Faith

He loves to lay down on the floor with a sheet of blank paper in front of him having a movie playing on the screen. He looks at the movie and he draws, sometimes more into the movie, sometimes more into the drawing. Tonight he drew a new kind of house.

It is the house we are going to live in in the future, he told me.

And then we looked at the drawing together, deciding which part he is going to occupy, which part I am going to living in and what everything else are going to be. I love how he fills our house with his drawings, even when I get a bit tired of finding half drawn sheets of paper all over the floor most mornings. I am so grateful to see that he expresses himself through creative ways. I hope he never forgets to imagine, to dream, to make, to create, to not accept that ‘it can not be done’ as good enough answer when it comes to thinking or dreaming up new creative ways to do or live life.

It might seem like a waste of time to dream or make art. But I do not think that it ever is. I think it is one of the most important things in our life; to believe we were created with this wonderful ability to imagine and make, that we can do as the Master Creator does: create things of beauty. Not only because they are practical and useful things – but because they make us HAPPY.

And beauty is so much, we can only take a look around us: people, plants, animals, flowers, houses, the shapes and the colors of things surrounding us all have something beautiful in them. Even my orange crocks and my tea mug got chosen because of their color (crocks) and shape (mug) that I found to be beautiful. I am sure if you look around in your own living room you can find something that makes you smile with delight. And if not, give room for your creative side. Make something or find something other have made and celebrate the beauty you see.

¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
(Eccl. 3:11-13)

He was sitting there by the road. Begging. As he used to do. Then they came. Pulled him up off the ground and wanted him to walk with them. He did knew them. He knew he could trust them. But what was it they wanted? And why this hurry?

He couldn’t ask, neither could he hear the answer. He was born like this. Deaf and mute. He couldn’t join his friends in much, he had trouble learning and working. Usually he sat there by the road with his head held low. Begging money from those walking by. He had to, if he wanted to buy some food for himself at the end of the day.

They made a stop by another man. He had kind eyes. They started talking to the man, sometimes they pointed back at him so he guessed they were talking about him. What was it this time? How he wished he could hear or taken part in the discussion.

The man turned and looked at him. He grabbed him by his arm and pulled him away from the others. It was just the two of them now. The man wet his fingers with spit and took on his tongue. Then he put another finger inside his ear. The man looked up at the sky.

He wasn’t afraid. Only eager to see what happen next. This could be the day he had dreamed of his whole life. He understood that the man wanted to help him by the actions he used. The man used the only language he could understand.

‘Effata’ – the man said.
He did hear it. It wasn’t something he made up. He really could hear it. The first word he ever had heard. He smiled. Moved his togue and tried to say it himself. Effata. It worked. His smile broaden. He turned to the man, wanted to thank him – but he didn’t knew how. He saw the man understood. He run back to his friends. Finally he was able to hear, not only watch, their voices. Take part in the conversations. Smile and laugh with the.

It was the best day in his life! Being brought to this man made all the difference.

People were overwhelmed with amazement. He has done everything well, they said. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.

.:Read the story in Mark 7:31-37:.

Blessed Sunday. Blessed week.

It’s not easy to believe what we haven’t seen and haven’t heard.

I’ve been thinking along these lines today on the first Sunday after Easter Day. I’ve found that sometimes it really isn’t a good idea to believe in all that we’ve told, that is at least the fact when it comes to rumors about people in our neighborhood. I tend to think that most of it isn’t true, at least not until I’ve seen it for my self, but still there might be some truth hidden somewhere. When it comes to my faith in Christ. What then? Is it a rumor placed with his followers, is it the truth? I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, but still I believe the story as told by his disciples and found in the Bible.

Thomas helps me find my faith in the resurrection. And in a way this is his Sunday. He wasn’t with the others on Easter Day. And when the others, with joy in their voices, told him that they had met Jesus. That he was alive and not dead. Thomas could not believe, he found it impossible to even think that it could be the truth, sad as he was about the death of his dear friend. But then he got to meet Him. He got to see Him with his own eyes. This Sunday (the first one after Easter Day) Thomas was together with his friends and he got to meet Jesus. He got to see, he got to touch, he got to say with joy and wonder in his voice: “my Lord and my God”. He knew now, as the others had known for a week already, Jesus was risen. It was the truth. Jesus is alive.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

I’ve been there with Thomas today. Stretched out my arm, touched the wounds, feeling the joy and wonder as I too have said: my Lord and my God.

