Friday, September 18, 2009
Sweetest Memory
He is the one who picked me up from school when I was in first grades of primary school.
He is the one who read me English fairy tale books and translated them, lately I realized maybe it has triggered my interest in English :)
He is the one who accompanied me singing songs from my Sunday school (literally, he sang together with me), sometimes he mimicked me singing :).
Sometimes he accompany me when I have to stay late at night to study for tomorrow's exam.
I saw him treated my grandma so good... I have once wished I wanted to have a husband like him in the future...
Sometimes I wish he is still here on earth... I miss him...
At least he had become a right man figure to me
Guess I will have a husband with good traits like him :)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
About Dreaming
I don't get it... (-_-")
Lately I'm dreaming of traveling abroad... This is a bit weird, considering that I have never wished that I would go abroad in the past, at all... I was just content with my city and my country, while some people I know really want to go abroad for vacation. But now I feel the same desire (-_-")
Sometimes I still don't understand, are certain dreams really need to be fulfilled (we must strive and try everything legal to pursue them) or they are just merely temporary lusts? Yes, lust... 'Cause they might be born in our mind out of a boredom, or just as an expression of our deepest wish to be "free"? Free from everyday routines and tasks... to refresh our mind and soul, to feel and experience the new environment, meet new people, learn new culture... even if it's just for a while...
I guess that maybe sometimes people need to add new vocabularies to the brain, fresh perspectives, to refresh our "human library"... to feed our thirst of new knowledge...
...at least that's the way I feel...
But unfortunately, not everyone can get their dreams to go traveling... They stumbled upon the costs, their family, their current job, all things that make their dreams harder to reach.
Then I think... if our life is not about us but about God (because we are His possession), I'm questioning are those kind of dreams worth to be pursued?
Certainly, if I think about the wholeness of life, like it is written in Ecclesiastes, everything is meaningless... it's true. 'Cause no matter how much we can get, no matter how great is our pride, no matter how many places we can visit and "conqueror", anything you name it... at the end, they will be all meaningless... because our true life is not meant for this temporary world, but later, in the eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11)... That's why we can never be satisfied with the earthly things...
But another perspective, through all the process to achieve and experience our dreams, we can learn about His love, His almighty power, we can learn how to relate with God and also with other people the right way... Isn't that what God wants us to experience? Isn't that what God's goal for us to achieve? He wants us to be more alike with Him and also make every people His disciples. How we can fulfill God's goal in our life? By relating with God and others...
...and traveling is just one way among so many other ways...
Hmmm... I wish I can go travel to everywhere someday... not for the sake of traveling itself, but for a deeper purpose...
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Memories
Thought I wouldn't be missing you this much
Yes... you...
The ones dancing around in my mind
Time had taken me away from you
And everytime I remember you
The warmth of love and the little things that had happened
Make me want to re-write the past once again
I thought I've forgotten about you
Thought you had dumped in the garbage
Yes... you...
The ones leaving scar in my heart
Time had taken me away from you
And how I want to leave you right there
But you just can't...
Because you're also part of my journey
All of you...
You made me learn about love
You made me learn about forgiving
You made me see my God within my previous foot prints
Sweet...
Bitter...
It doesn't really matter anyway...
N-O R-E-G-R-E-T
'cause I know that He was with me along the way
It's the one that truly matters...
(by Fay)
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Only Hope - My Prayer Now
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again
I'm awake in the infinite cold.
But You sing to me over and over and over again.
So, I lay my head back down.
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only Yours, I pray, to be only Yours
I know now You're my only hope.
Sing to me the song of the stars.
Of Your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again.
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that You have for me over again.
So I lay my head back down.
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only Yours, I pray, to be only Yours
I know now, You're my only hope.
I give You my destiny.
I'm giving You all of me.
I want Your symphony, singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs, I'm giving it back.
So I lay my head back down.
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only Yours, I pray, to be only Yours
I pray, to be only Yours
I know now You're my only hope.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
While You Are Waiting
Moments between our previous achieved goal (or finished journey) and the next destination.
Those are moments when daily things happen as usual... but there's nothing (according to our point of view) happen regarding to our next goal...
No open door ...yet
No shining chance ...yet
No signs...
...Everything just feels so silent...
