I still believe...

Scattered words and empty thoughts
seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
seems I don't know where to start
But it's now that I feel your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip, washing away my pain

I still believe in your faithfulness
I still believe in your truth
I still believe in your holy word
even when I don't see, I still believe

Though the questions still fog up my mind
with promises I still seem to bear
Even when answers slowly unwind
It's my heart I see you prepare
But it's now that I feel your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip, washing away my pain

Click here to listen to the song!

When times are tough and I feel broken... I STILL believe God is faithful! I may have questions about what's going on, but I know in my heart that what I am going through ultimately has a purpose. God is preparing my heart in some way or another with the experiences life hands me. Some of them I wish I didn't have to go through but then I would also be without the truth that I learn about God in these situations, I would be without the personal growth I experience in my walk with Him.

It's funny, isn't it? It's when times are tought that we experience our deepest moments with God... maybe because during those times we fully rely on God. I know that at leas for me this song is very true. When I am hurting and the world looks dark and lonely I can feel His grace fall like rain into my life, gradually washing my pain away and restoring my heart.

Little tiny art-show :)

So... I'm studying hard and don't have anything exciting to write about... I thought I'd post something for the eye :) I used to draw and paint and do all sorts of crafty stuff, but these days I just don't have enough hours in the day to fit that in with everything else that I do. But here is some of my old stuff for you to enjoy! If you feel like it post a comment, that would make me happy :)

As you can tell the human body is what fascinates me the most ;)

Two songs I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!

Take a break from whatever you are doing and listen to these songs... Great lyrics and so good when I feel like God is the only one I can run to :) Just click on the links, sit back, close your eyes and let the music sink in!

Hold Me Now

Lean On Me

What a happy day :)

Haha! Do I sound better than in my last two posts? Well, here is why: I had my pharmacology final today! That is not so exciting... what is exciting is that it is over :) and I am so relieved that it went ok. I had my moments of stress this past week where I just felt so overwhelmed (hence my two last posts). I have developed a habit of turning to God and His word in any situation where I feel inadequate or overwhelmed, instead of dwelling on them too much. And do you know what happens every time? God gives me peace ;) When I shift my eyes from the waves and the storm to Jesus I can see that with His help I can do what seems impossible!

Help! I think I am drowning!

When I am DROWNING in papers and so tired that I just want to give up this is good to know:

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

(Isaiah40:28-31)

Anybody feel like this?

Feeling overwhelmed?

Yes I am.

Stressing out?

Yea, that too.

Don't know what to do?

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Do your best with what you have and cast your cares on Him! That is how to do it!

(The verses are from 1 Peter 5:7 and Philippians 4:6-7 )

Just smelling the flowers...

Friends are like flowers
each unique in their own way,
put them all together
what a wonderful bouquet.

Thoughts on a Valentine's day...

Permission to be mushy? Permission granted! haha!

Someday

I don't know if you're near or far away
But I know that I'm thinking of you today
I don't know if I even know your name
But I know that I'm praying for you just the same

Someday we'll fall in love
You'll be mine and I will be yours
Our hearts will be one
And our love will ever endure

CHORUS
Then I'll need you, and I'll want you
And I'll find you someday
Then I'll love you, then I'll hold you
And I'll be with you always

Our love will be so strong and pure
You will make me feel like I have never felt before
You will be perfect only for me
You will make these eyes begin to see

Someday we'll fall in love
You'll be mine and I will be yours
Our hearts will be one
And our love will ever endure

CHORUS

Your faith for the Lord will be strong
Even though I know the wait is long
And though I'm young I still belive
That you're out there praying for me

CHORUS

(By: LaRue)

Click HERE if you want to listen to the song :)

At the risk of embarassing myself...

So, at the risk of making a fool of myself I am still going to post this ;) I was listening to this song with some lyrics that I can relate to all too well... almost embarrassingly well. Valentine's day is coming up and "love is in the air", so please bear with me, I am allowed to be a bit cheezy. What am I talking about? Oh, just read on and you'll see. It all has a point to it though ;)

Waiting All My Life
Everybody needs it
Everybody wants it
Everybody's searching for someone
Been down a thousand highways
I never thought would end
Baby, I've been

Waiting all my life to find you
Always been one step behind you
Your love babe
I've been waiting all my life

I was tired of waiting
Every night was praying
Everyday would be the day I'd find you
I grew so impatient, how long would it take
To know you were out there somewhere
Somewhere waiting, wondering just like me

I've been waiting all my life to love you
All that time I was dreaming of you
Your love babe
I've been waiting all my life

And did I lose faith, did I lose heart
Maybe I did, but I never lost my way
To where you are...

