Ministry Archives - Page 2 of 3

February 26, 2024 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Wheelchair to Wheelchair Devotions

Head down and arms laden with books, the woman scooted into the nursing home room. There were no foot rests on her wheelchair and books kept her from turning the wheels, so she motored across the floor using her feet. Small in stature and barely looking ahead, her eyes were not visible as she entered the room. Not a powerful or attention-getting entry, but the love of God radiated from her.

A Devotion Delivery Vehicle (Image by Stefano Ferrario from Pixabay)

I was visiting my friend A, who has fought Huntington’s disease and lived in a nursing home for over a decade. Due to her disease, A’s speech is now limited to single guttural words and cries. Her joyful response to the woman in the wheelchair needed no words. A’s face brightened and she let out a cry of joy, matched by increased spastic movements of her arms. Seeing A’s excitement, I wondered about the visiting woman. When she scooted closer to A’s wheelchair, I noticed growths on every area of her exposed skin: face, arms, and legs. I wondered if mobility caused her pain or if she lived with chronic pain.

After introducing myself, the woman responded with a soft, “I’m J.” Then J explained her purpose: she visited A to read devotions to her. In addition to her Bible, J carried three devotion books in her arms. What a faithful gift of wheelchair-to-wheelchair devotions that J shared with A! I don’t know how frequently she visited, but from A’s reaction, I guessed it was often.

J probably didn’t know that she was an answer to prayers for A. On my infrequent visits, A enjoyed when I prayed for her, but I didn’t know if anyone else prayed with her. I assumed that J was a chaplain, but the receptionist later told me that J lived in the building and visited other residents as a volunteer. J’s obvious dedication to God and faithful visits are not accomplished for money. She likely sets aside her own pain and mobility issues to visit others for wheelchair-to-wheelchair devotions. That makes her sacrifice even more precious. J serves where God has placed her and shares Jesus with people who don’t get many visitors. J’s wheelchair-to-wheelchair devotions are a sweet gift of love and ministry. J exemplifies this Bible verse:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Lord God, thank you for J and her love for others. Please bless her wheelchair-to-wheelchair devotions. Let J’s time with A be an encouragement and a blessing for both of them. Help J to keep serving in your strength and for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

December 20, 2023 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Who is God’s Son?

“Who is God’s Son?” asked seven-year-old L., her face crunched in confusion after she spoke her Christmas program lines with the other children.

“God’s Son is Jesus, our Savior,” I responded quickly as the practice continued. Not a regular to our church, L.’s third visit with her grandparents involved rehearsing for our Sunday school Christmas program. She had enjoyed the previous class where we practiced songs and hand motions, but this time L. questioned the content.

After L. squeezed her question in between songs, preschool teacher Debbie and I looked at each other in heartfelt surprise and silent agreement. This was our purpose as Sunday school volunteers: to teach children about Jesus. Both of us had different jobs during rehearsal: we watched, assisted, and tried to keep kids focused. One boy picked his nose. A girl kept her head down as she adjusted her snow boots. Some of the littles ran off. One boy kept sitting down instead of standing up. Like herding cats, Debbie and I managed to get our kids to the manger at the right time.

Before the church service, I caught up with L. I explained that Jesus is God’s Son, our Savior, who came to earth as a baby. L. listened intently as I told her about Jesus and why we celebrate Jesus’ birthday at Christmas.

When I asked her about Easter, she said, “That’s my favorite holiday!” I went on to explain that the baby Jesus we celebrate at Christmas grew up to be a man. As an adult, Jesus did what God had sent His Son to do: die on a cross to sacrifice Himself for our sins. And that is what we celebrate at Easter. My explanations were not detailed or eloquent. I wondered if the big concepts of forgiveness and death on a cross were getting through to L. Eyes focused on me, L. kept her face close to mine, her attention unwavering.

After my short explanations, L. raced off to sit with her grandparents for the service. I followed her into church, praying for the Holy Spirit to open her heart to Jesus. Later, I texted her grandmother about L.’s questions and my answers. She texted me that L. would not be able to come to the program.

