The Traveler

On December 14, 2016December 14, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Christmas, MissionariesLeave a comment

I am the traveler. I have searched high and low to find what is missing in my life. I have traveled by boat, car and plane. I have traveled by foot, bus and train.

I have climbed to the top of Mt. Everest. I have looked in wonder at the Dead Sea. I have hiked across the Sahara Desert. I have swam in the seven oceans. I have seen the beauty of the white snow in Antarctica. I have seen the lush lands of the Amazon Rainforest. I have seen the majestic Great Wall Of China.

Still, I searched. Nothing filled the emptiness inside of me. Nothing cured me. What was I missing?

It was December and I decided to travel back home and start again. Find a new plan. Search for a new land where I can find me.

That’s when the strangest things happened.

On the plane back to home a child told me about a baby born in a manger. My connecting flight was delayed and that is when a woman told me about the life of a man named Jesus.

When I landed I had to take a train to my city. On that train a man told me about the crucifixion of Jesus and how he was raised from the grave. He told me about forgiveness of our sins, His grace, and how much he loves us all.

I was in deep thought about all these conversations as I walked to my house. I connected the dots as I looked at all the lights and decorations. Christmas. Jesus had to come to earth to be born in a manger. He had to be like you and me to share in our pain and suffering yet to still give us joy, forgiveness, and love. He had to die to fulfill God’s promise.

If we believe in him then we will have eternal life in Heaven. If we believe in him then he is in us and that is what I was searching for. That is what I was missing.

After all my travels I found what I was missing and it was right with me the entire time.

Now I travel again. Back to the places I was searching before. This time I bring Jesus with me. I bring his words and give them to everyone who has never heard them before. With the help of God, I will spread the news of his love, his forgiveness, his grace to the world.

I am the traveler. It all started with a journey many years ago to a tiny town called Bethlehem. It all started with a baby born in a manger.

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2-

Traveller by Chris Stapleton –

Let It Start With Me by No Other Name –

I Will Go by Big Daddy Weave –

I Will Go by Starfield –

Where You Are by Hillsong Young & Free –

Prodigal by Sidewalk Prophets –

Take This City by Everfound –

Move ( Keep Walkin’) by TobyMac –

Dear Younger Me by MercyMe –

A Christmas Prayer

On December 13, 2016December 13, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Christmas, love, poems, Poetry7 Comments

Image result for depression at christmas

A Christmas prayer

For the ones out there

Who aren’t full of happiness and cheer

Who are depressed and worn out this time of year

This time of year can be tough

Sometimes you just want to scream ENOUGH!

Maybe it’s the loss of a loved one

Or past hurts that have been done

Everyone else seems full of glee

You’re thinking “everyone but me”

You aren’t the only one faking a smile

Remember the season is because of the birth of a child

It’s not the decorations or presents

Or all the parties and events

Here is an open invitation

To join in the celebration

Image result for bible verses on hope and strength

No gifts to bring or trees to decorate

Whenever you are ready, we will wait

A genuine heart with love to give

I believe you are meant to live

Do not give up, Do not be dismayed

If you are having a string of bad days

There is a hope for a better tomorrow

One not promised without sorrow

One not promised without pain

One not promised without rain

One promised that you are never alone

One promised that you have a home

One promised that you are loved

One promised of HOPE, sealed by His blood

Image result for luke 19 10

I can’t promise tomorrow will be better

I can promise you have a helper

Instead of falling down it’s time to rise up

Don’t give up when you’ve had enough

The night will fall and the sun will soon shine

Please, please give it some more time

Tomorrow is new

Perhaps a blessing for you

Tomorrow will soon be here

And maybe, just maybe, it’ll be your year

A baby boy was born in a manger

Don’t let him be a stranger

Get to know hope, love, forgiveness and grace

Tomorrow you will gladly embrace

I want you to know you are known

And that you aren’t alone

Don’t give up, YOU are loved, even when you are blue

This is my Christmas prayer for you

Image result for 1 corinthians 2 9

Talk to your doctor if you are feeling sad for long periods of time. They can refer you to a mental health specialist. If your feelings of sadness during the holidays are accompanied by suicidal thoughts, do one of the following immediately:

Call 911.
Go immediately to a hospital emergency room.
Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

You can improve your mood by practicing self-care during the holidays. Eat a healthy diet, and maintain a regular sleep pattern and exercise program. According to the kept Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, as little as 30-minutes of cardiovascular exercise can provide an immediate mood boost similar to the effects of an antidepressant medication. Joining a support group where you talk to people with similar experiences to yours can also help.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND YOU HAVE WORTH AND YOU ARE LOVED MORE THAN YOU KNOW!

