Easter

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2. Corinthians 8,9

The Power Of The Cross

  

Oh, to see the dawn

Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

The Power of the Cross
Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

Double the Blessing

Once again we got to experience the greatest blessing given to mankind - the birth of a miracle, a baby girl. December 11th I turned into a mother of two, and I still have to pinch my arm every once in a while, just to be sure it is real. "Family is one of Gods greatest masterpieces" is nothing but true. And Gods masterpiece in my life is two children and a loving husband. I am so grateful!

 Samuel & Mathea

"...every perfect gift is from above." 

James 1.17

How tenderly He loves them, 

the children of the earth. 

How tenderly He holds them, 

from the moment of their birth.

How lovingly He looks upon them, 

so sweet and so fair, 

May He always keep our little ones, safe within his care.

If that isn't love. . .

He left the splendor of heaven
Knowing His destiny
Was the lonely hill of Golgotha
There to lay down His life for me

If that isn't love
Then the ocean is dry
There's no stars in the sky
And the sparrows can't fly
Yeah if that isn't love
Then heaven's a myth
There's no feeling like this
If that isn't love

Even in death He remember
The thief hanging by his side
Then he spoke of love and compassion
And He took him to paradise

And if that isn't love
Then the ocean is dry
There's no stars in the sky
And the sparrows can't fly
Yeah if that isn't love
Then heaven's a myth
There's no feeling like this
If that isn't love It's got to be love

Easter, my favorite!

Our Pride and Joy is growing, learning, communicating, hugging, loving, laughing, screaming, smiling, playing, running and enjoying life. And we are truly blessed to have him in our family!

 Each day he is trying to do what we do. 

He is enjoying the smallest of things with the biggest enthusiasm

 And he loves animals. Here are the absolute favorites at the time.

 

We had a wonderful Easter together with our dear family and friends. It is my favorite time of year, pausing everything else - and celebrating Jesus´victory! 

He Is Risen

 (Taken from 1 Corinthians 15)

If we hold firm to the word

   By the gospel we are saved.

Jesus died on the cross for us,

        And with His blood for us He paid.

He was buried. On the third day was raised.

He appeared to many, some have fallen asleep.

He sent His Holy Spirit to be with us

   To comfort, guide, and for us to keep,

Till He comes again in clouds with power

   That we might see His great glory.

We must continue to tell others

Of the wonderful story.

How He loved us so much

          And paid the ultimate price for our sins.

Someday He’ll come back to get us.

   In heaven together we will enter in.

So stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Do His work and your labor will not be in vain.

He will always stand by you

And in you, He will remain.

For by His love He has set us free

From life’s worldly prisons.

For HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

       INDEED, HE IS RISEN!

                                 -- by Linda Vittitow

http://devotionsbylv.blogspot.no/2011/04/easter-message.html

The reason for the Season

Hi, and Merry Christmas to you!

After several people telling me they kept visiting my blog waiting for an update I decided that today would be a perfect day for just that!

We have gathered in my mom and dad´s house waiting for Christmas Eve to arrive tomorrow. 

Our little Samuel is growing and glowing. He keeps being a blessing to us and to everyone he meets. 

We are so grateful for everything we have and everyone we have in our lives.

It is a heartwarming joy to watch Samuel nowadays. He is learning new things everyday, and he shows such a contagious excitement as he explores the little and big things in his surroundings. 

Our christmas-tree is a centre of attention. He is amazed with the decorating "balls" (as he calls them)  and the birds with feathers on them. 

But the star on the top (bought in the US) is also an object he has to point at many times in a day. 

The star.

For me being a reminder of why we celebrate Christmas - the reason for the season. 

"Is there a purpose? Why are we here?" 
A little boy asked as the yuletide drew near. 
"I really do hope that someday I will know 
The reason we stand out here in the snow, 
Ringing this bell as people walk by 
While snowflakes descend from out of the sky."

The mother just smiled at her shivering son 

Who would rather be playing and having some fun, 

But soon would discover before evening was done 

The meaning of Christmas, the very first one.

The young boy exclaimed, "Mother, where do they go, 

All the pennies we collect every year in the snow? 

Why do we do it? Why do we care? 

We work for these pennies, so why should we share?"

"Because once a small baby, so meek and so mild 

Was born in a manger," She said to the child. 

