Last time I wrote I had just returned from my trip to eastern and the middle parts of Finland where I met my sister, two of my brothers and some more relatives. GOD has really done so many things in my life lately and I just feel that we are walking in HIS timing and that HE have prepared the way for things taking place right now. I still have a hard time accepting all the love in my mind that my heart is feeling. I have my parents here in Vasa who raised me and took care of me since I was a little baby. They are still my mom and dad and I love them with all my heart. Everything else is new and emotionally it feels strange but my heart keeps telling me that this is important and that many of my questions will be answered and also that people will be set free from different curses and bondage through all this. I just feel it is important for all who have broken relations to friends and family to really work on these relations since it is GODS plans for us all to reconcile and forgive and forget. What have been in the past is behind and we need to look forward and live the day of today. I just pray and hope that what GOD is doing in my life can be another testimony for other people of GODS amazing love and grace. I feel that GOD is with me stronger than ever and as I wrote earlier we have to stay and live in our first love. HE loved us first!
This week I am returning to Jyväskylä for a meeting at Vapaaseurakunta on thursday night. I will meet my biological father for the first time ever on wednesday if everything goes as scheduled and during my days in Jyväskylä I will also hook up with some other relatives. GOD has put them on my heart and I need that there is a need of Gods love and grace. As more as I get to know about where I come from as clearer I can see why things have happened in my life. Lots of things are genetic and many things might even be curses. Still we have to remember that nothing is impossible for GOD and therefore I am getting into these relations very open minded. I trust in GOD in every situation. Without HIM I would not be where I am today and I am excited to see what GOD is going to do next.
From Jyväskylä I am traveling to Kuopio to have some meetings. Details are added to the calendar and sunday night I will also be in Cityseurakunta in Iisalmi. I will also have time to hook up and spend some time with my blood brother. Many good things are going on and I am looking forward to these days on the road together with Jesus.
Concerts and meetings in Vasa
Last weekend was another awesome weekend. Friday night I was invited to speak and sing in the finnish pentecostal church in my home town Vasa. This church means lots to me and it was a great honor to give my testimony there. Four years ago when I faced death at the local hospital also people from this church came to pray for me. I did not know them and they did not know me but GOD had put me on their hearts and I remember their visits as it was yesterday. One of them, a brother named Mika Halkola told me about how Jesus had healed him from a deadly virus in India and his testimony ment much to me back then. This short story about his healing from God made my heart believe that Jesus also could heal me and in the Bible we can read about that we just need faith as big as a mustard seed to move mountains.
The night was good and lots of people came to the "Life in Him" event. The worship band played great and after the meeting there were many people who came forward to receive prayers. Jesus saved souls this night and people repented and took the important step into the Kingdom of God. Brother Pasi Thölix shared a word and a short version of his testimony how he met Jesus up in a tree many years ago. I first thought it sounded funny and I wondered what he was doing up in that tree. He was on his way to hang himself when Jesus showed up and told him not to do anything bad to himself. Another testimony on how GOD is coming to all of us individually, the same way as Jesus did while He walked on earth. Thank you Jesus for this wonderful church and for all my brothers and sisters here!
Saturday night I was invited to play at a benefit concert for Vassor Lägergård, a retreat place that owned by the swedish speaking pentecostals in this area. I have visited the place a couple of times and of course I wanted to help out and play a couple of songs to raise money for this place. I have followed the youth work they do out there during the summer season and I get both touched and happy everything I see pictures of young people getting baptized to Jesus. So many young people have got their lives changed during their summer camps and we really need to give our youth our attention. Our future is in their hands.
Sion church in Vasa was packed this saturday night and pastor Patrik Hellström opened up the meeting followed by the gospel choir Ichtys who sang with a passion and a joy in the Lord that also came upon the audience. My brother and friend Mårten Streng was there with the childrens choir and I really adore this brother and there is no doubt about it. He gets his energy from heaven. The sisters Nicolina and Josefine Koskinen sang followed by Filip Koskinen Band who played a couple of songs before it was time for us to enter the stage. I don't know how to say but playing concerts belongs to my old life. I love music and I love to play but most important for me is to speak about the mighty things that Jesus have done in my life and right now there is so many things to speak about what HE is doing. It is such a blessing to be saved and live for Jesus. I will never be perfect but I thank GOD for that HE is putting up with me they way I am. GOD wants us all to be as the ones HE created us to be. My thoughts goes to the first time after I got saved when I tried to be someone else. I shaved, cut my hair, brushed my teeth, showered and bought a long sleeve shirt to cover up my tattoos. I even bought a pair of reading glasses so I could look really saved. I felt like crap and this because that I tried to make something else of myself. I did not live the way GOD wanted me to live. GOD has a plan for all of us and HE wants us to be ourselves, nothing else. HE wants to spend time with us just the way we are and HE loves us so much.
It was great fun to play and it is always wonderful to play with the band. Again I had the privilege to have my brothers Martin Kantola and Jouni Uusimaa with me as well as our sister Camilla Cederholm. I like this line up and I am sure we will do some more together soon.
The summer is on its way
The summer is behind the corner and lots of things are coming up. You might want to check the calendar as lots of things are going to happen this summer. Some of the highlights are our Ambassador weeks end of may and early july when some of the Ambassadors brothers from Texas are coming here. Our main event during this time is the Bikers on the Road Weekend at Orisberg in Isokyrö, outside Vasa. This is a three day event with bible studies, praise and worship, meetings, fellowship and lots of fun. I will also have the official release party for the new album, "Thankful" at the same time, june 4th. Check the calendar for the full schedule for this weekend. Bikers are coming in from all over the country as well as from Sweden. We pray and hope that God will give us great weather.
Now it is time to get prepared for this weeks adventures. Don't forget that GOD loves you as you are and chose to listen more to God than to peoples opinions about this and that. I have realized that all things should be based on the word of God. We are all sinners anyway and only because of Jesus we can be righteous before God. There is no such things as another person being more saved or more Christian than anyone else. In Gods eyes we all are the same. Don't listen or pay too much attention to those who just complain. Look at who YOU are in Christ Jesus and praise the Lord with all your heart.
Have a blessed week!
Pontus
