Day 5 – A Thousand Words To Be Thankful

Trust in the Lord

Do we really trust in God? Especially when in a situation doesn’t support us to believe? Once in a circus I went, there was a man brought his little boy around 3 years old. He carried his son to go through a horizontal robe around 22 feet high, but he just trusted still in his father’s cuddle. In John 21:6 :

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

 Do we trust in the Lord in every situation of our life such those stories above? Especially when we see our kids, they need to have education, proper living and many living needs we have to go through on it. As the disciples simply did what Jesus said to them without asking, meaning that they trusted in Jesus to throw the net on the other side of the boat and they would find the fishes. Do we put all our trust and hope on Him?

It takes a process so God can see your faith, and you will be growing in faith according to what He wants and whether you trust in Him more than anything else. Just surrender to Him for what He wants for you to do. The same way as the disciples did what Jesus said, going to the right side of boat according to what Jesus said. Do we do what Jesus said in our lives? It takes time to understand that God is involved in our lives. Let God take control in every step we choose. Pray and read daily Bible to catch what God speaks to us, what He wanna tell us, listen to His words in a silence, to let Him talk into our hearts even anytime. Ask God for us to have a wisdom to discern His words. If He wants us to do something to choose a path that even crooked, He will guide you onto it, He will be with you to get through it and get focus on Him. Do not let a doubt, and a daunting long journey exhausts and put down your trust on Him. Remember, He was the only One who created us…so He never ever leaves us alone, His creation!

Feed My Sheep

As a parent, we are the figure of our children, they follow what I and my husband do. We try to communicate to our children in every situation we face and speak to them according to their level. As they copy from parents, in difficult moment they will also reflect on what we parents did in their previous experienced life with us. They must experience the difficult moment like us on their own situation too after they have grown up. Probably they will convey its memory till they grow up on the future life, and acts the same as we did as well.

As I read at John 21. Our children need support, not only physically seen such as food, fund, school etc but also spiritually. They need our spirit to guide them, to lead and give strength to them. I was thinking, what could it be if I didn’t have spirit anymore to survive? My children would have also been following the same too. They are supposed to be strong. So this scripture gives me a clue to arise, to stand to be strong in God spirit, even though I and my husband are far each other. In this scripture, God is awaken me to take care of the innocent children as His precious treasures to be entrusted to us by God. We are the parents have responsibility to guide them, to feed them with the spirit of God through parents deeds and do in everyday. We tried to do the right way for their example. So our children as our sheep must be taken care according to what God wants on their life with our love and the spirit of the Lord. If we really love Jesus, we will do His commandment to “feed” our children spiritually and physically. Because He loves us first, He gave His life for us, He gave us children to be raised up well. God is so great. This scriptures strengthen us as well:

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.  (John 21 NIV version)

Jesus asked 3 times to Simon Peter, which means God wants His commitment to take care of His sheep. The way that I must do with my children. He needs our commitment in raising our kids. So I must wake up to face the world, doing my daily activities, as if I have friend who takes care of me, indeed I have friend, He is Jesus! Thank to Jesus for His spirit onto us. He will guide me to take care of my kids well, the important think whether we believe His guidance onto us or not, and trust on Him all the time in every situation of our life and do not be afraid.

I’ve found thousand words to be thankful of what You have done for us God, it moved me to go through my day. I also tried to send video or God’s words to support my husband spiritually too. I was really happy to hear my husband letter coming…

Day 5

Good morning my darling,

I woke up this morning, and I felt hungry, so I grabbed banana then I went down to kitchen. I fried beef and put in my room and would eat it after I did my morning jogging. It was really quiet today Most people might enjoy their time last night and easy Sunday waking up late. I passed through the city street and started getting use to with the weather….getting warmer after few minutes run then headed back to my room and enjoyed my yummy breakfast….I was ready for 11 am mass…I got a warm greeting from pastor standing at the entrance door….I could see more people  and it was choral mass….from the elders and seniors but their voice and songs were beautiful…..and inspirational…..thank you God for giving me this beautiful day, I always pray and plea to God…..please bless my family…

(From Wellington With Love, 23rd July 2017)

Hopes…

Unforeseen Blessings (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I like the title on my Blog, I feel fresh every time I read it, 3 words but magical words that turning me on every circumstance I feel in my life. Whenever I am down, count the blessings, whenever I am blissful, count the blessings, whenever I am anxious, count the blessings, whenever I am mad of the situation, count the blessings. We count the blessings that we have from God, we count every single thing that God gave. We count every blessing every tiny and small thing in our life that make us feel positive. If we feel blessed means we believe that God’s love is never ending. God will never give blessings only once in a lifetime, but His abundant love is dripping anytime whenever hope is impossible, whenever we’re lost or failed.

