The Cracked pot

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends
of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and
always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of a long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked
pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home
only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection,
and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the
woman one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, because the crack in my side causes
water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on
your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"
"That is because I have always known about your flaw, so I
planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day
while we walk back, you water them."
"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to
decorate the table."
"Without you beeing just the way you are, there would not be
this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots.
But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace
His Fathers table.
In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.
Don't be afraid of your flaws.
Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty.
Know that in our weakness, He is strong.

Hvile midt i stormen - Rest In The Middle Of The Storm

Det er ikke mange dager siden jordskjelvet i Japan rystet en hel verden, faren er definitivt ikke over. Forskerne spår nye etterskjelv, befolkningen i og rundt Japan og kanskje resten av verden trues av radioaktivitet. Nøden er stor blant de som lever i området med de enorme ødeleggelsene.

Frykten har, for mange, vokst sterkt og gnager til alle døgnets tider.

Over 365 steder i Bibelen står ordene "frykt ikke". Pussig nok like mange ganger som det finnes dager i året, godt å vite at det ikke er Gud som vil at vi skal frykte for alt som skjer.

Guds tanker for hver enkelt av oss er fred.

Det betyr ikke at motgang, lidelse og katastrofer ikke vil skje, men det betyr at ved å kjenne Gud og leve i Hans nærhet, kan man finne en plass uten frykt for det man møter, uansett om det er sykdom, ulykker, andres ve og vel eller døden selv. 

Det står i Bibelen at fullkommen kjærlighet fordiver frykten. Dette har jeg fått oppleve selv.

Da jeg, for noen år siden, fikk en forståelse/oppdaget hvor høyt Gud elsker meg, forsvant nærmest all frykten for ulike ting, som jeg hadde båret på. Det høres kanskje helt underlig ut og vanskelig å tro, men det er blitt min erfaring. 

Hvis frykten kommer å banker på hos meg, vet jeg at det beste jeg kan gjøre er å være sammen med Jesus gjennom å lese Guds ord eller være i bønn. Jeg snakker også direkte til frykten og ber den om å gå vekk fra meg, for jeg vil ikke gi den rom i mitt liv. Når jeg gjør dette i Jesu navn og samtidig passer på å holde meg nær til Jesu kjærlighet - er det ikke vanskelig å "hvile midt i stormen."  

Gud har ikke ulykkestanker for noen av oss, Han elsker deg og vil at du skal ha det godt og hvile i Hans fred hver dag.
Gud velsigne deg med fred idag.

Fathers loveletter

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God



































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Can you be in God’s will and be miserable? by Joyce Meyer

Jeg har sakset dette stykket fra Joyce Meyers nettside:
Can you be in God’s will and be miserable?
by Joyce Meyer


Well, yes. But you can also be in tremendous peace.
For people who are saying, “I’m in a tough situation right now because I believe it’s where God wants me, but I’m miserable, frustrated and unhappy,” there’s good news.
When God asks us to stay in a difficult situation, He provides a special grace for us to get through it. It’s the kind of grace that leads others to look at us and think: Wow! I can’t believe they’re dealing with this and still have such peace! That’s faith.
When we say things like, “I just don’t think I can make it,” we’re essentially giving up, when we could just as easily trust God to help and sustain us.
Learning to trust God for His grace on a daily basis will help you keep your thoughts and words in line with His Word.
What Trusting God Can Do for You
I’ve heard grace defined as God’s riches at Christ’s expense, and that’s a good definition. But to be honest, it’s just a little bit too spiritual for me.
I like to define grace as God’s power to help us do whatever we need to do.
Grace is power. And it all comes to us through faith, which God also gives us. In fact, Romans 12:3 warns us not to think too highly of ourselves, because God is the one who gives us our faith.
You need to ask yourself: What am I doing with my faith?
Are you trying to change things that you have no ability to change? Are you trying to get yourself promoted instead of just doing your best to please God? If so, you’re probably burning out because you’re focusing on works.
When we simply do what God asks us to do, His grace flows through.
Faith Isn’t Just for the Finish Line
To learn how to trust God for His grace, I used to put up signs around my house that said things like, “Works of the flesh equal frustration.”
Every time I became frustrated, the signs helped me to remember God was with me.
One thing I learned is that His grace isn’t just for last minute miracles. God doesn’t just throw you a Hail Mary pass at the last minute when you’re all worn out and ready to give up, and then say, “Okay, now go make the touchdown.”
God’s grace is something on which you can constantly rely.
How to Have Peace in the Now
Because grace is available to you right now, there’s no reason to struggle with your circumstances, trying to figure them out—or even fight your way out.
Galatians 5:16 tells us to …walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit…then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh.
Notice how it doesn’t say “conquer the flesh so you can walk in the Spirit.”
When we concentrate on the Spirit, we won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh because we will be focused on our relationship with God and His love for us.
The same way we receive Christ is the same way we are supposed to live each day of our life—in total, complete dependence on Him.
Your circumstances don’t have to control you, because you have the power of God’s grace in your life. And it’s available to you in whatever amount you need, right now.

Juvelen

" Juvelen".

et dikt av Lillian Beglihn Utsogn

Når Gud skapte deg, tenkte han på en dyrebar juvel.
Han formet og dannet deg i sine kjærlige hender.
Slipte deg på alle kanter.
Til tider var det smertefullt.

For at fargene og skjønnheten skulle komme best frem,
var det helt nødvendig.

Resultatet ble fantastisk.
En funklende diamant i alle regnbuens farger.
En edelsten som forente ildens glans med vannets renhet.

Du ble hans hjertens lyst.
Han kunne ikke holde øynene fra deg.
Din skjønnhet overgikk alt.

Gud ble lykkelig eier av denne juvelen.
Han voktet den som sin øyensten.

Bar den med seg hvor han gikk, tett til sitt bryst.

Når juvelen ble skitten, vasket han den ren igjen.
Pusset den blank og skinnende.
Viste den stolt frem til alle.

Han visket deg i øret.
Var du stille, hørte du det :
"Min elskede, alt ved deg er vakkert:
det finnes ikke lyte på deg !

Du er mer verd enn hele verden.

Ble det sånn du så på deg selv ?

Diktet er skrevet av Lillian Beglihn Utsogn, du kan lese flere dikt av Lillian HER

Blessing

Kjenne Gud / To know God

Vi er alle sammen kjent av Gud, Han er genuint interessert i hver enkelt av oss.

Men vi kan også selv kjenne Gud - hvilken invitasjon!

Å bli kjent med Han som skapte himmel og jord, og som eier all kunnskap, kjærlighet og visdom.

Vi lærer Gud å kjenne gjennom å omgås Ham gjennom f.eks å snakke med Ham om hverdagslige ting, innlemme Ham i våre hverdagslige sysler. Spør Ham om spørsmål, be Ham om råd - åpne livet for Ham gjennom at vi deler våre helt enkle hverdagslige gjøremål med Ham.

De som gjør det, vil lærer Ham å kjenne.

Våg å gjøre deg selv sårbar innfor Gud, vis Ham dine innerste følelser og tanker.

Gi Ham av deg selv både på godt og vondt - Han tåler det.....og du vil finne trøst og glede i Hans nærhet.

Guds bolig

Spre velsignelse

Gled deg!