Jesus the Driver, We the Passengers

Another illustration that came up to my mind about Grace is in the car. As i heard a sharing from last week in international fellowship SD, i realized that it was true that God was the ultimate driver of our lives. He practically has been driven our lives since we are in the womb of our mothers. Ironically, many people just deny that they can control themselves, control their future as i often see. Lack of patience and rushing with the fleshy emotion, we often stumble on the worse things which actually could be avoided. I experienced these things.

Talking about grace, it is a privilege for us to have a good driver who knows all the ways and directions to go to the right destination. Think that if we could just sit and listen to how God wants to design our ways of life. It does not mean that you don't have to think about what you want to do in the future though, it's just surrendering our future to God as the ultimate giver. Similarly, a taxi passenger still needs to tell the driver where to go. However, we don't need to pay anything when God is our driver. Knowing that God is only a prayer away, it's very simple and easy to ask the plan from Him.

If there were some difficult situations, think that those were just lessons for us for not trusting him fully or for us to lean to him more closely. Think that the taxi just bumps into something or turns to a long driveway to avoid something worse that we could have never imagined, but the car is still fine. For God is our on-time provider, we will arrive to our destination safely and sufficiently. Amen.

Stubborn….i like being stubborn.

Despite the connotation that stubborn often perceive negatively, I see that being stubborn is normal. What creates positive or negative is the attitude, which is kept in the stubborness. I can say that everybody is stubborn, but how great is the stubborness of each people are different. I say that every preacher is stubborn with their corresponding teaching; A lot of scientists as well. Without being stubborn, no body will achieve something; it will become futile.

This thought just come to my mind as I want to see what other people think. I am sooo stubborn. I am stubborn in my motto that is “Do it if you really want it”. Simple example is since I don’t have a car plus I want to save money, I will walk to get to one place. Of course, I am not so stupid, wasting my time to walk so far, but if I have spare time, I walk maximum 2 miles ha ha ha. I like walking though…it’s relaxing and burning some calories.

What about at the end of this age? Being stubborn in holding the truth that you believe in; the gospel of the new covenant Jesus Christ. How stubborn will you be? I think everyone will become so stubborn when they know that Jesus really love us, that He forgives all of our sins, that we are sooo reluctant to do what Peter did when Jesus was captured in the Getsemane.
Just a little tought, which one is more appealing to you…People become stubborn to achieve something…or…To achieve something, people need to become stubborn…which one is the bias???

Accusation of being an encourager…

My motto is “do it if you really want it”. That’s me. Ever since I changed from HMC2008, I became more outspoken and not hesitating in whatever I do. This spirit just lives in me although there are times where I cannot get what I want, in a good thing, however I never stop to get it. This spirit comes, as I want to set an example to others. It’s a common sense that people will say “how can you become an example if you just say it without acting on it?” From my past, I was told as a hypocrite, now I want to change it. I do what I say. I see that it is worth to do something or thing for others than for myself. For others, I feel that my visions will never come to an end and there are more satisfactions. This is just how I am as an encourager, to set an example.

As time goes by, as I do a lot of things to set an example, I come to the point where I feel that I am accused of doing something only to get credits/fame. This kind of feeling breaks my heart. I cannot imagine that my right intention will go to the other direction. I feel sometimes that I want to stop being an example. I realize that I, myself, am not perfect. The only thing I know is only Jesus is perfect. The quote “see beyond imperfection” reminds me that nobody is perfect. All of these thoughts run around my head. It’s a dillema, do I need to stop or keep do what I do??
I am very sorry, especially to God, if there is slight intention for me to get credit. It’s a shame actually. Thanks to God that Holy Spirit still leads my way. I will keep hold of my motto despite anything. I feel that God design me this way as an imperfect part for others. I also think that others are given/designed by God differently as other imperfect parts. I want to see something beyond imperfections; that is to learn from others. Thank you for all my friends, who have been really good to me, to see beyond my imperfection.

With this, I want to encourage everyone to do what you are designed to do. Don’t look back, but trust in God and see beyond imperfection of others. I cannot become like this without my friend’s supports, so are you. Last thing, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 says that “We are one body, but many parts”

Living in SD à AWESOME!!!

I’ve never imagined that SD would be my next place to live after LA. After having so much fun in LA, it seems so hard to find/move to another place. Honestly, finding the living place in SD was quite a struggle as I almost got tricked, btw I got it at the end. Moreover, I got some extra stuff J (from the previous owner). During that struggle, I just assured myself that if SD was for me, God would provide the best!! And it does!! For the first 4 days in SD, I went outside a lot to observe what’s going on and check several places where I could get my groceries ha ha ha..but out of all the chruch (College Avenue Baptist Chruch) that is just 10 min away from where I live is AWESOME!! There were Indonesian fellowship and also Sunday service which was run by BULE…I learnt that God provide me everything I need in SD as I believe in Him (Matt 7:8), even for the things that I’ve never imagined or asked (Mark 11:24). I just need to take action….walk by my feet!! Walk to the chruch!!!

I almost forget that San Diegons (people who live in SD) I think are more devoted to God than people from North CA. Why God place me here? I still cannot tell the answer, but for sure I’ll find out later.

