Bible Archives - Kristina Lunde

March 31, 2026 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Deathly Fears and God’s Word

Two octogenarian ladies recently confided their fear of dying to family members. When I heard about that, I felt surprised. These women have loved and served Jesus for over half a century. I could not imagine that they would question their relationship with God or their heavenly destination. For decades, I have witnessed how they lived and loved others in Jesus’ name. How they could be fearful of death confused me.

Deathly Fears

For those who fear death, does the decline from health to the last heartbeat scare them? For example, the potential of a long illness, terminal diagnosis, or painful suffering might provoke anxiety. The idea of facing death alone may seem overwhelming and uncontrollable. Fears of death also relate to what is left behind: met goals, unreconciled relationships, or an unfulfilled legacy. There may be unfinished tasks, like a house full of stuff left to children who don’t want anything. Although looking forward to being with Jesus, do they fear that interval between their last heartbeat and heaven?

Although I didn’t speak with these lades about it, I thought about my own attitudes toward death. Some of those fearful aspects could happen at any time. My current healthy life could stop instantly in a car accident. My father died in a plane crash at age thirty-six. A sudden pain may result in a terminal diagnosis or sudden death. The oncologist told my seemingly-healthy seventy-six year-old mother that she had the body of a sixty year-old. Pancreatic cancer took her life less than five months later. My first husband dropped dead of a heart attack at forty-five, without cardiovascular symptoms or risk factors. From my family history, I have learned that death’s timing is unpredictable—for humans. But not for God.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16 NIV

In Second Corinthians, Paul pictures our body as an the earthly tent that we live in. When that tent/body is destroyed by death, we go to the eternal house in heaven that God built:

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1

Jesus also described His Father’s house as a real place where we would go to be with Jesus:

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-2

Paul describes our desire to leave this earthly tent for our heavenly home. Expanding the metaphor of tents to clothing, Paul pictures heavenly life overcoming our mortality:

For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 1 Corinthians 5:4

No matter what my own death will look and feel like, I can trust the one who conquered death. First Corinthians 15 quotes Hosea 13:14 in the proclamation of Christ’s victory over death. I pray that any anxieties about death, that I or these two precious ladies have, be reassured by God’s promises. As believers who are forgiven because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, our destination after death is heaven.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

May 22, 2025 by Kristina Lunde 1 Comment

Book Launch: Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief

In Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief, a heron’s migration provides an engaging metaphor for grieving children. Geared to four through eight year-olds, this book centers on a biblical perspective of eternal life with Jesus (John 3:16). Lively watercolors depict sweeping landscapes and flying herons as a boy processes his grief.

Storyline

Expressed in rhyming verse, this first-person narrative follows a young boy as he befriends a heron in his new neighborhood. The boy creates an imaginary friendship with the heron and learns about migration. After the death of his grandmother, the boy experiences grief and discovers a comforting metaphor in Henry the heron’s migration.

Abigail Porter’s illustrations of a child’s grief experience echo the poignant emotions expressed in Kristina Lunde’s rhymes. Written for children, and the adults who help them process grief, this picture book presents concepts of death and heaven from a Bible-based perspective. As the boy begins to understand his grief, he compares and contrasts death with the migration of a heron.

Grief Support

The pacing of the book’s content offers discussion opportunities geared to the child’s level of understanding and interest. Beyond serious depictions of grief, whimsical illustrations and the boy’s imagination offer many ideas for lighthearted conversations. For example, a child not yet ready to discuss grief might focus on the humorous heron illustrations.

When working with grieving children, experts suggest being open to discuss grief concepts whenever children are ready. In this book, the story line and varied illustrations present many topics, ranging from silly to serious. Children may want to discuss grief or a cheerful topic like the boy’s imagination—or both. Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief is a picture book designed to introduce grieving children to God’s comfort.

March 23, 2018 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

God’s Encouragement in My Valentine Eggs

Crack, plop. Crack, plop. The eggs dropped into the mixing bowl, as my foggy brain tried to keep track of the count. Ten eggs was more than I usually used for cooking or baking, but this was an egg bake I was preparing for our Valentine’s Day MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) event.

As a mother without preschoolers, or “mah-wop” (MWOP) as my husband Craig jokingly calls me, I volunteer with our local MOPS group as a mentor mom. That morning I was bleary-eyed, having “pancake-flip-flopped” my way through three hours of insomnia the night before. At least I would be in good company that morning; most MOPS do not sleep through the night either.

As I grabbed one of the eggs from the carton, I looked closely and noticed a surprise:Printed inside the Goldhen egg carton I had purchased from Aldi, I found a Bible verse. The small print inside the egg carton lid spelled out Psalm 118:24 (RSV): This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 is a special verse for our family. Craig and I realized that our mothers had hung that verse, printed on the same mini-banner, in their respective kitchens in our childhood homes. My father began his daily professional dictations in the 1970s by quoting Psalm 118:24. Craig and I chose that verse as a theme for our wedding ceremony.

And there, on Valentine’s Day morning 2018, was the reminder that the day is the Lord’s and therefore worth rejoicing in. I called Craig over to read it, joking that he should take credit for placing our wedding verse there as a Valentine’s greeting for me. No, Craig could not take credit for that valentine. I gave credit to our Creator God, whose word energized me when I felt exhausted before a long day.

The Bible says that God’s word will always complete what it is meant to bring about. God promised that through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 55:11, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Studying the Bible helps us learn about the blessings and purposes of God’s word.

I am so grateful that God used His words, printed on an egg carton, to surprise and encourage me on Valentine’s Day.