How to be happy

In what way shall we attain to this settled happiness of soul?
How shall we learn to enjoy God?
How shall we obtain such an all-sufficient soul-satisfying portion in him as shall enable us to let go the things of this world as vain and worthless in comparison?

I answer, this happiness is to be obtained through the study of the Holy Scriptures. God has therein revealed Himself unto us in the face of Jesus Christ.

--George Muller

My tribute by Crystal Lewis

If they persecuted me, they will persecute you

I told the folks I cherish how my sin have been forgiven
How Jesus changed my outlook, took my guilt and gave me heaven
They thought I lost my senses, turn fanatic, lost my reason
They charge me with betrayal and a vicious kind of treason
And I wandered why salvation should cost me so much pain

If they persecuted me they will persecute you
For the slaves is not above the Lord he serves
My assignment was the cross
You, my slave will bear some lost
My disciple takes his cross
And daily nurse his heart and mind to follow me

Then soon I learn my brothers and my sisters in the Savior so often shine in suffering
With astonishing behavior adoring the blessed gospel
With forbearing perseverance
Forgive their cruel tormentors with the graceful firm endurance
Still I wander why salvation should cost them so much pain

If they persecuted me they will persecute you
My assignment was the cross
For the slaves is not above the Lord he serves
You, my slave will bear some lost
My disciple takes his cross
And daily nurse his heart and mind to follow me

What alien perspectives I’ve pursued with willful blindness
For apostolic servants will rejoice at God’s great kindness
And reckoning them worthy to take on a little battering
They long to know Christ power and the fellowship of suffering
For their understood their calling to trust and suffer pain

If they persecuted me they will persecute you
For the slaves is not above the Lord he serves
My assignment was the cross
You, my slave will bear some lost
My disciple takes his cross
And daily nurse his heart and mind to follow me

Beautiful poem, taken from Dr. D.A. Carson sermon "the strange triumph of the slaughtered lamb" on Rev 12

Counting my blessings

I had a good chat with Cecel just now at church and it was really good to hear similar struggles and feelings from her. She had encouraged me so much and there was a lot of sharing from her part as well. Anyway...I won't detail out the conversations (because it is not for public consumption ;p). I only want to share the things that stuck in me from what she shared. We talked about laboring and toiling for the work of the Lord. It was hard work yet she said some people can just pour out their lives for others. She said these people have their cup full and overflowing and so they were able to share it to others. We admired these people and would like to experience that in our lives. She also mentioned abt her experiencing God's love and grace in her life, that are the things that keeps her go on serving.

I hope I never appear to be strong or pretend to be strong to any of you. Because I am not. and because I am actually very weak. She made me wants to count my blessings, tracing the hands of the Lord's faithfulness despite the burnt out that I faced. So, that is what exactly what I am doing now.

I thank God for:

• Both of my parents. Pa, Ma, I knew I had a hard time understanding you and I am sure you feel the same too. But, I just want to say that even though we protest or trying to break free from the rules and the obedience required, I just want to be thankful for you both. Because, you both love us dearly. Dear enough to care that much about us. Forgive our rebellions and many debates that might have upset you. Thank you for bearing with us, understanding us (especially Dad, you are so gooood, I love you kiss, kiss) and working hard for raising us. We hope we will be able to be good son and daughter for you all. All the more, we hope be a faithful witness to present you Christ through our word and deed. So that you too may share our joys in Him and serving the Lord together with you for the rest of our lives.
  
• Tracey my mentor in NZ. Although sometimes I felt that our culture clashes and we might not understand each other, I am grateful for your guidance and constant support throughout the entire year and difficult final semester in NZ. Thank you for laughing, praying, crying with me, listening to my crap, investing for the progress of my soul and having me in your house and your library. Thank you for cooking brown rice when we had chinese dishes. I felt very healthy and I've grown to enjoy brown rice. Thank you for the book "search the scriptures". Wow, the most excellent and rewarding bible study guides I ever had.
  