And we don't know what to do
Sometimes even feel useless because it feels like we're idle
That's what I'm (kind of) going through right now
But He reminds me that it's not my idle time
Instead, this is a time for me to keep learning things I want to learn
Time for me to strengthen my faith muscles
Time to discern which thoughts I can allow to stick in my mind and thoughts I should throw away
Usually idle times ease a great war in our mind
...and it's not a chance to give up nor to be ignorant
But it's time for us to make sure that we're doing everything we can (in wisdom)
So that we will come out as a winner in Him
So...
Let's build and strengthen our body now
So that in time
We will be able to fly high
"Blessed [is] the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit."
(Jeremiah 17:7-8) - NKJV
Jiayouuuu!!!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Doubt About Yourself?
Doubt about my ability...
Doubt about my heart's motivation...
Doubt about everything in me...
But suddenly God said softly...
That every time I doubt about myself, it's the same with not trusting Him
Because He is The One who has unlimited power upon anything, and anyone...
Despite of the thing's or person's limitations
If He can rise a dead person who is totally don't have anything
...no ability ...no consciousness ...no control over himself at all
I mean, he's not even breathing...
How a whole lot more He can do with a living person who truly wants to live right and wants to please Him, even though he is having many limitations or have made many mistakes?
He is right... just as always...
That every time I doubt myself, actually I doubt about His power...
...and of course, His unfailing love...
I definitely can surrender all my hopes in Him...
and He who have started His works in me will make sure it will be done until it is perfectly finished...
^.^
Jiayou my friends!
The Little Things Called LOVE
It's when my mom bought me chocolate fried cookies when she saw it at the store because she know I like it...
It's when my parents called me just to tell me to take good care of myself...
It's when God cheers me up by letting me go to Sinar Supermarket, to touch the soft furs of rabbits and hamsters sold there =p
*I'm learning to see and feel love in the little things*
^.^
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Learning to be Patient and Keep The Faith
Exodus 14:
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided
I just thought, actually God could make the sea dry land and divided the water just in a blink of an eye. I mean, He is God... He created the earth land with the grass and trees and fruits, plus the seas in just one day! Dividing waters in one sea should be easier and faster... but why did it take all night?
I don't know the answer, only God knows what He has done...
and I just think that only God knows what He is doing now in my life...
Well... honestly... lately (it's been a few months really) I have questions in my mind... God wants me to learn some lessons for sure... and when I think about the scripture, plus I read a good quote that said,
Be patient just as God is patient.
Then I think about all events when God really shows His unbelievable patience to human... I just speechless... This is just as usual, He always make me speechless and amazed by His way to keep me think about Him... ^.^
Just now, He reminded me again about Joseph.
When I was in Lippo Cikarang (my previous chapter of life), God also reminded me of Joseph. My journey is kind of similar with his journey. When I was in Lippo Cikarang, I thought it's similar with times when Joseph was separated from his beloved Father (I was separated from my family and all the familiar things before) and taken to a totally strange land. That was so similar (except the fact that I wasn't sold as a slave like Joseph =p). But I work there, and eventually find my interest in writing and internet.
Now... when few months ago I began to questioning about my current work, I was reminded about Joseph (again!) when he was thrown into the jail for a crime he didn't commit (he was accused for raping attempt to Potiphar's wife). In the jail, Joseph met the king's personal servant and chief cook. After he told the meaning of their dreams, he said to them as his own effort to get out of the jail, "But when these good things happen, please don't forget to tell the king about me, so I can get out of this place. I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and here in Egypt I haven't done anything to deserve being thrown in jail." Joseph just want to be free, and it's a fair demand because he didn't do the crime. Just be free from the jail, it's a simple request, is it too much to ask?
But what is the result of his own effort? It is said in Genesis 40:22-23, "Everything happened just as Joseph had said it would, but the king's personal servant completely forgot about Joseph." (Don't you think it's a bit illogical? I mean, how could he forgot about Joseph after what Joseph had predicted really happened in reality??? It's really God's intervention)
Joseph had to spend 2 more years in the jail before God make a way for Joseph to get out of jail (not just get out, but a lot more that just be a free man!) and promoted to be governor of all Egypt! What a day! That happened in just one day!
I see that one big difference in Genesis 41:16, "Your Majesty," Joseph answered, "I can't do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams.
Two years before, Joseph defended himself and protested about his condition, about things that considered unfair by his own judgement... He did all he could to be free, but nothing happened until God said that it was time for him to get out and fulfill his destiny...
