THE FIRST

My mother got an accident several months ago. She felt when she tried to gathered our wash. She held her body with her right hand, and the bone shifted. She knew that we didn't have enough money to go to the hospital, that's why she prayed and wrapped it. It sounds silly, but she really did it. Several weeks later, she could work again with her bent hand. I don't know how she did it, but I believe that God loves her so much.

My mother is a hard worker. She nearly has no day off in her life. But, even though she's been 65 years old, she still loves to read Bible every day according to our church Bible reading guidance, and goes to the church services whenever she can.

Each time she is sick, she always pray to God first, then she'll take some medicines. But this is what I always notice, that she puts God in the first place of her every situation. When I saw her right hand, I thought she'll never be able to do anything with it. But, she made me change my mind. With the "blunder", she can do everything now.

When we put God in the first place of our situations, He'll will turn every difficult thing into easier thing, and impossible condition into possible one. Just never let any situation make us place God in another place but the first.

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THANK YOU FOR HER

It was one night before presentation. I had to present a topic if I wanted to pass my final year course. I had almost set everything, the material, the research... except that I had to made a hard copy for the presentation.

I was busy studying when my mom passed by my room and saw me typing. She said to me, "Honey, is there anything I can do for you? You look so busy these days, preparing everything for the exam. If there is one thing I can do for you."

"O Mom, thank you so much. I do need a help. But it's okay if you can't help me, it's rather complicated anyway," I said.

She said, "No, it's okay. I'll try to help you. Now, tell me, what should I do?"

"Ehm, could you help me printing this file, Mom? I used to go to the front rental computer to print things. Just show them this file... see... this file, just remember the file's name, they'll help you to print it. Please print it two times for me. How's that? I have to finish the one on the computer." I said.

"Okay. Just show them the file, right? Two times? Yup, I think I can't handle it. Don't worry," she said.

"Thank you so much, Mom. You are the best. Please keep the fd for me. They are precious data inside," I said.

In short, my mom went to the rental computer I told her. She finally came back, brought two bonds of paper in her hands. But, how shocked I was knowing that the printed file was not the file I meant. It was already late, no rental would be open that hour and I found my paper was the wrong paper. I was so angry with my mother but I could not say anything to her. I was tired and I didn't know what to do. My presentation would be the first presentation tomorrow morning. I was not sure that I could print it on time in the morning before presentation. I cried. I wanted to blame my mom but I knew it wasn't entirely her fault. I should have printed it several days before.

My mom didn't say anything. She understood that I was angry to her and knew that I would not talk about it that moment. So, she left me alone in my room. Crying and trying finishing the presentation, I was also praying in my heart, "God, help me."

The next day, I knew that my mom prayed for me that early morning. I was touched hearing her prayer. I also prayed to God to help me that day, but I was too arrogant to say something to her that morning. So I left my house earlier, printed my paper, and went to the course.

In short, I finally finished the presentation and found out that I was the best presenter that year. I was so happy. But, remembering that moment also reminded me about my mother's fault and my mother's love for me. I knew she just wanted to help me and I also realize that she isn't perfect. I know that she prays for me every night and I can still hear her saying my names every morning before God. Without her prayers I know that I will never be like I am now. She is the helper God has sent to me on earth and I thank God for giving her to me.

God, thank you for her.

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GOD OF DIVINE MINISTRY

We work with children. We try to help them with their education and their health. We realize that our help is almost nothing compared to the world's demand nowadays. Schools are proven to be more expensive than several years ago, and good medications are more difficult to get if we don't have much money. But, in the middle of crisis, we try to give a little light for needy children to live better.

Unfortunately, our intention doesn't always bear good results. There are children or parents who don't care with education or health. We remind them the benefit and importance of education, but they decided not to go to school anymore; they chose to work or live with their own way (unemployment-free life). We teach them the advantage of doing sports, living in green and clean environment, but they keep throwing trash anywhere, don't care about the cleanness of their body, their house, their area. Not only that. They even reject us and have bad thoughts about us.

Sometimes we are desperate; we've done a lot of things but we find dead end, people we minister choose to give up. We realize that it is our ministry and in ministering people we have to rely on God more than everything. It doesn't matter what response we will receive from the them, our job is not to give up. We will not give up in telling about hope and brighter future. We will not give up in speaking about what God has done in our lives. We will not give up in pronouncing about a better life in Him. We will not give up.

It is very difficult to change someone's way of thinking indeed, but God teaches us about heart of a minister, heart of God. He teaches us not to give up and to bring them in prayer. And you know what... something happens, several children are changed, and we can see the fruit of our trees of effort. We can do it because God enable us to do it. They can not be changed if it is not God who changes them. Our God is truly God of every divine ministry.

