Life's Journey

New Year…..Choose

Cheryl Johnson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:50:38 +0000

I really want to do better with my blog this year…. it is not a new year’s resolution, as I never keep those! I have started working-out at the gym. I have always said in my life that I hate gyms and will never go to one, well now I am the only one with a gym membership in the family!!! The end of last year was great and a little hard. For one thing Sarah ended up in the ER with some health stuff but is doing well again. We were able to go to Wichita, KS for our annual Thanksgiving trip which was a lot of fun. December was a milestone birthday for me and I was so blessed to have my sister Ann and her husband Rob come and celebrate with us all in December. It was also Rob’s birthday and Christmas, this led to lots of parties, dinners and entertainment. Every year I pray about a word for the year that I believe the Lords wants me to focus on. This year my word is “Choose”. I know that it will be a season of choice for me and that I will have to choose which is what is for me. The scripture that the Lord placed on my heart was, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,…” Joshua 24:15 I want to choose life instead of death, compliments instead of criticism, joy instead of sadness, love instead of hate, health instead of sickness and the list goes on.

Photos from December 2011

Out with the old in with the new.

Do you make new years resolutions?

Not what, but who….

Cheryl Johnson — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:18:41 +0000

“It’s not what you know, but who you know!” When Mary came to the tomb, she knew the tomb was empty. Then when Jesus showed up. He did not ask “what” she was looking for but “who” she was looking for. Then it mattered who she knew, not what she knew. It changed everything. Something that has been going on in my spirit is just that. We are all full of gifting, talents and abilities, we all know that but until Holy Spirit descends upon us and invades those areas ~ it is not what you know but WHO you know that makes it all count ~ Jesus.

Making Memories

Cheryl Johnson — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 03:22:58 +0000

As mentioned before, we like to celebrate big! Last week we had the privilege of attending a Taylor Swift concert here in Austin. It was part of Sarah’s birthday celebration, and what a fun time we had with her and friends! Taylor was a wonderful and gifted entertainer. I was pleasantly surprised at the wholeness and innocence of the whole performance. Maybe I just don’t get out much but I was very impressed with the whole evening, well worth every penny spend! On that note, the next birthday coming up is mine, so get ready!!! I know that I am going to have visitors from Africa so that is really BIG!

Fun times with Taylor!

Sarah’s 20th birthday Pictures

Busy October….

Cheryl Johnson — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:45:32 +0000

This has been an exciting month with lots of travel and exciting things happening. One of the highlights was going to the “Voice of Healing” conference in Dallas with some friends. We were blessed to hear some great speakers, Bill Johnson, Dr. Luepnitz and Sandra Kennedy being just some of them. I really enjoyed the teaching that was given at one of the sessions regarding Jesus when the dove came upon Him and anointed him with His presence. I have thought about that just about everyday. I also had the awesome privilege of visiting with my friend Pat, who lives in Dallas now. Unfortunately, it all ended rather unpleasantly, right before the last session, when I tripped on an uneven cement sidewalk and fell flat on my face! I ended up splitting the bridge of my nose open and breaking the nose! With that, we decided to leave immediately and drive back home. That evening, after my face being numb all around my nose, I pushed on it and popped the nose back into place I heard football players and boxers do this all the time….. My face was no longer numb and I had no black eyes. I did have a rather swollen face and looked like an Avatar character. You do not want to see a picture! All is now well and back to normal with just a slight scar on the bridge of my nose ~ makeup is great! A week later 4 of us, including my hubby, went to Redding California for a 3 day conference called “Open Heavens.” It was with Bill Johnson, John & Carol Arnott and a great experience. The teachings were excellent and so was the ‘fire tunnel’. Redding was also beautiful with lovely weather. We visited Mt.Shasta and enjoyed the city.

This month we also were blessed to celebrate two of our children’s birthdays. Daniel on the 7th and Sarah on the 22nd October. Birthdays are always a big deal in our home and we celebrate hard. I am thankful for each day and year that we can all be together and enjoy life and God. Sarah turned 20 this birthday so it was a big one for her, no longer been a teenager! University is going well too and she is in her 2nd year working towards her BSN in nursing. Daniel was hired at Apple full time and is very excited about that. He works in the fraud department and receives full benefits. Yeah God!

Birthday Party Time Photos

Great news too, I found out that my sister, Ann and her husband Rob, will be arriving in December to be here for my birthday and Christmas!! I am so excited and ready for some celebrating. It will also be Robs birthday while they are here. Last but not least, we had an addition to the family, Siri. I love her…..

"Siri Johnson 4S"

Steve Jobs will be remembered

Cheryl Johnson — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 01:57:20 +0000

His story

It was a sad night when I heard that Steve Jobs had passed away. He has helped bring a lot of happiness into my life with all the amazing gadgets that I get to play with.

One of my biggest questions and concerns is something that not many people have brought up or discussed. Where did he stand spiritually? I found a really good article on that so I wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think of it.

Steve Jobs Article ~ praying for his wife and children

Catch-Up Time

Cheryl Johnson — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 23:39:58 +0000

Well we did return from Alabama, that being in my last post but been so hectic since then. Not having posted for sometime. I will really try to write more often. So, where to begin…. In June I lead a mission team to Maun, Botswana, Love Botswana Ministries, for two weeks with 12 other people. It was an amazing time where we saw lots of teamwork and ministry take place. One of the biggest blessings was that Sarah was able to go too, which is a great testimony to her healing. At the same time Michael was leading a leadership conference in Francistown, Botswana with 3 other pastors.

Click here to view album

We then met up in South Africa and visited with my family for two weeks. Michael returned home a week before us as he did not want to miss to many weeks at the church.

