SIAPA YANG MURAHAN?

SIAPA YANG MURAHAN?
Baru saja ia memandang dirinya, ia sudah pergi atau ia segera lupa bagaimana rupanya (Yakobus 1:24)
Seorang Oma berbincang-bincang dengan saya di sebuah coffee shop, beliau mengeluhkan gaya hidup wanita zaman sekarang. Saat beliau melihat seorang gadis muda yang merokok, beliau mengeluh betapa gadis muda saat ini nampak murahan dengan mengisap rokok. Beliau menceritakan betapa anggunnya wanita muda pada masa mudanya, pada era penjajahan dulu. Setelah berbincang cukup lama sambil mulai meminum kopi, ia pun mengeluarkan sebungkus rokok, mengambilnya satu batang dan mulai menyulutnya.
Saya sempat terheran-heran, bukankah tadi si Oma mengutuk dan berbicara keras betapa wanita perokok nampak seperti wanita murahan?
Saat saya pulang, saya mulai merenungkan kejadian ini dan belajar memang sangatlah mudah bagi kita mengkritisi kehidupan orang lain namun sering kita lupa untuk instropeksi diri. Seringkali kesalahan yang sama pun kita lakukan, entah kita sadar atau tidak.
Sebab itu sangatlah penting bagi kita semua, untuk bukan saja merenungkan firman Tuhan dan lalu menggunakan tolok ukur kebenaran itu untuk menghakimi orang lain. Sepatutnya setelah kita membaca dan merenungkan firman Tuhan maka pertama-tama kita harus menggunakan kebenaran itu untuk mengkoreksi kehidupan kita terlebih dulu. Sebagai murid Kristus kita harus bertumbuh di dalam pengenalan akan Dia dan mengalami transformasi dalam Dia.
Doa: Tuhan tolong kami menjadi pelaku kebenaranMU.
Firman Tuhan: Yakobus 1:19-27

Let The Rain Fall

Let The Rain Fall

Can you see the clouds gathering up ahead in the spirit? They are indeed a promise of my rain that is coming. Just as you can smell the freshness in the air, so also is my presence all around you. For you do not need to go far to reach my presence.

When the rain begins to fall, does the thirsty ground rise up and try to catch it all? No, it simply waits and soaks the rain in when it comes. In the same way you do not need to strive to reach me my child. For I surround you. I am around you all of the time. All that you need to do is stand in my presence and let it water you.

However when you are so busy running around, you miss out on the blessing that I have for you. You do not need to run to find me child. You do not need to try so hard to come into my presence. You only need to stand and to know through faith that I am there.

You do not need to struggle or to strive. Simply rest and let the rain fall. For when you rest and let my rain fall on your head, you will be refreshed. You will be washed clean and the things you did not understand before will suddenly make sense. So rest this day. Rest in my rain. You will see that I have not forsaken you, but have waited for you instead. I have been waiting for you to come to rest and to simply open up your arms to me.

So do that now. Open your arms to the heavens and soak in the rain as it falls and you will see that I pour forth with abundance says the Lord.

AKIBAT MELANGGAR ATURAN

AKIBAT MELANGGAR ATURAN
Ada jalan yang disangka orang lurus, tetapi ujungnya menuju maut (Amsal 14:12)
Senin pagi merupakan hari yang sibuk, semua orang seolah dikejar oleh waktu. Pagi itu seperti biasa saya tengah mengantar putra tercinta ke sekolah. Jalanan pagi cukup padat, semua orang berburu dengan waktu untuk mencapai tujuan. Pada jalan satu arah itu, saya melihat sebuah sepeda motor yang dikendarai seorang ibu dan ketiga anaknya dengan kencang melawan arus. Seolah tak menghiraukan peringatan orang-orang dengan percaya diri sang ibu muda itu memacu sepeda motornya melalui kendaraan yang kami tumpangi dan lalu terdengar suara keras,”Braak!” Ternyata sepeda motor yang dikendarai si ibu muda dan ke tiga anaknya, menabrak sebuah mobil angkutan yang tengah menepi menurunkan penumpang.
Akibat ingin cepat mencapai tujuan, si ibu melanggar aturan lalu lintas dengan melawan arus, jalan satu arah. Alhasil bukan cepat sampai tujuan malah cepat sampai di rumah sakit bersama anak-anaknya yang suka atau tidak harus mengikutinya. Dalam hati, ada perasaan bercampur aduk antara kasihan dan juga marah. Kasihan melihat anak-anak yang ikut menderita akibat keputusan yang salah, marah terhadap keteledoran seorang ibu yang seharusnya mengayomi dan mengasihi malah mengambil keputusan yang salah.
Saya segera tersadar bahwa memang benar apa yang Tuhan firmankan bahwa rancanganNya bukanlah rancangan kita, jalanNya bukanlah jalan kita. Sebab itu kita harus hidup taat padaNya, ketaatan padaNya merupakan pintu berkat bagi hidup kita sedang ketidaktaan terhadapNya hanya akan membawa kita pada kesengsaraan.
Doa: Tuhan, tolong kami untuk menjadi anakMu yang hidup dalam ketaatan. Amien.
FT: Mazmur 119:10-20

