Merry Christmas

In case you've missed it

Dear Reader,
Yesterday I wondered if John 3:16 would turn up a third time and it did. Sometimes a special Bible verse appear sent from different places and in a short time and now it has been John 3:16 involved in Christmas preparations.
Today I got an e-mail that kind of said the same as John 3:16 just in other words. A letter from Wendy Alec; one of the founders of the God Channel TV, sending TV-programs from Jerusalem all over the world.

From Wendy:

Dearest Saints,

The Lord wants to reveal His mercy, His compassion and loving-kindness and I sense He wants to sing a love song over His people. I pray you will be comforted by these words, even as you share them with others.

For those of you who feel abandoned, who feel the Lord has forsaken you, has left you, for those that don’t understand the things that have been happening in their lives... maybe you are there and you feel that you can’t even make it through the day... know that His goodness and His Mercy will never leave you.

Oh how He loves you this day and, like a daddy, He would sing to His child. Like a daddy He would sing over you, the King’s Lullaby and draw you close. You may not have understood anything that has been going on, you have loved Him, served Him and yet you haven’t understood what has been happening in your life. He would draw you, draw you to Himself and kiss you from the Father’s throne.

"Oh My child, I would draw you tight, don’t let the devil lie about My goodness, about My loving-kindness. I am the One who will never forsake you, I am the One who will always be with you. I am the One who is closer than a brother, I am the One who loves you more than any lover."

The Father has not forsaken you, beloved. Jesus has not forgotten you. The Father brought His Son into the world that you might have eternal life. Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and He knows the very number of hairs on your head. But, Jesus did not only come to secure your eternity, but that you might also overcome in this life. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith and what He has begun in us He will take through to completion.

(Hebrews 12:2)

And, always, remember the devil always attacks you the most just before your greatest victory, that the time you are hit the worst is JUST BEFORE you come into the fullest fruit of your ministry. Great Endurance produces great favour!

WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND EVERY BLESSING FOR THE NEW YEAR from the Alec family - Rory, Myself, Samantha and Christian – to you and yours, and of course from the heart of every GOD TV team member across the regions.

With Love,

"Cristmas for dummies."

Dear Reader,
Yesterday, a monthly local newspaper came with the mail. It contains advertisements from the local shops, but as I turned a page I was confronted with a headline called "Christmas for dummies".
"At Christmas there is more than just one day to celebrate. Are you aware of them all?"

1/ First of Advent is the first day of the church year and Jesus is welcomed as the Messiah. Fasting begins as a preparation for Christmas.
2/Second of Advent; The coming of the Kingdom of God.
3/ Third of Advent; The life of John the Baptist.

Christmas; Celebrated to the memory of the birth of Jesus Christ. The official Swedish Christmas starts on the 24th of December, and is ended on the 12th of January; Hilarymas Day, when the Christmas tree should be thrown out.

Days celebrating some of the saints;
6th of December St Nickolaus
10th of December St. Lucas
26th of December St. Stephanos.

Feast of Epiphany.
Is the oldest of the days celebrated around Christmas.
In the Orthodox Church the birth of Jesus is still celebrated on the 6th of January.
The western church started celebrating the birth of Jesus on the 25th of December after the Nicaean meeting.
We celebrate the three wise men or kings on this day. Their symbol; three crowns has been taken into the Swedish national coat of arms and also ended up on Swedish hockey players' shirts.

New Years Eve;
In the church calendar it is related to the circumcision of Jesus on the 8th day after Christmas.
In the secular calendar it is a new calendar year. In old Soviet Union Christian celebrations were forbidden so the New Year celebration became the biggest festival.

And the last information in the article was this:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3: 16."

This is the second time this Bible verse appears for me in a fortnight. It usually comes my way a third time so I wonder when the third time will be; and how.

Sincerely yours,
Ida

PS.
Soviet Union was dissolved but Christmas is still celebrated all over the world DS.

(for more information about the bracelet:
http://christianbracelets.com/john%203%2016%20bracelet.html#psalm23bracelets)

The reason for the season.

Dear reader,
I overheard a conversation the other day. It was hard not to hear it because we were standing on each side of a shelf looking at some Christmas decorations on a flee market. I couldn't see what one of the ladies had picked up but she was very pleased and said to her companion: "This is fun. At least he can't complain since it's not Jesus."
I guess "he" was somebody who might otherwise object to her new "investments" but still would be pleased that it wasn't Jesus.
I bumped into the two ladies one more time on my tour around the shop and they had found more "treasures". I left empty-handed.
I couldn't get the conversation out of my head.. As long as it wasn't about Jesus they were satisfied. And still "he is the reason for the season" as it says.

