This week it feels like we are returning to normal, or what has become normal around here. The town of Sioux Rapids is still recovering from the flood. The streets are open and clean but most of the downtown main street (2 blocks) businesses are still closed. Some of the buildings will be bulldozed as they’ve been deemed unsafe. It will have a whole new look after that is done. Most businesses are looking for new places to set up. A friend of ours who had a very successful craft and gift shop is letting a hair salon move into that small building and she will build a bigger shop on property she owns behind it. That is exciting. One single woman lives above her store and she lost everything in the flood. The community is coming together to clean out and rebuild her buiness which seemed impossible at first. So lots going on behind the scenes, not to mention the houses that were trashed.

Our Spencer set-up spot just opened back up so we are getting the trailer out and ready to go. The businesses in that parking lot are still closed and everyone’s favorite thrift store will not re-open, a huge loss to Spencer and surrounding communities within a 50 mile radius. Good news has emerged this week that several restaurants are getting ready to re-open.

We look forward to putting out our Open banner again tomorrow.

The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon who Jesus was, what He was going to do, and how great He would be. And yet because Jesus was in the form of a little helpless baby, Simeon ran over and picked Him up! (Luke 2:25-32) Simeon held GOD in his arms that day! That was God’s intent! Jesus came as a baby so that we could approach Him the same way Simeon did, without fear or reservation on our part. He was fully approachable, incredibly lovable, totally accessible!

Jesus came to be an ordinary person before He became our Savior. Jesus came not as a warrior, not as a ruler. Instead, He came in the fullness and the height of innocence. Jesus first needed help from His parents to teach Him how to walk. Then Jesus taught us how to walk in this world with the Father! Jesus came first to be one of us, someone who identified with us, and someone with whom we could identify.

Jesus coming as a child means that He is able not only to understand adults but children as well. Jesus knows what it is like to be a two-year-old, to be 12 years old, to be 18 years old. And Jesus knows what it is like to be 30 years old. Jesus can relate to anyone and everyone, no matter what our age.

Jesus knows what it is like to have trials and hard times, to have responsibilities. Jesus affirms us, “Yep, it’s really like that down there!” Why can He say this? Because Jesus walked a mile in our shoes!

So why did Jesus come as a child? Hebrews 4:14-16, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Merry Christmas from Emil and Karen!

We got married 27 years ago today!  As Emil likes to tell everyone, “July 4th, 1996 was the happiest day of Karen’s life!!!” Little did we know, it was just the beginning of our great and continuing adventure with the Lord! We are so happy that this ministry was His plan for us!

A friend texted us today: “Jesus’ love is bubbling over today! Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart, more than anything this world could ever give which isn’t lasting!” And she closed with, “Give His love away today!” Today and every day, Jesus longs for us to receive His bubbling-over love which then automatically overflows to those around us! Receive it and give it today and every day! His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out!

January was packed full for us. It’s always a busy month for Karen as she closes the ministry books for the year, sends out giving statements, and prepares fresh documentation for the new year. The huge amounts of snow and ice since before Christmas kept Emil busier than usual with a shovel and the snowblower. Because of the weather, we had to cancel most of our Friday night gatherings. We were even snowed in twice for a few days at a time. We have a new grader this year who clears the gravel road in front of us but leaves a berm of snow at the end of our driveway which grows taller each time he makes a pass. Emil was able to catch up with him yesterday morning and asked if he would please plow the end of our driveway when he came back. He turned out to be a very nice guy and readily agreed. He spent at least 5 minutes clearing our driveway soon after. Now even people without 4wd vehicles can get into our house! We look forward to seeing the people we’ve been missing when we resume our gatherings this Friday night. We pray you all who have been experiencing the same weather have stayed safe and warm and to you all who have been in the sunny and warm climates–enjoy! And love and blessings to all! God is GOOD all the time and in any weather!

We have so many things to thank God for every day! May Thursday be an extra blessing for all of you as we focus on Him and His goodness.

Friday afternoon Emil draped the cross for Good Friday. The winds have been so fierce here, the dark sky and wind seemed very appropriate. Thank You, Jesus, for loving us so much that You willingly died a brutal excruciating death, sacrificing Yourself to take our sins upon Yourself. This morning we awoke to a beautiful golden sunrise and draped the cross in gold and white. He is RISEN and SO ALIVE! Within a few hours, during worship at church, it began to snow—also very appropriate because when we receive Jesus’ forgiveness and ask Him into our hearts, our sins are washed whiter than snow. We pray for many many to receive His forgiveness this Day and spend the rest of their lives getting to know Him! He is GOOD!

The birth of a baby so soft and gentle
The glow in the eyes of the parents
Small little fingers and stubby little toes
Eyes that strained to find something on which to focus

Pink wrinkly skin, faint traces of hair
This baby, this Child, was none to compare
A lamb in human skin, a warrior within
And a Holy Spirit which none could compare

A child sent on a mission, a child greatly feared
Was he a Conqueror? Was He a Destroyer? Was He a Dove?
This was truly God sent in a small little package
Just waiting for the chance to grow up

A king born in a stable? A Savior in a crib?
So weak and so helpless, so tiny and frail
He had a heart of compassion at such an early age
He yearned for a world now thrown into a rage

If you would have looked deep into His eyes
I wonder what you would have seen
Maybe a tear for the souls
He came to save

He couldn’t wait to be about the Father’s business
Not wielding a hammer, a nail, and a log,
Which all too soon would secure him to His fate
He was nailed to a tree

This tiny baby
Just wait till He grows older, just you wait and see
That this little baby
Would save you and save me!

We finally realized why we’re so busy! Summer in Iowa is fairly short! There is MUCH to be done outside during these few months. We live on 7 acres, 2 of which are trees, leaving 5 acres to maintain. In addition, we have 4 outbuildings, 2 of which we use right now. They ALL contain “stuff” left by the previous owner, stuff we need to go through–some looks antique-ish (maybe we could sell) and some looks firepit-ish. So after we come in from the roadside, the rest of the daylight hours are spent working on the most urgent projects! We prioritize and re-prioritize all the time–including what we can realistically get done this summer and what will have to wait until next summer…and possibly the next summer…and so on! In the midst of this, we are so grateful to God and constantly thank Him for positioning us in this house, on this property, in this community, with these people!