For Always

A Russian Christmas Story - "For Always"
by Will Fish

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following story in their own words:

It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear for the first time the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.

Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.

Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel (cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia) were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat--he looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger.

Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at his completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately --until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.

Then Misha started to ad lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, "If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?" And Jesus told me, "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me." "So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him---for always."

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him--FOR ALWAYS.

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” –Deuteronomy 6:7

Source : Sherry's Inspirational

Technorati Tags: russian,christmas,americans,morals,ethics,1994,mary,joseph,betlehem,manger,jesus,misha,orphan,two babies,sobbed,abandon,stay

The Unlocked Door

The Unlocked Door
Author: Robert Strand

In Glasgow, Scotland, a young lady, like a lot of teens today, got tired of home and the restraints of her parents. The daughter rejected her family's religious lifestyle and said, "I don't want your God.  I give up.  I'm leaving!" She left home, deciding to become a woman of the world. Before long, however, she was dejected and unable to find a job, so she took to the streets to sell her body as a prostitute.

The years passed by, her father died, her mother grew older, and the daughter became more and more entrenched in her way of life.  No contact was made between mother and daughter during these years.  The mother, having heard of her daughter's whereabouts, made her way to the skid-row section of the city in search of her daughter.  She stopped at each of the rescue missions with a simple request.  "Would you allow me to put up this picture?" It was a picture of the smiling, gray-haired mother with a handwritten message at the bottom: "I love you still...come home!"

Months went by, and nothing happened.  Then one day the daughter wandered into a rescue mission for a needed meal. She sat absent-mindedly listening to the service, all the while letting her eyes wander over to the bulletin board.  There she saw the picture and thought, 'Could that be my mother?'  She couldn't wait until the service was over.  She stood and went to look. It was her mother, and there were those words, "I love you still...come home!"  As she stood in front of the picture, she wept.  It was too good to be true. By this time it was night, but she was so touched by the message that she started walking home.  When she arrived it was early in the morning.  She was afraid and made her way timidly, not really knowing what to do.  As she knocked, the door flew open on its own.  She thought someone must have broken into the house.

Concerned for her mother's safety, the young woman ran to the bedroom and found her still sleeping.  She shook her mother awake and said, "It's me!  It's me!  I'm home!"
The mother couldn't believe her eyes.  She wiped her tears and they fell into each other's arms.  The daughter said, "I was so worried!  The door was open and I thought someone had broken in!"
The mother replied gently, "No dear. From the day you left, that door has never been locked."

Jesus is the door to heaven and He is open to your entering in. You much reach for Him to enter... and He will welcome you with open arms.
Have you entered into the grace and mercy that He so lovingly gives?

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” - John 10:9 

Source : Sherry's Inspirational

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Show Your Colors

Show Your Colors (Romans 1:8-16)

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. —Romans 1:16

I was excited about going to the baseball park to watch the Detroit Tigers play the Chicago White Sox. I proudly put on my Tigers T-shirt that morning before going to the opposing team’s stadium. But I had to wear a sweatshirt over my team’s shirt because it was cool outside. So I was disappointed that no one at U.S. Cellular Field could see which team I was there to cheer for. No one knew I was a Tigers’ fan. After a 3-hour rain delay, the game finally started and I could cheer for my team and get my loyalty out in the open.

The apostle Paul had a loyalty that was most definitely out in the open—a loyalty to Jesus Christ. He wrote to the believers in Rome, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16). He knew that the gospel was “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” because Jesus had dramatically changed his life and its direction. In his preaching and witnessing, he proclaimed Jesus, the One to whom he had given his whole life (Acts 9).

The believers in Rome were also known for their allegiance to Christ. Paul said of them: “Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Rom. 1:8).

Is your loyalty to Jesus out in the open? —Anne Cetas

God put us in this darkened world
To shine as sons of light,
So, let us always teach the truth
And keep our colors bright. —D. De Haan

Our loyalty to Jesus should be seen and heard in our lives.

Source : Our Daily Bread

Technorati Tags: paul,ashamed,gospel,christ,detroit tigers,chicago,preaching,witnessing,faith,anne cetas,d. de haan,salvation

Pintu Yang Tertutup

Pintu2 Yang Tertutup
Dikirim oleh : Mulia Budiman

Pernahkah anda mengucap syukur kepada Tuhan untuk "pintu-pintu" yang tertutup dalam kehidupan anda sebagaimana anda mengucap syukur untuk "pintu-pintu" yang terbuka?

