SILVER REFINERY

There is a place in the south part of Jogjakarta, known as Kotagede where it is a central of silver handy craft and jewelries. When touring to that area, besides viewing silver handy craft which is displayed on the show case, buyers or visitors are also allowed to visit their workshop, where the process of refinery and crafting take place.

In the workshop, I watched the silversmith sit in front of the fire, held a piece of silver over the fire, in the middle of fire where the flames were hottest and let it heat up. This process is aimed to burn away all the impurities.

The silversmith had to hold the silver and moreover keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire for being refined. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. This process is finished when the silversmith could see his image in the silver. In this state means the silver is fully refined.

The silver refining process reminds me of how God refine and shape us, to burn away all the impurities. I could imagine the pain if I were a silver. Troubles and life struggle are the time of God’s process of refining us, to purify our heart.

If today, you are feeling the heat of fire, when the trouble comes, when life struggle, remember that HE is holding us and never left us a moment, HE keeps watching us through the entire process, till HE sees HIS image in us.

Malachi 3 : 3 “HE will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver …. “

A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE

It is only few hours now heading to my birthday moment, November 15.

This is what I have in my mind. I am trying back to focus that my life is not only about gaining my goals, but live a grateful life to God’s never ending love and HIS faithfulness.

A birthday is a new beginning of another 365 days ahead, and always a moment of gratitude to The Lord Jesus for every day's blessing, guidance, love, strength and HIS faithfulness. When I recall the way HE leads me to the present time, I am forever grateful.

I am grateful, I am grateful …..

I will praise YOU, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are YOUR works, and that my soul knows very well. [Psalm 139 : 14]

WHAT IF ...

“Bapa surgawi ajarku mengenal
Betapa dalamnya kasihMU
Bapa surgawi buatku mengerti
Betapa kasihMU padaku

Semua yg terjadi di dalam hidupku
Ajarku menyadari KAU selalu sertaku
B’ri hatiku selalu bersyukur padaMU
Kar’na rencanaMU indah bagiku”

Someone reminds me of this old song which was sung by Lex’s Trio in the 80’s. The most powerful lyric emphasized is : “Semua yg terjadi di dalam hidupku, ajarku menyadari KAU selalu sertaku …”. (Anything happens in my life, teach me to realize that YOU always be with me).

Many times we are twisted and shaken by bad things happen in our life. Then thousand questions addressed to God : “Why should we face this problem? Why should we lose our beloved one? Why should this relationship break up? Why should we deal with this difficult person? Why does it take too long for God answer our prayers?”.

I do believe anything happens, it happens for a reason. There is nothing a coincidence. A coincidence is when God works anonymously. My friends, God has the reason and the reason is US.

We were created for God enjoyment, to accomplish HIS will. The most challenging and interesting way to learn is from human. Human inspires human. “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friends”. (Proverbs 27:17)

We tend to blame God of all those bad happenings and unpleasant circumstances. I think if God himself has to teach us HIS way, we might not understand, so HE has to show us the life lessons to learn.

I have been through things, and at the end of the story, I would shout out loud that God is true. It was just when I didn’t understand the whole scenario. In the times of temptation, when we have to go through trying times, often we doubt HIS goodness, question HIS faithfulness.

“What if HE let me going through this time alone?”
“What if HE doesn’t help me out of this problem?”
“What if HE didn’t do miracles like in the past?”
“I know HE is powerful and able to do that, but what if HE doesn’t want to do it for me?”
“What if ……

On the contrary, let’s exchange the questions to be :
“What if HE is faithful and shall never let me through this time alone?”
“What if HE cares?”
“What if HE is good?”
“What if HE loves me so much more than I do to HIM?”

Trust HIM with no prejudice. Never let yourself walks away from HIS way. HE is with us, in the time of trouble, in the time of temptation. HIS goodness and mercy shall follow us, the rest of our days. Keep ourselves in joy. Joy is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God. Joy is the flag that flies above the castle of troubles.

“Let those who fear The Lord now say, HIS mercy endures forever”. (Psalm 118:4)

God is good, HIS mercy endures forever. Bahwasanya untuk selama-lamanya kasih setiaNYA.


Notes to Dotty Lilipaly : my dear Sister, “thank you” is never enough to express my gratitude and appreciation to you, for being with me, for become “an angel without wings” God grants me.

GOD IS NOT TURNING AWAY

This writing is dedicated to Erin on the passing away of her beloved Mom.

Erin is one of my daughter’s school mates while in PETRA elementary school. They were three and closed each other : Kiki, Claudia and Erin. [in this picture : upper part : Kiki, center : Claudia and right :Erin].

I myself know Erin’s mother well, we met quite often especially in the parents meeting and fellowship. Erin’s father is a reverend who gives his life to serve in the small church at the north part of my home town, Kediri.

It was shocking when few weeks ago we got a news on the passing away of Erin’s Mom due to a traffic accident. What suddenly I had in my mind was how Erin would react to this situation.