The next Sunday, God answered our prayers, and L. came to the dress rehearsal and program with her grandparents. Before the dress rehearsal, our director scrambled to find an extra angel costume. She used a preschooler’s costume, un-hemmed it to fit L., and gave the preschooler a sparkly top as a tunic. During a break, I had a chance to speak with L. again. We discussed more about God’s Son and how Jesus became our Savior by dying on the cross for our sins. I explained that sin is disobeying God in our thoughts, words, and actions—and how we can ask Jesus for forgiveness. Again, she listened intently to my explanations. Again, I left praying that the Holy Spirit would make the Gospel clear to L.

After rehearsing during Sunday school, the children presented their Christmas program at the church service that followed. Nose-picking-boy kept his fingers out of his nose. Girl-with-boots wore regular shoes and danced to the music. Our runners stayed in place, while acting out the phrase, “Shepherds ran to see the sight.” The kids harnessed their energy into hand motions and song lyrics. But those are insignificant victories in light of the important story of God’s Son Jesus. L. participated wholeheartedly as the truths about Jesus, from cradle to resurrection, were presented in the children’s Christmas program.

Lord, please work in the lives of L. and others who need to understand the truth about God’s Son Jesus, this Christmas and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Photos by author.]

March 31, 2022 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

A Sunday School Lesson for the Teacher

I walked into my Sunday school class not-quite-ready to teach. My weekend had already been tiring, my voice felt strained, and my lesson plan needed more prep. Yet none of that mattered when “my” amazing first and second-graders arrived, bounding into the room. (Note: these precious kids belong to wonderful families, but I refer to them as “my kids,” at least for the class.)

With their energy and excitement lifting my sagging activity level, we used big hand motions as we sang songs. Then we walked around the room to review memory verses and commandments posted on the wall. Incorporating kinesthetic activity helps me engage these energetic kids, but it also deals with my difficulty in sitting still. After moving around, we were ready to sit and focus on the lesson.

Later, the kids were encouraged to draw a picture or write to God. This is six-year-old Bennett’s drawing:

3/27/22 Drawing posted with permission of artist and his mother

As Bennett explained the dream about God that he had drawn, his craft project became my lesson on childlike faith. His drawing and explanation convicted, humbled, and inspired this old Sunday school teacher. Do my dreams and thoughts center on God? Would I proclaim my love for God like a banner above my head? Does my face glow with adoration as I describe my God?

Lord God, thank you for teaching me through these Sunday school children. Please teach me to love you in a childlike way, with enthusiasm and devotion. Forgive me for my ingratitude and indifference. Never let me forget who you are and what you have done for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Note: this is not my Bennett, my now-grown son who lives across the country, although the name and energy level of Sunday school Bennett makes me smile with nostalgic memories.)

March 31, 2022 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Samaritan’s Purse: Thank You for Operation Christmas Child

Dear Samaritan’s Purse,

Thank you for Operation Christmas Child, the ministry you have faithfully implemented for almost 30 years. Your ministry helped me, my now-grown children, and the children I teach at church, to:

recognize my first-world biases related to Christmas shopping
organize my perspectives and priorities before the Christmas season
challenge our ideas of what a Christmas gift should be
identify our first-world mentality, which expects treats, not necessities, as gifts
present the concept, often inconceivable to first-world children, that many people never receive gifts
share the true Christmas gift of Jesus as we pack the boxes
identify how Operation Christmas Child shares the gift of Jesus with shoebox recipients
demonstrate a way to participate in missions around the world

At first, the children think I am silly when I ask if they get toothbrushes, pencils, or soap as gifts. They cannot comprehend that hygiene and school items are anything other than necessities automatically provided by parents. The reality that there are children in the world who don’t have these items is hard for our first-world children to grasp. We talk about gratitude and not taking necessities for granted. Teaching gift-giving to preschoolers is a challenge. We talk about giving gifts, letting go of the toy they grabbed, saying goodbye to the toy, and closing the box. The older grade-school children can discuss poverty and how that affects gift-giving.

For every level of understanding, Operation Christmas Child helps teach important lessons on gratitude, appreciation, sharing, prayer, and missions. We pray for the kids who don’t know Christ: as I buy the items, with kids as we pack, and later when we find out where the boxes will be delivered. Sharing Jesus’ love is the biggest gift of all, an important lesson to emphasize for both children and adults.

Thank you for the structure of your organization, the planning that goes into shoebox deliveries, and the dedication of those who bring the love of Jesus along with the physical gifts. What a treat that we can now follow the boxes online! This year, I plan to bring in a globe and show my Sunday school students the shoebox delivery countries.