Mungkin saat ini anda sedang bertanya-tanya, mengapa Tuhan tidak mengabulkan doaku untuk bisa bekerja di perusahaan itu? Mengapa usaha dan bisnis yang aku rintis dan kudoakan tidak berhasil bahkan sering gagal? Mengapa hubunganku dengan kekasihku kandas ditengah jalan? Pertanyaan-pertanyaan seperti itu seringkali muncul dalam pikiran kita, di saat impian, harapan dan cita-cita kita tidak tercapai dan bahkan berantakan.

Pernahkah kita berpikir bahwa setiap kali Tuhan menutup sebuah pintu, sebenarnya Tuhan sedang mengarahkan kita kepada pintu yang lain dimana berkat yang lebih baik sedang menunggu kita?

Seringkali kita tidak bisa berpikir jernih dan melihat kebenaran tentang hal tersebut karena jiwa kita merana karena kesedihan dan mata kita buram dengan airmata. Kita lupa sama sekali tentang kebenaran yang mengatakan bahwa Allah menuntun kita seperti seorang Ayah menuntun anaknya, seperti seorang Gembala yang baik menuntun domba-dombanya yang lemah dan bodoh. Kita lupa tentang kebenaran yang mengatakan; "......jika kamu yang jahat tahu memberikan apa yang baik untuk anak-anakmu, terlebih lagi Bapamu yang di sorga!......"

Salah satu alasan kenapa Tuhan menutup sebuah pintu atau beberapa pintu dalam kehidupan kita, yaitu karena di balik pintu-pintu itu tidak tersedia sesuatu yang berharga bagi hidup kita, atau juga mungkin ada sesuatu hal yang tidak akan membawa suatu kebaikan bagi kita.

Seringkali Tuhan menutup beberapa pintu dalam kehidupan kita hanya untuk membuat kita lebih dewasa, lebih tangguh, lebih berkualitas dan membuat kita lebih tahan uji! Tuhan memilih melakukan hal itu karena dalam keadaan demikianlah kita lebih mudah untuk menjadi rendah hati untuk belajar mendengarkan nasihatNya; belajar tentang hal-hal yang lebih berarti, lebih bersifat kekal, belajar tentang menghargai orang lain dan belajar untuk tidak lagi bernafsu meninggikan diri sendiri!

Seorang penjual burung harus menyelubungi sangkar burungnya dengan sehelai kain hitam saat menginginkan burung yang ada di dalam sangkar itu untuk mengeluarkan suara kicauanya yang merdu dan indah. Konon dengan menutupi sangkar burung dan menjadikannya gelap akan membuat burung tersebut berkonsentrasi sehingga memunculkan hal-hal yang baik dari dirinya, yaitu kicauannya. Dan ketika sang burung melihat cahaya terang kembali, kicauannya selalu menjadi bunyi yang riang dan menyegarkan.

Seorang pandai besi harus memanaskan berkali-kali batang besi yang berbentuk jelek dan kemudian harus menghajarnya juga berkali-kali diatas landasan tempa untuk kemudian menjelmakan bentuk besi jelek tersebut menjadi sebuah perkakas yang kuat, tahan banting dan berguna untuk banyak orang atau menjadikannya sebagai sebuah benda seni yang sangat indah dan mahal.

Nah, sekarang dapatkah anda percaya bahwa pintu-pintu yang tertutup dalam hidup anda bukan berarti Tuhan menghukum atau tidak mengasihi anda dan maukah anda mulai belajar mempercayai hidup anda kepadaNya, kepada Dia yang maha tahu, maha bijaksana dan yang sangat mengasihi anda?

Baiklah anda mulai belajar bersyukur kepadaNya untuk pintu-pintu yang tertutup dalam kehidupan kita, karena itu hanya mengarahkan anda kepada pintu anugerah dan berkat yang terbaik yang dibuka oleh Tuhan untuk kehidupan anda!

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Mikayla’s Birthday

Brave little girl Mikayla Francis's birthday wish comes true

 

Little cancer sufferer Mikayla Francis was the centre of attention at an extraordinary gathering of friends, family and fairies to celebrate her life. Picture: Tess Follett Source: Herald Sun

 

Little cancer sufferer Mikayla Francis was the centre of attention at an extraordinary gathering of friends, family and fairies to celebrate her life. Picture: Tess Follett Source: Herald Sun

MIKAYLA Francis's last wish came true when her life was celebrated with a spectacular party.

