Go to the Fountain

Kathleen Carnali has a fantastic song. It's about the woman Jesus met with the well. The one no one wanted to be around. The one that didn't just have one husband but five, and she lived with one that she wasn't married to. I have to admit that I've never really thought about that woman. I've listen to His words on seeking the living water.
But do you think she chose to be that way? Chose to be a whore?? I think a lot of us don't think behind the names given in the Bible. The story between the lines. Do you think Batsheeba had a good life on the castle?? She should have been stoned for what she did? But is it her fault? Would you have gone if the King called you?? Having a King in Norway I'm not sure I would have the guts to say no if a man came to my door and said the King himself was asking for me.

Back to the woman in the song. Imagen. Unwanted, broken and hurt. Without no place to go. Men done her wrong. In her case it was men that did her wrong, and herself. I'm not gonna take away her own blame. But there is so much more than just her own blame. We all get hurt, feel alone and unwanted. But it's where we turn that says most of who we are. Will be let the blame wash over us and find all kind of excuses to justify our hurt? Or will we go to the fountain and drink living water that will take away the blame. When the woman went back into the village, the village looked at her the same way. But she knew the truth and that Jesus didn't look at her that way was all she needed to go boldly and admit what she had done. And go from there with a clean slate.

-Verse 1-
There she was, all alone
Her heart was broken, her body worn
New with child, she felt so used
She wasn't wanted, only accused
She was empty, her soul was thirsty
Her heart was angry, for men have done her wrong
So she ran into the wilderness,
Not knowing where else to turn
She went to the fountain where there was water
And there she met the Lord

-Chorus-
He said,
Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give
Shall never thirst, again

-Verse 2-
There she was, at the door
She wanted to leave, she couldn't take much more
Time after time, and man after man
Tore out her heart, while holding her hand
She was empty, her soul was thirsty
Her heart was angry, for men have done her wrong
So she ran into the wilderness
Not knowing where else to turn
She went to the fountain where there was water
And there she met the Lord

-Chorus-

-Verse 3-
So when your there, all alone
Your heart is broken, your body worn
And time after time, and man after man
Have torn out your heart, while holding your hand
You are empty, your soul is thirsty
Your heart is angry, for men have done you wrong
And your running through the wilderness
Not knowing where else to turn
Go to the fountain of Living Water
And there you'll meet the Lord

-Chorus-

Till next time, 

God Bless

Ignorance

I'm currently reading this book: Dominion by Randy Alcorn. (Fantastic book!!)
And it strikes me several times how strange the world has become. You read among other things about gangs in the US. Vividly on their thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I just want to yell or shake them because they are so wrapped up in lies. How the power they have through guns is what’s important. The respect they get from being feared. Not to forget that everyone that’s not living like them are taking orders from someone else than themselves. They don’t wanna know that the respect you earn is uplifting, that taking orders because you choose to is more freeing than doing it out of fear.  

There is one place in the book that I love. Some gangers’ talk proudly of the marks they spray around town and the main character points out that one of the marks is the Star of David. And the ganger says that no Jew is going to take that away from them, it is the mark of that gang. The ignorance is striking. The Jews can't take away something that has always been theirs. It will never be the real mark of a gang, even if you ignore the truth it doesn’t change. The gangers’ are someone that has never really grown up. Always acting like teen that rebels against the grown up’s. Sort of like bad Peter Pan’s. They refuse to see things from another side, they wear their emotion on their sleeves and they feed of rage and revenge. Never really thinking about the consequences it will bring to themselves or others. Life and death is just something that is as natural as choosing your clothes. They are more animals than humans. Only when someone they care for is being caught in the crossfire it’s more than a game of sorts. They never want to think about the other gang members as fellow human beings. I feel rage, and sometimes I do want revenge. Doesn’t mean that it is right or that I can do something about it. I believe that revenge belongs to the Lord. It’s not my call to say what it should be or to whom. Is it our decision to kill the shooter because of what he did? What if he was revenging his brother? What if it was an accident that is eating him up inside? How can we know??
 
