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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START FROM OUR FAMILY

For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man's enemies are the members of his own household. (Mic. 7:6)

Reading the above verse it feels like it's hard to believe. A son versus his father, a daughter versus her mother, a daughter in law versus her mother in law... ended by a closing that someone's enemies are the members of his own household. Is it really happening? Is it true that the enemies are our own family? It might be difficult to believe, but it does happen, and ironically it happens among some Christian families.

"Christian family? Really???" Well, it might be arising another question, how come such thing like this happens in Christian family? Even though it is unbelievable, but we, Christians, especially we who experience a lot of fights in our family, should think of it: "Is it natural to have a family like this? When we learn about love and loving each other among God's body, why we even have fights among our own family members? Is it what God wants from us?"

We who have lived for years with our family, know exactly each member character, and sometimes, seeing their characters makes us hard to accept them. But as Christians, we are demanded to put love before any other feelings or perceptions or prejudices upon others. God knows that the closer the relationship, the bigger the challenge for every one in it to adjust himself to another. But He also promises that blessing is started from family. Once we know how to be a witness, how to love each other in our family, we will be able to love and bless more people outside our family. Pray and start a change in our family, now!

Dear God, thank you for every one You've given to me, thank you for my family, friends, and relatives. Grow Your love among us, God, a let us feel Your grace and mercy from our family first. Start a change, God, and Your name will be glorified in us and through us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Pet. 4:8

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BE HIS WITNESS

Most of the time we are afraid of witnessing about Jesus. Even though we are Christians and we know exactly that witnessing about Christ is one of our main responsibilities, we are hesitant or afraid of doing so. We often think that witnessing about Jesus is a hard thing to do; we are not that fluent to speak in front other people, we feel that we haven't known enough about Jesus, we are afraid that we will be rejected or hated, we already think/make prejudice that witnessing to certain people will only useless. The truth is, we have too much consideration before witnessing.

Well, witnessing isn't all about producing perfect and convincing sentences, or making some miracles before men so that our message will be easier to receive. But, it also about telling God's goodness in our lives with our own way. Perhaps we can't talk, but we can still show it through deeds. Perhaps we can't practice it before people, but we speak a little about God's help in our lives. Perhaps we can't do both, but we can still show them our lives having been changed by God.

We also don't need to afraid about what will happen next. Whether it is questions, objections, or rejections, God will draw anyone who belongs to Him with His own way. Our business is to share, to witness. God's business is to draw and change those people heart to Him. Also, never think that our testimony will be useless, for we never know what will happen after witnessing. I think Jonah ever expected that people of Nineveh will turn their way to God. So, keep witnessing according to our calling as His children.

Dear God, thank you for Your goodness in my life. Forgive me if all this time I don't want to testify about You. Give me strength and Your Holy Spirit in order to do it, God, for I want to speak about what You've done to change my life. I believe that my testimony will bless people. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Mat. 28:19-20

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DEADLY FLATTERY

Boy: Love, you a singer at your church, right?
Girl: E..em, I am. But, how do you know that?
Boy: Because, you've sung love songs in my heart.

Boy: Honey, have you any idea why I'm so happy?
Girl: No. What makes you happy, then?
Boy: I'm happy because you are here.

Boy: Honey, you know what? I'm very, very, very grateful to God.
Girl: Really. Can you tell me what makes you grateful to God.
Boy: I thank Him because He has sent one of His angel next to me.

Boy: Dear, your father is a teacher, right?
Girl: Yes, he is. But, how do you know that?
Boy: Because, you have given me lessons of love.

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SLEEPY

Billy: "Rene, I have a riddle here. Can you guess?"

Rene: "Really. Okay... try me."

Billy: "Here it is. Which part of your body does support our head?"

Rene: "Hey, that's easy. 'Neck', of course."

Billy: "A a... wrong guess! Try again!"

Rene: "No way! 'Neck' is the right answer. Or maybe, neck bone?"

Billy: "No, no... the answer is 'EYES'."

Rene: "How come?"

Billy: "Well, you see the man in the picture? No matter how strong is your neck, if your EYES are sleepy, you won't be able to support your neck." (Xixixixixixixixixixi..................:P)

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TOGETHER MEANS STRONGER

I've read an article about togetherness. It said that being alone will not be considered a threat for someone else, especially for the enemy. When I think about it, I think the quote is very true. When we are alone, we will be easily destroyed, but if we are many, we will be difficult to defeat.

Bible also talks about friendlessness, that being alone will be weaken someone, and how poor that person is, for no one will able to help him. Sometimes some people live too independent, they do not have a good relationship with other people because they think it is not necessary. They are too independent and consider themselves able of doing everything alone. "Why should I ask for others' help if I can do it by myself?" Well, perhaps they can do things by themselves, but I believe that there are times when they do need someone else.