The little girl who has touched a nation's heart celebrated her seventh birthday yesterday with about 1000 friends, family and community members.

To allay Mikayla's fear that she could be forgotten, her father Andrew wanted to create a party where Mikayla could look out and see hundreds of people who love and care for her. The result was beyond his dreams.

"It's just awesome to see everyone here in the pouring rain to celebrate my daughter's birthday," Mr Francis said.

When a very frail Mikayla appeared from an afternoon nap to cut one of her four cakes, she was clearly overwhelmed, but found a new strength when her tiny arm appeared from under her blanket to push her father into the family's new swimming pool.

She looked frail, but her smile was bright enough to ensure the Cockatoo community that the swimming pool was a worthwhile gift.

Doctors advised the Francis family to bring their Christmas celebration forward so Mikayla, given only weeks to live and suffering a rare liver cancer, hepatoblastoma, could participate.

"It's because Mikayla is such a caring and considerate girl herself that so many people are here today," Mikayla's schoolteacher Anne Matheson said.

Menzies Creek primary school principal Tanya Cooke said several pupils were undergoing grief counselling. But though there were many tears shed yesterday, the overwhelming spirit was uplifting and joyous, strengthened by such a show of community support.

"Our school's value this term is togetherness and there is no better example of that than this party today," Ms Cooke said.

"Mikayla has pulled everyone together to indicate what is really important in life."

Mikayla's love of fairies and animals determined the party's theme. All guests were issued with fairy wings to wear and real life fairy Nicole Valentic helped provide some entertainment, even painting Mikayla's face on request.

 

Love your kids, says Mikayla Francis's dad

 

Mikayla Francis is celebrating her seventh birthday and an early Christmas today. Picture: David Caird Source: Herald Sun

PARENTS should cherish every moment with their children, spending more time hugging, talking, praying and loving them, Andrew Francis says.

His daughter, Mikayla Francis, who is celebrating her seventh birthday and an early Christmas today, is dying of a rare liver cancer.
"The thing we've learnt over this journey so far is to take more time reading books, hugging, talking, praying with and loving your kids," Mr Francis said.
"Cherish every moment you've got with them and remember what comes first."
But for Mikayla, her father was not the most important man in her life; he came third, after God and Jesus, she said.
Family came next, and as "awesome" as she thought heaven would be, she didn't want to be there without them, Mikayla said.
Sharing was the next most important thing "because nobody should miss out", Mikayla said.

Other important values to live by were "love, care, being helpful, faith, respect, friendliness, caring for others, don't fight and co-operating".
Mum Allyson Cowan said the family had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support by Victorians since Mikayla's plight was aired on 3AW on Monday.
"She's absolutely convinced that not only will Mummy and Daddy remember her and love her forever, but half the nation will," Ms Cowan said.
"One of her biggest fears, believe it or not, wasn't dying but being forgotten, and 110-fold, that wish has been met."
Mikayla had been energised, but also overwhelmed, by all of the love and support she had received this week, Ms Cowan said.
Among the thousands of cards sent to her was one from Prime Minister Julia Gillard, in which she wrote: "I hope you have the world's best birthday. You deserve it!"
Mikayla was very excited about her party today, which will be celebrated with hundreds of family, friends and schoolmates. She is looking forward to "everything".
Menzies Creek Primary School principal Tanya Cooke said letters, cards, gifts and flowers for Mikayla had swamped the school.
"Thousands and thousands of letters have arrived for her. You couldn't even count them there's been so many. It's been amazing," Ms Cooke said.
"She's such a friendly little girl with a huge smile and a big heart and it's touched everybody."
In August, Mikayla was diagnosed with liver cancer, which has spread to her lungs. She did not respond to treatment, and doctors told her parents to bring Christmas forward.

bettsma@heraldsun.com.au

Source : Herald Sun & 3AW – Thanks so much for the articles, photos, and appreciation you showed for Mikayla Francis (Jakarta Berdoa)

Technorati Tags: mikayla francis,andrew francis,allyson cowan,cancer,birthday,christmas,important values,lover,care,helpful,faith,respect,friendliness,3aw,herald sun,menzies creek primary school,tanya cooke,tess follett,david caird

Mengampuni

Mengampuni Orang Lain

Tuhan Yesus mengerti betapa berbahayanya dosa tidak mengampuni kesalahan orang lain, dan betapa pentingnya Tuhan harus memberi pengertian tentang hal ini kepada anak-anak-Nya. Oleh sebab itu Ia menaruh hal mengampuni orang lain di dalam deret kalimat doa Bapa kami (Matius 6:9-13).