I keep thinking about the ignorance. Everything they refuse to learn in school (or by the older generation) because they say it’s worthless. Not knowing that they are actually doing the same when they teach younger kids that the street life is the better life. They do have a lot of street smarts, but are naïve when it comes to being a fellow man, a real human being. Their ignorance is hidden by being tough, mean and fearsome. They blame those that make it out of the gangs as cowards, worthless and betrayers. They think that they caved in, surrendered. 
I’ll never have to deal with these issues, and I am very grateful for it. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t affect me that people can be so mislead that they’d rather believe the lie than the truth. I’d like to be able to do something about that, but instead of moving to another country I can try to help those in my own community that is stuck in that same pattern without the gangs. (We don’t really have those here yet…)


I am far from finished reading the book, and for that I am thankful. It is my kind of size so I don’t have the opportunity to get so hooked that I’ll basically do nothing but read for a day or two before it’s finished!!

Constitution Day with a little extra on the side

So yesterday we celebrated our day. Our day of the constitution and our independence day so to speak.

We sort of have a parade where everyone joins in. There is always someone who wants to take pictures, or can't join in. But for the most part everyone that can walk (or be in a carriage) walks on. We sing and wave our flag. It's the day we are most proud to be norwegians. A day that we don't always welcome all people. Norwegians is the kind of people that for the most part say: what can I do for you, how can I help. We align ourselves for what others want. When immigrants comes to our country we welcome them, but we don't expect much from them. We don't expect them to learn our languge or customs. We hope, but don't expect. Then our day comes, and we don't want their flags in the parade, or their clothes. We don't really want them to be a part of it at all. And I think that is sad. If we welcome the immigrants and want them to be a part of our culture, we should want them to be a part of our day. I agree that their flags doesn't belong on the day that celebrates our right to be our own contry. I am glad that sometimes norwegians can draw a line and not let everyone just step over it without saying a word. As christians we don't parade our belief, or wave a flag that says we are christians. In a way we should do it. Not in an intrusive way, but to let people know from the get go that we belong to Christ.

We have a speech also this day, where they mostly talke about how this day came to. And it is a nice reminder. I can see that the day is in changing, there is only a few left that lived during world war 2 and knew the feeling of not being a free country, not being allowed to celebrate our day. The weird thing is as christians we don't celebrate our independence day or constitution day the same way. I get that as we are not jewish we don't really have a constitution day (that I guess would be when Moses got the ten commandments on the mountain). But we do have an Independence day. But it holds so much more than just the freedom of the country. It is the freedom of man. Our freedom from sin. Our salvation. 






Our salvations that lets us dress as Christ before God. Makes God see us as clean as Christ on judgment day. On our Constitution Day a smaller amount wears our norwegian tradition. Back in the day it was a way to tell where in the country you belonged to. Now the lines are more washed out. You can in a lot of cases just pick one you like and get it. As it is with our beliefs. The lines are wahed out. You can believe in the Bible but not in what Jesus did. You can be a christian but also believe in fortunetellings. We trust in more gods today than ever. money, fame, fortunetelling, sequrity, family it can all be our gods if we let them. Forgetting that we are dressed in Christ and that we should honor Him like we honor our parents. Which we mostly don't do (in both cases).

I see the youth of today disrespecting their parents, not wanting to think that they actually did sacrifice something to have them. In some cases sadly that is true. It's easy having kids today. You can send them off to kindergarden almost as fast as they are born, then off to school. All you have to do is make sure they get up in the morning (make sure the school children have eaten), drop them off , then remember to pick them up, feed them dinner and put them to bed. The kindergardens or schools doesn't have the capasity to bring them up, they just learn them the school part of what they need to survive an adult life. The parents doesn't have the time to do it, they are beat after a long day at work. With this perspective in mind can you blame the youth for the way they behave? For their lack of moral?



This year they had horseback riding for almost everyone that wanted. No age limit, I think only kilo limit. My youngest loved it, she's been a horse girl almost from birth. And finally got the chance to really be on a horse. She has been on one before, but only when it stood still.
When the ride was over and it was time to get of, she held on. Not wanting to let go. And after her second tour the horse got a little spooked. My husband who held her did feel a little fear for a moment. But our girl didn't notice that something was off, she smiled and held on to the horse. We should do the same in life. Hang on to Christ and when things get bad we don't have to worry, because He will take us through. He has our backs and keeps us safe.