Ok, so here's my confession. In all honesty I wouldn't mind to have met that "someone", in fact I long for that and wait with anticipation on what God has in store for me. The words that I can relate to all too well are these: "I was tired of waiting, Every night was praying... I grew so impatient, how long would it take? To know you were out there somewhere, Somewhere waiting, wondering just like me". Hahaha... reading this makes me laugh, but really - who doesn't long for love? I don't know anyone who can honestly say that.

Anyway, the beauty of it all is that if it is in God's plan for me to get married someday, He already has someone for me somewhere :) And knowing that makes me smile, because somewhere on this planet there is a soul who will be woven into my life sometime in the future. I don't know how it will happen or when, but I know that it is all in God's hands and that is all that matters! He is the Story Teller and I will allow Him to script this part of my life too, because with God in control, I can't go wrong! ;) In the meantime I will continue my adventure with God, allowing Him to sculpt me as a person, teach me and bring me closer to Him.

In need of laughter!

"Við endaþarmsþreifingu fannst stækkaður skjaldkirtill!"

My next few weeks look like this...

In This Storm...

Ever felt like life was just like one big storm? I have - many times! But what is so great to me is that when I go through the storms of life I am not alone. God is right there with me. He never promised that life would be easy, but He did promise to be with me ALWAYS.

Praise You In This Storm

I was sure by now, God You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

(words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms)

The end, Amen

When you say "in Jesus' name, Amen" what does that mean to you? Is it just a way to END your prayer, like saying "the end, Amen"?

I've been thinking about that lately and we also studied that a little bit on Friday night in the Bible Study group or Homegroup that I'm a part of. The significance of those words at the end of our prayers is really awesome when you think about it! It's definitely worth studying ;)

What's the significance of a Name in the Bible?

In the Bible a name involves much more than a tag to identify a person. It represents the very essence of the person! A person's personality, character, reputation and authority are all wrapped up in his name.

God's name is a declaration of the greatness of His person and we are to exalt His name. "Let them praise the name of the LORD: For his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven" (Psalm 148:13)

What about the name of Jesus? "God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name." (Philippians 2:9)

God's name alone is excellent and Jesus' name is above every name!

What does it mean to do something in someone's name?

You come by the authority of the other person, not in your own. You do something because that someone authorized you to. And that's not all! You come IN HIS STEAD. That means that the person to whom you come is expected to react to you, not on the basis of who you are, but as if the person who sent you was there himself.

What does it mean when I pray in Jesus' name?

When I come to the Father in Jesus' name I come because Jesus sent me. And what amazes me the most is that when God looks at me He sees His Son, the one in who's name I pray. Wow! So, it's not just a phrase that I add to the end of my prayers to finish them off. It is so much more than that! I come to the Father knowing that my only right in approaching Him is that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. He made it possible for me to approach God and I can go to Him in Jesus' name. It's not a magic formula, it's a heart attitude! It is a reminder that we can approach God only through the shed blood of Jesus.

Coming to God in the name of Jesus - that is authority and that is power! What a privilege it is to be able to do that! But remember, the phrase means nothing without the heart attitude.

God and Aspirin

Many people pray as if God were a big aspirin pill; they come only when they hurt. ~B. Graham Dienert

The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him. ~William McGill

Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. ~Søren Kierkegaard

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. ~Oswald Chambers

Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude. ~Walter A. Mueller

When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart. ~John Bunyan

Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue. ~Adam Clarke

God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer. ~Mother Teresa

What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approve ours. ~Helga Bergold Gross

We must move from asking God to take care of the things that are breaking our hearts, to praying about the things that are breaking His heart. ~Margaret Gibb

Be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your answers. ~William Culbertson

Adventurous months ahead :)

I am going to be all over the place the next few moths! :) YAY! After my finals in February I leave for Sweden, where I will be doing a research project on a genetic syndrome (22Q11 deletion syndrome). I will be in Sweden for about 2,5 months :)

When I'm done with the research project and have handed in my paper I leave for the US (at the beginning of June), where I will stay till the middle of July! I am going to have a great time helping my friend Amy prepare her wedding :)

Then when I get back I'm headed for Rhodos (a Greek island) for 3 weeks with my family. By the time I get back from there it's going to be August already!

Sound like fun? Just thought I'd share my excitement with all of you :)