February 24, 2010 LAM Foundation

Lindsay Ostrem Roach 1977-2003

Missing her today...Oh what blessings we have!

Praying for all the Lammies out there.

http://www.firstgiving.com/Tedd_LoisOstrem

February 22, 2010

Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything.  With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.  Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand.  And this peace will control the way you think and feel.  Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper.  Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.
~Philippians 4:6-8 (CEV)~

Ever wonder or worry about "tomorrow"?

Most of our worries never become real. I find myself struggling with some piece of life and it keeps me awake at night most frequently. I turn to what I know; meditation on the Name of Jesus. I shut out the noises of the day or the dark of the night with the Name of Jesus. As I pray and focus on Jesus it helps me to be still. Seeing Jesus in my "boat asleep during the raging storm" gives me confidence I too may sleep and not fear or struggle. I see the calming of the storm as Jesus comes to sit with me. He calms whatever fear or anxiety I might have and sleep comes.

What a great way to go to sleep...try it.

February 18, 2010

 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
       my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
       he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
       he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
       pour out your hearts to him,
       for God is our refuge.
       Selah

                          Psalm 62

My blessings!

My beautiful wife and grandson. God is so good.

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.

Proverbs 31:10-12

Happy Valentines!

Hope you had a special Valentines Day. Lois and I were able to spend two great days with my father and mother. We had our grandson, Haakon and his Mom and Dad with us. We took a four generation picture with my father. Dad was very lucid and enjoyed his great grandson, grandson and grand daughter-in-law. They sat by each other as Haakon checked out his great grandfather's shirt and hands. It was the best Valentine celebration in years for our family. I hope this picture speaks for itself.

February 9, 2010

Jesus taught his followers on a hillside to "let their light shine"...

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 ESV

This past week Lois and I were able to pick up Grandson Haakon from pre-school. When he got home he was so glad to see his Daddy. He went over to his pile of books and grabbed his favorite...his Daddy read to him and sang the song in the book..."This Little Light of Mine, I'm Going To Let It Shine". He held his little index finger up as his Daddy sang, "Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine! 

Passing the light on is done everyday in so many ways. Jesus' Light shined all over us in that precious moment with Haakon and Justin. 

May Jesus, The Light of the world, shine on all of us. "Shine Jesus Shine!"

Oh When the Saints came marching in...2010!

What a year for the New Orleans Saints! They were the "Cinderella" team that seemed to be destined to be victorious. A bunch of cast-offs and hard luck stories came together to become the champions. I've not been a great follower of pro football for a number of years but with Favre fever in MN and "The Saints"...Who Dat! it was a year to watch.

Dear Friends and "Saints"...
Sometimes we might feel like a bunch of cast-offs and misfits full of hard luck stories. It is probably true more often than I wish to admit that I tell myself those defeating messages in life. Isn't it interesting that we would tell ourselves things about ourselves that we would never think of telling others to their faces. It is at times like these that I need to remind myself...I'm a saint. By the righteousness of Jesus Christ I have been made a saint. By Christ's Cross I am redeemed and restored daily. Not a misfit or a mistake but a "made new creation" in the image of God in Christ. Imagine your Image in Christ. Oh when the saints come marching in...your in the ranks!

February 3, 2010

Living and growing...
One of the ever present calls on our lives is to grow and live as Jesus would desire for us. It is not an easy journey. The scriptures are full of illustrations and exhortations. Paul's is one of the most compelling.

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:3-11

Humbling oneself or allowing oneself to be humbled is a growing experience. It is counter intuitive. We are taught to strive to be number one by our culture and our nature. This is a season of learning new things about myself. Growing in different ways than anticipated. Praying and listening. Being lead; not leading. Learning to "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus...".