Click here to enjoy album

In July we send off our Kids to Kids camp with Kristen where they had a blast as usual. I then went to Port O Conner with a group of ladies for a get-away, which was a blessing. VBS then came along and was a great success too. August was a time for preparing for Sarah to move back onto campus at Concordia, which she was excited about. September zoomed by with a trip to CFNI in Dallas to attend the Voice of Healing conference. It was awesome to be back in that great atmosphere and we heard and received some great teachings. October has now arrived and we have kicked it off with celebrating Daniels birthday. He has been blessed with a new job and hired by Apple in a full-time position!!! So there was a lot to celebrate. We mourn the lost of Steve Job and pray for his family as he ended his life fighting cancer. Apple and Pixar have lost a great man and hope the best for them in the future. So now what?

Well…stay tuned and I promise to do better with posting.

Weekend~Celebration!

Cheryl Johnson — Tue, 10 May 2011 02:31:37 +0000

What an amazing week-end, full of celebration and surprises! May 8th was a big day, This being mothers day and our 30th Wedding Anniversary! On Saturday the three children organized a surprise anniversary party for us at Pappasito’s in Austin. It was fantastic and such a big surprise with about 50 or so people waiting for us. They had a cake made too with our original topper, colors and design! Thanks you so much Kristen, Sarah, Daniel and Jeremy for making this a great 30th! My husband gave me a pearl necklace and earrings seeing that this is the year of the pearl for our anniversary. I gave him a new tungsten wedding band Sunday was awesome too, I had all three, well four counting my son-in-law Jeremy, kiddo’s at the house and we had a great barbecue together with lamb chops and chocolate covered strawberries! Pressies were all in order and we had a great time of celebrating together. Church at TOLC was also a blessing with a great message from my hubby. What a great week-end and then to top it off, Michael organized a few days down the coast. Alabama here we come ~ beach time!!

Cutting our cake~wedding topper is the one from my original cake!

Cake was delicious.

Flowers from my kiddo's for mother's day.

I love these kids!

Michael celebrating his birthday on April 16th!

This was a great day….

Cheryl Johnson — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 02:56:41 +0000

The day started off a little rough with me over sleeping but made it out the door in 35 minutes!! Church was great and everyone did a great job at ministering the wonderful gospel of our resurrected Christ! Resurrection Day Pictures! Daniel joined us at TOLC so that was a blessing to have all my kids under the same roof. After church we came home and had lasagna together and then my awesome son-in-law put the grill together that my hubby received for his birthday from the family. Well done and a big thank you Jeremy! Sarah made dessert, red velvet, bird nest cup cakes ~ they are delicious! We then took all three mutts to run at the park and they loved every minute. Lacy then went home with Noel for a sleep-over ~ LOL! A great day was had by all!

"The Power of the Cross."

Red Velvet Bird Nest Cupcakes made by Sarah ~ Yummy!

The road to Calvary….

Cheryl Johnson — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:14:39 +0000

Excellent blog written by a friend.

This past weekend, we celebrated Palm Sunday, the feast that commemorates Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As Jesus entered the city the crowds began to proclaim ‘Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna means God saves, reassuring us that no matter what we are going through God will help us, save us, and take care of us!
Monday – was the cleansing of the temple reminding us to cry out -’clean up our hearts O God so there is never anything between us.’
Tuesday – the religious leaders got together and questioned Jesus asking what was the greatest commandment in the law – Jesus basically summed up Christianity by saying, ‘love God with everything within you and love Others!’
Wednesday – the disciples and Jesus were hanging out when Mary came in and broke an expensive jar of perfume on Jesus’ head, preparing him for his burial. This inspires us to remain devoted to our Savior giving Him our best, no matter the cost!
Thursday – was the last supper, when Jesus served his disciples by washing their feet and giving us an example of how we are to love and serve one another. The Passover feast reminds us of God’s steadfast faithfulness.
Friday – He was crucified and died an unimaginable death to take away the sins of the world! There’s a scripture I meditate on every single day, Isaiah 53:4-6 – “Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” This scripture is so powerful! It’s what we celebrate at Easter – that Jesus came and really did all this for us; However, we often don’t act like it! We continue to carry it all ourselves when He really came to carry away ALL our sin, pain, sorrow, sickness, guilt & shame… So, I take this scripture and put those things back on Him, one at a time, because the weight of them is just too heavy for me! If we would just believe Him and apply these truths to our lives, we would live and walk in such freedom and victory! Maybe you need to lay something back on Jesus this week. Take the time to lay down the things that are not yours to carry and allow the beauty of the cross to saturate your heart and soul. Leave your burdens, sin, pain and brokenness at the cross.
Sunday – We celebrate the resurrection of our amazing Savior! Luke 24: 1–6 – “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He is risen!” JESUS IS ALIVE! In fact, on the door of the tomb in Jerusalem – where they believe Jesus’ body was laid it says “He is not here – He is risen.” Because Jesus is alive, we can live overcoming, victorious, resurrection power filled lives.
Philippians 3 – Paul said, “I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection.” I don’t know about you, but I want to know Him with all my heart, and receive all His love and provision that I can. We need God’s power, the Holy Spirit, that same power that raised Jesus from the dead: to live inside us, to energize us, to help us, to comfort us, to heal us, to lead and guide us, to fill us, to strengthen and empower us!!! Because Jesus is Alive, we can truly live a grace filled life of freedom and hope both now & for eternity! Join me as we celebrate the life, burial and resurrection of our Lord this Easter season.

Love seeing God …

Cheryl Johnson — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:02:30 +0000

I wanted to post this amazing web sight as it is resurrection week-end and what a great way celebrate His life and healing power!

The Lenhart Family.