Little House, Big Family, Great Faith

By Pete Lundmark

Pete Lundmark invites you to join him on his spiritual journey as he pauses to reflect on his relationship with the God who loves and saves us.

Along the way, Pete recounts how he overcame the challenges of a learning disability and conquered night terrors. Sometimes, his choices were not the best, like when he jumped on iceber

• Language: English
• Publisher: Little House Press
• Release date: Sep 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088283653

Pete Lundmark

Peter Lundmark was born into a family of 11 children, raised up in a simple little home in the middle of a cornfield in North Central Illinois during the 50's and 60's. He was taught by his parents to have great faith and to exercise it. This faith sustained him as he faced many trials and difficulties throughout his lifetime.Share your own faith stories with him at [e-mail].

Book preview

Little House, Big Family, Great Faith

Peter Lundmark

I would like to dedicate this book in memory of my parents and to my deceased siblings who are now in Heaven. Their past examples of love and faith in God has been an encouragement to me as well as to the rest of my family.

Endorsements

I really enjoyed reading your book. I think it will not only be a testimony to family and friends, but to others who read it as well.

~ Grace Lundmark, Author of Chloe May, Daughter

of the Dust Bowl, and Down in God’s Miracle Valley

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Pete for many years, he is the real deal! The love for the Lord he shares in this book is genuine. I have no doubt that you’ll be inspired by his many stories of God’s love and intervention.

~ Nick Pacholski, Affiliate Faculty at Olivet Nazarene

University and Executive Pastor at Peoples Church

I love your book and know that it will be an inspiration.

~ Tammy Griffin, former elementary teacher and

principal, and creator of Tammy Book Parlor,

at tammybookparlor.blogspot.com

This is a story of a young boy growing up in the ‘50s and ‘60s on the eastern edge of a small town in north-central Illinois. The sixth child in the family of eleven children, he was taught the Word of God which became part of him. He realized that the promises in God’s Word were for him. The answers to prayer and miracles that took place in his life were written down to inspire and encourage God’s faithfulness. His prayer is that the reader will be blessed and encouraged as they read about the events as they took place throughout his lifetime.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the following for their support and assistance:

Lucille Lundmark — My mother who supplied testimonies of faith and healing that occurred during my grandparent’s lifetime.

Kathy Frolich Bates — For taking time out of her busy schedule to read through my manuscript, and offered valuable advice and encouragement to publish this book. Kathy is the author of the book Broken Spirit to Boundless Joy and creator of Your Inspired Books, Coaching & Publishing Services.

Grace Lundmark — My sister-in-law who read this document and shared valuable insight. Grace is the author of the books, Chloe May, Daughter of the Dust Bowl and Down in God’s Miracle Valley.

Tammy Griffin — Retired principal and school teacher who edited and provided much needed assistance with content and grammar.

Shawn Zeilenga — A talented friend who took time from his busy schedule and created the design for my book cover. Shawn is currently the Director of Marketing at Peddinghaus Corportation.

Cathy Lundmark — My wonderful and loving wife who helped in organizing and reading my manuscript.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Conclusion

Notes

About the author

Introduction

A few years ago as I was praying, I asked the Lord if I still could be used by Him. We need to speak to God as if He is in our midst. And friends, He is in our midst. God said that He would never leave or forsake us. Proving that He is present with us right now. With that said I prayed, God I am a senior citizen now. So many people can accomplish so much more for you than I could ever think of. Immediately the spirit of God spoke to my heart. Peter, that got my attention. Very few people have ever called me by my given name, except for my family.

Again the spirit of God emphasized my first name Peter and left this impression in my heart, I will use you as you are. Don’t try to be someone else. It does not matter how old you are. You can write and speak of my faithfulness through the years. While meditating I was impressed to write a book showing how the living God showed up at the very time He was needed. Giving examples of various miraculous events that took place during my youth and throughout my adult life.

As I sat down to write a thought came into my heart. If you will be clay in the Master’s hands, He will shape you into a useful vessel for His service. Clay depends on the potter’s hand to shape it. So we must depend on the hand of God in our life to shape us into that special vessel for the Master. As we walk, listen and obey His voice, we will be guided by His Spirit and used for His glory.

