Colours and flavours

As I ambled along, I enjoyed peeking into the beautiful gardens on either side of the road. Trees and houses were covered with leaves in all kinds of fiery hues. The already vivid colours were accentuated by the autumn mist. I could sense that this October day was shrouded in mystery; A mystery full of colours and flavours that were waiting to be explored.

So far, things had turned out quite different from what I had planned.Since I had taken another train and gone off at a station I had never been at before, I had no idea where I could buy something to eat for the day. But the Lord seemed to have planned every little detail. I found a small shop at the street corner. Sandwiches in every size and with all kinds of layers were spread out on the table in front of me. I picked a sandwich, paid and headed with  anticipation to my final destination.

I knocked at the door to my producer 5 minutes earlier than we had appointed. He opened up and gave me a warm welcome. Immediately, I felt at home.The room was full of pianos, keyboards, an organ and numerous other key instruments and equipment. I imagined all the tunes that were capable of filling the small room. I was filled with exitement.

The rewriting process could begin. My producer had listened through my song demos that I had sent him. I wondered what kind of suggestions he would come up with to improve the songs.

We started randomly with one of them. Some major changes were made in the arrangement, throwing out two verses and transforming one of the verses into a bridge. In the next two songs, the grooves were changed. One of the songs became more upbeat, whereas the other was slowed down to become a beautiful ballad.

Time was flying, and so was I. The songs were coming alive and I was soaring into my dreams....

But not for too long..... As we approached the fourth song, it felt like crash-landing. For the first time I totally disagreed with his suggestions. My song was being destroyed. The producer must have sensed my dispair. It didn`t take long before he could come up with another suggestion. The song eventually turned into something exiting, full of colours and nuances.

I lifted my wings again. But just as I was about to fly, I was interupted by a knock at the door. My husband came in. It was soon time to go. But first he greeted and chatted with my producer. He also took some photos and videos to remember this important day.

I had completely forgotten about food. But now I felt hungry. I was looking very much forward to eating out with my husband. Since Chinese is my favourite, he had selected a cosy little chinese restaurant.

We studied the menu cards and decided to try something new. The colourful dishes were delivered one by one to our table. I sipped my cup of jasmin tea and savoured every mouthful of the exotic dishes. My heart was overflowing with awe and gratitude. This was the day that the Lord had made! I rejoiced over His creation. He had prepared a table before me full of colours, sounds, flavours, shapes etc. I was invited to come to His table to take and create. From the time I was a little girl, He had given me a passion for sounds and a desire to create music and songs thereof.Now it was my greatest joy to use the creative gifts He had given to me; To rearrange what was already there in His creation and to further rearrange out of what other people had already created.

There was still so much to explore in His world of music. I wondered which flavours I had yet to discover. As I sat there, enjoying the sound of peace, I was more than ever determined to create something unique,meaningful, tasteful and beautiful; Something that He would delight in and that would give glory to Him, the creator and giver of all good gifts.  

 

Ein nebliger Weg

Es war ein nasskalter Morgen. Ich holte meinen Wintermantel, der seid einigen Monaten nicht mehr gebraucht wurde, nahm meine Taschen und beeilte mich um den Bus nicht zu verpassen.

Als ich mich in dem Bus setzte, atmetete ich erleichtert auf. Züge gingen häufig in die Hauptstadt. Alles wurde planmässig verlaufen, dachte ich. Aber ich lag falsch. Als ich zum Bahnhof kam, fuhr der Schnellzug vor meine Nase weg. Ich hätte eine halbe Stunde auf den nächsten Schnellzug warten müssen. Aber dann hätte ich mein Termin verpasst. Die einzige andere Möglichkeit wäre, den Bummelzug zu nehmen, und ein paar Haltestellen vor Bern auszusteigen. Aber ich hatte ein grosses Problem; Ich wusste nicht wie ich von dort aus zu mein Zielort gelangen sollte.

