Today's prayer....

GOD bless all those that I love

GOD bless all those that love me

GOD bless all those that love those that I love

And all those that love those that love me

(From an Old New England Sampler - taken from the book First Prayer)

Search me, O Lord

Sudah beberapa hari ini hati rasanya gak tenang. Galau.

Saya mau seperti Hannah (I Samuel 1) yang mencari Tuhan ketika dia merasa galau. Tapi ternyata tidak mudah...tetap ada yang tersembunyi dari Dia, Sang Allah Maha Tahu. Karenanya ayat ini rasanya pas buat saya saat ini:

 "Search me, O God, and know my heart;  Try me... and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23

Saya jg menemukan artikel ini di internet.

Testing my Mind and Thoughts

How have my thoughts glorified You, My Lord and My God?

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor 10:31

Or have my thoughts been swallowed up with "me" - and self-seeking?

"...if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." James 3:14

Did I seek to see You, My Lord, in all the events of my day, or did I have only eyes for myself and my desires?

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Col 3:17

Did I offer up thanksgiving in everything?

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil." 1 Thes 5:16

When I beheld others, did I look only to their external appearance or did I seek to see, most of all, their hearts and the needs of their souls?

"From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." 2 Cor 5:16

Did I seek to love and bless the people God put in my life today -- including those who mock or despise me?

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
    "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.'
    "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:14-21

Was there a melody of delight in my heart for You today? Was I most satisfied in You, my God?

"...be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father...."  Eph 5:18

Where was my treasure today? How did my heart pursue my treasure?

"...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt 6:20-21

What thoughts did I entertain and dwell upon which were unworthy of my Lord?

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Rom 12:2

Did I envy? Covet? Lust? Dream selfish and worldly dreams with no accountability to God?

"...whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matt 5:28

"Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war." James 4:1

Am I allowing my heart to become hardened toward my Lord?  Toward others? Am I allowing bitterness to have a place in my heart?

"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Heb 3:12-13

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears." Heb 12:14-17

Have I been judgmental of others in my heart, perhaps just to put them down to make myself feel more superior?

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Matt 7:1-5

Have I allowed apathy, indolence, disappointment or despair to have their way with me?

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." 2 Cor 4:7-11

Did I show respect and honor for God's different authorities in my life?

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." Romans 13:1

What opportunities to glorify my sovereign Lord and King did I seize or lose?

"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever." 1 Pet 4:11

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." Col 4:6

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matt 5:16

New Blog :D

Karena saya sadar/gak sadar sedang menghindari tugas yang seharusnya jadi prioritas dan sangat penting yaitu membuat thesis...akhirnya saya sadar/gak sadar mencari hal-hal lain yang kira-kira membuat saya sibuk seperti mulai mengisi blog baru! Sebenarnya blog ini sudah lama dibuat, cuma saya gak pernah mencoba menulis atau mengisinya. Wong satu blog ini saja gak pernah di-update :) .

Blog baru ini berisi cerita-cerita yang saya alami melalui kegiatan sehari-hari di dalam kelas. Kenapa? karena begitu banyak cerita lucu, pelajaran, dan kisah kepolosan anak yang susah kita dapatkan di tempat lain dan saya kadang berpikir cerita-cerita itu sungguh sayang untuk dilewatkan. Rasanya ingin memotret semua kejadian, kegiatan dan kata-kata yang diucapkan oleh anak-anak ini. So, akhirnya dengan sedikit perjuangan (khususnya dalam membuat slideshow) akhirnya jadi juga blog baru-ku http://kelasharapan.blogspot.com/ (garing banget ya namanya hahahaha :P  - ada yang mau usul nama lain?)
Tapi demi untuk alasan keamanan - apalagi saya memasang foto-foto anak-anak yang sangat cute - hanya orang-orang tertentu yang sudah mendaftar terlebih dahulu yang boleh melihat dan membaca blog ini..

Resolusi Awal Minggu

Biasanya resolusi dibuat pada awal tahun atau pada saat ulang tahun.

Tapi kali ini saya harus membuat resolusi di awal minggu biasa di pertengahan April karena saya merasa hidup saya sama sekali gak beres. Thesis gak maju-maju, sakit dan flu gara-gara begadang dan suka mandi malam, kerjaan menumpuk gara-gara suka menunda, duit habis. Jadi saya memutuskan untuk membuat resolusi minggu ini:

1. Gak telat pergi sekolah. Ini artinya bel pertama dari weker setiap pagi saya sudah harus langsung bangun!
2. Gak telat mandi sore - mandi sebelum jam 6 sore (yang sore ini sudah dilanggar karena saya mandi jam 18.30-an).
3. Hidup hemat (sudah dilanggar pula karena siang ini tergoda untuk beli pafum Salvatore Ferragamo: Incanto).
4. Baca Alkitab setiap hari.
5. Bertemu dengan Ibu pembimbing thesis hari Sabtu ini yang artinya sudah harus ada kemajuan yang signifikan untuk diperlihatkan ke si Ibu..

