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.