#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

#Day 44: 13 February 2016

REFILLED

Another day full of blessing.

We just arrived at our home in Malaysia. The end of the overwhelming Chinese New Year holiday.

Something does not seems right, none of our house lights are on. Seems the main source of circuit is dropped. Must be due to a heavy rain or something. I guess it is time for me to change the whole set to mitigate similar situation in the future.

This also means my fridge is off :( which means everything inside is ... you know ... rotten and spoilt. We need to throw everything out! Gosh! What a great start back in Malaysia :)

All praises to Jesus our God. We try to implement what my brother said yesterday about being positive:

• This also means we have an opportunity to clean our fridge (in the middle of the night haha).
• This also means we can refill our fridge with new stuff.
• This also means a new chapter of activity with my family to refill the fridge with what we need (less of what we want)

I guess it is similar with our spiritual life:

• Sometimes God allows us to face a difficult situation where we need to empty ourselves.
• Ourselves and mind that already full with a lot of teaching, readings, problem of the worlds and so on.
• So He can refill our spirit, soul and mind with a fresh messages that He wants us to learn and follow
• He wants to fill us with what we need and not what we want

Matthew 9:17 says "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved."

The same as our mind, we need a new fresh state of our mind so God can fill it, fill us with what we need in facing our new challenges.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says it all: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come".

A new start for the fridge. I hope I can empty myself and let God continuously refill my life with His plan. For He knows what I need and not what I want.

And by the way, this means all the Pempek hand made by mom can nicely fit to the empty fridge (Pempek is South Sumatra traditional snack)

All glory to God.

New start for the fridge tomorrow :)

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #refilled

#Day 43: 12 February 2016

TO INSPIRE, TO TESTIFY

Another day full blessing.

I was invited to my elder brother's care cell meeting today, invited to share about God's word. And I did share about my "Jam" devotion.

It is amazing how Holy Spirit works with us.

I did my best to prepare for the session. Being informed only at yesterday night, there was not much time to spend as I need to escort my parents to hospital for their check up in the morning.

At first, I was reluctant as I have other plan for the evening. But my spirit told me not to avoid the opportunity of sharing about God. At least that's why the blog, right?

Romans 1:12 encouraged me further saying "That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine"

After all, I need to encourage 1 person a day, and I have an opportunity to encourage more than 1 person! Talk no more, I seized the opportunity.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

What amazed me is how it turned out that I am being encouraged and I am being blessed. When we decided to follow His path, we will be blessed. That's His promise.

I am blessed by witnessing my elder brother sharing about how God work in his life. I am proud of him. He used to be the most religious person at time (a regular temple visitors when he was still a non believer), and yet now, he is an inspiration with Jesus as the center of his life.

He encouraged me today. Holy Spirit is showing me the power of change that God can do in our lives.



It gave me a hope, and increased faith, that one day my whole family including my dad and mom, will, accept Jesus as the center of their lives.

And he inspire me to always be ready and accepts the opportunity to share and testify about our God. 

As 2 Timothy 1:8 loudly said "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God"

What a blessing!!

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #inspiretestify

#Day 42: 11 February 2016

JAM

(Meaning: Become or make unable to move or work due to a part seizing or becoming stuck)

Jakarta, I guess most of you have a good understanding what I am saying when I mentioned these two words: Jam, Jakarta.

Even my daughter invented a new word from it.

"Papa, we are not in Jakarta, we are in Jamkarta", out of her frustration looking at the traffic.

A result of daily traffic jam that we and everyone else have to endure. Well, love it, hate it, this is Jakarta!

Few points crossed my mind when I stucked in the traffic, on our way home (Journey from BSD City at Tangerang to Daan Mogot at Jakarta):

1. Jam (becoming stuck) can be due to our own action:

• Most of the drivers in Jakarta tend to "create" their own lines. A two liners road can ended up with 4 liners!
• Sometimes due to our impatience, intolerance, our ego, we tend to be selfish and that actually causing us to stuck!

