PAIN ET FROMAGE

Who knew that an epic win started with bread and cheese? Young David did.

After Prophet Samuel anointed him, David’s life was back to normal. He tended his father’s sheep, helped around the house, had meals with his family, etc. One day, his father asked him to run an errand. 

Now Jesse said to his son David, "Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Also take ten pieces of cheese. Give them to the commander of your brothers’ group of 1,000 soldiers. See how your brothers are. Bring back something to show me they are all right" 

( I Samuel 17:17-18)

David was willing to do it.

He could say no to his father. A future king was not a delivery boy after all. But thank God he did it, otherwise he would not see Goliath the giant who cursed God’s name. Killing Goliath was a right track to his destination, being the King of Israel.

It started with bread and cheese or pain et frommage if you are fancy schamncy.     

Most of us want to have an epic moment. Most of us want to do something noble. Do we realize that doing something as small as delivering bread and cheese could be a catalyst of greatness?

After all it is said in the Bible

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10)

I shall rephrase this verse :

-David that is faithful in delivering bread and cheese is faithful also in killing Goliath

WHAT KIND OF MIND DO YOU HAVE ?

This is the title of a quiz I found online.  Since I am fond of online quiz, especially those which revealing about personality, I was tempted to do it. Am I an emotional, a logical, a spiritual, a creative, an organized, a respectful, an ethical?

Nothing wrong about being wanted to be defined by an online quiz. It’s even amusing to post the result on my facebook wall and see people respond to it.

In the more serious mode, let’s open our Bible and see what the Bible said about the type of mind that we should have…

PHILLIPIANS 2: 5-11

 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

These verses want us to have a mind which belong to Jesus Christ. A humble mind, that was. A humble mind is willing to be a servant, to be of no reputation, to be obedient…Unto death even. This type of mind is the mind which God likes.

Being humble is not easy. It’s hard. But Lord Jesus is willing to be out teacher. He said,” Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls,”

Curhat

CURHAT

1 Petrus 5:7

Serahkanlah segala kekuatiranmu kepada-Nya, sebab Ia yang memelihara kamu

Saya adalah orang yang hobi curhat. Hobi ini dimulai ketika saya duduk di sekolah menengah. Saya ikut kelompok remaja di gereja, dan di dalam kelompok ini saya diajarkan untuk being vulnerable and accountable kepada Tuhan dan sesama anggota kelompok.

Akhirnya saya malah lebih terfokus untuk vulnerable dan accountable kepada sesama anggota kelompok  daripada kepada Tuhan. Memang itu tidaklah salah, toh kita saling menjaga rahasia satu sama lain. Namun parahnya di kemudian hari, saya malah bablas, saya vulnerable kepada orang-orang yang kurang tepat.  

Inilah daftar kategori orang-orang yang kurang tepat untuk di-curhati.

1.      Anak-anak ( baik anak sendiri, anak orang lain, atau orang orang yang masih muda dan kurang matang ). Curhat kita bisa membebani anak anak yang mentalnya belum kuat.

2.      Lawan jenis terutama jika kita sudah menikah. Curhat bisa membuat hati kita berpaut dengan orang yang dicurhati. Ini membahayakan buat komitment pernikahan atau pertunangan kita.

3.      Orang yang baru kita kenal atau belum kita ketahui latar belakanganya. Pada intinya hati-hatilah untuk curhat karena rahasia yang kita bagikan dengan orang yang tidak tepat bisa jadi senjata makan tuan.

Jika ingin aman dan rahasia terjamin, psikolog, psikiater,konselor, pendeta, bisa menjadi piihan untuk curhat, karena mereka adalah profesional.  

Akhir-akhir ini, setelah beberapa kali makan asam garam dalam hal curhat, saya menyadari kebenaran Firman Tuhan dalam 1 Petrus 5:7. Tuhan ialah sumber yang paling baik untuk dicurhati. 

Mengapa ?

1.      Karena Tuhan adalah pencipta kita. Ia tahu apa yang terbaik buat kita.

2.      Karena Tuhan adalah pemelihara kita. Orang lain tidak memelihara kita. Tuhanlah sumber kehidupan.

3.      Karena curhat dengan Tuhan gratis. Bisa kita lakukan di mana saja dan kapan saja.

4.      Karena Tuhan Maha Kuasa untuk membantu kita dalam penyelesaian masalah. Manusia ada yang berkuasa , namun tentu tak sejago Tuhan.

5.      Karena Tuhan tidak akan menyalahgunakan curhat kita . Curhat  kita aman di tanganNya.

6.      Karena Tuhan mampu memberikan perubahan untuk sifat, karakter, dan perilaku kita yang kurang baik. Curhat dengan Tuhan akan membuat kita improve menjadi lebih baik.

