Jesus Archives - Kristina Lunde

January 27, 2026 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

A Jesus Appointment

A random stop in a small town surprised us with a Jesus appointment for conversation and prayer. As Minnesotans traveling to our grandchildren’s winter concert, my husband and I allowed extra time for the three-hour drive. Arriving early, we chose a local establishment to spend time before the high school music event. Not sure if the place was open on weekday afternoons, we hesitantly stepped into the dining area. After a warm welcome by the manager, we picked choice seats among the high-top tables. Once he brought us water glasses and menus, we were waited on by a friendly server. I immediately noticed her eyes—kind but sad.

The only customers there, we had the luxury of the server’s undivided attention and conversation. After some small talk, she apologetically asked if she could ask a personal question. We agreed, and she asked us how long we had been married. As an older couple on their second marriage, our answer to that question sometimes surprises people. Hearing our answer of thirteen years, our server continued with another apology and a few more questions.

This time she asked what we found important in our relationship and what we liked most about each other. Our answers were not eloquent or lengthy. Faith topped each of our priority lists for marriage. Her request to name an attribute we appreciated most about our spouse brought smiles and longer descriptions.

Once we engaged our server in the conversation, she shared that her name was L. Then she relayed details of serious events in her life: challenges of grief, trauma, divorce, and family dysfunction. Her transparency about so much pain saddened me, and I started silently praying.

After L walked back to the kitchen, my husband told me he felt God’s nudge to pray with her. When she returned to our table, L lingered longer as we spoke to her about Jesus. I spoke of Jesus’ death on the cross and the forgiveness He freely offers. I briefly mentioned my first husband’s sudden death and how God had comforted and helped me through all of that.

With a still-empty dining room, I asked if I could pray for her. My brief prayer asked Jesus to show L His love and draw her to Him for healing and forgiveness. She was teary-eyed, grateful, and hugged me afterward. By then, she had other customers to serve. Later when we paid our bill, we said a brief goodbye. I gave her another hug and promised to pray for her.

Now, my heart is committed to pray for L. I still pray to God for the things she shared with us: her emotions, pain, and family concerns. I pray that He gives L a thirst for Jesus and reveals Himself to her. May God use other Christians and His Word to bring His truth and knowledge to L.

Lord God, Thank you for our Jesus appointment with L. My heart aches for her and how much she needs you. Bring L to you, Lord. Fill in the gaps of what we said, so that she can fully understand who you are. Please meet L’s needs and show her how much you love her. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.

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.]

October 31, 2022 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Two Widows, Two Sons and One Powerful God

Written across two testaments by two writers, the resurrections in 1 Kings 17:17-24 and Luke 7:11-17 share similarities in their accounts of two widows, two sons, and one powerful God.

In the Old Testament account of 1 Kings 17:17-24, the prophet Elijah knew the widow and her son well. The widow of Zarephath and her son experienced God’s miracle of provision in their destitute situation (1 Kings 17:7-16). As a recipient of the widow’s hospitality, Elijah stayed in their upper room during much of the drought. In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus came upon a procession with a widow, her dead son, and a large crowd from the town of Nain. Although a seemingly random encounter, Luke records Jesus’ response to the widow as “his heart went out to her” (Luke 7:13). Each widows’ heartache and poverty would have been obvious in her community. In their cultures, the fatherless son was designated as his widowed mother’s caretaker, with the expectation that he would work and provide for her.

As a prophet, Elijah had a reputation for speaking God’s Word and being an instrument for God’s miracles. When the widow of Zarephath’s only beloved son died, Elijah grabbed the body. He ran up to his room, laid the child on his bed, and cried out to God in prayer. In contrast, the Luke account begins as Jesus walks through Galilee with his entourage of disciples and a large crowd. Luke 6 describes how Jesus chose his disciples, healed people of diseases, and preached to the crowds. Until then, in all of His miracles, Jesus had never yet resurrected anyone from the dead.

The settings may vary, but similarities exist across these accounts. Elijah prayed and God resurrected the widow’s son. Jesus, in full kingdom authority, resurrected the deceased man, speaking words of life. “Young man, I say to you, get up!” Both sons came back to life. Elijah witnessed God’s miracle of resurrection, whereas Jesus Himself performed the miracle. Elijah and Jesus each presented the resurrected sons to their widowed mothers.

Both miracles demonstrated God’s power over death. A grieving and questioning Elijah experienced God’s compassionate miracle for the widow of Zarephath after her son died. In the town of Nain, a large local crowd, twelve disciples, and the crowd following Jesus through Galilee witnessed Jesus’ miracle of resurrection. Although both towns are mentioned in these resurrection accounts, neither the widows nor their sons are mentioned by name.

Where is the follow-up information? I want to hear about those unnamed sons: one young boy and one young man. Their resurrected lives shone as enduring reminders of God’s resurrection power. Did the young boy grow up and become a baker in Zarephath who told his story to all of his customers? Were people compelled to turn from Baal to God as they witnessed God’s compassion and miraculous life-giving power?

Did the widow in Nain recount God’s miracles of provision through the resurrection of her grown son? Jesus’ first miracle of resurrection demonstrated His compassion for the widows and fatherless, while undeniably demonstrating Messiah’s authority. Did the Nain community later recognize that the resurrection of the widow’s son foreshadowed the Messiah Jesus’ resurrection?

God intervened with His compassion and almighty power for the unnamed widows in 1 Kings 17 and Luke 7. These two widows experienced the omnipotent power of God, as He miraculously raised their respective sons from the dead.