I have to admit... I did what Joseph did... I tried to defend myself to others, I thought that what I'm going through right now is not fair... this is not what I expect... this is not what I deserve... I ask questions to God... But the result is nothing... There are days when I can control myself to be content and grateful, but there are also days when I'm still questioning, "What am I doing here, really?" ...like today...
God has His own reasons, and I believe it's a very good reason, He has a special purpose in my life, just as everyone else's life... and I know that there's nothing I can do to make Him move before its time... there's nothing I can do to make Him open a new way for me to escape from my process of character molding... He doesn't want me to (just) be a free person, He wants me to fulfill my destiny, a bigger purpose, just like Joseph.
Thank you God... I don't know what lies ahead of me... but like my friend's status on Facebook (I'm really amazed by His ways, He can remind me through anything!), I say:
I'm grateful for everything that had happened, for everything that is happening now, and for everything that will be happen... because I know You're The One who holds my future...
Monday, July 13, 2009
Unpredictable
That is the most common fact
You really can't predict your future based on the present time.
You can't predict of who you will become in the future based on who you are right now.
Remember the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to become a butterfly.
Do you see any body property of a caterpillar that shows you that he will (definitely) someday become a butterfly?
No signs at all!
But yet every caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
Remember Joseph's promotion to be a second Egypt leader after he stayed in the jail for a crime he didn't commit.
Do you see any clear signs of Joseph's former condition as a prisoner that makes you think he will be able to get out of the jail and become an important person second to Pharaoh?
No positive signs at all!
Even the chief wine-servant and the chief bread-maker were totally forgot about him after they have been released...
But yet, at its time, Joseph was promoted to be a second leader after Pharaoh.
Even in God, our life is still unpredictable...
But He had promised:
"For without doubt there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off."
(Proverbs 23:18)
and...
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
(Rome 8:28)
...as long as we keep following Him.
He is able
...and nothing is impossible in His plan for us.
Jiayou!!!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Nothing Else Really Matters
He will keep moving on without a care of what you want
When you count the running seconds
They have their own race without your compromise
You know you can't deny it
and you can't do anything to stop it
The only thing you can do is to find
What is the most precious thing in your life
So you won't miss it
...won't let it slips away
It's your family...
Your dad who leads you, teaches you, and gives you courage to live boldly
Your mom who gave birth to you, takes care of you, and always support you
Your siblings who share early life under the same roof...
When you know that you don't have much time left
You will know instantly....
That nothing else really matters to you
Not the things, but the beloved people matters most
...So use your time wisely...
'coz there's no turning back
* by Fay
(inspired from what happened yesterday - my friend's mom was RIP... and from "Click" movie)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
If You Lost Something...
First comment
If something is taken away from us, it means that thing is not good for us, God wants us to receive the best, a better one...
Second comment
If something is taken away from us, it means that thing is already expired, maybe God see that we don't need it anymore for the next phase of our life. Or, He might see that it can ruin our focus, or it has the potential to turn our hearts away from Him and The Truth...
Third comment
If something is taken away from us, it means maybe it is time for us to bless other people, because God may see that there is another person who is more in need than us and He wants us to be a blessing mediator. He might wants us to learn to let go...
Fourth comment
...Eum... "taken away from us"? Do you think that we really "own" that thing? 'Coz the truth is, everything is belong to God, we are just His managers, He is The only Owner of everything... Then how can we say, "This one thing has been taken from me"?
Fifth comment
Okay dude... this list can go on and on... but I wanna go to sleep now... hihihihihi... Good night... May God peace be with you and your family... Look at them before you sleep, aren't they the most precious treasures that God has given into your life?
Those comments moved me right after I have written all of them... It is like a reminder for me too... We can not see things the way they are visibly seen, because there is certain reason or certain purpose beyond them, beyond our understanding... and we need to completely trust in Him for that...
Thank You God... =)
Friday, May 22, 2009
Believe in the BUT
(John 16:20 - KJV)
Weeping and lamentation are common for everyone in certain parts of life. Maybe it is when we lost someone we love, when our best friend disappoint us, when our beloved one betrays us, when we lose our job, when we get unfair or injustice acts from others... The list could go on and on...
One thing to remember is that we live in a fallen world because of sin. BUT we must keep in mind that God still has control over our life.
We may fall BUT we have the ability to rise again.
We may stumbled BUT He will help us to step back again.
We may become weak BUT His love and words are our very own strength.
