Erling Thu

Month: August 2015

  • Hiding in the faithfulness of God

    I find great joy in knowing God. His character is my strong fortress where I am safe. God is love. God is light. It is impossible for him to lie. I know that his promise will never change. When God wanted to end all doubt and confirm his promise even more forcefully to us, he made a covenant. All the promises of God find their fulfilment in the new covenant in Christ. When we are in Christ, we will inherit God’s promises.

    We have run into the heart of God to hide ourselves in his faithfulness (Hebrew 6,18 Passion Translation). Here we find his strength and comfort. Here God empowers us to seize what has already been established, even ahead of time – an unshakeable hope! We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself.

    The merciful and faithful heart of God is our secure hiding place. When I hide in his faithfulness, I am empowered to act in faith to see promises come into reality. Hiding in the faithfulness of God is the best place to acquire everything we long for.

  • By og land

    Frå januar og fram til no har me levd både i byen og på landet. Vintaren og våren var tid for nye eventyr. Me fekk oss ein bustad i Stavanger og vart med i huskjerkå i Randaberg.  Me avlyste alle dei faste misjonsreisene våre for å fokusera på vårt eige land. Det har vore ei rik tid med mange folk og ulike aktivitetar.

    Eg har heilt gløymd å blogga. Korte oppdateringar på fjesboka har teke over. No står hausten for døra med nye eventyr. Sommaren har me for det meste brukt i huset i skogen saman med barn og barnebarn som har kome og gått.

    Lys og Salt på Hedmarktoppen og Without Borders 2015 var gode storsamlingar saman med Guds folk. Undervisning, forkynning, lovsong og fellesskap er nøkkelord for desse samlingane. Me har vorte oppglødde og styrka. No ser me fram til kva Gud skal gjera i dagane som kjem.

    Me har vorte ein slags pendlarar mellom by og land. Det har til tider vore travelt, for eg har vanskeleg for å svara nei, når eg blir spurt om å koma og vera med på ting. Huset i skogen har vorte ein stad i Guds nærvær, ein stad til å roa ned i Guds fred. Her kan me trekkja oss tilbake og lada hjartebatteria. Å arbeida med nevane, å kjenna sveitten renna, regnet piska mot andletet og høyra vinden susa i tretoppane er forfriskande for både kropp og sjel. 

  • Harvesting the blessings

    To be somebody is harvesting the blessings

    That the Creator has showered upon us,

    Seeing all around us evidences of his goodness.

    Picking blackberries, redcurrents and gooseberries

    From the bushes I planted in my own garden

    Along with wild blueberries in the forest

    And fish in the net in my lake.

    To be somebody is enjoying the blessings of God

    Hidden in everyday life, at home or in nature.

     To be somebody is seeing the blessings

    Even when they come in disguise.

    To be somebody is harvesting the blessings

    In difficulties and challenging situations,

    To be able to share it with others

  • Are the teachings from the heart of God?

    Jesus has given us a way to test to discover if the teachings are from the heart of God or from the minds of men. There are so many teachings around these days, but the big question is if the teachings come from the heart of God. The letter of human words kills, but the teaching from the heart of God brings life. To be able to hear from God, we must be passionate to do his will.

    I don’t teach my own ideas, but the truth revealed to me by the One who sent me. If you want to test my teachings and discover where I receive them, first be passionate to do God’s will, and then you will be able to discern if my teachings are from the heart of God or from my own opinions. Charlatans praise themselves and seek honor from men, but my Father sent me to speak truth on his behalf. And I have no false motive, because I seek only the glory of God. (John 7:16-18 The Passion Translation)

    We must not be obsessed with peripheral issues, because that will cause us to ignore the most important of all: to walk in love of God, to display mercy to others, and to live with integrity. We need to readjust our values and place first things first! We must realign ourselves to the heart of God.

    God is holy and highly lifted up.

    God is righteous and just in all his dealings.

    God is faithful and true.

    God is truth and light.

    God is merciful and longsuffering.

    God is love.

  • Are the teachings from the heart of God?

    Jesus has given us a way to test to discover if the teachings are from the heart of God or from the minds of men. There are so many teachings around these days, but the big question is if the teachings come from the heart of God. The letter of human words kills, but the teaching from the heart of God brings life. To be able to hear from God, we must be passionate to do his will.

    I don’t teach my own ideas, but the truth revealed to me by the One who sent me. If you want to test my teachings and discover where I receive them, first be passionate to do God’s will, and then you will be able to discern if my teachings are from the heart of God or from my own opinions. Charlatans praise themselves and seek honor from men, but my Father sent me to speak truth on his behalf. And I have no false motive, because I seek only the glory of God. (John 7:16-18 The Passion Translation)

    We must not be obsessed with peripheral issues, because that will cause us to ignore the most important of all: to walk in love of God, to display mercy to others, and to live with integrity. We need to readjust our values and place first things first! We must realign ourselves to the heart of God.

    God is holy and highly lifted up.

    God is righteous and just in all his dealings.

    God is faithful and true.

    God is truth and light.

    God is merciful and longsuffering.

    God is love.

  • Running into the heart of God

    A few days ago I came across this expression in my daily Bible reading, and it has been with me ever since. I have been meditating on it, prayed over it and tried to practice it: running into the heart of God.

    The character of God is a tower of strength, for the lovers of God delight to run into his heart and be exalted on high. (Proverb 18:10 The Passion Translation)

    The character of God is our refuge, fortress and tower of strength. When we know God as our loving, caring, righteous, faithful and Holy Father, we just love to be in his presence. We love because he loved us first. As lovers of God our main occupation is running into his heart to be lost in his love or his holiness. Knowing God and being in his presence are our highest pleasure. When we run into the heart of God, we find life itself. There we discover our purpose: to enjoy God and worship him. What a privilege!