#Day 60: 29 February 2016

ABOUT GRATITUDE

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

It is always easy to find fault in everything, to complain. From how bad our office is, how incompetent our boss is, how negative our community is, how small our house, how low our salary, how unattractive ourself is, how bad is the idea of fund raising, how this and how that.

It is the easy way, to let negativity comes first.

For me, personally, it is merely a simple form of unwillingness to take up responsibility. It is pushing away our responsibility to others, and expect others to solve it for us.

But I am not going to share about being responsible, that would be sharing for other time.

Today, I want to share about appreciation, about gratitude.

Sometimes I find it amusing that everyone is in agreement that: "nothing is perfect". But yet, we complain when things is not going according to our expectation rather than appreciate the imperfection.

Meister Eckhart once said "If the only prayer you said in your life was ... Thank You ... that would suffice.

How true and wise is that.

I am reminded about this today, about how we need to focus on gratitude along our new journey in finding new home for our church, our community.

Focus on His grace with the heart full of thankfulness, and always remember His promise that He will lead us to His green pastures.

Acts 24:3 - In every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.

I pray and hope that all of us reading this, can always be filled with a heart full of gratitude in every seconds of our lives.

After all, negative does not always need to comes first. Again, I am grateful that I am able to participate on a new journey. The journey of finding new home for FGCC. 

I am also grateful that we are progressing with numbers of people touched by God for the promise of faith. Greatful to have the project team and many volunteers that joining this journey of faith.

Grateful for my job, my family, my community, my well being. 

Another day full of blessing.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #aboutgratitude

#Day 59: 28 February 2016

NEW JOURNEY

Today we are starting our new journey. The new journey in finding a new home for us for FGCC. It is the Fund Raising kick off day. A fund raising for the new FGCC home, for all of us and all the new members of God's family in the future.

I really learned a lot during the preparation for the kick off. I learned about being humble, about listening to others, also about not calculative about work, about time management, and most of all, I learn about doing things for God (not by might, not by power, but by the spirit of God)

We are starting a new journey, I personally starting a new journey as well. With the promise of faith together with my fellow FGCC members.

I guess the feeling is kinda similar with how the Israelites felt during exodus time. The feeling of uncertainty of the future, feeling unsure, though at least they have the cloud and fire to guide them.

Exodus 40:36 “Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out.” 

For us, we might not have those cloud and fire to guide us through this journey. But we have God's Word! We have God Himself leading us through this.

I guess there is a reason why I was reminded "about giving" yesterday. That "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you." Deuteronomy 16:17

We have Jesus, to guide us. Holy Spirit to help us:  “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

I believe, my part is to take that step in faith. That God will make clear the path, as long as our journey is not merely for our comfort but for His glory.

• It's like when I took that step to leave my hometown to Jakarta, where I found and accepts Jesus.
• It's like when I took that step to leave Indonesia to Singapore, where after that to visit several other places in the world (until now I am still amaze how blessed I am, remembering how we even struggle to pay our high school fee at time)
• It's like when I took the step and moving out from my comfort zone at work and pursue my dreams, where I jump from a role to another and enjoy all the growth.
• Like when I decided to return to Asia, where God put me back to FGCC.

In all those, I know one thing, God always make the path straight in the end, for our good, for those who set their eyes on Him.

All glory to God. I am now able to participate on a new journey. The journey of finding new home for FGCC.

I pray and hope, everyone of us reading this, is touched and strengthen by God to participate, in any form that God wants you to help. Amen.

Another day full of blessing.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #newjourney

#Day 58: 27 February 2016

ABOUT GIVING

Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

A lot of time giving is translated into material form, into money. This can be useful depending on the need.

But giving is not merely about money. It can be in a lot of form, it can be time, it can be helping hand, it can be an advice, or even just a smile.



Hebrews 13:16 reminds us "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God"

I like the advise, Do not neglect to do good. Because sometime we focus too much on ourselves, or sometime we think too much, waiting to do a big great help when actually a small act of love, a small help sometime can change the world.

I remember the story about a man who randomly saying "Hi" to the people that he meet. And one day he said Hi to a man. And they started a conversation. And in short, they became friends. After few years later, the man told him that actually on that day, he was going to end his life. He was executing his plan until the man says Hi to him and started the chat that saved his life.

