Today my cousin tells about her relationship with God. I really really love her because she is super sweet.
And once when I was younger she accomanied us with her flute (google says it’s a cross flute or a german flute) while we sang an offkey song for mother’s day. Reason enough for saying she’s super sweet, not?!
She was my youth leader, and didn’t give me scoldings when I said or looked or did idiotic things because of my no-social-skills-syndrome. Instead, she sent me encouraging emails in my most difficult times and kept her inbox open for me. Therefore when I am a little girl again I shall draw her drawings to hang on her fridge.
x
I’m Annelies, married to a fantastic man and mama of 2 beautiful daughters. Naomi asked me to write something about my daily life with God. I realize now that it is quite a challenge 🙂
God is very clearly present in my life. But to explain this to others is not very easy. It is very interesting to think about this, because it is really my goal to make God’s greatness known to the people around me. […]
I’ve kept on and on diaries for years. I’ve always scribbled on little notepads. But I never realized I really love to write until a year ago. My head is so chaotic, and there’s always so much swirling around in there. Writing it down keeps me sane sometimes.
And then I’m so quick to speak what I think, what I haven’t even thought out yet. Writing is slow and you can edit and proofread and not only spellcheck but also lovecheck, if you take the time.
Writing is therapeutic.
It’s fun and it’s discovering who you are a little more each time.
Writing is recording memories.
Keeping it safe.
To read now or to read later.?If something was said and you weren’t there..you missed it. But if it was written? You’re never to late to read it.
So for the 31 day writing challenge? I’m recording stories. Stories of how Jesus changed lives, and how He continues to do it. I want to write it all down. How God is on the playground and how He’s in America as well. How He can use tragedy to bring His children to His bosom. How He’s loved us from the very moment […]
I distinctly remember a moment when I was 9, that I decided to follow Jesus.
It was in in the dirty old house where my little sister Loorke was born, the house where I had a goat with which my dear mother-in-law shares a name. Here she is, my sweet little goat.
Afterwards I was sure it must not have been true, it could not have been real, because I still got so mad and impatient and disobedient. I hope I don’t have a child that is too much like me. I was a little, emotional, temperamental fright.
How disappointed I would have been if I would have known I’d still be struggling with that at 24! I figured my sister was a real Christian because she never got so mad?and she was never as naughty as I was. I felt like I could only legitimately call myself a Child of God once I was pretty much perfect. When people asked me when I decided to follow Jesus, especially people I knew, I never mentioned this moment. I was ashamed of the fact that I still failed so?humongously and everybody could see that. All the time.
Now, I do […]
Today Sara tells us how her relationship with God started. Als little girls, we were in Sunday school together. And as slightly bigger girls we were in youth group together after all my families’ wanderings. She is a quiet, fun, dear girl and can really really play the violin! I am so happy she agreed to share her story here! Later on in the 31 days series there will be a second part to her story!
The story of my conversion is quite normal and not at all that spectacular. I didn’t become a Christian from one day to the next with a complete change in my life as a consequence.
I was lucky to be born in a Christian family. From the time I was born?my parents told me about God. They read all the bible stories to my sister and me. We grew up slowly but surely and were used to going to church on?Sunday. I’m very happy that there was never a moment that I didn’t want to go to church anymore. It is God’s grace that kept me on the straight path and that prevented me getting big doubts about His?existence.
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It is great […]
Today I have the honor of sharing my mom-in-law’s story. I’m loving all these written accounts of all the different ways God pulls His children closer to Him, how He shows His love and Himself! Read part 1 here
In America, one can babysit as well as in Belgium. And I started babysitting two neighbors children, Derek and Kara. The children were dears but with the parents…something was different. The way they got along with each other and with their children? It wasn’t what I was used to. There was also an atmosphere that I couldn’t pinpoint. Love and kindheartedness and patience…I had no clue what to do with it. Especially the tolerant love that was alien to me.
This mother was so committed with her young children and even when they had done something wrong, even when they got spanked, it was in love. And afterwards, they would go on their knees together and ask for forgiveness. I don’t know for sure but I think I stood there open-mouthed more then once.
God softly blew on the little flame inside of me. I was jealous. Healthy jealousy, I’ll call it. What they had, whatever you might call […]
Today I have the honor of sharing my mom-in-law’s story. I’m loving all these written accounts of all the different ways God pulls His children closer to Him, how He shows His love and Himself!
My story is certainly different then others. When the Lord has His eye on you and you leave just a little gap for Him, He’ll take you seriously. Going back in time I want to take you along on a very special journey.
Looking back, I realize that God has always been present in my young life. My big brother, 5 years my senior, went to boarding school when I was 7. He might be a priest when he grew up. He came home 3 times a year: Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays. Every time, he brought home 2 special gifts. The Old and the New Testament. As I grew older ?and learned how to read, it was these two books that I was occupied with during vacations. I wanted to read in them as much as possible. I especially devoured the New Testament again and again. The man Jesus that was described there had my full attention, and I admired His lifestyle. This […]
It was a beautiful summerday, at the end of July in 1984. The sun was shining and invited you out to eat some ice cream, and the ice cream vendor drove by all the streets in Leuven-Heverlee. Also on the busy Tervuursesteenweg. He took his time to sell his wares. But on this day, time would come to a brutal stand-still in the family of Richard and Maartje Mommaerts…
Richard grew up in a not all too harmonious family. Alcohol played too big of a role in it. Drink made tongs hang lose, as well as hands… His brother died and his father committed suicide.
All the things that happened during his childhood didn’t make him wish for children after he got married. But when his daughter Nicky was born, it did not take long for her to become papa’s buddy. The good years had finally come.
Until that fatal day in July ’84.
“I crossed the street to buy ice cream” Maartje remembers all to well. “Nicky, then 9,5 years old, ran after me. I warned her to look out well for cars, and in the assumption that she would keep following me I went […]
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