This year we had something happen quite out of the ordinary. A chopper came to pick up two musicians. They were needed in a band in a bigger city. When they were asked to play in this band that was missing a type of instrument, they turned it down. They were needed in our village to play. So they couldn't get to this town in time. Some rich people say that it wasn't a problem, they could get a chopper to pick them up. And so they did. In life we are those musicians. God askes us to do something that He needs us for, and we say no. We don't have the time. So being the richest in the world he sends us a chooper to make sure we get to where He needs us on time. Sadly we decline the chopper. We are not special enough to deserve a chopper. We are just ordinary people. No one special. That isn't true. There is only one you, no one can replace you entirely. Someone can do the job, but not in the same way as you. You have something that no one else has. He sees something in you that He can make bigger, better and He made you special!

 

So on that note it is time for me to post this blog and take care of my house and kids!
Till next time,
God Bless

The forgotten generation??

I heard one of pastor Craig's sermons and he talked about this generation (I think it was the series 'I Believe in You'). You know from 30 something and younger. 

That we are the generation of tomorrow, not realizing that we are really the generation of today. We've learned that we are entitled to almost everything and that we don't have to do much to get it. But back to the forgotten generation. We grow up waiting for life to happen, waiting for it to be our turn. But what happens is that we lack the knowledge for when it is our turn, when no one else takes responsibility. As long as there are someone older, we don't have to do anything. We let everyone else do everything that we don't feel like, want to or even care for. And we know that if we don't do it, someone else will. 



It really shouldn't be that way. We should be ready to roll up our sleeves and dig in wherever needed. Our excuses are just that, something that we say to convince ourselves to not do it. I was surprised one time, when my youngest was only a few months old. I was taking my oldest to the dentist, and had the other two with me. At that time my oldest was 8, and the other one two and a half. I’ve never believed in having anyone of my kids in kindergarden before the age of three (or close too). On the way through the door (can’t remember if it was on the way out or in) I met another mother. She thought I was though or had guts or something since I brought all three kids. The truth is that I didn’t have a choice. If I was going somewhere at that time, I needed to bring all three. Still sometimes I have to do that. Now as the kids are getting older it is in some way’s easier. But the point is (before I ramble on to far) that there is almost no limit to what I can do, even with three kids in tow, as long as I don’t think too hard on it. If I have to: I do... What we do is give ourselves an excuse to get out of things. We sit and think of how nice it would be if there was a choir for the kids, family meeting or whatever we feel we are missing. But very few of us do something about it. We feel it cost us too much. Have to give up too much of our time. Not that we have something more important to do with our time. I know I am probably a little all over the place at the moment. But I just realized that I don’t have to wait for someone else to start something, or for someone to hand in their towels. I can start now. Just dig in there. If someone already is starting the thing I have a passion for, then I’ll roll up my sleeves and help with whatever they need. All I have to do is pray that He will guide me into the place where I am needed.
So let us be the generation of right now. The generation that digs in and makes an impact! And let God do the work He needs in us.

Till next time, 
God Bless

Truth and Consequence

I wasn't an old teenager before I discovered that everything has a consequence. An the older I got the more things had consequences. I like to explain by telling about the rain. When you are young (kid) and it rains outside the consequences are mostly of the positive varaity. Rain means mud, jumping in it, dancing in it or movie time inside. When you get older rain means doing nice stuff inside because outside you'll be wet and cold. To a mother rain means work, dirty kids, dirty floors, dirty clothes if you don't get them in. To an older person rain means wet, cold, sick, slippery so you might fall down. So every choice you make has a consequence. I could go on about this, but today I wanted to focus on truth and consequence. If you don't tell the truth there will be consequences later. If you tell a white lie so that there will be no argument at the moment, a bigger one is waiting for you down the line.

You want to go see a movie or something and there is certain people you don't want to go with. Will you lie and tell them you are doing something else and take the risk that you might meet them there in the big crowd or will you tell them the truth and risk them being mad at you?
Or what do you do when the cool, popular person ask you flat out (with a tone): are you one of those that believes in Jesus?? Do you lie and hope to be a part of their crowd or do you tell the truth and risk getting bullied?


