December 25th 2020 "Merry Christmas!"

Last night had a different feel about everything...will we gather together or not...will we go to church...what if someone gets sick or is sick and they didn't know it? 

We chose to listen to the Angel's words to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

We gathered up our three families to share Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's house for fondue...something very familiar to our Christmas eve celebrations.

We listened/watched a Christmas message and music online...not the norm for Christmas eve.

We sang table grace...not "Johnnie Appleseed"...instead "Be present at our table Lord..." with harmony...(sort of)

There was the traditional kid's table and adult's table...lots of laughs and stories about past Christmas eves.

Everyone moved into the living room and the stockings were opened to pacify the little ones for a few minutes before opening all the other gifts under the tree.

I read the Luke 2 story. Lois wanted to sing some Christmas carols. We reminded everyone that the story of Jesus we just read fills the Christmas Carols we were about to sing...Listen for the Story everyone... 

The requests came pouring in! 

"Away in the Manger"...

"Joy to the World"...

"O little town of Bethlehem"...

"Hark the herald Angels sing"...

Then... "Silent Night" with candles (Lois has a "flare" for what makes a moment precious) 

NOW...Open the presents. Chaos reigns every year at that point. What fun and joy ran rampant through our living room...in was truly a "LIVING ROOM" filled with family and The presence of JESUS last night.

One of our beautiful little girls, Mackenzie told her mom Kelly... that the best part of Christmas Eve was "The Singing". Lois was right on with the singing of carols and candles.

It sure was a different and precious night with our loved ones. The Story Never Gets Old...Jesus has come!

This was one of my most favorite Christmas Eves in the past 73 years...the Glow lingers in the house along with the smell of the cooking oil from the fondue reminding us that Jesus was and is present continuing to pour out His goodness and mercy on us all the days of our lives. 

We just needed to... "look and see..."

Isaiah long ago wrote:

"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.

²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?

 
²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak." (NIV)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EACH ONE OF YOU THIS SEASON

November 17th 2020

 

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, ¹³ forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3.12-17

Future "Top Gun"

 Eat your heart out Tom Cruise! Halloween 2020

 AKA:  Easton

Blessed beyond measure!

Fifty three years ago this beautiful little blond showed up at the Moorhead Pool with Cindy Anderson Kranz. Little did I know that we would celebrate 50 years of marriage on Friday 07.10.2020. We were married at Trinity Lutheran on Friday 07.10.70  It was 95 degrees without air conditioning. With sweat dripping from our noses we repeated our vows as Pastor Paul Hanson lead us. We had to get married on Friday because we had to be back to teach swimming lessons on Monday at Barnesville and Hawley. Short honeymoon to Winnipeg, Bemidji and back. It has been a great journey together and Lois thinks we should shoot for 30 more...Uff da! I would be 103 and not sure I'd know what I had for lunch that day. We are blessed beyond measure. "God's goodness and mercy has followed us all the days of our lives."

May 11, 2020 Reflecting on my North Dakota Roots

When you say North Dakota, you will get a variety of responses from folks.
Love it or leave it seems to be the most frequent.

I love North Dakota. There I said it.

 The "smell of sage and a meadow lark calling" in the distance is mesmerizing to say the least.

The sunset in the west with its brilliant colors can take your breath away.

The cold wind out of the north at twenty plus below allows the snow to make a "squeaking sound" under your boots as you walk. There is no cleaner or fresher air than on a very cold winter day with the bright sun shining in ND.

Getting on your horse as the sun is starting to set in the west allowing you to enjoy the dusk drop around you. It is quiet except for the morning doves who flutter up along the path. Your mount snorts a bit but you keep moving around the farm eventually ending up in the yard. You well up with gratitude for all that God has given you to enjoy in this beautiful land called North Dakota.

You hear the cattle moving about behind the barn early in the morning with an occasional bleat or beller to let you know they are ready to be milked.

The smell of hay in the barn wafts across the yard as you walk toward the barn.

You hear a chicken or two feeding nearby. The dog barks. The cats run about waiting for you to milk.

The caves are getting bigger and soon will be fully grown. Little do they know that the will go to market soon.

The separator is running smoothly in the milk room as you carry in another big milk can. There will be fresh cream and milk in the fridge tonight. Put some cream in your coffee and watch it swirl around a bit. Spread that creamy butter on some toast tonight.

North Dakota shaped my life in ways.

I will be heading to ND this summer.

Need a ND fix!

April 8th, 2020 Gentle Healer

Twelve years ago, on April 16th I was in the doctor’s office. I heard these words, "I think you have a lymphoma." Words that no one really wishes to hear: "Stage 4 Mantle Cell lymphoma, poor survival rate." 

After aggressive treatment including a stem cell transplant, I went in to full remission. The numbers at the time were pointing to survival of about 3-5 years. Needless to say, after almost 12 years I'm still here. The why and how are a mystery. 

All I know is that Jesus the Healer spared my life for such a time as this. I'm a survivor and grateful to all who helped make this possible. I believe that medicine and medical research has been key to my survival. God has given men and women the gift to create and administer many treatments to bring healing to our bodies. Thank you to them for the gift of continued health I enjoy.

There was a song written that keeps bring me home to what I believe to be central to the daily healing I enjoy. No one has tomorrow. So daily I thank and ask for continued healing no matter what tomorrow might bring. I have been and am in the Hands of The Healer. I am not afraid. Fear drains us of the joy we might find in today. 

I read today that we might never shake hands again. How about hugging? Kissing our loved ones? Really? When we meet again I will not be afraid. Hug me, hold me and kiss me if you wish. Human touch is a healing balm we all need. Be gentle and kind. 

Harsh words or messages on TV warn us of impending doom. I have turned off the TV and dug deeper into the Word of God. I have faced death face-to-face in 2008 and will not accept that the Gentle Healer has not or will not come to our towns and villages. He is present and powerful right now. Have faith in His power and presence as we face this season in all our lives. Come to Jesus and have no fear my friends.

Jim Elliot Quote: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Gentle Healer

Selah

The gentle healer came into our town today
He touched blind eyes and the darkness left to stay
But more than the blindness
He took their sins away
The gentle healer came into our town today

The gentle healer came
Into our town today
He spoke one word that was all he had to say
And one who had dies just rose up straight away

The gentle healer came into our town today

Oh he seems like just an ordinary man
With dirty feet and rough but gentle hands
But the words he says are hard to understand
Yet he seems like just an ordinary man

The gentle healer
He left our town today
I just looked around and found he'd gone away
Some folks from town who followed him
They say
The gentle healer is the truth, the life, the way
The gentle healer is the truth, the life, the way

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Card Michael J

Gentle Healer lyrics © Birdwing Music, Mole End Music, Emi Christian Music Publis Obo Birdwing Music (1051), Emi Christian Music Pub Obo Mole End Music

Daily Reading for such a time as this

Assurance of God’s Protection

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
² will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
³ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
⁴ he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand;
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord your refuge,^[a]
    the Most High your habitation,
¹⁰ no evil shall befall you,
    no scourge come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will give his angels charge of you
    to guard you in all your ways.
¹² On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the adder,
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

¹⁴ Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
¹⁵ When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will rescue him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him,
    and show him my salvation.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 91:9 Cn: Heb Because thou, Lord, art my refuge; you have made

Revised Standard Version (RSV) Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.