Disagreements, diversity, anger, arguments and wars. This world is full of it. And no, we are not created the same and we’ll never be all on the same line.  But a lot of these things have one thing in common; envy and unrighteousness. We want something we don’t have. But God tells us in His 10th commandment that we shall not want, that, that not belongs to us. Unrighteousness is a big statement, a lot of times this comes down to common sense. But if you’re not brought up in a normal, save environment, this will be missed. I’ve seen some of, for instance our past employees, missing common sense. You want to help them, but it only brings you in more trouble. Not seeing what needs to be done or not wanting to see it, are 2 different things, but come down to the same results. How then can you bring up the following verse from James 3:18; ‘Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.’ We, for example, give multiple chances for change and start doing right. So it’s nice to see better results. Though we’ve also bin seeing a lot of younger kids who just don’t care. You’ve trained them and they’ll leave colt turkey, leaving you with the work that you can’t do all by yourself and then need to find someone new right away. What I am trying to get to is the following, with this kind of mentality coming more and more, the problems of this world will become bigger.

Now Jesus tells us: ‘ Peace I will leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) So let us not be troubled by this, because He is still overall. Sometimes I am afraid, that our children grow up in this rapid technology changing world. It brings the moral responsibility down and the basic way of living forgotten. But He tells us not to be afraid, He knows what’s coming and He’ll protect us and our children against opposition. Maybe not always in this world, but it will be so in Heaven!

When you have a new situation, the unknown pulls you to find out if it’s good or bad. First thing to do is actually try it out… But that in itself could already be sinful. By nature we want to know the unknown, we think we need to know and sometimes it is good, but most of the times we have that funny fore feeling that isn’t right. Why do we still do it then? It’s this war inside us of good and bad, it’s a trigger that is favorable for Satan, he loves to see us suffer, short or long-term. He’ll do anything to keep you far from right. So why is it that we still follow up in these things over and over again?! It makes us small and vulnerable and so in need of God. But that daily need points us to these new, and yes, old situations. When Eve took the first bite, she knew from God telling her what the consequences would be. Consequences, we have to deal with them, but how? Doesn’t it keep reminding us of the sin committed? Shouldn’t it just fade away over time? No, it won’t, simple as that. Though God gives us hope in a new life, isn’t that wonderful, because it’s still unknown to us?!

When Jesus had His last supper, He broke the bread and said; take, eat, this is my body which is given to you. The first bite, in remembrance, the first bite, a sign of knowing what is! At least for us, because the disciples didn’t know it would have bin Jesus last supper. But He knew and gave them that first bite, knowing how much they would be needing Him. So, also for us; when you take your first ‘bite’, remember what Jesus said, because He died for our sin, even for us trying things out. He is also there and He knows, He didn’t die for nothing… That doesn’t mean you can just keep doing what you’ve always done… Remember Him and ask for forgiveness. God’s grace will come upon you and His comfort will give you hope for what is still to come!

Don’t we all make them? Promises? And isn’t it most of the time hard to keep to them? It means hard efforts and dedication. It’s so easily said then done. I can even hear my young kids make them already; ‘sorry mama, I promise I won’t do it again…’

You don’t necessarily have to use the word ‘promise’, but if your saying you will do something, you have to be faithful in keeping your word. We have a good example in our Father, as He throughout the Bible made promises and kept them. To name a few, leading Moses and the Hebrews out of Egypt, as well as leading Abraham to the promised land. Then through the prophets He announces the coming of Christ and the return of Christ back to earth. This last thing still has to happen but as we can see God keeping His promises, we have hope. The hope of seeing Jesus and knowing Him preparing us a special room in heaven!

You see, in Romans 4:16 Paul tells us we are all children of Abraham through faith. God gave His promises and kept them! Amazing, over so many centuries, this is still coming through! (‘Therefore it is of faith it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all seed, not only those who are of law, but also to those who are of faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.’)

It’s written in Hebrews 13-19, that for God it is impossible to lie and that we may lay hold of the hope set before us. God told Abraham to see and count the stars, to hold on to His promises, we can do the same! We can remember, just like looking at the starts we have the rainbow, a promise of God as well.

‘Then Peter said to them, “repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, for the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”‘ (Acts 2:38,39) The hope we can have in His promise, it’s all about timing, it’s what we all need in faithful promises!

Who does not want to be ‘liked’?! These day’s we need to keep up in all sorts of states to be liked and to be excepted into social-society. We need to know what people are up to and to see if pictures are ‘picture-proof’. Is this the example we want to set for our children? Who, as no others are so fragile and even more with cyber-bullying… Words typed or pictures posted are so much harder, because you can’t run from it, it’s there, for everyone to see. And with this, even us as parents have no control anymore… Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are good things happening on Facebook. But we are sitting in a Air-connected roller coaster, that climbed to it’s top and now is on it’s way down. Where will it stop? I may sound old-school, but in my memory, 15 years ago, we could live without media-society right?Why are we so busy creating a perfect image of ourselves on the internet, when all the while a new Friend is waiting for you to except Him? For Him your own self is good enough. Don’t look at your profile picture, just look in the mirror and you will see Gods’s love.

