Preparing

This next week Michael and I will be in Kansas City with most of our team doing an interpersonal communication seminar.

We will be looking at relationship killers, loving listening, drawing people out, helping others solve problems, confronting well, receiving confrontation well, building trust, living in community, managing conflicts well, helping others manage conflict, walking in moral purity, managing stress, maintaining margin, helping others grieve well, & being an encourager. Sounds like good stuff!

Pray for our kids while we are away, they will be staying with our friends Ken and Teresa Sunday thru Wednesday morning and then my parents are coming to Lincoln to stay Wednesday afternoon thru Friday. We are so very thankful that we have wonderful friends and family who have stepped up to help, it makes being away much easier on us!! Pray that everyone stays healthy, they have fun, and things go smoothly!

We are carpooling down to KC with our team mate Nicole, we ask that you pray for safe travels as she drives us all there and back. We know we'll have a really fun road trip together! :)

I should get back to getting things done before we leave, I have laundry, cleaning, grocery planning, lunch planning for the kids, packing, etc.. the stress management session will be a good one for me! :)

Spark!

We had the most wonderful morning yesterday! Chatting with a missionary with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) in Rome, Italy! Can you believe it she's in Rome!!? We were connected through one of my closest friends Nikki, she had talked with Lauren and then connected us together... it's amazing to see the way that God works! We were able to talk with her about the need and impact of missions in Italy and she shared what God is doing through their mission and we tried to drink in all her insight, experiences, and encouragement that she so willing poured out for us! I can't describe the way that Lauren impacted us, it's beyond words... what a joy it was being with her! We know that our paths have crossed for a specific purpose and we stand in awe of how Big our God is!! She was like a spark for us, giving us renewed passion and greater insight! Thank you Lauren!

Join us in praying for CRU and specifically Lauren as she ministers to the college there in Rome, Italy. Also for Family Life Ministry who are doing amazing things in the lives of families in Rome as well.

Ask. Seek. Act.

We’re All in This Together

Our heart and vision is that people in Italy will come to know Jesus, put their lives in His hands and share the good news with other Italians. In about nine months we will be there sharing the Gospel and watching peoples lives changed forever because of the power of the cross. You are on this journey with us, supporting us with your prayers and encouragement, without that it would be impossible to continue the work that God has called us to. What we also need is your financial support in order to do the work that is needed.

We are launching our 50 at $50 campaign. Our sending agency has required us to be at 50% funded by the end of this month (August) and we believe that we will be! Knowing that it is only a week away, we are stepping out in faith believing God will provide! We know that it is not us who will say just the right words, but that the Holy Spirit will do that work in the hearts of our supporters. We are asking that you pray about committing to see the Gospel advanced in Italy and that you seek the Lord about committing $50.00 monthly to that cause this week.

We are asking that you would send in your commitment to:

Avant Ministries

10000 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64155

In memo line of check write nothing, but instead attach a note that states the donation goes to Michael and Renee Johnson (Italy)

Every gift is tax deductible and statements will be sent to you monthly

Giving is simple, the reward is eternal, and God’s Glory is the goal! We know that someday we will be gathered around the throne of God hearing Italians lift up the name of Jesus because of the work that we will do together in Rome.

We are asking that you seek the Lord and then act. Will you?

Hurry up and wait!

The truth of this statement resonates with me very deeply today. I am in this place of hurry up and get certain things done and waiting on the Lord to get other things done. My mind is wrestling with the oxymoron of my lifestyle lately. I feel such urgency and know fully that it's the Holy Spirit working in me to press forward and share the vision and get to Italy! However, there are other areas in our life right now where we are waiting to see what will happen... we've been waiting for what seems like forever and my heart is being pulled and tugged.

God is in control, aren't you glad? I mean my mind can not possibly comprehend how to handle even my own life most days.. can you imagine knowing each person and each circumstance that was, is and yet to be all at the same time? God is good! Thankful for His tender mercies today...

Praying for the boldness of Joshua and the patience of Job....

Prayer...

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Lord Jesus, You are in me, and You are greater than the enemy. You are for me, so who can be against me? I'm convinced that nothing...including the devil and his demons...will ever be able to separate me from Your love! (1 John 4:4; Romans 8:31,38-39)

We all have battles, struggles, hardships, messed up pasts, but hold on.. press forward.. trust in Jesus, He is our deliverer, protector, intercessor, and savior! May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer! Psalm 19:14

Beginnings

Today was the first day of school for our kids. Caleb started his first day of High School. I have a high school age child... that seems so unbelievable! And our little baby girl Faith started her first day of Junior High.. wow..

Although, as a good friend keeps reminding me, each stage of our kids' lives brings so many wonderful things and new joys! It's so true. I am blessed. I have two beautiful children who are growing into young adults who love the Lord and I think they are pretty cool people! I kicked off the new year with my friend Teresa and we prayed over each of our children and lifted up their school day. It was a wonderful way to start the year and it will be something we continue together every week, I am so looking forward to our time together this year. What a blessing it is to have a friend who prays with you! We will be using some of the Mom's in Touch materials, which is such a great organization to plug into. (all you mom's out there who's kids are school age, it's a great way to get to know other mom's!)