Während meine Gedanken durch den Kopf gingen, spürte ich plötzlich wie Gott mich sagen wollte, dass ich Ihm vertrauen sollte. Mir kam folgende Bibelstelle in den Sinn;

„Verlass dich nicht auf eigene Urteilskraft, sondern vertraue voll und ganz dem Herrn! Denke bei jedem Schritt an Ihn; Er zeigt dir den richtigen Weg und krönt dein Handeln mit Erfolg.“ Sprüche 3:5-6

Ich entschied mich Gott zu vertrauen und nahm den Bummelzug. Der Zug hielt an fast jeder Haltestelle an, und die Reise schien ewig zu dauern. Als der Zug endlich ankam, ging ich zum Schalter ins Bahnhofsgebäude und fragte der Bahnangestellte ob irgendeinen Bus in der nähe von meinem Zielort fuhr. Er schmunzelte und versicherte mich, dass Büsse überall hinfahren. Aber manchmal wäre es doch einfacher zu laufen. Er kam vom Schalter raus, öffnete die Tür neben mir und zeigte in die Ferne. Wenn ich die Treppe hinunter und  geradeaus lief, wäre ich innerhalb von einigen Minuten an der Strasse wo ich hin wollte...... Ich war überwältigt. Dies war Gottes Werk! Er hatte mich den ganzen weg geführt.

Ein Moment lang stand ich oben auf der Treppe und dachte zurück an die Vergangene zehn Jahre. Damals hätte ich nicht gewusst, auf welchem Weg Gott mich leiten wurde. Aber Er kannte all meine Schritte noch bevor ich geboren wurde. In seiner souveräne Weisheit hatte Er etwas besonderes für mich vorbereitet. Ja, jeder der zu Christus gehört, kann sich an folgende Bibelstelle verlassen;

„Gott hat etwas aus uns gemacht: Wir sind sein Werk, durch Jesus Christus neu geschaffen, um Gutes zu tun. Damit erfüllen wir nur, was Gott schon im Voraus für uns vorbereitet hat“

Epheser 2:10

Ich dachte darüber nach, wie Gott, auf wunderbare Weise ,Türen geöffnet hatte. Aber es gab auch Türen die Er geschlossen liess. Manchmal wurde ich wütend an einige diesen Türen loshammern. Ich konnte nicht verstehen warum er nicht aufmachte. Später auf meinem Weg zeigte Er mir warum Er manche von den Türen geschlossen hielt. Hinter diesen Türen waren Dinge die mich hätte schaden können. In seiner Liebe und Fürsorge, hat Er mich davor schützen wollen.Immer noch verstand ich nicht jeder Seine Wege. Ich werde es vieleicht nie verstehen. Aber das muss ich auch nicht.

Jetzt, während ich dort im Nebel stand, konnte ich nur noch ganz wenig von dem was vor mir lag schimmern. Ich kämpfe immer wieder gegen die Versuchung alles in meiner Kontrolle und auf meiner Weise machen zu wollen. Aber jetzt wusste ich, dass ich Ihm meine schwache Hand in Seiner starke Hand geben musste. Er sollte mich leiten. Es gab keine anderen Weg, als Ihm zu vertrauen und gewiss sein, dass Er der ein guter Werk in mir begonnen hatte, es auch zu Ende führen wurde. (Philipper 1:6)

Es war an der Zeit zum Gehen. Ich war sehr gespannt!  

En tåkete vei

Det var en sur og kald morgen. Jeg hentet fram vinterjakka mi, som hadde ligget stuet vekk i noen måneder, tok veskene mine og sprang avgårde for å rekke bussen.

Idet jeg satte meg på bussen, pustet jeg lettet ut. Det gikk alltid et tog til hovedstaden. Alt ville gå etter planen, trodde jeg. Men jeg tok feil. Da jeg kom til stasjonen hadde hurtigtoget akkurat gått. Neste hurtigtog gikk ikke før en halvtime. Dersom jeg tok det, ville jeg komme for sent til avtalen jeg hadde. Den eneste muligheten som var igjen var å ta det langsommere toget og å gå av noen stasjoner før Bern. Men jeg hadde et stort problem; Jeg ante ikke hvordan jeg skulle komme meg videre derifra.