"The Son of a King was born in this way, 

To give us the message He carried that day."

"You mean Baby Jesus? Is He why we're here, 

Ringing this bell at Christmas time every year?" 

"Yes," said the mother. "That is why you should know 

About the very first Christmas a long time ago."

"The present God gave to the world on that night 

Was the gift of His Son to make everything right. 

Why did He do it? Why did He care? 

To teach about loving and how we should share."

"The meaning of Christmas, you see, my dear son, 

Is not about presents and just having fun. 

But the gift of a Father—His own precious Son— 

So the world would be saved when His work was all done."

Now the little boy smiled with a tear in his eye, 

As snowflakes kept falling from out of the sky— 

Rang louder the bell as the people walked by 

While down deep in his heart at last he knew why.

--Tom Krause, © 2003, www.coachkrause.com

The Faithfulness Of The Lord

Lamentations 3 22-24

It's GardenTime.

Garden. Transformation. New growth.

______________________________________________

Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.

I will proclaim the name of the LORD.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:2-4

Loving Life

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118, 24

Count Your Blessings

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep.

Irving Berlin

We have had a wonderful opportunity to count our blessings the last weeks.

We have spent 3 weeks on the roads in the US, visiting dear friends and family along the way. We have had an adventure, and have been feeling very welcome all the places we have been.

Our little Prince have been amazingly happy and pleased with the travelling, and sure has enjoyed all the attention he got while meeting all those who where excited to see him for the first time.

Thank You everyone, for being such blessings in our lives.

“However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts.” 

― John Calvin

Count Your Blessings, Be Grateful

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

Easter Blessings from the Bårdsen Family

Med ønske om en Velsignet Påske-høytid til alle våre venner  og familie i inn- og utland.

Vi har en nydelig dag med solstråler både inne og ute.

 

Wishing a blessed Easter holiday to all our friends and family at home and abroad.

 We have a beautiful day with sun rays both indoors and outside.

In your place.

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.

It was in your place.

A gift for you to receive.

One Day at a Time

Corinthians 10:31
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

2 Timothy 1:9
God, who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity

Ephesians 4:7
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

1

Corinthians 12:11
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

God created each and one of us to serve more than ourselves.

Ultimate meaning in life can be found when we become God's tools, His hands and feet while serving those in need and those we meet througout our days.

I believe that being a Christian, a tool of God and a Light in a dark world is not defined only by how often we pray or go to church, but by how we let our everyday life be colored by God and His everlasting arms. In big things or small, in decisions on how we want to live our lives and how we choose to meet people in our lives. In how we react to, converse, listen to and love those who God has made our life cross roads with.

 I'm living with a prayer of learning how to rely on His promises and plans, making what's best out of whatever comes, and taking one day at a time - not spending unneccesary time and strength being worried about tomorrow.

I'm so lucky that in 4 months I'll start working at a Christian Private Lower Secondary School (ages 13-16)  starting this August. I am wondering how it will be like working there and what kind of challenges that will show up, but at the same time I'm excites and I'm convinced that It'll be a blessing to be able to share the joys and challenges with the others that'll work there and who have the same beliefs as myself .

Only One Life 'Twill Soon Be Past, Only What's Done for Christ Will Last

This is from Susan Kelly Skitt's Adventures in Living - you should absolutely pay her a visit!

Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last.

C.T. Studd (1860-1931)

C.T. Studd wrote a poem after hearing the same two phrases. A native of England, he attended university and was an elite Cricket player. However, he realized how short life can be when his brother became seriously ill. He understood that the sport and the fame that came with it paled in light of eternity. God worked in his life to be a witness for Christ through Dwight L. Moody meetings. C.T. met with missionary Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, spoke at evangelistic meetings at universities in England and Scotland and later began his missionary journey sailing to China. His motto was: "If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." To find out more about the life and times of C.T. Studd and other missionaries, click this link to the Wholesome Words site.

 

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart; 

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done; 

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. 

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave; 

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; 

Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”

C.T Studd

A Prayer to Grow with God



- God Made ME -  

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Eph., 14-21

Spring is making its way in gardens everywhere these days as you can see. What a Lovely time of year when nature's bright colors start coming back and flowers start to show up. - Let us be reminded of God and His longing to be able to grow within us, and pray that we let Him.