Indeed, Do not neglect to do good. Even a "Hi" can safe a life.

Deuteronomy 16:17 "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you."

One thing I know, We can give without love, but we cannot love without giving. 

Have you give something to someone today?

Another day full of blessing.



#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #aboutgiving

#Day 57: 26 February 2016

THE DEEDS, THE GOOD DEEDS

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. —James 2:26

"Talk is cheap but action is priceless"
"Not Action Talk Only"
"You're what you do, NOT what you say you'll do"
"Knowing is not enough we must apply"
"Willing is not enough we must do"

A lot more quotes that I can find to express the importance about acting, about the deeds.

I am reminded today that in everything that I plan, my resolution, everything that I promise or commit or devoted, I need to translate all of them with action, with the good deeds.

It is easy to say I love God, or I love my community, or I love my family, or I love my job, and at the same time do nothing about it.

Actually saying I love about something is as easy as complaining about the same thing. Thats why without deeds, without action, both loving and complanining are considered the same, it is useless.

My wife reminded me once, don't just nicely wrote the devotion, but I need to act on what I have written.

Act humbly and not blowing horns, not showing off the deeds to others, just for the sake of seeking an attention (Matthew 6)

I pray and I hope, I can balance the will, the wish, the plan, the faith, with a deeds, a good deeds.

Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him"

Another day full of blessing.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #gooddeeds

#Day 56: 25 February 2016

BAD COMPANY

1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals"

I went out with some of the awards winner last night after the event. Some when to clubs, some when to pubs, some when for selfies activities at this Lion city.

It's been a while since I so call "hang out" especially to pubs, bars or clubs. I do enjoy the crowds, live music or even the loudness of bass driven music.

I realized it is so much easier to be influence when you are in a group, when you are surrounded by several person doing the same thing, when you are in the company of common interests.

I found this is an affirmation of the devotion about "fellowship of the ...". The energy of fellowship can easily change or at least brings influence to how we perceives, influencing how we act.

Without focusing on the event itself, rather on the impact, I missed my devotion last night (and trying to catch up this morning while waiting for my flight).

As result of my own mistake for not walking in His path, I felt so tired this morning. It is a good example of something that I should not repeat in the future (and anyway, age is catching up!)

Psalm 1:1-4 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away."

And btw, they are a group of great and kind people. My devition is not about the group being a bad company. My devotion is about how we can be easily influenced when we are not wise, when we are not living our lives in the law of the Lord.

So, choose wisely, surround yourself with people that have a common interest with you, the proper interest, in the path of the good.

"You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live positive life"

Another day full of blessing

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #badcompany

#Day 55: 24 February 2016

FELLOWSHIP OF THE ...

Another day of the conference. Lots of information, lots of discussion, lots of eating and drinking.

But thats not the key sharing point. I want to share about the fellowship aspect of the day.

Luckily I met some of my old friends and managed to create new network at the same time. I realized how everyone seems to have their own circle of fellowship and in that circle they can openly expressing themselves, the way they are (just imagine a CEO and other high management having a beer drinking competition). The circle of fellowship allows them to be themselves, without the fear of being judge, but just being themselves, a human being.

And that's exactly what I want from a community. A place where I can be myself, with all my downside as well as added values. A place where I know I will not be judge based on my weaknesses but instead supported to release my strong points. Be it in my work place, or my spiritual learning place.



And it is not a coincidence, that FGCC values starts with Fellowship. A fellowship of a great human being. At their downside or their strength, compliment as well as supporting each other.

Fellowship as being Interdependence, encouraging each other and working together as a family and team.

Just like whats written in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

A fellowship of the first church as mentioned in Acts 2:44-47, "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

It's like what Andy Murray used to say: 

I pray that we will keep this value, the Fellowship of the community. I pray that whoever reads this devotion, can understand and act upon it, to practice the fellowship in whenever you are planted (by God)

Another day full of blessing. Thank you Jesus

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #fellowship

#Day 54: 23 February 2016

A CORRECT COMMUNITY

I attended the first session of the conference, the cocktail session with a lot of management team from one of our business units. A lot of high profile people and it was a good evening.

It is a good community if I want to build network and opportunity. I met my old friends and new friends as well.

The same with our spiritual life. We need a correct community for us. We need a good community that can help us to build network, making new friends, and most importantly uplift our spiritual life.