• Andrew Lim. Thank you for your passion for the Word of God, Holiness, getting us in scripture studies, students life, evangelism, apologetics, ministering the poor and despised. Thank you. You break the paradigm I have for preacher and you are the most daring, the most honest, the most inspiring, the most passionate preacher of the Word in NZ. Every single sunday, you always leave me thirst for God. I really like what you said about not underestimating the minds of young people. Hence, you always give us meat to eat and never milk. You fed my hungry soul despite I don't really talk much to you but God has used you to provide me with solid food and preserve my faith while I am in NZ. The only time talking was the time of praying near the cross with you, and I mostly cried. So...sorry.
  
• Kak Ivan. Thank you for faithfully ministering small group of teenagers in our school. I have given my life to Christ through your ministry. You have challenged us ever since in senior high that we must not be ignorant and passed our days without thinking. Thinking about worldview we held, thinking about the purpose of life, thinking about what we believer in and how we are living it out. Thank you for providing biblical teaching to us and you have grown the desire in me to pursue God and trust Him. God has used you to grow my faith in Him and I am ever thankful for your service, hardwork and investment in our souls.
• PNOCF (Palmy Overseas Christian Fellowship). Wow! bitter sweet memories. But, thank you guys, thank you for being my company in journeying this life of faith together. Despite many downs, we really clicked aye and had a lot of fun together. Thank you for sharing the same passion for the gospel and reaching out to the lost friends on campus. Despite our busyness, we managed to slot in a few good things for us to do. Always enjoy meals with you and breaking the ice. Thank you for your faith in Christ and examples you put for me, your patience with me and willingness to be my friend despite me being a difficult person (easy to be anxious and grumpy and all that). I learnt so much and changed so much as a person after my time in OCF. I was very timid, quiet and does not have social skills (hahaha). Then after I became 'wild', crazy, bubbly, can approach strangers, can embarassed myself in front of public. Aiya, doing all the skits and dancing blabla. But I now, I am sort of retreating to my initial quiet, properly, behave Lilis. Not losing some of my silly traits lah. HAHAHA. I appreciate Nigel posted our south island trip video in 2006. Huaaa. miss youuu: Mike, Anne, Nigel, NaiC, Miche, Es, Uncle Loh, Poon, Tina, Jess, YY, Steve, Ian, Twins.
  
• TSCF (Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship). Thank you for all the intensive teachings and unpacking the word. From you, I can get in touch with most of the student leaders in NZ and can exchange ideas, build network and supoort each other. I thought that is really cool. Equipped better to minister students around the campus. I always scared and nervous whenever it is the time to do wednesday evangelism. Certainly the skills developed from there really useful for me as a person and I can use it anywhere. Thank you for sharing the passion for good biblical teaching, for books!!! thank for introducing J. Piper, J. Stott, J. Bridges, C. S. Lewis, D. A. Carson, Spurgeon, Chambers, which otherwise I wouldn't have a clue. Thank you for interesting and fun staff worker to work with and learn from.
• Ci Phebe and anak-anak GKBHJ mk. Thank you peeps because you are my sipiritual home when I am back in Jakarta. Thank you Ci, udah mo doain saya, makan siang sama saya, dengerin curhat saya, nanyain kabar saya. Semuanyaa deh. Anak-anak GKBHJ, you guys are lively bunch! thank you for lending me your listening ears, and praying for me and exchanging books with me!! woohoo. Di GKBHJ, seklaipun preachers from many different denom. but some are from STEMI students so we do get good good meaty sermons. I sensed a community in this church. I do pray how I might be of help for you all when my faith are back in shape and my personal relationship with God is stronger.
  
