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Senin, 19 Desember 2016
All Things Working for Good
This is Your Race
This is Your Race
I see the race you have run my child, but the race is now come to its end and it is time for you to rest and to become strong again for the next race that is before you. There are some races that you win and there are some that you lose, but this does not matter. What always mattered to me is that you ran the race!You strive so much to run in perfection. You push so hard to win the prize, but you do not realize that I am proud of you just because you ran the race. Just because you put your heart into it and pressed forward - you are a winner in my eyes!
So know that I am proud of you my child. There will be many more races for you to run in the months that are ahead. There will be many more hurdles for you to jump over. For now though, rest a while in my presence and enjoy a season of filling up again. Enjoy a season of hearing my voice and becoming empowered by me again.
Then as you look over the races you have already run, you will see where you succeeded and where you failed. Do not be discouraged, but realize that with every failure has come an opportunity for you to succeed in the next race. For many of the races I put you on, were there to help you become stronger. It was never about winning the race. It was always about RUNNING the race!
As you ran, you became stronger. As you failed, you identified a weakness to overcome. So do not regret any step you have taken. Do not look back and consider any of the time wasted, for soon enough a new race will stretch before you. Before you know it, the gun will sound and you will be off once again. For now though, be strengthened in me and know that I am indeed proud of you my child. Amen
The Spiritual Significance of Light
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Protecting Your Valuables
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Your Heart, His Bethany
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Jumat, 16 Desember 2016
Thrilling New ‘Silence’ Trailer Tells the Story of Faith Tested by Persecution
Thrilling New ‘Silence’ Trailer Tells the Story of Faith Tested by Persecution
Silence is adapted from the 1966 novel by Shūsaku Endō, which tells the story of Sebastion Rodrigues, a young Jesuit priest from Portugal. Set in the 17th century, Rodrigues and two other priests travel to Japan to do missionary work and investigate rumors their teacher, Christovao Ferreira, has recently committed public apostasy.
The movie explores the theme of persecution—especially as it relates to the advancement of Christ’s Gospel. It also wrestles with the question, “Why does God seem to remain silent while his servants suffer horribly?”
Every Christian will face a crisis of faith at some point in their lives. This movie and the buzz around it will provide a great opportunity for Christian leaders to provide biblical answers to the question of suffering.
Here are some of our recent top resources on the topic of suffering:
The Explanation of JOB Every Sufferer (and Everyone Else) Needs to See
What Grieving People Wish Their Pastors Knew
Why Won’t God End My Suffering?
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
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Exchanging My Life for His Life
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Closer Than Breathing
Closer Than Breathing
My child, no matter which way you turn, you will find that I am there waiting for you. For so often you think that you must run towards me, as if I am a distance away from you. Yet I am here to remind you that I am closer than breathing. I am right here - within arms reach.You do not need to climb a mountain or run a long race to reach me. You only need to reach out and touch me. You only need to cry out and I will hear you. For I hear even the small whispering of your heart. I hear the fears in your thoughts. I understand the conflicts you feel deep within.
There is nothing that is hidden from me. Every success and every failure. Every righteous act and every sin. Yet no matter what you do, I remain by your side. There is nothing you can do to fail me. There is nothing you can do that will push you away from me. There are times that you feel so far away from me, but just because this is what you feel, does not mean it is true.
No, the truth is that the times I feel furtherest away, are the times that I cling to you the most. For in those moments I know how much you need me. I know how much you desire to find peace for your spirit. So know that in those times I am arranging circumstances and reaching out to you through the noise. Look up and you will see unexpected blessings - signs and actions that I am right here - running after you. Holding you close.
So come then and rest a while in my presence, knowing that I am closer than breathing and will never leave your side says the Lord. Amen
Being A Blessing
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Revolutionary Prayer
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Your Next Step
Your Next Step
My child I never stopped talking to you. In the night when you rest, I give you dreams and in the day when you are surrounded by so much noise, I am prompting you all of the time. Take time to listen to those promptings and to follow my instruction.For the enemy comes as a flood. He is loud and pushes his will. He forces you into a direction - but I lead you. I open the waters before you and cause you to walk on dry land. I do not force you under the flood so that you might drown! So realize that my voice is speaking all of the time.
I am wooing you. I am inviting you. I am encouraging you. I am giving you clear instructions. All you need to do is take time to listen. For so often you listen to the voice of others over mine. You listen to the voice of your circumstances and even of the enemy and you find yourself running in so many directions. It is time to stop running. It is time to stop and listen to my promptings.
Can you not feel me deep within your spirit? I am stirring you in a direction. I am leading and prompting you. I have sent so many in your direction to even confirm those promptings. So when will you listen and then follow them? Take time today to stand in the quiet and to listen to my voice deep within. It will give you rest. It will give you the next step in your journey says the Lord. Amen
Minggu, 11 Desember 2016
Hadiah yang Mendatangkan Kebaikan (Penawaran Khusus)
Dear Gereja Tuhan,
Banyak orang mengambil waktu di momen Natal untuk
mengevaluasi hubungan mereka dengan Tuhan dan membuat resolusi untuk
bertumbuh makin dewasa dalam iman. Bacaan alkitabiah yang mendorong
perenungan pribadi akan menjadi hadiah yang berharga bagi mereka.
