I've started a new blog at a new address. I will not be using this one any longer. From now on I will be blogging at http://hildelh.wordpress.com. Feel free to drop by!

This fall.

It's funny how the interest in blogging goes up and down in periods. I used to think it was too bad, but now I don't care. It's ok to blog whenever I feel like it.

It's in the middle of autumn, it's been raining all day, and I've had my last official day of work in the kindergarten. I don't know what next week will bring, but right now I'm kind of excited about it. I've applied for several jobs, and I know that God has some good stuff in store for me.

It's been a really good fall so far. Better than expected, even though I knew deep down it couldn't turn out bad when God is in charge. I experience several times that even though I know that God has good plans, I don't have the greatest expectations because I don't see clearly what God sees, and then I become surprised at how extraordinary good things turn out. It's been such an eventful and interesting fall with lots of exciting spiritual content. God is awesome! :)

I've even been on a trip to Prague with my family, because Mom turns 60 in a few weeks. It was a great trip. Even there I was surprised. The first morning at the hotell I went down to have breakfast, and there I met a couple from my church in Bergen! They were staying in the same hotell as us in Prague for almost the same time period. During our stay we had several talks, and they got to know my family a little bit, as they are about my parents' age. It was a blessing to meet them there. I really felt God's finger in it.

May knowledge turn into revelation
and revelation turn into love.
-Love for Jesus!

I have started a new blog in Norwegian called Hageprat. Hageprat litterally means "gardenchat", which doesn't make much sence in English, but sounds ok in Norwegian. The reason for the choice of name is from The Song of Solomon 4:12-15 where the groom describes his bride as a garden and an orchard. I believe The Song of Solomon is both literal and illiteral. -it's about this couple, who are in love with each other, but also about God and his bride, the church. So, "Hageprat" is meant to be a blog about studying what the Bible says about the church. I started it both for my own practice of writing and studying, but also because I believe God has given me a dream to share with others about who we are in him and what we are to him. Check it out if you can read Norwegian: http://hageprat.blogspot.com/.

"Your plants
are an orchard of
pomegranates..."

The reason I like battle movies.
Some movies really inspire me. Over the last three days while I've been home from work due to sickness, I've been watching The lord of the rings again. There are several times during those three movies where I for some reason usually think about God or Jesus. I know it is a well-known fact that The lord of the rings contain many allegories about christian faith. But what is encouraging my faith the most with these films, is not Gandalf's death and resurrection or Frodo's task to save mankind from evil, but it is the battles and the circumstances connected to them. I often feel the same way watching other movies with battles. Even modern military movies or movies about sports and championships sometimes give me the same ardent feeling; They remind me of what Paul points out in more than one of his letters in the Bible -to stand strong and not let anything hinder you in doing what you need to do in your life with God. In 1. Cor. 9: 25-27 Paul compares his evangelising to being an athlete competing in the games; He does not run aimlessly, but he makes his body his slave, forcing it to do what he must do. He does it for the one goal to win the prize. This makes me think of how so many people in the world by their own will are both able and willing to sacrifice and give so much time, effort, and maybe also money to achieve a goal that only lasts a few years. If they can do all that in their own strength for a career as a sprinter or skier, it is surely possible for us by the power of The holy spirit to give the same efforts or more for something and someone so far beyond ourselves. I find this thought inspiring.

I tend to like Paul's allegory about the soldier and the officer (2. Tim. 2: 3-4) even better than the allegory about the athlete, just because this is more like our reality as servants of God. Before stating that a good soldier will not let himself be hindered in his task of pleasing his commander, Paul encourages Timothy to endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ. As we also see from Ephesians 6, Paul encourages the church as a whole to put on the armour of God to stand strong against spiritual forces of evil. We as followers of Jesus are indeed like soldiers.

So while thinking of Paul whenever watching these kinds of film scenes, I'm also pondering upon how to use my time, effort and sometimes money to train my spiritual «fitness» for the sake of God's kingdom, and also how to be a best possible soldier of Christ. Obviously the answer to the latter comes along with the encouragement to put on the armour in Eph. 6. -There's a user's manual: The belt of truth should be buckled around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness put in place, your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God... All this is done through prayer and in The spirit. (Eph. 6: 14-18)
As for the first question about how to be spiritually strong, it is easy to think of things like fellowship, bible reading, worship, praying and fasting as good answers, and I am convinced that they are all true, but if we look to the beginning of the paragraph where Paul encourages Timothy both to be like a good soldier, a good athlete, and actually also like a hardworking farmer, he simply says: «You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.» And then a few verses later in verses 8-10: «Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.» So he says:«Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead...» And later: «...God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything...» What I draw from this is simply that focusing on Jesus, which is the one God's Word is all about, is what makes us strong and «spiritually fit» to serve God's will in His kingdom. For just as the battles in the movies are fought for the sake of a king, a kingdom and a people, so is Paul talking about being an athlete or a soldier for the sake of preaching the gospel! -for the expansion of God's kingdom.

