Starting yesterday, all churches started the 40 days of pre-Easter time. Yesterday evening I attended the Ash Wednesday mass at church, and really got knocked. I realize that it was not just an ordinary mass and not just an ordinary Wednesday. To be honest, from all of my days being a Christian, this is the first time of really being serious on preparing Easter. The church was absolutely full, which I thought it wouldn't be. At that moment I entered the church and bent my knee to pray, I already felt the vibrant of Jesus' present. It was different than the days before. I felt sadness. Sad of remembering that thousands of years ago it was the time when Jesus' suffering began before He was crucified. But at the same time, I felt the amazement towards Jesus, on everything He is and what He has done. And how grateful I was for being there in the church together with other devoted christians, still alive, and still enjoying God's love.
What I want to share to you is that the pre-Easter time is a time for repentness, to cleanse ourselves, and to start realizing our bads and discard them. The 40 days time of fasting and praying would be the perfect time to do all that (but actually we should do that not only at pre-Easter time) if we haven't yet repent. I realized that through baptized we were called to live as God's will. But what happens most is that our life are far and away from God's will, because of the sins we have done. To be able to realize this and getting the chance to repent are really a blessing. It is our opportunity to get back to right path and get closer to Him.
So, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let's welcome and go through this blessing moment with all our heart.
God bless us all!
Starting The 40 days of Pre-Easter
Take It , You Can't Leave It
I want to tell you something about life. Well, maybe you know that most of the times we can't choose what we want to be, and we can't have what we want. And yes it makes us disappointed. And then we would start complaining, why does my life is like this or like that, why this and why that. And then we would try hard to get out of the situation, and get in to the situation we want. But the problem is... is that what God wants?
Apparently, when I read my devotional book, this thing doesn't always happen for us, the common christians, but it also happened to Jeremiah the prophet. I mean... "THE" prophet. As I read Jeremiah 20:7-18, reading the chapter's title interest me : "Jeremiah's Complaint"
"O Lord, You decieved me, and I was deceived; You overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in His name, His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jeremiah 20:7-9)
It makes me understand, that one cannot choose his path. God had chosen the right path for us. That's what we should believe. I have many complains everyday. I have many wants, and many things that happened each day didn't come up as I wanted. I had times when I cried and asked the Lord to give me another path that would be easier for me to go through. But one thing I know now for sure. I say it again, He had chosen the right path for me. No matter how hard it would look like. No matter how much tears it would cost me. I should believe that the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior. He himself that would fight for me.
My mistake all these times was that I tried to fight by myself, with my own power. I tried to change things around as I wanted, and apparently that has made things harder.
If I can take an end line, when we're facing this kind of situation, there is no other way but to accept it ungrudgingly. If we keep on striving against it, it would be useless. It would just be exhausting, evenmore it might add the problem. So when we can't change the situation, what we can do is to change our attitude and view towards that situation. The key is in the faith that our life is always under God's love and control.
A Heart of Gold
On Sundays, I watch my favorite Indonesian talk show on tv, just like I did yesterday. It is Kick Andy show. The show usually talks around social issues that happen in my country, Indonesia. And what it was talking about yesterday not only has touched my heart but also has opened my eyes to what I am.
It should not be surprising to know that there are still people with pure heart and good intentions towards those people in need. Been introduced and knowing about love that Jesus had spread through His men for all centuries, supposedly has made the world filled with loving people. But as I realize, there are not much love around.
Living in Indonesia is one blessing for me. There are a lot of things here that can make one realize that one should be grateful for every single thing that has received. Christians life are not far away from complains and grudges. Now that's the problem.
Why should we complain about our dress or shoes, while there are people in the streets wearing nothing but a thin cloth and a broken shoe or even no shoes to wear.I've seen children in the streets, very small, about age of 3-12, who rolling around begging for a coin, no shoes to wear, under the rain, because their parents can't afford to buy them food, not even school. We could do something for them. If we can't give them money, at least food can fulfill their hunger.
Why should we complain about the food we eat today, while there are people who don't have any money to buy food, when they can only eat leftovers food from the trash.
Why should we complain about our small house of a leaking roof, while there are people who sleeps on the streets with no roof, no protection from wind, rain, and sun.
Why should we complain about our job, while there are still many people who don't have a job or couldn't have a job because of self-lackness.
Why should we complain about our friend who doesn't want to apologize while we don't even remember that we have many mistakes to ask God for forgiveness.
And there are still many other complains we have made, without knowing and understanding that there are many people who live in suffering, more suffered than what we could experience.
I've also seen those madpeople walking in the streets with no clothes to wear, no shoes on their feet and very dirty. Our government has laws written about those madpeople that they will be put in the appropriate place to be taken care of. But it's a matter of heart and conscience. Many people would run away when they see madman in the streets. Well, some feel scared and some feel disgusted. For me, yes I feel scared sometimes. That's why when I watched the testimony of a man who opened up a facility to take care of them, I was amazed and touched.