Tough choice, huh? Many times, trying to do the right thing is really tough because the wrong thing could be so much fun, while the right choice seems like a drag! Take Moses, for example. He faced a tough choice: turn his back on God and his people to live his life in the lap of luxury, or hang out with a bunch of complainers in the desert. Pretty clear choice, wouldn't you say? But Moses chose the longer-lasting rewards of obeying God instead of the immediate gratification of sin.
Most of the discible faces crusefiction, hanging, decapitation, stoning for their belief. All they had to do to stop it was to say: I don't believe in Jesus as the only way...
It does put things in perspective....

Till next time,
God Bless

The story of Easter part three

Today is the day between death and life. The day were all the disiples were mourning. I believe they were in a bubble. The kind you are in after you lose someone dear. The kind where you can't really think you are in reality, you must be in a dream. Yet life outside moves on like nothing big has happened.
It must have been such a shock. To have Him torn out of their lives. Not that He was young, that He was, but because He had so many things left to do. Or so they belived. He should have been with them longer. Taught them more, been the King they were waiting for.

But He did not come to earth to be a king, or to die. He came to bring us Heaven, peace with God. And to do that the only way was to die on the cross. Not die in an accident, or someone murder Him by a sword or something like that. He had to be hung on the cross and be banned because of us. For our sins. We should be the once on the cross, those that deserve to go to hell. Yet He did it for us, so that we didn't have to. So that we could go to Heave with Him. If we only believe in Him and what He did for us. 

 





So Have a Blessed Easter,
Christin

The story of Easter part two

Jesus told the story of the vineyard. We are branches rooted on to Him, the tree.
I haven't been to consistent in my readings the last years. Found YouVersion online and have finally found something that keeps me reading. And today I realized that when I don't read, I don't let Him be in me. I cut the connecton to the tree. It was all my doing. He is still there, waiting for me. Now that I have been reading regularly for some time, I feel the connection beginning to open. He was there the whole time, waiting.

To learn more about myself, what He has in store for me, what I am meant to do. All I have to do is read His Word to stay connected. Then He will do the rest. He'll trim out my bad branches, those that are to close or woun't bear fruit. I have planted apple trees in my garden, including one plum and one cherry. I am learning what God does in my life. He is truly my gardener who has all the knowlege from the start. I learn as I go and will make many mistakes. Not necessery killing the trees, but doing som 'stupid' choices. God never makes mistakes. I can completley trust Him with my branch. It is scary to let go of the control. But if anyone could make my life complete, it is HIM!!

Till next time,
God Bless and
Happy Easter

The story of Easter part one

The biggest thing that happened in the beginning of easter was at the meal. Jesus gave us the a big example for how we should act. We should be servants to each other. No one should be better or 'higher' than the other. Even the master (head of the church, home, company, country or whatnots) isn't to good to be a servant. Jesus who is the head of our everything lowered himself to doing the 'worst' job. Hi washed the feets of his disiples. At that time it was the job of the lowest of the lowest slave. No one in their right mind would do that of their own free mind.

So what do we do in our lives to be servants of others?

Till next time,
God Bless

Have we lost the commuity?

I've been wondering as I read the Bibel. Back then they weren't afraid to share things. They didn't have enough, but they shared everything. There is stories of them not sharing everything, but at this moment that is a little beside the point. In this day and age, we mostly have more than enough but we don't share. Not even our feelings.

A lot of the time we go to a meeting and then straight home. If we get together outside the church or minestry we tend to talk about everything that isn't that important. Safe topics. In the work place we do the same. Talk about the weather or what we watched on tv last night. There isn't to much real conversations anymore. The reason I have been thinking a lot about this is because I find myself having a really hard time in sharing. Stuff I can share, same with time. But my feellings or my past. I find it to personal most of the time, even small insegnificant details I can't be shared. I have trust issues, I know. I even know why, but it soesn't really help as long as I don't do anything about it. It's only me that can change it.
If I want a community like they had back in the new testament, I have to be a part of building it. I can't wait for everyone else to make it, and when they are done I'll join them. It doesn't work that way, sadly for me. I have to get vunerable along with everyone else. And who am I to say that others have it easier with the sharing part.
We are living in a part of the world where we can do almost anything on our own, we don't need help and we sure don't need to share anything.
So I am going to try to share more, hopefully in a normal way...