Bible says that someone with friend(s) will be able to rise because he has someone who'll help him when he falls. Bible says that someone who prays with partner(s), the prayer will be heard and granted. Bible also says that our couple will be our helper in life. So, why should we stand with a condition of being alone?

God creates us as individual and social creation. He does create us as thinking, meditating, dreaming, daydreaming person, but He also create us as loving, caring, helping, chatting, playing, working creature. For some reasons we can live by ourselves, but for some others we will not be able to survive without other people. Let's see they who are around us, our family, friends, best friends, they are people we can count on. When we fall, they can lift us. When we are sad, they will console us. God presents them around us so that we experience the beauty of togetherness. Don't live by yourself!

Dear God, thank you for my family and friends, and forgive me if I used to be selfish and arrogant, and think that I can do everything by myself. Help me to see why I am created and why people around me are created. For one more time, thank you for my family and friends. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecc. 4:12

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HONORING OTHERS' RIGHT

We live in a quite dense area. We can almost always hear what our next door neighbors say. The benefit of living in such area is the good relationship between neighbors. You know your 400 meters-neighbors' names. People will give you help if you need one. But, the weakness is people will know what you do, what you've been through. They'll talk about you in "groups" chat. They'll think negatively if you are a more individual person and don't know how to adjust yourselves to them.

Another weakness of living in such area is that some people sometimes do not understand about privacy. They'll turn on radio or television very loud. They'll make noise with their vehicles around your house. The fact is other people almost have no time to live in "peacefulness". They know that they have right to do so, but they don't know that other people also have right to live in peacefulness.

We often speak about right. We demand it so bad, especially if we think that another person has taken it from us. We speak about freedom for every human. But, sometimes we forget that we live with limitation, that our freedom is still inside of a "room with walls around", that our right is limited by others' right.

Let us learn from Paul. He had the right to take advantage from his ministry, but he didn't do it. Let us learn from Jesus. He had the right not to take the cross, but He preferred to obey His Father and died for us. Let us learn from God. He has right to create us as His robots, but no, He prefers to create us with free will, even if we don't use it to choose Him.

Let us be a Christian who knows how to put ourselves among so many people. One way to bless they who don't know about Christ is to live by honoring their right. We might not be comfortable with that because we have to put others' interest before us, but don't worry, He loves those who love their neighbors. And, remember that one way to honor right is by understanding that our right is limited by others' right.

Dear Father in heaven, give me Your wisdom to live in the world, among they know know You, especially among they who haven't known You. Teach me to put others' interest before mine and help me to see the wage You've prepared for they who obey. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Php. 2:4

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FOCUS ON THE RELATIONSHIP

We're used to be confused about the difference between a ministry and a job. Some people might say, "I think it is not that difficult to differ them. It's very simple, anyway. When you work you get a salary, but in a ministry, you'll not get it." Well, this answer is one of the common replies, some people do differ them in the matter of salary. But the fact is, some churches also "pay" those (full timer and part timer) who work for the church, even though they're not pastors. Besides that, according to Luke 10:7 a worker has a right to receive his wages. It means that salary or wage for church ministers isn't a wrong thing. But still, the question had been in my head for years. "What is the difference, then?"

One day, my mentor answered it for me. He told me that a worker (an employee) works for experience, but a minister ministers only to please God. What is the meaning of his sentence?

A worker will focus on his job, do the best for his company. A great achievement will be appreciated through bonus, and greater achievement will be appreciated through bigger bonus. His experiences are how to adjust himself with the company, and how to show great performances in the "company". Once he gets his experience, he will resign and make his own or join another "company".

But, a minister will no longer focus on experience. He can be a leader for other ministers, he can occupy important position in the ministry, he can perform his excellence before thousands of people, but his main purpose is only to please God. When he doesn't get all conditions I've been mentioned, he'll stay humble and keep ministering.

It doesn't matter whether we are the workers or ministers of a church. As long as we still focus to serve God, even if we have no fans at church, even if we do not minister millions of people, even if we don't have a gift of healing, even if we are unskilled ministers, we're still His workers and ministers. Our mind no longer focuses on experiences (leading, massive ministry, miraculous deeds), but on our relationship with God. Remember this! Focus on the relationship.

Dear, God, thank you for choosing me as your worker and minister. Show me things that will please Your heart. I live only for You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.

2 Cor. 29:11

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LEARN TO RUN IT

I have a very unique father. His friend bought him a cell phone (We're still only able to buy one cell phone and I have to bring it because I need it for work. I think I really have to say thanks to the nice uncle who had bought it for my father, for we do need it. My father doesn't need to look for me to all my friends' houses when I have to come home late. He could call me to make sure my position and my condition.)