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HIS CHILD

Most people may be don't know that I am a mommy's daughter (most people think that daughter is commonly close to her father, and son to his mother; but, not with me). I never feel shy to admit it, because it is the truth and I can't deny it. We are so close until I can never hide anything from her. Even though my mother sometimes can't keep secret, but still I can't hide anything from her.

I love to put my head on my mom's stomach (or her lap) because it is so warm and comfortable. I feel that I am loved, and like a spoiled little child, I can hear her heart beats. It is a very nice moment and I think I will never exchange it with anything else, because I love to be with her.

Today, when I slept again on her lap, I thought that it is a kind of relationship that every Christian should have with Father in heaven, including me. When I consider God as my very close parent, I will never mind being a spoiled child sleeping on His lap everyday, hearing His heart beats, enjoying His warm and comfortable love, and never being able not to tell my secrets to Him. But, this moment is impossible to experience if we have no good relationship with Him, and I experience it by myself.

I had a moment when everything seemed to be so wrong; I did bad things, I thought bad thoughts, I felt bad feelings... uhhh... everything so wrong until I felt so far with God. One day my friend asked me, "Sany, have you read your Bible today?" When he said it, he unintentionally reminded me that every (church) servant is suggested or recommended or obliged to read Bible everyday. When he said it, He unintentionally slapped me to remember that God is supposed to be the only one in life. When he said it, I was embarrassed.

From that day, I have promised to God and to myself to enjoy my every moment with Him. I pray with purpose. I sing with purpose. I work with purpose. I did everything with purpose, with a purpose to please Him. Since that day, I start to be different because God has changed me from nobody to somebody, His child.

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BELIEVE IN THE FATHER

All of us must have problems, right? Even children already have problems; friendship, relationship, family, education, etc. All we have to do as Christians is surrendering everything to our Mighty God.

Me and my friend once faced a problem concerning with money. We had to get a certain amount of money to fulfill our target. We both are Christians, I think you should know that, and we believe that God is able to fulfill our needs. But, something interesting to me happened when we drove home. On our way home, I tried to comfort him by saying, "It's okay, we'll get through this." Then I sang, "To be with You, Father, I can do anything. I'll pass difficult times, with You all by my side..." And you know what, before I finished singing, my friend whispered to himself, "'To be with Father? Fine. But we are the one who should fine the money, dear."

Can you see what was happening? Even when someone is a Christian, she can be attacked by uncertainty, worry, or the worst thing, disbelief. We have God of everything, but we can't believe if He is able to do everything. Just remember, our God is God who made the universe, who made us, who heals the sick, who forgive sinners, who lives again from death, who will resurrect us.

And thank to God, the story didn't end until the time when we drove home. God helped us to finally fulfill our target. It's a difficult moment for us, but nothing is too difficult for God.

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CDD IN SCENE

Thanks to God, the Host of the universe, who has entrusted us great ministry to take.

Hello, everyone... how's life? We pray that God's grace comes and stays upon every reader's (your) life. We, Christian Daily Devotion Team, for the first time, would like to share what's behind (the background of) the making of this online devotion.

First, we are very grateful that we can bring a new daily devotional atmosphere to all readers for the last three months. We do hope that each writing you read can bless you, bring you closer to a new insight and divine understanding we have received personally from God.

The truth is, we designed it for worldly motives, at first. We might have good intention, but it was not a true sincerity. But, along our way to write, we do feel that God brings us to a new level of blessing. He puts us into a beautiful process of life. He makes each writing speaks back to us, everyday. He makes us know that it is more than just personal or team devotion, that it is a divine ministry, His ministry.

We do not come from English speaking country, (you might have realized it by reading our articles) but we challenge ourself not to make language as a barrier to speak about God's goodness. Some of you may think that we have imperfect English. We admit it. We also apologize if it makes you uncomfortable. But His love and faithfulness to us has moved us, pushed us to make a decision that we won't stop writing. Now, from the bottom of our heart, we truly want to say that we will keep sharing every insight God has given to us to you. With a renewed intention, we do hope that all of you are blessed by it.

Each article is a true reflection of our lives, and we want to dedicate them for the best, the kindest, the most awesome, the mighty One, Father in heaven.

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FAMILY PRAYER

Dear Father,

I come to thank You, for giving me a good family around me. What should I say to You, God? I believe it needs more than just thank you. They are such a great blessing for me. Without them, I'm homeless, I'm alone, I'm lonely, I'm hollow.

Thank you for giving me my father. Although he's not as perfect as I expect, but He loves me. It's true that sometimes I couldn't understand the way He loves me... He's so protective, He's so subjective... but I know that You live in Him to guide me to be someone You want me to be.

Thank you for giving me my mother. Do You know that You have given me the very very very best friend in the world? When I pray for good friends, You send her to stand by my side. When I ask for a loyal companion, You give her to sit with me. You know what? I think You've given me everything I ask from You through her.