2. Jam (becoming stuck) not only impacting us
but also others:

• Not only us that is stuck in the traffic, a lot of other drivers as well!
• Sometimes when we are stuck in our career life, spiritual life and so on. We need to know that it also impacting the people near us, our parents, our pastors, our community, our children, our colleagues, our room mates, etc.
• This is important to know so we can quickly put our back into a correct path, a way from the jam. Moving on with our lives and let others moving on with theirs.
• Know that when you say "it's okay, it is only me that is hurt or sad or stuck". No, thats wrong!! You are causing others to stuck in the jam!

3. There is always an end to a Jam:

• Tonight, the root cause of the traffic jam is the packed toll gate (Jakartarian is still need to be convinced that e-toll card is more efficient than the cash method). This causes around 3 km traffic but it is smooth after the gate.
• Yes, there is always an end to a traffic jam. Whatever the root cause is.
• Sometimes, it is the same with our life. There is always an end to the "jam" that we are facing. We just need to walk through the "jam" and come out of it.
• We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . .  (Romans 8:28 NKJ)

On Day 17 in January, I shared that "...getting stuck is the prerequisite to getting unstuck"

It is indeed true. Sometimes being trapped in a "Jam", we have no choice but to notice what is around us, and we end up searching for Jesus. When we're stuck, we're much more likely to pay attention to our hunger for God and the longings and yearnings we have stifled.

So I said to myself, If one day I am stuck in the "jam" of my life", please:  "Act wisely, Think about others that are impacted, Search for God and get out from it as soon as possible"



Afterall, no one wants to be stuck forever in a jam.

And I said to Constance: No, it is not Jamkarta, it is Jakarta :)

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #jam

#Day 41: 10 February 2016

TO DO GOOD WORKS

Another day full of blessing.

While I continue to reflect on the level of fruitfulness that I am at, on whether I consider myself a spiritual baby or mature person, I also asked myself during the family dinner.

I asked about what should I do to able to show God's love that I have experience?

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do —Ephesians 2:10

The verse told me that I am created to do good works. The good work that He prepared in advance for us!


This means a lot. This means God knows me in personal, He knows and have all the plan for me, He prepared us to do good work!

This is exactly what Jeremiah confirm in Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope

He knows His plan for us. He wants us to do good work, for good welfare, for a good future and hope.

I guess this also answers a lot of questions I normally heard, about whats the purpose of my life, what should I do with my life, about my future.

But, how can I know that I am doing a good work? Or at least I am on a correct track? Which hopefully uplift my level of fruitfulness?

John 5:19 says "So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise"

Indeed. I can't do all the good work on my own accord. I need to see how He's doing it. And I need to do the same.


So I can echoed and proclaimed what Romans 15:17 says "In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God"

I made a conclusion for myself that,

To uplift my level of fruitfulness, I need to (start if yet) do good work. The good work that God personally plan for me, the good work that brings future and hope for me and others. The good work that God have done and is still doing for us. Hence I need to see Him in everything that I do, whatever He does, I do likewise. And only then I have a reason to be proud of my work, only then I have a reason to uplift my level of fruitfulness.

And btw, I think I need to push harder on this.

Come on! Let's encourage 1 person a day and continue to uplift our fruitfulness by doing a good work that God have planned for us.

God bless

#fgccmalaysia #uplift #goodworks

#Day 40: 09 February 2016

FRUITFULNESS

Another day full of blessing.

I had a very blessed dinner with two of my old friends from high school. Two women, whose from my humble opinion, are very succesful in their life.

Their struggle in life and how they walked through it, thats what I admired.

Unfortunately I have not asked them personally on whether I can share their stories via my daily devotion. Hence, I am hoping that you can trust me, I admire their persistence, their strength and their craziness as well as how they stay true to their values.

At one point of our discussion, I mentioned about using the fruit of the spirits as my guidance or guidelines in evaluating whats good and whats bad.

If I see the fruits, I believe it is from God.