Pentingnya pengampunan terhadap sesama:
1. Mengampuni orang lain adalah perintah tegas dari Tuhan yang harus dipatuhi. Mengampuni orang lain ini adalah perwujudan tindakan kasih. Bila seseorang tidak mengampuni orang lain, itu berarti ia tidak mengasihi sesamanya. Bila ia tidak mengasihi sesamanya itu berarti ia adalah seorang “pembunuh” (1Yoh. 3:15, Why. 21:8). Seorang pembunuh tidak akan masuk dalam kerajaan Allah.

2. Mengampuni orang lain ialah syarat untuk menerima pengampunan dari Allah. Agar kita menerima pengampunan dari Tuhan kita harus mengampuni orang lain (Mat. 6:14-15; 18:35). Dalam doa Bapa kami jelas disinggung hal mengampuni orang lain, bahwa seperti kita mengampuni orang lain demikianlah Bapa mengampuni kita.. Pengampunan dari Tuhan tidak dapat dipisahkan dari pengampunan kita kepada orang lain. Bila kita tidak mengampuni sesama kita Tuhan juga tidak akan mengampuni kita.

3. Mengampuni orang lain adalah jalan agar doa kita diresponi atau ditanggapi Allah (Mrk. 11:24-26). Dari ayat-ayat ini telah ternyata bahwa jawaban doa dan respon Tuhan terhadap doa kita sangat berkaitan dengan pengampunan kita kepada orang lain. Kalau doa-doa kita mau terjawab, maka kita harus membereskan hubungan kita dengan sesama, dalam hal ini mengampuni saudara kita. Oleh sebab itu kalau kita menjumpai kenyataan doa-doa kita tidak diresponi oleh Bapa, patut kita memeriksa hidup kita dan menemukan penyebabnya, bukan tidak mungkin penyebabnya adalah tidak mengampuni sesama kita.

4. Mengampuni sesama agar tidak ada akar pahit di dalam hati kita (Ibr. 12:14-15). Ada banyak sakit penyakit yang tak disebabkan oleh virus atau baksil pada mulanya, tetapi disebabkan oleh hati yang tidak mau mengampuni orang lain. Ilmu kedokteran membuktikan bahwa suasana jiwa yang tidak sehat dapat mempengaruhi kesehatan tubuh. Akar pahit ini bisa timbul di hati istri terhadap suami, atau sebaliknya, mertua terhadap menantu sebaliknya, relasi bisnis dll. Tidak sedikit orang yang sakit oleh karena kepahtian terhadap sesamanya. Lepaskan pengampunan kepada suami, istri, menantu, mertua atau siapapun yang melukai hatimu dan terimalah kesembuhan.

5. Tuhan tidak menghendaki kita kehilangan sahabat dan saudara oleh kesalahan kita sendiri dengan tidak mengampuni orang lain (Ibr. 12: 14-15). Hidup berdamai dengan semua orang, maksudnya adalah agar kita tidak bertikai dengan siapapun dengan alasan apapun. Barangkali orang lain yang menciptakan atau memulai pertikaian tetapi kita harus dapat mengampuni.

Cara Kita Mengampuni
Tuhan Yesus mengajarkan kepada kita dalam Matius 18:21-23. Dalam perikop ini Petrus mencoba menawarkan kepada Tuhan Yesus satu bentuk pengampunan yang luar biasa yang lebih tinggi dari pola pengampunan yang biasa dilakukan dalam masyarakat Yahudi. Orang Yahudi biasa memberi batas mengampuni orang lain 3x. Petrus mencoba menawarkan lebih tinggi sedikit, yaitu 7 kali. Tetapi ternyata jawaban Tuhan Yesus jauh sekali dari pola pikir dan konsep hukum yang ditawarkan manusia. Tuhan Yesus memberikan konsep baru tentang pengampunan ini, yaitu: 70 x 7 kali.