Tak terhitung manfaat dan marifat yang akan kita dapatkan bila kita curhat dengan Tuhan. Kitab Mazmur 56:8 mengatakan ,” Sengsaraku Engkaulah yang menghitung hitung, air mataku Kautaruh dalam kirbatMu. Bukankah semuanya telah Kaudaftarkan?”

Orang lain mungkin mengosipkan, memandang rendah, mengkritik  sengsara kita secara diam-diam. Beberapa orang yang mentalnya tidak kuat bahkan jadi sakit maag karena kita curhati dengan sengsara kita. Namun Tuhan menghitung sengsara kita. Air mata yang kita curahkan ketika kita berdoa kepadaNya, tidak akan sia-sia. Tuhan akan menampungnya dalam kirbatNya.

Tuhan Yesus mampu mengubah air mentah untuk cuci kaki menjadi anggur mahal yang enak. Apakah anda beriman bahwa Ia akan mengubah air mata kita yang ditampung dalam kirbatNya untuk menjadi sesuatu yang luar biasa?

Silahkan dibuktikan sendiri !

ALL ABOUT TONGUES

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (NIV)

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. (NLT)

Yeah, yeah, I know this verse. It means  I shouldn’t gossip. I shouldn’t say bad things about others (even though they are). I shouldn’t curse others ( loudly ). I shouldn’t label my kids negatively. And the list go on and on.

So far, I always connect this verse with others. But today, another lamp in my head clicked. What if I connect this verse to myself?

1.     How many times I speak badly about myself ?

Oh how stupid of me ! (cursing myself)

Oh God, I look like a fat cow in this dress (say bad thing about myself)

I am so sorry that I acted like a b#@^* ( label myself negatively)

Well, forgive me. I am a forgetful person (another negative label)

2.     Speak kindly to myself?  Well, self pamper  is a good thing. I do it, and to be honest I always feel better after a good manicure or a cup of nice coffee or a trip to massage parlor. The next time, I do something bad like forgetting something or wearing a dress that doesn’t look good on me, I will do my best to speak kindly of myself .

Sorry about this…I’ll do better next time !

This dress does not look good on me. Let me find a better one.

This dress does not fit me anymore. It’s time to go to the gym.

I am so sorry that I spoke rudely to you. I am in the process of training my mouth.

3.     Saying positive things to myself.  If as parents, we are advised to speak positive things to our kids, should we train ourselves to speak positively about ourselves? Sure enough.

When I stand in front of my mirror, I will not ask the mirror whether I am the fairest of all. I will define myself as my God define me. I am His beloved child. I am His bride. I am the apple of His eye. I am chosen by God. I am forgiven by God. I am a friend of God.

Those words I will say loudly to myself. Because my tongue can bring death or life. I will surely speak nicely, kindly, positively to myself to reap a good consequences of having a better self.

If my God created the whole world by the words of His mouth,  I will follow His example of creating my own world ( myself , my family, my workplace, my temper, my character, my personality, my thinking , etc ) by speaking positively . After all, I was created in His image.

Mother's Day Celebration

Mother’s day came early for the moms in ICC Michigan. 

We celebrated it on Saturday, May 7^th. It was a bright day. 

The weather was nice, the sun was shining and the flowers were blooming.

The families went to Brody Square dining hall, a cafeteria at MSU, 

where lunch were served buffet style.

For this event, the moms sat separately from the dads and kids. 

The moms were happy for they were surrounded by their family 

(although at different seating), 

good friends and good food, especially desserts.

Besides having their tummy full, their hearts were also filled with spiritual food, 

spoken by Ibu Hanna Sudirgo from Toronto. 

Meanwhile, Pastor Joe Sudirgo who sat with the dads and kids, 

also shared his experience about being a husband.

After lunch, the fellowship was continued at Suandi and Rini’s house. 

The moms were very grateful for this wonderful day.

Thanks to husbands who made this event possible. 

Thanks to Pastor Joe and Ibu Hanna for sharing and mentoring the families

Thanks to Rini and Suandi for helping to organize the event and opening their home

by: Sandra Nursilo

thanks Lydia Yosephine and Pungki Riadi, for the photos, and David Yuan, for taking pics.

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Is The Hand That Rules The World

 “Tangan Cici kok sekarang kasar yah,” bisik adik kepada mama ketika saya baru tiba di Jakarta dari Amerika dengan membawa anak saya yang baru berumur setahun.

“Yah begitulah tangan seorang ibu, beda dengan tangan anak gadis, “ komentar Mama

Mama saya benar. Tangan saya setelah menjadi ibu adalah tangan yang sibuk.Banyak pekerjaannya. Dari yang kotor sampai yang bersih, tangan ini pernah menyentuh semuanya. Dari membelai sampai yang mendisiplinkan, tangan ini pernah melakukannya. Tidak heran William Wallace membuat puisi yang berjudul “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Rules The World”.