We may feel that we lose hope BUT our future is still in His hands
We may feel despair BUT He is able to turn our mourning into joy if we let Him to
There are things that happen out of our control, and we can't predict precisely about tomorrow, not to mention years ahead today... BUT we can trust our life in our Father, whose Love has been proven through His Son, Jesus Christ... The Only Son that He gave us to be a Savior, so He can live in us and we live in Him, as a part of His Kingdom, His children... He never leaves us alone...
"Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD."
(Psalm 31:24 - KJV)
Be strong and hold on to His unfailing promises!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Ultimate Love Will Set You Free
No 'cause I don't need to
I'm just okay
If numb is a normal thing to live
Few things had happened in the past
Got the hurt, the anger and disappointment
...and I just couldn't bear another one
I made a promise not to let my heart be broken again
So I let others know that I was tough
...that I was strong and happy
and my life was just good enough
...for myself
Leaving the dreams and bitterness
I was building the defense system
Hoping that it would be enough to keep away others from hurting me
...enough to make them know that they can't take advantages of me
I was right...
No strangers dare enough to interfere
It seems what I've been set up has made me safe
...but slowly my heart is turning to numb...
I can't laugh
I can't cry
My defenses have frozen my heart
It's not only closed the gate from tears, but also from love
Father help me...
I've made a mistake...
What I meant to protect myself has crushed my own ability to feel
Heal me 'cause You're the only One who can...
Nothing can erase the previous journey...
...nor the memories...
But heart can be restored and renewed
When the ultimate Love comes and washes the pain away
Apart from You I stood alone
Apart from You I gave my best efforts
Apart from You... they meant nothing
Now I know... Apart from You... I can't do a thing...
False love can make you cry
False love can make you laugh
But only true Love can set you free
True love can make you able to discern the right from wrongs
Father I open my heart gate
Fill me with Your True Love...
Monday, April 27, 2009
Double Standard = Insecurity
Yap, He has already given me the solution before I knew what exactly my problem is... You're so amazing God... Thank You...
The root of my problem is because I have my own standard about how things should be like in my life. There are few areas where I still hold on to my own standard and when my current condition doesn't reflect that standard (I don't achieve what I thought I should have achieved by now or I don't be in a position where I thought I should have been by now), I get confused, insecure, and begin questioning myself and God.
It's true what has been said in Isaiah 55:8, "'For My thoughts [are] not your thoughts, Nor [are] your ways My ways,' says the LORD".
It's undeniable fact that each of us have our own standards about the best timing, the best achievement, the best job, the best income or salary rate, etc... Although what we have is probably a good life standard (at least according to our point of view), but still... often it doesn't in line with His standard. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, no matter how big our hope (and how often we pray) to achieve something that goes with our standard, it just can't happen in the present time...
And the questions begin to rambling around in our heads...
"Am I too late to do this thing? Why didn't I do this earlier?"
"Have I been so stupid before? Maybe it wouldn't have to be this way if I tried harder..."
"Have I made a mistake and careless with my previous decisions that brought me to this position right now?"
"Did I lack of motivations? I thought I should be better than my dad, but look at me now... I even couldn't make him proud of me..."
Maybe you also have similar or other questions...
Well, I think the main problem is that we don't get what we want/wish, based on our standard...
We might be forget that our life is a life we live in Him... It means, if we grow in His truth and grow to become closer in our relationship with Him, naturally, His thoughts will be our thoughts, and we will be able to easily surrender our thoughts/will/hope that isn't come from Him. This is possible because we are created according to His image.
So, the only one standard we must hold on to is His standard...
If we keep our eyes on Him and keep growing in His love and His truth, then, no matter what mistakes we have done in our past, He will lead us in His way to fulfill our destiny according to His plan. This is very possible since He is the Only Mighty God who always in control...
So there's no reason for us to be despair and stuck in our place right now with a painful headache because we think we are the one who have to fix and keep up with everything. In fact, we just need to do the first thing first, and the rest will follow... =)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Watch Your Self Talk and Apply Gratitude
- I can't beat his/her skill
- I am a miserable man/woman, and always be like that
- I hate her/him for hurting me, no, I can't forgive her/him
- I'm a shy person, and I'm gonna stay this way
- she/he is so annoying, why can't she/he listen to me and do what I suggest?
- This trouble is too big, I can't handle this, whatever!
