Until the job is done...

Getting ready for America!

2012-02-19T20:27:00.002+01:00

Had an awesome time at Viskadalskyrkan in Veddige this morning! Me and Gabrielle loved it there and we pray for a great harvest in that place in the future!

Now we're counting down for our next trip... We're leaving February 29th for America and we'll be back here in Sweden may 16th... A lot of things to do before that tho... But for tonight me and Gabrielle are just taking it easy, watching a movie that takes place in the hindu holy city of Varanasi, India. Hope it's good!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

The giver of good and perfect gifts!

2012-02-15T21:43:00.000+01:00

God is amazing! We can't wait for the summer when we're planning to return to India... He is opening up doors... Life is good!
Thank you Jesus!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Preaching in Veddige!

2012-02-14T16:53:00.001+01:00

If you're close by on Sunday morning the 19th, come to the Pentecostal church in Veddige 10:30 am. I'll be preaching and I'm excited about the things Holy Spirit will do!

See you on Sunday!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

The Church of Joy!

2012-02-04T07:27:00.002+01:00

Harar is the city we planted a church in the year 2008... It's amazing to see how it grows and takes bold steps of faith! This last week me and Gabrielle have met a lot of disciples on the streets, in homes and in the church! There are no words for describing the feeling you get when you see people that has met the Lord and been baptized in water and the Holy Spirit in the Church of Joy. Church of Joy was planted because of the word God spoke to us in the spring/summer of 2008, and It's only because of the favor and grace of God the church is where it is today... We can't really take any credit for it... God is the builder!
But I must say... Our Ethiopian pastor couples, Ashagre and his wife Selam together with Mohammed and his wife Sinabwa has done, and are doing a great job, as well as the other leaders that are being raised up... Many of them were in our pioneer bibleschool class in the fall 2009!

Me and Gabrielle have spent a lot of time together with them... Just been laughing and enjoying their company! Amazing and strong people of God who are building a church in the fourth most holiest city of Islam so they really need our prayers! Please stand together with us and pray for them and the church of Joy!

Tomorrow, Sunday, I will share a word that the Holy Spirit has given me for the church. We'll also pray for the leaders and bless the church! Can't wait for tomorrow!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

On holy ground!

2012-01-30T07:15:00.000+01:00

We're back in Harar. Ethiopia!
It's an amazing feeling walking the streets we've been walking for so many years... But now it's been a year since we were here... A lot of people recognized us, always encouraging... Last Saturday's walk to the Church from our hotel took us a lot longer time than normal... So many familiar faces to greet and talk to!
When we got to the new Church location we got so excited and glad! It was so beautiful and impressive! I must say... A lot better than our old church! We got to see a baptism... Five precious people decided to follow Jesus completely! Hallelujah!
Then we sat down in Pastor Ashagres office and just listened to him tell us about the church and the people... Awesome! I'm so impressed of how they are doing the job... It's organized, full of life, love and fire! When I think back to the summer of 2008 when we only were three people planting the church... I'm so thankful to God! He built the Church of Joy!

Yesterday I got to preach again in the church... I think I've preached hundreds of times there... But this time was so special... People me and Gab's been imparted too for years, were there... It's such a great satisfaction to see... Four new people I've never seen in my life were their too... They received salvation in Jesus... Thank you Lord!

Me and Gabrielle has also been spending many hours in our Senior Pastors couple's apartment... Just been talking, laughing and encouraging each other! We love Pastor Ashagre and Selam sooo much! I know they are gonna build a big missions church, that reaches the unreached!

Now we're only waiting for Pastor Mohammed and Sinabwa and their family too... They are coming from Addis on Wednesday!
Stay tuned for more blogposts from Harar!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Ethiopia!

2012-01-27T12:14:00.002+01:00

We're in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia! Can't describe the feeling... We've been away for a year but as soon as we landed it all came back again it felt like... It's amazing to be here! Today is also Gabrielle's birthday! We're so glad we can spend it here in Addis! We went to our favorite restaurant. I've booked her on a spa treatment and probably we're gonna round up the night by going to the cinema! Me and Gab loves the cinema in Addis... Watch a good movie, buy popcorn and fresh juice... Ahh, that's relaxing!

Tomorrow morning we're heading to Harar. That's the city we've spent many years in doing ministry... We planted a church, trained disciples and preached the Gospel! We're so excited to meet our pastors and see what's happened during the last year! Wow! Looking forward to two packed weeks of friends, prayers, meetings, disciples and family get togethers!!!
If you're close by on Sunday, i'm preaching in Church of Joy 09:30 am... Come and be blessed!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Packing... And packing!

2012-01-25T22:01:00.004+01:00

The last 3 days been pretty intense... We've moved out of our apartment, squeezed down our things in a couple of boxes and in a few hours we're leaving for Ethiopia! We just finished our bags for that trip too... I'll get some hours sleep now! That's good, cause right know I can't tell you if my passports in the right bag or not... I'll check that tomorrow! Busy... But Happy!
We got to celebrate Gabrielle's birthday today too! I know... It's 2 days to early but we're in Ethiopia the 27th, so we had some cake today with my parents and a really good friend of ours!

Ok! We're ready and excited for Ethiopia!
If you're close by Harar on Sunday, I'm preaching in Church of Joy!
Welcome!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Sundays... long and good days!

2012-01-15T09:55:00.002+01:00

I've spent a long time in prayer and worship this morning... I'm ready for this exciting day! I read a couple of Psalms... I specially love the ones King David wrote... I can sit for hours just them...
Ps 62:1-2 says: "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

Me and Gabrielle are working with missions today... E-mailing, fixing pictures, videos and just enjoying each others company! The best Sunday mornings is at home with my wife! I think we'll go for a long walk too... It's a lovely day!

We're going to church at 4 pm, after that we're having a meeting with the missions board! Excited about that! They believe in missions!

Hoping to post a video from India here on our blogs soon! Stay tuned!
Thanks for your support and prayers dear blog readers!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Made up my mind!

2012-01-14T21:35:00.003+01:00

Preaching the Gospel!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Itinerary Spring 2012!

2012-01-12T20:18:00.004+01:00

Don't worry! I'm still here... The last week I've been on an education. 9 hours per day I've been sitting in a classroom... Kind of fun, but the only thing I'm thinking about is to get home to my dear wife... To hug, kiss and plan more mission trips to the unreached!
This spring is gonna be an amazing time! Time for preparation... There are different seasons in life... And I can honestly say I have never ever before been more excited for the time that lies ahead than I am now...

In just 2 weeks me and Gabrielle are taking a short trip to Ethiopia. Just to spend time, encourage and love on our Ethiopian church and pastors...

Then we're looking on 3 weeks in Sweden... I'll do some preaching and teaching. I'm really looking forward to go to a small place called Veddige and preach a sermon February 19.
After that... February 29, me and Gab are boarding a flight bound for Youngstown, OH... Yes! The US!!! Our stay there is gonna be around 2 and a half months! A lot of preaching, family get togethers, friends, time with our pastors and mentors and some small trips! Can't describe in words how much we're longing for this! Important and well needed to say the least!

After a shorter while in Sweden we're traveling back to India some time this summer... More info on that later!

GOD is so GOOD! Living for something bigger than ourselves... Living to serve Jesus!

26/1 - 9/2, 2012 Harar, Ethiopia

10/2 - 28/2, 2012 Varberg, Sweden

29/2 - 16/5, 2012 Youngstown, OH

May, June, 2012 Varberg, Sweden

Summer 2012, India

Until the job is done...
Samuel

2012 - The year of opportunities!

2012-01-02T10:06:00.000+01:00

Well... You could basically say that about every year... Yep! That's it! A new year means new opportunities!

I'm excited for this year! I believe it's gonna be a great year for me and Gab! There's gonna be a lot of travels and some re-locations... But in all this I have faith that God is gonna give me and Gabrielle a home, a place we can call ours!
In just a few weeks we'll leave our apartment. We're heading to Ethiopia, USA and India during the 6 first months of this year! Please keep us in your prayers! (And all you Swedes that are worried you're not gonna see us more... We'll be some in Sweden between these trips too)

God called us and we're ready to go! The unreached of the world are crying out for the living God! We want to obey and go!
Friends! Be blessed this new year!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Last from 2011! Be blessed in 2012!

2011-12-31T15:25:00.002+01:00

Me and Gab are soon going to some friends to celebrate! We're gonna eat good and Gab she's been busy all day with some nice desserts... Can't wait to eat it!

Gab fixing some nice desserts!

Be blessed! Praying for favor over 2012... It will be the most exciting year yet in the Strandberg's lives!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Ethiopia on the line!

2011-12-30T16:58:00.001+01:00

Talked to my friend Ashagre today. He is the lead pastor in Harar Church of Joy. It's always a joy speaking to Him. We're so proud over him, his wife, Mohammed and his family! The church is growing and growing down there on the horn of Africa! In just a month me and Gab are leaving for Harar... Looking forward to some days of great fellowship, early morning prayer gatherings, great meetings, laughter and playstation evenings! I love and long for the ethiopian people and ethiopian food! I love to be a missionary!

Blessings!
Until the Job is done...
Samuel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Varberg, Sweden!

Visions! What did God say?

2011-12-28T09:03:00.000+01:00

The Bible is full of people with visions... A vision... What is that? The Bible talks about visions as something that comes from God, straight from God! I mean, the Holy Spirit wants to guide us and talk to us all the time. Sometimes it's easier to hear Him and sometimes harder... Every time we get a feeling that we should do something or say something to someone it's not a vision from God... Maybe it's just God speaking in a very normal way to His child... But God also want to give us visions!! He wants to show us something our whole life should be consumed by! Only maybe for a short second a heavenly picture is being drawn in front of your eyes showing you the way to go or the way to accomplish a certain thing... God also put things in our spirits sometimes... Things that slowly, slowly grows... And turns into a vision!

A vision is something that we see with our spiritual eyes, it might be years away in the natural. Something we could never do in our own strength or accomplish without the guidance, dependence and most of all FAITH in God!
I believe God has a vision for every child... I mean... He has something prepared for everyone, something He wants to give every believer... Our job is to find out, to get the directions from the Lord... It's an exciting life we live!

Where to go and what to do??

2005 I landed in Ethiopia... I had in mind I would stay six months... It turned out to be five years! One particular thing I remembered those first months was a guest preacher in our church, a great missionary that had been on the field many years. When he met us, he directly asked us about our future plans. We we're all a little bit thrown off by the question... He told us, "You have to have a plan for your lives... At least for the next 10 years... What are you guys doing in 10 years?"... We started to laugh... Who knows??... My plan was to have a great couple of months on the field, return to Sweden and see what would happen after that... Yes, God had told me to be a missionary, but I can't say I knew anything more than that by that time... But something about that man's question lingered in me... "Listening, Planning, VISIONS!"

