A surprise but very welcome visit today

Today as I opened my door after a nice breakfast and good reading and time with God, I saw two cats roaming around in the complex. I like them and always stop to pet them and let them come to me. Now as I was seeing them I make a “cattish” noise and they come. They follow me to my apartment. Surprising to me, they walk inside: “Welcome to my abode..!” Both start sniffing around and I sat down to observe..I love to watch animals. As I am typing this, one of them is still with me (2 ½ hours later), relaxing on my couch. So they sniff around and start purring. I pet them and enjoy their presence thanking God for this surprise and welcome visit. Both find their favorite spot on my couch after checking out my bedroom and the kitchen counter and the sink – grin. I need to go and post some postcards but I don’t want to leave to be honest. It is a nice sunny day, so my door is open and the birds are singing. I am thankful for this moment. I embrace it and I cherish it in my heart.

First tour through my new appartment

Let's walk through my little appartment..... p.s. do you recognize the music?

Ich liebe dich - I love you

This song is one of my favourite songs rightnow. Sorry guys that it is in German: here is the translation: "Jesus, ...I don;t have a lot for you but your also appreciate the little that I bring to you from deepest heart. Jesus, what could I do your you? Your hand guides me and prepares the way. And I know you see me as I am standing here before you. Your GRACE is sufficient although I can see my weakness and I am coming just as I am because I am not able any other way and I look up to YOU and praise YOU. I love you because you have loved me first yes I love you because you have paid so much for me yes I love you, I love you, I love you! Jesus, what would I be without YOU. YOu have given me so much. Your love lets me live! Jesus, you know I need you. YOu are the air in my throat and the breath of my soul. And I know you see me as I am standing here before you. Your GRACE is sufficient although I can see my weakness and I am coming just as I am because I am not able any other way and I look up to YOU and praise YOU. I LOVE YOU because you loved me first, yes I LOVE YOU yes I love you because you have paid so much for me yes I love you, I love you, I love you!

Face like a flint (Isaiah 50:7)

Isaiah 50:7 (New International Version) 7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

I was reminded of this verse yesterday. God gave it to me years ago when I was an intern in Oregon.Yesterday as I was praying, I was thinking of this verse again. You know, the first time that I came across this piece of Scripture was actually in my first weeks of being a Christian. I did not know the Bible really then. But I knew that I needed to persevere. All hell had broken lose after I declared Jesus the Lord of my life. One thing in particular was my relationship to my fiance back then.I was bombarded with really evil stuff. Especially my mind was a battle ground of its own.I knew I had to hold on to Jesus - that was all that made sense to me. The friend that had brought me to Christ, prayed for me that Jesus might set my mind like a flint. I really liked that prayer for that is what I so so needed. I could actually picture it and made it my daily prayer to Jesus:

Please make my mind like flint!

That is when I first got to know the verse. Later as I learned more and more to read the Bible, I studied this vese, this passage. Having a mind like flint is all about an attitude just like Jesus had on the cross (Phil 2). He set his mind like flint when the darkness came and HE for -the first time- felt the loneliness and seperation from HIS Father...He felt all our sin and shame...HE needed that mind to be set like a flint!

So here I am and I say: Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

My mind is hard now against all the lies ot the enemy..... and my heart knows that I won't be put to shame because I trust in Jesus and Jesus alone!

On Eagle's Wings

It is said that the eagle is the only bird that actually flies higher when a storm is coming. The eagle flies higher and higher to be in the end above the storm

It's tuesday and today I am with Jesus 9 years, 8 months and 6 days. I realize I live in the time and day of God's grace and mercy (Psalm 145). I come before HIM with a heavy heart.It's hard to define even really why my heart is heavy. I kind of know why but still I know that my God is with me in everything. I have a lot to be thankful for and I am thankful!! (a new appartment and the end of a nomad life living out of 1 suitcase this week!!) At the same time, I know that I can fly on HIS eagle's wings higher than this storm, higher than this storm of transition that rattles my soul, higher than this storm of worry. Up there, I will be able to focus again, up there my soul can rest knowing that my God, my Deliverer does not only take great care of me but of my friends and my family as well!I love to be on HIS eagle's wings. So that's where you will find me today! And only through His mercy and grace, I can find myself there. He is faithful, His words are sure, He never changes and HE knows me. He knows YOU , too!!

YOuth-Worship

It's monday today , so today is YOUTH night here at Coastlands Community Church. In the office I was asked to create some youth slides for the announcements at church. I had fun playing around with some pictures and what you see here is what I came up with. We are currently in a series about WORSHIP. I pray that God's Spirit transforms us all as we draw near and worhsip...with all we have and wherever we are. I can worship God by being good at the things I do, by thanking HIM, by trusting HIM... All those things have not come that easy to me in the last few weeks. I let the god of WORRY reign way too muc. I was confronted with some fears that run really deep. I could see how the limbic system in my brain would kick in again and again. I let doubts come in which made it harder to trust. I am so thankful that Jesus loves me irrespective of all that. He is outragously in love with me and I receive this today!

I worship God Adonnai, my Jehovah Jireh, my Strong Tower, my FOREVER.

likePartners

This morning as I was eating my breakfast at the guesthouse, I was looking outside. What a beautiful day, I thought. The sun was shining; I could see the mountain clearly; and the color green was absolutely stunning. Then my gaze fell on the two trees standing very close to each other. I thought: " Each tree is different, yet they grew very close to each other. They keep each other company, they share life with each other". It is a beautiful picture how I view two partners in life. Both different from each other, yet close to each other. My heart longs for such a person and God knows. I was encouraged by how nature again could display a picture of God's truth and my longing so perfectly.

Dear dear Jesus, my Jeshua, my forever, thank you for this picture and thank you for being here with me. Thank you. I love you with all my heart, soul and mind, with all I have! Kerstin Sunshine