Life is beautiful!: January 2007

L-O-V-E

Photography is something that's always fascinated me. If I could I would take classes! Just no time to do so... not yet anyway. I am so amazed by how some photographers manage to capture the different aspects of life in their frames. Love, happiness, tenderness, sorrow, pain, loneliness... you name it!

When I saw these pictures all that came to my mind was the word LOVE :) They made me smile and I hope they will make you smile as well.

Love is patient, love is kind...

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

(Verses from 1 Corinthians 13)

Learning a new language

Studying medicine is like learning a whole new language. I thought that I had learned most of the "medical language" already. Boy was I wrong. Once we started studying the subject of Pathology I realised that that in itself is a whole new language... lots of new terms and words to learn like...

coitus

dysuria

dyspareunia

dysmenorrhea

All those words were in ONE paragraph in my textbook. Luckily I payed attention in class so I know what they mean ;oP

I saw another miracle today!

Yup, I got to see one more miracle today. I got to watch a C-section today! So excited about that. Like I've said before it just amazes me every time. Another perfectly healthy little baby entered the world today. What a miracle :)

I was reminded of something today...

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:2-8

WOW! Some pretty serious and powerful words there: But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

When we pray, do we just "say the words"? Or do we pray with faith that God CAN do what we ask Him to? Or do we doubt that he can... I'm not asking if you doubt if he WILL, I am asking if you doubt that he CAN. Those two are very different things. God CAN do anything but He WILL not do everything. He doesn't just do like the idea in the movie "Bruce almighty" - just push "reply to all" and enter: "YES". That would be disastrous ;) He answers prayers according to His will and out of Love for us. What I'm saying is that just because what we asked doesn't happen, it doesn't mean that God CAN'T do them! He can ;) He's ALMIGHTY!

I've been tagged!

Thanx Paul :) This is one of the more meaningful games of tag that I've taken part in here on the Internet, haha. So here goes!

1. As a child, what did you always say you wanted to be when you grew up? When I was 5 years old I wanted to become either a ballerina OR a nurse (my mom is a nurse). Neither of them turned out to be what I went into, but close enough. I'm studying medicine to become a doctor one day. No ballerina for me! hehehe! Don't think I'd want to see myself dance!

2. If you had to choose one thing that you’ve always dreamed of doing, what would it be? What is stopping you? Oooooh, what to pick! Hmmm... I'd have to say travel the world! That's been something I've always wanted to do and I hope I can make it happen one day. Not the whole world in one stretch, but trips here and there at different times. What's stopping me? School and lack of money ;) But one day I will live the dream and go to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Ethiopia, South Africa, Madagascar, Jamaica and all the other places/countries on my list... one country at a time ;)

3. Who is your biggest fan? Who is always encouraging you to be all that you can be? My parents, my siblings and my closest friends. Want me to name a few? Well, that would be Amy, Berglind, Eva and Magga.

4. What Bible study or book (besides the obvious – The Bible) has most impacted your life to date? Hmm... Let me answer this one with what book of the Bible has most impacted me. I have to study so much that when I take time to read something else I usually pick up the Bible and read. It's hard to only pick one book of the Bible because I'm always discovering new things in it and books I didn't really "notice" before speak to me in a different and powerful way all of a sudden. I guess that's what's so exciting about the Bible. The last book that spoke to me that powerfully was the book of Hosea. Just read it and see what a deep understanding Hosea has of God's heart and His grace. The picture we get of God in the book of Hosea is different from the rest of the Old testament, where God is described in a more "formal" way, if I can put it that way, and not as personal... I don't know how to describe it really, but I hope you get what I'm saying. Hosea sees the personal side of God, and a God of MERCY and GRACE.

5. When are you the happiest? When I'm around the people I love the most. Like for example around Crhistmas when my whole extended family gets together. I bet you already figured that out if you read my posts about my family :) I am blessed. I am also very happy when I am surrounded by Christian people my age and we can sit for hours sharing about our walk with God and what He's teaching us. Those are moments I truly treasure. There is nothing greater than sharing the adoration and awe for God with someone else!

Learning to let go and trust...

I am in a constant process of that! It's not so easy. The year of 2006 was a year of constant emotional stress. I was on an emotional roller coaster and I've learned how important it is to guard my heart. I didn't seem to know how to, but I learned the hard way and I am pretty sure I will do better at it from now on. I heard this song today and it described how I've been feeling for a lot of the year of 2006. I hope this year is more promising and that I will have learned my lesson when it comes to trusting God and not taking matters into my own hands.

Let It Down

I’ve been looking till my eyes are tired of looking
Listening till my ears are numb from listening
Praying till my knees are sore from kneeling
On the bedroom floor

I know that You know that my heart is aching
I’m running out of tears and my will is breaking
I don’t think that I can carry
The burden of it anymore

All of my hopes and my dreams and my best laid plans
Are slowly slipping through my folded hands

So I’m gonna lay it down
I’m gonna learn to trust You now
What else can I do
Everything I am depends on You
And if the sun don’t come back up
I know Your love will be enough
I’m gonna let it be, I’m gonna let it go
I’m gonna lay it down

I’ve been walking through this world like I’m barely living
Buried in the doubt of this hole I’ve been digging
But You’re pulling me out and I’m finally breathing
In the open air

This room may be dark but I’m finally seeing
There’s a new ray of hope and now I’m believing
That the past is the past and the future’s beginning
To look brighter now

Cause all of my hopes and my dreams and my best laid plans
Are safe and secure and I place them in Your hands

So I’m gonna lay it down
I’m gonna learn to trust You now
What else can I do
Everything I am depends on You
And if the sun don’t come back up
I know Your love will be enough
I’m gonna let it be, I’m gonna let it go
I’m gonna lay it down

So my head is up and I'm looking towards a future that's unknown to me, but perfectly planned by God. All I have to do is trust and follow. What's past is past and I am not going to let it wear me down anymore. I lay my burdens at the feet of Jesus and I am going into this year with anticipation of what God is going to teach me next, what He'll bring across my path :)

Walk humbly...

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:4-5

Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Why? Because of His love, His mercy and His grace towards you :)

Friendship...

What does that mean? True friendship... What comes to mind when you hear that?

I have people in my life that I would call true friends. They are always real with me. They sometimes tell me things I don't necessarily want to hear because I need to hear them. They are honest with me and I can rely on them to be there for me even when I mess up. Forgiveness and a fresh start is something very beautiful when it comes to good friendships. Knowing that someone loves you despite your faults and failures, someone that won't leave you when the going gets rough. Someone you don't have to wear a mask with...