I didn't go home and plan my life for the next 10 years... Actually it took me a long time before I started to think in this kind of a way, but on my inside, God started to prepare me for different things... I saw a short movie clip play in my head, just a brief moment... I saw myself preach in front of crowds of thousands and thousands of people... I can't say when it was I saw this "movie clip" or if I was asleep or awake... I just know that it has formed me and given me something to cling on to... I don't know when it will come to pass... In two months, two years or in fifteen years... I just know I have to preach and share the gospel to all who haven't heard it!

Sometimes it can feel like the entire army of the evil one is against us and in those moments... The only thing that can keep us going is the vision, the revelation and the word we've heard from God!

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (KJV).

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Friends and a great gift!

2011-12-21T21:51:00.001+01:00

Me and Gab just got home from some really good friends! Encouraging and uplifting conversations and a lot of laughter! Thank you Göran and Margareta Björling!
Göran also gave me a book that I've been looking for the last couple of years...They had two standing in the shelf so he just handed one of them to me! I'm so happy!

Ulf Ekman's, "Doctrines - the foundations of the Christian faith"

Until the job is done...

Samuel

Notes!

2011-12-20T12:05:00.003+01:00

I was cleaning out a storage this morning... Found a lot of old pics, books and the best of it all... I found all my notes from my Bible school year, 04-05!

This year in school totally changed me... God gave me my life vision, taught me how to pray and preach and opened up my eyes for the harvest all around the world!

If you were in Bible school... Be thankful for the teaching and what God did during those years... But don't stop... Go out! Live it! Do it! And be blessed in it!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Christmas in Sweden!

2011-12-17T08:20:00.000+01:00

This will be my first Christmas in Sweden since 2007, and Gab's first ever here... We're excited!
Can't wait to eat my wife's delicious cookies she was busy baking yesterday... Can't wait to celebrate Christmas eve together with my parents and Christmas day together with our friends, the Erikssons!

When I was in 8th grade, one of my classmates asked me; "So do you Christians celebrate Christmas?". I was pretty thrown off by the question... I mean, didn't that person know that without Christ it wouldn't have been a Christmas?? Apparently not... Now, I know that question is not very common out there... Of course most people know why we celebrate this holiday, but still... A revolution is needed in our society... There's no other gift you can receive that can compare with the peace from Jesus!

The gift of God is actually very simple, but oh so powerful! God sent His one and only Son Jesus, so that who ever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life through Him!
Jesus can and wants to give you peace, wherever you are in life... Just call out His name and He won't disappoint you! He will forgive you your sin, lift off your burdens and give you hope for the future... What a Christmas!
Blessings!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Gabrielle Rae Strandberg!

2011-12-15T08:37:00.001+01:00

Today I dedicate this blog to my best friend, my hero, my favorite travel partner, the biggest blessing in my life, the one and only Mrs Strandberg... My beautiful wife and love!

We've had a blast in India... We've been laughing, praying, preaching, scouting, worshiping, sleeping, resting, sun tanning, flying and much more for 6 weeks... Together with Gabrielle I feel soooo good...
We took a 27 hour long bus from Delhi to Kashmir... I was actually a little bit hesitant, but Gab convinced me and it turned out to be an adventure (a long one, haha).

Criss-crossin this nation with planes, trains, buses, metros and taxis, my hero wife always with a smile on her face, doing it for the sake of the unreached peoples and adventure... I've watched here during this trip making friends in shops, bus stands and train stations in less than a minute... She's born to bring the message of God to the unreached... That's for sure!
I could go on and on, but to sum it up... Thank you Jesus for my partner in life!

When we got home yesterday I just sat and watched her unpack her back pack (That's also a thing... She backpacked 6 weeks with only 8-10 kg... WOW). Her smile as she looked at her Indian outfits she bought or were given to her were priceless... I LOVE it!
Gabrielle! I love you!

Your hubby,
Samuel

Jesus is Lord!

2011-12-07T04:32:00.001+01:00

No matter where we are in the world... No matter circumstances... Jesus is Lord!
Me and Gabrielle have been waking up by the Ganges river two mornings now... It's interesting watching the people carry out their religious duties... But I'm praying the word of God will be boldly spoken here... So that life, joy and peace will flow!
I love the people here soo much! And God's love for them is unquestionable... They just don't know who He is...

The truth is... No religion died for our sins, only Jesus did! No culture died for our sins, only Jesus did! No church or organization died for our sins, only Jesus did... Only in Jesus we'll be truly forgiven! I feel the urgency this morning to spread the word of Jesus, the love of God and the freedom of the Holy Spirit!

Be Blessed today!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Has the gospel stolen your heart?

2011-11-29T05:10:00.001+01:00

India truly is a diverse land... From hot, humid and trendy Mumbai to dry, crowded and polluted Delhi... From cold, mountainous Kashmir and Uttarkhand to the plains of Uttar Pradesh... From the slums of Kolkata to the nonstopping partying in Goa... India has it all... I've fallen in love with the people of this country... But I also see the needs... 1 Billion people have never, ever heard the gospel... So, while some of us are just waiting for the second coming of Jesus... Billions will face eternal judgement because they never heard Jesus came the first time...
We have been criss-crossin this nation for more than a month now... And everytime we're flying from a city to another, hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of villages are down there below us... So many of them have never heard of Jesus...
That is why my blogs name is "Until the job is done"... I can't sit around and just waiting for Jesus to come back... He won't come anyway until everyone has heard... I wanna be busy proclaiming Jesus in front of hundreds of thousands of people the day Jesus comes back, and then we will leave for heaven together with those who accepted Him... That's my dream, my life goal...

We have different callings... Ok... Different gifts... Yes... But there isn't a single one of us that hasn't been called to win souls... No, The great comission in Matthew chapter 28 is for all of us... And by the grace of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit... WE CAN DO IT!

If you feel like your place is not out there, at the front, keep on giving to people and organizations working for peoples salvations in unreached areas... If you can, join an organization for a shorter trip and be apart of harvesting people in an unreached area...
Keep praying for missionairies who are actually out there, among the unreached doing an impact that echoes in eternity! As Reinhard Bonnke always says, "Hell was not created for man, so let's empty hell and populate heaven!"
The truth is that those who don't receive Jesus in this life they won't get another chance...
The time to go is NOW!
Let's rescue as many souls from hell as possible!
Let's preach Jesus boldly together!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Goa, India

Kolkata!

2011-11-16T11:45:00.001+01:00

As always... We're moving around! Came yesterday night to Kolkata by air from Dehradun and Delhi... Driving through Kolkata by night was a special feeling. We sat dreaming, praying, talking and just spoke life over the city... I posted a blog in March or April 2010 about Kolkata and how I was praying for it... Now we're there seeing it, smelling it and experiencing it... Spent the morning looking at a Hindu temple... Watching as people worshiping idols to find peace... These beautiful men and woman need to hear the gospel... I was just praying in tongues the whole time... Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is the answer!

Tonight... Jumping on a new train to the city of Ranchi, Jharkand... Meeting up with some amazing people for a few days...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kolkata.

Checking out, post office and a salvation miracle!

2011-11-11T07:10:00.001+01:00

Soo... Leaving our room in 30 minutes... Tonight around 10 pm we're catching the train to Dehradun, Uttarkhand. Earlier we went to the post office to send some things back to Sweden and while we were waiting I started to talk to the guy sitting next to me... As I started to share Jesus and the love of God with this man the Holy Spirit took over... After a while we prayed together and he received the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit moved in to his heart... I love the miracle of salvation... It's beautiful! Thank you Jesus... Now i'm just spending some time online trying to find a church he can go to so his faith can grow!

What to do in the afternoon?? We don't know yet, we have some hours until the train leaves... Ice cream? Movies? Shopping? We'll see!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:New Delhi!

Ipad 2 - a great tool...

2011-11-10T04:02:00.001+01:00

I'm still in bed... It's morning here in Delhi, soon time to go up... Read the word, eat breakfast and get ready to head out... I'm checking out important things such as mail, blogs, fb, campaign sites etc, as well as not so important things as sports, shopping malls in Delhi (well... That is pretty important huh?) and weather forecasts...
Me an Gabrielle were so blessed by mum and dad the days before we left... They bought us an ipad 2... It's a great gift... Gabrielle can put all her photos on it, editing and fixing, we're posting blogposts and emailing... It makes a lot of things so much easier... India has wifi in so many places, in most of the hotels, restaurants and shopping malls in the cities...

Yesterday night we were out on adventures... Going to old delhi, bazars and spice markets... It was insane... People everywhere, cars honking, rickshaws going crazy, motorcycles passing you (hitting you) while standing in shops... Trying to have a conversation while walking is out of the question... You point your finger at a place you wanna go to and you fight your way there.. Friends! WE LOVE THIS PLACE!

Today I don't really know what will happen... We'll see. Gabrielle's sandals broke yesterday so we'll probably go to some markets and malls... I really wanna go to the cinema and see a bollywood movie today too...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:New Delhi

Back in Delhi...

2011-11-08T15:39:00.001+01:00

We have been traveling extensively the last week, but we had a really good and relaxing stay in Kashmir for three days... Just landed in Delhi (decided to not go for 27 hours on the bus back to Delhi, but fly... Even though we enjoyed the bus trip last time) and we're relaxing on our hotel room right now... Spoke to my travel agent a short while ago, a funny and nice man who always calls me "boss"... Hahaha... Gotta love it! He has helped us book some tran tickets... We're staying here for three days, exploring and getting to know Delhi a little (longing for early mornings of prayer in our hotel room) before we're jumping on the train north east that will take us to some friends in the state of Uttarkhand and the city of Dehradun! After that a flight awaits us to take us across the country to Kolkata (Calcutta). After that we'll be on the night train from Calcutta to Ranchi, Jharkand... Love to travel and get to know cultures and people...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:New Delhi

Kashmir valley...

2011-11-07T06:53:00.000+01:00

What a beautiful place we've spent the last few days at... We are sleeping on a houseboat, looking out over an amazing lake and the majestic Himalayas... We're staying in the summer capital city of Jammu and Kashmir called, Srnigar.
I've spent some really good times on the roof of our houseboat, praying for this beautiful, but very hurting place... As we were praying this morning, I read Ezekiel 37 and was prophesying according to that chapter... It says in the first two verses:
¹ The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.

This valley, the kashmir valley has seen so many wars and fights over the years... But I believe that the Spirit of God is up to something here... Pray for this place! Pray that local people here will see Jesus in visions, see him in dreams... Pray that God will rasie up an exceedingly great army of loving Holy Spirit filled people who preaches Jesus's love and forgiveness in this state...

We're getting ready to leave tomorrow... We'll be flying to Delhi and then onward from there, to a destination we haven't figured out yet...
Blessings!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Jammu and Kashmir!

2011-11-04T07:14:00.001+01:00

Leaving in 15 minutes to Srinigar, a town far up north! Looking forward to pray, meet people and have a good relaxed time there... What can be better than to pray for this country in the Himalayas?? We're so excited!