What is the fruit of the spirit? Galatians 5:22  tells us "... the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control..."

This verse stuck in my mind after and its been  asking me a very deep question

"Am I fruitful?"
"What is my level of fruitfulness"
"Have I been producing fruits for others?"
"Or am I still at the level of requesting or asking for blessing?"

Hebrews 5:13-14 reminds me saying "For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong".

I found it saying to me: If I am not able to produce any fruits, it means I would be a baby (only accepting blessings). Because baby doesn't know how to do it.

While Solid food (producing fruits, doing whats right to others) is for who are mature. More about others than about me, myself and I.

We departed after the dinner. It is indeed a day full pf blessing. I had a chance to eat for free (they insist to cover the bill) and at the same time reminded of the level of fruitfulness.

I hope and pray I can have their persistence, their strength and craziness as well as the ability to stay true to God's values.

I hope and pray that I can uplift my fruitfulness level. And I hope and pray the same to all of you.

God bless

#fgccmalaysia  #uplifting  #fruitfulness

#Day 39: 08 February 2016

HAPPY, SAD, LISTEN

Today is a mixed feeling day for me.

HAPPY:
It is the new year, chinese new year. It was a hectic day but worth all the energy spent. It was a family day.

The tradition continues, each of us, bow and pay respect to our parents. Serving them with a tea and request as well as sharing our blessing to our parents.

The day is full with joy and happiness



SAD:
Around midday, I received a shocking news that one of my colleague passed away due to heart attack.

A father of 1 year old baby. A guy that always full of laughter. A guy that always active in helping the organization activities.

It hits me hard about how we should live our life to the fullest. How we need to give everything we can to the people surround us.

Rest in peace Ben :(


LISTEN:
Back to me and family. One thing I noticed today  is that due to each other background of work, responsibility and approach, me and my siblings tend to have a strong opinion towards a subject, a topic of discussion. A loud yet warm, noisy yet within subject, lots of opinion yet full of appreciation.

From the arrangement of where to take our family photo, to how we supposed to perform the "Phang Teh" (not sure if i write if correctly, it is the kneeling in front of our parents asking for blessing tradition), until the discussion on what we want to do tomorrow.

Today I personally learn is the fact that I have an urge to share, to talk and sometimes trying to push my opinion to others.

Today I personally learn is that I need to be able to let go and listen (more). Listen and just listen. And let everything came into places, well, as I see that we have too many leaders.

I need to learn how to be happy to listen. To avoid: unnecessary discussions, unnecessary argument, unnecessary touchy feelings.

James 1:19 ESV says "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger"

Proverbs 12:15 ESV firms it up saying "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice"

Proverbs 21:23 ESV adds it up saying "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble".

We need to listen to understand, not to answer.

It is indeed a day full of mixed feeling, full of blessings. And I thank God for everything.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #happysadlisten

#Day 38: 07 February 2016

HIM WHO GIVES US STRENGTH

I am very happy tonight. It is the family dinner night, a family gathering night before the celebration of Chinese New Year.

I am happy because this is the first time, after so many years, that everyone from the family able to make it, a full team, a full member of Then's family.

I reflect on our family journey and honestly amazed on how God have fulfilled His words in our lives.

His word on 1 Corinthians 10:13 saying "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure".

Looking at each of my family members I remember the hardship that each one of us have to go through in younger years. How we have to struggle to survive, for a bowl of rice, a thin slice of dignity when most people mocked the lifestyle we are having, the synical comment about the unfortunate situation that we had at that time.

None of that, were, beyond than what each one of us can stand. His words is fulfilled. We passed those years by His grace.

We laugh, we shout, we smile and we care. I know, i am sure, God is with us. Though not everyone is yet accepting Jesus as the saviour. But I know, He would be happy for us.

Phillipians 4: 12-13 reminds me saying "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned THE SECRET of being CONTENT IN ANY and EVERY SITUATION,,  whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH".

Now, the journey continues. Now I know that I need to always, again I say, always, remember His words, His promise.

