Category Archives: Faith

thought

Sunday Thought | Acts 8:26-39

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Do you believe, with your whole heart?

Found heart

It was only hours before he had sat there in his carrier not understanding the meaning of the words he read. He most have said it out loud for suddenly there was another man standing beside him asking him: ”Do you understand what you read?”. It was Fillip, one of Jesus’ disciples, and as the man went ahead with his journey Fillip came with him and helped him to see how the prophecy came true in Jesus. How Jesus gave his life so others could live, how he was resurrected so we could have a hope for a future beyond this life. 

His whole life got different then and there. Now he understood so much more of what he had read. Now he also understood that he needed Jesus more than he ever had needed someone else, being a man of power as he was. When he saw the water stream ahead he tuned to Fillip asking for help to get baptized.

Do you believe with you whole heart? Fillip answered. And together they went down to the shore and the man got baptized then and there. Changing his life forever.

heart cloud

This week I will live, believe and pray with my whole heart too. Opening up for good things to happen. Living the length and the width of my life. Hope you’ll join me!

Just me.

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Sunday Thought | Mark 6:30-44

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You might have heard the story a million times. You might been so used to thinking of how Jesus took 2 fishes and 5 breads to feed the thousands – that you don’t recognizes how impressive that is. Or maybe you don’t think it is possible and are getting frustrated with the story all together. I don’t know. I really don’t. All I know is that today we are stopping by the story in church (at least here in the Lutheran church of Norway). And here are a few thoughts of mine about it:

summer vacation 2012 | he got fish

It’s one of the stories that challenges many of us because it’s breaking the rules. The rules of nature as we all have come to know them. Some believe that the biggest wonder of this day is that people reached for their own food and started sharing it with others. And that is a big deal, no questions, we should do that more often; sharing what we’ve been given with others. But, I’m not sure if that is how the story went, how strange it may seem. Because I think that a God that have created this wonderful world of ours and that resurrected Christ on the third day – for sure – can feed everyone with the smallest amount of resources.

slices bread

I also believe that if we are willing to give our resources to the Lord, no matter how small they might seem. The good Lord can make it into something more, something that can bless the people we share this world with. That is big!

So don’t underestimate the small stuff – they are great things waiting to happen!!

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Uncertainty | Sunday Thought

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A little while ago I sat down to watch Oprah’s interview with Brenè Brown on Super Soul Sunday (it’s in two episodes, by the way, free to watch here and here. You should!). It inspired me deeply. One of her words about faith stuck with me:

Faith minus vulnerability and mystery is extremism. Don’t call it faith if there’s no vulnerability and uncertainty. If you have all the answers don’t call what you do faith! (Dr. Brenè Brown. PHD, LMSW)

Today I was reminded about it again as I meet Thomas, he whom had such a struggle to believe the others joy of Christ’s resurrection. He just could not believe. He had not seen.

And then he met Jesus.

In my mind I was there with him today and saw how his world got turned up side down – in the best positive way – as he too dared to believe, dared to accept what he saw even though he did not understand how it all happened.

I have never seen like Thomas saw, still I believe partly because of him. I’m thankful to know that I’m not alone when I feel uncertain, but mostly I’m thankful for how he shows me that Jesus is someone to have faith in. Even when I don’t have all the answers. Maybe especially then.

Blessings.
PS: Read more in the bible, this Sunday from: Joh 20:24-31

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Joy | Easter Day

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I’ve thought a lot about the feelings the biblical Easter stories holds this week. There is the simple, easy joy that is contagious, but isn’t deep as we meet it in the crowd on Palm Sunday. The wonder and worry as we read through the happenings on Maundy Thursday and the sorrow of Good Friday.

I’ve been thinking about Jesu’s friends and his followers, the closest few especially. How did they feel? How much did they understand of things as they happened? What would I have felt if I lived through the days together with them? (The easy answer to the last question: all the feelings possible, from good to bad – and back again! But, wow, what a week!)

open grave

Easter Day is a very special day. It’s the day that we celebrate the impossible. That Christ is risen. That hope is restored. Only, this day is not filled with the carefree joy from Palm Sunday. This is a joy that had a high price, a joy that is deep and founded in Gods love for us. For all of us. First told by the women visiting the grave, not expecting anything else but to do what tradition and love asked. Instead they met an empty tomb and an angel giving them the best message any human have ever been told to deliver: He is not here, he is risen from the death! No wonder they hurried back to the others, no wonder their voices filled with hope and joy as they told and retold.

Every day I felt a little bit of that joy. Today I remind my self to savor it, to recognize it, to appreciate it and to share it with others. Happy Easter, indeed!!

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To Serve | Maundy Thursday

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A little Sunday Thought on a Thursday, as this Thursday is filled with stories. Stories that surprise, that heal and stories that splits. Here is one of them:

After teaching and healing by the temple for several days he gathered his friends together for the Easter meal. As they sat down to enjoy the feast he surprisingly took of his cape and filled a bucket with water. He knelt down beside the first one. He wanted to wash their feet. A dirty job usually deserved for the lowest low. What was their Master doing?!

As he continued to wash their feet he let them know – and feel – what love was. What love is. The water and the act of cleaning bound them together. He was not put here on earth to rule, but to serve. To give himself for others. To set us free.

Peter was the only one that dared to protest. He did not like to have his Master and Teacher kneeling down beside him with his bucket of water and towel in his belt ready to wash. No, Peter said, I can not let you do this. If I don’t do this we have nothing in common, Jesus answered, this act bind us together in compassion, in love and in faith.

Peter let Jesus wash his feet. Of course he did.

What would you have done?!

Washing feet (–> read John chapter 13 to learn more about Maundy Thursday)

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Loving having some daffodils by the door.

Being there | Palm Sunday

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Palm Sunday
I’m not sure if you have been there today, in your mind, together with the people gathered by the gate. I’m not sure if you have laid down your clothes or taken branches of the nearby threes for the king as he approached. I’m not sure if you took part in the shouting and rejoicing: Hosanna! I’m not sure if you followed him into town where he sat down by the temple entrance to teach and heal.

I’m not even sure if you like the idea of pretending being there. Pretending to hear, to smell, to participate and see. But I will highly recommend it. It’s a great way to make the story come to life. It’s the only way to be there yourself, even thought it’s been years and years since the event happened.

I like to do it. I like to pretend. To hear, smell, participate and see as good as my imagination can make it happen. Some stories is easier than others. Some times in my life makes it easier as well, and some make it harder.

When I think about this story I try to hear the carefree joy in the peoples voices. Hosanna! The king is here, we have no worries in the world. I think about how easy it is to get carried away with this joyful song and shouting. How it is contagious and how it spreads through the gathered people.

The children takes part in the joyous occasion too (off course). Later in the day they can be heard by the temple shouting out their Hosanna! Laughing and having fun as they relive the moment by the gate, again and again.

I want to join them in their silly singing. I think that this is just the kind of silliness that gets God himself to smile with us.

So swing your palm, sing Hosanna from the top of your lungs and meet the king of kings with joy. I’ll be right there next too you joining in as well.

Daily Instagram | Tulip

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