prayer

This week, I've been listening to CSN international broadcast (88.1 FM, 8 AM) from Truth for Life by Alistair Begg. This past week he was teaching about prayer from the book of Nehemiah. You can hear the entire message on this link:

http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/message/nehemiah-goes-into-action/

Here are some points I learned from the series:

1. Nehemiah 1:4 --> when he learned that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, he sat down and wept. His action shows a genuine concern and passion for the people of God.

2. Alistair Begg broke down component of prayer into ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication)

Adoration - Nehemiah 1:5

Confession - Nehemiah 1:6 - he confessed sins committed as a nation

Thanksgiving - I don't remember which part of the prayer he used to explain this point

Supplication - Nehemiah 1:11 --> Before the talked to the king, he prayed before the Lord to give him success by granting him favor in the presence of the king. He KNOWS that God is at work in all situation, therefore he asks God to be at work to grant him favor. When we don't have this concept, we will be constantly at our feet trying to move people around instead of on our knees praying to God to be at work.

3. About 4 months later (chapter 2) he looked sad in front of the king. See verse 1 "I had not been sad in his presence before". Nehemiah does his job Joyfully, Prayerfully, and Thankfully. But that day, his sad face made the king asked him the question.

4. ch2v2b "I was very much afraid". Prayer does not always eliminate fear, but it definitely prepares us to move in the right direction.

5. ch2v3b "May the king love forever!" Before he answered the king's question, he properly addressed the king with respect. Sometimes we just forgot to give respect to whom they are due.

6. ch2v4. Nehemiah again prayed to the Lord before answering the king's question "what is it that you want".

7. ch2v7 Nehemiah also asked the king to write him letters for governors and people in power to ease his journey. His prayers for 4 months had made Nehemiah sensible about the details of the needs, hence made it practical to rebuild Jerusalem. We are more often prayed on the spot and our God of mercy answered and helped us instantaneously. Having spend time in prayer for 4 months, however, had better equipped Nehemiah to make a right respond in front of the King.

I think that's all I learned this week (actually I might have learned more, but it will be too confusing to be listed out in writing). I apologize if my writing is too confusing for you to read. I hope I convinced you enough to go to Truth for Life website and listen to the message on your own.

As for what God is doing in my life this year, He had been reminding me to fall on my knees more often.

- I've been spending a lot of time with Max lately. What a prayer warrior he will become....hahaha.....Max lovessss to pray. As we were dining, there will be occasion where Max would bow down in prayer.

- I had a smallgroup meeting with Ko Chris and Tom this morning, and as we were discussing action plans God put in my heart that I need to be praying more (especially because there are not much us humans can do without God's intervention).

- As I ponder about Nehemiah's concern for Jerusalem, I ponder about my concern and involvement in the church building commitment. I am reminded to pray more diligently for our church.

I know it was not a coincidence that last Friday ci Santi was sharing a message about prayer too. God knows I've been having difficulties in my prayer life and he provided me with resources to get started in a more solid prayer life.

Would you care to join with me and hold me accountable?

in Christ,

Fonda

He must become greater, I must become less

During my quiet time, God highlighted a passage from Gospel of John. The reading began after John the Baptist told the crowd that Jesus it the Lamb of God, the Promised One. A lot people started to follow Jesus and some people started to concern about John the Baptist's fading popularity.

Here's John the Baptist's answer to their concern:

'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3:28-30, NIV)

In Indonesian Sunday School, we used to sang a song "He must become greater; I must become less". I did not really grasp the meaning of the song until I came to college and started to fall in love with Jesus all over again. But even then, I thought that the song was talking about denying self, and taking up the cross.

During devotion, God showed me another way to look at the verse. He was talking about leaving footprints in people's life. John the Baptist, with no doubt, was a very charismatic preacher. He attracted people to him, he was well received by the crowd (but not by the Pharisees, of course). But when Jesus came, John said "He must become greater; I must become less." While some people concerned about his fading popularity, John knew what matter the most. It didn't matter that he had a lot of followers, but it mattered that he directed as many people as possible to be connected to Jesus.

Since the first time I came to US, God had given me the privilege to join a small group. Recently, He also invited me to lead small group of college students. I've seen people come and go. One of our friends transferred to another state, several sisters went back to Indo for good. Although sense of loss is unavoidable, what matters most is that everyone keep walking with God faithfully.

The passage was an eye-opener for me, since I tend to be emotionally clingy to people. Would you please pray for me to adopt John the Baptist's humble attitude as I continue the ministry of discipleship in the church?

There is a way

I heard this song not too long ago from KLOVE. Loving it!

Hope it bless your heart.....

December vacation

In December, I am grateful...................

that God gave me a chance to spend quality time with my little bro last Christmas. I did go back to Indo earlier in the year 2009, but I have different enjoyment in taking him around Bay Area and Disneyland with me. The moments I enjoyed the most were times when I can see him awed by what he saw and experienced. I enjoyed seeing him so excited to see seals and hawks at Point Lobos, I enjoyed seeing him wanting wait in line to take a picture with Goofy, or to wave at other Disney characters as we watched Christmas parade; or when we ride roller coaster and I can hear him scream at some parts of the ride.

Bottom line is, it is really fulfilling for me to see him enjoying his stay here.

As I reflect on my feelings, I imagine God is also like me. That He enjoys seeing me exploring His creation in awe and seeing me uncovering His plans and purpose with full excitement. Unfortunately, I am not always showing enthusiasm towards His plan nor His creation. I know sometimes God would stir things up around me to get me to react to Him, but my response does not always please Him.

As we start off this year,

let us actively seek Him at work around us, always on alert, make most of every opportunity and seek to respond in ways that are pleasing to Him and

let us receive God's blessing with a grateful heart and by doing so giving the glory back to God.