Yes, we know what it is to be in need. We know now what it is to have plenty. Now I need to continuously learn the secret of happiness, which is to learn to be content in every way.

And know that I can do all this, we can do all this, we can move forward as family, as a unit, as a community, through Him, only with Him, who gives us strength!

For we know that, Psalm 46:1 says "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble."

And Proverbs 18:10 ensures us that "The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe".

Thank you Jesus. With a heart full of gratitude, looking at my parents and my siblings, remembering all the hard sweet memories, I want to say, thank you Jesus.

Be blessed. Be happy. Enjoy your time with your love ones.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #strength #Hewhogives

#Day 37: 6 February 2016

BEING CONTENT

Another day of blessing and encouragement.

After having our breakfast at "Mie Ahok", one of my favorite noodle from Palembang. We plan to visit my eldest brother's house for a relax gathering.

On the way, I saw a lot of inspiring scene of life in Jakarta that touches me in a very humbling way.

Like this kid, busy helping his father at work.

What touches me is the wording on his worned t-shirt. "Bahagia itu simple, cukup syukuri apa yang kita ada" - "Happiness is simple, simply appreciate what we have"

The words rhyme in my mind and I start to document few more event that touches my heart in every way.

It is a poweful message that the kid shared with me in his busy day.

Arrived at my eldest brother's place, the first thing i notice is the picture of bible verse:

Phillipians 4: 12-13 reminds me saying "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned THE SECRET of being CONTENT IN ANY and EVERY SITUATION, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH".

It is so clear on the message that God wants me to absord and understand today.

To be happy is to be content. And being content is not a situation, or a feeling. Nor it is about material fulfillment. But being content is a decision.

We need and can decide to be happy, by appreciating what we have. And not comparing on what we dont have.

Wow, what a powerful message. Are you content? Are you happy?

God bless.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #beingcontent

#Day 36: 05 February 2016

HOME

There is no other place like home. A saying that indeed have a great weight of truthfulness.

I am home, back in Jakarta, meeting my lovely parents and siblings and family members.

Though Jakarta traffic fiercely welcoming me with hundreds of cars on the road, not to say the dare devil motorbike rider, I still feel the warmness of my country capitalcity, I feel that, I know that, I am home.

It is a great feeling to be back. I guess that's how the feeling of the lost son who came back to his father after realising his mistake.

A great feeling to be back, to be accepted as who we are. A feeling of being home.

"Home is where your heart is"

I guess Jesus used the Lost Son parable to allow us to better understand the feeling of being accepted at home. The only place that accepts us as who we are. A place where father's love resides, memoried created. A place where we always belong and laughter never ends.

I guess that is what Jesus want to tell us. That, in Him and with Him, we are home.

Thanks for today Lord, thanks for my home.

John 14:23 "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #home

#Day 35: 04 February 2016

FAMILY DAY

There is nothing much that I can reflect on today. My mind is very much on holiday mood, thinking about my trip to Jakarta tomorrow and meeting my whole family members.

So today, I just wanna share my joy and encouragement about family

No family is perfect. We argue, we fight. We even stop taalking to each other at times, but in the end, family is family, the love will always be there.

Some people also said that,

Family: They drive you crazy, they drive you nuts. They drive you loony but, they drive you!

Michael J Fox once said "Family is not an important thing, it's everything!!"

There is no best time, but the right time. This time, this hour, this minute, this seconds, for us to pray and blessed our family.

Be it broken, be it driving us nuts, be it happy or sad, they are our family.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! - Psalm 133:1

Let us pray that in this festive season, our family are restored, our parents, siblings know, serve and accept God. Happiness, Unity, Blessing and Love of God is full for our family.

Happy holiday folks. Happy Chinese New Year.

Time for me to bow to my parents, ask for their blessing and forgiveness.