I don’t understand it all, but I do believe.

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Blessed Sunday!

My Grandpa always told me that it wasn’t really a happy easter until Easter Day. I’m not so sure if I agree, because every day – throughout the year – is a Happy Easter because of what Jesus did almost two thousand years ago. But I still tend to think about my Grandpa when it comes to this, so today I’m going to say – with my broadest smile and warmest voice:

I wish you all a Blessed and Happy Easter Day!

HE IS RISEN! He is here.

Good Friday is a sad and dark day, in many ways. Jesus was sentenced to death. He suffered and he died. In Norway we let Jesus’ sufferings influence the name. We call it Long Friday. In earlier times it was a strange holiday day. Usually the goal of any other holiday was to do as little work as possible; this was a day of hard labor. They wanted to feel the pain in the body similar to Jesus’ suffering so many years before.

Now Good Friday is a quiet day, at least in the churches. Some places there are no music, most places the candle lights aren’t lit (or they might be blown out during the service). There are fewer words spoken, but the readings from the bible is longer than usual.

The day is sad and dark. But still there is some light. What happened, that Jesus died, makes the day filled with quiet joy and thanks because he died loving us all.

Good Friday tells me how much God loves us,
you and me – and every other person on earth (past, now and present).

It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t cheap to show of this love. But it set us free.
Talk about a Good Friday!

Read more about Good Friday in John 18:1-19:30.

God Bless You!

What was he thinking?! Getting down on his knees with water and towel in hand. They all looked at him with astonished faces. What was this? Not a part of the Easter meal that they were supposed to start at any moment; remembering the exodus from Egypt. Sure their feet could use the washing, the streets they had walked in were dusty as any, but not by him; that was just not right!

But he carried on, washing like he was their servant. Until he came to Peter, that was. “No, never shall you wash my feet!” Peter almost screamed to Jesus; this wasn’t how it was supposed to be between a master and his pupil. Peter had to make it stop.

But Jesus simply answered: “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me”, and Peter knew right away that he needed this, he even wanted Jesus to wash his hands and face and all. He so wanted to be tight with Jesus, even though some of his actions might seem a bit odd he didn’t care no more. Peter and Jesus were friends and he truly believed that Jesus was something far more than a normal man – he was the one that should set things right between God and man.

A few years ago I told this story for a children Sunday school group. I had brought a towel and a basin and looked forward to (fake) wash their feet to make them feel how it was back then when Jesus did it to his disciples. But they got disappointed; I didn’t use water and they didn’t have to remove their shoes. They didn’t feel very much like the disciples at all.

It got me thinking; how can we ever live after the word of Jesus about doing as he did on Maundy Thursday?! It’s not like it’s very dusty around here – and it’s not like we are laying at the table when we eat any more either. What did Jesus want us to repeat?

Maybe not so much the actual washing, but the thought about the leader being the servant?! I think that’s it and it’s a huge challenge. It’ll be so much easier just to poor some water in my basin and let them take off their shoes.

…..

Read more about Holy Thursday in John 13.

Wish you all a blessed Holy Thursday!

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A post from the files. Recycling the good words.

Yesterday my nephew cut a few (20ish) branches of pine for me.

Today I asked (very politely) the congregation to please come outside with me to start the service with a little Palm Sunday procession. We handed out the branches and our musician went in the front, together with MT and another kid. While swinging our branches we sang ‘Hosanna’ to Jesus and started our Palm Sunday part of the service (we went through all of the main days of Easter, I’ll get back to the rest of the days later…).

There is something with the things we do, it stays much longer with us than things we just hear or read. I wanted to give a tiny little feeling of being there by the gate of Jerusalem. Shouting out to the Lord with joy and laughter. Welcoming the king to our city.

Hosanna!

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

(John 12:12-13)

A good start to our Easter celebration
Wish you all a Blessed Sunday!