While watching The lord of the rings again these days, part of the enjoyment in watching the battles, comes from how it is a matter of course to most of them to stay faithful to their king, their country and to their alliances, even if pain and death is a certainty. This is such a good example for me as a servant of God and co-heir with Jesus in His kingdom. It makes me think of all the great people of God that have lost everything, even their physical bodies and earthly lives because they stayed faithful to their King Jesus. Loyalty and faithfulness are in themselves such great virtues, that I simply enjoy watching it.

I'm not yet as much of a soldier and athlete in God's Kingdom as I dream of being. Neither have I got total revelation about all of this. But what I've written about here is a fascination of mine, and something I seek to apply to my understanding and way of living by the power of the Holy spirit. Because that -the power of the Holy spirit in me- is of course the food and the drink -the strength and the power- that enables me to do anything at all as a spiritual athlete or soldier of Christ.

I came across a very interesting article about forgiveness, grace and restoration among leaders in the church, and how important this might be in our hunger for more of Jesus' presence among us. Really it is written about a certain case, but it surely gave me some very good general insight, and I was really encouraged by reading it. It is written by Rick Joyner in Morningstar Ministries in South Carolina. It's definitely worth reading even though it's quite long. Here's a link: http://tinyurl.com/y9ajlo5

I visited the world's largest gingerbread city today together with one of my co-workers. It's located in the middle of Bergen, and is truely worth a look, I think.

There are trains passing by.

As you can tell; The city is quite big.

There was even a gingerbread UFO!

There are also boats and even a pirate ship. Unfortunately some houses had fallen apart, among them the Eiffel tower... I'm impressed with all the people that built this gingerbread city. It's very pretty, and fun to watch even if you're not of low age. :)

I feel challenged this semester. I'm very well, but at the same time I feel so discontented. I think it is God challenging me. Actually I know it is God challenging me. -and that's why it is a good thing. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's not bad, maybe "impatient while in training" would be a better expression. Haha. Anyway, God is teaching me that "the just shall live by faith". Of course when this is written in God's word it refers to the new life given through faith in Jesus Christ, but I am learning now to live by faith in a wider sense of the word. For instance, I work with something I had never planned to be working with. -and I experience that I like it more and more. I also see why God wants me to have that job for a while. When I didn't receive my monthly income last month I had to learn to live off less money. This forced me to make different priorities in both use of money and how to spend my time, so I have spent more time with God than I normally do on a regular basis because of a simpler diet and less expensive activities (hardly any except from hanging out with people now and then). This has also proved itself to be the year to finally start travelling to Britain, which I have known for years that would happen at some point. I've been there twice since July, and will be going for new year as well. And who knows why I'm going and what will be the results of it! God knows, and that makes it really exciting. Earlier this semester mom and dad decided to give me money to buy a stage piano! That was a huge blessing and a help on my way towards writing songs, which is the dream God has laid on my heart. While I have less money than before, God is challenging me even more than before to be a giver. To be a giver is one of the tasks God has given me. I'm getting good practice this semester. He is constantly reminding me that you reap what you sow, and whenever I choose to give I will receive. This goes for things like offerings on sunday services, but also for being generous with people. God is also teaching me to talk to strangers and to be obedient to what he says. Lately I've had some interesting talks with strangers, and chances to talk about Jesus and pray for colleagues of mine. But the main challenge is the whole "how do I get to where I know God has spoken to me about getting?" situation. God has given me dreams thatstill seem so far away. And they've been far away for years. Somehow it feels like I don't get any closer, but if I stop and think I know I am getting closer, thinking about how much I've grown with God over the last years, thinking about the church I've become involved with, the people there that I've befriended, thinking about the few songs I've written, thinking about that I have learned to become a giver, thinking about my trips to Britain the last months and my new British friends... I keep reminding myself that God is faithful to do what he has said he'll do. And you know, last week I received a really encouraging word from God through one of my new friends in England. He sent it to me on facebook, and I was incredibly blessed because it made me go from worrying (forgetful of God's promises at the moment) to totally knowing he will do all the things I have prayed about that I have thought was his will.
So yes, this semester is a bit of a challenge, but after all challenge is good, and I wouldn't get anywhere without it. God is doing som great training with me. -it's like the eagle pushing the young eagles off the cliff to teach them how to fly. They can't stay in the cosy nest forever. Eventually that would kill them because they wouldn't know how to handle life.