I am looking forward to our final school year in the states... so much will change for us next year! Each little thing the kids are doing and experiencing this year will feel bigger I think.. knowing that it won't look like this next year will help us to take in each moment and savour our time at Lincoln Christian. It's such a great school and we are blessed to be a part of it! Here's to a great year!! :)

Caleb 1st day of High School

Faith 1st Day of 7th grade

Wonderful

Wonderful: excellent; great; marvelous:

The past few days have really been wonderful. I've felt incredibly uplifted and grateful for the life God has given to us. The road of missions is full of so many milestone moments and it's stretched us in ways that have brought such depth and further understanding of the grace of God. I am humbled by the people in our life who shower us with encouragement, prayer, financial support and words of wisdom as we walk through this deputation process and beyond!

The past few nights have been chocked-full of wonderful opportunities with new supporters and it's awesome to see God blessing our steps... more and more we are in awe of the vast ways in which He works! I feel so blessed to do the work that is required...what a blessing it is to be called a missionary...

The journey is hard, but the mountaintop moments are inspiring!

Thankful Thursday Summer Edition

Enjoying the simple things of summer today. Reminiscing about all the fun things that have left their fingerprint on our hearts this summer!

Pool days- the joy of apartment living includes a wonderful pool that most mornings is empty and it feels just like a private pool!

Sleeping in- who doesn't love this part of summer vacation?!

Camps- We were able to do Camp Maranatha as a family serving together in different roles and then Faith got to go away by herself for a week back to Maranatha as a camper with all her friends!

Late night with friends- We have enjoyed many wonderful nights & days hanging out with Ken, Teresa, Hannah and Josh Roeloffs' this summer... we've lived up our last summer in Lincoln with them!

Travels- we had road trips to Crete, Bellevue, Omaha, KC (a few times!), Springfield, boys went to CO, overall it's been a full summer of little trips!

Thankful for our summer time fun, all the things done and all the things not done... because it is the little daily joys that make up life... the small moments of laughter with family and time with friends both old and new, our last summer in the States for awhile was really wonderful! How grateful I am that Michael has been able to concentrate on fundraising full time and that we've had time to go through a lot of our things and pair down! It's awesome to think that this time next year we will have been in Italy for 2 months.... wonder what our summer will be like next year?

You got my attention...

Psalm 139 was all over our day.. we heard it mentioned in the sermon, youth Sunday school lesson taught from it, then on the way home on the radio... okay God got it.. reading Psalm 139 today... :)

¹O LORD, you have searched me and known me! ²You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
³You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
⁵You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

⁷ Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
⁹If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,"
¹² even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

¹³For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

¹⁹Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
²⁰They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain!^[b]
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
²²I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

²³Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
²⁴And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Family Time...

Protecting precious family time was our plan of action for the past two days! We spent time together doing normal family things like back to school shopping, watching funny movies, eating dinner together at our dining room table, and enjoying many laughs. I can't tell you enough how much needed these days were in our home!

Today I am reading a good book a friend of ours borrowed us, Emotionally healthy spirituality by Peter Scazzero, which I am flying through! I have another book I am planning on diving into as well called Leading with a Limp by Dan Allender another book suggested by our good friend Ken. So, today as we slowly engaging back into life.. we are being careful to remember boundaries and protecting our family time...

Next Monday and Tuesday our kids have back to school orientation so we are enjoying what will be one of our last weekends before back to school madness begins... enjoying this last deep breath before school activities fill the calendar. Praising God for the reminder to slow down and enjoy... Hope that you have a day where you can stop and enjoy the little things because it is the little things that make up life. Hug you kids, kiss your spouse, and thank God for life!

Rest

Our plan as a family for the next two days is rest! We are in need of some quality family time! When full time ministry is your life, it gets hard to make time for just your own family. That's exactly the prescription we are going to follow....time spent with each other, relaxing, and giving ourselves permission to not answer the phone, email, or any other form of media.. we will be on vacation in our own home! Looking forward to rest, we need it!!

In the stillness

I am at a place right now where I am craving the stillness of God's love. My heart feels more like a place of chaos and confusion.... I am grateful for our prayer team of people who are lifting us up. Please continue to pray for direction as we deal with many questions about how to effectively lead our team. Leadership brings it's own unique struggles and although I am gifted in positivity the reality of struggles is not lost of my heart.

My heart is heavy right now, I am craving God's grace, seeking wise council, and choosing to delight in the rich blessing of faith in Jesus. Pray for my heart. Pray for my husband and children. I am seeking God and spending some wonderful time in reading the Psalms... I love reading about crying out to God.. because that's exactly where I am at right now! Knowing that there is no one else but Jesus who can heal, restore, and bring us through the trials! I am shedding my tears at the feet of Jesus! Grateful that in my pain He is ever faithful!