It’s been one of those weekends where I have only a few and short moments to sit down and just relax.

So right now I feel rather empty and tired, even thought the days have been good (most of the time).

Most of my waken hours and commitment went to happenings at church. The youths gathered on Saturday for several hours, to prepare for Kirkens Nødhjelps fasteaksjon (Norwegian Church Aid’s annual fundraising campaign) that we’re having this coming Tuesday – and to prepare for a youth service today (as part of their Confirmant year here in our local Lutheran churches). To keep 32 youths active and happy for 5.5 hours does take some energy, to put it mildly, but we have the best youths so they really were good campers. Sometimes I wonders how much they learn, but hope that something of all I say and all we do stays with them. If nothing more:  that they are loved by God (and us) just as they are.

MT got to spend his Saturday with uncle O and family, so he was over the top happy. It was such a nice and warm spring day so they were outside most of the day, walking in the woods, playing games and having a barbecue. I’m so glad he got to spend his day with family when I was so covered in youths work. (Thank you so much uncle O and aunt GH. We love you!)

Today was another early morning for us. We used the Pearls of Life as the theme for our service and there were lots of details yet to prepare. So I wanted an early start to get all accomplished by the time the service started (come to think of it, that is always a goood plan! lol.) We learned about the pearls throughout the service and for each new pearl the youths lit a candle, read a text from the bible, read about that pearl and sometimes they also read a prayer. We sang plenty of songs as well and a couple of the youths played instruments. It was amazing to see and hear the youths, some had taken extra care to learn their little tasks really well – others not so much – but they all did such a good job non the less. Makes my heart warm and I hope the parents also felt really proud about their youths.

After the service we gathered together to eat cake and talk for a little while. So grateful for those working in the kitchen this day! There were a lot of great conversations going on around the tables. A lot of happy Sunday smiles.

Then I had a few (many) things to clear away and put in order for next week, so it got pretty late before we were ready to head back home. After a quick look at the time I asked MT if he was up for a pizza? He was. Especially for a pizza with lots of chili So we placed our order and went in to pick it up a little bit later. We decided to eat the food outside, since this too was a nice and warm summer day (although not as sunny as yesterday). So we brought the pizza with us to a table next to the water and had a nice relaxing time just enjoying the food, the company and (later) MT got to throw rocks in the water – his favorite thing (at least to do when he is by water of any kind…). I’m so glad that we took time to do this in place of rushing home. This gave us some time together. I got to be outside. And I really weren’t up to the whole making-dinner-thing anyway after such a full day. The pizza was good too – and so were the company!

When we got home MT started drawing. I think he kept going for almost an hour and never asked to go and  see some TV instead. I’m so happy for his drawing, because it makes him slow down and reflect. It gives him a way to express himself as well as a time to gather some energy. And I, I went for the computer. Like a total geek And hopefully I get I got this post posted by the end of the day….. I’m so grateful for that the blogging thing is back in my life.

Wish you all a blessed Sunday!

I have a verse in the Bible I turn to over and over again. It makes me feel safe in Gods hands; just as MT here was feeling safe hand in hand with his Grandparents. I wish I could put all my worrying to God and let him take care of it for me,  I can’t always do that, but I try often. 

Safe, walking with happy steps.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Somehow I always get new strength when I return to this words from Isaiah 41:10.

It’s a beautiful fall Sunday in our parts of the world. I’m in the process of getting ready for a service in the church right next to our house. I’ve been looking forward to this service for quite some time. It’s kind of different. It’s for kids, but also for adults. I’m eager to see if people will come, especially too see if there are children coming. I think there will be.

We’re kicking of a new series of services for Gods children of all ages where we try to speak to and learn with our whole body and mind. Today we are going to play a game and have fun together while we learn new (and old) stuff about our faith. We call the services Sprell Levande Gudsteneste. I don’t know how to translate this into English in an easy way without loosing the meaning. But it is a service (gudsteneste) where we celebrate us being living (levande) creatures playing (sprell) in front of  our living loving God. LOL. Let me know if you find a smashing translation of it We are using this in our Sunday school as well, today the service will (kind of) be a Sunday school class for everybody…. I look forward to it and I hope others do too. Noting like using our whole body and soul to experience God.