Maksud dari ajaran Tuhan Yesus tentang mengampuni 70 x 7 kali adalah:
(1) Bahwa tidak ada alasan atau sebab apapun yang boleh diterima untuk tidak mengampuni orang lain.
(2) Cara kita mengampuni orang lain harus sesuai dan sama persis sebagaimana Allah mengampuni kita (Ef. 4:32; Kol. 3:13). Ini bukan hal yang mudah, tetapi pasti bisa dilakukan. Tuhan memberikan standar ini tentu dengan hikmat dan pertimbangan-Nya yang sangat bijaksana dan itu pasti telah disesuaikan dengan kemampuan manusia untuk melakukannya.

Pengampunan yang diajarkan Tuhan ini berarti sebuah pengampunan yang tidak bersyarat, artinya: Pertama, mengampuni semua kesalahan, ini berarti tidak ada sesuatu yang kita anggap sebagai kesalahan yang tidak dapat diampuni. Kedua, melupakan kesalahan-kesalahan, ini berarti kita tidak membangkit-bangkitkan kesalahan orang lain dengan membicarakannya dengan orang lain pula. Ketiga, tidak menghukum. Inilah yang dimaksud Tuhan Yesus mengampuni dengan segenap hati (Mat. 18:35). Tidak menghukum dengan segala cara, misalnya tidak mau berdamai, tidak mau memberi salam, mencela dan merusak nama baik orang yang kita anggap telah bersalah kepada kita.

Akhirnya kita harus membalas kejahatan dengan kebaikan (Rm. 12:21). Tuhan akan menunjukkan siapa yang berdiri dipihak-Nya. Berdiri dalam kebenaran dan kasih Allah. Kepada orang-orang seperti inilah Allah memberikan penghargaan-Nya. Amin. *
 
Pengkhotbah: Pdt Erastus Sabdono, M.Th

Sumber : Terang Dunia

Technorati Tags: erastus sabdono,terang dunia,mengampuni,perintah,syarat,sahabat,alasan,segenap hati

Akar Pahit

Akar Pahit

"Racun yang mencelakakan kita dan kekasih kita"

Pernahkan saudara merasa sakit hati ? Hampir dapat dipastikan bahwa semua orang pernah mengalami sakit hati. Bahkan beberapa orang sedang tersiksa saat ini karena telah disakiti hatinya. Sakit hati sebenarnya adalah sebuah reaksi yang normal bila seseorang dikecewakan atau mendapat perlakuan yang tidak baik. Namun bila tidak mendapatkan penanganan yang benar, sakit hati ini dapat berubah menjadi luka yang sangat kronis, menjadi akar pahit yang sangat merusak batin dan jiwa seseorang bahkan orang lain yang sangat kita kasihi.

Pemahaman arti kata akar pahit

Sebuah kata dalam bahasa Yunani yang menjelaskan hal ini adalah kata "pikria" yang berasal dari akar kata "pik" artinya runcing atau tajam. Ini mengacu pada sesuatu yang memotong dan tajam. Dalam Kamus Alkitab Yunani-Indonesia karangan Barclay M. Newman Jr, kata akar pahit ini mengacu pada beberapa pengertian seperti: menjadi pahit, bertingkahlaku keras, iri hati, dengki dan sakit hati. Peter Wongso dalam Eksposisi Doktrin Alkitab - Surat Ibrani menerangkan "akar pahit" ini sebagai empedu pahit; kepahitan karena rasa tidak puas; 'serapah' sebagai akibat dari kebencian di dalam hati.

Dari beberapa penjelasanan di atas, maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa akar pahit adalah sesuatu yang tajam/runcing (iri hati, sakit hati, dengki bahkan kebencian dan tingkah laku keras) yang dapat melukai dan atau merusak orang itu sendiri dan orang lain; teristimewa mereka yang berhubungan dekat dengan orang tersebut. Akar pahit tidak pernah dan tidak akan pernah menjadi sesuatu yang membangun. Ia selalu bersifat merusak/mencemarkan.

Tanda/gejala orang yang menderita kepahitan

Ada kecenderungan untuk melakukan "penyanderaan".
Pada umumnya, mereka menyandera: kasih, keramahan, kesabaran, sambutan (salam), kehormatan, pelayanan, senyum atau apapun yang dihargai orang lain. Sebagi gantinya, mereka memberikan sikap acuh, cemberut, sinis, pemberontakan, kata-kata / kritik yang tajam, tidak hormat, dsb. Mereka baru mau membebaskan dan memberikan kasih dan kebaikan kalau orang yang menyakiti hatinya itu melakukan pembayaran penebusan, seperti: minta maaf, berjanji memperbaiki tindakan (berubah), atau tindakan-tindakan tertentu yang menurut dia dapat meredakan dendam atau kemarahannya.

