Archive for November, 2009

Just a little note to wish my US friends: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I really wish we had adopted this holiday from you instead of Halloween – living in one of the richest lands in the world should make us give thanks as a nation at least once a year…..

I have so much to be thankful for, on top of my list are my kid, my faith and my family & friends (both in-real-life and online).

Wish you all the best!

anneberit <3

We’ve reached the last Sunday in our church year in my Lutheran church of Norway.

When Advent rolls around we’ll start the new church year, with it’s new beginnings and Christmas story unfold.

But first we have to get by the Last Sunday of the Church Year. And as you might have guessed the theme and texts are from the Last Day, the Day of Judgment. There are so many different approaches to this; some thinks that this is more important than life on earth and spend their whole life thinking about how they are going to be judged – others thinks that this is the most unimportant thing to worry about and spend their whole life living in and of the world.

Most of us is somewhere in between.

I know I am, and even though I love living my life knowing there is a heaven and hoping for the future beyond my life here on earth, I’m also a very down-to-earth kind of person. So for me the most important about this day in our church year isn’t to prepare for Judgment Day in it self; I know Christ died on a cross for me and payed my dept and in him I’m free – no matter what!

Still I think it is important to let the texts and the theme inspire me to do good – not for my own sake, but because other people needs me and my help; big or small.

Yesterday I found this challenge to be nice – Operation Nice. I’m not always nice, but I try to be – so I’m putting this in my sidebar (later today) hoping that it’ll inspire me to do better, make it a priority. Imagine how the earth would be if everyone tried to be nice each and every day.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Scripture from Matt 25:39-40.

Have a blessed Sunday – remember you are loved by God!

When I prepared for the sermon(s) for today I was stuck in a rut for a long time. I just could not figure out how to tackle the text in a down to earth and simple sermon. But finally I got help from above (glad God always comes through when I need it; he just lets me think good and long; getting some use of the brain he have designed for me……lol). Anyhow, I ended up in the baptist church I visited in New York all those years ago (May, 2003) – a few words from the sermon hold by a energetic female pastor really stuck with me (- and I know; I’ve told you before, here and here but here it goes again..since it’s still good and useful).

LET GO – AND LET GOD!!

When everything are being just too much, whether it’s the faith or the life in general getting too hard to handle; give room for God and amazing things might happen <3 And also remember that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6) – maybe we won’t catch all the balls we joggle in our life; everything probably won’t be all finished and made complete before the day we’ll meet our Lord. But while we’re down here we have our God by our side – helping us; giving peace when things gets a bit overwhelming; telling us how much he loves us when we need that extra loving to pull through – and more. So:

LET GO – AND LET GOD!!
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It’s been a day filled with church, psalms, sermons and being together as a congregation. I’ve had services in two churches and met a lot of people (some new to me, a good bunch of them family and people I knew off back when I visited Grandma in her yellow house – a long time ago!) – it’s been nice and I love to get to know more about the churches around here and the people as well.

Tonight I’ve enjoyed a few more videos of card making over at K. Werner’s blog (love them) and now I’m listening to Christmas music and getting in the holiday mood. Got to love that Can’t wait to hang my stars in the windows at the first Sunday of Advent; think I might need a few new stars as well; this house comes with a lot of windows Soon I’ll be heading to bed, though, it’s after midnight here at our place (again)..

Blessed Week to you.

Just a little not from me tonight.

It’s been one of those really busy weeks for us. Mostly work, but also a few other things chiseled itself into the days. I’m happy to say I don’t have the flu, even thought I had to spend most of the morning on the sofa yesterday – I was running out of energy and needed some recharging….

The evenings I’ve spent being inspired by a card making wonder maker Kristin Werner – and it’s been so much fun – and about the only thing I could manage in the late evenings after some days and afternoons with work. Here is one of my favorite Christmas card videos, if it ever slow down around here I want to make something like this and send out to a few dear friends (but more realistically, I’ll be sending you my love with a letter printed out here at home with a few gorgeous photos of my kid on it – and possibly some snow trowed in for good measure….) lol. It gets me inspired non the less and one day I will make my own cards, that is a promise!!

Anyhow, I’m working on my sermon tonight – so I’d better get around writing a few words before I jump in bed in a short hour for my beauty sleep. Really need all the sleep I can get these days…. A few words from Phil. 1:6-7a to end of this blog post:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart…..