Even though it is not one of those complicated cell phones, but my father did have difficulties in using it. I have taught him how to pick up a call and how to make a call. Yet still, my call was never answered. I often had to wait for almost several minutes for him to pick up my call. Yet still, he didn't pick it up. He told me that he would pick up the phone when it stopped ringing. Hearing his explanation, me and my mom almost couldn't stop laughing. But don't worry, he can do it now.

Do we ever have something highly sophisticated, a cell phone, a computer, an i-pad, or other sophisticated things? No matter how modern it is, if we can't run it, if we don't know how to use it, if we don't know how to maximize it, it is useless. It shows its full benefit to those who know how to use it.

The same principle is also applied in God's power. When we accept Him as God and Lord, He gives us a power to be His children. See? God's children! What do you think God's children can do? Many, of course, we can do many things, many great things. But, if we don't know how to manage the power, we will never be able to maximize it, for it is useless in our hands.

Becoming God's children is easy, but living as God's children needs process. We have to learn a lot about our rights and duties, and we have to work together with Holy Spirit who will show the way God's children live. We need His wisdom and faith so we can maximize the power He has given to us, a power that can change a life, a power that can influence surroundings. If we want to make it useful in our hands, ask God to help us.

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BLESSING UPDATES

One day my cousin told me about how she used to update her status on Facebook. She used to write things such as "Oww... hungry!", "I wanna go home", or "Getting stuck in a traffic jam!", until one day her mother asked her not to write such statuses again. Why? Because she believes that such status isn't important to share to the public.

Her opinion might be too old fashioned for most people, especially the young, for updating status is now like another "need" for them; a need of expressing themselves, a need of attention, a need of appreciation, a need of "like", etc. Who doesn't like if their statuses are seen by thousands, liked by hundreds, and commented by tens of people? But I think my aunt's opinion isn't wrong. If we always write sad, complaining, even cursing status, what is the benefit of that?

No one wants to be judged negatively, that's why everyone should pay attention how she behave, speak, act. If we want to earn respect from others, try to respect ourselves by keeping our way pure. Mat. 15:18 also writes this: But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean' (Mat. 15:18).

Words seem to be easy to manage, but facts show that words can be hurting, heart breaking, frustrating, even destroying. Let us think over every word we want to produce. Don't let words bring us down and make us punished by God.

Dear God, forgive me if I use to produce unpleasing words before You. Teach me to be Your light and salt through everything in me, including my words and my attitude. Help me to be wiser in life. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, ...

Col. 4:6a

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DON'T PLEASE THE FLESH

"Untuk siapa kulit cantikmu?" This question is used in a lotion advertisement in our country. It means, "Whom is your beautiful skin for?" Models in the advertisement give different answers for the question. Some of them say other people's name, while the last model says, "Me." If you receive the same question, what will your answer be?

Some people, especially women, do beauty treatments in order to look whiter, darker, smoother, prettier. Some of them use the common, while the other even use the extreme ones. Why do they do that? For whom do they do that?

There are a lot of reasons why people have painful and expensive beauty treatment; buy expensive and fashionable clothes; consult the doctor about food they can eat, supplement they can consume, sports they should do; but one of the main reasons is because they want to do it for someone, it could be someone else, or even they themselves. But, no matter what the reason is, we need to remember this, do not take care of our body in order to gratify its desire (Rom. 13:14 LAI Translation).

Having a good, clean looking is important, but the most important is to identify the will of flesh. If we take care of this body only to please our flesh, our sinful nature, repent now. Wake up into a real life and realize that this body isn't eternal, one day it will turn into dust and return to the ground it came from. Take care of our body because we want to bless others, for souls we want to win will run before us if we never take a bath.

Dear Father, forgive me if all this time all I want is to please my own desire, forgive me if I only take care of this body for worldly desires. Teach me to see Your purpose over my life God, including this body. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Rom. 13:14

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HUMBLE AND OBEDIENT

Some people question about why the Highest, the most magnificent God, came to the world in a form of an ordinary child? He even had to be placed in a manger. When I asked my students about where they were born, even the poorest child among them said that he was born in a house, not in a sheep pen.

God wants us to learn a lot from Jesus. He is the Son of God, but He knows that God has a big plan for His creation. He knows that without coming to the world by Himself, human will be perished by their sin. He knows that it takes a living sacrifice for a true and eternal redemption. He knows that only He who can save us. That's why, without considering about His position and His being as God's Son, He chose to obey God and sacrificed Himself.

