Yvonne Fredheim

I will start this year with thankfulness!
So here comes a list of some of the stuff I am thankful for:

- My family
  + You have a big place in my heart! 
- My other family (the Nilsens)
  + I am privileged to know you, and be a part of your lives!
- My friends
  + Even though I don’t see all of you that often, I am truly grateful for knowing you!
- My flat mates
  + I could never dream of better people to live with than you!
- My life
- God
  + You are always near, giving me strength and hope. You’re never changing and always loving. Thank you for being my father!
- Kristent Fellesskap (Christian Fellowship, my church)
- A nice apartment
- Good neighbors
  + I always have fun with you!
- Music
  + I could not live without it!
- All those small but precious moments in life that so many take for granted
- My job
  + I love McDonalds food!
- My BigMac (My Macintosh computer)
- My future
  + I know that I have good things too look forward to
- The ability to travel all over the world, and meeting new people

Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.
-V. Raymond Edman-

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along
the beach with the Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand,
one belonging to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the
very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is
only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most
you would leave me."

The Lord replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffereing,
when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."

If you believe in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.
And if you have given your life to Him, God has given you His righteousness.
We are just as righteous as God…
That’s something to think about.

In every situation,
I know I can turn to God.
He is my strength.
He will never leave.
He is always near.
He makes every burden lighter.
And even how dark a situation might look,
God will always bring light.
Even if things does not turn out the way we hope,
God will bee there to help us go through it.

Here in the States, I went to a church I had never been to before. But despite that, I really felt at home. It was just like being in my home church. I really got to experience what the Bible says about the church being one body. It does not matter where we are from, or what church we belong to. Every person that has accepted Christ into their life is a part of his body. We are brothers and sisters, God's adoptive children.

Here are some good words of encouragement from the greatest book in the world (!!!), The Bible (NLT).

I sometimes get so overwhelmed by the greatness of God. This, that I have written, does of course not only apply to me, but to all the children of God.

God has been so good to me. He gives me all that I need. I never lack anything.
He strengthens me, so that I can walk on the path, He has placed before me.
He gives me wisdom, to make the right decisions, even if the wrong one is the easiest.
He has given me the Holy Spirit, so that I might understand His word better, and get to know Him better.
He has given me his wonderful word, which I can rejoice over and get lifted up by.
He gives me safety, because I can rest in his presence forever.
He has given me a voice, to use for worshipping Him, and to speak encouraging words to others with.
But mostly of all, He gives me the right to be his child. He is my dad, and He loves me unconditionally.

I’m reading the authorized biography about Johnny Cash. I saw this good quote on the back of the book.

Did you know that God listens to everything you say or think.
He listens to you, even if you don't believe in Him.
He sees you, when you’re alone and when you’re surrounded by people
He sees you when you’re happy and when you’re sad.
He will never fail you, but He will always be there for you.
He loves you…

Did you know that God cares so much about you.
Did you know that the thing He wants most of all is to be with you.
Get to know you better.
He loves spending time with you.
God is the perfect dad.
He’s your dad.
He only wants the best for you.
He is proud of you.
And even how hard you try to make him love you more or less,
That will never happen,
Because He loves you more than you can imagine,
And He will always love you the same, because you’re His kid