Later I went to the local book shop and they had put on display many beautiful Christmas cards but not one had a motive with Jesus. I said with a smile: No Jesus this year either? The owner of the shop said there were plenty of other Christmas cards so it was no problem. No problem? I should think there is a big problem when Jesus is banished from Christmas.

But the message of Christmas still is : "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3: 16.

Sincerely yours,
Ida

Sparrows ... and other birds ...

(click on picture to enlarge)

Dear Reader,
When I found this painting I came to think of Matthew 10: 29-31

Matthew 10:29-31(REB)
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet without your Father’s knowledge not one of them can fall to the ground. As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than any number of sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 (The Message MSG Bible)
“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. 30 He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail–even numbering the hairs on your head! 31 So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

Ever asked yourself why Jesus chose sparrows when he told the disciples that they were " worth more than many sparrows"? Why not eagles, peacocks, or some other spectacular bird? What bird would you have chosen?
Sincerely yours
Ida

Painting made by Vladimir Rumyantsev

God has a tattoo

Dear reader,
Isaiah 49:16 says
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

The essential idea is, that you are dear to God's heart; and that he has sketched your name as an object in which he feels a deep interest - so deep as even to write your name on the palms of his bands, where it is constantly before him.

Thy walls - The meaning is, that he constantly looks upon you; that he never forgets you. He has a constant and sacred regard for you, and always remembers you.

Sincerely your, Ida

First of Advent - Messiah is coming !

Dear Reader

Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey and people praised him as The Messiah. So many years later Jesus is still coming to each and everyone of us who invites him into our hearts. Now we start a 4 week celebration of the coming of Jesus; with joy that we can celebrate the birth of our savior. We need to remember how he came, how he lived, how he died and rose from the dead and how he is still moving in the hearts of you and me who invites him to be our savior.
When we look around in this crazy world we might say "Do something Lord, or we will perish!" But he has done something already.
For so God loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Jesus.
Sincerely Yours, Ida

Wherever I go; in forests, on mountains and in valleys; a friend follow me and I hear his voice ...

Dear reader,
The video is from a Swedish TV program called "Do you remember the song?"It aired between 1998-2000 and was the Swedish version of "Gaither homecoming".
The song is a well known and loved Swedish psalm composed in 1847 by Carl Olof Rosenius

Stuart Townend - Spirit of heaven - Christ in me

Spirit of heaven, flood over me
Forming Christ in all that I do
Turn every sinful desire in me
Into holy passion for You

O Spirit of God, come down
Let mercy and grace abound
My passionate prayer shall be
Christ in me

Spirit of beauty and holiness
Come refine with fire from above
Till I am cast in Your righteousness
And I love the things that You love

O Spirit of God, come down
Let mercy and grace abound
My passionate prayer shall be
Christ in me

Breathe Your forgiveness when darkness falls
And my heart is heavy with sin
Fill me with faith for the higher cause
Of the ceaseless praise of the King

O Spirit of God, come down
Let mercy and grace abound
My passionate prayer shall be
Christ in me

Stuart Townend - There is a hope

THERE IS A HOPE
by Stuart Townend and Mark Edwards
Copyright (c) 2007 Thankyou Music.

There is a hope that burns within my heart,
That gives me strength for ev'ry passing day;
a glimpse of glory now revealed in meager part,
Yet drives all doubt away:
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiv'n;
and Christ in me, the hope of heav'n!
My highest calling and my deepest joy,
to make His will my home.

There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
A consolation strong against despair,
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Savior there!
Through present sufferings, future's fear,
He whispers, "Courage!" in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.

There is a hope that stands the test of time,
That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
To see the matchless beauty of a day divine
When I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die,
and every longing satisfied,
then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
For I am truly home.

Psalm 91:4

Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

(Got this from a friend in Florida. She didn't tell who the photographer is so I don't know either. If you recognize it please tell and I will credit the rightful owner)

"A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish" (Isa. 42:3).