Till next time, 

God Bless

vegetables and then some

I was watching a movie the other day. 

My youngest is sick and that includes a lot of time sitting with her on my lap. Even though her favoite show is a christian childerens show, I can only take so much of it going on repeat... Well back to the issue. I was watching a scene where a father (the chef) was teaching some people about picking your vegetables. He was comparing it to when you 

pick your date. You woun't go for the old or ugly, you go for the beautiful one. Now more so than ever. Media makes a pressure to be thin, beautiful and perfect. He went on to say that his son had picked the perfect one. Now I do have a different view in this case. The people I find beautiful is not those that my sister finds beautiful. Not that many years ago she put up posters of guys she thought was hot (or whatever). I never really cared for any of them. So beauty in people depends on the person who looks. 

But I was thinking a little further as the son takes his girlfriend to an Indian restaurant. I've never really tasted Indian food, so I don't really know if I like it or not. What I do know, is that I can do all the research I want on India. Look it up in books, online or even talk to people who have been there and tasted the food. But I woun't really know if I like Indian food if I don't taste it for myself. Same goes with religion, in my case Christianity. You woun't know if it is something for you if you don't try it yourself. Read the Bible and attend a meeting. Talking to Christians or seeing how Christians live woun't always tell you that much about the truth behind the religion. You can't judge all muslims based on those fanatics that kills thenselves in 'Holy War'. It does't mean that they all believe this. So you can't judge Christianity based on the fact that we are human and we do fall into sin. Being a Christian certainly doesn't make us better humans, it just makes us forgiven...

Till next time, 

God Bless

Francine Rivers

This is not something that I usually do, but Francine Rivers is a fantastic writer. Her books has inspired me, and thought me things from the Bibel. She writes about normal people and their struggles. You do feel the connection, even though it might have happened centuries ago.
So when I stumbled over this contest, I had to grab the chance. So even if this is somthing that I normally don't do, I just had to!! And I even got a free e-book. (I don't have a reader, but I had to have the book!!)
Here is where you find the contest!!
Here is where you find her facebook page!

Hope you all have a blessed day, and for those of you out there that might not have read Francine Rivers I really think you should look into it. You'll never regret it!!

Till next time,
God Bless

Commercials

Have you ever stopped to wonder what the deal is with wearing brand names? We pay a lot of money to wear a company's logo or name on our shirt or jeans, just so people will know how cool we are.

We want to be accepted for who we are, jet we go out of our ways to be what we think others will like.We are like a walking paradoks. Wanting one thing but most of us do all we can to be something else just to fit in. The paradoks is even bigger, because when you look at it those that we want to be like are not like anyone else. They are who they are, not trying to be someone else. It's just take it or leave it. And we take it with both hands, still we try to be like them to be liked. When you look at your friends, are they all like you?? If someone just like you showed up, would you really like to be with that person? Or several?

Don't be afraid to stand out!

Isn't the beauty in friendship that we are different but with some common ground. We see things a little different. So we buy into almost anything just to be liked. We pay more than the value just to wear their name on the clothes. Visible. We're like billboard to each other.  I thougth we got payed to wear commertial, specially with things like food, toys or stores. You know what I mean. But when you take clothes, and specially those that have managed to make their brand cool, you pay over the value just to wear the clothes. They don't need to spend to much on advertisment, because we are it....
So what is the lesson learned here?
Is it okay to sort of stick out your neck and be yourself?
I really think it's time for me to do that, not that anyone would say that I try to be like everyone else. I am me, I am just a small part of me....

Till next time,
God Bless

Friends??

Have you ever been in a situation where you really needed to talk to a good friend and they said they'd call you back, but never did? Have you ever waited for a reply to a post or text that never came? It's the worst feeling. Something in each of us longs to be comforted by others when we're going through difficult times.