Thank you for giving me my sister. We used to fight often, but I can never deny that I love her. She's the one who always brings me chocolate. She's the one who always helps me with all my needs. I know that she has her own family right now, but she always be kind to me.

Thank you for giving me my brother. I do not know him that long because he's not my sibling, but I thank you for making him my brother through my sister. He might be not that handsome, but he is a hard worker and he loves my sister. He always tries to help us even though he's not in that good condition. What a nice brother You gave to me.

I pray to You, God, love them with abundant love, bless them with unstoppable blessings, hold their lives in Your hands. They are very precious to me and I will do anything for them. God, I do thank you for giving them to me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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GOD OF BLESSING

I've got a new enlightenment when I entered this year. God gave me a new way to start a new job by being an entrepreneur. Not only that, He also gave me this yearly verse: The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it (Pro. 10:22).

At first, I didn't know why I got the verse. My friend who helped me to find the idea of homeworking thought that it must have something to do with my job. I tried to figure out what's the point behind it. I thought I was going to get what I wanted through this new job. But, we almost enter the fourth month, yet I still haven't got what I've expected.

I prayed and asked God to show me the meaning behind the verse. I always expect that it's connected with my homeworking job. I dreamt and hoped a new income from it. (It was because I knew that I would never got enough income from my other jobs. That's why I worked it enthusiastically.) But He shows me something else. Something I've never expected or imagined or thought. By April 1st, He entrusts me a new and better position in my old job.

All this time I thought if I worked harder, I would get what I wanted. I almost forgot that all blessings come from heaven. We can do everything, but God's favor decides whether we deserve to receive the blessing or not.

I will not stop doing my new job, but now I'm doing it with different purpose. I believe that God will bless me and give me the feeling of enough by ways I may never imagine or expect or think of. God is the God of blessings.

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PURE HEART

Having a pure heart is a very difficult thing to do. You have to be used to thing I call sacrifice. Someone can sacrifice things for others, but he might not have a pure heart. But the pure heart will never spent their time without sacrificing things for other people.

I had an appointment with my friends this evening. The place where we should meet was quite far from my house. My friends have their own motorcycle, but I haven't, and it makes me find difficulties to go to certain or far places. I didn't mind going by myself, taking the public transportation. But I had to go earlier than them because the public transportation around my place isn't as much as in other areas. If I ask you to calculate my expense for one day trip using public transportation, it will be enough for three days trips using motorcycle.

Arriving at the place, some of my friends borrowed some money from me. I wouldn't mind giving them the money, because I knew that they really needed it at that time. Besides, I also thought that I still have enough money to go home. Time moved on and it was getting late. When our activity ended, and I went home by taking public transportation, I realized that I didn't have enough money to take another transportation to get home. I stopped at the closest place to my house district, but I still had to walk for about 20 minutes to get home. No wonder, I was tired.

Without realizing it, I was suddenly filled with disappointment over my friends. "Why didn't they understand me or even try to help me?" This mind blinded me from God's voice. Thankfully, I prayed... It was the moment when God renewed my power and my heart. He thanked me for being independence and for being so kind that day. He said that I've done a good thing and that He appreciated it. He reminded me, deep inside me heart, that I had to learn to have a pure heart. He said it was not easy, but it was worth fighting, because He loved the pure heart.

When I said, "He (God) said...", it was not literal thing, but I knew I was right, I heard His voice through the Holy Spirit, I wrote His words through the Bible that He loves the pure heart. You may have also experienced times when you should sacrifice things, and it seems like you are the unlucky ones, but notice this, God know what you've done and He appreciates it. Don't contaminate it with complaint or grumble. Let's learn to have a pure heart, because that is what He wants.

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BETTER

I had to bring some stuff to my office today, but that wasn't the problem. I have a little "worry" each time I have to bring some stuff to some places by public transportation. I don't judge that the transportation is bad or uncomfortable, it's the people who sometimes make me uncomfortable.

I often find unpleasing passengers during my way. They who keep the seat for themselves. They who waste space while other people are struggling to sit. They who don't want to help other who are stranger to them. They who choose to stay in their comfort zone and never want to give their place for others who deserve or need it more. They who drive the public transportation with carelessness, traffic violation. Can you imagine what will happen to me when I have to meet such a person while I have to bring a lot of things? But it didn't happen to me today for I met a very nice grandfather.

When I stopped a car, I knew from a far that the car was almost full. But I chose to believe that the transportation would have one place to sit for me. The car stopped before me and suddenly someone got down and said that I could use his seat. I was a little bit surprised when I knew that the person was an old man. As far as I know, the young should put the old before them.

I couldn't say anything to the man for the car was so crowded. But I'm very thankful to God that I can still meet a person like him. I hope that I can find more people like him. They who don't act selfishly but put others before themselves. They who don't differentiate stranger or not stranger in order to find those deserving their kindness. I can imagine a very nice public transportation with people like that around. I an imagine a better world with people like that around.

