I’m skipping this section because all the other sections are so long today. However, I’ve just taken time to go through the photos and have selected a few for a photo page. You can get some visual glimpses if you go to this page on the site; Dad’s Funeral
Henry Friesen finished the days allotted to him by our Lord, on February 24, 2007. He was born February 20, 1916 to Henry W. and Maria (Spenst) Friesen at their homestead at Beaver Flat, SK., a little farming community between Main Centre and Stewart Valley, southeast of the Saskatchewan Landing. Henry was their firstborn, and later had seven siblings, John, George, Jessie, Helena, Aaron, Bill, and Jean.
Since his mother needed him in the house, Henry learned to kneed bread and knit socks. His Dad needed him outside too, so he learned to feed and herd cattle and to fix things in the farmyard machine shop.
He preferred machines and motors to animals, but learned to ride horses. Twice he was thrown, breaking a different leg each time. During one of these enforced bedrest periods he read the Bible through and trusted Christ as his Saviour.
Henry grew up working hard. He was away from home, working, when the draft officers came looking for him. They waited all day, then left just before he got back.
Henry had a year of Bible school in 1937, the first year Swift Current Bible School opened.
When he was nearly 30 he went to visit relatives in B.C. Elizabeth Kroeker was also visiting relatives; they met in the home of mutual contacts the last night. They promised to write. Both left the next day but on separate trains.
They managed to convey thoughts and emotions, and wedding plans in these letters. In October 1947 Henry took a train north to Hague, and Elizabeth’s family and extended family in Chortitz, seven miles west of Hague.
A missionary conference was going on with a Mr. Schellenberg, but their wedding was worked into a free afternoon on October 17. They stayed for the conference closing, then were off to meet Henry’s parents and to move to B.C.
The newlyweds bought a bit of property, and looked forward to a prosperous life. But Elizabeth was soon pregnant, and suffered asthma from the humidity and fog. The doctor told them, “if you want this baby to live you better get back where you came from!”
[to read the rest of this obituary, please go to the photo page, and select the format you’d like to read this PDF file in. Dad’s Funeral Bulletin and Obituary ]
Jesus began by saying that His disciples should not look down on the children, for their angels in Heaven have their eyes on the Father at all times, waiting for but a glance to command them to protect their charges. Children have angels to defend them.
Then Jesus went into a story about what a man is to do if he has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off in the hills. He assured them that the shepherd would leave the ninety-nine sheep in the fold, and go out to hunt down that missing one.
“In the same way,” Jesus concluded, “Your Father in Heaven is not willing that any one of these little ones should perish.”
We may cluck, “That’s too bad,” when we hear of someone who grew up in a caring home, but who was abused, or who wandered off into a life of sin. Their lives seem to be wasted. I’ve never realized before that the Good Shepherd deliberately goes out to hunt down that lost lamb or sheep, and bring it back to the fold. I have hoped, and sometimes prayed that they would be restored, but just now I realize that God is actively seeking them out!
Now I see; I can help by praying for them! Maybe I can do some seeking for them too.
I can certainly be ready to celebrate with the fatted calf when the Shepherd brings them home!
PRAYER: Lord, this new look at that lost sheep story is refreshing. I like this perspective that You are out there hunting for the lost lambs and sheep that have strayed from the fold. That is so reassuring because sometimes I’ve grown weary in praying for them. You are not willing that any should be lost. What an awesome God You are!
Yes, I will help You bring in certain strays from the fold that I have been concerned about. Show me what steps I can take to woo them back.
+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++
Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen
P.S. Watching your friend die is HARD, isn’t it? Ruthe handles it fairly well for her first time. You should read this book - you could learn from her.
Jesus explains to His disciples that troubles and bad things are going to happen, but woe to the one who is the instrument - particularly ones that hinder a child from coming to the Lord. For them, He says, it would be better if a millstone were hung around their neck and they were cast into the sea. (Now that would keep them from being repeat offenders, wouldn’t it?)
I don’t recall reading of any people in history who have used that method of punishment. I wonder now if it was original with Jesus?
Jesus goes into even stronger advice for dealing with the things that tempt us to sin ourselves, or which hinder our spiritual growth and fellowship with Him. Basically, get rid of it at all costs! For example, if you have a wandering foot that takes you to places of sin, chop off the foot! If you have a hand that continues to sin, and won’t obey you and the Lord, - chop it off! You are better off without some essential body parts, or any other thing that causes you to sin, then to end up in Hell because you could not resist the temptations.