In the Hands of the Potter

In the Hands of the Potter

I have you in the palm of my hands my child and I am busy making you into a magnificent vessel. So do not be afraid of the pressures that you are faced with, for it is my hand that is coming upon you gently to mold and shape you to hold my glory.

Embrace the pressures you feel and surrender to me completely. For I am making you into something beautiful. I am shaping you into a unique vessel that would be ready to contain what I want to pour into it for my people.

Trust in me my child for the work I am doing in your life is a good work. I have wonderful plans for you. All I need you to do is to stop struggling and to just surrender. Just give up all the striving. Give up trying so hard.

Have you ever seen a lump of clay that lay in the potter's work shop and that somehow managed to form itself into a vessel? It doesn't work in the natural and so it also won't happen with you in the spiritual.

Just as a potter grabs that lump of clay and starts to press on it and pull on it to shape it, so am I at work in your life, says the Lord. Trust in me and give your all to me. Just be as that lump of clay that is shaped into something beautiful in the hands of the potter.

I am making you into a vessel of glory. Trust in me, says the Lord.

MORE GREAT QUOTES

More GREAT QUOTES
-Sermonindex.

"Ah! How foolish we are! How we repeat the folly of our first parent
[Adam] every day when we seek to hide sin from conscience, and
then think it is hidden from God."
- Charles Spurgeon

"When we say that there's only one way of salvation, people say
`You´re very narrow minded.´ But the truth is always narrow minded.
2 + 2 = 4.. it´s not 3.9, it´s not 4.1." - Zac Poonen

"It is because homosexuals are being "accepted" and given place
in the midst of the Pentecostal church - that is why it is so serious.
Too afraid to call sin SIN - and thus lead them to cleansing."
-Andrew Strom.

"One of the most amazing things Jesus said is that at the judgment
seat, preachers are going to say `I cast out devils,´ and Jesus will
say `I never knew you.´" - Leonard Ravenhill

"When you were poor and ugly in your own sight, then was the time
God exalted and used you, but when you get to be some great
Nebuchadnezzar, then God turns you out to eat grass like an ox.
Keep little and God will use you." - Apostolic Faith papers #5

"But they could not endure to hear of purity, and of victory over sin
and the devil. They said they could not believe any could be free from
sin on this side of the grave. I bade them give over babbling about
the Scriptures, which were holy men's words, whilst they pleaded for
unholiness. Then I bade them forbear talking of the Scriptures, which
were the holy men's words; "for," said I, "the holy men that wrote the
Scriptures pleaded for holiness in heart, life, and conversation here;
but since you plead for impurity and sin, which is of the devil, what
have you to do with the holy men's words?""
-George Fox

Green Pastures

 

