This
weekend we have had a large gathering of our family at the house in the forest.
All our children, except one, have been staying with us with their precious
children. We have been ten adults and seven grandchildren together for the
weekend, and on Sunday we even had four more visitors. It is such a joy to have
a big family around us like this. All are having a lot of fun as we are
playing, fishing, picking berries, making bird boxes, building huts in the
forest or just talking and fellowshipping.

To me the
highlight was on Sunday morning. We didn’t have enough transportation to go to
any worship services nearby so we decided to have our own family worship. We
had a most wonderful time in the presence of God as we were worshipping God in truth
and Spirit through songs of thanks and praise, testimonies, words of
encouragement, reading of the Scripture, playing instruments etc. Every family
member took actively part and had something to contribute. At the end they all
gathered around us laying hands on Solveig and myself, praying for us and
giving thanks for us. It was a holy moment.

I was moved
to tears many times during our worship time. I was filled with thankfulness to
the Lord for his faithfulness and goodness towards us as a family. It is such a
joy to hear your own children and grandchildren give thanks to God and see the
love for Jesus Christ in their shining faces. I felt so rich and I was
overwhelmed by the goodness of God.

We always
practiced family worship in our home when the children were staying at home and
we often have a time of worship when the family is gathered together. There is
nothing as precious as a family worship in the very presence of God! Even when my
wife and I are the only ones in the house we take time to worship together, but
there is nothing like worshipping together with children and grandchildren!