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Here it is the first week of the New Year already! It really doesn't seem possible. The past three weeks at home went by so quickly. It's a montage of anticipation of our family coming home for Christmas with all of these activities and events. Just after returning home from hosting our Branson fun and fellowship tour, I had to get in gear and prepare for Christmas.
Snowflakes softly falling like lace doilies, Christmas carols playing, lights twinkling on the trees, and family coming home all bring back memories of Christmases past. I still remember the first Christmas after I asked Jesus into my heart. I was 8-years old. Christmas changed! Up until then, Christmas was all about Santa Claus (even though I really questioned that story because I couldn't imagine that anyone - most of all a jolly fat Santa - could actually get down our chimney carrying gifts, no less). I was thinking, "Gifts? No. M&M's or raisins? Maybe."
Larry and I just returned Monday evening, December 7th from our Fun and Fellowship tour to Branson, Missouri. We were honored to have 34 guests join us for 6 days and 5 nights of action-packed activities. All the way to Branson, we visited, sang, played games, and ate Christmas goodies that our guests brought. There's nothing like fellowship!
Hello...by the time you receive this Larry and I will be on board a plane leaving sunny Arizona en route to Minneapolis, MN. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind as we are trying to catch up on our "road" year-end work. We drove our motorhome from Nebraska to Glendale/Phoenix, Arizona two weeks ago and parked it at the Harvest Church which is pastored by our friends Ron and Sue Rockwell. We are excited to have a service with them when we return in February. They are building a new sanctuary with retired seniors called the "RV'ers"!
Greetings from sunny Arizona! Doesn't the name "Arizona" just warm you up thinking of it? What a blessing after the weather we've been through in the last few weeks. A week ago we were in the state of Nebraska for services. We had intended to make a quick trip back to Sisseton to the office and to see my Mom. She had her third pacemaker put in a few weeks ago. Nearly seventeen years ago she had the first one put in. She was about 77 years old then…the surgeon told me, "This one will last her…till she leaves this Earth. It'll last a good 8-10 years." I chuckled, pointed my finger at him and said, "You don't know my mother…she's a tough Norwegian!"
WHEW…let me take a big breath…we just arrived back to the state of Nebraska from the state of Maryland. Again we were greeted by colder than usual weather and peppered with snowflakes. I'm still waiting for summer… for some reason I think we skipped a season somewhere. We had a wonderful service in Cumberland, MD at Friendship Haven with Pastor Floyd and Marsha Bender. On Saturday night Larry and I met with a group from his congregation who were interested in Soul Winning. Of course, that's our button.
As directed, I put on my life jacket, delicately stepped into the canoe as he issued a string of commands, "Don't rock it…don't try to get up and walk…don't move…just sit still and you'll be fin! Just trust me!" Yes, those final words were to settle me down and remove all my fears so I could enjoy the trip. Larry carefully observed me sitting like a cement statue per his instructions. He started to shove the canoe from the shore. My heart was beating faster; both excitement and fear had me poised to explode, but then I remembered Larry's words of comfort, "Trust me," which calmed me.
Parents, are you waiting for your prodigal? Keep praying! Keep believing! Keep loving! Keep looking! He/She may be at the end of your lane ready to come home.
Years ago, the Lord began to show me where anger and bitterness had taken a deadly toll on my spiritual life. What I thought was discomfort was really anger. I found out that anger will destroy you from the inside out. Anger and bitterness are companions-you can't be angry without being bitter and you can't be bitter without being angry. Many couples experience anger in their marriage and, if left undelt with, it can "eat away" at them like an acid.
The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation;
the truth you believe determines your character.
Reputation is what you are supposed to be; character is what you are.
Reputation is the photograph; character is the face.
the truth you believe determines your character.
Reputation is what you are supposed to be; character is what you are.
Reputation is the photograph; character is the face.