The new successor of ‘How are you’. Safety; security, assured and certain. Is that how we feel these days? Or are we anxious, living in fear?

It all comes down to trust… But in whom or what? Where are we putting our bottom-line confidentiality in right now? World leaders? Governments? Technology? The stocks? Our health? What about our souls… Is it secure? In a safe place? Or is it wondering around, not knowing what to believe or follow anymore…

We as Christians are followers of Jesus. In Him and through Him we are secure and safe. Can we say with all confidence: ‘I feel safe?’ I hope you can!!

So whenever I hear someone say: ‘Stay safe’, my thoughts go towards God, Jesus. My response then too, is: ‘you too!!’ Because these words are loaded with the Truth: the Truth in the safety through the faith in Jesus Christ!

It feels like you’re fighting a fight you can’t win… No matter how hard you try…

My recent conversation with a Christian councilor, who found the right word to describe it for me: belonging. The need that everyone has, one more than another, but we all need that feeling. If life, day in day out, does not give you that sense, it’s going downhill pretty fast… You start your days bright and early, with your best foot forward, bringing ideas and opinions to the table. But if those constantly get negative attention, where does that leave your positive, trying to help motives?

I don’t know, every story is different, and always has 2 sides. All I know is this feeling drove me partly to depression before… Though: I definitely do not want to go there again!! But how can you prevent from a surrounding living area, to turn things around positive? The only thing I know and have learned from my previous experience: is God. I had left Him behind, but He never left me… That’s a huge thing, which gives me peace right now.

So how to cope then, with this bucket filling up with negative inputs? These days, I don’t even think half of the people realize what they’re doing to each other. That’s something to consider. But does that mean to sit in a corner or run away from the problem? I mean, how many times do we try, right? Well, God did not give up on me… So why should I give up?! When you’re not able to use your gifts or talents, or if they’re not appreciated or accepted, then why in the first place did God gave me those? I can’t just step out of my normal life and start a whole new one… A big word that’s helping me a lot is: patience. We might often not realize it, but later in life, we see, it turns out for the good. I see patience as hope – somehow connected. The hope we can have in Christ is so worth it! We belong to Him and that in itself is a huge comfort. So when you feel like you’re constantly put in a negative place; think of Jesus; He’s been put there a lot…

And just, let go! Let it go… move on, show your other cheek. Yes, easier said than done. Circumstances may take or leave your talents, but they can’t touch your love for Christ!

‘My brethren, count it all joy when you fall in various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.’ (James 1: 2-4)

2 Blogs today… In a way they could relate to each other. ‘Fly by’ was written at the beginning of this week, “when you feel it coming” today. In the end it’s the hope we may find in Christ Jesus our Lord and God.

I would like to share, that it really helps me personally to write about different matters. And maybe you or someone else can relate or find relieve in them as well, since we’re not the only one in this world who struggles… May God bless you in all that you do and in the choices that you make!

The saying: “The time flies by.”

I woke up this morning, just thinking, where does the time go?! Well, it’s going somewhere alright! When I see our kids grow up so quick, when a week just came and went, while our animals still need to be taken care of and so on and so on. It’s a blessing to live life. It’s God’s gift to all of us. How we live it is our choice. And if that includes God Himself, than that’s a blessing too!

In these times, where you have to stay at home, you might not find things fly by so fast. On a farm, that’s not really the case usually. But, to state things on the bright side; there are lots of things that you can do, that you’d ‘normally’ won’t. For example: play board or card games: its fun and you can really get to know each other in a different way. Go through your stacks or files of pictures: there are so many good times to remember… Or… pick up a Bible and read… just read… It may transform how we see things, it guides the way of life. One of my favorite Bible books is Proverbs. It contains so many wise advices that we can apply to our own lives.

You know, our life on earth may go quick, but this “coming and going” has a purpose… If we look at the Israelites, preparing to leave slavery and bondage from Egypt: they were preparing to go with God… When they were waiting and eating inside their homes, while leaving a blood stained door post on the front door of our house. Being warned, that night, an angel flew by… If they were prepared: the angel skipped the house, if not: the forewarned death would happen… We are through this story in the Bible warned too… How? Well, if we look at our hearts, is the ‘front post’ stained by Jesus’ blood? Looking at our lives, are we walking, living in faith with God? If so, as Christians, our destiny on earth, after death, is life in Heaven!

I would not have that chance fly by! I see my life as a gift, all that happens in it, though sometimes challenging, are bringing me closer to that hope! That is, the knowing hope in and through Jesus Christ. With God’s love for me and His grace, He’s preparing me and all of us who believe in Him, for that glorious moment to see Him; face to face. Yes, we will meet our King, The King of all creation!