There Is A Balm In Gilead

Dear Reader,
I got a letter from a dear friend yesterday and her words brought this song to my mind.
Her answer was like "balm" to my soul. I'm blessed with a friend who is a wise woman, a trustworthy woman and a woman of God who believes in Jesus /Yeshua/ as her savior and in a moment of need for help she always has a word of comfort and encouragement. So I praise God for her friendship and share the song with you

Sincerely yours, Ida

"The Paradoxical Commandments"

"The Paradoxical Commandments" were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders. It has also a second version credited to Mother Teresa.

1.The Original Version:

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
   Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
   Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
   Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
   Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
   Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
   Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
   Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
   Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
   Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
    Give the world the best you have anyway.

© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith

2. This version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Sincerely yours, Ida

FAll ... and the need to care

Dear Reader,
September is here; with mornings filled with chill in the air and fog covering the fields like a loosely knitted blanket and the geese are going south. The young geese are trying to perfect their formation with various results. They cry out to each other to keep the v-line and to keep the formation because that is the only way they will succeed in reaching their destiny.

How we need each other as human beings. Being alone can be fatal. A human touch can bring a sad heart to recover and a kind word heals wounds.

"Security is always another person" is a quote from another blogger "Harpasione". When everything is said and done it is the people we have known that counts. Some in a formal way; some as close to us as our hearts but they all matter one way or the other.

Sincerely yours
Ida

James Taylor The Water Is Wide

Bless me

Lord Jesus,
If you stood before me,
here,
visible,
like you stood before Thomas
maybe I wouldn't dare kiss your feet
because I have unclean lips.

But when you are gone,
I would bend down
on the spot where your feet touched the floor.
with my forehead touching the floor.

But Lord, you are here,
as you promised.
Therefore I bend all the way down and I ask you to
put you hand on my head and bless me.

For the one who is alone.

Lord God, help those who are alone
alone in being your disciple,
alone in yearning for a Christian life,
alone in knowing about the secret of you, Lord Jesus.

alone in a family,
alone at work,
alone in a group of friends,

alone when blessing the food,
alone in sneaking into a place for prayer,
alone in attending church.

Lord God tell this lonely person:
"I Am" with you
don't be afraid, I have redeemed you,
I have called you by your name,
you are mine".

Amen

/Painting by Natasha Villone/

Potrait of a friend

Potrait of a friend

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts,
or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will
search for answers.

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain,

nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.


I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship,

from your values, from me.
I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting.
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces

and put them back in place.

I can't tell you who you are.
I can only love you and be your friend.

--Unknown

Heritage Singers

NOT disqualified

( Icon "The Holy Trinity". Painter: Robin Johansson
His Blog: http://kristenkyrka.wordpress.com/ )

Dear Reader,
Time passes quickly and posts have become more rare. In May I reached one year of blogging and I think one or two people have returned here and I hope they have found comfort and thoughts that have encouraged them. I have asked myself several times if this has any value to anyone out there or if it has just been self serving; but then again if it has helped just one it has served its purpose.

The title of the post comes from a meeting with a stranger some weeks ago. He came uninvited on a mission to make me a new member in the organization he belongs to. He has to do his work to qualify for the Kingdom of God.

He wanted me to study his literature and most of all join his organization in order to be qualified for the Kingdom of God. I told him I was already qualified for the Kingdom of God because Jesus had died in my place, forgiven my sins; given me peace with God and now lives in my heart.

In the beginning he agreed with everything I said but finally I was too stubborn about my faith in Jesus and that he is the only way to salvation, the only redeemer of sin and that Jesus is fully man and fully God at the same time; and so he revealed his true identity and that he didn't agree with me at all. If I joined his organization and studied the literature I would know Jesus better.
According to this man's belief, Jesus was a created human being; the Holy Spirit an impersonal ghost and the faith in the Father, Son and Holy spirit was an abomination. I believed in three gods was his conclusion. When I told him that was not the case; he still insisted that I was doing just that and we started a somewhat heated debate where he had no clue what I was talking about when I talked about grace.

How do you make somebody understand; that has been fooled for 26 years into believing that he has to please God with works before he can be saved? I pleaded with him to honestly ask God to reveal Jesus to him; to ask God to explain Jesus to him and trust that God was bigger than all his doctrines and traditions. Simply that God was not stupid!
He looked puzzled as if it was totally unthinkable to approach God like a child and ask for help. It wasn't something he could do. He said knowledge would free me and then I could see clearly that I was wrong. He had no understanding for emotions and he only knew God from the scripture but obviously the scripture had not reached his heart. We parted in peace but I felt sad for him. He had all the knowledge; he could recite more Bible verses than I ever will be able to but he didn't know what they meant. They were just words that he had to know by heart.

