Opa's News

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Reflections on this MileStone Day

The "Ides of March" a disastrous day for Julius Caesar, but a joyous day for my great nephew Tyler Tuin, my good friends Mike Jensen and Linda Link, and myself all born this 15th of March. This is supposed to be the "big one" for me on this 60th year, but Mike is having a "big one" as well (50 Years), and so far I feel no different or any big revelation or anything of that sort. I do think back on the many blessings God has granted over these 60 years. I don't remember for sure whether it was just before I was married to my wonderful wife, or soon after we were married, but I was impressed that the scripture in Genesis 22:14 applied to me and my situation and that God indeed would provide. Though the method and timing of God's provision remains a mystery most of the time I can still rejoice in His 60 years of provision for me and continue to believe Him for provision for my extended family. The faith in that verse has been and continues to be tested as circumstances in life come upon me and I begin to wonder how in the universe is God going to work this one out? But He is patient with my impatience and keeps me through the storms and eventually brings me to the place where I see He is still working things out for His good. I don't claim to understand how He did it or how he will continue to do it, but I have to trust He will continue to do it because He has faithfully done it in the past. I have also been often reminded of Matthew 6 where Jesus tells me to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will be done and that I need to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things (daily provisions for life) will be given to me. When I am tempted to believe that evil will triumph the Lord reminds me of His promise in 1 John 4:4 "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world," and as I let the Holy Spirit be in control I don't have to fear the evil but I can overcome that evil with good. Another really big lesson I learned as an early teen was when I was challenged to memorize 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" As a impressionable teen ager I believed that and decided I would just trust God and His word. Did I screw up and not rely on the provision God had for me in that verse? Yes! Too many times to count, but I can also truthfully state that I have been kept from many of sins devastating consequences by trusting God to help me. Is God finished with me yet? By no means. In fact I have found it is true that the older one gets the more he realizes the less he knows. I have been through some serious learning times lately and am still reeling from the lessons I've encountered recently. Yet I know He is in control and has my best interest in mind. I just have to continue to trust in Him and be obedient to Him and His word. Deuteronomy 32:46 reminds me to "obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you-they are your life." May my life be lived out to Glorify God. "Soli Deo Gloria"

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Home Safely!

Praise God for a safe trip home from CA. We left Jana and Jimmy's this a.m. about 4:20, went and picked up Larry and Sherry at Sandy and Larry's and got on the freeway about 5:00. We had good roads all the way. I was a little concerned about the weather, but roads were dry. It did snow on us a little around Richfield, Utah, but nothing to slow us down. We had a great time with the kids. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to travel to see them once in a while.

I'm getting weary and ready for bed, so will sign off for now.

Blessings on you all.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Grand Kids Birthday Reflections



The Birthday party for Autumn and Austin was a grand affair. Beautiful day in the park, lots of wonderful friends and family, and so many blessings beyond listing. The generosity of all those attending was amazing. The kids were blessed with numerous toys to a point of being overwhelmed by them. They also had a great time playing with all the friends that came to the party. Overall a great celebration.

I read this morning in 1 Corinthians the following verse:
1Cr 2:9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." God certainly has freely give us blessings beyond our imagination ever while here on this earth. I pray we will continually realize His provision, protection, and power in our lives and live in this corrupt world so as to Glorify Him and daily give Him credit for all the things He does for us. I pray that if and when these blessing may be taken away we will stand strong in Him and realize He is in control both in times of plenty and in time of want. Praise His Holy Name. If you haven't already done so several times today, I encourage you to Praise God and give Him thanks for all He has done.

Peace Be Unto You

Opa Tuin

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Back to blogging


While sitting in G. J. last Sunday waiting for Sandy to finish a Norwex party, I checked the internet and got onto Sacred Space and found the following:

“Jean Vianney, the Curé of Ars, used to see an old countryman sitting for hours in the parish church, and one day he asked him what he was doing. The man replied, "I look at the good God and the good God looks at me."”

As I grow older (be 60 next month, my mind feels younger than I am) I would like to be more and more aware of God in my life and realize anew each day that I look at the good God and the good God looks at me. Praise His Holy Name!

"Lord, help me to be fully alive to your holy presence.
Enfold me in your love.
Let my heart become one with yours.

Lord, may I never take the gift
of freedom for granted. You gave
me the great blessing of freedom of
spirit. Fill my spirit with Your peace and
Your joy." (above quote also from Sacred Space)

I am now sitting in Jana's rocking chair here in CA just thinking about some of the things I've read this a.m. I read from Proverbs, 1 Corinthians and am trying to digest an article called "God's Forenowledge, Predestination, and Human Freedom."
That got me to thinking. Does the Bible ever describe God as “perfect?” It talks about His ways being perfect and He several times talks about man it to being perfect, but I haven't yet found where He describes Himself as perfect. He only describes Himself as Holy. If anyone happens to read this and know of a place in the Bible where God describes Himself as perfect let me know. Meanwhile I will continue to look myself.

Anyway that's what I've been thinking in my quiet time lately.

I am thankful for the privilege of being in CA with the kids and grandkids! Sherry and Larry rode out with us on Thursday last. We had a safe trip, praise God, in spite of some pretty bad roads all the way from Grand Junction, CO to Cedar City, Utah. We are here to celebrate birthdays with Autumn, Austin, and Larry. Autumn also has a dance recital we wanted to see. She is performing at the Riverside County Fair this afternoon. It will be great fun.

I'll quit for now.

Peace be unto You all.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Finally blogging again

After a couple of incredibly busy weeks of retirement I've finally decided I better blog again while I have some help to remember how. We are at Eric and Marion's the night before we fly out of DIA to see the Tuin clan in Indiana. I've not been there to visit them yet, so I'm looking forward to being there. Mom and Sherry and Larry and us are all going together.

My time the last couple of weeks has been taken up with visiting the county high schools and helping out with preparations for Solo and Ensemble and All State Choir tryouts. It was rewarding to do what I could and hopefully some of them will make it into all state. Solo and Ensemble was last evening at Delta Performing Arts. It went fairly smoothly considering I made a few scheduling errors.

Sandy's Norwex business is doing really well lately. She has picked up a couple new recruits and has 7 parties scheduled in Oct. Praise the Lord for His blessing.

Guess I'll quit for now. I haven't even let very many people know I'm blogging.

Monday, August 13, 2007

2nd blog

It's Monday morning 8/13/07 and I thought I better blog again before I forget how. We had a great week with all the kids and grandkids last week in Denver. They are a joy, and I am truly thankful for God's blessing of a great family! We made a quick trip back home to attend Karri Lemar's wedding (Sandy's neice.) It was held at Vega Reservoir by Colbran Colorado last Sat. evening. We took care of some of the chores around the house and garden, went to church in Paonia Sunday a.m., then came back to Denver to start our trip to the Norwex Converence in Winnipeg, Manitba, Canada. We are looking forward to a week of just the 2 of us and seeing some country we have never seen before. We are at Eric and Marion's and will leave from here in an hour or 2.
Kids are up so I'll quit for now.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

My First Blog

We are sitting around in Eric and Marion's living room and Marion is teaching Jana and I how to set up a blog spot. I don't know if I will keep up on this very well, but it sound interesting, so I'll try. The whole family is in Denver this week. Jana, Jimmy, Autumn and Austin flew to Denver after being in Florida to visit Jimmy's grandparents for a week. We will be together this coming week here in Denver, then they will return to Indio. It will be a great week with everyone. The kids will wear me out but it will be fun.

Well I'll quit for now and maybe try to post on the days I wake early, which is often.

Bye for now.
Jan