Stories from a Good Life
Ordinary people – extraordinary God
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Languages, Humiliation and Carrots
Years ago, we lived in Barcelona, Spain, learning the language little by little. Most people spoke Catalan, making Spanish their second language. Very few people spoke English, which provided us with an excellent opportunity to learn the language. And to die to ourselves. On a daily basis. Learning a new language is humiliating. You babble…
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Messy Promotions – The Problem of Enlarged Territory
Right now, I’m thinking that Jabez was a lunatic. An irrational whacko. A moronic nitwit. But then again, God listened to him and appreciated his request, so the nitwit might be me. Remember the story of Jabez? The guy from 1 Chronicles who asked God to enlarge his territory? Why would he do such a…
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Love, Healing, Hope and Restoration in Cuba
Hola! Tiene agua? No. We don’t have water. Pero tenenos galletas y esmalte de uñas. But we have biscuits. And nail polish. Do you want some? It is impossible to spend time in Cuba without being thoroughly impressed by los Cubanos. They are charming, friendly, well-educated and hardworking. Even though resources are extremely limited, they…
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Esa es Cuba – Life, Hope and Struggle for Survival
Thomas and I are in Cuba this week with a team from our home church, visiting local churches and encouraging them to cooperate across denominations. I am wrecked by this wonderful people who work so hard even though resources are scarce. The will to live and thrive is fierce beyond comprehension. It would have been…
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Loss and New Beginnings
I’ve got a beef with a beaver. He likes the same things that I do. Like the apple tree standing next to the river. I loved that tree! He did, too. At least I assume that he did, from the way he chewed his way through it before leaving it to die. I would have…
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Flight Attendants, Emergencies and Everyday Magic
Weary travelers boarded the airplane. To most of them, this was their first stretch of a longer journey. I knew I had 23 hours to go before arriving at my destination and felt tired at the very thought of it. Before take-off, the flight attendant moved a few people around. Finally, he was happy with…
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Living Life in Family
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about family. Not just my own, although my husband and my children are permanently etched in my heart and soul, but the concept of family as such. I often speak about living life in family and how to me, family is an expression of true beauty. But I’ve come…
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Traffic, God and Distorted Truth
I like to drive. I do my best thinking while I’m driving, at least if I’m alone in the car. It’s interesting to observe how drivers interact. They pay attention to signs, search for patterns, and interpret signals to predict the actions of fellow drivers. Fascinating! Such interaction varies from one country to another. Failure…
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Days Off and Holy Unrest
This Easter has been peaceful and fantastic. We had made plans for the holiday, but due to heavy snowfall in the South of Norway we were not able to go as planned. So, we enjoyed our days off at home, just going on day trips in the region. We’ve had long meals. Slow-cooked elk roast…
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Front Row Seat to a Miracle – The Last Appointment with the Doctor
This week, we saw Adrian’s doctor for the last time. This once so tiny, fragile infant will be 18 in a couple of months, and it was time for his last checkup at the pediatric polyclinic. Here’s what our brilliant doctor has taught us about God. Following the instructions from Heaven Shortly after our son…
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