This is our text of the day (Mark 10:13-16):

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Church is SO NOT only for the adults or for those understanding it all!

Happy Sunday and Blessed Be <3

NOTE! My comments doesn’t work. I’m working on figuring out why..
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Lately I’ve been thinking a bit about why it is that I believe in the impossible. Yea, because I do! And sometimes I wonder why that is. Because, in a way, it would be so much easier to just don’t believe – to just say “well, I don’t think it is that possible to be raised from the grave” or “I’m sure the disciples just missed him so much that they started to believe he had resurrected, even though it all just happened in their minds”  (just to take a few of the many reasons not to believe).

But, you know what? I still believe. I can’t use these (or other) sentences because I do think the impossible is possible, I do believe that God is bigger than my understanding of him is. And I can’t find any reason for the change that occurs in the disciples behavior and attitude, other than in believing they tell the truth.

Thomas helps me find my faith in the resurrection. And in a way this is his Sunday. He wasn’t with the others on Easter Day. For some unknown reason  he wasn’t there when Christ came visiting. And when the others, with joy in their voices, told him that they had met Jesus. That he was alive and not dead. Thomas could not believe, not until he could see it with his own eyes. The next Sunday (as in this Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter Day) Thomas was together with his friends and he got to meet him. He got to see, he got to touch, he got to say with joy and wonder in his voice: “my Lord and my God”. He knew now, as the others had known for a week already, Jesus was risen. It was the truth. Jesus is alive.

I’ve been there with Thomas today. Stretched out my arm, touched the wounds, feeling the joy and wonder as I too have said: my Lord and my God.

I don’t understand it all, but I do believe.

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read more in John. 20:16->

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.

This Sunday was all about keeping two thoughts in our head at the same time.

1. we are loved by God and are free to live with joy
2. we are different from God and do (or don’t do) things that mess up our relationship with God

In our service today we had both this aspects clearly with us: 4 children where there to be baptized and we had a special liturgy focusing on our need to repent and pray for mercy (we called the day bots- og bededag in Norwegian). I think we managed to give both these aspects weight through music, words and actions, but it took some preparations and thoughts throughout the week.

If we speak the truth about our selves – God will speak His truth.

When we realize just how much we are loved, when we realize just how much effort God took to make the wrongs right between himself and us, when we realize what we have in Jesus Christ – our life will change. We will not become perfect human beings doing nothing wrong to God or the people around us, but we will dare to go to our God with our life; the good and the bad. We can do that because through Jesus we are forgiven, still sinners – but forgiven sinners.

So speak the truth and receive Gods grace and forgiveness. There is nothing like it (and to be honest we need it more than once a year!).

Blessings

Today I’ve been thinking about the man that got lowered down before Jesus while he (Jesus) was preaching the word of God inside a friends house. Someone thought that bringing their friend to there were more important than keeping up with the normal rule about not breaking anything that doesn’t belong to you (like a roof…). I’ve been thinking about the man laying on the stretcher; what was he thinking about it all and how did he felt when everybody was looking at him – the intruder.

I guess a myriad of thoughts and feeling went through him, but one might have struck him as something new. He got to experience that he was loved by God, maybe for the first time ever. Back then they believed that there was a reason for being sick; someone (he or his parents) must have done something really bad for him to be this sick. They thought the sickness was God’s way of punishing people for their sins. So naturally most people kept a distance to the sick people,  they couldn’t go against God’s punishments; so to speak. It’s not an easy burden to carry, in addition to being sick he also felt that God didn’t like him very much. I’m so glad we don’t think like this any more (or do we??!).

I’m so glad Jesus is by our side for the good as well as the bad days. I’m so glad that I everyday can know that Jesus loves me more than I know – he loves you too; all of us!!

The man got his life back, he got forgiven and he got his health. I’m not sure what he would say was most important if I asked him, but I know that even though life doesn’t always show it’s good side – through it all we are loved by God. We can live our life knowing that that never goes away. This week I will think about the blessing in that; even though I see sickness and hard times so many places – God does see it too.
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PS: you can find the text in Mark 2:1-12