Don’t let it… fly by…

Love – the word that has a lot of power. In many ways the word love can be defined. Our daily lives are filled with it, though not always felt or recognized. As ‘fallen’ humans, we want to feel loved. Sometimes in a way of: look at me! Look at what I am all accomplishing… Or just simply through words or a simple gesture. Even when you feel lonely or feel beaten by life… Love is still in the air. The only thing is, do we want to receive it? Do we listen to others, or to their advice? Do we except that hug out of willingness or ‘must-do’. Love is; give and take…

Now Christ is exactly that! He give(s). All we need to do is take… God Himself is love. Out of love and compassion He created us, humans. Every single conception of life is a gift from God. All our detailed genetics are unique; a one of a kind. Rumors these days and even some facts are about genetic manipulation. In my eyes; who is in charge of that, and who wants to play ‘god’? Why does a human raise need to be ‘changed’ or ‘manipulated’?

Back to love – we’re ought to love our neighbors, everyone around us, even our enemies. In short: God takes us sinners and wipes us clean through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Forgetting the bad and looking for good through forgiveness.

This is a good way to strive for the good. It will bring hope! Love – the so much needed attention in our lives. Another year is gone by, have we paid attention to all the love coming towards us? Or do we only focus on the bad, sad, negative situations? Are we looking at the bright sides of things, striving to make the best out of it?

Love: Love is…: Love is God. Take His love, receive it in hope, use it in your daily activities. You’re not alone. Never. Let us not focus on proving ourselves to the world in a self-centered way. But let us proof ourselves in our faith in God our King. He loves us – we love Him. It’s give and take. Are we taking what He gives and are we giving back what we receive(d)?

We don’t know what tomorrow might bring; the only thing we can be sure of is that God will be there, always!

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‘Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)

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‘Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He love us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us the Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.’ (1 John 4: 7-19)

In life, a lot of success comes from a lot of preparation work. Though, not always all of the work done ahead of time pays off. Offers get turned down, activities or events get cancelled etc… And there goes all your efforts…

Let’s compare: God in His time prepared(s) major events too. But these are perfectly timed and happen for a reason. One of the biggest, you would think, was sending His only Son to the world to give up His life for us sinners. To bring us hope in all things. Knowing this in advance is a huge preparation and undertaking.

Jesus came to earth and gave His life for us: the preparation ‘paid off’… Why say it so straight to the point? Well, we as humans, have to prepare too. Because: one day we all have to face Him. You, me, our family and friends, our neighbors, the people we pass on the road – even governments and kings – or scientists and those in power behind the scenes.

You know, our days are filled preparing: meals, planning work, do business. Every step includes making decisions. But what important thing slips through a lot… Are we prepared to face God one day? He’s the One and only One in charge of it all! When that time comes, there is no time for: oh, let’s do it that way, or oh, Who’s actually in charge?! It’s too late to change plans on that moment. We have to be prepared; it will happen. When? I don’t know, nobody knows, we don’t need to know!

That is the kind of power what it all is about these days: we want/need to know everything. There is no need for that… All we need to know for sure is: are we prepared? On whose side are you on? You know, Jesus coming was prepared already and still is. His preparations were and are not for nothing. He’s looking out for you, for me, for those who are tired of facing life alone. We simply can’t.

What preparations do you believe in today? Un-proven vaccines? Your next pay-cheque? The gifts under the tree?

The Gift was not under a tree… The Gift was given freely, out of perfect love. He was hanging on a piece of tree… For us! Do we know; are we really, really prepared? Are we willing to stand up and say: I trust in God, and in God alone?

‘What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels on mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.’ (Romans 9: 22, 23)

‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4: 11)

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’ (Luke 2: 14)

In this 2020 Christmas season and every single day: May we be prepared, for and to His glory!!

My favorite flower: a Rose. Beautiful, from a tight center, unfolding around and opening up. With a nice fragrant. Like our lives, knit together tightly, unfolding from our center-core: our souls. Will it bloom in full? Or is it moldy and rot away… If we don’t take care of our sins, our lives will never bloom.

The comparison I would like to show is the following passage; Romans 14: 7-9

You see, every breath, every choice, every move we’ve been granted by God. Though, each of these things have impact on the unfolding of a flower; our lives… Jesus went through Hell for us, to release and save us from our sins. If only we believe, if only we ask for forgiveness. God plants the seed in our heart, though we have to care for it and make it grow.

I love picking flowers, always have. – Jesus died for us, He loves us, He wants to gather His followers. One day, when all together – and only God knows when – What a beautiful assembly that will be! A true march of freedom! No more worries, no more pressures, no more tears…

We like this saying: ‘The more, the merrier.’ Isn’t that the love our Trinity God has toward us as well? These days it seems like this physical distancing does not make that possible. Though before God, before Jesus and even the Holy Spirit, there is no need for distance. It’s however close or far we want/let Them be…

God wants us to flower. Yes, we do go through different ‘weather statements’, though He’ll take care of us, even when it’s dark. Jesus went through His darkest hours alone: For us! We are not alone… May we flower strong in our lives, that He may receive back what is His! He knows all, and loves those who love Him!