• Dedeku sayang. Thankful that He gave his life to God. This is one of God's greatest gift apart from my own salvation. Imagine a thin boundary between Heaven and Hell and He was just fortunate enough (meaning God has looked on him with favor) to break through and get saved! Fiuh. You won't understand it until when you are witnessing to others and there was no response at all from them. Thank you for praying for me and listen to my crap and also my curhat too. Thank you for listening and your willingness to change your bad habits. I can see you are progressing. amazing God workings, aye dear!
• Thank you for Mark who brought me home from SLC because I was really sick.
• Thank you that Vanya was the doctor that I saw, cos she is from my church. She is really nice.
• Thank you for Sue, my dear gud hostmum. Despite our different beliefs, we were able to get along and you have been very kind to me. God is good to put me there in your house.
• My first work as a cashier. I am glad I tasted hard labor, otherwise I won't be able to sympathize with those who are in. Altho, mine one was just working in a budget supermarket and yea punk people. It was still pretty nice tho compare to other kinds of labor.
• My second work, eventhough I was not paid but I learnt heaps, critical thinking, analyzing results and intrepreting graphs. Cheers Touc.
• My third work, wow, working there it was lotsa fun. Enjoyed the tea breaks, snacks, people, events, and bugging my boss with questions. Thank to Suzanne, I didn't know you enjoyed me working there. I enjoyed working with you as well.

I want to experience more of You, Lord. I want to be able to trace until the smallest things you did for me so that I may testify it that You are always with me.

The Face of Jesus

The face of Jesus:

marred more than any man--
spit upon,
slapped,
thorn-pierced,
bloodied,
sweating,
the beard plucked,
twisted in pain--

For my salvation.

A glorious face, now.

Let its light shine on me, O Light of Life.

Let Your radiance fall on me, Sun and Savior,

Lighten my darkness.

Then grant me this by Your grace:

That I, in turn, may give

"The light of the knowledge of the glory of God" (2 Cor 4:6 AV)

As I see it in the face of Jesus Christ.


Go! Tell it on the mountain! Over the hills and everywhere!
Go! Tell it on the mountain! that Jesus Christ is Lord!

The First Miracle of Jesus, Most Exciting!

I went to our church prayer meeting tonight, quite reluctantly, quite unsure, to be honest...rather unexcited. But, yea, for sure God did speak through His Word. The way the prayer meeting was led, really brings...what's the word.... a sense of waiting on God (doesn't stop there), but the God who is Holy, who is mighty, who is powerful. The time taken to confess our sins was indeed valuable, remembering our state. Better be clean before we come in the presence of the Lord. And the Hymns. There is just something about the Hymns. So, really well done!

There is just something about gathering in the midst of fellow believers. If you feel you are weak in faith, when you gather with victorious Christians, you will not help but to feel you are right then and there being taken out from your pit. Seriously, that's how I feel.

And man! we have not talked about the sermon, haven't we? Ok. The passage we were studying was John 2:1-11.

1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,
<sup>The third day here is the third day after Jesus called his first disciples. These small group of people is a little community in itself. I guess, they are happy to know and support each other. Strange! why Jesus' mother? why not Jesus' father was mentioned? the Jews are partriachal and normally unless it is really significant, they will not even mention a woman in writings. It is actually believed that Joseph had already passed away. Jesus, probably in His thirties, as the firstborn, has to father to his brothers and sisters. This also lead us in understanding the reason Jesus could sympathize and understand whatever hardships we are going through.

2</sup>and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
<sup>This verse is also significant. This wedding was attended by Maria, Jesus and his disciples. This group of disciples are not only left to their own small community, caring for only among themselves. But, they are also included in larger groups like this wedding. A small community must be a blessing to a larger community. Jesus always point his disciples back to the harvest (fields of people), ready to be plucked, but the harvesters are few. Church must be salt and light of the world.

The wedded couple must be pretty generous to have them because the disciples might not know them.

Wedding, Marriage is an important institution that even Jesus would regard its significance by attending it.

3</sup>When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
Wedding in the olden days, could last up to seven days as it will take days for some of the invited party to travel. (Imagine, we so take for granted the ease of transportation where we reside). Normally, to entertain guests, the wedding party will provide wine. But, this event was lacking of wine for the guests. Instead of thinking the organizer was thrifty or unprepared or feeling unappreciated, Maria prayed to the Lord (by talking to Jesus) regarding their need. How many times have we prayed for people around us? I remember the time I was taking my afternoon walk. I posted not long ago, about their stressed and exhausted faces. Instead of emphatizing, I was wishing ONLY for myself, not to be looking like zombies. Sometimes I am the cause of other people's sadness. Very selfish aye?

