My stay has been wonderful, spending time with family and friends. I have met new friends who have blessed me spiritually. I am being rejuvenated and believe I can return to work with new hope and vision. The ministry has to provide several new legal documents for the changing Ukrainian law. I am hoping this will be easy; it is a matter of signatures with notarization.
There was a concert in Zimmerman last weekend with Ryan Daniel and Sheila Raye Charles, who is Ray Charles daughter. If you ever have a chance to hear either of their testimonies and music, I know you will enjoy it. Ryan is called to minister to the younger generation he has a humble spirit. Sheila has a tremendous testimony and can sing as well, if not better than her father!
I spent Christmas at my youngest daughter’s and everyone joined us for dinner. It was great to have everyone together. Mama cooked and the food was out of this world! We had the traditional lutefisk and Swedish meatballs for Christmas Eve and ham for Christmas Day and of course all the fattening but great Christmas cookies! Now I have to go home and workout to eliminate all the yummy food I ate. Has anyone else overeaten this season?
It snowed in Minnesota Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I enjoyed getting out and shoveling. The snow was wet and heavy, great for a snowball fight and snowmen. However, I could not interest anyone in playing outside with me.
Sunday, I attended a home church and had a wonderful time. They asked me to pick a topic for the group. Since it is Christmas, I selected the topic of ‘gift’. The definition of gift is: property voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation! This is a great topic at Christmas; when we celebrate Christ’s birthday. Although we know this was not the time of year He was born, but we honor His birth. We know Jesus is God’s gift to us. He has been given to us without expecting anything in return. However to make that gift active or useable, we have to receive the gift.
For example; if a friend gives me a check for $100, it is not good until I go to the bank and claim it as mine by cashing it. It is the same way with Jesus.
On Christmas Eve, I told the Christmas story, it was a first for my family and a challenge for me. I teach the graduate level, not 3 and 5 year old children! I heard chuckles from the adults when I stumbled over words trying to use age appropriate words for the younger generation who has never heard the Christmas story.
The question was raised “Why did Jesus come to earth?” Wow, what an invitation to share the Gospel. I tried my best to keep the story on the children’s level. Then I gave an invitation for salvation and one of my grandsons gave his heart to Jesus! Once again, the Lord can use me in my humbleness. I praise God for His faithfulness and love for my family.
Today is the first day of the New Year. I pray everyone enjoyed bringing in the New Year with joy and jubilation. There were several events I wanted to attend, but I have been sick for a couple of days and chose to make pizza for my grandkids and stay home with the family. We used root beer floats to toast the New Year.
My oldest grandson proposed and gave his girlfriend an engagement ring! Oh dear, they sure are growing up quickly. Now mind you, it is the grandchildren growing older, not me!
Today, I plan on relaxing and enjoying the grandkids.
God bless each of you.
Your humble servant,
Kathy
