Jesus is the Good News. He is the light of this world. He is our righteousness and holiness. He is our hope and our future. We can trust him with whole our life

Happy Easter

It's a dark time in this world today, but as Christians we have a message of hope that can bring light into this dark world.

My encouragement today is that we as Christians can arise and shine, we have the Good News to bring to this world.

Jesus is the light and lives in us so let us arise and shine!

In connection with the Corona Virus that is currently sweeping this world, I have heard people quote scriptures and say that this is God who is angry and it is his punishment for the world and its sin. Not everyone says this directly, but some still believe that it is God who sent it and stands behind it. If the corona virus is a punishment or as a result of God's wrath, Jesus would have died in vain.

Many view Jesus and God as a stern Lord or slave master, but it could not be further from the truth. Yet, many Christians are very focused on what they must do for Jesus, or whether they are doing everything right.

They might think: Have I committed some sins that have made God angry at me, and in some way he wants to punish me?

What are Jesus and God calling us? Is it slaves and servants? Or is it his friend and son or daughter?

I want to share with you two scriptures today that will show very clearly how God looks at you.

Many Christians often pray this prayer: God use me! I myself have prayed this prayer, especially when I were in my teens.

One of the reasons was that I were afraid that I could not be used for anything, and I attached my identity to what I could do and to be used for.

I have a nine months old daughter (when I write this) and I love her over all on this earth.

But my thoughts are not this: What can I use my daughter for, or what can she do for me?

Had I been thinking so, I would have been a selfish, self-seeking and evil father.

Perhaps you have heard: You steal from God if you don’t give the tithe, or you are under a curse if you don’t give, or God will punish you if you don’t give the tithe, or God will not heal you if you do not give. These two things are usually not said directly, but it can often be perceived in this way and maybe someone thinks this way too?

In fact, I've heard someone say it like this: If you are stingy then you will go to hell, for those who are stingy will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I get very upset when I hear statements and teachings that are manipulative and that give you guilt, condemnation or fear like this!

None of these things are compatible with God's character, and some can easily take scriptures out of context and misuse them.

In this teaching today I hope I can give you some clarity and also free you from condemnation and guilt especially in connection with the tithe and money.

The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 10: 8).

If you are depressed and worried do you have strength? We have little strength and power if we do not have joy.

The joy is in you already, but you need to discover it more and more.

We also have an enemy who is looking for an opportunity to steal our joy and peace.

Learn how to discover more of this joy, which can even heal you and set you free.

I have also include some personal stories in this encouragement.

The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 10: 8).

If you are depressed and worried do you have strength? We have little strength and power if we do not have joy.

The joy is in you already, but you need to discover it more and more.

We also have an enemy who is looking for an opportunity to steal our joy and peace.

Learn how to discover more of this joy, which can even heal you and set you free.

I have also include some personal stories in this encouragement.

We have probably all heard that God is love (1Joh 4:8), but what does that really mean?

Some believe that God only has love, it's only one of his attributes, and he will show it to us when we deserved it or when we have behaved good.

Some believe he only loves me and will hear my prayer when have repented from all of the sins I have done, and they maybe even think: All sins I have done since I was a child and I need to know exactly what I did.

There are a lot of people who are not very confident in their prayer, fellowship and communication with him, because they believe that God keeps a record of wrongs.

We have probably all heard that God is love (1Joh 4:8), but what does that really mean?

Some believe that God only has love, it's only one of his attributes, and he will show it to us when we deserved it or when we have behaved good.

Some believe he only loves me and will hear my prayer when have repented from all of the sins I have done, and they maybe even think: All sins I have done since I was a child and I need to know exactly what I did.

There are a lot of people who are not very confident in their prayer, fellowship and communication with him, because they believe that God keeps a record of wrongs.