So sharing from the fellowship, it’s about university -> unity in diversity (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). The first verse that caught my eye was verse 18, God has planned eveything as He wanted it to be. Reflecting to BIC, though we are struggling sometimes with who will handle this or that, or members who are going somewhere else, like me and others, who will be able to replace us….a lot of things are about worries. Actually we don’t need to worry at all, coz verse 18 is true. I personally feel that we who are sent out from the BIC had enough experience and faith to stand firm in God (well everyone in BIC does, but not yet their turn to be sent out), and God wants us to spread his love more or TEST us if we are really living in Him. For those who are still in BIC, please don’t worry, God has planned everything, He will provide everything for the best of us. Secondly, verse 22-26, as I pondered about the use of Usher in BIC, I am really sorry to say this but the reality BIC doesn’t seem to have usher, though Kenji and Ko Rudy back then used to be the one. Usher in our eyes (at least me) seems hold no importance in the church, but going from the story of Billy Graham….Billy was an ordinary young man back then, we never know that he is a great evangelist now, but who had welcomed him to receive God’s grace -> it was an unidentified usher who on that time placed Billy and his other frined in the middle of the chruch as the chruch was packed with people. Same thing with the cookeries who mostly are ibu2….they are very very important..filling our hunger needs with special food!!! Oh..blessed are the mothers…they provide a great sharing time between members of the chruch to be more united despite our diversity.

Last message is learning from Apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 -> be HUMBLE. Paul was the apostle of Christ who did most, but still he said he was the least of all because of His grace. It is God who appointed us to be his children, his tools to glorify His name and to make us prosperous and victorious in this life. Let us always lean on Him not on our own strength. Realizing that we need Him so much, makes Him happier than ever as He is of abundant GRACE. Amen!

Attitude of Gratitude

Hi everyone,

I just wanna say I <3 you guys.
I'm thankful for having brothers and sisters like you.
I've seen God do amazing things in the lives of people in our church, and I'm excited to witness more of that.

Keep praying for Bring it On on September, our collaboration with CBC on November, and KKR Pak Niko in September. I know we're gonna be pretty busy but we have done it before and I know God will bless us with resources and ideas. :D

I also want to encourage you guys to be thankful in whatever situation you are in. There are always some people around you who REALLY need your prayers, your words of grace (as Nagata put it) & needs Jesus to touch their lives. At least that's how I feel here at my workplace. Put yourself in a position to let Him show Himself as God in your life. Make room for God to work in your lives (and others through you).

I'm thankful :) for God is in me. hehehe.
Have a blessed day.

-from my work cubicle-

Backflash

To all my Friends,

My two years in LA is like a theory lesson. I study humility, righteousness, leadership, communication, wisdom, faith and etc. In all, I learned Jesus way of Life. Each of everyone, to me, represents their strongest aspect in life. For example, Robin's strongest aspect is righteousness, Roy's leadership, Olivia's communication and Nova's is humility. Of course, everyone is a complete whole; I am just saying that it is your respective area of forte, in my perception.

What God showed me along the way is that I have to learn from my friends, rather than be an example for them. Instead of using my own opinion to define and formulate the right way of life, I have to let God show me what really is right and God has to do it through His ambassadors on Earth (I mean you kids in LA).

It was not easy at first. Being a stubborn and prideful person, I find it hard to reverse my life, allow others to guide me and alter my ambitions and plans. But after I was baptized, a series of mishaps crushed me mentally. I found myself even more confused than ever and no worldly theory that I adored could conjure an answer. My only alternative at that time was to just let God's will take over my life. I thought I was becoming weaker.

The path to changes was so difficult. On top of that, our God always make us do things that do not make any sense at all. At that time, school and problems consumed my entire life. I was struggling to cope with my examinations and barely doing well in some of them. And at the very same time, He guided me to dedicate more time in His Kingdom. For one, I found myself doing church-related activities at least 4 days a week. In my mind, I told God that this better work...

Gradually, I see amazing changes in my life. To be honest, I really do not know how all these happens but I began to see healing in my surrounding. First of all, I no longer felt troubled or pressured because of worldly issues. Then, I see people closed to me being changed significantly- people whom I cared (or once cared) being healed by God. Finally, He multiplied and developed my talents in areas that I never dreamed before. Frankly, this amazing-ness began to scare me a lot but I remembered someone saying this: "if you don't want God to use you, He won't". Since I really wanted to be nurtured, I continue doing what He sends me to do.

I now understands why He wants me to be a "surrender-er"; He wants to work in my life!
He made me a strong in His Kingdom by instructing me to be weak in this world. I now know why He does not want me to focus on being an example to the world. Only His strength can change my life and make me an example to this world. I was made stronger because I picked up from all my friends. I learned humility- willingness to learn from any people, righteousness- never to compromise on your beliefs, faith- preparing the field for God's rain, wisdom- understanding God's plan in my life.

God also fulfilled my worldly needs. I mentioned that He healed people around me. Further, He handled all my school work. Maybe some people did not know this but I did not earn that honor status. It was given to me (literally). Then recently, I did something I never achieved before in my entire life- getting an A in writing class. By the way, I failed 6 English examinations (common tests and exams) since secondary two. One teacher said my english was hopeless. Well, I am hopeless, but my God is hope-ful.

So I'd like to encourage everyone still in LA to cherish their moments there. Let God work in your life and may your experience there change your entire life. When things get really difficult and you are on the verge of giving up, remember, your God is bigger than what you think He is.

PS: I thanked everyone last week. Even though some did not hear it, I know God will somehow convey my appreciation. Continue being a blessing to other people. Change others like you have changed my life.