Green Pastures

A sheep has no fear when it grazes in the pasture. It simply enjoys the blessings and the time to feed. It knows that the Shepherd is watching over it and it has nothing to fear. If the food runs out, the Shepherd will take the sheep to another pasture. If a wild animal comes, the Shepherd will chase that animal way. 
In the same way I am the good Shepherd and it is my desire to take you into this season of rest my child. I desire for you to enjoy the good pastures that I have brought you to. I desire for you to rest and to give me all of your cares. So often though, you do not take the time to enjoy the pastures because you worry when the pasture will run out. You worry if a wild animal will come and harm you.
My child put your trust into me. Have I ever let you down? If a natural shepherd would give his life for his flock, how much more will I give everything I have for you? Put your trust into me and enter into my rest. Enter and enjoy the good pastures that I have given to you. Rather experience my peace than worry and fear.
I am not the author of worry. I am not the one who has brought fear into your life. These are things that the enemy would try to do. It is the enemy that wants to steal, kill and destroy. I came to give you life in abundance! So rather trust in me. Trust that I will protect you. Trust that I will take care of each need. As you lean on me now in faith, I will be faithful to cover you and to care for you says the Lord. 

New Life

New Life

As a baby is being prepared to be born, it goes through a time that is very uncomfortable. From feeling safe and secure in its mothers womb, suddenly a pressure it has not known before starts to come on it. It experiences something new as the womb constricts and starts to push it out towards the world.
Although this is a season of pressure, the result is a birth into something new. The child did not know the reality of life until it took its first breath and in the same way, you will only experience my life as I bring the pressures needed to release you into it.
So do not become discouraged if you begin to feel the world press in on you from all sides, because it is not meant to harm you, but to bring you to a new place of life! Although the pressures seem intense, they are but for a moment. So do not be discouraged my child, but see that I have good plans ahead of you.
If you suddenly feel the pressures and a new intensity come on you, it is because I mean for you to be tried in the fire for a season to bring out the gold. So often though it is easier to look at the things that you lose. To look at the dross that is burned off or at the safety of the womb that you have had to leave behind.
Instead of looking behind you or at the pressures, look at me instead my child. Look at my face and you will find the life you are looking for. Look at me and you will find the resurrection that you need. As you have prayed, I have answered. So embrace the pressures and look forward to the good things that they are leading you to.
See the goal and the blessing ahead, because these pressures will last only a moment. However, once you reach the goal, you will not remember the pressures any more. You will not remember the struggle any more. You will only see and rejoice in the new life and blessing that I have brought you into, says the Lord.

Feed your Faith

Feed your Faith

Consider the time it takes for a seed to grow into a tree. First it must be planted in season and then it must be given time to germinate. If the seed is not a tree overnight, you are not surprised. However in the spirit, you put in a little effort and imagine that your faith will be strong overnight.
No, my child, faith is like a mustard seed and although it has the potential to grow into something magnificent it takes time to grow. First you must use your faith with love and then also you must feed the faith that you have. The best way to grow your faith is to daily put some effort into it.
It is because of the goodness of the soil that a tree starts to grow. It takes the nutrients and as it does that, it begins to come to life! The nutrients that will feed your faith is my Word. My Word will give you the faith and the authority that you are looking for. However, if you feed your spirit on things that are contrary to my word, you contaminate the seed of faith in your heart.
Rather take time to fertilize your faith with the goodness of my Word and do not allow the poison of the world to contaminate it. For it is this poison that will stunt your faith. The fear and anger that the world feeds you acts as a devestating and bitter poison that will take all of the life from your faith.
So put these things aside and feed on my Word instead. Feed your faith daily and then watch it grow. The more you feed your faith with my Word, the more you will feel a new life stirring inside of you! You will begin to come to life again and you will feel the strength to use that faith.
Then as that seedling begins to push through and grow and be seen, you will be able to use it and see things happen. So do not grow weary in doing good today, my child. Do not grow weary in feeding your spirit with good things. What you invest into your spiritual life, you will start to reap. At first, you might not notice the fruit. If you keep investing though the tree of your faith will grow and a season of harvest will come. Then what started out as a seed would have become a life giving tree!
So invest daily into your faith. Feed it with my goodness and then watch as your spirit comes to life and as you begin to walk in a new-found power, says the Lord.