He has been misguided by liars; put in prison by a doctrine that has invented a salvation that is not built upon the salvation through Jesus. But God let him stop by my house and now I have another person on my prayer list. I didn't get his name but God knows who he is.

As for you reader; the Book of Romans, chapter 5, says it all. Read it!

Sincerely yours, Ida

“I found Jesus in the book of Romans”

(picture artist Galina Kim)

Dear Reader,

Yesterday I talked with a lady who told me about how she got saved.

She had had contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses but felt that she must break away from them and be saved. She saw all sorts of fault with other Christians and twisted and turned on all the arguments against other Christians; but everything changed when she opened the Bible read the book of Romans because she said:

- There I found Jesus

She continued:

- It was a relief that I didn’t have to turn all the arguments inside out anymore, but I only had to focus on Jesus.

The churches that praised and confessed Jesus as their Savior were those she trusted, even if they sometimes acted strange in her eyes. (after all the churches would be perfect if it wasn’t for the people involved; but then again without the people it wouldn’t be a church but just a perfect empty building)

She continued:

- It is sometimes difficult to know whether you meet “wolves in sheep's clothing” or true Christians, but I've learned to look for evidence that Christ is their Lord and that their main goal is to serve him. You sometimes hear about cults and despotic leaders, but what will be characteristic of a church and give it credibility is that all glory will point to Jesus and all activities are focused on glorifying the name of Jesus.
It was a difficult time before I got saved, but when I saw Jesus, everything changed. A burden fell from my heart and I could live in peace with myself and other Christians, she said.

Sincerely yours, Ida

I refuse to give in

Go to blog entry 20120413

When you feel pain
I will comfort you
When you feel despair
I will become your tears

On a dark night, When you walk up a troubled path,
I will, I will, I will, I will become your lamp.

When you feel empty and alone,
I will be your friend.

I am your eternal brother,
I am your friend,
I am your eternal music.
I am, I am, I am I am your.......delight

"But, when I feel lonely, who will comfort me?"

"You"

I am your eternal brother,
I am your friend,
I am your eternal music.
I am, I am ,I am I am your.......delight

"All of You. Thanks."

Don't leave it on the desk.

Dear Reader,

Found this on a blog that you can find here:http://www.rural-revolution.com/
I'm passing it on to you and since it is my birthday today it would be a great gift from you if you read the whole story till the end, although it is a long post.
Sincerely Yours, Ida


Don't leave it on the desk

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course their freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" asked Dr. Christianson again.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure!" Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look! This is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"


Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"

Steve did ten. Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, "No!" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now.
Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone. I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice when a player messes up, he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, pleaded to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His Only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

Just for fun

I Thank you Lord For Your Faithful Servant

Pastor Martin has gone to be with the Lord.

Dear God,
Comfort and encourage his wife and four daughters and give them strength to continue in faith and obedience to you.Rise up a leader who can take on the fallen mantle of Pastor Martin.
Protect the churches from "wolves" who will try to scatter the flock and protect the faith of those who have fought the fight and prayed for pastor Martin´s recovery. You have chosen to close Pastor Martin's journal and his family and the churches he planted will have to carry on his work.
Have mercy, oh Lord.
In Jesus´name
Amen

(Photo: Nick Brandt)

Standing on God's word

Dear God,
You have said in Matthew 16:19
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven"
I hold up these words before you Lord and ask that you shall turn them into action when I pray for:
A-K, pastor Martin, and Song Nam Young, ...that they will be free from their illnesses.

According to your word I bind the cancer cells so they will not make any more harm and in the name of Jesus I pray that these people will be freed from their battle with cancer.
I ask that your angels will guard them on all sides and that the blood of Jesus shall be over and under, in front of and behind and on all their sides as their protection.
In Jesus name
Amen

Sing over Your Children by Matt Maher

Matt Maher- Empty and beautiful

Here you can find Matt Maher Website
http://www.mattmahermusic.com/

Sincerely yours,
Ida

Spring

(Photo credit "Hepatica" Chong Mi Storrönning)

Amen Holy Father - Armenian hymn - Soloinstrument - Duduk

THE FATHER HOLY,

the Son Holy,

the Spirit Holy.

Blessing to the Father

and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

now and forever

and unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

I pour out my heart to you, o Lord.