Take care!
Until the job is done...
Samuel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:New Delhi

The place to be!

2011-11-03T19:35:00.001+01:00

Sooo... The adventure has begun! We landed november one in a warm and humid Mumbai (Bombay). Just before touching ground I received a word in my spirit, took up my Bible and started to read the first verses in Ezekiel 37. How God is turning dry bones into bones full of life and the Holy Spirit... That's my prayer and dream... To see this people who are worshiping empty idols and gods meet Jesus and really come to life! After landing we went straight to a hotel to try to get some hours of sleep... As we woke up, we felt the urgency to explore Mumbai's streets... We were located in north Mumbai, pretty close to the airports and using two words to describe the place would be, amazing chaotic! People, auto rickshaws, taxis, animals and shops everywhere... Gotta love it!
Right now we're in New Delhi, planning to go up north tomorrow... Click here!

Until the job is done
Samuel
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:New Delhi!

On our way...

2011-10-31T08:18:00.003+01:00

In a few minutes we're heading to my parents to eat breakfast and be sent out by them... Love to be sent out in prayer! Yesterday we had an amazing service in our church! It was such a presence of God in the worship, really good preaching from Anders Olsson a pastor from Gothenburg and in the end the church prayed for me and Gabrielle and sent us out...

The great worship band yesterday...

We're fixing the last things back home now... Friends! Keep us in your prayers! We'll be updating our blogs as much as we can!

Joshua 1:8-9
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Growing in leadership...

2011-10-29T16:27:00.001+02:00

Spent the morning teaching leadership in Pingstkyrkan Varberg. The pastor in the church, Ola Olofsson started a leadership school last month and i'm one of the teachers... We had so much fun this morning, I had a great time teaching and we ended with a powerful time of prayer and then they prayed for mine and Gabrielle's trip to India!

When I got home my wife had made me an amazing lunch... It was so good... Tonight the Strandberg's are praying, planning and packing... Not long to go...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

"A lot to do" days...

2011-10-27T22:04:00.003+02:00

It's 10 pm Thursday night... Just got home from great friends, Samuel and Lotta... Talking, eating and praying, a really good night!
In just 3 days we're gonna be on our way to India! Trying to wrap things up now... Been emailing people, calling people, checking things, reading, studying, praying, worshiping and longing... Here we come!

Check out my wife's blog today... WOW!
Click here, Gabrielle's blog...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Awesome...

2011-10-25T21:11:00.000+02:00

Take a look at this video... Wow!

Went to Gothenburg today and picked up my international driver permit, did some shopping and fixed some last things for the trip. Tomorrow and on Thursday I'm working and Gabrielle is busy preparing for her Swedish national test she's taking.
I'm sooo amazed over my wife... She's such an example... A true missionary and a pioneer... She has lived in America, Ethiopia and Sweden, learning new languages and new cultures... She's making friends so easy and feels like home in different cultures... Gabrielle breathes Christ and people who are close to her, feels, sees and picks up that... I love to travel with my wife! And... In just 5 days we're going on a adventure again... Me, Gab and the Holy Spirit!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Countdown has begun...

2011-10-24T07:24:00.001+02:00

Ok... A week to go! Then we're boarding our flight that'll take us to Mumbai and from there further on to the north of India... Through Indian states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan (only states in India but bigger than many of the European countries)... New Delhi and north west to Punjabi... Back east to the foot of Nepal in the mountainous state called Uttaranchal, and then east, through the heart of India, Uttar Pradesh...

Last weekend I spent at my workplace... All Friday, Saturday and Sunday... But it was a blessed time... Thinking of reaching the unreached makes you smile wherever you are!
I'm off Monday and Tuesday now... A lot to fix before the trip, then working two more days, Wednesday and Thursday... Free next weekend and Monday October 31 we're leaving!

We feel great favor upon this trip... The Holy Spirit told me many years ago about India, I have never been there before... God brought me to Africa and other nations to prepare... He gave me Gabrielle, the most beautiful, wise and strong woman to be by my side... Gabrielle's calling to the unreached is as strong as mine... I love her so much...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

It's been a while...

2011-10-18T20:21:00.000+02:00

Soo... Feels good to give my blog a little attention again... Been working a lot since last time, taught at our church's leadership school and last Friday I preached in a city a little north of us... I will never forget the young teenage girl who got baptized in Holy Spririt and fire... She was sooo happy, just sitting and crying some and laughing some in her friends arms... The Holy Spirit's baptism is a beautiful thing!
It's what we need to live a life with God... And God WANTS to POUR His spirit on us... Ahh... Can't help it, LOVE to preach about Holy Spirit!

In less than two weeks we're on our way to India! We still can't believe it! Me an Gab are longing like crazy! Praying for the people, longing for miracles, listening to the Spirit, expecting divine contacts...
Remember us in your prayer!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Getting some work done at a cafe!

2011-10-06T13:36:00.000+02:00

Just had two sandwiches and coffee at a cafe in the city... Writing emails, making phone calls and blogging while waiting for Gabrielle to finish school...
People, festivals and breakthroughs in unreached parts of the world is on my mind today...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

I want to grow in faith!

2011-10-05T13:29:00.007+02:00

As I was reading the gospel of Matthew chapter 16 this morning, God showed me something...
A part of a verse in a way I haven't seen it before...
It was like The Holy Spirit told me... "Samuel, make sure your faith is active..."
I started to think about it...

What profit is it to a man doing things in faith unless continuing with it?
What profit is it to a man talking about old glory if he's not STILL in his calling?

Now let me just give you a short background...

In Matthew chapter 14 Jesus is feeding 5000 men and their wives and kids (probably 15000 people totally) with only 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. After the meal they collect 12 full baskets of food that hadn't been eaten... In chapter 15 Jesus is feeding 4000 men and their wives and kids (around 8000 people maybe?) with only a few fish and 7 loaves of bread. This time seven full baskets were left when everyone had eaten! Both of these miracles were done in front of the eyes of the disciples... They were a part of it!

Entering the 16th chapter we see that Jesus and the disciples have gone to a secluded place away from the crowds. Jesus is telling them a parable, showing them that they should not trust or listen to the Pharisees. He is using a picture of unleavened bread in this parable and suddenly the disciples realize they have forgotten bread on their journey... As Jesus is trying to tell them an important thing their thoughts and focus is at their lack of food...
Matt 16:8-11 But Jesus being aware of it, said to them, O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? - but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

The disciples, just hours and days before this event, had been a part of two GREAT food miracles together with Jesus. Now they were sitting alone with Jesus on a beach somewhere and in the middle of Jesus' teaching they're starting to worry and panic because they forgot to bring bread... Jesus is correcting their lack of faith...
When I read it this morning I started to think about my faith... It needs to be active! I have to take care of it and try to use it daily... Otherwise it will grow weary...

What profit is it to a man if he lived a life of faith and saw miracles all the time twenty years ago, but nowadays only sitting in a chair bragging about it! What profit is it for someone that "used" to do all kind of things for God, but now just looking back at it, sharing stories of the "good old time?"

I've met Christians, even pastors and preachers bragging about things they saw, experienced and were a part of years ago, but still I couldn't get an answer out of them what they were doing now...
You can't just store up faith in a bag and leave it in the addict and years after go up and take it out and start using it again... Faith is something that needs to be used daily and it needs to be challenged to grow... Just like working out on a gym intensively for a week and then not train at all the following six months doesn't give any results, walking in faith for a while and then stop, doesn't make you a "hero of faith" unless you finish the race...

I'm looking up to people that continues, year after year, hungry to get closer to God and see more people getting saved, healed, helped and restored!

Looking forward to these countries, India and Nepal... What will the Holy Spirit do? Where will he lead us? We're heading there October 31 and staying for 6 weeks...

Do you remember Elijah? The great man of God who challenged and prevailed against 450 prophets of baal on the mount Carmel?? He spoke big words, and God loved his faith and fought with him and all those prophets lost that day... Just after that happening, the woman who was in charge of the country swore to find Elijah and do to him what he did to the prophets... You would think that Elijah would stand up to her after a fight like Mount Carmel... But... He got scared and fled alone into a cave... That day on the mountain didn't profit him so much as he ran away from the woman... He should have just acted in the same faith he did moments earlier... Growing in faith...

The faith in Jesus will save us and forgive us our sins... But it's only the beginning of the life with Christ! Let's continue to every day getting to know Him more and more...

Read the word, pray, worship Jesus and as the Holy Spirit calls you... Answer and walk in faith!
Blessings!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Working, working, working... But my focus is elsewhere...

2011-10-03T21:45:00.001+02:00

Worked from 7 am until 6:15 pm today... A good long day, but it was even better to come home and just eat a nice night meal with Gabrielle!
Talked with some people at work today about India... It's so much fun. Everyday colleagues are asking about India and stuff that has to do with missions... It's great being a preacher and missionary everywhere, it's not only something I "step into" abroad, but it's something I am!

Working tomorrow again, then I'm looking forward to two days off until it's time to do the weekends hours... 37 hours in three days... It's a blessing to have a job during this season!
Next week I'm teaching at a leader school in our church on Wednesday and on Friday I'm preaching at Breaking ground's youth service in Kungsbacka Pingstkyrka! Can't wait to impart something from the Spirit of God into hungry people's lives!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Starting my day like I've done the last couple of years...

2011-09-29T07:23:00.003+02:00

The coffee machine makes noise in the kitchen, my Bible is waiting for me in the living room... I've said it so many times before, and I'll keep on saying it again... There's something special with going up early and starting to read the word of God and pray... Mornings are so calm and so silent... The Holy Spirit is here in the room and I'm gonna read the gospel of Matthew Chapter 14...

Later this morning I'm visiting my good friend Samuel Eriksson, We're gonna print mine and Gab's VISA application for India... It's getting closer and closer now... It's in one month we're leaving!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

I'm still here...

2011-09-26T21:21:00.002+02:00

Hey friends!

Sorry for not updating the blog for a while... A lot of work right now, but I enjoy it!
Me and Gabrielle are doing really good... Planning and working for the trip in a month... Wow... India is really coming closer now! We're leaving October 31!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Salvation and impartation!

2011-09-17T06:30:00.003+02:00

Had a great time yesterday in Kungsbacka... 6 people took a new decision to follow Jesus! Me and Dennis, the youth pastor, prayed for several people in the end too. They had a superb worship team playing... As they started to worship, the presence of Holy Spirit became so clear...

Me and Gabrielle just got up... It's our two years anniversary today!!!
Looking forward to a great weekend with my love... Can't wait... Catching a boat to Denmark at 9 am... Must go...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Finally Friday!