Merasa takut dilukai atau disakiti.
Orang-orang yang telah terluka hatinya, mereka menjadi bersikap sedemikian rupa agar jangan sampai ia disakiti lagi. Ada yang menutup diri dan tidak mau lagi berhubungan dengan orang-orang yang "mirip" dengan orang yang pernah menyakiti dirinya. Atau bersikap menyerang, bersikap kasar. Pikirnya, lebih baik saya melukai daripada saya yang dilukai.

Perasaan peka yang berlebihan.
Ia mudah merasa terpojok/tertuduh bila ditanya tentang sesuatu hal. Sulit menerima atau mengakui kesalahan. Cenderung menolak setiap nasihat, teguran atau kritikan yang membangun sekalipun. Gampang menaruh curiga buruk, bila ada orang yang berbicara namun tiba-tiba stop ketika ia ada disitu. Ia menyangka bahwa orang-orang itu pasti telah membicarakan hal-hal yang buruk tentang dirinya. Dan ia begitu yakin.

Suasana batin atau jiwa yang labil.
Saat tertentu terkesan kelewat baik dan bahagia, tetapi kadang-kadang terlihat begitu pemurung dan pemarah.

Langkah-langkah Penyelesaian Kepahitan

Sakit hati-kepahitan memerlukan penanganan yang serius. Hanya usaha yang sungguh-sungguh dan benar sajalah yang akan dapat menolong seseorang untuk menerima kelepasan dan kesembuhan dari penderitaan ini.

Langkah-langkah Penyelesaian Semu/Palsu Ada banyak orang yang berusaha untuk melepaskan diri dari penderitaan karena sakit hati-kepahitan ini yang justru menjadi lebih sakit hati dan pahit karena ia menggunakan langkah-langkah penyelesaian yang semu.

Langkah-langkah penyelesaian yang semua itu antara lain:

Berlaku seakan-akan ia tidak disakiti, "Ah, tidak apa-apa".
Langkah ini adalah langkah penipuan - penipuan terhadap diri sendiri. Seberapapun besar usahanya untuk menutupi sakit hatinya, suatu saat ia pasti akan muncul. Ini seperti orang yang memotong rumput: bagian atasnya terpotong, tetapi akar tetap hidup dan setiap saat akan tumbuh kembali.

Melupakan.
Langkah ini sering dianggap efektif. Namun melupakan bukanlah penyelesaian terhadap masalah sakit hati - kepahitan. Sebab melupakan itu seumpama seseorang yang menggali lubang dalam-dalam dan mengubur segala hal yang dirasa tidak menyenangkan itu kedalamnya. Saudara dapat memperkirakan apa yang akan terjadi? Pembusukan! Dan pembusukan akan menyebabkan kerusakan yang lebih hebat lagi.

Menyangkal.
Langkah lain yang seringkali diambil adalah menyangkal kenyataan bahwa ia telah disakiti atau punya akar pahit. Sekeras apapun seseorang menyangkal kenyataan yang ia alami, luka itu tetap akan menimbulkan rasa sakit dan pada waktunya akan muncul kepermukaan.

Menghindar.
Langkah yang paling sering dilakukan ketika seseorang telah disakiti adalah menghindar. Menghindar dari orang-orang yang telah menyakitinya, menghindar dari lingkungan/orang yang dianggapnya punya potensi untuk menyakiti dan melukai hatinya. Kemanakah kita hendak menghindar? Sakit hati tetap bisa kita alami walau kita telah berusaha semaksimal mungkin untuk menghindar. Kita masih akan tetap berhubungan orang orang lain. Dan selama itu kita tetap berpotensi untuk disakiti atau menyakiti.

Tidak mau mengampuni.
Langkah ini adalah langkah yang paling berbahaya dan menghancurkan terlebih bagi orang tersebut. Kadang kita menyangka bahwa ketika kita tidak memberikan maaf / pengampunan kepada orang yang telah menyakiti kita, orang itu pasti akan sangat menderita. Ini keliru! Memang orang tersebut merasa menderita; tetapi sesungguhnya penderitaan yang peling hebat justru kitalah yang menaggungnya. Karena kita harus sibuk sekali untuk menahan segala kebaikan yang sebenarnya dapat kita berikan. Kita akan dibuat sibuk untuk bersikap tertentu sehingga 'musuh' kita merasakan serangan yang kita lancarkan. Belum lagi kita harus menunjukkan rasa tidak senang kita bila 'musuh' kita itu mendapat perlakuan atau sambutan yang menurut kita tidak pantas. Dll.