Tidak susah kan?? Tetapi bagi saya...SUSAH!!!

Tolong saya Tuhan untuk melaksanakan resolusi minggu ini..

I Got this lines from someone's facebook:

~ Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

~ Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

~ Be thankful for difficult times. During those times you grow.

~ Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.

~ Be thankful for each new challenge, because it'll build your strength and character.

~ Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

~ Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference.

~ It's easy to be thankful for the good things. However a life of rich fulfilment comes to those who are thankful for the "SETBACKS".

~ GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive. Always find a way to be thankful for your troubles for they can become your successes.

Turut Bersedih, Virgo...

Tuhan,

Pagi ini Engkau telah memanggil Joey pulang ke rumahmu

Kami semua sedih...

Terlebih mama dan papanya, Virgo dan Bass..

Juga oma dan opa-nya di Kupang maupun di Belanda

Kuatkan mereka, hiburkan mereka

Mungkin ini semua susah dimengerti

Tapi kami mau meyakini dan mau percaya bahwa Engkau tahu yang terbaik

Tetap kuat, tabah dan beriman kepada Tuhan Yesus ya Virgo...

Pendoa

Saya pengeeen jadi orang yang setia berdoa bagi orang lain. Itu bukan hal yang mudah karena butuh waktu, konsentrasi, rasa peduli yang sungguh dan tidak pura-pura. Saya merasa selama ini saya berdoa masih sangat egois, paling banyak berdoa untuk diri sendiri dan orang-orang terdekat saya..

Dalam salah satu PA keluarga, salah satu tante-ku mengatakan kalo kita terus menunda untuk berdoa, kita tidak akan pernah berdoa untuk mereka. Jadi, kalau kita tiba-tiba mengingat atau melihat seseorang dan kita merasa perlu mendoakannya, doakan pada saat itu juga. Demikian halnya bila ada orang yang berkata "tolong doakan ya...". Doakan saat itu juga. Jangan pernah menunda...

Saat ini saya sedang baca buku " Kuasa Doa Seorang Istri" oleh Stormie Omartian. Ini kedua kalinya saya baca buku ini. Pertama kali ketika kami baru menikah, dan saat ini. Menurutku buku ini bagus sekali, mengajak setiap istri untuk terus mendoakan suaminya. Bukan untuk mengubahnya, tapi untuk melihat dan mendukung rencana Tuhan dalam hidup suami. Keren kan???

Sebenarnya saya sudah lupa tentang buku ini, sampai ada seseorang yang bercerita pada saya tentang masalahnya dalam pernikahan. Suaminya selingkuh dan meninggalkan dia. Saya tiba-tiba ingat sama buku ini. Saya rekomendasikan buku ini padanya, dan ternyata tidak mudah buku ini ditemukan di toko buku...sampai sekitar 2 bulan lalu, sepulang kuliah, saya jalan-jalan dengan teman-teman ke Plaza Gajah Mada, dan menemukan buku ini di TB Karisma. Langsung saja saya beli 2, satu buat teman itu, dan satu buatku.. (secara bukuku sudah lenyap entah kemana..dan minggu lalu saya menemukan lagi buku tuaku sudah hampir dimakan rayap). Menurutku buku ini recommended-lah...

Tuhan, tolong saya untuk bisa mendoakan orang lain.

Biarlah saya melakukannya dengan tulus dan rendah hati, tanpa maksud lain..

Biarlah saya melakukannya dengan kasih dan penuh kesungguhan

Tuhan, 

Tolong saya berdoa dengan benar

Tidak memaksakan keinginan saya

Tapi biarlah keinginanmu yang jadi dalam hidup saya

Biarlah saya sabar menunggu jawaban doa dari-Mu

Dan bila doaku tidak berkenan kepadaMu

Tunjukkanlah kebenaranMu itu...

Podcast

Sabtu lalu, Ibu Sisca ngajarin saya download podcast dari itunes...

I LOVE IT!!! Saya sudah dan sedang men-download banyak podcast. menurutku ini cool sekali. Kita belajar dan melihat banyak hal dengan gratissss...Keren...

Kemarin saya download Sesame street podcast, Dora, dan Jordan suka sekali!!! Katanya " Ma, nonton Lemo (maksudnya "Elmo"). Seharian kita putar itu terus...yang lucu waktu Murray bolak-balik bilang "octagon", Jordan terus ngulangin "octagon" sambil cekikian. Saya sampai mikir apanya yang lucu????

Sekarang saya lagi download Oprah, Renungan Max Lucado, Suze Ormon financial tips, bahkan podcast memasak!!!

Thanks bu Sisca udah ngajarin hal baru....