2011-09-16T15:45:00.003+02:00

I'm home preparing for tonights preaching... Walking around in my living room praying, singing and whispering with the Holy Spirit! I'm so excited and have such expectations for tonight... Heard that there will be a lot of people who are not believers in Jesus yet... Love that! Then I get to preach Jesus and show them the gospel in action!
Also believe that God is going to call young people today... I'm taking about a holy calling that will pierce through some hearts tonight... Why not?
I remember when I was younger how the Holy Spirit called me to the nations... To the unreached... For several months I couldn't hear the words, India or Africa be spoken without tears running down my cheeks...

Going to pick up Gabrielle at school now... Then we're leaving!
If you're up tonight around 9:30 pm, come! Pingstkyrkan in Kungsbacka!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

In love with my girl!

2011-09-15T12:01:00.005+02:00

This Saturday we're celebrating 2 years of marriage!!!
Gab! I love you!

Look at this beauty!

Friday night preaching and a weekend far away...

2011-09-13T11:10:00.016+02:00

I get to go to Kungsbacka Pentecostal church on Friday to preach to the youths on their own service called Breaking ground! I'm really excited... Watch the presentation of their ministry here!
Dennis Hummerdal (read his blog here), the youth pastor invited me to preach two times, on Friday and one time next month! Great!
He told me that they will have themes during some months and September's theme is Evangelism, and October's theme is the Holy Spirit... Needless to say... If I would have picked something to preach about, it would have been about Evangelism and the Holy Spirit... These are gonna be awesome nights! If you're close by... Come! It starts 8 pm, Friday the 16th at Pingstkyrkan Kungsbacka!

On Saturday and Sunday, me and Gabrielle are spending some time in beautiful Denmark... We have our second anniversary!

Wow... Gabrielle... You're my love! You're the best... The most beautiful girl in the world... Can't wait for a great weekend with you!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Worship...

2011-09-12T06:38:00.002+02:00

My Gabrielle co-led the the worship together with our good friend Samuel yesterday at church... They sang down heaven, it was such an anointed time... When your focus is only at Jesus during worship... Then you know it's good! Thank you guys!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

6th of may, 2010...

2011-09-10T10:12:00.003+02:00

I was looking through my old blog posts the other day... I'm posting this from the 6th of May 2010! Enjoy!

Have you ever been driving a car without power steering?? Nowadays you can´t find new cars without it... They are all power steered. Power steering is what makes the ride smoother, easier to steer, turn around and avoid different things in the traffic...

I thought about it this morning... The Holy Spirit is like power steering in our lives. With Him it feels smoother doing what you are supposed to do... Of course you´re still driving the same roads, facing the same traffic lights, turns and offroad places... But it´s gonna feel like you´re not alone, having to use ALL your energy in every turn... Don´t be burned out! Let the Holy Spirit be your leader!

The Holy Spirit is our Helper, given from heaven to us! Our Encourager, Comforter, Friend and Advocate! Let Him help you, let Him guide you and lead your way!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Until the job is done...

2011-09-08T09:44:00.004+02:00

Praying, worshiping, reading... We need to continue... Until everyone has heard... Until the job is done...

Romans 15:20-21

And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written:

“ To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand.”

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:18-20

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Until the job is done...

Samuel

The great public speaker!

2011-09-06T08:10:00.003+02:00

When I was reading the third chapter of the gospel of Matthew this morning, I was rejoicing over a man like John the baptist. He's a great example in doing what you're called to do and then following who you're supposed to follow... Think about it... John was that time's great public speaker... He was followed by the masses... People traveled from the crowded cities into the wilderness to hear him speak. He was loved by almost everyone, speaking only the truth even if it wasn't a crowd pleasing message all the time... John and Jesus were relatives. I have no idea how much of their childhood they spent together, but they at least saw each other and hung out once a year... John was the older one and Jesus were the younger one... When John went out in his calling, Jesus worked as a carpenter... Jesus probably heard about John's popularity and maybe even Jesus went to hear John sometime... As John became more and more famous, bigger crowds were gathering to hear him out... John was always talking about "someone greater than him that would come", but probably the people were thinking: "Who can be greater than John??"

One day when John was preaching and baptizing Jesus came to the place the crowd were...

John 1:29, The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The old testament prophet Nahum writes this in his book.

Nahum 1:15, Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace!

This time something was different... John no more saw Jesus as his relative or younger friend... John recognized the anointing that was over Jesus and knew it was time to start to follow Jesus of Nazareth all out! John had no problem bowing to Jesus, He knew who was worthy to follow... He knew that from now on, Jesus was the leader and John's job had been and was to direct the people's attention from him towards Jesus instead!

I love what John says in John 3:30, talking about his relationship with Jesus: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

We're all supposed to have Jesus as number one in our lives! More than following any man or woman, Jesus is our leader! Jesus is our savior and life!
Have you made him number one?

Tomorrow I think I will continue to blog about these kind of things... Leaders and how to follow... God has also put leaders in this world... Some for many, some for few... Leaders for countries and spiritual leaders, leaders for businesses and for families... It's really interesting! It's not gonna be a deep teaching, just some things I have on my mind and I'll also share some from my own life.

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Working on a blog post...

2011-09-05T13:08:00.003+02:00

I'm leaving for work soon. Rain is pouring down... Pretty nice if you ask me! ... I'm excited to share some thoughts I have, check out this blog tomorrow again!

Before I leave though...
Me and Gabrielle were reading Psalm 18 this morning... Here's some verses... It's an amazing Psalm! Take a 5 minutes break and read it!

²⁸ For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
²⁹ For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
³⁰ As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Sometimes when I read newspapers...

2011-09-02T13:52:00.003+02:00

Read a Christian newspaper yesterday that had an article about churches who couldn't draw any people to their services... Huge churches, seats for several hundreds and almost no one came... They were concerned cause people seemed to enjoy doing other things than go to church... They're probably right...
If I was non christian and ended up in a big church and really nothing happened, but it just seemed like a waste of time I would probably never go back there either... Think about it... If a church (a gathering of Christians) are together and there is no sign of the presence of God, why would anyone be attracted by it??
A Jesus centered church with an expectation of Signs and Wonders, a laughing church who let's the Holy Spirit lead and a church that IS A MISSION CHURCH (Not focused on missions...) Doesn't have to worry about attracting people...
When we planted a church in eastern Ethiopia, we didn't sit on our butts waiting for people to stumble into church... We went out pulled people in, telling them Jesus was visiting today and if they didn't wanted to come we had the service for them where they were... Many times our church was packed because of the simple fact that the gospel ALWAYS was preached...

We need packed church services in the western world today... Why?? Because a packed church is more fun than an empty one... We need NEW church plants in Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe and in unreached areas of the world! Let's preach the gospel where ever we are and the wonderful presence of the Holy Spirit will fill shopping malls, parking lots, stadiums and churches...

Does it seem to simple? Do I sound naïve? I'm just writing what I believe in and have seen happened... I want the book of acts to happen today! And I'm sure of the fact that if we start to act, pray and preach in the same way... We'll see the same things happen!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Take a look at her blog!

2011-08-28T19:32:00.002+02:00

Just want to remind you again of the best, funniest, most beautiful, interesting and faith building blog there is...

Gabrielle's blog... Click here!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Off to Stockholm!

2011-08-26T23:14:00.004+02:00

Going for a quick trip to Stockholm tomorrow morning and back sunday afternoon...
Helping my good friend Erik Hurtig move his things there, he's joining the police academy!
Also excited to see Stockholm and just hang out with people... Daniel Elvelyck (read his blog here) fixed a place for me in their house... Soo grateful!

Loving God, my wife and life!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Planning an unforgettable fall...

2011-08-23T19:09:00.003+02:00

It's Tuesday night and Me and Gabby are just having a nice night at home... Yesterday was intense with work all day, a tough football game and a great night at Oscar Svensson, the youth pastor in our church in Varberg.
Right now I'm planning and thinking about this fall... I have a lot to do... I'm working full time, and I'm scheduled to preach at some different places and churches, and to do some teaching at our leadership school we're having in our church... Me and Gab are also going to India later this fall, either in November or December, We couldn't be more excited! Soon I'll be posting my speaking engagements here on the blog, but it's still possible to squeeze in more... I love to preach the gospel... I love to see the book of Acts in action 2011, here in Sweden and in the rest of the world!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

A man of God!

2011-08-21T19:34:00.010+02:00

Spent yesterday night together with my dad Ove at Gullbranna gården, Halmstad. Johannes Amritzer (read his blog here) was there to preach this weekend and before we arrived he sent me a text telling me 70 people got saved the night before... Needless to say... Me and my dad were excited!
Johannes preached a crystal clear message of the importance of being baptized in Holy Spirit... It was a great night... I was blessed to be a part of the intercession team and we prayed with some 50 people to the baptism in fire... There's nothing better than to hear people all around you speak out in tongues for the first time!

Johannes in Harar Church of Joy, Ethiopia...

I've spent 6 and a half years in Johannes organization, Mission SOS... 1 year in their bible school and 5 and a half years working as a missionary. No one else has taught me as much about prayer as Johannes... Even though I'm not working with Mission SOS any longer, Johannes and the Missions SOS prayer life has shaped me... Johannes is a good example to follow... And I can still hear his voice encouraging me, saying: Samuel... One hour of praying in the Holy Spirit will change everything...
It's true and I'm practicing that!

Me and Gabrielle loves Johannes, Maria and all Mission SOS! And may the SOS Church in Stockholm grow, grow and grow!!!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

A nice day off...

2011-08-18T20:31:00.006+02:00

Started my day as always with prayer, bible and coffee... Spent well over an hour in prayer and worship... Thanked God for saving me, for giving me an amazing wife and a great calling!
Getting more and more excited for every day that is passing... Every day at work I'm reminding myself of why I'm doing it... "To be able to do missions and to be able to go to unreached people groups and unreached parts of the world..."

Me and Gab went out for a walk this morning... We thought we would just spend some time with our friends, the great Eriksson's, and then go back home, but the walk took several hours and we had such a great time...

They're the best...

New baked apple pie at Samuel and Lotta, a visit to my parents house where my sister was and then some shopping downtown Varberg. Gabrielle got some really nice stuff... I love to spend time with my love, she's so funny, caring and loving... My best friend!

Now it's evening and I'm off to work tomorrow... I'll be praising Jesus in the car, thanking Him for a great job that will help support some mission work among the unreached later this fall...

Love Jesus! Love Life!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Unreached peoples facts...

2011-08-17T21:24:00.005+02:00

I was surfing on Joshua projects website earlier and this is some of the info I found...

- Only about 1 in 10 missionaries work among unreached peoples...

- Less than a penny of every USD given by Christians goes to financing pioneer church plantings among unreached peoples...

These are scary stuff... Let's change that you and me! Maybe you're not in a situation so you can go yourself and preach to the unreached... But start praying for harvest people that can go and start to give towards that cause! We're all a part of this! Together we can win the world for Jesus!

Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Evangelists are needed!

2011-08-16T19:59:00.007+02:00

I love preaching Jesus! I've probably posted these exact words thousands of times before... Can't help it... Love it!
Evangelists are needed in our world today... Needed on the large festivals, needed in small remote villages, needed in clubs and even needed in churches sometimes...

