other loved ones who have gone on before him.  Even though Carl is taken away from us here on earth, he is enjoying eternity, where there is no sickness and death.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!