Even the short meetings can leave an inpact
I was going over some old photos and as I looked at them I come to see people that for one reason or the other moved out of my life. Some I had known for years, some just very shortly. Some were older than me and some were so much younger. But as they came and went as guest actors of my life, they did leave a print behind. Most of these prints are good ones, but some are bad and painful. But both of these set of prints have been a part of my growth to be a better person. One of my favorit verses in the Bible on this topic is: Matthew 5:44-47 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?”
So when I read this I get reminded of the truth that forgiveness is the only way. Not so much for the person I am forgiving, but for me and my peace of mind. If I hold a grudge against a person I am the one being angry and resentful and that is hurting me, not the person I am angry with. If anger get to move in, your heart will soon be darkened and filled with hatred. With that comes bitterness and jealousy and if that get to root…. Well you do the math!
So instead of feeding your anger, please think of all the things you are missing by feeding it. Instead try to forgive. It might not be done to day, but start to think of it, take it one piece at the time. Ask God to help you heal through forgiving and forgiveness. If you have turned the back to God and think that it is His fault, He has not left you. He is patient and if you dare to give Him a second shot, a simple prayer is all you need. Remember that we are all humans and we have all sinned one way or the other. We live in a fallen world, but there is hope. That hope comes from God that gave us His only son Jesus Christ.
God bless!
by Lady BirgithaTo run from hardships does not make you grow
We all know at least one person that ducks from responsibility, or runs the other way when things seems to get heated or hard. It is like they are afraid of it, as if it wold bite, or that it is out of their comfort zone. They are most likely to be the ones abandoning a sinking ship, just to save themselves. Not because they are selfish, but just that they are so afraid of the hard work both physically and mentally that comes with sticking around when the route hits a bump (and in this case starts to sink,) so they leave as fast as possible and try to find something new to hold on to, until that has issues and so on. These people are not reliable and after a while they will have to ether move completely or find other ways to cope. But since it is so deeply rooted, it might be hard to change course, if they even want to.
Problem is that these people are besides getting on other peoples nervs, digging their own grave. How is that possible? Well, you see, since it is almost humanly impossible to change the course taken, they will soon leave a trail of hurt behind them. There will be harder to gain trust from others and in the long run nobody will give that person anything that needs to be done. When you do not get challenged by people around you, because you run from that you cannot grow as a person. When you stop growing personally you will continue to hide from hardships and tough things, that will lead to a deeper insecurity and more avoiding tasks of any kind. In the end you will be a very good marathon runner but a lousy person to have any kind of contact with, since you do anything to avoid any kind of conflict. But there is help if you want it. People around you will help if you are willing to take the risk of actually face some hardship and grow.
Jonah tried to duck a hard responsibility. But after a huge storm almost sank the boat he tried to escape on, he faced the responsibilities and did what was asked of him. If you want to know more about that and the rest of the story look it up in a bible, or google it.
God bless!
To walk on uncharted territory
Life is one of those strange things that happens when we are cought up doing other things. Sometimes it happens to startle us by sneaking up on us and then out of the blue just attack! It is like: Hello! Remember me? I am your life and I just want to remind you that I exist….. Well at least I think that this is what it could be like, if it happened to me. I try to keep myself updated on my life. I try to live my life, since I am the only one that can. Everybody else will just mess it up. I have an obligation to live my life as good as I can, with the tools given to me. I know I will have to answer personally when I meet my maker. He will hold me personally responsible for my life. So if I let others run my life for me, I have made the move that will show how I have used the gift that is called life. I cannot blame anyone else, for me not living my life. “As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.”Proverbs 27:19
God bless
by Lady BirgithaWhen you find that you are walking on new gorunds
So last Friday I did my first press meeting and guided tour at the huge trade show called Nolia. I got to hear the history and visions and the highlights of things that was to be displayed. This is how big this is: Tesla not only displayed the two latest cars, they even let you test drive them! The caravan company Adria´s latest models always gets displayed fully functioning at Nolia! So if you want to see them first this is the place to be!
The other really cool thing here is that they have lot of good, healthy and fun things for the kids as well. Anything from arts and crafts, to pony rides and playgrounds. If you like, you can also leave your kid at the day care for a few hours and go strolling around by your self. There are also kids shows on the big stage that this year is indoors. Then there is food, candy and all things in between! We even had Star Wars there!
In all this, is there a place for God? Yes, there is! Here of all places He had two places that represented Him. I only had the possibility to take photos at one of them.