Wow! Aren’t you amazed too?
If it is that important to Jesus, then I better make a list of things that cause me to slip into sin, and to get rid of them. Hopefully it will not be so drastic as a body part. In fact, generally it is not a foot or hand that makes those decisions to sin, it is our own heart, and some habits or treasures we hold close in our heart. Yet, those may be harder to get rid of than a physical limb.
What about the friends you hang out with?
PRAYER: Lord, I see this is terribly important to You. I do want to obey You and avoid sin. Help me to ferret out the habits and treats I indulge in, which lead me to sin. That means giving up reading of certain materials. TV shows? Yes, I’ll give them all up.
What about sitting in that chair that causes me to daydream and fantasize? Or the catalogues that make me drool with desire? Lord, I’ll need Your help to do some chopping out of my life!
+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++
Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen
P.S. So much fiction nowadays focuses on ‘reality’ - the ugliness of life, the raw pain. Ruthe’s Secret Roses is different in that it focuses on what life should be and can be like if someone has a lively relationship with God. True, there is a lot of suffering in this world, and the book doesn’t hide from that reality, but shows how one young woman deals with it in victory. Wouldn’t you like to see how she does it? Read about the book here
That is the point Jesus is making here. The humble, unassuming attitudes and mindset of a child is what He was referring to, but I see that He gave value to children too, which many ignore. What brought this on was the disciples asking Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” I’m not sure what kind of answered they expected; maybe an angel by name, or someone from history.
But Jesus called and drew nearer a mere child, who probably came shyly, but looked adoringly up at Jesus. Then He said that unless they changed and became as simple and trusting as this child they wouldn’t ever even see Heaven. These are the greatest ones in God’s eyes then; those who come humbly and without questioning into the spiritual realm, and with an unwavering, unaffected trust and worship of the Lord.
Is that all that it takes? You’d think you would have to do more, or say certain good words that would be your key to Heaven. No, all it takes is a simple, child-like faith and devotion to our Lord Jesus.
Can you believe in God, can you love your Saviour like a four or five year old?
What is more, Jesus added that if we accept a child in Jesus’ name and love them the way He does, then we are accepting Him too. We are graded on how we see and receive children generally and individually! What’s your kid-friendly quotient?
PRAYER: Oh Lord, is it really as simple as all this? I just need to trust You and love You the way a pre-schooler might? And to love kids the way You do? I think I’ve drifted a distance from that basic attitude. Help me to return and to truly trust and love You in a most basic and unpretentious way.
I’ve always loved kids and got along with them well, but I don’t know that I realized I was receiving You when I did that. Again, I seem to spend less time with kids, so I need to seek them out and love them for Your sake, as well as my own, or theirs.
Help me bring this mindset to my way of thinking.
+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++
Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen
P.S. Muriel’s older sister Cathy has gone to a party with plans to elope from there. But their mother is dying and wants to talk to Cathy. What is there to do but find her and bring her back - even against her will. How do you suppose Ruthe handled that? Find out by reading, Ruthe’s Secret Roses. Available in e-Book edition Softcover edition.
Jesus and His disciples had arrived back in Capernaum, and the temple tax collectors pulled Peter aside, and asked if his Master paid the temple tax. Peter assured them that Jesus did.
As soon as Peter walked into the house where Jesus was, the Master turned to him, and asked, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes - from their own sons, or from others?”
“From others.” Peter answered quickly.
“Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said. “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open it’s mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Ah-ha! I think I see it! Do you? Jesus was pointing out that it was wrong for the temple to tax it’s own worshipers. The sons, the members of the spiritual family should be tax free. However, so as not to offend them, he sent Peter to go fish (earn) the money and to pay the tax for them both.
From this I learn that Jesus knows when taxes are right or wrong, but there are times when He would just pay it rather than offend someone.
Peter had to go out to earn that tax money, but in paying for Jesus’ share, he also got his own covered.
I wonder - sometimes we fret so much about taxes. If we focused on obeying Jesus, won’t our share of these dues be covered too?
PRAYER: We have a royal standing in You, Lord, and just as You shouldn’t have to pay taxes to Yourself, nor, legally speaking, should we. Lord, in my heart I know I am free! But You are teaching here that we pay taxes anyway, and what’s more - You will supply enough earnings to cover them. Thank You, Lord, for this new attitude to taxes.