A true fisherman is much happier fishing wild fish in a great ocean than in an exclusive pool, rather takes on the challenge of finding places where no one's ever been before than throwing his nets next to twenty other fishermen, dreams of filling his boat with loads and loads of different fish instead of occasionally catch precious caviar...

In the same way the true evangelist loves it more out on the field, preaching to and reaching the unreached... I can honestly say that there is no greater satisfaction than to preach to people that has never heard of Jesus before... It might be one, two, ten or hundreds... But to see someone understand for the first time that Jesus loves them is priceless... I wouldn't change that for the first row of any church... You are what you are...

Don't misunderstand me... I love the church, the body of Christ! And the evangelist is definitely a strong and important part of it... But he will always feel a little bit "out of place" if he's there too much... An evangelist needs the endless fields just like a stallion need his freedom...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Praying, reading, planning...

2011-08-14T12:50:00.002+02:00

Preaching, dreaming, laughing, working, resting...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Time to sleep...

2011-08-12T23:25:00.002+02:00

Had a great day today!
Me and Gab took it piano this morning and just enjoyed the day off... Espresso and talks... In the afternoon we went out to buy groceries and on our way home the newly married couple, Filip and Anna-Karin called. They were here in Varberg and wanted to stop by our house! What a wonderful night it turned out to be. A lot of laughs and talks about Ethiopia, missions, the married life and much more, and we ended the night with prayer together with them.
Filip and Anna-Karin are two of our heroes on the horn of Africa, they've spent many months together with us on Dire Dawa and Harar, winning souls for Jesus!

Now it's time to sleep!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

How I keep my focus...

2011-08-10T13:14:00.006+02:00

Spending the morning praying and meditating on the word of God...

That'll help you stay on track and live a healthy life!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

These last couple of days...

2011-07-27T12:57:00.005+02:00

Scandinavia is in shock... These last couple of days has in a way been unreal but still very real... Evil and madness struck...

Norway! We love you and we will support you through this tragedy!
We are praying for you and believe in you! You are a beautiful country with warm and amazing people!

Ahh... The world needs Jesus so much... Jesus is the answer...

Samuel

Sunday...

2011-07-24T21:00:00.003+02:00

It was so good to preach today in Pingstkyrkan Varberg. A kid got baptized in Holy Spirit and fire and so many people got blessed by the Word of God.
I preached on fire and my beautiful wife sat on the front seat supporting me... I'm a happy man!

Was looking for Reinhard Bonnkes preaching from Jesusfestivalen in Almhult, but apparently it won't be aired until tomorrow night... Make sure you're watching then!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

26 hours to go...

2011-07-20T11:41:00.005+02:00

Preparing the arrival of THE queen...

Blessings
Samuel

Visit by a man of God!

2011-07-19T10:36:00.005+02:00

Yesterday I Invited Oscar Svensson, the new youth pastor in Pingstkyrkan Varberg to my home. We had a great time talking about Missions, churches, revival and things like that. A lot of laughter and crazy faith stories were shared and before he left we prayed together for the city and the church... Love to pray!

Oscar just moved down here from the east coast, he's been studying many years, loves the word of God and has a hunger for peoples lives to be changed! Wow!
I believe he's gonna be an amazing pastor in Varberg!
People that loves Jesus, missions and fire I always feel a great connection with!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Thanking God for preachers!

2011-07-14T20:14:00.004+02:00

I'm online watching and listening to Daniel Kolenda tonight, he is preaching at a conference in Norway... A mighty and strong preacher, full of fire and the love of God!
If you wanna read more about him, click here.

I love the gospel... I love the simple but oh so powerful stories about our Lord... I love Jesus centered preachings... I can't get enough of Holy Spirit adventures...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Seven days plus one to go...

2011-07-13T16:44:00.005+02:00

I'm counting down days, hours, minutes and seconds... Soon my wife is coming home!
On July 21 I'm driving to Gothenburg airport to pick her up... What can I do to make time go faster??

I'm so excited... I was supposed to work all July, but when I looked at my revised schedule I was free from July 21 through July 24... Blessings from the Lord!

Last September Gabrielle went to America for three weeks to visit her parents... This was the day she came home and I picked her up at the airport in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia! What a beauty! Soon I'll be waiting for her at Landvetter, Gothenburg...

Other things happening soon... I'm preaching in Pingstkyrkan Varberg, July 24 at 10:00 am... If you're close, come and listen and be blessed by the word of God!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Once again... Thank you for your prayers!

2011-07-09T18:44:00.009+02:00

Sooo... After weeks and months of waiting the decision finally came to our mailbox last week... Gabrielle gets her permanent resident papers! Hallelujah! That's an amazing prayer answer! When we started this process, me and Gabrielle agreed to stand in faith for a decision to reach us within three months, even though many people we talked to told us it would take at least 6 months... During this time I can truthfully say that some days have been harder than others, We've faced walls high like mountains on this journey, but somehow we've managed to scale them... Two times I remember going to my room and just fall down and cry out to the Lord, asking for strength and help, when it seemed like nothing happened... And those times the Holy Spirit was so close to me and he renewed my strength... God's amazing... And looking back we see that the time we sensed we would stand in faith for, that time was pretty much how long time it took for the migration board to reach their decision! We posted our application April 12th or 13th, at the post office in Kona, Hawaii USA... Our papers then took a journey to Honolulu, San Francisco, Washington DC and then coming to Gothenburg, Sweden... They took the decision July 1, two months and three weeks later... That's awesome! Now I'm waiting for my wife to come here, she's booked on a flight that will land July 21 in Gothenburg...

Friends! Thanks for standing together with us in faith and prayer! We are sooo grateful for your support!
Thank you for calling us, emailing us and text us when we got the papers... We love you! We have really felt your support!

Jesus... My savior, Lord and master... Thank you for bringing my wife, love and best friend back to me... We will always follow you... Lead us wherever you want us to go!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

4th of July!

2011-07-04T19:20:00.004+02:00

Happy 4th of July my American friends!!!

Blessings!
Samuel

Viewers...

2011-06-28T21:04:00.007+02:00

I'm amazed... People from these countries has read my blog this month (Some other countries too, but I lost them in the statistics) Wow... It's awesome... I'm happy my blog is reaching out (maybe not in great numbers yet, but still...) to the nations! Hope your enjoying what you read and that you're blessed by it!

Sweden
USA
Norway
Ethiopia
Netherlands
Russia
India
Germany
Great Britain
France
Iran
Malaysia
Ukraine
South Africa
The Philippines
Ghana
Austria
Greece
Canada
Namibia

Let's win the world for Jesus! Let's do it together!!!

God bless you!
Until the job is done...
Samuel

Addis Ababa déjà vu...

2011-06-28T09:00:00.005+02:00

Turned on the shower this morning only to find out that someone turned off the hot water in our apartment... Guess they're fixing something... "Well", I thought to myself... No problem, if you have survived cold showers at 5 am in the mornings in the Ethiopian highlands, for the last five years... You might survive this (btw... Gab and I have never (so far) experienced colder showers than Addis Ababa)!

It's funny how fast you're forgetting certain things and get used to other things... I remember my bible school year in 04-05. I was up every morning at 5 am praying and reading the word of God. When I graduated, I felt good and said to myself, "you deserve some days just laying around doing nothing". Well... One day, turned to two, and three and four and then a week... I finally took hold of my self after a week or something without any time with God... I started to work on my principles again, praying and reading the word...

Take time this summer to rest and spend time with family and friends... But don't take a rest from God, or from reading and studying the bible... Hang out with the Spirit of God this season too! Gain strength, not only physically and emotionally... But also spiritually!

Blessings!
Until the job is done...
Samuel

To finish the race (part 3)

2011-06-23T20:41:00.006+02:00

Hi friends!

I hope you've been blessed so far... Let's continue... The third thing I wanna bring to your attention is to:

3. Talk about Jesus directly!

What do I mean? First of all, I don't really agree with those telling new saved people they need to learn more about Jesus before they can testify about Him... I don't believe you need a year in bible school to be able to talk to others about our faith!
You can, and should do it directly! What are you waiting for? What's holding you back?
Let me just point out that I'm not against education in any way... No... I believe that a year or two in a bible school is the best investment you can do in your life... But when you receive Jesus, He forgives you and gives you a new life and you can start to share Him directly with others!

Outreach in an unreached area with Church of Joy...

The book of Revelation's 12:th chapter talks about how we are overcoming the evil one with our testimony! Do you understand how powerful your testimony is?? It breaks yokes and sets people free! Your meeting with Jesus is a powerful thing! I didn't realize that myself until I was charged by someone else to witness about how I met Jesus...
My testimony (small and not very interesting in my own eyes...) became powerful when I started to speak... Even if everyone is not called to be an evangelist or a pastor, we're all given something that we can share...

Romans 10:14, "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"

When Paul met Jesus on his way to Damascus... His whole life changed... It says in Acts 9:20, "Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God."
I believe this is a significant and an important part in Paul's life, that makes him able to focus Jesus, and helps him to finish the race!

Let's talk about Jesus everywhere and all the time... To our neighbors, friends and family!
Let's do it!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

To finish the race! (part 2)

2011-06-22T11:51:00.004+02:00

Ok! Here we go... If you haven't read the first part, the introduction, do that now! Read it here!

So... As we're reading about Paul's life, we see that first of all he had a close intimate relationship with God...

1. Prayer! (Intimacy with God)

- Paul lived his life in prayer!
- And first of all, we're called to be praying people... Before you're an evangelist, teacher or a prophet... You're a prayer person!
- This was Paul's attitude in life: 1 Co 14:18, "I thank my God I speak in tongues more than you all..." He really knew God... How? Through prayer!

- Acts 16:6-10. "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them."

- Paul was depending on God's guidance in every part of life... Let's learn to ask, listen and be led by God in our lives too!
- You can probably live out of only your anointing a few years... But only if you develop a true and intimate relationship to God through prayer, you will be able to run the whole race...
- You may be the most anointed person ever... Make sure you take time in prayer, alone with God daily anyway...

- I discovered the power of prayer in bibleschool... I learned to be a man of prayer on the mission field in Ethiopia... I developed a strong relationship with the Holy Spirit when I was up in the mornings with my bible and coffee... That was more then 5 years ago and today I'm more in love with Jesus, needless to say... I'm still up every morning spending time with God!

2. Be Jesus focused!

- Love Jesus! Always try to get to know Him more!

-Paul had Jesus in the center of his life...

- Philippians 3:7-11, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
- Galatians 2:19-20, "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

- Always having Jesus in front of our eyes (Heb 12:2), helps us to stay the course... And He did promise to always be with us in Matthew 28:20, Hallelujah!

To be continued tomorrow!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

To finish the race! (part 1)

2011-06-21T16:27:00.007+02:00

A few years ago in Ethiopia I studied the apostle Paul's life very much.
I wanted to find out what his secrets were to "finish the race" as he put it...

