Stranded in Sweden!

I'm sorry for my silence!!

My friends from England, Abbie & Paul Brooks, came in last Wednesday to spend 4 days with me-- which were LOVELY-- but then due to the European airspace crisis because of the volcano in Iceland spurting out ash, they ended up being stranded here with me for 5 extra days!! After 9 days sharing every bit of life together and camping out in my one room flat, we have grown really rather attached to one another :)


And I am blessed beyond measure by God's love as expressed through these precious friends.

The airspace is finally opening up across Europe and they were able to rebook a flight for Friday night. I'll have to say farewell which is really hard to imagine after so much time attached at the hip! But after a busy weekend of women's ministry, worship leading, and babysitting, I will swiftly be off to see them again at our friend's wedding in Gloucester! I've been asked by my lovely friend, the bride, to look after her children and home while she and her groom are away on their honeymoon! I'm so honoured to be trusted so, and so looking forward to being back in my England for a visit with many loved ones :) This wedding will be very special as I have seen my lovely friend the Bride through some very difficult seasons. It is so beautiful to see how He's weaved His goodness into a situation the enemy meant to shatter her with...

Exciting, exciting!
I'll be in touch :)
Love on, love on, love on--
Leah

p.s. I do intend to send out a newsletter at some point. The days just get away from me completely!

Sunshine Prayers...

It is mid-April and still a bit cool, but the sun shines with such a golden brilliance here. I sat on my friends' deck this morning, soaking it up and laying my heart bare before my God. So much on it. As usual.

He listened, patiently, and whispered assurances, and then pointed me to spend some time in first, second, and third John this morning.

I was just floored by the familiar words; by the inexpressible shock of this Almighty, Merciful, Righteous, Cosmic, Compassionate, Redeemer God inviting me, inviting you, to know His limitless love. And this verse especially hit me:

"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love has been brought to full expression through us." -- 1 John 4:12

Do you realize the omnipotent God of the universe, the Creator of all things, and the very source of Love and all things Good, wants to express Himself through US?? Why He deigns to give His grace to such broken jars of clay, I will never understand. I will just soak it up as He pours it down, until I am overflowing with it, and He, who has never been seen, can be seen in me through my love of others (!!! what? !!!). We don't love because someone is worthy of it (otherwise He would never give any of us the time of day) but because "He first loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 Jn 4:10). And, "since God loved us so much, we surely ought to love each other" (1 Jn 4:11).

I see His love in my life and I desire so much to shine it all around me, to "express it fully." This will be the journey of my life, learning how better to love. And when I grow weary and start to think of how wonderful it would be to just live for myself, I will sit in the sunshine, feel the kiss of it against my skin, and remember Him.

And live to die to myself another day.

He is so infinitely worth it.
May you taste and see...

Love on, love on, love on,
Leah

Glad Påsk!

The sanctuary was completely dark, except for the smallest bit of light over the podium where I read from. It was completely silent, except for my heels on the hardwood as I trod to the door leading outside to a fire on the church's balcony and then approached the Christ candle with my tiny one lit.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all humanity. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." -- John 1

Somehow the truths struck more true that Easter Eve.

By the end of the evening we'd reflected on Christ as the light of the world, we'd reflected on our baptism into His death, and, at the stroke of midnight, we'd shared in The Last Supper, and the lights went on, and we sang out Hillsong's "Mighty to Save" with a new gusto.

And we sang this song, which I'd never heard before and now CANNOT get enough of....


We were a small gathering. Maybe there were 20 of us gathered bravely in the middle of the night for The Well's Easter vigil. But it was a powerful meeting of symbolism and scripture. I was so blessed to be involved.

This is my third Easter in Sweden. Once when I was 14 staying with my Aunt and Uncle, once last year when I first arrived back in Sweden, and once now. My weekend was full of church activities (organizing a 'Passion of the Christ' viewing, organizing worship for Rescue Mission, helping to lead the vigil with The Well, then helping to prepare for an Easter party with The Well on Easter Monday) but also of great reflection which fueled my heart to just worship Him for all that He is... again.

And to feel so thankful. So beyond thankful. But unable to express it in words.

Thank You, Jesus. Words fail me. Just, thank You.

***

Naturally, over the holidays, I missed my family. Alot. My nieces and nephews especially! Just have a look :)

All 4 of them at my mom and dad's on Easter Day. Cuties!

These stunning photos of my Abby & Emmy & Kenan were taken by a family friend who is just starting up a photography business!
Check her out: http://www.danajphoto.com