I've been looking through my blog reading some old posts, and I have to admit I was a pretty good blogger back then... ;)

Anyway, weekend's over, new week's starting. It's gonna be a good one! God is good.

I've just had a strong meeting with God in the bathroom together with my house mates! -it's incredible how a short, spontaneous prayer can turn into a total praise party. God is good, and he really knows our needs and answers our preyers. He is almighty and awesome.

I've been a week to Britain. My friend Anne-Guro and I went to the World Watch conference in Cardiff for three days where we got to know a few new friends, and also had the pleasure of seing old ones. Then we went to Leicester to visit the wonderful friends we made at the bible week this summer. We stayed with the wonderful Alison, and received blessing upon blessing. The whole week was a blessing really!

Now I'm back in the kindergarden and that's good. I really like my collegues and the environment at work. But today is saturday. I am listening to Joyce Meyer, reading Hebrews, chatting and having fellowship with my house mates, and enjoying the time off.

It was great hearing today about what this year's bible school class is experiencing with God. On friday they were "treasure hunting", which means they spend time praying and listening to what God says before going out in the city to meet people. They received words of knowledge from God about people with this and this outfit at certain places in town. When they later saw people who matched the description, they knew God had something he wanted to say to them. A few people were healed from physical pain and struggles after the students layed hands on them and prayed to God. Another person that they had received several words from God about, accepted Jesus into his life as his Lord and saviour. He was pretty amazed by what the students had to bring to him from God. From what I heard, I believe he really experienced that God loves him and sees him, and now he's received a brand new life. It's pretty amazing how much God loves people, isn't it!

My wonderful friend Anne-Guro has been over here. We've spent time fellowshipping with each other and God, and we've made dinner together. I'm excited because we're going to Britain together on tuesday. We were there in July and now we're going back for another conference and visiting friends.
While AG was here I found out that I wanted to rearrange my furniture. I'm surprised how big a difference it makes to me how my furniture is arranged. I have put the furniture in different spots of my room. I like my room so much better now, and I'm planning on spending the evening in here doing useful things. But first I need some fresh air and a walk.

It's been a good week. I had the day off on monday, so the week has gone by quickly. Nonetheless, it is good that the weekend is here. And today the weather is nice for a change. At the moment the sky is all blue actually. Can't believe it! ;)
My free time this week has been spent fellowshipping with other people, trying to do some songwriting, and last but not least; playing my new piano. It is so great having a piano in the house! I really enjoy it.

I have just read 1.Tim.2:1-4, and now I'm pondering upon the connection between the two first verses and the two last verses.
What great influence does it make when we pray for leaders and governments?
Interesting thought, and it makes me want to pray more.

I feel like I should keep this blog updated more often. But I don't really know what to write about these days. I feel like I should have something interesting to write about in an elegant manner before it's worth posting. But I guess a blog can just be a log. Sooo, what's up?
-I'm getting close to the finishline of this school year. That is strange. We'll start our exam on friday! The year has gone very quickly. But I think we're ready to move on.
-My head is filled with questions like where shall I live, with whom will I live, what kind of job should I get, or can I get?
-the sun is out every day, which is sooo great! I guess it is these days, and these days only that the sun is out all the time in Bergen, or am I wrong?
-It is spring time, which always means running outside, barbequeing, doing things in town, going hiking, going to the movie theater (I don't know why that is a spring activity for me...) and so on. And also enjoying the green and the flowers and the blooming bushes and trees.
It is now ten till eleven at night, and there is still light outside. The sun is shining with pink light as it is setting. It's so nice.

Since spring is around, and the sun is actually shining every now and then here in Bergen, I thought it was about time to let myself have the pleasure of experiencing hiking the mountains surrounding the city. Last week Randi from my class and I climbed Ulriken, the highest of the mountains around here. I made sure to document it by taking a few pics. Yesterday we were going to climb another mountain, but ended up on top of the wrong peak, a lower peak. Today, however, I climbed the right peak by myself. It is so great having nature so close to the city.

We also celebrated May 17th., which is our "national day". On 17th of May 1814, our Norwegian constitution was signed. We celebrate this every year by walking parades with marching bands, giving speaches, singing songs, playing silly games, eating good food and lots of ice cream. I had a great day, sosializing from morning to late evening, having breakfast, ice cream downtown and lunch together with friends, before having lots of people over on pizza and snacks in the evening. After that we went downtown again to watch the fireworks. -and had more ice cream. My first time of celebrating May 17th in Bergen was great. On the picture is the breakfast gang, some in their national costume. On the picture to the right, which was taken in the evening, are Anne-Guro and Kristine, who I live with, and me.