I remember, I was at her age when losing my Mom. I had a really happy childhood and when my mother died, I felt like it was the end of the world.

Everybody was busy themselves during the funeral and after all I was left alone, no shoulders to cry on, no friends to share, no siblings to hug and shed my tears. I had to be able to encourage my self during this transitional age, from a kid to a teenager.

There was an anger in me, the anxiety of why God take my Mom, whereas HE knew I was still in the mourning due to passing away of Papa. I really didn’t understand God’s way. I thought HE was turning away, turning HIS face away from me.

Well, it has been 24 years ago when all those happened. Now, I accept all those happenings joyfully since I believe God was just too wise to be mistaken by taking my Papa and Mom away.

HE carefully touch my life and whisper all the time to my ears : “Ita, I’ll never leave you alone, I’ll be with you all the time and your future is in MY hands”. Just as day time shifted to the night, when the sun rise and set, all the cycle of life, God is in charge and promised to be an ever present help in time. I had to trust HIM, and as it is began, my hopeless days turns into treasured moments with HIM.

This is what I would like to share with Erin. God is not turning away when all the troubles and hardship come. Joy and sorrow, happiness and trouble are just the season of life, but they will also declare the presence of God. Joy is not the absence of hardship but the presence of God, all the time.

** Erin, Auntie Ita and Kiki, express our deepest condolences on the passing away of your beloved Mom. Though she may move beyond our reach, but she is in Heavenly Father’s care.

Keep strong in faith. Jesus loves you, so do we!!


*** Precious in the sight of The Lord is the death of HIS faithful ones. [Psalm 116 : 15]

I AM BACK

Counting down the time, September, August, July, June, May, April, March ...., ups!. It was 21st of March that I posted my last thought. Its been very long time, indeed, too long.

Why is that so long?

1. I had been deadly busy with work
2. Serious relationship problems arise and distracted my mind
3. I have nothing to share that might be become a blessings to others while I myself struggling in those problems

But, here I am again. This is a short note to greet you all and say HELLO, I am back.

FORGOTTEN

[John 5 : 1-9 / NIV]

The healing at the pool
1.Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2.Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3.Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 4.For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5.One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6.When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

7."Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

8.Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9.At once the man was cured, he picked up his mat and walked.

**********

Every time I read this passage [which I have done it repeatedly], I always get something new revealed deep inside my heart. This scripture speaks different and special message any time I read it, always a different message, a different revelation. This is my favorite passage.

The man has been paralyzed / invalid for thirty eight years. 38 years is enough to sink a dream, to fade a hope of restoration, to lost a hope of being healed, to raise up the feeling of being forgotten, a long time enough to regard God has forgotten to answer your pray, unless HE has a neat, tidy and structured agenda, the ‘things to do’ list which last life time through to remind HIM of the things to do.

Fortunately, HE does. HE never forgets you, HE never let you alone. The time HE saw the paralyzed man, The Bible noted HE KNEW [not that HE was just knowing it by the time HE passing by the man]. Then I think, why Jesus asked whether the man wish to be healed if HE knew?.

HE wakes you up. HE reminds you on the dream you hold on, HE reminds you on your unanswered prayers. HE reminds you that as long as you live there is always hope, HE never ignore your prayers. We feel of being forgotten, but HE never forgets you. Yes, HE has the list. The ‘things to do’ list, noted every single thing you brought up to HIM, your dream, your hope, your [what so called] ‘faith project’.

When waiting your prayers answered, HE provides you patience. When having your prayers answered, HE adds you faith. When later HE says NO, to your prayers, HIS courage and strength are sufficient to hold you and keep your heart remain joyful.

HE never let you alone, HE has a ‘list’ of your prayers. If you don’t see HIS plan, trust HIS heart. Keep strong in faith, for HE is faithful.

MISUNDERSTANDING - A YEAR END THOUGHT

Ups!! Its a bit late for a [kind]of a year end thought while we've been in the 2nd month of this current year of 2010. That is fine, I still want to write them down, share you what I have learned and been learning, still. It is to avoid a "misunderstanding" with God.

Simply saying, this is what I have in my mind, a year end thought : time goes by, every experience in life is a lesson learned, after all, LOVE and CARE will always be the power to exist and survive. [All things work for my good, after all, GOD is good. Some times, I didn't understand HIS plan, I only need to trust that I am saved in HIS hand].

Day by day, I learn to know HIM better, to understand HIS way better and to avoid a 'misunderstanding', he heee ...... [misunderstanding means when I wasn't in favor to accept HIS way for it wasn't the way I want things to be, mostly because I didn't get HIS entire scenario nor understanding HIS better plan, well, honestly, yesss, it does]

Herewith, the perfect sample of a "misunderstanding" [giggle mode ON]

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied:
"My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering,when you see only one set of footprints,it was then that I carried you."

[it was copied from "The footprints on the sand"]

Please bear with me Lord. Let me know you better to avoid a misunderstanding. I love YOU.