⁴"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

Jesus' reply is very interesting. If you respect your mother, would you reply so? Dear woman. Not even addressing her status as his mom. But, here is a woman who is in need still of the salvation from the savior of the world, Jesus. A woman who is in need to be taught the purpose of Him being on earth despite she was chosen to be God's instrument to be his mother. Imagine, the awkwards moments as his mother but also as his disciple. She must have released Him to the Lord fully. Here when Jesus said that His time has not yet come, Maria as human must submit her desire into God's desire. Like us, when we pray, not until our desire is achieved, but our desires be molded into desiring what God desire.

What do we wish to get out of the church? Have we actually prioritized others need above ours? We should encourage one another to help, serving the Lord is not for our own benefit but for the benefit of others.

⁵His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

⁶Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.^a]">[a]

⁷Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

The servants are the most obedient people. They obeyed whatever Jesus told them. I am sure they will be thinking so many things as they were told to fill the jars with water instead of wine. How to get the water? you must go out of town to get there and back. Just what are the questions in their mind? may be...

"I hope this guy really knows what he is doing...fancy filling the jars with water. Why not we go to nearer place and get real wine??"

But, they did it.

⁸Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

When they go and draw the water things might not be too hard. But, when they had to bring it to the master of banquet...I can imagine the shivering, the nerve-racking feeling as they bring it to the master. They are only servants...they know in their mind what was in the jar. It was water. And this is the first miracle Jesus did. They hadn't known this Jesus. If they messed this up, they are screwed. Might be going without job. Likewise with serving the Lord. Day in Day out...years passed. Serving Him is not gonna get easier. But when the water was turned into wine, the happiest person is the servant.

They did so, ⁹and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

Blessed be the servants!!! For they had been witnessing the whole process and understood very well that it was a miracle. The water turned into wine. What a relief!

¹¹This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

Like what Pak Yahya said, we thought we gave the best, but God was able to give more. So, sad are those who settle for human best, and happy are those who acknowledge their incapabilities let God show His power. Like the servants, instead of giving in to their thoughts, of what they think is best to do (may be to go to the shops and stock some wine), they chose to obey and follow the word of Jesus. Boom! the result is no sweat. Whole 6 jars were filled with the best wine the guests ever had in the party. I want to stop stressing out. I want to stop being anxious when things didnt go on my way. I know I can ask God's mercy for my discrepancies in carrying out the task given. The God that I worship is really big, bigger than my problem. I needn't to worry. It is God's ministry not my ministry.

Father, I pray that you will take out fear in my heart. I pray that you will make me be a victorious christian, be a faithful christian that though it is getting harder to serve but we will be equipped with patience endurance and eyes fixed to the end. That we may share in the joy of witnessing your power working mightily here on earth. Help me Lord. your little worm.

Kewirausahaan/Entrepreneurship

Dari judulnya mungkin terdengar agak maskulin. Gue gak mencoba untuk jadi cowok sih, gak juga terlalu mendukung gerakan feminisme yang menurut gue bisa sangat ekstrim yaitu menginjak-injak harkat dan martabat pria. Apakah wanita tidak butuh pria? (hehehe, gua juga gak tahan ama bahasa gua, tapi bener kan?). Jangan mau jadi wanita yang dihasut ingin mengalahkan pria atau menjadi pria (or in any way along the line). There is nothing worst than fighting against yourself.

Eniwei, sebenernya apa sih yang dibutuhkan untuk menjadi wirausahawan ulung? (this the million dollars question!) gue cuma berharap bisa lebih pintar dalam mengatur dan memutar uang ;p. Karena menurut gue, gue itu ignorant dan tidak cerdas dalam hal keuangan. Perjalanan masih panjang, but it must start now if I would like to get somewhere. Banyak orang yang susah setengah mati terjebak dalam hutang, dan banyak pula yang tidak bisa bangkit dari kebangkrutan. Gue mungkin gak punya hutang, tapi kalopun punya uang, lama-lama dikeruk, habis juga kan. Pengangguran membuat gue sadar. Hahaha. Lama prosesnya gua.