“Full of love, full of color,

a heart is ‘v’ connected in rainbows.

Sometimes it feels cold, sometimes warm.

It’s connecting our life, so keep it healthy.

The only medicine is love,

so don’t separate the ‘v’ connection.

Let her fly and she’ll bear much fruit.”

Our heart is the center of our human body. It’s the first thing that starts beating after conception. So small, so tender, though it’s the main machine to make the body grow and supply it’s life.

But it’s also a place God guards through Christ Jesus; ‘and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:7) All the ‘why’ questions we have in our life are secured in His hands. His reasoning are beyond our way’s. But still He can give peace in our hearts.

He also rules our hearts, because our body’s belong to Him. So why stop the beating hearts?! These day’s abortion and euthanasia are becoming so common… it’s killing a soul that belongs to God. Isn’t it that He said ‘I will provide’? He is the One in power, not us.

God also tests our hearts; ‘For the righteous God tests our hearts and minds.’ (Psalm 7:9) So, ‘Don’t trust in your own heart, you’ll end up as a fool.’ (Proverbs 28:26) Be wise and seek God’s will, which is revealed in His Holy Bible. Let Him refresh your heart through daily prayers.

‘For as in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.’ (Proverbs 27:19) So many things can be revealed on the outside and tell us if a heart is ‘healthy’ or in trouble. Sin can creep in and leave bad marks. But then there is Jesus, who can cleanse and renew our heart and spirit through His saving grace. Let us keep the heart, the center and core filled with His love and it will reveal itself to the rest of the world!

Meisje, Meisje,

Lief klein Meisje

Een hartje vol van vreugde

Door onschuld ons verlaten

Verdriet is niet te omschrijven

Waarom kon je niet blijven

Een leegte is gevallen

Zo’n intens gemis

Er is een lege stoel

En we missen je stem

Je laarsjes staan leeg

Je voetjes horen te rennen

Fietsen met een lach

De tijd lijkt stil te staan

Maar jij bent nu veilig

Geen pijn, geen verdriet

We zullen je missen

Elke dag weer

Jouw leven was te kort

Bij papa en mama vallen tranen

want er was nog zoveel te zeggen

Meisje, Meisje,

Lief klein meisje

We luisteren

Maar horen niets

We kijken

Maar zien alleen momenten

Afscheid genomen

Maar veelste vroeg

Je was nog maar een kind

Een grootte, lieve zus

Als vrienden staan we te kijken

Machteloos in het verlies

We voelen de leegte

En willen graag troosten

We moeten verder

Maar willen niet gaan

Meisje, Meisje,

Lief klein Meisje.

A wake-up call, a reminder in the early morning. Early is the thing to keep in mind; sooner or later it might happen, the denial of Jesus in our lives… This what happened to Peter, up to 3 times in a row! The crucial situation of Jesus sacrifice of His untrue accusations seemed to be far away from Peter’s conscience, even though he was standing so nearby… Being close to Him still can be a dangerous state for pride and security for selfishness, it’s a perfect situation for Satan’s attack. It means that however close you can be to Him, your still so vulnerable… to scared of what the rest of the world might think or even do to you. Isn’t that so often in our situations? Self reputation, these day’s it’s seems to be so important.

Jesus warned Peter this would happen in advantage, even having the warning, this situation kept Peter in a circle of self-pity. The eyes of the outside world were more important. But how unmistakably awful the moment must have bin, when he met the eyes of Jesus after hearing the calls of the rooster… Hide, hiding is the only place on your mind then… But in the end of day’s there will be no more opportunity of hiding anymore… People will flee and try to, but God sees you, judgement will come! The piercing, dreadful eyes of Jesus did it to Peter. The surrounding wake-up call of the early rooster, an eye opener, a warning. Start your day strong and remember Who is King. God is proud if we choose to stand firm. It’s amazing how great God’s forgiveness is, Peter got it also. Later he writes; ‘But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.’ (1 Peter 3:15,16) It looks like Peter’s hope at the time if denial was all lost, he saw Christ being slain and sentenced to death, his conscience was hopeless and therefore he answered not knowing Jesus for his own life’s sake.

When moments of accusations rise up, don’t we all try to pull out our proud rooster suit, just to make things look better then what they really are? The judgement-call will bring it all to reality, but don’t let it be to late! The day starts early, so let’s get on with this hopeful truth in Christ!

