Category Archives: Devotion

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Why Worries

I have been worry in the last month. I am worry about our health, financial situations, and it’s getting closer to our plan to go but our ministry budget is not there yet. Adding to that, in the last 4 days I am worry about my grandma, who is 90 years old, unbeliever, was admitted to the hospital 3 days ago and not going good. My family took her home yesterday but still not showing any good improvement. I am so worry and sad that we would not be able to go and see her for the last time maybe. These things are just adding and adding up to my mind and heart, and cause me not to have enough sleep at nights.

My worries are taking over me, my heart, my mind, my focus, and even my faith. I start to doubt and fear of the future. My worries cause a lot “What If” questions in my mind.

Because of being worry, I forgot of my God, how big He is, how awesome his awesomeness and how faithful He is.
Because of being worry, I forgot that my God is the God of impossible.

My God can perform signs of wonder. My God can save. My God can!

Jesus asks a question in Matthew 6:27, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” the answer is NO. Worries cannot add any single moment to your life. God can. Jesus says that seeking the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So we don’t have to be worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:33-34). And John reminds us in 1 John 5:14-15 that when we know that God hears and answers whatever we ask that pleases Him, we have confidence in God. Whatever we ask that will please God’s heart and bring glory to His only name, He will give what we ask for.

Isn’t that awesome and wonderful promises we have in God? Yes, He will work it out in our lives and show us His wonderful glory.

If you ever wonder about God and his faithfulness, then don’t. Have faith and confidence in Christ Jesus, then you will meet God, the Father. He will fill you with His Holy Spirit when you trust and believe in Him. God is God. No one like Him.

Today, let’s we stand and worship God in awe and wonder!

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This is submitted for Five Minute Friday. And today’s prompt word is WONDER.

Want to know how Five Minute Friday got started and how to participate? All the details are here.

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.

 

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Rejoicing in Suffering. What? How?

It has been a couple of weeks I am crying to God to fill my heart with His presence, to teach me His word, to quench my thirst of Him, to give me the strength I need to start my day.

I woke up this morning, grabbed my cupof coffee (thanks to my hubby for getting the Keurig machine!) and I sat with my Bible open on the dining table. 

I read 1 Peter 4:12-19. A lesson about suffering. I’ve read the book of Peter few times, but this morning, a lesson about suffering totaly struck my mind that every disciple of Christ is called to rejoice in the sufferings. What? How? 

“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:14)

That’s the answer. The Spirit of God who rests upon us, Christ’s disciples, is the One who will help us, strengthen us, give us the grace and power we need to go through the suffering in Christ. 

Christ had suffered the same thing we are suffering now when He was living on this earth among His creations. They mocked Him for His obedience to God, they cursed Him for the truth He spoken, they even killed Him just because they wanted their own righteousness. Now He is crowned as the King of kings and sit on the thrown and be with God. 

The same Spirit of God who be with Jesus and raised Him from death, is now rest upon us. I want that! I wanna be filled by the Holy Spirit to live my life, to take every step, to breath every breath, to obey God and to love Him. I need The Holy Spirit to call out to my God, “Abba Father.”


My pray this morning that the Holy Spirit will help us and give us the power and grace to keep worshiping God in the midst of suffering. 

This morning, these two songs keep singing in my heart and mind. I hope and pray you will find his grace as you enter His presence, find His promises for you when you listen to His word, be refreshed and find the strength you need to live and glorify God’s name in Jesus Christ.

First song is:
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
By Matt Redman

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
[Chorus]
You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
[Chorus]
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
[Chorus x2]
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
I’ll worship Your Holy name


The second song is:
Your Name
By Paul Baloche

As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart and glorify Your Name

(CHORUS)
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
‘Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name

Jesus, in Your Name we pray
Come and fill our hearts today
Lord, give us strength to live for You and glorify Your Name
(CHORUS)
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Who Are You?

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. (James 2:1-13 NLT)

We all are sinners and mess up. We do what we do is to make people happy. But do we do what please God’s heart?
We all need Jesus! We need Jesus to save us, to redeem us, to teach and lead us in the way of truth, to empower us to live in righteouness and do what pleases God’s heart.

We need Jesus!

So, Who are you? Who do you think you are who to judge others based on how they look, or what they do, or who they are, or what their status/title is?

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Before The Lamb

Sesungguhnya, suatu kumpulan besar orang banyak yang tidak dapat terhitung banyaknya, dari SEGALA BANGSA dan SUKU dan KAUM dan BAHASA, berdiri di hadapan takhta dan di hadapan Anak Domba, memakai jubah putih dan memegang daun-daun palem di tangan mereka. Dan dengan SUARA NYARING mereka BERSERU:

“Keselamatan bagi Allah kami yang duduk di atas takhta dan bagi Anak Domba!”

(Wahyu 7:9-10)

And behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from EVERY NATION, from ALL TRIBES and PEOPLES and LANGUAGES, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and CRYING OUT with LOUD VOICE:

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

(Revelation 7:9-10)

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It Is Not God, It Is Us

About 10 years ago, I was in the middle of faith crisis because of my family situation. I was angry and blame my parents and God for what happened in our family.

I was thinking that God couldn’t help or even didn’t wanna care to listen to our prayers anymore. I “hate” God, I told Him.

But I was WRONG! It was not God, it was me & my parents. It was our sins that seperate us from Him.

The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.

Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

(Isaiah 59:1, 2 NLT)

When I look back, God has been so gracious to us since that day. He has shown us His loving-kindness and unfailing love to us.

Through that situation He brought us back to Him. He used other Christian frieda to reach for us, to help us to find Him and His forgiveness.

He opened the way for us to walk in the salvation He provided for us in Christ Jesus.

He provided to way for us to CONNECT with Him again.So we can have relationship with Him again.

He was, is and always be our God. Though we had forgotten Him, He never forget nor forsake His creations. He never for get us. He never forget you, too.

You can connect with God again today.
You can have realtionship with God today.
You can confess your sins and ask for His forgiveness today.
You can be saved and be His child today.
You can because Jesus has done it on the cross for you.

Yes, God has provided the way for you today, are gonna take His hands today?

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I link this to Five Minute Friday: Connect