Beruntung gue punya bokap yang bisa jadi mentor gua dalam hal ini. Doi memang sangat gracious sih sama kita-kita. Nah, kalo dia yah, kegagalan berkali-kali lah yang menjadi sumber inspirasi dan pelajaran buat dia berusaha sampai dia bisa debt free. Bagaimana gue bisa meminimize mistakes, belajar dari papa, dan be financially free? itu salah satu yang pengen gue belajar. If it is achievable, why not learn? why we want to go the hard way?

Iya, ada orang yang pikirannya sempit dan view bahwa kekayaan hampir selalu membawa kita kepada kecintaan pada uang. Memang harus ada kehati-hatian. Selalu balik lagi ke motivasi dibelakang layar. Jangan juga sampai kehati-hatian kita membuat kita berpikir bahwa kekayaan itu dosa. Tapi jangan malah tujuan hidup kita bagi kristus malah digantikan dengan pengejaran akan kualitas hidup (pribadi) yang lebih baik lebih nyaman. Seperti kata Dr. Piper, it is a poor substitute compare to living for Christ. Jadi motivasi dibelakang making money harus bener dulu deh. Gua rasa gue masih harus work on that. Biar Tuhan yang bantu. Kalo sudah dipercayakan dengan berkat materi, bagaimana menggunakannya lebih efektif lagi bagi pekerjaan Tuhan bukan semata-mata untuk kepentingan pribadi. Ada pepatah tepat yang berkata: there is one principle of hell: I am my own. Ketika kita hanya perduli diri kita sendiri, kita mulai berlangganan deh tuh prinsip-prinsip neraka.

Tapi yah, gue menemukan bahwa orang-orang yang takut2 supaya tidak cinta uang malah tidak pintar dalam mengatur dan memutar uang. Iya gak sih? karena kita jadi cenderung konservatip. Ini kan gak baik lho? kurang pintar. Gue yakin Pak Joseph setuju (dari career fellowship).

Eniwei, back to the million dollar question. From what I got in the seminar, the answers seem to be selling (must master the skill), get rid of fear (must be confidence), be able to work in a team well (because you achieve very little with yourself), identify and seize opportunity, think outside the box (change your mindset). The worst enemy is yourself really by the look of the list. Fear is in your mind, all sorts of fear: fear of man, fear of failure, fear of change bla bla. The old way of thinking must be changed. In that way, inertia wouldn't have much impact and you will be swaying smoothly. That's from my TSO paper I did last time. I enjoyed management studies, eventhough it is hard in practise. But, one of the skills that I really want to master is to be able to manage people, to get people buy in to your ideas. I remember what Jesus said, if you want to be the greatest you must be the lowest. Paradoxical principle. But, I tried it once to my horrible assignment team. It sort of worked. Hehehe.

Quotes of the Day "Relying on God"

Charles Bridges:

"It is most important habitually to contemplate our work in its proper character as a “work of faith.” As such, it can only be sustained by the active and persevering exercise of this principle. This is what makes it a means of grace to our own souls, as well as a grand medium of exalting our Divine Master.

It is faith that enlivens our work with perpetual cheerfulness. It commits every part of it to God, in the hope, that even mistakes shall be overruled for his glory; and thus relieves us from an oppressive anxiety, often attendant upon a deep sense of our responsibility. The shortest way to peace will be found in casting ourselves upon God for daily pardon of deficiencies and supplies of grace, without looking too eagerly for present fruit."

what truth! I like the quote. Talks about daily pardon of deficiencies, oppressive anxiety reliefs, I need that. It is the time to exercise some faith, Lilis.

"Take one step at a time, every step under Divine warrant and direction. Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel. He loves to be consulted."

Wow...talk about dependence on God. I think I've foolishly forgotten this privilege.

"What men do by themselves they do for themselves. They eat their own fruit, devouring the praise of what they do. Only the Christian who does everything by Christ does it all for Him. He takes his nourishment from Him into whom he has been grafted; and this is what makes him fruitful." –William Gurnall (The Christian in Complete Armour, Volume 2, p. 49)

"If he can do any duty, he acknowledges it is Christ's strength more than his own. As the ship gets to the haven more by the benefit of the wind than the sail, so when a Christian makes swift progress, it is more by wind of God's Spirit than the sail of his own endeavour." –Thomas Watson

A good reminder for me. It is Christ who calls and He who call, will provide the strength we need to accomplish the work. May I grow more in the knowledge of God and in humility to serve.