The Author of Life

The Author of Life

I have put you in this earth to flourish my child. My very nature is one of life and even when you look around, you see that I have destined all things for life. When I created the earth, I did not create a dead seed, but instead made them living! I made it that even though a seed would fall into the ground and seemingly die, that through this process life would come out of it.
In the same way, I have destined you for life. I have destined you to flourish and to have abundance. Although at times it might seem that the seed has fallen into the ground and died, know in these moments that the greatest phase of resurrection is about to come upon you.
So look to me as the author of life today. Look to me as the author of blessing and of abundance. For when I created this earth I did not create a little, but I created everything to flourish! I made things beautiful and to reproduce themselves.
I created a world that would not know lack. So in the same way child, can I take your life and make it flourish. I can go into the barren lands and cause them to spring forth with new things.
Only trust me. See me as the source of all blessing. See me as the one who answers your prayers and who watches over you. See me as the author of life and you will see that I have already given you the potential for greatness, says the Lord.
Put aside the fears and doubts then and come to me. Come and take hold of my abundance and you will surely see that I am a good God that desires the best for you my child. Amen.

Leave it up to me

When a farmer plants a seed, he takes a step of faith each time. For he doesn't know what will become of that seed once it is planted into the ground. Once it is out of his hands and touches the soil, the farmer has no control over what happens any longer. He can water that seed and make sure that insects don't have easy access to it, but even then, he cannot go and dig up the seed to make sure it is okay. Once it is planted, a process of growth begins that the farmer cannot interfere in. It is the same with you. Each time you sow, each time you give you are handing me that seed in the spirit. It is then up to me to make sure that seed sprouts. It is not up to you. You can water it and keep watch over it in the spirit, but it is up to me to bring the growth, says the Lord. Trust in me. Give me your seed and once you placed it in my hands, leave it there. Do not go around trying to dig it up to make sure that it is growing. Each time you do that, you are blocking the growth. Each time you do that you are interfering with my process. So just let it go and place your trust in my ability to make something magnificent out of what you have given to me, says the Lord. For I delight in bringing in great harvests on your behalf. It is in me that you will see miracles come to pass and your needs met. So trust in me afresh today and allow me to bring growth to the seeds you have sown, says the Lord.

I will reach out to you

I will reach out to you My child, you know that you can reach out and touch me. All through my word, I was there among the people. When I walk the streets, people crowd around to get one touch of me. But how often my child, have you asked me to touch you? To touch your problems, to come and be your savior in every area of your life? For I am your heavenly bridegroom, and I don't need much to come running to you. Just a whisper of "Lord I need you", and I will move mountains for you. Yes, so many of my children think they have to struggle and strive, because I don't want to bless them. Or others think they have to pick up the sword and do it themselves. No my child, I am your provider, I am your healer, I am your deliver. You reached out with simple faith and you came to know me. Just reach out with that same faith and ask me to touch you and I will. For my arm is not shortened that I can not deliver, and my power has not diminished one tiny bit! I parted the red sea, and slew the Egyptians, can I not make a way for you? Stop trying to do it all by yourself, and just fall into my arms, for all I ask my child, is faith, hope, and love. I love you my child, and I am with you always.

That Still Small Voice

That Still Small Voice My peace is the power that you are looking or my child. For it is in my peace that you will accomplish great things in my name. For it is only when you are at peace that you can hear my voice deep in your spirit. It is only when you are at peace that you can think clearly enough to handle the problems that you face. When there are many voices shouting at you and responsibilities that overwhelm you, it is easy for the enemy to sway you. However, when you can settle your spirit and walk in my peace, then you can hear my still and small voice. For the enemy comes as a roaring lion, trying to lead you in the way that he wants to go. He comes to push you and to demand from you. I come to lead you to victory and I do it with peace. So walk in my peace this day and put aside the things that are pushing you and causing you to become discouraged. Listen to the still small voice that is speaking clearly in your spirit right now. Listen to my soft words and to the nudging of my spirit. Listen to those things and you will not have to be afraid of being led astray. For I will always confirm and I will always speak in peace. So listen for the peace in my voice and the doors that would not open before will suddenly swing wide in front of you, says the Lord. Amen

Get Empowered

Get Empowered

Let me water the dry ground today my child. For it does not take long for your spirit to become thirsty and dry. The problems of life and the struggles you face quickly take away the goodness and the anointing in your life. That is why I call you to my presence once again.

