Mission Impossible Squirrel

A Day to remember

Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
Love does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown language become useless.
But LOVE will last forever....

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Inspirational

Chris Tomlin - Jesus Messiah with lyrics

Steven Curtis Chapman - Beauty Will Rise - Lyrics

...my beloved Son ...my joy

Dear Reader,
A new year and a new approach to my Bible reading. I'm going to read the Bible this year as if I have never read it before, and the Holy Spirit will show me new things and point out what I have overlooked before. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will be a "Helper" and the first priority of the Holy Spirit must be to reveal God's words to God's children right?
The title of this post comes from Matthew 3:17. Jesus has been baptized and a voice from heaven says
" This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased"
The Swedish Folkbible says ... my Son the beloved; in Him I have my joy.

It got me thinking ...and maybe I'm just carried away in my thoughts .... but imagine the conversation in heaven before Jesus enters this world ... Jesus saying goodbye and the Father says ...
I love you Son, you have always been my joy .... You are going on a hard and difficult mission ... but remember this; I love you and you and I are united as one; forever .....

From time to time Jesus went away from the crowds to spend time talking with his Father and somehow I picture him resting his head on his Father's lap just listening to his assurance ... I love you Son, you are my constant joy...
That love gave Jesus strength to carry out his mission to save the world ... and so the Father also tells us, because of what Jesus did on the cross, that we are loved, that we are his joy ...
Can we really understand and fathom that love of God?
Sincerely yours,
Ida

"... My banner will be clear!"

"Commitment as a Christian"

from a pastor in Africa

“I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made.
I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back,
let up,
slow down,
back away,
or be still.

My past is redeemed,
my present makes sense,
my future is secure.

I'm finished and done with low living,
sight walking,
small planning,
smooth knees,
colorless dreams,
tamed visions,
mundane talking,
cheap living,
and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence,
prosperity,
position,
promotions,
plaudits,
or popularity.

I don't have to be right,
first, tops,
recognized,
praised,
regarded,
or rewarded.

I now live by faith,
lean on His presence,
walk by patience,
lift by prayer,
and labor by power.

My face is set,
my gait is fast,
my goal is heaven,
my road is narrow,
my way rough,
my companions few,
my Guide reliable,
my mission clear.

I cannot be bought,
deluded,
or delayed.
will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,
hesitate in the presence of the adversary,
negotiate at the table of the enemy,
or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up,
shut up,
let up,
until I have stayed up,
stored up,
prayed up,
paid up,
preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus.
I must go till He comes,
give till I drop,
preach till all know,
and work till He stops me.

And when He comes for His own,
He will have no problem recognizing me
--my banner will be clear!”"

(I'm afraid I haven't found the original author of this and the pastor's name. If anyone knows please notify for proper reference)

The end of 2010 - The beginning of 2011

Ring Out, Wild Bells:

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,/ The flying cloud, the frosty light;/ The year is dying in the night;/ Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new;/ Ring, happy bells, across the snow:/ The year is going, let him go;/ Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,/ For those that here we see no more,/ Ring out the feud of rich and poor,/ Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,/ And ancient forms of party strife;/ Ring in the nobler modes of life;/ With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,/ The faithless coldness of the times;/ Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,/ But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,/ The civic slander and the spite;/ Ring in the love of truth and right,/ Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,/ Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;/ Ring out the thousand wars of old,/ Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,/ The larger heart, the kindlier hand;/ Ring out the darkness of the land,/ Ring in the Christ that is to be.

lord Alfred Tennyson 1809-1892

Merry Christmas!

(Click on the picture for bigger image)

Blott en dag - Just one day - Vigdis Wisur and Sarpsborg Gospel Choir

Swedish hymn,text: Lina Sandell, music: Oscar Ahnfelt.

1. Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

2. Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He whose Name is Counselor and Pow'r;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As your days, your strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.

3. Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Your promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation
Offered me within Your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

Santa Lucia Sweden

From Wikipedia

In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, Lucia is venerated on December 13 in a ceremony where a girl is elected to portray Lucia. Wearing a white gown with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head, she walks at the head of a procession of women, each holding a candle. The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take St. Lucia's life when she was sentenced to be burned. The women sing a Lucia song while entering the room, to the melody of the traditional Neapolitan song Santa Lucia; the Italian lyrics describe the view from Santa Lucia in Naples, the various Scandinavian lyrics are fashioned for the occasion, describing the light with which Lucia overcomes the darkness. Each Scandinavian country has lyrics in their native tongues. After finishing this song, the procession sings Christmas carols or more songs about Lucia. A similar version occurs in Scandinavian communities and churches in the United States.

The third of Advent

Second of Advent.

Hanukkah 2010

This information is taken from the website MY Jewish Learning

Hanukkah 2010

Everything you need to know to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah begins at sunset on Wednesday, December 1, 2010. Its celebration continues on Thursday, December 2, 2010, and finishes at nightfall on Thursday, December 9, 2010.

What Is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah (sometimes spelled "Chanukah") is known as the Festival of Lights, a Jewish holiday that commemorates Israel's freedom from the oppressive Syrian-Greek rule and the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

What Do We Do on Hanukkah?

Most Hanukkah traditions take place at home. Each night we light a special lamp called called a menorah or hanukkiah, we play dreidel, and we sing songs. In recent times, under the influence of Christmas, Hanukkah has also become a popular gift-giving holiday.

• Watch Todd learn how to light the Hanukkah candles--from the smartest teacher ever--in MJL's animated cartoon, The Adventures of Todd & God.
• Listen to and download free mp3s of popular Hanukkah songs.

What Foods Are Traditionally Eaten on Hanukkah?

It is customary to eat deep-fried foods to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah, in which a cruse of oil lasted for eight days instead of one. Some of these foods include:

• Latkes
• Jelly donuts
• Fried torzelli
• Spiced hot chocolate
• Bimuelos