Posted on Friday, November 1, 2013

The Beauty of Marriage

I’ve been married to my husband for 5 years and 5 months. And I thank God for each day we have been through together since then.

For years I closed my heart. I avoided dating. I proofed myself that I didn’t need a man in my life. I though that was the best way for not be sad because of broken heart. I was scared.

When I came to know Christ when I was at collage 2002, I was still afraid. I prayed for someone that He had for me and me for him. And prayed. And prayed. There was someone. But after dating for few months and prayed, we felt that we were not meant to be together.

We broke up.

I waited again. And prayed again.

This time I told God that I was all His. I didn’t care to be single for him as long as I got to do what He has called me to do, as missionary.

Looking back those years lead me to thank God for the waiting time & for the broken heart.

Today I am thanking God for my husband. It was worth it to wait for him. God opened my eyes to see these godly qualities and values in Dave’s life, not the worldly ones that every girl’s dream about.

Our marriage is the most beautiful unity in Christ Jesus. He loves God above of anything in his life. And because of his love to God, he reflects that love to me and our daughters. God uses my husband to teach me, to guide me, to help me and to show me who God is in our every day life. He sets example of trusting in God and how to walk in faith. God has been blessing us through him as a husband and a father.

God calls me to respect him, to love him as I love Christ, to help him and be strong for him. God calls me to be the mother to his daugthers. God has put me in his life and him in my life because He meant us to be together and serve Him together as family. It is God who unites us.

That is the beauty of marriage.

We are united by God.
We are led by God.
We love each other to reflects God’s true love.
We respect each other in Christ Jesus.
We are called to serve as family.

What I was looking in a man before I was not a follower of Christ, they are emptiness and useless. They are not what God has for me. But He led me to the one and only He had prepared for me, and prepared me for him.

How about you? What are you looking for in a man whom you will be living with for the rest of your life?

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This post I link up at:
HelloMornings

Faith Filled Friday

Posted on Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Focus UPG: Asilulu of Indonesia

Who they are:

The Asilulu live on the island of Ambon in the villages of Asilulu and Ureng, in the district of Leihitu, Central Maluku Regency, in the province of Maluku. The provinces of North Maluku and Maluku were created from the province of Maluku in 1999. Transportation to the Asilulu area is available both by land and by sea. General transportation is available several times a day to the city of Ambon. The Maluku Islands, historically called the Spice Islands, are a string of over one thousand islands scattered over the eastern portion of Indonesia. They include most of the islands between Sulawesi and New Guinea and between Timor and the Philippines. The Asilulu language is one of the original languages of the island of Ambon and is spoken by people who reside on the west coast. The people in the village of Negri Lima speak a very similar, but different, language sometimes known as Henalima. Historically, the Asilulu language was a trade language for this region, and even now it is not unusual to meet a person from a neighboring island, such as Seram, who can speak the Asilulu language.

The Asilulu are Muslims. As such, they believe they will be judged based on their knowledge of the Qur’an, as well as what they did with their lives. The Asilulu have syncretized Islam with their traditional beliefs. They mix traditional cultural practices and Islamic teachings in many of their events, such as weddings, circumcisions, royal inaugurations, and building of mosques (mesjid).

How we can pray for them today:

Ask God to give the workers the wisdom of God to navigate cultural, political and religious issues for gaining access and favor among an unreached people group can be very tricky.
In every people group there are fathers who love and provide for their children. They each have something in them that connects with our Father in Heaven. Our prayers can focus the attention of the Holy Spirit on one of these fathers.
Ask God to make a way for these people to have their Bible in the language they understand best in their heart. Everyone on the planet has the right to hear the truth of God’s love for them, but many times, Gov. leaders restrict their people from having access to the Gospel. Through prayer we can see this change.

(source: Joshua Project and Prayer Guard)

Posted on Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Focus UPG: Bawean of Indonesia

Who are they?

The Bawean homeland is a 200 square kilometer island 120 kilometers north of Surabaya (East Java) in the middle of the Java Sea. Bawean has been known as the “island of women” because the majority of its inhabitants are women. This is because the men tend to look for employment in other lands. A man from Tanjung Ori village who worked for 20 years in Malaysia said, “A Bawean male is not considered an adult until he has stepped on foreign soil.” Merantau (going to distant lands to seek success) is a major aspect of Bawean culture and it influences almost every other facet of their society. A significant number of the Baweanese reside in Malaysia. In fact, the Baweanese population there far exceeds that found on the island itself, which numbers 60,000 inhabitants. Other areas of Baweanese migration include Perth, Australia and Singapore, where they are known as the Boyanese people.