+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++
Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen
P.S. God tells me I am His own - does He ever tell you that? You can find out how by reading my novel, Ruthe’s Secret Roses
Dear Friends,
I apologize for the delay, but things have been very busy and hectic here this week. Dad passed away in the Rosthern hospital on Saturday night, and I’ve been going 120 miles per hour pretty well since then. The house is full of relatives, although not all of them are here.
The funeral is this afternoon, and people will be clearing out tomorrow and Saturday. Hopefully next week I can start getting back to my own routines. I’ll be able to give a more full report then.
For now, your prayers are deeply, DEEPLY appreciated.
When Jesus and His disciples reached Galilee, He tried again to tell them that He, the Son of Man, was going to be betrayed into the hands of men, who would kill Him, but on the third day He would be raised to life. This time the disciples heard Jesus, but I think they only understood the “being killed” part, for this passage says they were filled with grief.
Strange, isn’t it, that when we don’t understand something, our hearing, our grasp of what we hear or learn is limited to what we do understand?
The disciples had not seen anyone resurrected so far, so they had no concept of what Jesus meant by that rising again the third day part. Later when they saw Lazarus raised from the dead - well, but even then, they didn’t seem to connect that to what would happen to their beloved Master. They still thought of Him in human terms for the most part.
Now Jesus, on the other hand, saw from a heavenly perspective. He saw the big picture. He knew He would die for our sins, but He also knew there was a resurrection coming!
I’m facing a health issue these days, and have just realized, that God has a bigger picture for all this. Although I may have to go through a crisis right now, there is a bigger picture to this too. Since I can’t see it, or only by faith, I have to trust God to work it out and show me in due time.
Jesus wasn’t trying to keep His disciples in the dark about what was coming for Him. He tried several times to tell them about it, but they weren’t getting it. Am I willing to listen now?
PRAYER: Dear Lord God, I am convicted. I haven’t been listening for Your bigger picture either. I’m sorry. Please forgive me, and help me to really listen to what You’re trying to tell me. No matter what it is. Help me not to just grieve over the sad parts.You have victory solutions all worked out for every situation or issue I’m troubled with. Thank You for showing me this today. Amen.
+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++
Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen
P.S. What kind of things do you say when someone you know is dying of cancer? Or do you stay away? Ruthe was tense as a violin, but she stayed, and prayed, and the right words came to her! Watch how she handles such situations in the book, Ruthe’s Secret Roses.
Arriving at the bottom of the mountain, Jesus, Peter, James, and John found the rest of the disciples excited to see them again. They had been trying to heal an epileptic boy that a father had brought, and their prayers or commands to heal were all for nought.
The father complained to Jesus, “I brought my son to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
Jesus addressed the whole perverse and unbelieving generation (meaning everybody alive at that time?); “How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” He rebuked the demon in the boy, and it came out of him instantly.
A little later the disciples sidled up to Jesus and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive that demon out?” Jesus explained that it was because they had so little faith. It wouldn’t take much faith. They could start with some the size of a mustard seed, but once they would have faith they could move a mountain from here to over there. Nothing would be impossible.
Ah, wouldn’t we all like that kind of faith? I sure do! Not that I want to move mountain ranges for sport, but I’m always running into problems that need solving and either myself or others needing some demons cast out of the way.
Jesus doesn’t say here how to get such faith, but we know from other passages that there is no other way to please Him, and it is how we come to Him about anything. Our faith must not waver.
It is a matter of deciding with our will to trust Christ, and simply take Him at His Word. When we are thoroughly convinced He is who He says He is, and that He never lies, and that we can take His word at face value - then we have that faith.
PRAYER: Oh Lord Jesus, I do believe You are the Son of God, and that You never lie. I choose with my whole being to believe You. Now I just need to study Your Word to know what You’ve said, right? And apply Your Word to every situation.
+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++
Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen
P.S. Oh, how sweet to have a friend who’d drop everything and come when you need her. Ruthe, the heroine of this novel, dashes away from her own grad when her friend Muriel calls. Don’t you wish you had a loyal, caring friend like that? Buy and READ Ruthe’s Secret Roses! e-Book edition Softcover edition.
P.P. S. I apoloigize for this delay of a day. My Dad died on Saturday and the house has filled with relatives, and there is so much going on, it is hard to sneak away to the computer. His funeral is this afternoon.