Comfort - called near

During our whole life we ​​need to receive comfort and to give comfort to others. Human comfort is "wishing good luck" and "it'll be alright". More like a "happy pill", an escape from the terrible reality. Some also have the harmful conflict solving method: "Smile Smile and disappear".

But, God's true comfort is not that he gives us a happy pill. To forget reality for a moment. No, it is that He comes closer and walks with us through the difficulties. His presence ... makes all the difference and we see light even in the midst of darkness.

"....God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" 2 Cor 1:4

The word comfort here is Para-klesos = calling us near. Calling us together. A free translation of 2 Corinthians 1:4 could be:

We can keep distance to each other because we fear that others will infect us or hurt us. But since the light is always is stronger than the darkness, we can boldly come closer to each other to be able to share God's genuine comfort and love. It is always stronger.

A man who used to live in a lot of drugs and alcohol experienced the difference 

and said: "I no longer wear out my shoes because now God carries me".

                                "Smile smile and .... come closer".

My experience is that in the Christian Church Fellowship I experience the genuine 

comfort of God, so I can go to people and invite them also to the presence of the 

same God ... with the same genuine comfort. Which works.

Ingvar (Fred)

Co-Workers and Co-Leaders

We like to be Hands-On, but most of all to be helping others to be Hands-On in .... training others.

People here are wonderful people. 100% willing to serve. God is calling us all to be Co-workers growing into being Co-leaders. 

We are praising God that both these types of people groups are step-by-step growing among us.

 

The great challange is that thet we the older co-workers and co-leaders ..... shows the way. We like, these days, to be spiritual parents.  

                                                 

Pioneer work is exciting. 

Ingvar (Fred)

Instead of Giving Up....

 ... Creativity. Today I came into the bakery just when our Baking instructor Dee open the recipe book to bake more. Just then Keow (5 years) came running and wanted to join.

                    

Dee is fantastic in baking and ...... she has different couraces in baking/coffee/cold drinks, almost every week for people who want to learn.  

                   

                  

Sometimes we wonder how we best can help people in crisis? We at Streams of Grace Church and Child Safe have many ways to help, but not everything fits everyone.

We have found that when we encourage people to be creative .... with the little they have and can do ... they are inspired. And find new ways.

This was a youth meeting today.

Have a good weekend Ingvar (Fred)

Living God`s 'Word - works every time.

Appreciate how God`s Word comes alive and works perfectly into today’s reality, wherever we are. I rejoice when I see how God helps us through every “chapter of Life and every life`s trail.

The evil one always wants us to give up and flee from our assignments. But God`s word urges us not to give up:

                                                    God bless. Ingvar (Fred)

Sweden - be blessed as you bless.

                                        Today is the Swedish National Day.

Thank you

God for our beautiful country! God protect our country and our people. Help us to be more thankful and not take everything for granted. We pray for our country, especially today!

As missionaries, sent to preach the Good news, we are very thankful för Sweden.

Ingvar (Fred) and Anna

GRACE - stronger than my weakness.

To have mercy on ourselves is the most difficult in life. We so easy blame ourself and think we are not good enough. Especially here in the Buddist context - you never make enough merits to feel good enough.

Thank God that there is a Grace that is not based on our own merits. Even in the midst of times when we feel most worthless. Wooow, what God has provided a way for us to be able to get out of our own made prisons.

When we Dec 2018 were going to select a name of the Church here in Ubon, Ajarn Jeet said: "We all need grace". And we all said; "Yes we call the Church; Streams of GRACE".

  ".... he answered me," My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. "Therefore I would rather boast of my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. And therefore I rejoice over weakness, ill-treatment, distress, persecution, and anxiety for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. " 2 Cor 12: 9.

The only restoration and salvation is by God`s grace. And after that, we have the possiblity not give up practicing and demonstrating how this grace works in everyday life also to do good deeds.

 "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Gal 6: 9

Grace makes it possible so; We will come through stronger -- together.

Thank God for 9 who were baptized last Sunday.

Thank God for the protection and healing of my right kneecap. It is so easy to blame ourself. Why could I not avoid this accident in Saturday's afternoon?

Thank you for your concern, intercession and financial support.

Greetings from Ingvar (Fred)

                                                          A video

         

                                            

         

I told the doctor: God and you have helped me.

Goodness....

Yesterday I was again blessed by the song; 

     ".... Your goodness is running after, it`s running after me..". 

I saw one circle and the circumstances around.

And it became so clear to me the priorities of these two areas.

                Nr.1 is God's goodness for my Spirit-Soul-Body.

                Nr.2 is God`s goodness, in due time, in my circumstances. Sometimes I need my eyes to be open to all God`s goodness around me. 

We can live as Christians and have God's goodness running after us but we do not see it. Too often we become home-blind. 

Thank you Jesus for your Goodness with the right priorities. It is many things in life that God has a divine order, but Satan likes to turn them wrong .... and makes us unhappy. One key is to start to thank God for his goodness... and  "...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,...." Eph1:18b 

Prayer: Thank you JESUS for helping me to see all your goodness ...... with your right priorities.

      In English         Click here and sing along:  Goodness of God.

      In Swedish       Klicka här och Sjung med: Godhet

Have a blessed weekend. Ingvar (Fred)