2 Tim 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

These are mighty verses! This is my dream... I wanna be able to say that in the end of my life! What was his secrets? Or maybe it wasn't secrets... Maybe he put it plainly in the word of God for all of us to see!
At that time I was reading "God's generals". Amazing stories from mighty men and woman of God. But all of them didn't finish very good. Some fell in deep sin and didn't make it back, while others continued burning for Jesus.
I also talked to another preacher who told me that when he started out preaching there were ten of them, just like him... They were praying together, supporting each other and met as often they could. Now... 10-15 years later it's only this man and maybe two others left preaching... Some quit, some got tired, some couldn't handle the pressure and some fell in sin...

How can we live a life of fire, day after day, month after month and year after year? Always wanting more of God and to get to know him more and more? How can you and me finish the race, stay in the faith and fight the good fight?

The start is important... But to finish in a good way is even more important!

Matthew 16:26 says, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

I'm gonna post some things I found in Paul's life that I believe determined his way of life and made it possible for him to finish the race! Stay tuned! The first things will come later tonight or tomorrow!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Preparing for sunday morning!

2011-06-18T20:28:00.005+02:00

I'm sooo excited for tomorrow morning! Leaving early for Götene, a 220 km drive, around 135 miles... It'll take me some 2 hours and 50 minutes... A lot of time for prayer, worship and coffee... Love driving alone and shout in tongues! Call me a fanatic or a freak... I'm in love with Jesus!
I'm gonna preach on FAITH! When I told Gab, she was just laughing... Apparently she wrote a blog a few days ago about that...

So! If you're in the neighborhood... Come to "Götene Fria Församling" at 10:30 am! It's gonna be a blast! Praying for salvations, miracles and an amazing time!

By the way... After we posted the blog about helping out and standing with us in prayer 2 days ago (I know that some of you've been praying for a long time) Gab's application reached Gothenburg yesterday! Hallelujah! In a week or so they're gonna take a look at the application and give us further info... Stay tuned... And continue to pray! Thank you!!!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Thanks for all the support!

2011-06-17T04:56:00.002+02:00

Good morning friends!

Gabrielle and me are overwhelmed by all the support we're getting... Thanks for praying and believing together with us! I'll keep you guys posted in what's going on!

Starting a crazy schedule this morning with many hours of work and little sleep, but I'll do it with a smile on my face, love being busy... And on Sunday morning I'm heading to Gotene and my uncle's church to preach at 10:30! If you're living in the neighborhood or close by... Come and worship Jesus in "Gotene Fria Forsamling" on Sunday!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

We need your prayers!

2011-06-16T11:23:00.007+02:00

Hi everyone!

Sorry for not been blogging in a while... There's been a lot of other things that's taken my time!
Me and Gab really need your prayers right now... As many of you know, Gab is in Hawaii waiting for a resident permit to reside in Sweden... She's been away from me for 2 long months now and we really need all of your prayer support!
Our application is registered in the US and been on it's way here for almost 4 weeks but it still hasn't arrived...

Please pray that:

1. The application is reaching the right destination/office at the migration board in Sweden.
2. Once they have it, they'll make a quick decision!
3. Grace and favor will be over the people handling our application!

If you wanna be apart of praying for these things and you have an opportunity, leave a comment here or on Gab's blog or by emailing me just to let me know... samuel.strandbergttw@gmail.com or send me a text (sms)!

Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

Let's believe that Gab will be able to come home soon!
Thank you guys!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Time... Where are you?

2011-06-09T05:12:00.003+02:00

Friends! These days I'm working a lot... I have an opportunity right now to just work and try to save up some money for mine and Gab's trip to India this winter... Sorry I haven't posted any blogs really, I'm gonna try to squeeze blogging in to my schedule...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Praying for Sweden!

2011-06-06T21:00:00.005+02:00

I was just at a prayer meeting for Sweden... It is the national day here today, June 6! We were praying for the royal house, the government, the schools, mass media, immigrants and different things in our country! It was a powerful time... The Spirit of God is at work when we're lifting up our nations in front of Him!

Prayer changes circumstances... Prayer in faith opens up heaven... Pray and receive!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Talking to my girl...

2011-06-05T22:03:00.003+02:00

I just spent a long time on skype talking to Gabrielle... We were laughing, joking and just spending time together... She's my best friend and my biggest supporter... She's the love of my life!
Gabrielle! I love you and I'm waiting for your return soooo much!

My queen!

Samuel

Jesus, heaven and hell...

2011-06-04T19:48:00.006+02:00

Sorry my friends... I haven't posted anything in a while. I've been working long hours at my job and not been able to write... I'll be better!

There's so many things I wanna write about and get out of my head... Things I see, read and things I face...
Yesterday I read an article about a priest in my country, a famous priest who probably have done a lot of good things in her life... But her answers on some questions were astonishing... The final question in the interview was: Who will go to hell? Her answer... No one, I believe that God doesn't want any of His children there because He loves them so much...
I was shocked for many different reasons...

First of all. There's an skepticism nowadays, even from Christians, that hell even exists... But Jesus Christ was very clear that there is a hell for those who don't except Him... I'm not writing this because I wanna scare anyone, I'm just saying what the word of God says... The good news is that everyone who believes and says YES to Jesus will receive eternal life in heaven...
The second thing about her answer that frustrates me is that she talks about the love of God and making a point that God doesn't want anyone to go to hell... Well... She's right, God doesn't want anyone to go eternally lost... Hell was not prepared for man, but for the devil. Still, the bible says clearly that those who rejects Jesus in this life won't be with him in the next life...And of course all the children of God will be in heaven! Absolutely... But I've noticed that to say that everyone is a child of God is very popular today, but it's not true! No... Those who receives Jesus, those who say yes to Him and those who choose to become a child of God, they are children of God!

When I preach the Gospel around the world I never scare people with hell... I preach Jesus, the way and truth and life... Yes, the ONLY way to God and heaven! But in the same way I'm not afraid of telling people the truth, that without Jesus there is no heaven waiting for us, but a hell... This has been classic Christianity and what Jesus taught through out all history... Let's not be afraid of speaking the truth! God has not given us a mandate to say that everyone is going to heaven... He's given us a mandate to boldly proclaim that every person who receives Jesus will go to heaven!

Today people tend to speak about the love of God and how His love will never ever let anyone suffer in hell... Well... The love of God let's us choose where to spend eternity... We decide where we are going... Make sure you say Yes to Jesus, and an eternity with Jesus awaits you...
I believe that only those who understands that hell will be a real place for people who turned Jesus down, can share the gospel of God's love with true grace and power...

I love Life, and life spells J.E.S.U.S!!! He's the savior! Do not be afraid of where to go when your life here is over... But prepare yourself here on earth for an eternal life with the King in heaven!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Romans 10:9-10 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved"

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Vision, aggressive faith and prayer!

2011-05-31T15:14:00.006+02:00

On my way to a small place called Bua and the pentecostal church there. I'm invited by the board of the church to speak to them about the importance of having a vision for what we're doing... I'm really excited to share some key things and some experience I have from the field and from church planting! Looking forward to it!

By the way... Just heard that the church we planted in Ethiopia is starting their sixth bibleschool class today... I was thrilled when I heard! Hallelujah! The kingdom is moving forward and Jesus is getting known in unreached parts of the world! I can't wait to hear and see the reports from Harar and the church there... They are building something strong! Remember pastor Ashagre, pastors Mohammed and Sinabwa and the Church of Joy in your prayers!

Gabrielle's adventure in Hawaii last week... Love you Gab!

I'm missing my wife like crazy... We've been apart for 6 weeks now... Gabrielle is still waiting in America for her permit to stay in Sweden! Please pray for us too! I spoke with some people today at the migration board and got some good contacts... Pray for favor and grace!
Thank you guys!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

A great book...

2011-05-29T22:51:00.005+02:00

Gary Chapman wrote a book a few years ago called, "The Five Love Languages". If you are a married couple you should definitely read it! Me and Gab have done that and it's a great book that helps you to express heartfelt commitment to your mate...

Blessings!
Samuel

What it's all about...

2011-05-27T21:55:00.003+02:00

I love the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit... I love to worship Jesus... I love to pray and be close to the Lord... I love to poor out my heart to my heavenly Father... I love to see peoples lives and nations changed by His grace... I love the fact that Jesus got up on that cross 2000 years ago for our sake... By His blood we're healed!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Cleaning and fixing!

2011-05-26T20:11:00.003+02:00

Tonight I'm cleaning mine and Gab's apartment. Tomorrow night some friends are coming over to worship, pray and hang out here... Love the presence of the Holy Spirit, He's my best friend, wouldn't change that for anything!

Disciples in Harar Church of Joy in Ethiopia... Lost in the presence of God!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

I have a date tonight!

2011-05-22T12:07:00.007+02:00

My Gabrielle and I have been married a year and 8 months now and one thing I've learned (at least I'm getting better at it) is that dating your girl doesn't stop when you're married... Tonight's date is a little special though... Instead of sitting at a restaurant with candle lights and my beautiful wife on the other side of the table, I'm gonna sit in our house, by the desk and talk to her on a computer screen... Some say Skype's not good... I disagree... It has helped us many times... The distance will be 6867 miles or 11052 km, but I will still date the love of my life... Candle lights and nice clothes! Looking forward to it!

She's a beauty!

We're still praying and believing that she can come to Sweden soon... As you all should know by now... God is a miracle God! Now there's time for miracles! Pray with us!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit (part 1)

2011-05-19T06:17:00.004+02:00

Hey there!

I have one blogpost that keeps being read daily even if it was almost a year ago I posted it... And it's truly an important and good post... It's the essence of a life in fire... Here it comes again and may it bless you!

Intimacy with the holy Spirit (part 1)

The holy Spirit... He can be our best friend... If we want to! Isn´t that amazing. From His point of view it´s ok! He wants to be our best Friend, Encourager, Comforter, Advocate, Helper and Leader.
The holy Spirit is God´s Spirit and the third person in the trinity! And He wants to be our friend! That´s something to rejoice over!

Personally I have such a hunger to know more about, come closer and have a deep relationship with the Spirit. I´m studying the holy Spirit in the word of God and I try to read good literature on the subject (right now i´m reading, Draw closer by John Bevere, very good) and I spend time with God in prayer. I don´t claim to have all knowledge about the holy Spirit, there´s so much I haven´t seen, understood and found out yet, I just want to encourage you to find out more about Him.

Today the Father and the Son are in heaven, but the Spirit is down here with us! It´s impossible to have a close relationship with Jesus without understanding and being close to the holy Spirit! When we know the Spirit, we will glorify Jesus because that´s the Spirits first job, to glorify Jesus!

The holy Spirit at work in our Disciples lives!