The purpose of writing this book is to tell the world the good news of the gospel. (John 3:16) What God accomplished at the cross of Calvary is for everyone, salvation as well as healing. We cannot enter Heaven with a sin-sick soul that is lost. God wants us to be born again, as well as healed. After much consideration, thought and prayer, I felt inspired to title this book Little House, Big Family, Great Faith. Throughout my life God has always shown His faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) tells us, ….For His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

This is a story, my story, of growing up in the '50s and '60s in a little house on the eastern edge of a small town in north central Illinois. Even though we had a small home and a large family, I was taught that I could have big faith. The sixth child in the family of eleven children, I was taught the Word of God and it became part of me. I realized that the promises in God’s word were for me. The answers to prayer and miracles that took place in my life were written down in this book to inspire and encourage readers to trust God. My prayer is that you will be blessed as you read the following events as they took place throughout my lifetime.

Chapter 1

Remembering

At a young age, I learned that God cared for me. As you read this book, may you also look back and see the faithfulness of God. What God has done for me, he also can do for you. Let God excite and stir your heart and spirit as you read the actual accounts of God’s faithfulness as it unfolds. Some of the stories in the following chapters may be humorous but all are true.

There should be times of reflection when we look back and remember how the living God came through for us time and time again. This should help us to look forward with a guarantee of faith knowing that He who is faithful will always keep His promises to us His children. The answers to our prayers should be retold and passed down to the next generation. Our children and grandchildren should know the story of God’s faithfulness to us. This will help them in their walk with God.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (KJV) states And thou shalt love thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up.

Also in Psalms 78:4 (KJV) King David declares that We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the next generation to come the praises [or glorious deeds] of the Lord, and his strength, [or might] and the wonderful works [or wonders] that he has done. In other words, we should continually recite God’s faithfulness. As a baby boomer, I witnessed the space race to the moon. Then there were those tense moments during the Cuban missile crisis. Most people thought that nuclear war could happen at any time. It seemed that fallout shelters were being built everywhere. The decade of the ‘60s were a turbulent time. The assassinations of three very influential men shook this country to its very core. Our President, John F. Kennedy, was shot and died in 1963. Then our civil rights leader Martin Luther King and Senator Robert Kennedy were both shot and killed in 1968. Russia and the United States were in a cold war which kept the tension between our two nations at a record high. The Vietnam War was going on, with no end in sight. This brought about antiwar and peace protesting almost everywhere across our great country. Then along came the hippies and free love. Also in 1969, we witnessed the Woodstock music festival taking place in New York, drawing half a million youth together. Here they partied, had a free for all and did their thing. As these things progressed we witnessed the beginning of young people wearing psychedelic clothing, mini-skirts, knee-high black boots, and maxi dresses on women and bell-bottom pants becoming the norm.

Even though this was a great time to be alive, with the beginning of the muscle car era, it also was a time of youth rebellion, resistance, turbulence, and violence. What did we as a people have when we mixed all of this together? We had violent riots which resulted in the destruction of buildings and death. Different movements spread across the country involving our young people. Young men rebelled and started growing long hair, many dropping out of school. Some of these protests were violent which resulted in buildings being burnt, people hurt and killed during these activities.

The list goes on as our young people engaged in sex, drugs, rock & roll and took part in the pop music revolution. During this era, the young people of this nation seemed to be in limbo and were looking for something. They wanted change and rebelled against the government and anything that had to do with it. Our entertainment changed. Looking back, I remember many of the youth listening to the top rock and roll performers of that time. Their kind of music came over most of the radio and TV stations, exciting the young people as no other music had ever done before. This music no doubt helped to change this nation in many different ways. More popular than Jesus now, was an alarming statement made by a famous star. Even though America was founded on Biblical principles, we as a nation began to slide away from our roots as a Christian country. Part of this may have been because we were experiencing a time of prosperity. On the flip side, we also were experiencing the move of God in the charismatic movement, healing revivals which resulted in many souls being saved and brought into the kingdom of God. All of the historical events, the cultural changes, and the music of that era had my mind spinning, reeling, and rocking. But the most important influence of all that took place which shaped my mind and heart with the desire to serve the living God, is the Christian values imparted to me by my parents and church. Mom was a Godly, born-again Christian. Every evening she read the Bible to us during devotions. She was a Christian example to us siblings at home, as well in our neighborhood, while shopping in the city, and while visiting relatives. Everyone knew that she loved both God and the Bible.

I was blessed to see and hear what God Had accomplished in both my parents and grandparents lives. Our relatives did not have ready access to doctors and hospitals like we do today. Health and financial issues had to be placed in God’s hands. They believed that the Bible was the inspired word of God and stood firm on those promises that were given by God. Knowing that ….. all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23 KJV)

Chapter 2

Examples of Faith and Believing God

There were times when mom would call us together after breakfast, announcing, let us make root-beer. Now, this was my favorite 1950’s drink. Plus it was fun to make. Making this brew was done in a