"The mark of a beautiful woman is in her unwavering trust in the Lord and in her many good deeds to others." -from Carolyn Mahaney sermon

Reflection

Setelah melihat balik ke beberapa bulan sebelumnya dan beberapa tahun, aku melihat sebenarnya pertolongan tangan Tuhan itu cukup banyak. Bahkan disaat-saat genting, susah menghadapi orang tua yang menentang segala iman dan pelayanan saya. My activity back in the University are not worth mentioning really. Only thing I hope that God will see my broken sacrifice, broken because sometimes it was not done wholeheartedly, with lotsa doubts and grudges. Totally ashamed, ashamed that I was so anxious about my situation whereas other people with more responsibility than me was able to keep their head up over all situation and move on. Yea I was exhausted, worked myself to the ground, and I don't want to repeat the same thing again. It's not fun, I tell you.

Anyway, it's all over, long gone. I hope to start afresh with God. Knowing whatever that had happened is never beyond His sovereignty, then He should take care the past and the future too. I only want to be a free servant. But may be genuinity can only come through trials and griefs.

I refuse to lose hope for the future.
I refuse to be anxious about tomorrow.
I refuse to dwell in self-pity.
I refuse to serve myself.
I refuse to doubt God's goodness and compassion.
I refuse to live from human approvals.
I refuse the aboves!!!

Forgive, I might have been thinking highly of myself than I ought, Lord. please kill my pride.

A Prayer to love

I pray, O God, that I may know You and love You, so that I may
rejoice in You. And if I cannot do so fully in this life may I
progress gradually until it comes to fullness. Let the knowledge
of You grow in me here, and there [in heaven] be made complete;
let Your love grow in me here and there be made complete, so
that here my joy may be great in hope, and there be complete in
reality. Lord, by Your Son You command, or rather, counsel us
to ask and You promise that we shall receive so that our ‘joy may
be complete.’ I ask, Lord, as You counsel through our admirable
counsellor. May I receive what You promise through Your truth
so that my ‘joy may be complete.’ God of truth, I ask that I may
receive so that my ‘joy may be complete.’ Until then let my mind
meditate on it, let my tongue speak of it, let my heart love it, let
my mouth preach it. Let my soul hunger for it, let my flesh thirst
for it, my whole being desire it, until I enter into the ‘joy of the
Lord,’ who is God, Three in One, ‘blessed forever. Amen.’

A N S E L M
Proslogion

Reflection

I am enjoying my walks through the pages of Genesis. It almost come to an end. Every time, I would like to write something about it, I was just not able to pour it out. I share with you some significant points I found:

• God created the universe, man and woman
• Cain and sin
• the tower of Babel and human inclination to sin (since birth)
• Noah and the ark saved because He feared God
  
• God's faithfulness to his promises for Abraham
• Abraham's fall, fear for his life twice
• Sarah's doubt (and God's grace on her)
• God's patience, despite all mistakes he reconfirm his promises
• Abraham's faith test
• Abraham's mess with Hagar
• Abraham let Lot have the land he wants
• Abraham's journey to Egypt after God promised to bless him in Canaan.
  
• Isaac following Abraham's mistake
• Esau despising his inheritance
• Jacob's life change while serving for 20 yrs at Laban
• Jacob's inability to discipline his sons
  
• Jacob's journey in knowing the Lord, from calling God as the God of his fathers until acknowledging Him as His own God
  
• Joseph's life journey from his father's house to Potiphar's to Prison to being positioned as Governor (God uses everything, work through everything for own good).

God hath proven Himself to remain faithful even when we are faithless. His promises for us who belong to Christ are yes and amen! He who discipline us is still compassionate and yet carry it out to enable you to bear more fruits. He who cares for the details of our life and helps and leads us in path's of righteousness. He who forgives sins and gives future and hope. He who is sovereign, is still so even when unpleasant times comes. He who is able to work all things even evil things done to us for our own good. He is praiseworthy forever and ever.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.