John Bevere says in his book "I actually believe The holy Spirit is the most neglected person in the church today!" (If I missed out in the translation i´m sorry, i´m reading his book in swedish) But i´m ready to agree... Some seem to be afraid of Him, maybe because they don´t understand Him or who He is.
It´s easier to understand the Father and the Son we say, but the holy Spirit can be hard to get. So instead many say, "I´ll just focus on Jesus! I just wanna have Jesus", and they make the Spirit out to be only a power, a wind, a dove or water... Don´t get me wrong... The holy Spirit is the power of God, and he can come as a wind and in the shape of a dove... But if we say that that IS the only thing, we´re wrong, and we will miss out on His deep friendship!

The holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of God but also person! He has a will (1 Co 12:11), feelings (Rom 15:30), he speaks (Ac 13:2), he teaches (John 14:26), he can be happy and he can also be grieved (Eph 4:30). When we understand this we will be able to develop a daily friendship with Him. Remember that the holy Spirit lives in you (1 Co 3:16), and that "He will be with you forever" (John 14:16).

During the days when Jesus was walking the earth some people (the phariseés and the scribes) tried to come close and have a relationship with the God (the Father) without recognizing Jesus. But Jesus himself said in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus stated that only through Him could we have a relationship with the Father. Jesus is the way to God! Jesus sent the holy Spirit down to us when he went up to heaven but before that, he said in John 16:7, "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."

Today, the way to understand and fully receive all that God has for us, we have to receive the Spirit and be close to Him. Jesus said about the Spirit that He: "Will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26)

Don´t be afraid of getting to know the holy Spirit deeply... You will not forget or neglect Jesus! But the holy Spirit will glorify Jesus!!! And when you as a christian have a deep relationship and friendship with the Spirit, you will glorify Jesus more and more and more and more!!!

Thank you Jesus for the holy Spirit!!!

A link to part 2 if you wanna read, click here.

An active faith!

2011-05-18T17:19:00.004+02:00

In John chapter 6:28Jesus answered a question from people that followed him around... They wondered, "What must we do to do the works of God?". The answer Jesus gave them was sufficient and powerful... "The work of God is to believe in the One He sent!". Meaning, Jesus told people to believe in Jesus himself! Yes! We're saved by faith and faith alone!
We could actually stop here... But because people many times after this have listened and followed other things than Jesus' words we need to straighten certain things out.
Some think that as long as they are just saying yes to Jesus once, or just believe that he exists, all is well and they're on the express train to heaven... But... I've read about faith a lot and every time we're talking about living faith, it's also an active thing... Faith that is working! Some christians have misunderstood this and are happy and satisfied with much less... Instead of being hungry and desperate for more, their faith is passive... To claim to believe in Jesus but not be on fire for Christ must be one of the most unnecessary and foolish things in this world...

Let's take back joy and pride in Jesus... Hey! The faith that God put in you is supposed to be a mountain moving faith... And that's only the smallest part of faith... As you pray and study the word of God, as you start to move with the Holy Spirit your faith grows and becomes bigger and bigger...

An active faith is faith that challenges and get's hold of God's attention!

Look at Bartimaeus in Mark chapter 10... No one noticed that poor and blind man sitting on the sidewalk... But Bartimaeus screamed and shouted at Jesus as he passed by... "Have mercy on me Jesus", He got Jesus' attention my friends...
The woman who had been bleeding for 12 years day and night, ran as fast as she could when she saw Jesus coming and climbed on people and forced her way to Him (Mark 5:24-34). When she got there she interrupted Jesus' preaching... Jesus loved that, the woman caught Jesus' attention...

How can we get the attention of Jesus? What must we do to make Jesus' eyes stop at us, me and you? What kind of works do we have to do to not feel like we're being overlooked??
It's all pretty simple actually... Activate your faith... Be hungry and desperate for God in your life! God is longing to intervene in your situation and to help you... Let Him... Maybe you only have a small faith, like a mustard seed... Use it! And Jesus will add to that faith, He will perfect it, but your job is to use that small faith you already have, activate it! I'm telling you... Then God will turn His eyes towards you and find you and help you in your situation!

Do you have situations in your life that are critical if you don't receive a miracle? Are you desperate for an intervention from God? I have things like that in my life! Turn to God in those situations... That is to challenge God and He loves that... To be desperate after God is NEVER wrong... But a sign of a healthy life...
God is our Father, His love for you and me is bigger than any thing else... He can't wait to be close to you!

An active faith is faith that challenges and get's hold of God's attention!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

HUNGRY!

2011-05-17T20:42:00.005+02:00

Got home from work today and just started to pray and worship our Lord Jesus... Continued to pray for India and the whole sub-continent there... Holy Spirit... What will you do in Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan? Lord... What will happen in Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka?
I'm excited... I can't be still...
I was reading in Psalms 2:8, "Ask of me, and I will give you The nations for your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for your possession"...

Praying, reading, worshiping and believing... Miracle is Jesus' language!

I'm looking forward for tomorrow night. I'm preaching in LP Varberg at Kungsgatan 6, 7 pm. Come if you want to.

There's a change in my speaking schedule and I won't speak in Gotene Fria Forsamling this weekend, it's gonna be next month... The new date will probably be June 19... As soon as I know something I'll post it!

And one more thing... Please help me and Gab praying for her residential permits for Sweden... Join in prayer! Prayer changes and opens up for miracles!!!

Until the job is done...
Blessings

Praying...

2011-05-16T20:08:00.004+02:00

Today I'm praying for India and the cities and villages up in the north... I'm asking God of favor and grace for preaching to the people... I'm asking the Lord of the harvest for laborers to go there... I'm asking God to let me be a part in reaching multitudes and the one... I'm asking God for mighty festivals and crusades...

I'm thanking God for letting me play a small part in His great work...

Until the job is done...
Samuel

The end of the world...

2011-05-15T11:39:00.006+02:00

I almost choked on my coffee this morning when I saw a movie of my wife cliff jumping at a place called, "The end of the world". I must confess... I got really scared, but now a few hours later, the only thing that's left in me is pride... My wife did an amazing jump! She's the best! And I know dad Jeff was there too, making sure everything was ok and he also made some nice jumps, so all is good!

Gabrielle! You're the bravest girl I know!!!

Yeah!!!

And if you wanna see the jump... Go to Gabrielle's blog, you'll find it here!

Until the job is done...
Samuel

Why I am the way I am...

2011-05-14T16:28:00.005+02:00

Yesterday night I preached at a young adult service in Pingstkyrkan Varberg... It was great fun and the Holy Spirit was working among the people and we saw four persons giving their whole lives to Jesus... Love it!

This morning I woke up and had an amazing time of prayer and after that heading downtown to share Jesus for a few minutes on an outreach site in Varberg... My dad and mom were already there, singing and testifying about Jesus! They are great examples for me... They taught me about God and his goodness... I have a lot to thank them for! They are truly a man and a woman of God!

Mom, Dad, my sister Rebeckha and her husband Andreas in Youngstown, Ohio 2009.

Here's my dad singing and sharing Jesus in Varberg earlier today!

Until the job is done!
Samuel

The questions I love to get!

2011-05-09T20:31:00.004+02:00

Samuel... Could you come to Church and talk to the young adults on "Why should we and How can we share about Jesus?"...
A friend of mine asked me this today... I didn't take a long time to answer... Love to inspire others to step up and start sharing Jesus with people... There's a world out there bleeding, hurting and dying and we have the cure... The wonderful and powerful truth about JESUS!

Preach it!

Come to Pingstkyrkan Varberg on Friday the 13th, 8 pm! Young adults gathering!

Until the job is done,
Blessings!

In love with Jesus more and more...

2011-05-08T21:42:00.002+02:00

I got to share for some 10-12 year old kids today in church... There's nothing better than speaking about God... Thank you Jesus for saving me!
Me and Gabrielle are sooo excited about giving it all for Jesus... Until the job is done... Reaching the unreached and nations with the gospel... Do you agree??

Blessings!

Speaking engagements in May...

2011-05-04T18:56:00.006+02:00

Today I'm just posting some up coming dates of interest... If you're close by... Come and celebrate Jesus!

*Friday May 6th, 8 pm@ Pingstkyrkan Varberg!
I will teach on the subject "How to stand against evil and darkness". If you consider yourself a young adult... Come!

*Sunday May 8th, 4 pm@ Pingstkyrkan Varberg!
I'm teaching Varberg's younger kids at XP, the kids church.... I'm so excited and honoured to come and speak there... I'll challenge them and Jesus will make them hungry for missions... Ahh... Can't wait!

*Wednesday May 18th, 7 pm@ Lp-kontakten, Kungsgatan 6 Varberg!
Don't miss it! Love speaking at LP!

*Sunday May 22, 10:30 am@ Götene Fria Församling, Götene!
This is a great church who are in love with Jesus very much! I'm really looking forward to preach there! Welcome!

I'm sure there will be more services added here really soon... Stay tuned!
Blessings!

Fire!

2011-05-01T20:12:00.004+02:00

This week has been a lot about fire in different ways... On friday I studied fire theory and fire laws all day... Started and put out fires all day... Fun and interesting! Yesterday it was national "fire day" in Sweden... Read yesterdays blog about that here if you want to. And today I got an smoke alarm and put it up in mine and Gab's ceiling... I love fire, I wanna live in God's fire all the time... But it's wise to do everything I can to protect our own house from other types of fire...

Jesus says in Luke's gospel 12:49: "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled".

I'm so excited by the fact that we're living in a historical age right now... There has never been so many people living on earth before, and we have never had the opportunity to reach them like we have now... Yes!!! I wanna give you faith and hope for the future! Jesus' fire in us will burn and make us so hot, that unreached will be reached, depressed will be free and sick shall be made whole... Do you believe??

But what can I do maybe you say... You can do so much... Start living out the life of God in your everyday life and you will see results... Become hot with the fire of God...
What kind of people does God use??... That's a very common question... The answer is: God uses hot people, people who are burning for him. If you want to be used by God, don't try to be perfect in yourself... But make sure you're hot...
If you wanna heat up a cup of coffee, which plate on the stove would you use? The hot one or the cold one? In the same way God uses hot Christians, people who loves the fire of God!
I love fire!

Blessings!

Valborg!

2011-04-30T21:31:00.003+02:00

Today it's the last day of April, it means that we're saying goodbye to winter and "singing in the summer" in every town and city in Sweden... This "holiday" is called Valborg...

A common sight on Valborg night and Swedish culture... Don't worry... It's under control!

I've spent the day talking to Gabrielle on skype, searching for soccer shoes (I found a great pair at a second hand shop in the city) and after that relaxed in my parents house, spending time with them!

Yesterday I shared the gospel to some 60 people who came to our church. We had a "rock night" with four bands playing and a lot of food and coffee... It was good night!
I've also been asked to preach at different places in the near future which is really nice... God is opening up doors! Next time I'll speak will be on friday may 6th, 8 pm at the Pentecostal church in Varberg! If you consider yourself a "youth", come!