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NO LONGER I AM

It happened again. What a "testing" day! Since I woke up in the morning, my heart was filled with worries. I have stayed awake for a whole night, but I couldn't finish my job. There is a great burden in my heart, "How can I finish all these tasks?"

But it was my fault. I let the worry controlled me. All that I'd been thinking about was that I have to solve them all, today. I forgot that I'm not a super woman who can do anything.

Thank God, in the middle of working on those stuffs, I stopped and decided to pray. I said, "God, I've been through days like this with great effort, my own effort. And the result was, I was terribly exhausted. God, I don't know what will happen today, but allow me to surrender all in me to You. Please, accept me. Help me to make the best out of me, today. Help me to finish my part, today. In the name of Jesus, Amen."

After praying, I felt calmer. Next thing I knew was I did what I should do, I did what I could do. I also felt that God opened my heart wider than before. I accepted things that didn't run according to my will. I saw the goodness of others more than the previous. And in such situation, I could feel that He wanted me to keep being generous to others. The truth is I am no longer I am when I give everything in His mighty hands.

Try it!!!

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POWER OVER OURS

Last month our refrigerator was broken. We didn’t know what’s going on, it suddenly didn’t worked.

That refrigerator has been with us for years, and we were very helped with it. Some food that we sell at the shop was kept there so that it remained fresh.

We didn’t have money to buy the new one. We also didn’t have enough money to service it, since the cost was quite expensive. Finally we did something we never do before. We pray for the refrigerator to work.

We put our hands on it, and we asked God to fix it. It might sound ridiculous, but that’s what we did. And you know what, several days later, the refrigerator started to make sound as if it were working. And the strange thing was, we hadn’t plug the cable.

The refrigerator works until now, with plugged cable of course, and we do thank God for giving us another chance to see His miracle. It might be a small thing for some people, but it is a great thing for us. God has shown us that we have power over what we claim as ours.

All glory and honor to God.

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DO WHAT HE SAYS

If I have to choose the best time in life, then I will choose junior high school years. I met a lot of friends and experienced a lot of fun. But when I think it over, how can I be so relaxed during that years? And the answer is that I didn’t have to think about what would I eat, what would I wear, how could I earn some money? In conclusion, I only have to enjoy my schooling time, my studying time, my playing time.

I started to realize real life when I was in senior high school. I knew that I could no longer ask my parents to give me money for the rest of my life, because I was the one who should give to them now, or at least start to fulfill my own needs with my own hands. Considering the situation, I decided to work.

Without knowing what to do, God gave me an opportunity to give lesson to some elementary students in a child project. I was so happy because It was my first job and because I finally could do something to help my parents.

I was curious with my first salary. I knew it won’t be much, I was just a senior high school student and to be trusted that much was more than enough for me at that time. But I was really curious with what would I do with that first salary. I had some plans in my head, but God told me a different plan through His word. He asked me to give the first fruit offering.

First fruit offering? But I had been waiting for the job and I was going to use the money for my future?

It was difficult to give all of the money away to God, but I decided to do the right thing. When I received the salary, I brought it all to church as an offering, first fruit offering. I knew that I could not be able to taste the benefit of my whole month working, but I am glad that I did it. After that month, I see that God is working in my life until now. He brings me to the top, step by step. He blesses my job and my family. He fulfills His promise not to leave His people when they do what He says. Truly I say to you that our God is an awesome God.

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BLESSING TITHE

I have learned to give tithe since I was in senior high school, and I thank to my parents who have taught me well enough about giving tithe to God. Every time I want to give, I am always reminded about how important it is to give back what is supposed to be God’s.

It is not as easy as it looks to give to God, because my logic sometimes tries to rule over me. I realize that my income isn’t that much; it is enough for daily needs, but it’s not enough for additional needs (such as buying new clothes, treating friends, going somewhere, etc). For these reasons, I am often triggered not to give to God, especially in tithe matter. But thank God, I didn’t do it.

Since I know about tithe, I decide to give a little bit more than 10 % of my income, in case I have forgotten some “little” blessings that I’ve received. By doing this, I test myself to trust and rely on God more than ever.

This decision might be foolish for certain people, but I tell you, God never wants to owe things to us. Each time I give to God, more than I should do, He then blesses me with more blessings. One of the examples is, if I give 11%, next time He will bless me 110%. He also blesses me with health, joy, and the feeling of “enough”. You know what? I wish I knew this truth since I was a little girl.

Let us learn to be more faithful in our giving to God. This is not about bigger money, it is about God’s faithfulness to us. He has promised us that He will never leave us, and this promise is much more than enough for the whole eternity.

All glory and honor to God, the Host of the universe.

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