My friend Jesus

I recently had a test in Norwegian.  We had pages of naming things, verb tenses, dictation, and various other related topics. Then I got to the last page -- essay. The directions were to write about a friend.  Simple enough.  I quickly scrolled through a list of my friends in my mind, thinking about how cool they are, and how much I could write about each one.  One friend stuck out in my mind, though.  I tried to brush the thought aside, thinking of other friends that I've studied with, grew up with, and played with, but no, none of those were right for my essay.  I needed inspiration.  The former thought kept pressing on my mind.  "No," I thought, "no one here is even a Christian, my teacher would just laugh and put a bad mark on the test".  "You must," came the thought "they are just looking at your Norwegian, not the content, you can be a witness for Me too..."  Finally I gave in. "Only if You help me," I prayed.

Picking up my pencil, I started to write about my friend: Jesus.  

I wrote about how He came to this earth to live with us and show us what love is.  He healed the sick, and taught many wonderful things, yet many people still didn't like Him, and even killed Him.  However, He did not remain dead.  He arose again, and went to heaven where He is now. In John 14:1-3 it says that He will come again to take us to live with Him soon.  He loves both you and me very much; He is the best friend anyone can ever have. 

God's promises

"'Come now, and let us reason together,' says the Lord, 'Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool". -- Is. 1:18



"Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." -- Ps. 51:7

Norwegian class and the Bible

I recently started a Norwegian class in downtown Kongsberg. I am really enjoying my time there. We are certainly an international class though. Iraq, India, Bulgaria, Chile, Portugal and USA are the countries we represent (I'm the only one from the States). I love being with such a multicultural group, and enjoy talking to the people about their countries.

Our class starts at 8:30 am, and I usually catch a ride with Jan Robert into town as he goes to his school. Sometimes he goes very early in the morning, so I wait in the SDA church in Kongsberg until it's time to head to class.

A few days ago, I went into Kongsberg church early. I had about an hour before class started and I settled down with my devotions. I prayed that God would show me someone that day that needed to know about Him, and that He would give me words to say to encourage him or her towards Jesus. After my prayers, I settled down to read. Somehow though, I felt an urge to leave for school. Picking up my things, I headed out down the street. There was no one at my class, so I pulled out my Bible to read again. A short time later my Hindu classmate showed up for class, also early. Sitting down next to me, she leaned over and asked what I was reading. I told her what it was, and she asked me why I was reading it, because "not that many young people read the Bible nowadays." Silently offering a prayer to God for help, I gave a testimony of what the Bible meant to me and why. She seemed quite interested, later she asked me to come over to visit her sometime.

I was so glad that God had prompted me to go to the right place at the right time, so that I could share just a little about God's great gift to us, His inspired Word.