Our Vocal class practicing on Oh holy night....

For those who want to know what we are doing in our vocal class :)

White Christmas in Norway :)

I arrived 2 hours late at Gardemoen Tuesday. Glad I left monday and not the weekend. Happened to be bad snow storm in NY saturday/sunday, and because of that it was a lot of traffic at the airport monday. All the flights that was cancelled on sunday was now flying out and planes was coming in. A LOT of traffic!!

I arrived safely at Gardemoen and it was a joy to be back in Norway and see my family again. This last days I have just try to get over this jetleg. Is getting better!

Right now I have been opening my presents and got a lot of nice stuff, stuff that I needed. I received it with joy:)

I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season:)

Love Jane

Time to write again!

Alright, it has been a while since I have been writing on my blog. well, the reasons are many. Anyway, lets start form today! well, I had my last final, and our Vocal class was preforming today at VMM (Victory Music Ministry). we were singing "oh Holy night". Not only did we preform it for VMM but also for the whole staff at Victory's Christmas party on monday. That was an honor. I actually realized how big the church is, when I came to the party. there were A LOT more people there than what I had expected. I think it was like 300 people?! Anyway, it was an honor and a a lot of fun to sing together with this great Vocal class Im attending to, and Im so grateful for our awesome Vocal teacher! She is amazing! Her name is Dawn and lead, sing, play piano and lead choir at Victory Christian Center. All in all, I have been having a great week, some tuff days with finals, but all in all a good week:)

Well, guess is time for me to prepare a cake for tomorrows Christmas party for VBI school of worship. It has been a LOT of Christmas party's this week! Hehe.... and it is a lot of fun! Good food, good music and good friends!

God is good, always!

Ciao

Death is not the end, is just the beginning...

Death is not the end, is just the beginning……..

I thought I would like to write down some of this falls experience and my thoughts that has passed by my mind lately. Something that has become more real to me this last months and also expended my thinking a little bit more, if I can say so.

I’m so happy to be in Tulsa and have the chance to go to VBI. It is a blessing and an honor to be attending to VBI worship school. I must say my journey and walk this fall has been in many ways challenging in faith and my belief. I have been facing personal challenge and also other challenges, like my faith in God. As many of you know, Pastor Billy Joe went to be with the Lord in November. The whole church prayed for him, other churches’ around Tulsa, USA and the world was praying for him. He was confessing the word, the family stayed by him and also believing the word and healing. He did progress, healing was flowing through his body and the report was good. Healing was taking place.

But suddenly he got hospitalized again and everything happened so fast and he went to be with the Lord. To be honest, when I heard that news, I felt my faith was shaking. What just happened? Did we not pray and confess the word? Almost half of the world was praying for this man, yet he went to be with the Lord. Suddenly I start to ask a lot of questions.

That week was very emotional. I believed Pastor Billy Joe was now with the Lord, yes. But the challenge was all my questions about what just happened! My thoughts and prayer went to the family! But I also found my self kind of lost and felt like believing a God I thought I knew but now I didn’t know. So what happened, you probably ask?

I had good friends around me that helped me put things in to new perspectives. One has Master degree in theology. He also have been facing things in life and been challenged through his study’s, but stay stronger in faith today. At VBI they shared a scripture from Deuteronomy 29:29 that says: “The Lord our God has secrets know to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.”

There are things happening that we just don’t understand, God is sovereign and when things happen, will I still trust Him? I also want to bring forth Daniel 3. The story about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They refused to bow for the gold statue made of King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar got mad at them and commanded to fire up the furnace, and even heated up 8 times more- and threw them in there. This was the reply Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego gave the King: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make sure it clear to you. Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up”.

This guys said; God Him self will rescue us, BUT if He doesn’t, STILL we will not bow for your God.

If you read John 6:22-68. It’s a lot to read, but it is about Jesus talking about that he is the bread of life. A lot of things that he said were not understandable for some of the disciples. They said it was hard words and hard to understand. Some disciples left Jesus. Than, Jesus turned to the twelve and asked them: are you also going to leave? Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would I go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

In the end everything is between you and God. There are things we don’t understand. To be honest, there are things I don’t understand. There are things happening in my life and this. BUT still, in you God I choose to believe and trust. Personally, I have experience Jesus, his present and healing in my body. Also healing in my heart. To me He is my Lord, and I found my self in the same situation as Peter. I know he is alive, he is the living word- to whom should I go? There is no one else with such great Love than God. So I find my selves confessing and say: “Lord, I don’t understand, but I choose to trust you and I still believe in you”.

Affabel: During that time, 3D (service for 18-28) did a drama from the book Affabel, written by John Bever. It was a drama about some people doing different things in their life(we could relate to), and one day they all was taken to the Kingdom Affabel and had to be accountable for the gift and the responsibility they had been trusted in the community Endel. Some wasted their gift, some did their calling, some could do so much more and some had pride and unforgivness, and they all ended up different places.

Our earthly life is short compare to eternal life. The question is what do you do with your life now and who do you trust? Jesus? Eternal life is to know God and love him with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as your self. Love God and love people. To me this became real. I trust in Jesus, and I want my life to count.

Seatbelt difficulties...

Driving through downtown Houston

Historical statue..

On our way from Houston to Tulsa we passed by a big statue of Sam Houston. To bad, but I don't know so much of the story.... but interesting to see some historical statues like that along the way back home. I don't know if I got my historical story right here, but all I know is that this statue is one of the presidents of USA. (according to Natalie).

Leaving Houston...

The temperature in Houston was all good, I was not ready to go back to Tulsa. I heard that it was colder there compare to Houston. A little bit hard to leave ;)

Visiting Lakewood Church in Houston!

During the time I was in Houston I had the opportunity to visit Lakewood Church, where Joel Osteen is Pastor. That was an great experience! I upload a small clip from the worship time, Israel was leading worship.

The beach in Houston

During the time in Houston we stopped by the beach. Sad it was cloudy that day, but the temperature was all good and the water was not bad. We had a lot of fun :)