Mens tankene surret rundt i hodet mitt, kjente jeg plutselig Gud si til meg at jeg måtte stole på Han. Nok en gang ble jeg minnet på skriftsstedet;

„ Sett din lit til Herren av hele ditt hjerte, og stol ikke på din forstand! Kjenn Ham på alle dine veier! Så skal Han gjøre dine stier rette“ Ordspråkene 3:5-6

Jeg tok somletoget og bestemte meg for å sette min lit til Herren. Toget stanset på nesten hver stasjon på strekningen. Det føltes som om det tok en evighet. Da jeg endelig var framme, gikk jeg til hovedbyggningen på stasjonen. Jeg spurte en tilsatt i billettluka, om han visste om en bus som gikk i nærheten av hvor jeg skulle.Han smilte lurt og sa at det gikk alltids en bus. Men noen ganger er det lettere å gå. Han kom fram fra luka, åpnet døra ved siden av meg, og pekte rett fram. Hvis jeg gikk ned trappa, og fortsatte rett fram, ville jeg være framme i gata jeg spurte etter i løpet av noen få minutter. Jeg var overveldet.Dette var Guds verk! Han hadde ledet meg hele veien.

Jeg stod øverst på trappa en liten stund og tenkte tilbake i tid. For ti år siden, visste jeg ikke hvilken sti Gud ville lede meg på. Men han visste om hvert eneste skritt lenge før jeg engang var født. I Hans suverene visdom, hadde Han forberedt noe spesielt for meg. For hver den som tilhører kristus kan gjøre følgende skriftsted til sitt;„For vi er hans verk, skapt i Kristus Jesus til gode gjerninger, som Gud har lagt ferdige for at vi skulle vandre i dem“. Efeserne 2:10

Jeg tenkte på de dørene Gud hadde åpnet på underfulle vis. Men det var også dører som Han hadde holdt lukket. Noen ganger stod jeg og hamret på noen av disse dørene. Jeg kunne ikke forstå hvorfor Han ikke åpnet opp. Litt lenger fram på stien, viste Han meg hvorfor Han hadde holdt noen av disse dørene lukket. Bak disse dørene var det ting som kunne ha skadet meg. I sin kjærlighet og omsorg bevarte Han meg fra dette. Jeg forstod fortsatt ikke alle Hans veier. Men det trengte jeg heller ikke å forstå.

Mens jeg stod der omgitt av tåke, kunne jeg bare se litt av det som låg foran meg. Jeg skulle ønsket at jeg kunne se alt helt klart. Jeg kjemper stadig imot fristelsen til å ha alt under kontroll og å ville gå min egen vei. Men jeg visste at jeg måtte ta min svake hånd i Hans sterke hånd og la Han lede meg. Jeg kunne ikke annet enn å stole på Han og hvile i løftet om at Han som hadde begynt en god

gjerning i meg, også kom til å fullføre det (Filipperne 1:6).

Det var på tide å gå. Jeg var så spent!

A foggy road

It was a cold and wet morning. I fetched my winter coat, which had been stored away for some months, grabbed my bags and rushed to catch the bus.

As I took a bus seat, I sighed with relief. Trains ran frequently to the capitol. Everything would go smoothly, I thought. But I was wrong.The express train had just left when I arrived at the railway station. I would have to wait for another half an hour for the next one, which meant that I would be too late for my appointment. The only option left was to take the slow train and to go off a few stations before Bern. But I had one big problem; I had no idea how to get from there to my destination.

While my thoughts were running through my head, I suddenly felt God prompting me to trust Him. Once again I was reminded of the passage;

„Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths“. Proverbs 3:5-6

I decided to trust Him and hopped on the slow train. It stopped at almost every station and seemed to take forever. When it finally arrived, I went into the station building. I went to the ticket counter and asked the employee if there happened to be a bus that would take me to somewhere near the street I was going to. He smiled and assured me that busses go everywhere. But sometimes it is much easier just to walk.Then he came around the counter and opened up the door next to me. He pointed to show me the way. If I just went down the stairs, and walked straight ahead for about 5 minutes, I would come to the street I had asked for...... I was awestruck. This was the Lord`s doing! He had been leading me all the way.