- etc
Our self talk could be about ourselves, our husband/wife, our friend, other people, or about condition/situation. It could be a condemnation, assumption, thoughts, or things we say to control our actions and reactions. And like any other talk, it could be positive or negative. But the most important thing that we should ask ourselves whenever we realize that we have our self talk is, whether it is in line with God's truth or not.
I has just realized that I have many wrong self talks, assumptions, jealousy, self-pity, and ignorance... If I didn't examine my self talk, they would go unnoticed for sure... and I would lose my chance to check myself and to fix my mindset.
Yesterday I read someone's writing, he shared about what he was doing to examine his self talk. He brought a little notepad and a pen, and he wrote every self talk that went on his mind about everything. How he was surprised to found that he had bad thoughts about his marriage, his wife, his job, and everything else... those little thoughts could sum up and become bigger and bigger, and at the end it has the potential to break or corrupt his own life...
We have to master our mind and submit it to God. Beside apply His words of truth into our mind, we have to make sure that we have a gratitude mindset.
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Paul is not telling you to be thankful for all the bad things that happen in your life, but rather we are to be thankful in our circumstances. There is a major difference between being thankful for every situation in life and being thankful in those situations. He challenges us to find reasons to be thankful even in the worst of struggles. Your circumstances might not change, but your attitude toward them can change, and that will make all the difference
We can simply focusing on the many things in our life for which we can be thankful. And making notes of them might help a lot... since we tend to forget the simple things...
You know, there are times when I ask, "What Your will for me God? Please lead me and show me Your will in my life..." I usually ask that question on specific things, but after I read that verse, apparently He had answered the basic of my question... His will for me is to have a gratitude life...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
a Second Chance
(Source: Kerygma Mailing List)
“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” – Mark 16:7
Peter is one of my favorite Apostles. He loves Jesus yet he has done a lot of things that, if he had done them to another person, would have ended their relationship immediately. Peter was a person who was fiercely devoted to Christ that he was willing to do everything for Him. (He even cut off another person’s ear when Jesus was about to be arrested at Gethsemane.) He also said things that he wasn’t sure he could fulfill. (He said he would never deny Jesus but then renounced Him not once but three times a few hours later.)
Still, Jesus loved him and forgave him enough for the angel to tell the women at the tomb to inform Peter specifically that He is risen from the dead. How’s that for second chances?
I like Peter a lot because he reminds me of myself — willing to follow Christ, yet falling into things that I know are bad and that hurt Him. Yet even so, Jesus still forgives me and assures me that He loves me even if I do not deserve it at all. (*by Tina Matanguihan)
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I got the above email this morning. And the bold sentence has poked me, it made me realize that I still have a scar in my heart that was caused by a person who said things that he wasn't sure he could fulfill (and at the end it has been proved that he couldn't fulfill the things he had said at the beginning).
But the fact is, I'm just the same with the person who has wounded me, I do need a second chance too... and I have received it from Him... Why wouldn't I also give a second chance to this person?
I wanna be like You, Father... please help me...
Friday, March 27, 2009
In a Blink of an Eye
Am I doing enough?
Because I feel all I’m doing is meaningless
Am I being enough?
Because I feel that everyone else is better than me
I’ve been hurt
I’ve been unconcious
I’ve done foolish things
I’ve made many disappointments
Few times I fell
Few times it seems like I’m going to be drowned
How can I runaway from this bad dream that has been haunting me?
How can I breath and be free?
In a blink of an eye
I see You…
My fears can’t hold me from reaching out to You
Cause I’m so hopeless…
In a blink of an eye
I see myself walking on Emmaus road
I didn’t see that You’re with me all along
and now I know…
In a blink of an eye
Everything comes on my sight
You are near… and Your love is real
Asking my faith to be set into You alone
Sometimes journeys reveal themselves
…just in a blink of an eye
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Dificulty Reveals Our True Qualities
Sunday, March 15, 2009
I'm Yours
I was just a body made of dust
Lying on the ground
Frozen and pale...
Then Your breath blew life into me
...in a blink of an eye...
I'm alive...
Your faithfullnes has been giving me
everything I need to grow...
and Your unfailing love
...is like an eternal flame
shining throughout my life
You've been so patient...
and Your forgiveness is uncountable
...there's nothing else I can say...
I am truly Yours...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
God Works in ALL Things
One sometimes meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it...
Sometimes our mind is like water... When it's agitated, it becomes difficult to see.. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear...
Because:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. ...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:28, 37)
^_^ Jiayou everyone!