God IS Love

Hello there,
at the beginning of this week it was my turn to hold a 15-20 devotion for our class. This is part of the required academical work for this course. At first I had no idea would in the world I should talk about, until God kept reminding me of the Story of Hosea. Even though I knew the story I had no idea what He was aiming at. So I started to read it again and this is where it hit me - the whole story is about God's love for His people and for us.

I have to admit I was a little unsure about it, but at the same time I felt very strongly that God wanted to remind us of His love for us. I know that this can be a bit of a cliché or stereotype sometimes, but the doesn't change the fact. Not one iota! Because the fact is that God doesn't only love us, but He IS love itself. It's His very essence.

I don't know about you, but so many times I get caught up in daily life or even doing things for God, that I completely forget to do those things with Him and through Him. You know, to love Him and to let myself be loved by Him.
Also, I think, God's timing for this reminder was perfect. Cause the day I held this devotion was the first day of our 'Plumbline Ministry' week!
I think it went kind of ok... I'm not sure... it's a little funny to get graded on it. (I haven't gotten the results yet)...

I started out with a song 'I AM LOVE' (Michael W. Smith) - see next post.
Then shared a little bit of what I shared with you earlier and some more, you know, scripture references... (1 John 4, Romans 8)
Then kind of in the middle I showed a powerpoint presentation of Psalm 139 that I had put together for this devotion (I've been trying to put it up here, but it just won't work. I can email it to you if you want-it's just a little big...)
Then I told the story of Hosea and we read parts of the story together and I explained a little more and I ended with another song 'I'll lead you home' (Michael W. Smith) - see next post as well....

Love, Hanna

I AM Love/ I'll lead you home

I Am Love

I am not passers by I am not a white lie
I am not left to die I am love, I am love
I am not feeling sad I am not the new fad
I am not quickly mad I am love, I am love

You can try to hide You can try to run

But You'll never run far enough

This is my flesh, this is my blood
And I am love
You can fly up high You can dig down deep
You can flee to the west You can flee to the east

But you can't escape what I've done
'Cause I am love

I am not standing by I am not letting go

I am not leaving you I am love, I am love

I am love My blood fell like rain
I did not bleed in vain But from my veins
I am love

I’ll lead you home

Wandering the road of desperate life
Aimlessly beneath the barren sky
Leave it to me - I’ll lead you home
So afraid that you will not be found
It won’t be long before your sun goes down
Just leave it to me - I’ll lead you home

Hear me calling
Hear me calling
Just leave it to me - I’ll lead you home

A troubled mind and a doubters heart
You wonder how you ever got this far
Leave it to me - I’ll lead you home
Vultures of darkness ate the crumbs you left
And you got no way to retrace your steps
Just leave it to me - I’ll lead you home

Hear me calling
Hear me calling
You’re lost and alone
Leave it to me - I’ll lead you home

So let it go and turn it over to
The one who chose to give his life for you
Leave it to me - I’ll lead you home
So let it go and turn it over to
The one who chose to give his life for you
Just leave it to me - I’ll lead you home
Leave it to me - I’ll lead you home

Words & music: michael w. smith and wayne kirkpatrick

a quick hello

I have little time between dinner and community meeting so I thought I'd drop by for a couple of lines. I don't know about you guys, but over here the weather has just been wonderful these last couple of days or weeks actually! Today we can even see Mont Blanc from here... it's absolutly beautiful and I also learned today that we can see the fountain of Geneva from here. Which is really unique since Geneva is half-an-hours drive from here halfway around the lake. Well, not halfway, but you get the point... isn't that cool?

Other than that we are having the 'divine Plumbline' teaching this week. Which is kind of dealing with our past so of course it is very personal and emotional. Next week we have an entire week set aside for us to share and get prayed for, so we can actually deal with our past and receive healing...
I'm excited and scared at the same time..

Blessings, Hanna

more pics

of Switzerland at
http://be-hisheart.dotphoto.com
there is a new folder 'switzerland' with lots of photos from the area here and from our outing to Gruyère and Montreux yesterday.

By the way- we are getting funny sky-tans. Since the sun is so bright up here and we always wearing sunglasses outside, so that our faces get a lot of color, except for right around the eyes where we stay white...

L&B,
Hanna

the wonderful cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but lost
And poor content on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
or thorns compose so rich a crown

Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross
bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near
and bless your name

Worth of all realm a nature mine
that were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
demands my soul, my live, my all

Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross
bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross
Oh the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near
and bless your name

Love so amazing, so divine
demands my soul, my live, my all

In the Beauty, in the shame
In the Glory of his name
of the wonderful cross...

beautiful Châtel- Switzerland

I made it! I am here in beautiful Châtel, Switzerland.
I still can hardly believe it. Only very slowly is it sinking in the fact that I am really here.

No, I still don't have all the finances for the course, but the leadership of the school strongly encouraged me to come anyways, to take this leap of faith:

"...we really sense that you have a place for this coming IBC.
Hanna,
I am wondering where you are at but I feel to stand with you in faith that God will provide what you need for the school as you step out in faith…
So, I want to encourage you to trust Him that He will provide what you need and we will stand with you in faith….."

So after this email and another phonecall from the base I decided that I wanted to trust Him, you know, really take this step of faith... and here I am.

I've gotta tell ya, it truly never ever gets boring... serving God on the missionsfield. I mean, I've been in this situation of 'living out of faith' for a couple of years now and still everytime God chooses to surprise me, by finding new and different ways.

So far for now, I will keep you posted.

Until then I wish you all a blessed Easter. May you get the chance to really take some time to think about, to ponder what Christ did for you and me on that cross, so many years ago.

Hanna