What language do they speak?

Linguistically speaking, the Bawean dialect is part of Madura language which also includes the dialects of Bangkalan, Pamekasan, Sampang, Sapudi and Sumenep.

What are their beliefs?

Originally the Bawean embraced animistic beliefs. Then Hindu and Buddhist influences entered the island until the 1600’s when the Baweanese people converted to Islam. Their religious devotion is extremely strong and they pride themselves in the fact that 100% of the island’s inhabitants follow Islam. There are many mosques (mesjid), small Islamic prayer houses (musholla) and traditional Islamic schools (pesantren) in every village. Boys and girls from six or seven years of age receive religious instruction including lessons in reciting the Qur’an and sometimes live in the house of a kyai (Islamic teacher). The kyai is greatly respected by the Bawean people.

Do they have a Bible in their language?

Yes.

How can we pray for them?

Words have little meaning, especially in places where physical needs are great. It takes the miraculous to capture the hearts of the people. In places where embracing Christianity means abuse and persecution, believers need to be sure they have accepted the real God. ASK GOD to perform miracles to confirm the Word.
In every people group there are leaders who guide the activities of others. They each have something in them that connects with the God of the universe. Our prayers can focus the attention of the Holy Spirit on one of these leaders today. ASK GOD to give revelations of Him to the leaders.
Everyone on the planet has the right to hear the truth of God’s love for them, but many times, Gov. leaders restrict their people from having access to the Gospel. Through prayer we can see this change. ASK GOD to remove the oppositions.

(Resources: Joshua Project and PrayerGuard.net)

Posted on Monday, October 7, 2013

I Am Doing 31 Days Too!

It is already Day 7 of the 31 Days… I almost forgot to share with you all that I AM DOING IT, too! It is over my crafting blog HERE.

Autumn is here already. We have halloween and Thanksgiving coming up.

Winter is following it. Then we are be having fun preparation for Christmas and New Year.

Over my crafting blog, I have been sharing what we did for 31 Days of creating memories, gifts and decoration joyfully.

I hope you will visit my crafty blog and will enjoy it, too! I’ll see you there!

made with Picmonkey.

Posted on Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Focus UPG: Wolio of Indonesia

Who are they?

The Wolio (also known as the Baubau, Buton or Butung) primarily live on the island of Buton, around the city of Baubau, but can also be found on Muna, located in the SE Sulawesi province. Their ancestors were immigrants from Johor, Malaysia at the beginning of the 15th century, who also founded the Buton dynasty. In 1540, the sixth king became a follower of Islam. He reshaped the kingdom to become a sultanate and set himself up as the first sultan. The sultanate of Buton lasted until the death of the last sultan in 1960. With his death, the Buton sultanate ended its formal reign, though the influence of Buton is still felt throughout all of the islands in the region. The Wolio are at the heart of the culture of Buton. Buton today is known for its production of asphalt and is currently being explored for oil and other minerals. Many people have moved to other islands to find work. At present, some Wolio people live in the areas of Maluku and Papua.

What language do they speak?

They speak the Wolio language, which is from the Wotu-Wolio language cluster that includes the following languages: Kalao, Laiyolo, Kamaru, Wotu. Arabic is also understood by some and its script is used in religious writings and older written materials in the Wolio language.

What do they believe?

Almost all Wolio have beliefs centered in Sufi Islam. According to their teachings, they practice mediation in order to receive visions from God, or to find hidden truths far beyond their own reasoning. Belief in reincarnation is also adhered to as a result of Hindu influence. They also believe that evil spirits cause illnesses to occur while helpful spirits give guidance.

Do they have Bible or partial of the Bible, or other materials?

How can we pray for them?

Ask God to give wisdom and strategies to the workers to gain access and favor among the people group. Workers need the wisdom of God to navigate cultural, political and religious issues.
Ask God to touch the people’s hearts and give them hunger for Him and His word.
Ask God to reveal the culture keys.

(Resources: Prayerguard and Joshua Project.)