Jeg prøver for tida å lære meg å tenke som en gudsmann, ikke som en nordmann. Norge er et fint land, og jeg har alltid følt meg veldig norsk. De tingene som er bra ved det har jeg ingen intensjon å kvitte meg med, men det er slett ikke bare positivt som særtrekker Ola Nordmann. Derfor er jeg veldig takknemlig for at Guds ord forteller meg at jeg ikke først og fremst er Norsk, men først og fremst borger i Guds rike. (Fil.3:20; Hebr. 11:13-16.)
Det er så bra! Det er bra av flere grunner. For det første slipper jeg å ta del i de trekkene ved norsk kultur og tankegang som er negative, uten å føle meg hjemløs av den grunn. Jeg veit jeg tilhører et bedre rike som har en helt annen standard enn det mitt naturlige fedreland står for. Dessuten er Guds rike veldig internasjonalt. Det fins folk fra alle jordens nasjoner og land der, og det syns jeg er veldig stilig. Det er veldig herlig å oppleve at man i et møte med etterfølgere av Jesus fra helt andre kulturer og deler av verden, fra første sekund har en tilknytning, et bånd og et fellesskap. Det er fantastisk hva Den hellige ånd kan gjøre med oss!

De siste dagene har jeg lest brevene fra Jakob til og med Judas i Bibelen. Det har vært skikkelig mat for meg. Siden vi leser gjennom Bibelen på bibelskolen har jeg nesten bare lest i det gamle testamentet siden august, og det var først nå da jeg satte meg fore å lese litt i det nye testamentet at jeg merket hvor stort behov jeg egentlig hadde for å gjøre dette. Det står mye bra om mange ting i disse brevene, men det jeg har lagt mest merke til at går igjen er det som har å gjøre med kjærligheten mellom søsknene i menigheten. Det har gjort inntrykk på meg, og fått meg til å tenke. Særlig Johannes er generøs i å oppfordre til å elske hverandre, men også Peter snakker om det, og Jakob også på en mer indirekte måte.
Jeg kan ikke gresk, og kjenner heller ikke så mye til de kulturelle omstendighetene i tiden brevene ble skrevet, men det slår meg hvor ivrig og emosjonell Johannes fremstår, iallefall i min norske versjon. Han må ha vært en glødende, uttrykksfull fyr. Peter virker mer avbalansert og praktisk. Det er interessant å merke hvordan jeg blir inspirert av Johannes' ivrige oppfordringer til å elske hverandre, skrevet med et språk som på dagens norsk virker nesten poetisk og litt svevende, samtidig som at hans autoritet hos meg blir understreket av at staute, praktiske Peter som sikkert ikke går rundt og sløser med "jeg elsker deg", vektlegger det samme, bare på en litt enklere og mer praktisk måte.
Johannes er en inspirator -jeg får lyst til å elske. Peter forklarer meg hvordan. -elske hverandre inderlig av et rent hjerte, elske fellesskapet med hverandre, gjøre det som er godt, frykte Gud, vise medfølelse, ikke gjengjelde ondt med ondt, men velsigne, lide for rettferdighets skyld, være gjestfrie uten å klage, tjene hverandre...
Jeg merker at Gud inspirerer meg om dagen. For ikke lenge siden ba jeg til Gud om at han måtte gi meg lyst til å lese i Ordet igjen. Jeg hadde en periode hvor jeg ikke var så motivert. Nå sluker jeg det, og gleder meg til å sitte med det i både én eller flere timer. Og så kommer det gode ting ut av det. Sånt som at jeg f.eks. ser noe om det å elske hverandre.

I dag har jeg vært i begravelse. -En veldig fin begravelse med mange folk til stede, med mange fine innslag av musikk og ord, og med et tydelig preg av tro, håp og kjærlighet. Jeg kjente ham ikke så godt, sekstenåringen som ble gravlagt, men store deler av min omgangs- og vennekrets kjente ham veldig godt.
Selvom jeg fortsatt har de aller fleste av mine nærmeste i live her på jorda, er det veldig oppmuntrende å se og høre at de pårørende sørger med glede i hjertet. -det er godt å se at det går an. Jeg tror jeg har sett de siste dagene at selvom man ofte tenker på sorg og glede som motsetninger, så går det an å sørge med glede i hjertet, fordi man kjenner Jesus og veit at man har et fast håp, en visshet, om at Gud er god og at livet for de som kjenner ham aldri tar slutt, men fortsetter i himlen hos Gud, selvom man blir frarøvet vedkommende her og nå.