Thank you, Operation Christmas Child workers, that you do not just drop off boxes and run away. Thank you for presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to entire families before you distribute shoebox gifts. I especially appreciate that we can donate toward the follow-up discipleship lessons. What a blessing that you connect the gift-receiving families with a local church, where they can hear more about the truth of Jesus Christ. The entire ministry of Operation Christmas Child is centered around bringing Jesus to the world. And even if children cannot go on missions, you provide an opportunity to connect and share Christ’s love with children around the world.

Nothing reframes my Christmas priorities better than filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Thank you for your ministry!
Gratefully,
Kristina Lunde
[Originally posted November 2021]

March 31, 2022 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Obeying a God Nudge: From Selfish to Willing

An email request asked Lakes Area Writers Alliance members to volunteer for a shift in a non-profit booth at the county fair. My irritations added up. The group held meetings, inconveniently, on Saturday mornings, and this request also involved weekends. A four-hour shift seemed like a long, boring stretch of time. All of my reasons not to participate felt squelched by a “God-nudge,” to use my husband’s description of a gut feeling that God wants you to do something. I preferred to volunteer for a two-hour shift, but four hours in a row? Really?! How much could I say about group meetings that I rarely attended?

That “God-nudge” prompted me to sign up for the last Saturday morning of the fair. Yes, I volunteered for the day I didn’t want to go, for the job I didn’t want to do, and for a stretch of time I thought seemed too long. But I did it anyway, begrudgingly out of obedience God.

Our writer’s alliance event coordinator had thoroughly prepared the displays. Two rectangular tables included an obligatory candy bowl that attracted kids and other sweet-seekers. A raffle jar offered a prize basket of books written by members of our writers’ alliance—my memoir included. Some group members had self-published short stories in a collection entitled The Storyville Project. Copies were stacked and available for sale. Displayed in racks, stacks, and fanned arrangements, brochures and bookmarks spread across the table tops.

Volunteers had permission to sell their own books, so I spent the first minutes placing my books on easels. As I set up my sales display, I chatted with the woman in the neighboring booth. Her story tumbled out quickly: she was widowed three months prior, after taking care of her ill husband while he was on hospice. Confined to a hospital bed in the living room, her husband needed full-time care, so she had slept on the couch, ready to jump up and help him 24/7.

Her tears flowed as she spoke of her grief. I tried to reassure her about the grief processing she had already accomplished, even though nothing felt normal to her yet. Not surprisingly, the fatigue she accumulated as a caretaker now compounded her grief. We spoke of God’s healing and comfort. I gave her the GriefShare website, so that she could sign up for daily emails and check out this fall’s grief groups. Later, a woman walked by the booth dressed in a memorial t-shirt that displayed several family members’ names and dates of death. We also discussed death and grief, and I gave her the same resources and information.

My entire booth shift turned out to be a pleasant surprise, and the four hours passed quickly. Several teenagers approached the booth, some reluctantly as their supportive parents asked questions on their child’s behalf. Identifying these shy teenagers, I started conversations about their favorite genres and encouraged them to continue writing. Hoping that the teens would be challenged and validated by submitting a story, I asked each one to contribute to the next edition of The Storyville Project. One teenager described working on projects with her sister who created anime drawings for her stories. As I marveled at their talents, I encouraged them to keep collaborating.

I enjoyed giving booth visitors information about our Lakes Area Writers Alliance. Not all conversations related to writing as I talked with kids, parents, and families. The Gideons International hosted a nearby booth where they gave out New Testament Bibles. Unlike the plain covers I remember from decades ago, the new Bible came in colorful covers: designs, graphics, and even camouflage. I engaged a few kids in conversation as they walked by with their pocket-sized gifts.

Afterward, I thought about my much-needed attitude rearrangement. I had signed up for my shift out of reluctant obedience to the “God-nudge,” or God’s prompting. That reluctance started to change when I recognized God’s divine appointments. Within minutes of my arrival, God arranged one-on-one time to speak with a grieving widow in the neighboring booth. God blessed my volunteer shift with meaningful conversations with kids, families, grieving people, writers, and friends. Once my selfishness got out of the way, God changed my attitude to willing—even joyful—obedience.

Lord God, Forgive my reluctant and frustrated attitude toward obeying your prompting, or those “God-nudges.” Change my heart, dear God, and teach me to be joyful and willing as I obey. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Originally posted August 2021]