Nolia 2017 by Jenny Crosby, Spectrum Photography
Nolia 2017 by Jenny Crosby, Spectrum Photography
Nolia 2017 by Jenny Crosby, Spectrum Photography
So tired
I have no idea why I am so tired today. Might have been the heat outside. Yes heat, might not be the heat you think of, but for the northern parts of Sweden it was hot. The sunset today was just nice. To bad I did not have a chance to catch it on camera. I was to busy loading the washing machines in the laundry room. So right now I am just waiting for the laundry to be done, so I can kick back in bed with a tea cup and watch some TV with my husband.
This has been one of those days that just breathes peace. The peace that God gives. John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. That is how I feel after this day, even though I am tired, but I feel so peaceful. I pray that all you all can feel the same as I do right now.
God bless
Lady Birgitha
The masks that we wear
Today I took a photo of one of my kids wearing a white mask. The only thing you can see, are the eyes. I made it into a black and white photo and posted it online in a photo competition. Later on I made a facial mask for me made out of honey. As I was washing it off I started to think of all the different masks we wear through life. Some have the mask on no matter what, others can let it go from time to time, depending on who the person is with. What are we worried about? What would happen if the mask actually fell off? What would people see? Who are we really behind the mask? There is actually only one that can see behind it all. Only one that can see who we really are. God sees who we are, even when we try to hide it. Just as it is read in Psalm 139:
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
12Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.
19O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
20For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
I know some of you like to think differently, but I find it to be true. The only one that truly knows us and can see behind it all, is God. I find it comforting to know that. In His presens I can be me, because He loves me just the way I am!
God bless!
by Lady Birgitha
Summer thoughts
It is early afternoon and the tea water is boiling i the kitchen. It is hot and windy outside and here inside of our home it is stuffy, even if we have the balcony door open. As usual on these kind of summer days not much happens. I am looking forward to eat the watermelon this evening. This makes me think of my childhood with my grandparents. How my granddad poured sugar on the watermelon and ate it. It makes me also think about the importance of family. Not necessary the blood related family, but family that comes through faith. Also close friends that have come to mean a lot to me and my family. These are the people that just by existing brings you peace and strength, like water.
by Lady Birgitha
Looking out on a grey day
Looking out from the office window and see a grey sky heavy with a promise of rain. Even though I wish for summer and sun I know that this is needed. Just as life has grey days and dark days, we need them to see the beauty in them as we do with the sunny ones.
Some of my best days have been the lazy pyjama days with my family. The grey dull days are great for doing nothing in particular and thank the Lord for that He made the grey days as well as the sunny ones.
In life when it is grey and rain seems to never stop falling, or you have a period of dessert, praise Him and thank Him for these days. Even if there is no beauty in these days, there is a lesson to be learned. Also remember that after rain comes the sun. God will not leave you stranded, He will get you through it. He promised that and He keeps what He promises, even if it takes time. Remember that His time is different from ours and His timing is always perfect! You can see His promise to you in: Hebrew 13:5 yLet your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” In 2 Peter 3:8 we get an answer to why it at times seems like forever to get an answer: But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord is a day like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day.
So even when it is dark, He is there holding your hand. You might not feel it, but He is. All the sorrows and all the happiness He is there with you.
God bless you!
Lady Birgitha
by Lady BirgithaToughts on a windy day.
I look out the window in my office and I see the wind grasping the branches on the trees and make them go back and forth fast. I am glad I am inside, because the wind is chilly today.
Just as the wind is grasping the trees in the physical world it can grasp you and ether toss you around, help you forward or almost put you to a halt on your walk on the road we call life. “Isaiah 42:16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.”
It can be just anything that can make that wind grab you and maybe get you off track. The important thing to consider when it happens is to regroup yourself and find your route again. Sometimes it is harder to do so, but with help you will get back on track really fast. When you ask God for help, it goes even faster! (It does not matter how firm you are and how hard you fixed your eyes on Jesus, there will be times when the wind of this world will get hold of you. It is what you do when it happens that will determined how fast you get back on the route given to you by God. Sometimes God will use your detour to give you a lesson, or to show you something. It could be that your detour will help and benefit someone else. “Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
So if you feel that this is hard! The wind has knocked me down so many times and tossed me off track more than I can count! Remember that even so, He was with you through it all. “Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” So keep your head up and continue on your way. He is with you as promised.
God bless!