Saya percaya bahwa itulah yang diimpikan oleh setiap ibu, bahwa anak yang dirawat dengan segenap hati oleh tangannya akan menjadi anak yang rule the world, anak yang hebat dan perkasa yang bisa berguna bagi dunia.

Di balik ide yang mulia ini, ada suatu campur tangan dari Sang Pencipta. Beliau, yang adalah sumber kreatifitas, merancang sebuah kehidupan sebelum kehidupan itu terjadi. Karena ada tertulis, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,” Sang Pencipta berkolaborasi dengan seorang ayah dan seorang ibu untuk menghasilkan seorang individu yang unik. Sang Pencipta menyerahkan hak untuk membesarkan dan mendidik anak kepada ayah dan ibu, seperti ada tertulis,” My son keep your father’s commandment and do not forsake your mother’s teaching,”

Tangan seorang ibu, yang merawat dan mengajar anaknya, adalah tangan yang diberkati oleh Sang Pencipta. Tangan itu adalah tangan yang mulia walaupun kasar, berotot dan berurat. Lotion dan handcream mungkin akan membuatnya halus dan lembut, namun otot dan urat tetap ada di tangan seorang ibu.

Di hari ibu ini, biarlah tangan itu dikuatkan, supaya tetap perkasa. Biarlah tangan itu dihormati, supaya tetap berharga. Biarlah tangan itu dikasihi, supaya tetap bahagia.

Untuk ibu ibu, teman sejawatku, biarlah tangan kita tetap terawat supaya sehat. Buang perasaan sebagai martir yang bisa membuat tangan itu terluka. Biarlah tangan itu rela ditopang oleh tangan Sang Pencipta yang rindu untuk melangsungkan partnership dengan kita. Sang Pencipta, walaupun Beliau memperkenalkan diriNya dengan gender laki laki yang disebut Bapak dan Putra, namun Beliau sangat mengerti perasaan seorang ibu. Bukankah ada tertulis, “…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”

Marilah kita gunakan tangan kita untuk membawa anak anak itu kepada Sang Pencipta. Dengan ketekunan ketika mereka kecil. Dengan teladan senantiasa. Dengan doa kepada Sang Pencipta yang berkuasa. Marilah kita berpartner dengan tangan Sang Pencipta yang berlubang paku itu, supaya anak anak kita menemukan jati dirinya dan tempatnya di dunia ini, so they can really rule the world.

Diberkatilah kiranya tangan para wanita. Amen. 

From The Garden of Ibu Berlian Bijaksana

My garden is tiny, but it’s my favorite place at home. It is surrounded by a weeping willow, some bushes, and an ornamental pear tree. My husband built a small patio where he put garden chairs and table. I love to sit in the garden chair to enjoy the view. Today in the month of May, yellow daffodils and purple tulips display their amazing colors.The sound of birds chirping is a beautiful music to my ears. The willow is budding and the pear tree is blooming white

 Looking at those trees, I remember a verse in the Bible.

Psalm 92: 13-15.  The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

The righteous are the people who made right by the blood of Jesus Christ. People like you and me who received Christ as our personal savior. After being saved and cleansed, we cannot stay the same. A spiritual growth will happen to us.

2 Peter 3:18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Growing in the knowledge is like the growing of palm trees. Palm tress grow quickly. They are tall but their roots are not that deep. Strong wind will easily uproot them.

Peter asked us to grow in knowledge of Jesus Christ. We should learn the habit and discipline of studying the Word of God. But we must be aware that growing in knowledge solely will not enough for us. It has to be balanced with growing in grace.

Cedars of Lebanon grow slowly. They take years and years to be mature and tall. Their roots are very strong, planted deeply inside the ground. Growing in grace is like the growing of Cedars.

I will share with you, three definitions of grace

1.    Unmerited divine help given for men for his regeneration of sanctification

2.    Divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life

3.    Active force within us giving us the desire and the power to do things God’s way

To practice what we have learned in the Bible, we need grace. If we rely on ourselves to do God’s will, we will be easily frustrated.

However… take heart! Our God knows what He’s doing. The verse below tells us how God builds ourselves. He functions as a master builder here. Jesus is the pattern of how our redeemed lives suppose to be. Then He calls us one by one, by our names to set a relationship with us, with Him as the base/foundation. After the relationship is set, God is staying with us until the end, to overseer the workmanship, to invest on the project, to interfere when troubles comes or when the work overwhelms us. He never leaves us alone. What we need to do is building the personal relationship with Him.

Rome 8:29-30.  God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

Let’s us grow in knowledge, let’s grow in grace. Let’s grow like a palm tree and a cedar. Hmmm that made me thinking … Should I plant a cedar tree in my garden?

Inspired by the book : Roots of Character by Wendell Smith