I am lucky I know FGCC. Trully. The community that brings full of Fellowship and speaks about Relevant teaching, focus on Excellence, driven by Simplicity with Humility as the guiding principle.

FGCC makes me feel I have an added value that I can share with the community. It allows me to grow and being truthful to me. I feel I am appreciated.

Thank God for FGCC. Thank God for my community.

Acts 2:42-47: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ..."

Another day full of blessing.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #community

#Day 53: 22 February 2016

THE GOOD WIFE

I can trully say that I don't consider myself as romantic, though people used to say that I used to be, long ago when I was much younger :)

Needless to say, I don't do much things that most people called as romantic.

But today, I want to share about how I am blessed to have this woman as my wife.

First, she managed to keep her patience with me for 11 years of marriage and around 5 years of long distance relationship prior our marriage.

She is a good cooked although when she was single she seldom experience cooking. She is great with the kids. She, for me, is very patience, sometimes I feel bad for her that she needs to endures with my lazinessz especially when I am tired over work.

She sticks with me, she never asked for fancy stuff although when she was young she was considered millionaire, she is good with money, she adapted to our humble lifestyle, she even great with dogs.

She treats me as the head of the house, the head of the family. She respects and supports my career, she even supports my muay thai. She is independent, she takes care of the household perfectly. She takes care of kids and their education (Credit to her as well that Constance ws awarded no 1 from the whole year 2 in her school - a Chinese school!!)

She is faithful and she always put family on top of her own needs. She is not into make up, she is a natural.

Proverbs 31:10-31 says "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. ...

It seems so easy to write all above. She is indeed a good wife, she is an excellent wife.

I thank God for today. Another day full of blessing. And she just patiently helped me to prepare my luggage for the business trip tomorrow.

She deserved this devotion today. Today is the day I praises her :)

Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"

Thank you for everything, Elsye.

For you reading this, take a moment, write all the good things about your spouse. After that, go and give her/him a hug. A big long hug. They deserved it

God bless.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #thegoodwife

#Day 52: 21 February 2016

IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING

Another day full of blessing.

We went to visit Hankana and Pronika at Prince Court today. It is a visit full of blessing. Seeing both of them with a high and joyful heart.

Baby Mesha is born. What a blessing. What a joy. I am very happy for both of them. The patience, the perseverance, the waiting its finally over.

Nothing is impossible. I may not know the detail of their fight, their struggle. But if I remember my own struggle when Elsye and I were trying and trying till we were trusted by God to have Constance, I would say I can translate their joy and relieved and happiness.

Again, God have fulfilled His words, His promise.

Matthew 19:26 tells us“.... with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Mark remind us about the same thing in Mark 9:23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

It is also written in Matthew 17:20, He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you".

Even before that, Jeremiah have told us in Jeremiah 32:17, ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you".

And even at the beginning of time, at Genesis 18:14, "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son".

God have shown it before, now, and will keep showing it to us, that nothing, I said, nothing is impossible for Him.

So, with everything that comes our way, new challenges, new business, new job offer, new baby, all the things that may bring worries in our lives, the concern about future, the financial, everything!!

Just remember, Impossible is Nothing, when God is with us. All we need is to put our priority straight (Seek God first), and everything will be given unto you. And then, Act! (The same message from Adrian Limanto from today's service)

Act as God have said to us at Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you".

Remember, Nothing is impossible. Impossible is Nothing.

Thank you God, for allowing me to see Your words being fulfilled again. I am really happy for them.

God bless. I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #impossibleisnothing

#Day 51: 20 February 2016

DESPISE NOT

I remember one of the important point raised during the group sharing yesterday, which is, the challenge of keeping commitment of love (loving God and loving others). Where we, most of the time, and most of us, tend to loosen the momentum and even lost in the trouble of days.

I took a time to reflect on this and personally realized that it is indeed a challenge. My personal commitment to do daily devotion sharing have slowly being challenged, challenging my humility. It seems getting easier to say "I can't do it", "It's too hard".

But why? It is because I am focusing on the wrong thing. It is because I am focusing on being great, focusing on a big change, focusing on something impressive.

I despise small things. I despise small beginnings.