To drink deep from me and to experience my love and joy once again. In the world you will often have tribulation, but be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world! I have overcome it with my power and when you come to me you can partake of that power. This is not something that you can only taste of once, but you can take hold of it again and again.

If you would only take time aside with me to hear my voice and to reach out to me, you would be watered and empowered again. So when the tribulation comes and you feel dry, it is time to run to me child. It is time to embrace me and to allow me to fill you up once again. As I do this, you will grow stronger.

The more you do it, the stronger you will become. Right now you might look at your circumstances and feel overwhelmed by them, but just a bit of my power will give you what you need to overcome. So do not just come to me when times are difficult, but come to me especially when times are easy so that I can prepare you for the tribulations up ahead.
When you come to me all for the time to be empowered, then no matter what happens, you will always be ready and will be able to overcome, says the Lord. Amen

Different Seasons

Different Seasons

The rain lasts only for a season and then the sun comes out to finish off the work. In the same way, I am taking you through different seasons that might seem contradictory. The rain and the sun seem so opposite, yet they are both needed for growth. In the same way my child, I will take you through seasons of rain and of sunshine.

There will be times when the season you are in might feel bleak. You will feel as though the goodness is gone and that you have to push through. Do not become discouraged when you face a season like this, because it is all part of the process that I am taking you through. Soon enough the rain clouds will clear and then the sun will break through.

As I take you by the hand, I have only good things in store for you my child! So do not become discouraged or wonder why I am leading you in the way that I am - for I am doing a good thing in your life! I know where you are headed and the best way to take you there. I know what you need and what it will take to bring the goodness out of your life.

So trust me again this day and thank me for every season I take you through. For as you are diligent to submit to each one and to learn from each one, you will begin to see the fruit of it. You will see the growth and know that I led you clearly and that I desire only good things for you my child. Amen

GREAT QUOTES

More GREAT QUOTES
-Sermonindex.

"God is not looking for brilliant men, is not depending upon eloquent
men, is not shut up to the use of talented men in sending His gospel
out in the world. God is looking for broken men who have judged
themselves in the light of the cross of Christ. When He wants anything
done, He takes up men who have come to the end of themselves, whose
confidence is not in themselves, but in God."
- H.A. Ironside

"When we become too glib in prayer we are most surely talking to
ourselves."
- A. W. Tozer

"Some people read their Bible in Hebrew, some in Greek; I like to read
mine in the Holy Ghost."
- Smith Wigglesworth

"I am convinced that many evangelicals are not truly and soundly
converted. Among the evangelicals it is entirely possible to come into
membership, to ooze in by osmosis, to leak through the cells of the
church and never know what it means to be born of the Spirit and
washed in the blood. A great deal that passes for the deeper life is
nothing more or less than basic Christianity. There is nothing deeper
about it, and it is where we should have been from the start. We
should have been happy, joyous, victorious Christians walking in the
Holy Spirit and not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Instead we have
been chasing each other around the perpetual mountain.

What we need is what the old Methodists called a sound conversion.
There is a difference between conversion and a sound conversion.
People who have never been soundly converted do not have the Spirit to
enlighten them. When they read the Sermon on the Mount or the teaching
passages of the epistles that tell them how to live or the doctrinal
passages that tell how they can live, they are unaffected. The Spirit
who wrote them is not witnessing in their hearts because they have not
been born of the Spirit. That often happens." - A W Tozer

"With all your getting get unction." - Leonard Ravenhill

Keep Praying

Keep Praying

No matter how dark the clouds are, the sun will surely make its way through. My child as you have been reaching out to me, I have heard your prayers and although your needs are as dark clouds, your faith will shine through and break them apart. For the difficulty is only for a season and the enemy can only bring his attacks for so long and then he must step away.

So do not grow weary in reaching out to me. Do not grow weary in praying and calling on my name. For the prayers of the just avail much and I have surely heard your cry and will answer. I will not delay, but I will reach out to you and break through the need and the obstacles. I will reach through my child.

So press on today. Keep reaching out to me and I will reach out to you. Keep holding onto me and I will hold onto you. Keep praying and trusting in me and I will come through for you.

Look and see my child - the clouds will part quickly and then you will be able to revel in the warmth of the sun and see those needs met once again.

