The Power of Prayer

   There is an eye that never sleeps
Beneath the wing of night;
There is an ear that never shuts
When sink the beams of light.

   There is an arm that never tires,
When human strength gives way;
There is a love that never fails,
When earthly loves decay.

   That eye is fixed on seraph throngs;
That arm upholds the sky;
That ear is filled with heavenly songs;
That love is throned on high.

   But there's a power which faith can wield,
When mortal aid is vain,
That eye, that arm, that love to reach,
That listening ear to gain. 

   That power is prayer, which soars on high,
Through (the Lord) Jesus to the throne,
And moves the hand which moves the world
To bring deliverance down.

- Author Unknown

Goodbye America

By the time this post is published, I will most likely be high in the sky watching the stars from a huge aeroplane window.

Yep. I'm flying back to Europe.

I can't believe my four month trip is almost over. I have one week in Holland left, and then I'll be home again. Home! I haven't been there for such a long time! I can't help but being excited about seeing my family again and walking among the vineyards once more, even though I am very sad I have to leave the places I've visited during this time. But... there's a time for everything, right?

I would appreciate your prayers as I will struggle with jet-lag!

By the way... aren't scheduled posts useful? ;)

Remembering A Forgotten Blog

A month has come and gone in Holland. In two days I catch a fligh to the United States of America! I am very excited about that flight. I enjoy flying in general, but whoa... flying to the States! o.O

I am a bit at loss at how to write this post. I don't know where to start, nor what to write about. Time in Holland has been a very busy one, full of outings and meetings with friends I met last time I was here. I admit I should have written on this blog before, but I lacked time and motivation. When I though, Oh, I have to write on my blog! the computer wasn't available, and if, by any chance, it was, I procastinated and told myself I would write whenver I felt like it.

Well, to be honest with you all, this is not the time. I am quite lost; I have what most people like to call writer's block, or should I call it blogger's block? Whatever its name, I do NOT feel like writing right now, but I feel I must write. So here I am, sitting on a chair and facing the screen, with my fingers on the black keyboard.

And a blank mind.

Nevertheless, I want you all to know that I am flying in two days, so I would appreciate your prayers for safety! Pray especially for my sense of direction... I have this feeling I will get lost in the layover airport. :P

And so, beloved readers, here I leave you, until I have a little bit more of inspiration.

Weapon of Prayer

This is a song I really like. Everytime I listen to it, I get chills up and down my spine, and goose-pimples. The message is so true! I just hope I will never have to sing it.

*************************************

In that land across the sea
There's a job for you and me
Though our presence there may not be found
We must stay standing there
On the battle lines and pray
We must never lay our weapons down

We don't have to be a soldier in a uniform
To be of service over there
While the boys so bravely stand
With the weapons made by hand
Let us trust and use the weapon of prayer.

Many thousands miles away
Someone shed their blood today
With a heart so true and brave they're gone
To a war that's yours and mine
Let us join the battle line
With a weapon that will save our home

We don't have to be a soldier in a uniform
To be of service over there
While the boys so bravely stand
With the weapons made by hand
Let us trust and use the weapon of prayer

And when the planes and tanks and guns
Have done all that they can do
And the mighty bombs have rained and failed
Still the helpful Hand above, on the weapon made of love
And against Him none on earth prevail

We don't have to be a soldier in a uniform
To be of service over there
While the boys so bravely stand
With the weapons made by hand
Let us trust and use the weapon of prayer.

*************************************

I just listened to it, and had to share it with all of you.

Old CD's As Lights In The World

We were lately blessed to receive a visit from a Dutch lady that is a missionary among ship's crew in Alaska.
Among other things, she showed to us old CD's that were recorded in various languages.

It was a very simple contraption. The CD was in a cardboard envelope that could be unfolded. One of the sides had a sharp point stuck to it:

This point was placed on the CD, and placing whatever was round (in our case, a pen) in the hole on one of the sides of the white circle and starting to make the CD rotate, the Gospel could be heard.

The lady told me this was started when a lady went to preach in South America, and really enjoyed and loved it. One day she fell sick and had to go back to the USA. Her sickness was somewhat serious and she had to stay in bed for a while, and she became worried that the people she's preached to wouldn't hear the Good News any more, so she had her voice reading the Gospel recorded on these CD's in the language they spoke, and then had them sent to the village where she'd been. It was so easy to make them work that everybody could listen to God's word once again.
I really enjoyed her stay, and if you could pray for her and her work with the sailor men, I'm sure she would appreciate it!

Vacation Bible School 2008

Here I am again! :) Did you miss me?
I have been a whole week helping out in a VBS some friends of ours organized, and it was a wonderful experience! I have never done this before, and I must say, I missed a lot!!
My younger brother, who is eleven, and I went, and it lasted a week. I stayed at a friend's house (Cris' house), and he stayed at another friend's house.
It was during afternoons, starting at half past five p.m. and ending and eight p.m. There were five teens helping out, occasionally a couple more.
Cris and I went there at five to help prepare the afternoon snack. We also helped preparing the different crafts that had to be made, and doing some other things.
VBS' theme was David Livingstone and Africa, and it was very interesting.
At half past five, we all went to the park and played games there with the neighbourhood children. Once everyone was tired, we sat down and sang choruses and little hymns for them, and they learned them very well. :)
Then there was a small story with a message, and the children were asked questions, about God and Christ's death and sin. It was really very nice.
Then we would go back to the meeting room to listen to the missionary story about David Livingstone, and also to do the crafts, which were all about Africa. One of them was a lion mask... =)
Then we would eat our snack, and finish off things, and answer questions the children would have, or talk, until eight p.m., when it finished till next day.
I really enjoyed it, it was very nice to tell about God to people who didn't know Him.
I took plenty of pictures. Here are a few!

Singing with two guitars. The lady standing up, with the written chorus is Rosa. The guy in the red shirt, playing the guitar, was one of the teens, named Daniel.

Here the kids were sitting down and listening to the little story. Peter, Rosa's husband, was telling the story.

A closer look... Peter with the story.

Back at the meeting room, making hand crafts.

And this is about it! It was a wonderful week.
Also, since the VBS was only during afternoons, we had free mornings, and Cris and I got to do a lot of things together. Such as going jogging, shopping together, swimming, watching videos, and a lot more things. :) A wonderful week, really!
Pray that the seed was sown in good earth, and all the children that listened to God's word may believe in Him!

Gone With The Lord

My cousin-in-law passed away yesterday.
I would like to ask all of you to pray for my cousin Jane, she needs lots of strength and help from the Lord in these difficult moments.
I am happy to say I met my cousin-in-law before he went to be with the Lord, and was blessed by his friendship. I am very sad now...
Pray hard for all of us. Thank you!

~Gem