More Pebbles in the Pond: People and Pebbles: Both Are Unique!

By Doug Hovda and Maureen Hovda

All pebbles are unique. No two are alike. Some are big; some are small. Just as each of us, we are unique. As we walk through life, the pond sends ripples out to the world when the pebbles are tossed into the water. Some make beautiful ripples; others just drop into the pond. May these stories encourage you and help you handle the pebbles in your life as you walk through this world with joy and anticipation, knowing that God has a plan for you and will make a way for you if you will let him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796045468

Doug Hovda

Doug and Maureen were high school sweethearts at Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. God called them while they were at Bible camp and fifteen years old. They began teaching children in Sunday School about Jesus and sharing the gospel at the downtown mission and through child evangelism. During college, they were married on August 24, 1957. They spent forty years sharing Jesus, teaching Bible study groups, and spending time at missions around the world. God then called them to Bolivia for three years. They are eighty-three and eighty-four years old and still are encouraging others through Hovda Ministries and Operation Harvest. Loving God, loving each other, and the stories never end. Enjoy their journal they wrote while in Bolivia. A wonderful read! Doug and Maureen live in Avon, Indiana

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PEBBLES IN

THE POND

People and Pebbles:

Both are Unique!’

DOUG

&

MAUREEN HOVDA

Copyright © 2019 by Doug & Maureen Hovda.

ISBN:                Softcover                978-1-7960-4547-5

             eBook                     978-1-7960-4546-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 07/09/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Arthur John Lyons, Jr

Introduction

Consistency

2018

A New Year

A New Home

Unpacking

My Savior

The Wonder Of His Love

Indy 11 Soccer Match

You Are The Reason

Easter Day

He Is Risen!

Reminiscing

I’m A Child Of God

A Melody Of Love

Spring

Near To The Heart Of God

Armor Of God

The Lord Is Like A Shield Around You

Mother’s Day

Thank God Today

Summer

In The Garden

Because He Loves Me

O, How I Love Jesus

All Of Us

Fall

I Will Praise His Name

On The Road

God Is The Fountain

I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go

Thanksgiving

I’m Not Much To Shout About

My Song Forever Shall Record

Christmas

Luke 2:7-14 Nkjv

Animals And Jesus

Don’t You Know That I Love You So?

Merry Christmas!

Interlude

The Book Of American Negro Poetry. 1922

The Creation

2019

Happy New Year

The Daylight Fills The Sky

Winter

There Is No One Like Jesus

The Love Of God

I Must Tell Jesus

February: Recognized By One Word:

Snow

Seeking

Father, Comfort Me

Shepherd

Spring

On The Road – Again

Let It Be Your Way

On The Road – Again -Again

Easter Day

Ascension

Jesus Is Coming Back!!!

Hallelujah, What A Savior!

Rain

Rainbows Of Love

Mother’s Day

Nature And God

I’ve Got Jesus

On The Road Again - #3

Summer

Flowers

Universal Praise

Lord, I’m Your Big Kid Now

Praise The Lord

Blessed Assurance

Finale Just One More Song

Epilogue

When a set of lyrics for a Public Domain Hymn appears, the source of those lyrics came from a very old hymnal that we own and are listed on the website:

http://www.pdhymns.com

as Public Domain.

Public Domain Christian Poems – SlideShare App

These poems have been collected from many sources and all of them are in Public Domain, and so they can be quoted in any way you like. Edited by Glenn Pease

(Most all of them are by Authors Unknown.)

DEDICATION

We dedicate this book to our heavenly Father,

who created us; our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died for us that we can live for Him, and the Holy Spirit who dwells within us to guide us.

We also dedicate this book to our children Karen and Paul, their spouses, Michael and Jody and our God-given grandchildren Megan, Tim, Ben, Catherine, and Donovan.

Always be who you are, precious in His sight.

Thank you once again to our daughter, Karen Malone, who worked tirelessly editing this book.

Special thanks to our favorite singer, Vera Lyons,

whose husband, Art wrote the words and

music to many songs, some of which are in this book.

Art is now at home with Jesus.

Thank you to our grandson, Benjamin Hovda,

for tossing the first pebble into the pond, which is also the cover for this book.

ARTHUR JOHN LYONS, JR

BY VERA LYONS

Art loved music from a very early age. By the time he was in high school, he could play piano, clarinet, and all the saxophones. He didn’t just play, he played them all very well! His high school jazz band went to Carnegie Hall, and Art won trophies for Best Bari-sax and Best Arranger. (He was writing big band arrangements in high school!)

He went through some very difficult challenges in his life. He lost both of his legs below the knee due to a drunk driving accident. It wasn’t too long before he was able to continue his career as a musician. I didn’t meet him until he was in his 40’s. He did not become a Christian until he was 45.

We were married in 1973 and we have two children—Matthew and Rachel. During the years we were married, Art wrote over 70 Christian songs. I would often come home from teaching 3rd grade, and he would have completed a song during the day! He was incredibly gifted and talented, and God used him to write many wonderful songs. I was blessed to be able to sing many of his songs while he played.

Art died unexpectedly at 58 years old due to a complication during heart surgery. Art’s songs have been a huge blessing to his children and to me. I still miss him, but his songs have kept us close during the years!

INTRODUCTION

Each time you read one of the stories or words to a song or poem and it touches your heart, you can share it with someone who may be encouraged by hearing it.

Each story or situation represents a pebble. The more pebbles tossed into the pond, the more ripples are sent through the water and they become an encouragement to more people over time throughout the world.

CONSISTENCY

God has called you to be faithful

as you run His worthy race;

Be