We were born safely into this world was a blessing. God even has  plan for us before we came into this world, every single day we got uncountable nourishment, love and affection from our parents, family, friends. We’re changing apparently, we’re growing up independently, we can take care our self, having relationship with others, we can serve others too, it’s not merely our strength, but His blessings are always working on us.

I understand people will feel abandoned by God in a period of time, I felt the same too. There’s a time I felt not feeling well, and what I could do just pray while I laid down on my bed, I even couldn’t lift up my hands, I couldn’t grab my Bible to look up His verses. I seems lees motivation when I was sick. It seems I was sinking in a dream that I even not realized whether I was in real life or not, especially with the big thought of problems I got. I was thinking of my kids that needed someone helping them out in their study for their exam, how was their meal, who was gonna take care of their uniform. I asked God for strength, but before that I tried to say thank that God has been so perseverance to me so far. I tried to remember the past when God’s helping hands around me where there was no hope, I tried to memorize things that I felt that  it was all God’s miracles on me to accumulate my strength to keep me believe in Him, so I could pray to Him with faith, instead of complaining of what He’s been offered on our life. Finally, I could find strength in Him to always believe in  Him so I can pray with faith and always be thankful to Him.

And what’s the next, as I read the book of Nick Vujicic “Unstoppable”, I really pondered more the power of faith in action. As we recognize that God gives His blessing onto us, is not only be there, but it is supposed to be put in action and practiced many many times. We pray in faith, and do what we believe. Sometimes we feel I don’t believe something we can’t see, but we have witnessed His wonderful miracles in plenty occasions in our life in the past. It had tested us to put trust on His great love. Same as Nick Fujicic parents, they grieved for the perfectly formed child they’d envisioned but didn’t receive. But they gave up their attempts to understand why God had given them such a child without limbs. Instead, they surrendered to His plan, whatever it might be, and what they could do is raising him as the best they could with love, because they know God’s love in their life. The result was amazing, Nick Fujicic has grown up and he finally becomes a great author and motivational speaker that God had planned for Him through situation seemed unwanted for normal people could receive, but never impossible for Him to open the world’s eyes looking for hope and achievement in this life, especially through hardship or difficult situation.

We need to focus not on our problem but put our vision on Him, so we can see the lights of hope that leads us to an open door. Whatever life may offer you or whatever difficult the situation is, just surrender to Him, put your trust on Him. Don’t forget to recall His blessings since you came into this world until present time. You’ll know that God really loves you, always be with you, and you’ll never be alone because there’s always a hope in God, our Creator.

God Bless You!

KL, Dec 10, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Told to the light 2

Stained glass at St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus’ description of himself “I am the Good Shepherd” (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Hi Jesus..

 

Dunno what to say

 

I feel no power

 

If I remember the days I’ve passed through

 

Not realized that you were near

 

Something’s making me change

 

Dunno what kinda feeling this is

Missing the light of you

 

Remember my childhood dreaming

 

With you I touched the sky

 

You brought me flying within the clouds

 

No more fears inside

 

Against all powers in this world

 

You hugged me such in paradise

 

Dreaming in your dwelling

 

Felt safe in your embrace

 

God bring me up once again!

 

Till I feel ready

 

Touching the grayish of the ground

 

Meet many people and things you’re offering

 

Empower me….defeat all my fears

 

not mine

 

But yours…….

 

 

 

KL, June 12, 2007

 

 

 

He Has Planned It before You Know…..

I don’t know how to start, though there are a lot of things that I wanna talk about, but indeed I feel my skills of English writing are not better than before. I have nothing to do on my desk. Perhaps it’s just excuse to blame many cases caused me like this. I had a dream that I would take master of philosophy someday. I had a dream I would give lecture to my students in university. I had a dream going overseas, or majoring in English or in philosophy there before. But it decreased slowly since I got married. Then I supposed that it would be removed soon in marriage. Before I got married him I have worked in a school trying to step a new career as a teacher, but somehow I just felt that however the utmost dream and career that a woman has, she has to follow her husband wherever he goes, I certainly wanted to get a job. Suddenly I felt disappointed thinking that I was no longer availing for a woman’s dignity as a pride. I was no longer making money and was being looked down I felt by some people behind my husband. Then working as a mother looking after babies that hindered me from things I really appreciated my life before. I was desperately bored with these kinda circumstances. Why as I was climbing up each step, I fell down two steps even more. I was trying to pursue strength each day since I was a little girl.