(The duduk is a traditional Woodwind instrument indigenous to Armenia)
(WikipediA)

His Voice

His voice, as the sound of the dulcimer sweet,
Is heard through the shadows of death;
The cedars of Lebanon bow at his feet,
The air is perfum'd with his breath.
His lips as a fountain of righteousness flow,
That waters the garden of grace,
From which their salvation the people shall know,
And bask in the smile of his face.

Love sits on his eyelids, and scatters delight
Through all the bright mansions on high;
Their faces the cherubim veil in his sight,
And tremble with fullness of joy.
He looks, and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
And myriads wait for his word;
He speaks, and eternity, fill'd with His voice,
Re-echoes the praise of her Lord.

His voice, as the sound of the dulcimer sweet,
Is heard through the shadows of death;
The cedars of Lebanon bow at his feet,
The air is perfum'd with his breath.
O thou in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call,
My comfort by day, and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all.

Jesus reigns forever

(click on the picture for higher resolution)

He is risen...

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for being trustworthy. You told your disciples that you would rise from the dead and you did. You told them that you would be with them always till the end of times and you are. You are alive and you hear my prayer. I cannot imagine a life without you; so Jesus my savior and redeemer, I call upon you and ask you to hear my prayer for those who do not know you and cannot pray for themselves. Have mercy upon them and save them from eternal separation from you. Lord have mercy and help me not to despair but hold on to you even when reality seems impossible.
In your precious name, Jesus
Amen


When searching the Net for a picture that could tell about the resurrection of Jesus Christ I came across a Chinese artist called Dr. He Qi.
You can find more pictures by He Qi on the following link.
http://www.heqigallery.com/

Sincerely yours Ida

Good Friday - No Words

(click on the image for higher resolution)

A picture of Joseph and his child or Jesus and his child?

Dear Reader,
I found this picture on a Russian site for art and the only explanation I have found about the picture is the title "St Joseph and the Christ child". I'm afraid I don't have the painter’s name, and maybe it is an icon and the painter is unknown.

What do you see in this picture? The moment I saw it I was struck by the tenderness between a Jewish man and his child and the connection between a father and his child when they look at each other. And then my eyes fell on the cross.
Would a Jewish man carve a wooden cross and give his son as a toy? Never. The Romans used to kill their enemies with that barbaric instrument of torture. It was a hellish construction that was made to cause the most possible pain and agony for the victim. Indeed not a toy .But the painter is telling us yet another story in the picture and if you have read your Bible you know that Jesus would die on a cross 33 years later. Joseph is holding his son in his arms and in my imagination Jesus is not just his foster son but his very own son and his wish for his child is only the best life can bring. Joseph has his Tallit (prayer shawl) on and maybe he has just prayed for and blessed his son with a prayer for protection and guidance from God.

Before I saw the title of the picture, I thought it was the other way around; that Jesus was holding a child. You know the story about Jesus gathering the children; blessing them, and telling the disciples and the mothers that the children belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, right? In my mind as much as Joseph is holding Jesus; Jesus is reaching out to Joseph and with his hand reaching up to Joseph face he says "I'm holding you because of my cross" The cross was not on Joseph's list of what Jesus should achieve during his life but on God's list over what he could do for mankind the cross was number one.

Easter is just around the corner and we are once again reminded of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and HIS atonement for our sins. But not only at Easter is this fact but also every other day of the year. Man was created in the image of the Son but man can never become Christ-like if it were not for the cross. Jesus is holding us up before God saying:
It is finished; I have done the ultimate sacrifice for every man and from now on Salvation is free for the one accepting it" Joseph is holding Jesus in the picture but Jesus is holding you and me in real life; because of the cross.
Sincerely yours
Ida

He Who Kneels ...

(picture found on the Internet,)

The Prayer List

Dear God,

You know the people I pray for and you know the list of people I have; that I mention before you in prayer. Some of them are close to me and will always be in my prayers until the day I die.

Some are acquaintances, living far away and I will never meet them but you have still put them on my list because who else would pray for them. Who else would mention their names before you if I don’t? Some of them don’t know you and they rebel openly and say that you do not exist. Some are your children and they struggle with terminal diseases and broken families. Some call themselves Christians but they don’t know and don’t want to know Jesus as their savior. You have opened my heart for people in a far away country that I would never have thought about, if it had not been for you; urging me to pray for them.

