You are not to go back that way again.

Dear reader,
Israel was saved from Egypt into the promised land. The Red Sea made a sharp distinction between what was in the past and what was God's plan for the future. Life never became the same again for the Israelites and it will never be the same again for you and me when we are saved through Jesus Christ. God never said it would be easy; not even safe living as a Christian, but it is a life with hope and trust and peace in a chaotic world.
Don't look back and wish for yesterday. Don't keep "treasures" from the past in your life that will bring you down.
Leave the old house gods and burn them one by one; because you are free from slavery and can rejoice in the new life with Jesus Christ.
Sincerely yours, Ida

Would God recognice himself?

Dear reader,

I watched a TV sermon yesterday and the lady preacher asked a question that stuck in my head.
I cannot quote her exact sentence but the meaning was :
When you describe God to other people will He recognize himself?

People tend to fall into one or the other ditch where He becomes either a jovial old grandpa who consents to everything or a thunder and lightning God who is always looking to beat people over the head with the law and its requirements and will never be satisfied.
Where would I begin or what could I say if I had only a minute or two to explain who God is? Both the preacher and I came to the same conclusion; we have to start with Jesus. It says in the Bible that God has summed up all things in Christ:
God saves through Jesus; he cares about me because of Jesus; he has promised to be my protector because of Jesus; I have a helper the Holy Spirit through Jesus; my whole life here and in eternity depends on Jesus and if I except his gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I have started to listen to the Bible and have finished Deuteronomy today. I need to listen to 4 chapters a day to finish the Bible in a year but this has become a need and when I have listened to the required chapters I think "just one more" and although you might think the Old Testament will be hard and boring to listen to it is exciting when you search for Jesus in it.

When Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24. Now that would have been a Bible study to yearn for!

Once upon a time I was a person who used to see God as a judging and angry God no matter how hard I tried to live up to his expectations. He had been described to me that way more often than he was a loving and caring God ... even for me. But John 14:9 where Jesus said "he that has seen me has seen the Father", opened my eyes and it was such a joy to recognize the real image of God which is Jesus. Jesus is the key to God.
"Joh:10:30: I and my Father are one."

Sincerely yours, Ida

Drinking polluted water

I'm listening through the Bible this year and it gives me a new experience with the Bible. If you have read it a couple of times you may think that you know all the stories, remember every important part of it, since they are preached about so often. But I have discovered many times that what you thought you knew already can come into a new light when the Holy spirit get the chance to enlighten it from a new angel.
You know the story in Exodus 32 when the people demand that Aron makes them gods that would walk before them. And they create a calf of gold.

When Moses comes back from the mountain and sees what has happened in his absence he destroys the calf in fire, crush it into powder. scatters it on the water and force the Israelites to drink the water. This gave me a picture of what happens when I get impatient and make decisions without God; when I create my own gods to guide me and end up with a cup of unbelief. An unbelief that says that God has abandoned me and I have to take matters into my own hands, which is a catastrophe. The result is despair and soon enough I realize how fruitless my attempts have been without God and the cup of unbelief, the polluted water has a bitter aftertaste.
Then there is repentance and starting all over again with a humbled heart.

I'm so grateful that Jesus has made atonement for me and my sins are forgiven and he prays for me.
In 1John 2 it says
" ... If anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the whole world."
and in Romans 6:23 it says
... but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When "golden calves" comes our way lets join forces against them and remind each other of God's goodness and love and that he has saved us by the blood of Jesus and that should get us through all kinds of deserts on our way to the promised land - Heaven.
Sincerely yours, Ida

Ebed-Melech and the Rugs

Dear Reader,
Ever heard of or met Ebed-Melech before? No? I wasn't acquainted either before I heard of him in a sermon the other day. But after being introduced to him I realized that I have met many Ebed-Melech before and haven't given it much thought ... then.

Ebed-Melech was a servant of a powerful man but still Ebed-Melech had the courage to speak up when he saw injustice. The prophet Jeremiah had been thrown into a dried well and had sunk up to his neck into the mud at the bottom of the pit. He had been wrongfully accused of being a traitor and in stead of listening to the prophet and thus saving the people they had thrown him and his message away.

Ebed-Melech spoke of this injustice that had been done to Jeremiah to his master and he granted 30(!) men to help pull the prophet out of the pit. But before doing so Ebed-Melech took some rugs and threw them down to Jeremiah.
-Put them between your armpits and the ropes so the ropes won't cut into your skin, he called out to Jeremiah.
And so Jeremiah was taken out of the well but he remained a prisoner and was kept out in the courtyard.

Jeremiah is the central character in this story right? But what about Ebed-Melech? He was a sensitive and caring man, and he even thought of a small detail that made a difference for Jeremiah.
Have you met these people who are taking care of the details; the small things, but are never recognized for it? They love to make life easier for other people and it is their natural gift to do it.
I have met them and now they have a name representing them; Ebed-Melech. And I think it is only proper that we recognize them and thank them and not take them for granted. They do make a difference.
Sincerely yours, Ida

God's Grace 2012

Dear reader,

Wishing you strength to endure 2012 in best possible way and that somewhere along the line you will find peace in the storm, joy in sorrow, and that your heart will always seek the face of Jesus and trust him with your life.
Take care
Ida

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.