God bless

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #familyday #CNY

#Day 34: 03 Feb 2016

ENCOURAGEMENT, RELOADED

I am still in the spirit of encouraging self and others. Starting with the day with messaging few social media groups with an invitation to make today a great day of encouragement. For example the one below:

Good morning folks. Will you encourage 1 person today? If yes, that means we will have 67 positively encouraged today. And if that 67 encouraged another 67, we will have 134 people, and if they continue we will have 268, 536, 1072, etc. Today is going to be an awesome day would it?

I was wondering now on how many person is actually willing to humble themselves, release the "me, myself and I" focus for a while and really decide to encourage others!

I wonder if today was/is awesome for someone out there because of a willingness of someone else to encourage.

Bruce Lee used to say "Knowing is not enough we must apply. Willing is not enough we must do"

While, Philippians 4:9 (ESV) says "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you".


Both wise words have a similarity, which is telling us to practice, to act on what we have learned, what we have known.

Zig Ziglar once said "when you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you're making a commitment and difference in that person's life. Encouragement really does make a different".

I believe it is true. It does make a different

Remember, be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already!

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

And, how many person you have encouraged today?

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #encouragementreloaded

#Day 33: 02 February 2016

ENCOURAGEMENT

"All we need is just an encouragement" - that was the key notes that I took from tonight's dinner with my former boss, my mentor.

We shared about history, about our life, our experiences, our collaboration, as well as great achievements when we work together. But the word "encouragement" is the one that stuck in my head.

To think about it, that is exactly one of the core thing that we need in life: encouragement to let go of the past, encouragement to experience new things, to take up new responsibility, to improve ourselves and even an ecouragement to motivate and inspire others.

As well as an encouragement to help us taking that one step forward, one step of faith.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

"Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up" - Romans 15:2 (NIV)

It is indeed what God wants us to do, for our good, to build us up. Encouragement

Then, what do we need to have so we can start encouraging others or ourselves?

It is no other than just a Willingness.

"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have" - 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)

So, whats stopping us? Are you willing? Are you willing to let yourself be one of the source of encouragement?

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) reminds us "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near"

So, I ask myself, what are you waitinf for?

"All we need is just an encouragement"

Have you encourage someone today?

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #encouragement

#Day 32: 01 February 2016

THE U-FACTOR

Today I wanna share about the "U-Factor" and the two interesting learning that I received from it:

1. The lower the U-factor, the better

If we speak about the efficiency windows collaborative, we know that, "the lower the U-factor, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating properties". Low U-factors are most important in heating dominated climates.

In short, the lower then U-factor, the better a product is at keeping heat inside the building.

There is a reason why John 3:30 reminds us "He must increase, but I must decrease"

Matthew 23:12 also telling us similar message "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted"

The more we humble ourselves, the greater our God will be in our lives. I told myself that you need to lower your U-Factor,  to ensure we keep our earthly desire inside and let God shine through us.

And as reminder this is one of our FGCC value! 
I translate today's message for me as Humility = Low U-Factor.

2. U-factor starts from you, not others

Some of you may know about the "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan", a reality television series that featured Cesar Millan's work with problem dogs.

Cesar offered suggestions on how the owners could become their pet's "pack leader", consistent with theory that dogs are pack animals (Pack is a social group of conspecific species)
The interesting part is, the owners never realized that it is not about the dogs. In every episodes, I saw how they always blame the dogs.

It is a reflection for me that it is easy to blame others or situation. It is easy an easy way out.

But no! Change starts from within. Change starts from you! U-factor is about you, starts from you.

Just like the owner of the dog, only when they change their approach, their pets follow their behavior! Wait, am not saying people surrounding us are pets.

But, what I want to emphasis is that, change starts from us! Nothing but us. Nothing will change unless we start to change our mindset, our approach, our acts.

Dont worry, we are equip with the new U-factor.

Remember in Ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.."

Just like Zacchaues, we need to ran ahead and climbed a fig tree to see Jesus. We need to act, we need to start changing ourselves before we can change others.

So, that's what the U-factor is all about. Thanks for reading this.

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #U-factor