It was said, Simon Nunai, a very humble man. This man, from Nusa Tenggara Timur, surely has a pure heart. With persevering, he continuously looking for some madpeople in the streets. Those abandoned special people are put in a house called "Pondok Kasih" or "Cottage of Love" in Tigaraksa, Tangerang, Indonesia. Those people are bathe and cleaned, because living in the streets for years, never bathe has caused them have skin diseases. Helped by a voluntary doctor, Dr. Vonny, those diseases are taken care of until they are cured. Through fasting and praying, Simon tries to heal those people. Amazingly through time and dedication, some of them are healed and now they can talk and do activities like normal people. They can even witness God's love. If only nobody cares about their life, those madpeople will keep staying in the streets waiting for their time to die, without knowing about God's love and power to heal.
"I do this because there's a calling from God," said Simon when he was asked why did he want to do it.
What an amazing story. Could we have a heart like that. God said just a simple heart who wants to do simple things for the least of these brothers. I was knocked.
The Children Of Light
Today my devotional comes from Ephesians 5:1-21. It's about The Children Of Light, and how I can be one. There are many things I should do, but God always give the chance for me to fulfill all the actions =")
Here I want to share you one by one, about what do we have to do as Children of Light, over the verses.
1. Be imitators of God
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."From these verses I learn that I have to live a life of love, which would make me the imitator of God.(vs 1-2)
2. Be Holy
"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."(vs 3)
"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God."(vs 5)
3. Have a thanksgiving lips
"Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."(vs 4)
"always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."(vs 20)
4. Always pleases The Lord
"and find out what pleases The Lord." (vs 10)5. Should not be lazy
"...Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you."(vs 14b)
6. Be wise with our days
"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."(vs 15-17)
7. Be filled with Spirit always
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."(vs 18)
8. Praise the Lord all the time
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord."9. Make peace with one another(vs 19)
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (vs 21)
Be An Encouraging Butterfly
Hebrews 13:3
Rome 14:19
It's obvious from what I received this morning that I have to be an encouraging person. Here in this context I believe I should do it with my mouth. That I should use it to witness about God's grace and also to encourage others with good deed. But what I am so warned is that I am mostly use my mouth to complain, complain and express my anger. Ohhhh what a sin... they are not at all encouraging to others who see me complaining and angry. I think, for all I have lived, those are the two things that are very hard for me to deal with. I would just cry at night when I realized that I was angry to someone that day or too many complains... but why did the next day I do it again? I know what's right but sometimes it seems I am blinded and spontaneously do the wrong thing. Ohhh... I hope, I hope and I pray I pray to be a better person each day... a person that can be a good witness for God, from my acts and my words.
God bless us all!
Reflection : Living As Witnesses Of Faith
Acts 1:8
Today I learn and remember the lesson that I got when I first accept Jesus as my savior. Back it was about 10 years ago. Well I admit, I have been away from God, I am not as obedient as I was back then. I guess this happens a lot. When I repented for the first time and accepted Jesus as my savior, my heart was filled with graceful and the spirit to share God's love and words was so enflamed. But then slowly but sure, trials and temptations come, and the flame just got lessened...
When I think of that, it makes me feel so sorry for my self. And then I realize how sad God would be, and already has, for what I have become and for what has happened to me. If I just tried to open my eyes to see what God has done in my life each day, I would see tons of blessings. I believe that God never stop in action, of doing what's best for me. Even for the simplest thing that's happen in my days. But many times I forgot. I would woke up very tired in the morning. I would just complaint and feeling lazy of waking up. But God gives me the strength to go through that day. And I would forget to give thanks when I sleep that night. How sad.. and yes it is sad to think of. Its just as simple as to just say "Thank you, Lord", and I didn't do it. Let alone to be God's witness to share God's love and blessing... I didn't even realize them.
There's a story in the bible about the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at Jacob's well. It was said to be a special encounter. At that place, the woman realized and saw who she is; a sinful person with lots of self-shortage (This should be the beginning of what I should experience; a personal encounter with Jesus). Next, that encounter lead the woman to the admittance that Jesus is God. That had made her "left her water jar" and witnessing about Jesus to everyone. I should also leave my worries, my pleasures and richness that I honestly been thinking to pursue lately. And starting to think more of God.
It is not a mistake at all, when I heard my priest said that walking with God is a lot of fun. Although we see with our eyes that the world is cruel and the problems are many, but God always helps those who puts trust in Him.
Bless ya!
A Prayer
Dear Lord,
I ask for Your blessing, so that I can make the best use of my life not for my own interests that are wrong most of the times...
Teach me to take time to pray and read Your Gospel.
So that everyday I can use it to do Your will...
God's Butterfly's 1st Words
Shallom,
Finally I have my religious side on blog =") It was quite a battle actually. To be honest, I don't think I am yet to be a God's butterfly. There are more downs in my life than the ups. But I can still be grateful for the ups though =") I admit that God has been very nice to me. Through all my sinful days, He is still here with me, being absolutely patient waiting for my repent over and over again. Because of God's kindness to me, it gives me the yearning to share my life of how God guides me each and every day. Or probably share the Gospel that I receive every day.
There might be unpleasant day... not I hope... but afterall, I am still an ordinary girl huhu... I'm trying to be a better person each day though.
Oh and, dear sisters and brothers in God, please feel free to leave any comments that may encourage me, so let us walk together in God's path =")
Bless ya!