Today, like any other, we are thankful for the following things:

• The air we breath: Created by God, we are able to breath, clean, filtering air. It is the invisible, it is enabling our bodies to perform. Like God is invisible at this moment, we know He’s is around us. He enables us to perform and make choices. Just like the air we breath…
• For the farmers: Who are working hard right now and every day. Providing the food-chain with food, that in the end, ends up on your tables. Food: it creates and builds a healthy immune system in you.
• Last but not least: Jesus! Who takes sinners like you and me to Himself. He gave up His life, to give us hope, endurance, and a glorious future in eternal life with Him!

I wish you all a blessed thanksgiving and most of all, the peace He creates in our hearts!

A line; it can be straight or curved. Lines can tell you a lot of things. In these uncertain times, a lot of people look at the lines of their investments into the stock-markets. Lines tell you a lot of things in a blink of an eye. Our life, day to day decisions form a line also. It’s not a perfect straight line. Only one human had that: Jesus.

We walk the line of life right now. Curving our ways through ages. Now, the standard of a line also means: rule. We need rules to improve our line of life. Rules are meant to follow, not to break. God Himself gave us commandments to follow. Do we brake them? Yes: this is when our line makes curves.

But until what standard does following rules mean? Following government rules? World set standards? What is wrong, what is right? Keep in mind, the biggest Ruler of all time is all around us. Though at the moment invisible to the eye, He knows all; each of our individuals life-lines.

But what is going on today? Fear? Panic? Who and what is creating these emotions? The Devil. He knows every hour, his end is coming nearer and nearer. The closer he get’s, the more and more he creates of it!

So, are you hiding in your house for months already? Are you standing in lines to get ‘tested’? In those ‘over-crowded’ places? Or are you following the Ultimate-Line; the one God teaches us through the Bible? This is our test: the most important one in your life!!

Know this: The day for the Devil’s destruction is coming, but also for this earth: Be on guard! You don’t know when stocks collapse. But we also don’t know the time of that Glorious, Saving moment when Jesus will take His followers to His eternal prepared world. What we do know: It will happen…

So, occupied with worldly lines today?! Please take the time to focus Who’s line is most important… He’s waiting for you! Jesus takes your crooked life-line, filled with sins. Grabs the end of it and makes it straight through His blood!

Get set: Go! Walk the line… The Line of Life: Set by your Creator!!

Today’s society is having big arguments on the ‘facts’ on factory farming. Go Vegan, is what’s being pushed. But what can we learn out of the Bible on this? And how can we as farmers explain and show you all our points of view?

Predictions are being made that around the year 2100, no animal farms will exist anymore. So what happened to our textbook balanced diet? A little bit of all kinds of food will give you a healthy life. Dairy, meat and plant-based. Our body’s need structures of each to create a healthy immune-system.

A great division happens when we loose the truth. For us the truth is in the Bible. What can we read? Well, first of all, after the fall into sin, human-kind is forced to work for 6 day’s a week: working the land, taking care of animals. It’s what we call today: farming.

Where will we leave all the producing animals if you want the whole planet to go ‘plant-based’. Will you let them all go free, make them eat and trample your fields? It’s all about balance: if you leave one end off a scale, the other side will never get balanced.

A quick look around our farm: as a fairly large dairy goat operation, we do not see ourselves as a ‘factory-farm’. Yes, animals are inside barns. Though provided with fresh air circulation, water and plenty of feed. If you look to the human population, we know a lot of people are worse of living then our animals do. Some populations hardly have any food or living space. Our animals receive a ‘clean bed’ of straw every day, fresh feed and health check-ups. Yes, they are living a routine, but so do we. Then, you might say; we have holiday’s, recreational activity’s. Animals can walk around, play, fight; however they want/need to behave. Now the most important part: God created humans separate from animals. Yes, we need and take good care of the animals, though, aren’t we as humans not to do even a better job doing so towards each other?

To name a few farmers of the Bible:

• Genesis 4:2: ‘Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.’ – We know Cain killed Abel later in the following chapters. We can learn; don’t wipe out the animal farmer. We need both.
• Noah was a farmer. He loved God and trusted Him. The city’s and neighbors laughed at Noah and what he was doing. But God wiped them all out.
• Jacob: who had to work for 14 years to receive his bride, while the works of his hands in caring for the flocks, brought prosperity and growth in flocks.
• Job: who lost all of his possessions, including all his animals. (for his number of animals; Job 1: 3) For his faith in lonely, dark times, he was blessed with even more after the disasters.

Yes, farming comes with ups and downs. You never know or can predict how you’ll day or year will go. As a farmer we trust. We trust for rain, for sun and warmth, for a good breeding season and healthy animals. Most of all, we, for ourselves, trust in God. And sure, bad things happen. A crop goes bad, a decease fly’s through your herd, but we trust and do not give up. God never has given up on us humans. He gave us hope through Jesus and the Holy Spirit who guards our hearts.

God plants seeds in our hearts, so let’s make them grow!