Once there was a Life in the Spirit Seminar that my friend invited me, It was like a retreat and seminar, that was all I knew before. They might be talking about how to do the right. I was thinking that this was just a crap, but I still joined I was thinking there was something gonna blow my mind or I would even criticize them. When I was attending the first and the second meeting of ‘the Life in the Spirit Seminar’, it gave me a bunch thought in my mind. Specifically, I noted down from both meeting that Jesus loves me since I was child through mother, father, brothers, friends and now through my husband. Whatever my husband is, God always gives His loves through him. When we would be there in the third meeting, I was so upset with my digestive system before I was going to the seminar. We finally came late though we were reluctant to show up and there we were to attend the seminar. I listened to the speaker telling about her broken family that was almost similar with my background reminded me to the lost link in the past.

It was hard to remember about the past but I just thought that there was a lot of burden I piled up. But I had to reveal them up towards God, I don’t know how to continue this while my heart’s supposed to bury the memory of my childhood with no mother even let me drown on what she said that I didn’t belong to her, I then mingled by shimmering world for reaction of refusing myself, or perhaps finding a relish that also mocked me down to the sin, trying to find the truth who I am. Till I’d promised to omit the past and began with my own endurance to strive between poverty, resentment, lost identity, that led to the ignoring of God, accused of anything He gave, pretended that no one care about myself except I myself. I ought to stand on myself. Oh I’m fed up with this kinda’ circumstances that are trying to snatch my heart into the gloom, to scratch deeply till I’m dying of mercy. Don’t know whose mercy….but the other part inside of me saying better get drunk and those will vanish with their own way but…Don’t!!!

Hence, the Life in the Spirit Seminar in church has stepped me up to the difference stance of this life, revealing another forgotten part of this world that I’d ever been running it before. Eventually, I knew that He really loves me, I believed that turning point was God has been working in me. He’s been digging my past & revealing it gradually became new revelation to what I live for, what is the purpose I live. Since that time I knew that God doesn’t promise to remove all struggles, and God had designed our life uniquely, as the bridge to carry us to joy. Sometimes what looks miserable at first glance is the fruit of God’s most exquisite gift……so I lift up a pray onto Him ”God I belongs to you, just work on me according to your plan”

As recited in Psalm 23:

The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever

I always remember even through the deep valley of life, that God is always be there with me, trying to pull me out of the valley through everyone around us. Eventually, my heart could be able to reconcile with the past…..and I realized that he has planned our life wonderfully before we know…..for His glory….and for us…..

Jakarta, 14 February 2006

The Lord is my Good Shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dealing with Difficult People

When asked what he considered the most
valuable skill in employees, John D.
Rockefeller once replied, “The ability
to get along with people!”

One of the most important skills
needed to succeed in ministry is
knowing how to handle troublemakers.
If you learn how to deal with
difficult people early on, then you’ll
be able to pour more energy into
ministry rather than needless
conflicts.

Troublemakers come in all shapes:

THE SHERMAN TANK – will run over you
if you let him.
THE MEGAPHONE – will talk your ear
off.
THE BUBBLE BUSTER – deflates
everyone’s enthusiasm.
THE VOLCANO – has a temper like Mt.
St. Helens.
THE CRY BABY – is a chronic
complainer.
THE NIT PICKER – is the unpleasable
perfectionist.
THE SPACE CADET – is on a different
wavelength.

What should you do with these types?

Jesus had to deal with a lot of
difficult people. Here are FOUR
methods he modeled through his life:

1. Realize you can’t please everybody
(John 5:30). Even God can’t do that!
One wants rain while the other demands
sunshine.

2. Refuse to play their game (Matt.
22:18). Learn to say no to unrealistic
expectations. Confront them
by “telling the truth in love.”

3. Never retaliate (Matt. 5:38-39). It
only lowers you to their level.

4. Pray for them (Matt. 5:44). It will
help both of you. Let God handle them.

Make this Bible verse your goal this
week, “If it is possible, as far as it
depends on you, live at peace with
everyone.” (Rom. 12:18 NIV)

“recited from an article”