We, human, the little points in the universe, sometimes try to defend our rights and positions. We're never wiling to give them to other people because we think we deserve them more. But, if Jesus Himself never keeps His position because of His love for us, why should we keep ours? If Jesus Himself thinks that live according to God's will is more important than anything, why should we defend this temporary life for perishable matters?

Learn from Jesus! He is humble and obedient.

Dear Father, forgive me if I am not humble and obedient enough before You. Give me a heart like Jesus'. He is extraordinary humble and obedient before You. Thank you for giving us the perfect example, Jesus. Through His humbleness and obedience, I could live with You in eternity. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Php. 2:5-8

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THE INVISIBLE CAMERA

Do you have CCTV at home? Do you study in a school which has CCTV camera? Or, do you work in an office which is provided with CCTV camera? If yes, will you act foolishly or do something stupid in front of it? I believe that everyone who knows that they have been watched over all the time will keep the way they behave. If not, someone behind the CCTV will know their bad habits.

We sometimes hide secrets, bad secrets. We tell lies. We are dishonest. We act as if we were good kids, but we smoke and drink behind our parents, and keep cheating in class. We act as if we were good parents, good employees, good leaders, but we betray our family by having affair or doing nasty job in the office.

These several days we have been surprised by the way of one of our "important people" in the country. When we saw the man's face, we will easily conclude that he has a very nice person look. But, it is very surprising knowing that he had done great corruption, lied to his wife about tens girls and women around her. What a man!

When we realize that we live under the supervision of the divine invisible CCTV, we will live wisely and honestly. Nothing to hide before our God. Nothing can be hidden before our God. Even though the CCTV is invisible, live as if it were surrounding you.

Dear Father in heaven, remind me that You and the angels are watching me all the time, so that I know how to act in life, so that I will always choose the right, so that I may live according to Your will, work out Your salvation with fear and trembling. In the name of Jesus Christ, the High Watcher, Amen.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Php. 2:12

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FOR THE LORD ONLY

What kind of present do we want on our happiest days? If it is possible... the most expensive, the biggest, the most useful ones. The point is, we want the best. Am I right?

So does God. He wants the best from us. He wants the best life to offer. He wants the best offering to present. He wants the best heart to give. He wants the best of us before Him.

If we now live, it's time for us to ask ourselves, "Have I lived according to God's will? Have I done the best for Him?" Col. 3:23 tells us to do everything with all our heart, as working for the Lord Himself. What's the meaning of that? It means that if we have lived the best, now try to live the life more for our Lord. If we have done the best, now try to do it more as if we were doing things only for God.

We might use to work best for our boss and ourselves. Now it is time for us to do it more for God, as if He were our boss. We might use to cook for our family, sweep our house, take care of our kids. Now it is time for us to do it better for God, as if He were the one who would eat our cooking, as if He were the one who owns the house, as if He were the one who we take care of. It is time for us to do more than just our usual "best".

Dear God, I don't know what kind of thing do You like from me to do, but I want to try to do everything much much better only for You. Show me how I'm gonna do it. Tell me how I'm gonna make it. And give me a heart to always become the best just for You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

Col. 3:23

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BE WISE AMONG...

My father and my mother came from different small cities. But since the distance of both places are not far, they have almost similar culture, tradition, and dialect. But now we live in another city, where it is more "city" than those two places. I mean it is more crowded, more traffic, more people, more business places, and more national.

When I am home, the way I live is influenced by my surrounding, the city area. But when my parents take me to their birth places, it doesn't take too much time for me to live and behave adjusting to the area. The difference which could be obviously seen is my dialect. I do still speak our national language, but I realize that I've already spoken different dialect. I also notice that compared to the way I speak at the first time we arrive at my parents cities, I feel like I can enjoy our togetherness with my new friends there. I feel like I'm so welcome.

We come from different places but it doesn't close any chance that one day we will go to another place, which is very different with ours. In the new place, we have to adjust ourselves. We can't force our culture, our tradition, our habit to the new place which might have different culture, tradition, and habit with ours. If we want to be welcome, we have to put ourselves in their situation and respect the difference between us.

This attitude should be had by all Christians. We should be able to adjust ourselves to different kinds of surroundings in order to be a blessing. If we force our own nature to other people, we will mostly get refusal. But if we show God's nature through being a friendly visitor, we will earn respect and acceptance, and it will be easier for us to tell about God to others.

Be God's people who know how to place themselves in different situations. Be those who are friendly to the rich, but also very kind to the needy. Be those who are humble among the noble, but also simple among the ordinary. Be those who are smart among the intelligent, but also knowledge-giver among the illiterate. Be God's wise people.

Dear, Father, make me into someone who lives with Your wisdom, who knows how to live among different people. I want to be a blessing wherever I go, Father, just like You and other disciples who have blessed nations. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Col. 4:5

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