Colossians 2: 6,7

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, 

so walk in him, 

rooted and built up in him, 

and established in the faith, 

just as you were taught, 

abounding in thanksgiving. 

Zoals u dan Christus Jezus, de Heere, hebt aangenomen, 

wandel in Hem,

geworteld en opgebouwd in Hem, 

en bevestigd in het geloof, 

zoals u onderwezen bent; 

wees daarin overvloedig, met dankzegging.

A pearl in God's hand

(from: http://relikaarten.sendasmile.com/card/19890)

God's blanket

God's love is like a warm blanket that wraps me up when I am sad. 
It protects me from the cold.
It makes me feel safe.

God's love is like a safety blanket that is held tightly by the four corners.
It catches me when I fall.
It makes me feel safe.

Have some climbing faith

No mountain's too high for you to climb
All you have to do is have some climbing faith, oh yeah
No river's too wide for you to make it across
All you have to do is believe it when you pray

And then you will see, the morning will come
And every day will be bright as the sun
All of your fears, cast them on me
I just want you to see...

I'll be your cloud up in the sky
I'll be your shoulder when you cry
I'll hear your voices when you call me
I am your angel
And when all hope is gone, I'm here
No matter how far you are, I'm near
It makes no difference who you are
I am your angel
I'm your angel

I saw the teardrops, and I heard you cry
All you need is time, seek me and you shall find
You have everything and you're still lonely
It doesn't have to be this way, let me show you a better day

And then you will see, the morning will come
And all of your days will be bright as the sun
So all of your fears, just cast them on me
How can I make you see...

I'll be your cloud up in the sky
I'll be your shoulder when you cry
I'll hear your voices when you call me
I am your angel
And when all hope is gone, I'm here
No matter how far you are, I'm near
It makes no difference who you are
I am your angel
I'm your angel

And when it's time to face the storm
I'll be right by your side
Grace will keep up safe and warm
And I know we will survive

And when it seems as if your end is drawing near
Don't you dare give up the fight
Just put your trust beyond the sky...

I'll be your cloud up in the sky
I'll be your shoulder when you cry
I'll hear your voices when you call me
I am your angel
And when all hope is gone, I'm here
No matter how far you are, I'm near
It makes no difference who you are
I am your angel
I'm your angel

(Celine Dion)

Lord, to give up I'd be a fool

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all

Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising up again, I bless Your name
You are my all in all

When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

Point of Grace (video)

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up (video)

When I am down and oh, my soul so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas

I am strong when I am on Your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be

There is no life, no life without its hunger

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly

But when You come and I am filled with wonder

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas

And I am strong when I am on Your shoulders

Oh, you raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up to more than I can be

Investing in the future

To have daffodils in the spring

You have to plant bulbs in the winter.

Where forgiveness is, there will be healing

Hoe kan ik verder leven, hoe moet ik verder gaan.
Kan ik ooit vergeven, wat mij is aangedaan.
De woorden in mijn ziel, de haat en bitterheid,
lijken niet te helen niet door woorden, niet door tijd.

Refrein:
Maar als er vergeving is, kan er genezing zijn,
van de pijn en het verdriet diep van binnen.
Als er vergeving is,kan er genezing zijn,
en de weg van herstel kan beginnen.

O God, ik heb U nodig, Ik kan het zelf niet.
Ik lijk haast te verstikken, in angst en in verdriet.
Hoe kan ik ooit vergeven, zoals U mij vergeeft,
dwars door alles heen wat mij beschadigd heeft.

Geef mij de kracht van Uw liefde om verder te gaan,
ook al zal er een litteken blijven bestaan.
Want is Uw liefde niet sterker dan de dood,
en Uw vergeving niet dieper dan mijn nood?

Want waar Uw vergeving is, zal genezing zijn,
van de pijn en het verdriet diep van binnen,
waar Uw vergeving is zal genezing zijn
en de weg van herstel kan beginnen.

Video here

Hearing God's voice

From 'Creative Commons'

I could be hearing God's voice when:

1. I am reading the Bible and a verse seems to 'jump out of the page'
2. I wake up and remember my dream
3. When  I am praying and a picture or thought strongly breaks through
4. I have a persistant feeling of 'having to do something' which reoccurs (call, send a card etc)
5. I see a lesson in nature that underlines what I am thinking
6. I am meditating and I really do hear a voice
7. An overwhelming emotion takes over
8. A song or piece of music 'fits' the situation I am in
9. An angel appears and speaks to me - wther in a dream or in a vision
10. Someone else brings me a word of knowledge

If I am hearing God's voice then:

1. What I hear will not contradict the Bible
2. God will be exalted through the message
3. The message will flow from love (not to please the other nor to preach to the other)
4. It will keep me humble
5. I should pass it on without interpreting it, being a channel
6. I should avoid predicting the future

Riding on the Father's back

Swan and cynets from 'Creative Commons'

When young cygnets are first hatched, the mother remains on the nest to incubate the other eggs. The young chicks who hatch first keep warm by riding on their father's back.

They are safe in from the cold, stormy waters in the strong wings of the father. The father guides them safely through the flotsam and jetsam of the river, avoiding the weeds that might entangle them and keeping them safe from other river predators.