I forgot the fact that by writing today devotion, I have faithfully sharing it for 51 days. I forgot the fact that to do that, I need to observe and reflect on everything that happen near me. And how Holy Spirit have been ever so helpful over the last 51 days.

1 Samuel 17:40 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in his shepherd’s [lunch] bag [a whole kid’s skin slung from his shoulder], in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand, and he drew near the Philistine"

I imagine all the confusion or even mockery when David picked up 5 small stones. But he faithfully did it anyway. And the rest is history.

What seemed small and insignificant to most everybody else became a destiny changer in the hands of David.

Zechariah 4:10 says:

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. . .”

It’s not where you start in life. . .it’s where you end up.

Our momentum once started will become an irresistible force regardless of how we began or where we are in life.

Just like "Sam Sir" video that I watched today. 
(https://youtu.be/Or9pzwjoSXE)

"Life is like a racing track, we always feel like something is missing, we keep pursuing and weaving endless dream. But often we missed the important thing. The truth is, life is not about how much you have, but how we seize the moment of joy, along the journey with the people and things around us"

Ah, another day full of blessing.

Rejoice my soul and despise not the small beginnings. I pray that we can always appreciate the small things for a big ending. Amen.

God bless.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #despisenot

#Day 50: 19 February 2016

THE POWER OF LOVE

Another day full of blessing.

Indeed today is full of blessing. Sitting with the group members of my cell group, I've been hearing about the power of love for the last 1.5 hours.

From making decision to leave the current business, managing staff, love towards the children as well as the differences between being a boss and a leader.

Lots of different content, lots of different flavor, but everyone agree that the capacity of love of us, human, is limited. That is why we always need the charger, remember?

But at the same time, everyone is also in agreement, in a very strong agreement that the power of love, the power of God is way beyond our limitation, beyond our comprehend.

The power of God is unlimited. His love is unlimited.



Romans 8:37-39 - "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord".

His love is unlimited, nothing can separate us from Him.

1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins".

His love is unlimited, it covers over a multitude of sins.

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends".

His love is unlimited, it lay down His life for us.

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs".

His love is unlimited, it covers all wrongs.

We close the night with the reminder from Hebrews 12:15 "Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many".

A reminder for us that in order to continuosly experience His unlimited love, we need to look after for each other, continue to receive His grace.

Now go, ask, seek and knock to experience His unlimited love. The power of love, the power of God.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #poweroflove

#Day 49: 18 February 2016

CREATING A PRECEDENT

Precedent means an act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances.

I can say that most of the time we are not aware that our act may be used as an example by others. Be it to our children, to our spouse, siblings, colleagues and people near us.

Most of the time we always find an argument by saying "this is how I am", especially when someone is telling us that our act may not set a good example for others.

Most of the time we are not aware that in everything we do, we are setting a precedent towards ourselves.

For example: if most of the time we are late to a meeting, it will set a precedent that it is okay for others to be late. Or if we like to call someone with names, it will set a precedent towards others as well. 

I am wondering, then, if that is the case, would I prefer to have my acts set a positive precedent or as a bad example?

I guess it is easy to answer. I want to set a positive example. I want my acts to set a positive precedent.

Titus 2:7 gives an example on what I should do "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity"

He wants us to set a precedent on being respectful, on being model of good works, on integrity and dignity.

While Matthew 23:3 says"So practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice"

Matthew wants us to set precedent on walk our talk. Practice what we preach.

Hebrews 12:14 wants us to "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord"

Always strive for peace in everything that we do, with everyone.


Creating precedent can also means creating a legacy. A positive legacy is surely what we want.

What legacy do you want?
What example that you want others learn from you?

God Bless. Another day full of blessing.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #precedent

#Day 48: 17 February 2016

CHARGER

This item has become (sort off) primary need in our lives. Almost everyday, each one of us will always be searching for our phone charger. And without the charger (be it electrical charger, wireless charger or even an USB cable for charging), we easily made restless, worried and even feels handicap.

We need the charger to charge our phone battery. Flat battery impacts us. Flat battery made us less productive.

It is interesting on how we seems to be depending a lot on the charger. Even the source, the electric seems useless without the charger.

I think (and hope) this should be the same with our life, be it our relationship, career or even spiritual life.

We need a charger in every aspect mentioned above. We need something that helps us to stay productive, to stay active and produce added values.

