'Faithful One…' is softly playing from my speakers as I write this post.
A song by Brian Doerksen, which has been etched in my heart since 2001. This song always pops up somewhere, I put it on repeat and become
moved to tears…
'Faithful One, faithful God, so unchangeable, through all ages, You are my rock of peace.
Lord of all, I trust in You, I cry out to You, over and over, again and again: You are my rock in times of trouble, you lift me up when I fall,
Through all storms, Your love is MY ANCHOR, my HOPE is in You alone…'
It's quite special that around the release of our new card line: ENCOURAGEMENT & LIFEHACKS and the writing of this post, God
song displays.
Although the design looks quite simple, I have been working on the development of this new line for our large card mill for a long time,
Both in design and text. Everything was thought out and developed in detail.
Based on trends in interior design magazines, I created a color palette that is calm and suits (modern) interiors. The texts were
there in abundance, here I had to make a balanced choice for this first series.
It is beautiful when in this process of creativity the Holy Spirit begins to speak through the days/weeks/months and everything ultimately comes to pass in His
place falls.
At the start of this process, the word 'lifehack' and the song 'Faithful One' were not yet present.
Only during the process did God give it.
When I started, my idea was to make a 'sorrow and mourning series', because of the fact that (in our Living in Barneveld) there was so much pain, sorrow and
brokenness comes to mind. And as a family, we ourselves experience much of this brokenness.
My desire to encourage people and bring healing where there is brokenness and to give perspective has been instilled in me by God from a young age.
heart. And it's grown even bigger since we opened our shop and coffee lounge in Barneveld over three years ago.
During the process of designing and collecting texts, the word 'lifehack' came up somewhere and the picture for this new
card line.
The direct translation of 'LIFEHACK' is 'lifebuoy'.
The second meaning of Lifehack Wikipedia tells us: 'Lifehacks are useful tricks, discoveries, tips that can be used in an unconventional way to solve a problem often
'solves everyday problems and makes life easier'.
LIFEHACK has become a popular word among the (young) people today.
When I look at my own life, I've learned how important it is to give space to the process of grief and mourning. A process that
is not the same for everyone and can simply BE there!
I now know that I run away very quickly from people who give me well-intentioned advice in the midst of my grief. For example,
tell me to 'count my blessings', when the pain is so great that it is almost unbearable; these are moments, a part of a day, a day
Sometimes. It always passes, but it's allowed to BE there!
Daring to look pain in the eye is part of the healing process.
On the one hand, I want to say with this card line: "Your and my grief is allowed to simply BE. In 'allowing it to be,' lies the beginning of healing."
But then there's the other side of "counting blessings" every single day. I believe in this, and it works, even when I don't want to hear it.
Counting blessings is a regular part of my morning routine. For years, my day has begun with counting my smallest blessings.
So, 'Counting blessings' is a simple life hack that helps you see the light in life again.
We have a choice every day: do I remain in my pain and sorrow, or do I grab the lifebuoy, "the anchor for my soul," as Hebrews 6 so beautifully puts it.
And the choice is yours too; do you dare to send such a Lifehack when God puts it on your heart?
My advice: send it! All too often I've heard, "It was the right text at the right time!"
And so, over the years, my family and I have found many more of these Lifehacks in the Bible, in worship songs, in simple quotes (often
derived from the Bible).
I raised my four children with Bible verses and music like Lifehacks. And I played it on repeat. The verses hung on our toilet, and I sent them to them.
We took it to school, we took it to bed, we read it at the table, we sang about it every day, etc.
An education that I was able to complete last year, after 33 years, because my youngest child also left home.
Through all the sorrow that came to them without asking, I have been able to guide my children together with our Heavenly Father, with God's
Word like ANCHOR, through all storms.
By now they have all found their own personal relationship with Jesus.
Now the time has come to share what has become so important for me and my children and what still works.
I hope and pray that it will work for many people, as it has worked and continues to work for us.
I pray that these texts will become LIFEHACKS for many, ANCHORS for the soul, to stay upright and/or to get back on your feet, when
sadness and pain overtakes.
I also pray on the other hand that you simply find comfort in these texts. And know that you can take refuge in Him Who carries your silent sorrow.
knows; it's ok!
We are happy with the result of this first new series of 7 texts (for our big card mill), of which hopefully there will be more
will follow.
We have chosen very sturdy 450 gram paper/cardboard, so that the cards can have a nice place in your home. Together with a
clipboard or a stand makes a nice gift.
The series (7 x 7 cards) comes with 25 envelopes; cream-coloured and of good quality.
I am grateful for the Faithful One who has never abandoned me and my family. And whose LOVE is our ANCHOR; unchanging,
steadfast and FAITHFUL!
In short, this new card line is a TESTIMONY from me and my family about our God who is FAITHFUL through everything. Our tests are
turned into testimonies, our sorrow into a dance.
The Faithful One, always our ANCHOR in the storm, with the powerful words from the Bible and Worship songs on repeat in our homes. And
my grandchildren can now hear about it again and grow up with it.
Together with my youngest son, I am now allowed to run a business in a beautiful location in the center of Barneveld; our DNA Living.
Here we can be a light for the village, for the Netherlands and for the world.
All nationalities and believers (and non-believers) now come together with us. They are allowed to taste (some of) what God has given us so richly and abundantly.
entrusted.
A place of "just BEING." A place of joy, happiness, healing, and restoration.
…that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might receive strong COMFORT. We who are in Him
the refuge to hold on to the HOPE that lies before us. We have this HOPE as AN ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL, which holds firm and
is steadfast and reaches into the inner sanctuary, behind the veil – Hebrews 6:18-19.
On behalf of our DNA Team,
Alieda van Dijk.
…Faithful One, so unchanging, Ageless one, You're my rock of peace, Lord of all, I depend on You, I call out to You, Again and
again, You are my rock in time of trouble, You lift me up when I fall down, All through the storm, Your love is the anchor, My hope is in You alone…