Funny, when you have kids of your own… you get pushed to the point when back when you were young. I can still hear my dad say: ‘I wonder what you’ll do when you have your own.’ Now when one of the kids refuses to eat for example, he can laugh so hard, because I’m using the same methods he would have. ‘Train up a child in the way it should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.'(Proverbs 22:6) So even the small things count. Now a day’s I like to eat every dish! (except for brussle sprouts 🙂 )

As parents you love your children and you sometimes need the discipline because you do love them. I sometimes feel guilty doing so, because you can relate to those things from your own youth. ‘Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.’ (Hebrews 12:11) It’s amazing how fast you can see the sin in your child’s life, as soon as they start saying ‘no’, it seems to get worse…

Joel 1 verse 3 tells us; ‘Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children and their children another generation.’ What does this mean? Well it’s about the telling of the Bible. Which is full of life experiences, expectations and how to live a godly life. Most important it tells us about love, the love of a Father to His children. And that most wonderful promise that is awaiting us in the life after. A father knows more about life then his son, because he has more life-experience. So does God have the most experience, He’s the One who lived(s) forever! So why not learn from His teachings and tell so to our children? Won’t we all have our children know the Lord? Start them young, their ears will pick up the sweet sounds, their eyes will see your examples and their mouth will proclaim what’s bin said before!

Now I can laugh with my dad about these little incidents, but before – I felt guilty, because I too, had to be trained…

Being depressed is having ‘your strength spend with grief’. Keeping silent, not wanting anyone to talk to you or give you comfort. The deep guilt keeping you lonely, such a loneliness that is so dark, that you feel insecure and far away from the truth. And I could feel – no relief. Standing still in time, my soul was so troubled, not knowing where to go. Running after a made up thought, thinking it was right and good, but not finding relief. You only want to step out of it, hide and be done with it, but you can’t. Not without help… The help you don’t think you need.

All this takes time, it’s a growing progress, like willingly learning how to walk again. It’s tiny steps that bring you closer to the truth again, to have reality sink in. My sins are not hidden, maybe to this world, but not for God; that is reality. Reality is living, being born and one day die again. But the unknown is what we want to know, but not necessary have to. There is no life on earth if you know the unknown, that’s why we live in sin. ‘My sins are not hidden from Thee.’ So you have choices to make, step out of it; ‘confessing your transgressions’ or stay in that dark place and keep your ‘guilty silence’ with a full grieving soul.

But when ‘I confess, then Thou forgavest me.’ Forgiveness, a grace so full of love we don’t deserve. So how powerful is it, when it’s granted to us time and time again. Only God is the One who is capable, and oh – how much a relief on our troubled souls that is!

While I kept guilty silence,

my strength was spent with grief,

Thy hand was heavy on me,

my soul found no relief;

but when I owned my trespress,

my sin hid not from Thee,

when I confessed transgression,

then Thou forgavest me

(Psalm 32:3-6 & Psalter 55:2)

How often did you open a door for some one, or held it open for someone to enter? Sometimes for a long time, your precious time… Jesus, right now is holding a door, it’s still open, but on that one day it will be closed, closed for good. Like for the girls with no extra fuel for their lamps. That little extra fuel, that little extra planning, that little extra baggage, it’s still worth it to Jesus. But you have to be careful, we carry a lot of extra ‘baggage’ and still that door to this feast is open! (Matthew 25:1-13) But the day that door will close, we and no body else with a living soul, know the day and hour, then Him alone. (Matthew 24:36-44) But how can you be ready? Ready in our sinful lives? Will it be like that if you’ve committed a sin and have not asked for forgiveness yet, will it be to late? I don’t believe so. We have to always be on guard though. Jesus knows our hearts and intentions. He knows our daily lives and struggles, so when that judgement hour comes He knows what He is mediating for! Why else did He die that horrible death? Hebrews 2:18: ‘For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.’

1 Peter 3:15: ‘But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.’ A hope of glory to come, showing in your daily doings, can be an example for others. It can be anywhere that the hope you share can be tested; ‘But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.’ (1 Thessalonians 2:4) ‘Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.’ (2 Timothy 4:2) It’s not an easy journey, being tested so often. But with the endurance and willing power through the Holy Spirit, it’s a beautiful gift. As you’ll grow in patience and also in the faith.

Through the past year I’ve bin tested major, but only now I can thank the Lord for good people around me, who where there for me. Every day is a fight against evil and he will not give up until we give our last breath. When life is going well and things are striving, and your close to God – that for Satan is a reason to try anything to destroy it; you. He did a pretty good job with me, he almost had me… But Jesus went out and found His lost sheep, through the help of others. I was so not ready then and now I realize now how dangerous that was! I was out, wondering and ‘looking for extra fuel’. But the door wasn’t closed yet, because that glorious day is still to come! Thank the Lord for His patience with me.

He is still out there looking for more to enter that door, so now hurry and be ready!