"I have thought I am a creature of a day, passing through life as
an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and
returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few
moments hence I am no more seen. I drop into an unchangeable
eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven—how to
land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to
teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath
written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price
give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowledge enough
for me. Let me be homo unius libri [a man of one book]."
John Wesley

A prayer

I surrender all to your hands, Lord
the dearest things of my heart
You know which I try to keep for my own and the hardest to let go
By Thy strength enable me to lay it down in your altar
For you are either Lord of all or you are not Lord at all.

Circumstances never, never refute your love for me.
Even if it speaks and screams the opposite
When we gaze into Your Cross at Calvary
You have been gracious and that is enough.

Keep my eyes fixed upon you, Jesus
Keep my heart pure, serving only You
May I not share in any glory that belongs to You alone
Whenever I am tempted to serve myself,
Have mercy, remind me of who You are and who I am

Thank you for Your saving grace
Even when we are faithless
You remain faithful
For you can not disown Yourself

Thank you that we may share in the blessing of Abraham
Together with the believers, we are heirs of the promises
You can not lie and do not change your mind
Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.

May the word of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you O Lord, my rock and my redeemer! Amen.

Jesus, I surrender all...

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

The Key and The Ideal World (edited)

Thank you to IEC by encouraging us to share our treasure in Christ. Bukan asal share, bukan asal ngomong tentang Yesus, bukan asal buka mulut, bukan asal ulur tangan...tapi boleh berbagi dengan hati yang mencintai. Wow. This is the key. Kasih. Kasih adalah kunci daripada segala usaha penginjilan kita. Kasih menjamin apa yang kita lakukan itu tulus dan tidak bertujuan lain. Biarlah Tuhan mengubah hatiku untuk lebih sungguh-sungguh mencintai. Lebih percaya akan janji-janjiNya, lebih pegang teguh, tidak terombang-ambing. Sebab, hanya Yesus...hanya hidup bagi Yesus, hanya hidup yang rela dipakai untuk menggenapi tujuan dan panggilanNya yang membuat hidup ini begitu berarti, begitu bermakna, begitu hidup. You live serving your life purpose. Adakah makna dalam hidupmu? Apa tujuan hidupmu? Where are you going? What is your goal?

Saya tidak puas akan realita. Saya tahu dunia yang ideal itu ada, dan saya rindu akan kekekalan dan dunia yang sempurna. My heart yearns within me, come Jesus come! Terima kasih untuk Marshwiggle (Silver Chair, C.S. Lewis), kata-katamu begitu menginspirasi! kamu tidak puas akan dunia bawah karena begitu boring, begitu sederhana, begitu jelek dibandingkan dunia Narnia yang sarat dengan keindahan (talk about Beauty, Majesty, Brilliance, Excellency, Immense Glory, Perfection, Purity, Awesomeness, Absolute Peace and Irrisistable Joy). Yet, all these words are only human attempts to express something beyond them, consuming and overpowering. Kamu tetap membela Narnia sekalipun dunia Narnia dianggap sampah dan mimpi belaka.

KFC Copy

Gue pengen bgt bisa bikin ayam goreng ala KFC sendiri. Mami juga udah sering nyoba and both of us failed!!! sebel. always gagal. So dengan geram, saya search internet dan menemukan sebuah resep yang lumayan masuk akal. Tomorrow, we will give it a go. Berikut kutipan postnya:

Penasaran buat bikin ayam goreng tepung, biasanya gak pernah berhasil. hasilnya gak sebagus ayam KFC atau abang2 yang jual dipinggir jalan. apalagi disini ngiler bgt liat iklan KFC yang ayamnya kayaknya renyah bgt deh. kan saya jadi kepengen...padahal gak boleh makan KFC disini karena gak halal. akhirnya dengan melakukan reserch berhasil juga aku bikin ayam goreng yang renyah ala KFC, sudah ketahuan deh rahasianya. ternyata gak usah pake tepung macem2 atau tambahan macem2, kuncinya ada pada saat menggoreng dan membalur tepungnya aja. aku tulis aja deh resepnya disini takut lupa