Jesus needed his disiples to just sit and be awake with Him. But they fell asleep. They couldn't sit with Him for even an hour. I know the feeling when you get so tired that you just doesn't seem to be able to hold yourself awake. Most of the times when that happens I am alone. Once you are with others you can talk to keep yourself awake. But they all had to be that tired, they all probably noticed the seriousness of the situations that made them not talk to each other. He needed them, and they needed each other to keep themselves awake. Sometimes when we need someone for the smallest thing we tend to try to do it ourselves. Rather than bother someone else. But in some cases we might be able to help someone with something bigger, if we just get some help in our teeny problem.
So let us try to be there for someone else and not be afraid to ask for help. We can't always try to be there for everyone else and not let anyone help us. Try to let someone in personally and I'll do the same. It is one thing to write on this blog, but it is truly another thing to talk to someone. Specially in our busy world there compassion seems to be left behind.

Till next time,
God Bless

Creation

What were you created for? What were you specifically designed to do? Each person has special gifts and talents and was created for a unique purpose, but there is also a general answer to these questions that fits everyone. Do you want to know what it is? 

We were not created to be alone, to connect online, to earn money (even if you give it all away), to earn awards, to be better than others or to look down on others. We were created with a 'hole in our hearts'. A hole that can only be filled by God. His space in us. We were meant to be connected with Jesus. He alone can fill our empty heart. Not shopping, kids, dogs, horses, hobbies, money or fame. The gras isn't greener on the other side, not if it is without God. We are also meant to be connected to others, face to face. It seemes like this day and age has more yearning for closeness than ever. More longing for someone and for Jesus. To be accepted and loved.

Till next time,
God Bless

Walk in darkness

"Would you go skydiving without a parachute? Would you bungee jump without a bungee? Would you go on a roller coaster ride without pulling the shoulder harness down? Would you scuba dive with no air in the tanks? Could I convince you to eat a rotten egg with a dead goldfish in it, just for the fun of it? The answer to all these questions is a definite ""NO!!!" That stuff isn't smart. It's not tempting. It's a no brainer! Why? Because participating in any of those activities would lead to pain for sure, and probably to death! Wanna know something crazy? Most teenagers take those kinds of chances every day. They may not be performing daredevil stunts or eating raw food, but they take the chance of living life on their own. God designed us in His image, as relational beings. He created us to be in a relationship with him and with other believers (1 John 1:3). In the Bible, Christians are never divided into those who go to church and those who don't. In the New Testament, wherever Christians were within range of each other, they met. In the book of Acts, every time the apostle Paul went to towns where there were new Christians, he immediately helped them meet with each other, and together they became a little church."

If we don't walk in God's light we walk in darkness. We may decieve ourselves into thinking that since the sun is shining we are walking in the light. But then we lie to ourselves. But to confess that you are not perfect, but you want to walk in the light will put you there! He doesn't want us to be our own lights He wants to shine the path for us. He is the sun to our candle. He can see everything while we only see a fraction. So why stumble in darkness when you can let Him light your way. Let Him guide you the on the less bumpy road...

Till next time,
God Bless

The New Year

So here we are again at the beginning of a new year.
I wasn't sure how to continue this blog. I did the Christmas reading plan with questions. Haven't found another yet. Then I remembered that in the book: Meet the Bible by Philip Yancey and Brenda Quinn there is always questions and thought at the end og each day. So as I start the book over again, I might just do this the right way as well. It gives me the oppertunity to really ponder the questions. I do have a tendency to just answer fast or not at all....

So here it is from the top ;)

1Mos 1,1- 2,3

Challange of the day:

When did you last notice the beauty in the Nature?

What did you notice today?

Because of the 'Rediscovering the Christmas Season' and the fact that we got snow long before Christmas this year, I can say that it was almost all of December! The snowcovered landscape as picture perfect. If you've read some of my blogging you've seen some of the things I've seen through the lence. This morning as the sun sents it's last golden rays of sunrise. The clouds where slightly pink and the icecovered grounds reflected the same pink. I wanted to get my camera to catch it, but I just stood there. Soaking it in.
But as the moments pass, I tend to forget them fast. Kids, mess and everyday life takes over. I've been a little lost lately. Not sure what to do, where to start things. So it ends up with me just doing things inside the house that is absoulutly neccesarry. And that doesn't really help on anything. So hopefully by starting everything 'fresh' this year. I might even change that! That would be awesome.

Till next time,
God Bless