We need God. We need the Words of God

Psalm 28:7 - "The LORD is my strength and my shield..."

Isaiah 41:10 - "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".

Exodus 15:2 - "The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him".

Psalm 27:1 - "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

And there are so much more Words that I can easily pick to charge myself.

While God is the source of energy, i realized we need the Words of God. That is clearly our charger.

So, let us do this. Let us remind ourselves everytime we charge our phone, when we are busy searching, plugging our phone charger to the source of electric.

Remind ourselves that we are like the phone that requires energy to survive. That energy is God. And to allow us to absord His energy, we need the charger, we need the Words of God.

We need it. Period!

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #charger

#Day 47: 16 February 2016

BE LIKE RUTH

" ... Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” - Ruth 1:16 – 17

There are so many good points that I can learn from Ruth:

• Ruth is determined:
• When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more (Ruth 1:18)

• Ruth is selfless:
• Just read how she responded to Naomi request when she asked her to leave (Ruth 1: 16-17)

• Ruth is diligent and humble:
• “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” (Ruth 2:2)
• ".... She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.” (Ruth 2:7)

• Ruth is full of gratitude:
• "... Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked". (Ruth 2:10)

• Ruth is virtuous:
  • “.. Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman" (Ruth 3:11)

Ruth is good. Be like Ruth.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #belikeruth

#Day 46: 15 February 2016

AS A DOG RETURN TO HIS OWN VOMIT

We have a new family member tonight. A stray puppy that my colleague kept and taken care. She is adorable and after the family discussion we agreed she would be a good additional member of our family.

The kids would love her.

Speaking about dog, Apostle Peter shared a very good insight about the danger of getting tangled up and enslaved by sin. He said:

"And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
(2 Peter 2:20-22 NLT).


This is indeed a good reminder for me. On how long I have known and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but yet, there was a time that I failed to live a holy life as commanded.

Peter shared this when he spoke about the danger of false teachers. This is really getting personal to me.

It force me to reflect on why I want to start sharing or writing the daily devotion, on whether I really devote myself to all the sharing, the reflection, the words of God used. 

To reflect on everything that  I do or plan to do.

Is it truthful, with integrity. Or falsely, merely looking for sensastion or attention?

Thank God I can honestly say that I want to learn to commit on my resolution and continue to give my best to do what I preach (though I know sometimes I may continue to fail but I also know I will continue to rise).

And continue to pray for God's help to guide me so I will not become "a dog who returns to its vomit".

Not an easy reminder today but I thank God for it, for the message.

What about you? Any thought?

And by the way we agreed to call the dog: Kara. At least the kids have not change their mind :)


God bless.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #dog

#Day 45: 14 Feb 2016

THE LOVE DAY

The fridge is empty around 4am. And that's how we start the day (or finished, I am confused haha). So much of preparing the magic of romantism for valentine's day.

Today is the love day. The valentine's day. The day that a lot ot owner of flower shops, gift shops and restaurants are waiting for.

The multiplying revenue day, I said :) there I said it :) (hope not many die hard romantic people reading this)

For me, love is beyond this valentine's day. It goes beyond a day, beyond a week, beyond a year. It goes beyond time. It also goes beyond material gifts, beyond all fancy sweet words, beyond feelings. It goes beyond people near us, beyond friends, it even beyond mere family.

Love goes all the way. Love is unlimited. Love never ends. All above, will surely ends!

I like below definition of love. I find it the perfect definition of love: (1Chorintians 13: 4-8)

• Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
• It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
• Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
• It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
• Love never fails.

While I am writing this devotion, it crossed my mind the fact that God is Love. And indeed He is perfect.

1 John 4:8 says "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love"

Just like Apostle Paul have written "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" (1 Chorintians 11:1), we ought to give our best to be Christlike, to be like Him means to be perfect form of love.

(Try reading the 1Chorintians 13: 4-8 again. Change the Love word with God. When you finish, read it again, and now change the Love word with your name)

And that I found can be a powerful motivation to love.

Back to the Love day, the valentine's day. I wish the day is not merely becoming a day everything I said above. Those that will and surely ends.

I guess it is not merely about mishy mushy feelings. I hope it will become an everyday commitment, to become Christlike. At least, I am telling this to myself.

Enjoy the day folks.  Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Enjoy your time with love ones.

God bless.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #theloveday