And so I hear one has turned his heart to you. After 20 years he has realized that what he looked for in the world was what you had all the time. You patiently waited for him to come back. And I’m glad and I pray that you protect his faith and guide him to follow you no matter what happens.

But then again I see those who have been on my list for 20 years and they are further away from you than ever before. My heart is aching. I’m so disappointed and so sad to realize that nothing has moved their hearts, nothing has shaken their stubbornness. And I ask Lord how long?

I beseech you Holy Spirit to open their hearts to Jesus so they can see who he is and that he is the only one who can save them and turn their lives around.

Dear God, I couldn’t live one millisecond of my life if it wasn’t for your grace and mercy. So I ask and pray that you will do a miracle in the lives of those on my prayer list. I pray that you will bless them and keep them from all evil and that you will draw them to you and save them. You know all of them and you love them all; more than a mother loves her child; more than anyone can imagine. I rest them in your hands.

In Jesus name, amen.

Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues (Live) (HQ)

Rear reader,
It was in the summer. The radio was on and I was doing some cleaning in my apartment. It was many many years ago now, but I can still recall the first time I heard "Still got the blues"
I stopped and sat down on the armrest of the sofa and listened through the whole song with the vacuum cleaner beside my feet. I had never heard anything like it before.
"Still got the blues" is the only song I have listened to performed by Gary Moore and besides that song I don't know anything about him. But he managed back then to communicate a feeling that I think can be understood by those who somewhere in life found and lost love.

And now I found out that he is gone. Life is fragile and it's only one heartbeat between here and eternity.
Sincerely your,
Ida

" I believe in the future"

Today on Taniwa's Blog you can watch Japanese schoolchildren, at Elementary School graduation, sing a song called "I believe in the future"
I would like you to turn to this link and watch the video
http://tttl1998.blogspot.com/

The song is written by Ryuuichi Sugimoto.

Even if you’ve been hurt, and you feel like giving up

I will be beside you and lift you up.

The earth is spinning with the whole world’s hope

Right now, when I open the door to the future

I think that surely sadness and hardships will someday turn into happiness.

“I believe in Future”

Yes, I believe.

Remember, if there is someone near you who looks like they are about to cry

Just take his hand without a word

And walk together with him

I want to wrap the earth in the kindness of the whole world.

Right now, I think my feelings could burst forth

And light up the heavens with love and expectation
“I believe in Future”
Yes, I believe.

Right now, when I open the door to the future,

“ I believe in Future”

Yes, I believe.

Jesus - The good shepherd

Dear God,
I pray for the people of Japan. You know every heart and you are present in the middle of the disaster. Lord have mercy and help those who have lost everything. Bring people to them for comfort and aid.
Amen

Björn Daelie and Philip Boit

Waiting for the last one ...

I listened to a sermon on the internet on Sunday night and the pastor told a story that I want to share with you dear reader.

There is a TV-show in Sweden called “Skavlan”. Skavlan is a Norwegian journalist doing the show on Swedish TV and he is greatly loved by the Swedish audience.

The program has had many interesting guests. In one of the programs the Norwegian champion Björn Daehlie and his friend; Philip Boit from Kenya was interviewed.

Philip Boit is a cross country skier who has represented Kenya from 1998 starting in the Olympic games, and he finished his skiing carrier this year in the World Championship in Norway.

Their friendship started in a somewhat different way. Björn Daehlie had won the gold medal in an Olympic race in Nagano, Japan in 1998 and was called to the medal ceremony. But he asked the organizers to wait because he said there is still one man on the track. So the organizer, the audience and millions of TV-viewers waited 20 minutes for the last contestant to cross the finish line; and the champion waited for the last person and that was never heard of before. Björn Daehlie told Skavlan that it was extremely bad conditions that day because it had started to rain and it was a heroic achievement to get through the race. So Daehlie wanted to congratulate Boit that he had made it to the finish line. Being a cross country skier is hard enough if you come from Sweden or Norway let alone coming from Kenya.

When Boit returned to Kenya everybody asked who the guy was who had been standing at the finish line and when he told them that it was the champion they couldn’t believe it.

The pastor said: This started me thinking about us and how Jesus is waiting for all of us at the finish line. He is the champion who has won over death and sin and he wants everyone to join him in his victory.

So if you think your life is like the person finishing as the last one in the race, remember the Champion Jesus is cheering for you and greeting you with, "Well done! You made it through bad conditions and you are a winner no matter what!"

Sincerely yours,

Ida