Know My Love

Know My Love

My child, I call you as a groom to the bridal chamber. I call you to lie down on roses and to enjoy the warmth of my presence. For in the world, you will face tribulation, but I have overcome the world. It is here in my presence that you will also learn to overcome.

As you receive more from me and hear my words, it will impart the power to you that you need. Then you will stand up again and know that you can overcome any obstacle that faces you. So come to me for this moment and drink in my presence and my love. Let my love be like milk and honey to you.

Let my words feed you like fresh bread and let my touch be as warm oil over your head. For you are indeed lovely to me my child. You are indeed precious and I gladly died for you to give you everything that you could ever need.

So come to me and develop this relationship with me. Let me show you my love. For it is this very love that will empower you. It is this very tenderness that will give you what you need to overcome.

So come away with me. Steal this moment away with me and taste and see that I am indeed good, says the Lord.

Unlimited Power

Unlimited Power

My child is anything too hard for me? Why then do you look at the things that you cannot do instead of the things that I can do? For as you look at your own limitations you overlook my boundless ability.

For as I created this world with the breath of my mouth, so also am I able to create miracles in your situation. As you look at your resources and abilities, you will always feel like you are coming up short. You will always feel that you lack and are not able to meet the standard.

But my child, I did not call you to live up to your own standard but mine. I did not call you to walk in your own ability, but in my power. For you can only do so much in yourself and then your resources run dry. My power and resources though will never run dry. I will always have more to give you.

So why struggle with your limitation? Grab hold of my limitless power instead. Let go of your weaknesses and your failed attempts then. Let go of your inability to reach the goals.

Then grab hold of my hand and I will take you to the goals. Where your abilities end, mine will start and I will surely lead you further and higher than you have ever been, says the Lord.

Your one source of everything

Your one source of everything

Do you feel weak and powerless? Do you feel like you have somehow been disconnected from the source of life? My child, just come to me afresh and let me revive you.

Open yourself up to me and let me overflow you with my living waters. Stop for a moment and come to me to receive my cleansing. For the dust of life has accumulated on you and it has made you weary. Come and drink from my living waters that are gushing like a waterfall at all times.

If you want to stand in that waterfall all you need to do is to come to me to receive. Do not be satisfied with the little portion you have but come to me for more. I delight in blessing you and I delight in giving you more. You have to just come and ask and I will gladly give, says the Lord.

Let me overflow you with my joy. Come and let me overflow you with my love. Come and let me give you what you have been crying out for, says the Lord. For I am your one source of everything. I am your father. AMEN

A Sweet Song

A Sweet Song

As spring comes you can hear the birds singing their song, heralding in the season. However, when you are busy and rushing from one place to another, you do not hear their song. It does not mean that they are not singing, but rather that you are just too distracted to take it in. It is only when you are quiet and take time to sit and listen, do you suddenly hear the melody.

My direction to you is like that my child. It is a sweet song giving you the joy and hope that you need. Unfortunately, you can get so busy with so many things that you do not hear my song.

Your mind often gets filled with so many thoughts and fears and frustrations, that you miss out on the melody. Then there are other times when you are so busy praying and talking and trying to reach me, that again, you do not hear my sweet words.

My child, just take a moment to be silent in my presence. Do not rush me. If you had to suddenly rush at a dove that was letting out its song, it would fly away and you would lose the moment. In the same way, each time that you rush and push and try to demand, you miss out on the opportunity to just listen.

Just listen to me today. Trust me to speak to you. Trust me to get my song through to you. So often you struggle and cry out to me for my direction. In fact, you are crying out to me so much that you cannot hear my song through your cries.

So have faith in me and listen to the words deep inside of your spirit. Listen to my sweet song washing over you even now. As you do this, you will feel the peace that you have been asking for.

For I do indeed sing over my beloved and even now I am washing over you with a sweet and tender song with words of love and hope. So stop to listen. Quiet your spirit and trust me to get through to you.

Trust me to break through the clouds and the noise around you. Then suddenly my voice will become clear and the words that you hear will revive you once again. Listen for me child and you will not be disappointed, says the Lord. Amen.