Act Now

Savesaeed.org. Visit this site and sign the petition on behalf of our friend, Saeed Abedini.  Over a quarter of a million people have already signed the petition asking for the actions of the U.N. and other organizations to work towards the release of U.S. citizen, Saeed Abedini, from Evin Prison in Iran. He is currently serving an eight year sentence because of his Christian faith.

Anyone need a house in Fergus Falls?

Ethan's parents are selling their home.  Here is a link to a website detailing their house in Fergus Falls.
fergusfallshouse.blogspot.com
We are praying for a swift sale for this great place!

Go West Young Man

Ethan is fleeing the snow (hopefully) and negative temperatures tomorrow to drive to the West Coast from northern Idaho to Washington to Oregon to California.  He plans to be there for two weeks meeting with friends and family and sharing the vision of teaching and training leaders around the world.  The kids and I are always a bit jittery before he leaves on a long trip.  We will miss him, but know it is for an important purpose.

Till Death Do Us Part: Thoughts on Love

Talk of love seems to be in the air as Valentine's Day approaches. My kids have been busily preparing valentines for their classmates and teachers at the homeschool co-op.  And my bags became heavier with candy and other such things this week.  My husband and I are also working on our marriage, especially in our communication as that is always one of our recurring challenges and areas that God is giving us grace in.  Speaking of God, how could we love without him?  True love is defined by the sacrifice of His Son on the cross in Jerusalem long ago.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

As forgiven sinners, God has given us the Spirit who gives us the power to love, for that is the fruit of the Spirit.  God has also given us His word that produces faith in us as we hear (or read) about this great love of God.

Over the thirteen years since Ethan and I were married, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Bible verses when I am challenged in our marriage relationship.  Without God's love, we would be left to our own selfish ways, and in despair.  Is marriage really meant to make us happy and fulfill our every desire? Or was it created to demonstrate God's sacrificial love in putting others before ourselves in service and love?

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20.  I talked to Ethan's 90-year-old aunt at Thanksgiving. Her secret to a lasting marriage (they have been married 67 years) is to "keep your mouth shut." That made us all laugh, but there is wisdom in learning to listen, to refrain from interrupting, and giving your anger over to God.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,  it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil^(N) but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV When I was a teenager I helped out at a VBS summer program at my friend Anne's church.  We learned a song that had the NIV words from I Cor.13.  I thank God for that song since this Scripture passage has saved me countless times from giving in to my selfish desires and behaving rudely and sinfully to people.  Lord, save us! We are still so selfish.  Thank God for Jesus who has won this battle and will give us victory over our sinful flesh in the end!

 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:35-36 This may seem like a strange verse when talking about marriage.  My spouse is not my enemy!  But the standard here is that if we are to do good, love, and lend to a person who seems so very unworthy of this kind of love (though our love is not based on merit, but the unconditional love and mercy that Christ has shown us), how much more our motivation to love our spouse is based on unselfish motives.  God showed us what His love is by crucifying His only Son on a cross on our behalf.  Our marriage love must point to the Cross in how we show mercy to one another.

Ultimately, as Christians our marriages are a picture of Christ's love for His Church.  He laid down His life for us, and we are to lay down our lives for one another.  This is only possible by His grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer.  God bless our marriages for His name's sake.

Front Page!

Peter John's picture was featured on the front page of the Daily Journal today! He was having a blast with his cousin, Hans, yesterday.  They had no school and built a great fort near our house.

A Beautiful Snow

The beautiful snow-covered trees in our town.

This winter has been lovely in Minnesota.  We have had light snow and pretty cold temps.  A couple of nights ago we had heavy snow that amounted to about eight inches on the ground and the canceling of school yesterday. Because I love the Psalms so much and think about the Bible often, these verses come to mind whenever it snows:

 He sends out His command to the earth;His word runs very swiftly.¹⁶ He gives snow like wool;He scatters the frost like ashes;¹⁷ He casts out His hail like morsels;Who can stand before His cold?¹⁸ He sends out His word and melts them;He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. Psalm 147:15-18

I am picturing the Almighty God commanding the weather.  Whatever He says it happens.  His word is powerful and very effective.

I think also about the word of God that is going out throughout the world even today. I think about all my friends who are sharing the Good News about Jesus: Tracy and Zhenya in Kyrgyzstan, Pastor Vlad and his family in Priluki, the faithful missionaries I visited in Chad last year, the McNamees in Chernihiv, and my faithful friends at ICS Bangkok where I taught art classes for two years in the 1990s. I think about the Bible that is being translated into other languages.  My brother-in-law, Marcos, is still working on the Gospel of Luke to be used in the Bilala language version of the Jesus Film and in other materials.  I am thinking about the faithful servants who are using their intellect and physical strength to pour over words and meanings in order to communicate the Bible in the heart language of native peoples.  I love these missionaries, and I praise God for the word that is going forth.

I am also thinking about those who are suffering because of their faith in Jesus and for believing the precious promises of God's word.  Our friend, Saeed in prison in Iran, who loves his family, the people of Iran, and most of all, Jesus.  He is paying a severe price for his love.  In another place, my dearest friend, Tracy, is laying in a hospital tonight in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for appendicitis.  They performed surgery to remove the appendix, and she is doing okay right now.  But we pray that no infection will come because the hospitals are not known to be very reliable and sanitary. I thank God for her and for all the workers there, who faithfully proclaim God's word, despite persecution and physical problems.

I believe that God's word will accomplish all that He desires for it.  He says it, and it happens.  God is faithful and true, and faith is being formed in hearts through the proclamation of this word and the power of the Father who draws people unto Jesus, by His grace and for His glory.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

What Is Going On With The Larsons?

Some of you may be wondering what we are doing these days?

1.  Today we move into a different rental house here in Fergus Falls.  We will be renting a house about a mile from here until we are finished with our support-raising efforts for our mission work with Training Leaders International.  We have a lot to move still from this house and plenty to do to clean up around here.

2.  Some of us have the flu!  Peter, then Gretchen, now Ethan. Amy just got over a cold and Lizzy is starting up with a cold.  I guess that leaves just me who is currently healthy.

3.  Ethan has been traveling and continues to work hard building up our support in order to teach and train God's people around the world, so that they may lead and teach their churches with strength and trust from the Bible.

4.  We have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas holiday and break from homeschool.  The kids start up at School of Choice on Thursday, but I think I will need to take a break from the homeschool part and start next week. The move continues to be quite consuming.

5.  Today begins a new year to grow in our relationship with God through our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We love God, and look forward to reading His word and delighting in Him and His goodness this year.  I love to share what reading the Bible has meant to me.  It has changed my life and given me daily hope and comfort.  I encourage everyone to seek God in the Bible and read it daily.  Here are some wonderful Bible reading plans that you can start the New Year in a great, fresh way:
http://www.esv.org/resources/reading-plans-devotions/

Happy New Year!