Heimdal

   I live on the old Obed Larson place.  It's about 13 miles from Harvey, 10 from Fessenden, less than 60 from my old home town of Rugby, and just over a mile from Heimdal.

   From Highway 1 Heimdal looks like a larger-than-normal shelter belt:

but when you drive inside the clump of trees, you find a quaint, well-cared-for little town.  

There are no business or services left in the town besides the grain elevator, but there is a community hall, 

a Lutheran church,

and an old-fashioned park,

with remnants from the past:

   The people of Heimdal are friendly.  One invited me in for BLT's and a chat.  It turns out she and her husband moved here (his home town) from the Seattle area.  They knew Obed Larson, and they are glad someone lives in the house.

The Will of God

 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.  I Thess. 4:3

It is the Word of God alone,

      The written Word, I mean,

By which the will of God is known,

      For there His ways are seen.

The Bible is the way by which

       The Holy Spirit leads,

And he will fall into a ditch

      Who to another heeds.

If you would grow in every grace,

       And have your mind renewed,

The Bible is the only place

      To find your proper food.

And if you need to yet be led

       In matters more concrete,

Like where to go and whom to wed,

      His Word is still complete.

For though the answers won’t be spelled

      In letters in the sky,

The wisdom in His Word beheld

      Will guide you by and by.

You think you need to hear a voice

      Specifically for you,

That offers not a bit of choice,

      But tells you what to do.

But God has not ordained thereby

       To guide how each man lives;

He leaves us freedom to apply

       The principles He gives.

When searching for God’s will for you,

There’s just one place to look.

The things that He would have you do

      Are written in the Book.

Nita Brainard

April 9, 2009

All Things

   The Bible says "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."  Why then do Christians tend to assume that when things work out for good, that God led them directly down the path they had chosen? The very best Christians, the ones who are an example to the believers, often speak as if every choice they make is the direct leading of God.  Perhaps it is ~ but the fact that it turns out for good is no proof of this.  God works all things for good to them that love him.

   Years ago I was required to submit to a situation that did not appear to me to be the will of God.  Because of the decision that was made, one of the loveliest Christian women I know was born of God.  Does that prove that the decision was indeed the will of God and perhaps even for-ordained of him?  No, it just means he worked it for good ~ as he always does to those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

   What tremendous freedom there is in knowing God can use all things for good!  It doesn't give freedom for sin. God forbid! But it gives peace.  We don't have to fret about each step that we take.  We must love God and seek to fulfill his purposes, but we don't have to be anxious about the non-moral details of life.  We can make choices according to the best of our poor ability and yet trust that he will work them for good.

   What's more, we can peacefully follow the leading of those in authority over us, even if we don't agree with their decisions ~ knowing with full assurance that God will work all things for our good, if we love him.

   The trick is to embrace this fully, and walk unruffled through all the disappointments of life, and yet not become passive in prayer.

Sunrise at Harvey Dam

   Circumstances with which I will not bore you led me to be at the Harvey Dam at Sunrise ~ waiting for the fog to lift for a safer drive home.

Strong Meat

  Last weekend we had a gathering at the Rusk farmstead which was given the name Strong Meat.  Lee spoke on some of the Biblical doctrines of redemption and contrasted them with common Calvinistic errors.  Four of the messages in audio form can be found at:


http://www.4shared.com/account/dir/pTFmH60M/_online.html#


Video form will be available in the future.

Harvey Has a Willow

   Yes, there is a willow in Harvey, too ~ more than one, I suppose, but this is a public one by the water. It is not so majestic as the one I left behind at the Lazy Wheels Mobile Home Park, but it has this glory ~ that I can stand a long ways behind it without stepping on someone's trailer house.

   It also has a sandy beach where my grandchildren have played, and where I have visited with friends.

Home Sweet Home

   Although we moved into a house I had never been inside of, and were helped to move by friends I hadn’t yet met, moving to Harvey, North Dakota feels like moving home. 

   They say life is a little slower out here.  Judging by how long it took to get the internet up and running, I would say so, but we are good to go.