Blessings!

What a short email can do...

2011-04-28T18:40:00.003+02:00

Just got an amazing, cute and soooo encouraging email from my wife!
Ahh! Gab's love you!!!

Is there something better than when someone writes you or tell you the right words in the right time??
"And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" (Proverbs 15:23).

Blessings!

Truths...

2011-04-25T05:52:00.008+02:00

As believers and followers of Jesus we should again take a stand for things that once was obvious for Christians in Sweden and specially in charismatic churches around our nation...
I'm talking about saying no to alcohol and being a voice in the society shouting out that it's a curse to our nation!
I'm so tired of seeing truths that was unquestioned 10-15 years ago, being challenged today in our churches... No my friends... We don't have to be "social drinkers" because it's easier to hang out with our non Christian neighbors, or do we? We don't need a glass of red wine to our steak because it "brings out the taste more", or do we? We need to stand up straight in a world that drinks itself to death and say: WE WILL NOT TAKE IT!
I believe that, by saying no we will gain respect in the society... We once were famous for taking stands and the world is in need of people standing up for something... I just read that 400 000 children in Sweden (every fifth child) are growing up in homes with one or two parents who are heavy drinkers... These children are alone and in great danger many times!

Worth fighting for?

I'm not ashamed to write today... Look at the world and ask yourself a question... Is it necessary to "flirt" with alcohol 2011?
Let's help our brothers and sisters who are fighting these desires, let's take a stand for all the children growing up in homes with parents abusing alcohol... Let's stand up and say: "We are with you! In our homes, churches and groups you will not see any alcohol, we will create a free zone for you!"
If you think I'm way out of it and don't know what I'm talking about... My dad abused alcohol 15 years and it cost him everything... But he met Jesus who changed his life and he hasn't touched alcohol for 40 years...

To people struggling with alcohol... Jesus did not come to the world to judge you, but to save you... He loves you and He is full of mercy and grace! There is a way to full freedom! There is a way to a life together with the holy Spirit who wants to satisfy your every need... Jesus can forgive us completely and His blood has the power to set us free, free indeed!

Blessings!

Happy easter... He's ALIVE!

2011-04-24T19:05:00.004+02:00

Jesus is the resurrection and the LIFE!

In Acts chapter 6 and verses 33-42, there's a story about the enemies to Christ and how they plotted to kill him... A man called Gamaliel stood up and tried to convince them all to wait before they seized Jesus...
He said: "For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it - lest you even be found to fight against God (Acts 6:36-38).

Now we now that after a while they took Jesus and sentenced him to death anyway... But I want you to look at the things written in this place... Meaning that... Ideas, philosophies, religions, institutions and political views rises up at different times, throughout all history and gathers a lot of followers and are many times successful, but all of a sudden the leader disappears, and the followers are dispersed... That's exactly what the religious elite in Jerusalem 2000 years ago hoped for... To kill Jesus and put an end to his message and silence his followers...
Jesus gave his life on the cross and rose from death and experts says there are around 750 million charismatic followers of this carpenter from Israel today, 2011... You cannot kill something that is of God... Jesus, the son of God and our savior is ALIVE!

Spread the word!

I love America!

2011-04-20T06:10:00.009+02:00

Yes... First of all... I love America cause that's my wife's country! I love it because there's sooo many great people there... I am blessed... I have a great American family!

Let me share two things that always stuns me as I'm traveling to and in America... Now, you Americans reading this might not find it so "spectacular"... But for us Swedes there are things that we see and come in contact with, that doesn't exist in the same way here... I'm in love with my country too, and there's a lot we have that is amazing and we should export... But here comes some things we need to "import" more of...

I love the blessing atmosphere in America! It's true... There's a special atmosphere that starts directly as you set your foot in America... Now... This is not only among Christians, but I've felt if from most of the people!

When me and Gabrielle landed a month ago in San Francisco, California, we were tired after a long flight... We went out to eat and we stopped to get some useful stuff in a store on the way... Gabrielle goes off by herself and I'm also walking around checking out the store. The first man I pass looks at me, smiles and says, "Good evening, how are you?"... I'm telling him I'm fine and ask him how he is... After that I'm all excited and I run to Gabrielle and tells her, " I love this country, I always get so encouraged". She smiles and asks me what happened and I told her... I could tell she didn't really thought it was as amazing as I did cause she is more used to it then I am... But understand... That doesn't happen too often in Sweden... I'm challenging Swedes right now... Greet strangers with a smile on your face! Make someone happy today in the line for the bus or on your workplace!
When we stood at the register, ready to pay, the worker tells Gabrielle who much she likes her clothes... More than ones people have stopped me on the street when I've been in the US, telling me I have a cool jacket, cool hat, nice jeans or something else making me feel good... This is a culture I love! As Christians we should do this all the time and everywhere... Nowadays, when I see someone that dresses nice or does something good, I tell them... Even if I don't know them! Thank you America for being so generous and loving! Thank you for greeting me, encourage me and taking care of me on the streets, at restaurants and in shops! Thank you America for having a smile on your lips most of the time! Thank you America for teaching me this...

The other thing that touches me deeply that I noticed the first time I traveled to the US, and really strong this time, is something I would call "Freedom in the Spirit", pretty deep huh?
I love the fact that when you talk to people, or share the gospel to someone, they usually don't tell you "that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard" or anything else like that... But there's a genuine respect for the Christian faith. The faith that has formed and shaped the country...
Let me take some examples I've reflected over, but as I've understood and am glad for, is a normal thing in the US...
A couple of weeks ago me, Gabrielle and her parents went to see a new movie called, "Soul surfer", a great movie with a good message! Now sitting at the cinema and waiting for the movie to start a couple of previews are shown... One of them caught my attention because me and Gab recently saw the last movie of the same movie maker... The movie is about police officers doing their jobs and taking care of their families... But as the preview continues we learn that there's a lot of problem underneath the surface of their lives and there's not a chance their relationships can last unless miracles takes place... Later we see how the main characters of the movie receives Jesus, taking Him seriously, starts to follow Him radically and miracles happens... In the end of the trailer, I almost felt like crying... Did I really see this?? In a public cinema in Hawaii?? I turned around to see peoples reactions, I'm waiting for the booing to start, mocking words from the non-Christian audience, but nothing... Wow, I think to myself, they really respect it... As the trailers end and the movie we went to see starts, an even more, to me, amazing experience takes place... The movie is a Christian movie, Jesus is mentioned all the time, they're singing worship and praying... Wow... And still... No one's laughing in the audience... I can't believe my eyes... I love the fact that respect for Christianity goes so deep and the word of God is the backbone of this country...

On my birthday I got a book called, "Decision points". An autobiography by President George W Bush... As I'm writing this I've read half of it, and it's a great book... It really opens up my eyes reading about this president and it's interesting getting first hand information as he makes a lot of tough decisions... What amazes me most though, is how one of the most powerful and important men (when he was in office), writes very personal, explaining how he received strength from Christ when he decided to stop abusing alcohol in the eighties... After that almost a whole page is proclaiming Christ as savior of the world, son of God and the only one who can forgive and take away our sin... It's awesome!

Two days ago I spent a few hours downtown Chicago... Strolling around in rain and snow I was happy just seeing this spectacular city. I went up to the 103rd floor in Willis Tower (used to be Sears Tower) and rode community trains from the airport and back.

This is pretty cool (and scary)... It's 1353 ft or 412 meters down... And only an inch and a half of thick glass...

As I sat on that train I saw adds on the walls of the train telling me a famous Preacher would visit the city and I should come and expect a miracle! I was amazed and happy by the fact no one had ripped the posters down... Again... There's a deep respect for God I've found on my trips to America! Of course, I can't say it's always like this, but generally speaking... There is a special atmosphere of freedom, generosity and joy which I love... Friends in America... Do everything to keep it and abound in it! Your testimonies of Jesus is remarkable!!! Continue to shine God's love and stand firm in faith! Love you guys!

Blessings!

I'm blown away...

2011-04-16T21:49:00.005+02:00

Thank you all for the birthdays wishes you've sent me, through facebook, e-mail or text messages!!
My day was amazing... A special thanks goes to Jeff and Kim Redmond, my parents in-law, I love you guys! They have housed me and Gabrielle for 3 weeks... Taking us out on adventures and really shown us around their beautiful island... And... They gave me some great gifts yesterday... Check it out...

Now... The book is my gift, not the coffee maker as some might think... I've been wanting this book for a while now... I'm gonna have a good time of reading on my flight back to Sweden...

Finally I can shave my beard again!

And of course... My best friend, partner and wife... Gabrielle surprised me through out the whole day... Breakfast at a really good place with an incredible view... She took me to a beach with huge swells (she knows me...) and before lunch we went to a place where you fix your own frozen youghurt!

The day ended with some great food at the Redmond's residence... BBQ ribs, rise, corn and a birthday cake was on the menu! Hallelujah!

Gabrielle got me a super gift... I'm the happiest guy alive! Gab! I love you!!!

There's no one so beautiful, strong, wise and funny as you... I love you with my whole heart! I'm looking forward to serve Jesus together... Nations, people groups and adventures... A bible and a sleeping bag babe... You and me...

Unreached peoples!

2011-04-13T23:04:00.008+02:00

While my wise, beautiful and gifted wife is working on her application for a residence permit in Sweden, I'm studying unreached people groups of the world... Just got the seventh edition of Operation world! If you don't know the book... check it out here!

Here's the top ten countries of the world with the highest number of unreached people groups. Look at this...

1. India, 2223 unreached people groups!
2. China, 427 unreached people groups.
3. Pakistan, 374 unreached people groups.
4. Bangladesh, 353 unreached people groups.
5. Nepal, 325 unreached people groups.
6. Indonesia, 200 unreached people groups.
7. Sudan, 138 unreached people groups.
8. Laos, 134 unreached people groups.
9. Iran, 93 unreached people groups.
10 Russia, 77 unreached people groups.

Many of these people groups are numbered in millions...
Let me just give you an idea of what I'm talking about... India is a major country with a population of 1,2 billion... Or to be more exact... 1,214,464,312 persons...
India is made up by 28 states and 7 so-called Union territories. Uttar Pradesh in northern India is the largest state population wise. If it was an independent nation it would have been the fifth largest in the world with a population of 202 millions! In this state the Christians numbers 0,1 %... Unbelievable numbers! The state has 613 people groups and 579 of them had no Christians at all according to the most recent census...

A very biblical prayer that comes to my mind as I'm writing this is Matt 9:37-38... LORD OF THE HARVEST!!! SEND MORE LABORERS!!!
The Harvest is plentiful... Let's stop praying for the harvest in our church meetings... Let's open up our eyes... Let us HARVEST!!!

I've had a 6 key strategic plan for reaching people for some time... I still believe in that...

1. Pray
2. Preach
3. Pray
4. Preach
5. Pray
6. Preach

Let's win the world for Jesus!!!

Blessings!