Love

This past Sunday, Pastor Steve Korch summarizes the love definition according to 1 Cor 13 as follow:

When I choose to act in love,

• I choose to NOT act like a jerk
• I choose to NOT get OFFENDED when others act like a jerk
• I choose to look for the BEST in others

What a reminder! Now for the grace and power to actually put it in practice =)

Quotes from "To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain" by Matt Chandler

I recently read Matt Chandler's book "To Live is Christ To Die is Gain" where he explains the book of Phillipians. Here are some parts that really got me:

Always, always, always seek the cross. It is there that we see our example for service and sacrifice for others. It is there that we get the power to serve and sacrifice for others. And it is there that we receive forgiveness when we fail in serving and sacrificing for others. (To live is Christ, to Die is Gain - Matt Chandler)

Nobody stumbles into godliness, ever. It simply doesn't happen. There is no autopilot mode for the Christian life. We never see people in the Bible growing in godliness by coasting along. Not even the person who gets the miracle. 

Entertainment

Note to self:

“Entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord the less entertainment you need.”

― Leonard Ravenhill

What a year!!!

These past few years have been very adventurous for me! Starting Montessori training, being in the classroom, getting involved in Joni and Friends family retreat!

After fretting and praying and agonizing about my decision to go back to Indonesia for good early in the year, I made peace with my decision and start to use the rest of my time in U.S spending time with dearest friends, bidding farewell to my favorite places, get to go to 2 Joni and Friends Family Camp with 5 sisters from IEC, hiked half dome, camping, etc. A lot of things have changed by the end of the year, but God remained constant!

In October, I got a chance to go to China with my parents and my sister to visit relatives living in mainland. Some of the cousins and aunt/uncle I've never met before! It's such a precious time to spend time and get to know them in person.

In November and December, many of my Bay Area friends were coming to visit their families in Jakarta. I am so grateful to get a chance to meet them as well.

I don't know what God has in store for 2017, but I know it is going to be good! If only I can keep my eyes open to the things He is doing and He wants me to do. If I remain faithful in His calling. If I don't get sidetracked with "busyness" nor "idleness".

The round entryway (as pictured above) always reminds me of Matthew 19:

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

That's my prayer for this year, that I will keep on looking forward to joining God in doing the impossible =) 

"Continuous Weakening"

Ever since I moved to a new place earlier this months, I've been reading 7 chapters from Bible and a very short devotional notes before the morning break. Today was the first time I missed. I woke up at 4, felt a bit tired to get out of bed and finally succumbed to my flesh, staying in bed and doing other things on my tablet.

I was still in bed when my mom came into my room and ask me to go to the market with her. I don't want to go out "empty" so I quickly read the short devotional notes for the day. It says,

"The final failure comes from the continuous weakening." ( taken from Edges of His ways by Amy Carmichael)  

Amy quoted Westcott commentary on Hebrews 12:1-3 when she wrote this. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." 

I am so grateful for the timely rebuke. Last month, a friend of mine said that our choices create our character. The choices we make even in little things has greater consequence than we think. The moment I choose to "let down my guard" is the moment I am heading into disaster. Today, it is "only" one "miss", but for sure it is not getting me closer to the place I want to be (closer to His heart).

What about you? Are the choices you made leading you to the place you want to be? To the place God wants you to be?

Let us:

• Throw off everything that hinders and
• Throw off sin that so easily entangles.

Let us:

• Run with perseverance the race marked out for us
• Fix our eyes on Jesus

Consider Him...so you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

 

If

I've been blessed so much by the devotional book "If" written by Amy Carmichael. During our weekend trip to Lake Tahoe, this page speaks loudly to me:

If I make much of anything appointed to me, magnify it secretly to myself or insidiously to others; if I let them think it hard, if I look back longingly upon what used to be and linger among the byways of memory, so my power to help is weakened, then I know nothing of Calvary love. 

Brethren, I do not reckon to have laid hold of it yet, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and extending myself unto those things which are ahead, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Help me to not dwell on things from the past - whether they are successes or failures. May I only press forward to the work you have placed in front of me. 

 Afterwards we went to church and I was reminded of God's love for me. The sermon was taken from Genesis 3 where the Bible records the fall of man AND the promise of salvation from God. I was reminded of a Father's heart for His children. In that moment, I felt that God is inviting me to step into the future with full confidence in His love for me, instead of with fear. I love how He always prepares me for what lies ahead! God is indeed good, all knowing, and wise.

Anxiety

It is exactly a month away from my departure date to Indonesia. Lots of thoughts, feelings and emotions crowding up my mind and heart these days. In May and June, I felt like I am in a swing, where I get excited about moving at one time and feel depressed about leaving at another time. These days, those emotions change very rapidly like a roller coaster. But thanks be to God who keep me sane and grounded through the love of so many friends around me. God is so good and faithful!

One of the things that overwhelms me big time is packing. Clutter is very natural to me - to get organized for daily living is already hard for me. I actually have my peace with being an organized clutter (my stuffs can look messy, but I can always pull them out when I need it). In fact, I would always have trouble finding the stuffs I need when I tidied up my space. Needless to say more, packing up thirteen years of life into two suitcases is an extreme challenge for me. 

I've spend so many unproductive hours fretting and confused on where to start - to the point of paralysis. I came to realization that I need help - lots of it. As always, my mom comes to my rescue. 

Mom and Dad at Bryce Canyon National Park

Growing up, my dad is always the one who eager to pamper me and my siblings. He doesn't speak much, but he always know the things we enjoy most and would present it to us without being asked. He is quick to give little "pick me up"s.

My mom, however, being a stay home mom, is not so easily manipulated by our words. When we say we are tired and rather procrastinate, do things later, etc - she won't back down on that! I always recognize her love as being a tough one. 

So last night when we talked on the phone, my mom asked me what am I worrying about? Am I not secured in my decision of moving? Why can't I start packing? No words come out from me as she ask these questions. I suddenly don't remember why I am so lost in thoughts that I cannot do the things I need to do. This morning, I am reminded to "do the next thing". 

1 Peter 5:7New International Version (NIV)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.