Image result for bible verses on tomorrow is a new day

Lots of songs but couldn’t decide to put suicide or hope or someone loves you song so put a mix of all them.

Why by Faith Hill –

Why by Rascal Flatts –

Different Kind Of Tears by Sully Erna –

Before The Morning by Josh Wilson –

Somebody Stand By Me by Faith Hill –

Home by Phillip Phillips-

Pray For You by Blessid Union Of Souls –

I Don’t Have The Answers by We Are Messengers-

10 Years Today by Bullet For My Valentine-

Don’t Close Your Eyes by Kix-

Hold On by Good Charlotte-

The Fuzz by Jeff Rosenstock –

Hold On by Wilson Phillips-

The Last Night by Skillet –

The Reason by Lacey Sturm-

Take The Bullets Away by We As Human-

The Right Time by Disciple –

Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.-

Goodbye (I’m Sorry) by Jamestown Story –

Just Say Jesus by 7eventh Time Down –

Pray For Me by Kirk Franklin –

Welcome To My Life by Simple Plan –

My Story by Big Daddy Weave –

Hope Was Born This Night by Sidewalk Prophets –

Merry Christmas – 115 Days To Go

On August 31, 2015August 31, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Birth of Jesus, Christian life, Christmas, music, reason for the season7 Comments

Some of you may be saying what? I say why not? Why wait until December 25th to celebrate the birth of our savior. Why wait until we are so busy with everything else that goes with the season that before we know it it is here and gone. Why wait until Christmas Eve to go to church?

Summer is winding down, fall is coming on and then winter will be here. This year has gone by so quick. Seems like winter just ended. I know, we still have 3 months and 22 days until winter officially begins and I will appreciate every minute of fall but.. Back to school shopping is done, Halloween is on the shelves and in probably about 30-40 days there will be Christmas items on the shelves. Wal-Mart has already started their lay-away program for Christmas. Two weeks earlier than last year. Keeping the c in commercial, not Christmas.

This is the first year that Kylie has kept the Christmas countdown up all year. We had to make some paper numbers to have all the days we needed but it is up. She actually kept up on it for a good part of the year but she has been slacking here lately. In case you were wondering, there are 115 days left. Now when you read that, how many of you are saying don’t remind me. Or something else that is negative. I know I have told people at work and here and there and it is always the same reaction, don’t remind me or I don’t even want to think about it.

When did the coming of Christmas become so negative. Is it because our society equates Christmas with shopping and busyness and parties and get-together and everything else except what the coming of Christmas is really about. The birth of Jesus. The forgiver of our sins. The only way for us to get to Heaven is through Him. Yet, He seems to be a by-product of Christmas instead of the only reason for Christmas.

Why don’t we play Christmas songs throughout the year? Obviously not the winter ones like Frosty or Rudolph or It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year but why not Mary, Did You Know or O Come All Ye Faithful or Joy to the World. Songs that remind of Jesus birth all year round. I’m not saying play them a lot but maybe once a month or something, just as a year long reminder. By the way new Christmas cd’s are made and coming out in the next few months. Looking forward to new Christmas recordings from MercyMe, Kenny Rogers, Chris Tomlin and many others as they are released.

Anyway, take a little time now before we all get to busy to thank God for sending His son Jesus to us in a manger, with no crib for a bed. Be thankful for the only reason we should be celebrating Christmas, the birth of our savior Jesus.

Merry Christmas, 115 days early.

Charlie Brown, the meaning of Christmas –

Here are a few songs that have really touched me over the years.

Little Drummer Boy – I think this song always hits me because of the lines I have no gift to bring that’s fit to give a king. Shall I play for you? On My drum. We all can’t bring expensive gifts and that is the beauty of Jesus but all He asks is that we bring what we have, come as we are.