Duta Harapan Dunia, anggota keluarga Our Daily
Bread Ministries, telah menyediakan buku-buku berkualitas yang dapat
Anda pesan dan hadiahkan kepada orang-orang yang ingin Anda bangun
hidupnya. Tersedia pula kartu ucapan yang bisa Anda isi dengan harapan
atau kata-kata penyemangat bagi mereka.
Jadikan Natal tahun ini makin istimewa dengan membangun
hidup orang-orang yang Anda kasihi. Memberikan hadiah Natal mungkin
terlihat seperti sebuah langkah yang kecil. Namun, kami yakin Allah
dapat memakainya untuk mendatangkan banyak kebaikan.
Selamat menyongsong Natal!
Netty Susanto
Direktur Eksekutif
ODB Indonesia
Direktur Eksekutif
ODB Indonesia
The Purpose of Ministry
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Why the Wilderness
Why the Wilderness
I hold the world in my hands. I hold the winds and the waves at my command and as you submit to me, I shall move the circumstances needed to bring you to the place I have promised. For you do not understand why things are shifting. You do not understand the discomfort that suddenly comes on you when I speak, but you will soon see why I have led you this way.For I might have led you through the way of the wilderness, but it was to drown your Egyptians. I might have led you into a waterless place, but it was so that I could bring out water from a rock. I might have led you to a hungry place only to display my power, by dusting the ground with my provision.
Each time you are led into something impossible, know that I stand there to meet you with a miracle to overcome that impossibility. Do not fight my hand when I lead you into the wilderness then, for I am only answering your prayer. I do not want to provide for you while you are still experiencing the comforts of Egypt. Then the enemy would take the glory and your faith would not be increased.
Rather I lead you away into my presence. I take you to the mountain where the ground shakes and the mountain trembles and it is there that I reveal myself to you. So do not push against my direction. Do not struggle against the wilderness, but rather see it as a doorway to my blessing and unsurpassed power. It is here that you will find what you are seeking. So trust me. Trust that I am leading you as a Good Shepherd and intend to bring you to still waters and allow you to rest in an oasis. Press on a little further and soon you will see and know my child. Amen
Making Friends When You're Shy Or Insecure
Making Friends When You're Shy Or Insecure
When I was a child I was painfully shy. When adults spoke to me, I'd hide behind my mother, answering their questions from behind her skirt, afraid to look them in the eye. I rarely spoke to other children at school unless they first spoke to me or invited me to join in whatever game they were playing. Perfectly content with one or two close friends, I remained quiet in most social situations. I was never the initiator, the includer, the leader, and most definitely never the life of any party.And then, prior to my 6th grade year, my family and I moved to a new city. I was petrified and cried myself through that first year of middle school. My poor parents; they probably had no idea what to do with me or how to help me adjust. I signed up for softball and warmed up with my teammates in silence, hoping they'd include me in their conversations. I joined the youth group at church and sat in silence, waiting for girls to approach me. And then I'd go home, uncertain and overwhelmed, and cry my eyes out to my mom once again.
After the sting subsided, however, I realized Kimberly had given me a gift--an outsider's perspective on myself. My quietness wasn't the invitation and opportunity for others to come toward me that I'd hoped it was. Instead, my quietness had built a wall between myself and others that sent a loud and clear message: don't come near.
The gift Kimberly gave me changed my life, because that day I realized that if I wanted to have friends in my new city, I'd actually have to talk to people. (I know, revolutionary.) I'd have to carry myself in a way that invited rather than repelled. Above all, I'd have to do things that felt unnatural and uncomfortable.
I am who I am. To this day, I am still shy, reserved, and don't mind a bit being by myself. However, I still very much want to have friends, and sometimes this combination of personality and dreams can be tricky. I often find myself reverting back to that 6th grade girl's expectation that others should do the work of coming toward me and helping me and befriending me.
It just doesn't work like that, not for me and not for you either. Waiting for others and hiding away (literally and figuratively) quickly builds a wall between others and ourselves and very few, if any, women will try to scale our walls in search of friendship.
Friendship is hard enough. I don't want to put obstacles in my own way. As an adult, I've obviously learned to look people in the eye and speak, but I think the greatest lesson birthed out of Kimberly's words is that I should do things that feel uncomfortable to me. For example, it's uncomfortable and nerve-wracking for me to attend women's ministry events at church--and I'm in charge of them! I would much prefer to stay home in my pajamas. But after the fact--after a retreat or a gathering of some sort--I'm always glad I went. Always, always, always.
It's not only worth the risk of doing uncomfortable things, but now I know something I didn't know when I was with Kimberly on the softball field: I know that I'm enveloped in the sure love of Christ. I am secure, so secure in his delight and approval, that He's become a anchor for my soul. He has me so securely in His hands that I can go toward others with friendship and not worry if I get the response I hope for. I am hidden in Christ, so I don't have to be afraid to be who He's made me, but I also don't have to self-protect. I can go toward others with confidence, extending an invitation rather than building a wall.
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