I stood on top of the stairs for a moment and reflected over the past. Ten years ago I wouldn`t have known the path God was taking me. But He knew every step long before I was even born. And in His sovereign wisdom He had prepared something special for me.For everyone who belongs to Christ, can be assured of what scripture tells us;„For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them“ Ephesians 2:10

I thought about the doors God had miraculously opened. But there were also doors He had closed. Sometimes I would stand hammering angrily at some of those closed doors not understanding why He wouldn`t open. Further along my path, He made me see why He had kept some of those doors closed. Behind those closed doors were things that could have harmed me. In His love and care He had kept His protection over me. I still didn`t understand all His ways. I never will, and I don`t need to either.

Now, as I stood there in the fog, I could only see very little of what was lying ahead of me. I wished I could see everything clearly. I always fight the temptation to be in control and to go my own way. But I knew I had to take my weak little hand in His strong hand, and let Him guide me. There was no other way than to simply trust Him and to rest assured that He, who began a good work in me, would bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

It was time to go. I was so exited!

Hallo, und wilkommen zu meinem Blogg!

Ich wurde vor 46 Jahren in Norwegen geboren. Aber fast meine ganze Kindheit verbrachte ich in Hong Kong als Missionarkind.

In 1991 heiratete ich meinem Schweizer Mann. Nach fast einem Jahr mit Reisen in verschiedenen Ländern, haben wir uns in der Schweiz niedergelassen, wo wir seitdem wohnen. Wir haben vier Kinder im Alter zwischen 16 und 23. 

Vor ca. 10 Jahren, habe ich angefangen christliche Lieder auf Englisch zu schreiben. Es ist eine spannende Reise gewesen und ich möchte Gott alle Ehre geben.

In diesem Blogg möchte ich ein wenig von diesen zehn Jahren teilen; über meine Hochs und Tiefs und wie Gott mich durch Allem so treu geführt hat. Aber ich möchte dich nicht nur zurück in Zeit führen..... Weil das Beste kommt noch! Ich bin nähmlich gerade daran, die erste Schritte für meine erste CD zu machen:-) So wenn du so gespannt bin wie ich , lade ich dich ein, mit auf meine musikalisches Wagnis mitzukommen:-)

Hei, og velkommen til bloggen min!

Jeg ble født i Norge for 46 år siden. Men jeg tilbrakte mesteparten av barndommen, som misjonærbarn, i Hong Kong. I 1991 giftet jeg meg med min sveitsiske mann.Etter nesten ett års reising,bosatte vi oss i Sveits, hvor vi har bodd siden.Vi har fire barn i alderen 16-23. 

For ca. 10 år siden, begynte jeg å skrive kristne sanger på engelsk. Det har vært en spennende reise, og jeg vil gi Gud all ære!

I denne bloggen, ønsker jeg å dele litt fra disse ti årene, med sine opp- og nedturer, og hvordan Herren ledet meg gjennom det hele.

Men jeg vil ikke bare ta deg med på en tur tilbake i tid......For det aller beste er like rundt hjørnet! Jeg er på vei til å ta mine første skritt til å lage min aller første CD!:-) Så hvis du er så spent som jeg er, inviterer jeg deg til å bli med meg på mitt musikalske vågestykke:-)

Hello and welcome to my blog!

I was born 46 years ago in Norway. However, I spent most of my childhood  as a missionary-kid in Hong Kong. In 1991 I married my Swiss husband. After almost a year`s travelling, we settled down in Switzerland, where we have been living ever since. We have four kids between 16 and 23 years old. 

About 10 years ago, I started writing Christian songs. It has been an exiting journey and I want to give God all glory! In this blog, I want to share a little from those 10 years, with all its ups and downs and how the Lord brought me through.

However, I will not only take you on a journey back in time.......
Because the best is yet to come! I am just about to start my first steps towards making my very first CD!:-)

So if you are as exited as I am, I invite you to come with me on my musical adventure:-)