Christmas Morning 2013...A Parish Nurse Report!

Merry Christmas Morning!
I received this yesterday but didn't read till this morning. I can't share the whole letter but it was an update from a friend of mine from from his recent trip. I thought you would rejoice in the news he shared.

"I also had opportunity to reconnect with a Pakistani
young man developing a parish nurse ministry in
Pakistan. He has already trained some 50
nurses and hopes to train another 100 soon.
Already these nurses are touching the lives of
believers and non-believers with the love of
Jesus. This family is full of enthusiasm for the
Lord and wanting to share Christ through this
ministry. Pray for them and the Christian nurses
already trained in this work."

A parish nurse ministry in Pakistan!!! We have told the PN's many times we will change the world one PN at a time and Spirit of Jesus is doing just that in Pakistan. It warmed my heart and soul this cold Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas!
Pastor Tedd

Christmas Eve 2013

 “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; ¹¹ for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”   Matthew 4

Still hanging Christmas Lights outside and around the house (uff da!). We are a bit behind the decorating curve this year. The lights transform the cold snow outside and warm the interior of our home. They illuminate the decorations set in all their special Christmas places reminding us that the Light of World, Jesus desires to push back the darkness with His Holy Presence. Jesus the Light is our Christmas present. Be blessed by the Light that shines into our world born that wonderful night in the manger of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Our Christmas Blessings of 2013

The Light of Jesus has shown brightly on our family this year

v  Whitney and Colin are expecting!

v  Big brother Easton is two and half. He loves trucks and truck noises. All boy!

v  Justin and Amy celebrated their 8^th Wedding anniversary.

v  Haakon is a kindergartner and growing up to fast. Hockey is his passion.

v  Jaelyn is two and half too. She sparkles with that little girl spirit. Loves her “babies”!

v  Jaelyn and Easton are in the same daycare. They are a special twosome. She makes Easton play dolls and he makes her play trucks.

v  Brian and Kelly are both working on the west side of town. Still living close to us and car pool each day together.

v  Mother Olga celebrated her 95^th this year. Lives alone, balances her own checkbook and is still “fiercely independent”!

v  This summer we had a family reunion/95^th birthday celebration for Aunt Edna and Olga. The past met the present in a moment we will never forget.

v  We had a wonderful get together of Lindsay’s friends and family to remember her 10 years since her joining the “land of the Living”.

v  In September Tedd had his 5 yr. lymphoma follow up at Mayo and went from a smoldering lymphoma to no evidence of any active disease.

v  Lois is a wonder grandmother and wife who is always thinking of ways to help and bless her family. She is a gift to us all.

v  Our Lucy is 12 yrs. old and still loves to play ball and sleep with us in bed “when allowed”! Lucy keeps us smiling with her playful spirit even at 12!

Merry Christmas and all our love!

Lois and Tedd

December 9th 2013 "Once upon a Christmas"

Once upon a Christmas was the name of the concert we enjoyed last night. The Story of God's love for us in Jesus was played out in music and drama. Once upon a time we were all in darkness and now the Light of Christ has come into our world to push back the darkness in our lives. Music stirs our memories to draw into our dark places the Light of the World. Once upon a Christmas opened the shades we pull to keep the Light out. Our only response to the great story is gratitude. Undeserving souls like us have been showered with the love and mercy of God in Jesus the Christ. The culmination of the message was Jesus saved us. Why? God's unending love is for us. Hard to believe and accept but true.

Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God has come to show us that God's heart is full of love and mercy for His creation. Once upon a Christmas God declared how much God wants us to come to Him this Christmas. Come Lord Jesus this Christmas and draw us out of the darkness of our world into the Light of Life in Christ.

A picture of God's heart for us.