Ingredients:
bahan ;
1 ekor ayam dipotong2, ada bagian paha, dada, sayap campur2 aja. kecuali bagian tulang belakang aku gak pake.
tepung terigu biasa secukupnya aja kira2 cukup buat ngebalur ayam.
telur ayam 2 butir dikocok
merica bubuk
garam
kalau suka yang rasa pedas bisa dikasih cabe bubuk ditepungnya

bumbu yang dihaluskan:
garam
jahe 1 ruas
bawang putih 2 siung
merica kira2 aja kl suka pedes bisa dibanyakin

Directions:
1.bumbu yang sudah dihaluskan dipakai buat ngelumuri ayam, diamkan selama 15 menit, sisanya ayam yang sudah dilumuri bisa disimpan dikulkas buat digoreng besok.

2. ambil ayam yang sudah dilumuri bumbu, balur dengan tepung terigu, abis itu balur dengan kocokan telur, terus masukan lagi kedalam tepung terigu sambil ditekan2 tapi ditekan2nya jangan terlalu kuat. kira2 sampai terigu bnayak yang nempel.

3. panaskan minyak. minyak yang digunakan buat ngegoreng harus bener2 banyak , jadi ayamnya kerendem sama minyak pas digoreng. biar gampang pake alat buat goreng tempura atau kl gak ada pake panci kecil jg bisa. terus satu lagi minyaknya mesti bener2 panas bgt pas pertama kali nyemplungin ayamnya. biar berbentuk kriwil2. kl udah terbentuk kriwil2 apinya agak dikecilin. goreng seperti biasa. tapi apinya jangan terlalu kecil jg nanti gak renyah. dan satu lagi jangan terlalu sering ngebolak-balik ayam. kl bisa cukup 2 kali aja selama menggoreng.

4. kl udah berwarna kecoklatan angkat tiriskan diserep pake kertas minyak

5. sajikan selagi hangat dengan nasi putih, kol yang diparut dan saos tomat atau sambal.

Italy, once more

My new header is one of Paolo Margari works. It is titled Bellagio, Como lake, Italy. My pleasure to promote your works, Paolo. My attachment to Italy can be described by this following verse:

Rome, is forever and a day

the beauty of this ancient city steals your breath away

while the charm, grace and warmth of her people beckons one to stay...

Rome, is forever and a day

Make your way along the Appian Way,

(All Roads Lead to Rome) Stay,

A lifetime or a day...

Poem taken from Rome is forever and a day by Joseph P. Martino.

Hymns Covenant Life Church

The Incessant Pursuit of Beauty

Wow. I just heard an awesome sermon delivered by Carolyn Mahaney. Btw, for those of you who are not familiar with her name, she is the wife of C. J. Mahaney. CJ is the pastor of Joshua Harris who wrote one of the most practical book I've ever read on the topic of Dating "Boy meet girl". Btw, CJ wrote a book on "Living a cross-centered life" which I very much want to read. The sermon is desperately needed for us women of today, who are continuously bombarded by the lies about beauty from the media and ads. I, myself have been a victim, a victim of being so self-preoccupied rather than being full of the Spirit. So, you are welcome to check it out! Btw, you need to download the sermon first (MP3). Very clear and very biblical!

Terima Kasih

Tuhan, terima kasih untuk segala hal yang telah Kau berikan
terima kasih untuk segala hal yang telah Kau ambil dariku.

Terima kasih telah menjanjikan kebaikan dan kasih yang akan mengikuti aku sepanjang hidupku.
Terima kasih telah menjadi gembalaku yang setia dan tidak akan pernah meninggalkan aku, seumur hidupku.
Terima kasih telah mengampuni segala dosa-dosaku, baik yang sengaja maupun yang tidak.
Terima kasih telah mengirimkan anakMu dari sorga untuk mati bagi aku
Terima kasih telah memilih aku bahkan sebelum dunia dijadikan, untuk menikmati anugrahMu
Terima kasih telah bersabar terhadap aku sekalipun aku kurang iman, lebih suka menghakimi daripada mengasihi
Terima kasih untuk kesusahan yang boleh ada, agar aku dapat mengikuti jejak derita Tuhanku.

Biarlah semuanya Engkau pakai, demi kemuliaanMu.