Langkah-langkah yang benar Langkah yang benar tidak sebanyak yang semu. Langkah penyembuhan dan pelepasan dari sakit hati dan kepahitan adalah:

Jujur.
Jujurlah bahwa saudara telah sakit hati, dendam, benci, dsb. Hal ini akan menjadi langkah awal yang baik. Sebab dengan demikian saudara setidak-tidaknya telah sadar akan penderitaan saudara dan saudara siap untuk menerima penyembuhan.

Mengampuni.
Inilah langkah yang paling ampuh untuk penyelesaian atau penyembuhan dari sakit hati-kepahitan. Mengampuni berarti membebaskan 'musuh' kita dari semua tuntutan. Melepaskan mereka bebas pergi tanpa harus membayar atau bertobat. Mengampuni juga berarti memberikan semua kebaikan, keramahan, kasih, senyum dsb, yang semuala kita tahan bagi orrang tersebut. Benar, ini tidak semudah mengucapkan kata mengampuni itu sendiri. Bagaimana mungkin mengampuni orang yang telah begitu mengecewakan, menyakiti dan merugikan kita. Bagaimana mungkin mengampuni mereka setelah apa yang mereka perbuat bagi kita? Saudara mengampuni bukan masalah perasaan, tetapi masalah keputusan yang rasional tak peduli seberapapun saudara merasakan kepedihan di hatimu.

Bagaimanakah caranya mengampuni ? Winkie Pratney dalam artikelnya yang berjudul "Hurt and Bitterness" menganjurkan 5 langkah untuk bebas dari kepahitan.

Langkah-langkah itu adalah:
Buatlah daftar dari orang-orang dan perbutan-perbuatan mereka yang telah menyakiti hati saudara.
Buatlah daftar lain yang berisi perbuatan-perbuatan saudara terhadap orang yang telah menyakiti hati saudara.
Perhatikan dengan seksama, bagaimana saudara telah menyakiti hati Tuhan.
Berdoalah minta pengampunan dari Tuhan dan manusia (bila mungkin).
Hancurkan laci bersusun (tempat penyimpanan catatan semua kesalahan orang). Mengampuni berarti membuka semua catatan itu dihadapan Tuhan dan menghapus semua catatan didalamnya.

Tips Agar Tidak Mudah Sakit Hati dan Kepahitan

Jangan berharap bahwa tidak akan ada orang yang menyakiti saudara. Bila ada orang yang manyakiti saudara, janganlah ingin membalasnya. Pembalasan bukanlah hak saudara. Serahkanlah hak untuk membalas itu kepada Tuhan (Rom. 12:12-20). Orang yang menyakiti orang lain, tidak akan luput dari hukuman Tuhan (ay. 19). Saat ada orang yang menyakiti saudara, anggaplah dan bahkan yakinlah bahwa tindakan orang itu adalah sebuah alat yang dapat dipakai Tuhan untuk mendatangkan kebaikan buat saudara (Rom. 8:28).

Ketika saudara sakit hati, hendaklah saudara mengerti bahwa situasi itu merupakan sarana pendidikan yang baik untuk saudara mengenal lebih jauh lagi akan ketetapan-ketetapan Tuhan. Terimalah orang-orang yang menyakiti saudara dengan kasih seperti Kristus telah menerima saudara (Rom. 15:7). Sebab pada umumnya mereka sedang membutuhkan kasih dan perhatian.

Ingatlah selalu betapa banyak kita telah menyakiti Tuhan dan betapa lebih banyak lagi Tuhan telah mengampuni saudara.

Akhirnya, pertimbangkanlah keadilan Tuhan. Bagaimana Allah akan menyerahkan kita kepada situasi atau emosi yang tidak menyenangkan bila kita tidak mengampuni.

Sumber : Terang Dunia

Technorati Tags: akar pahit,racun,disakiti,peka,melupakan,menyangkal,menghindar,mengampuni,jujur,sakit hati,keadilan tuhan,hukuman tuhan

Mikayla Francis

Tolong Jangan Lupakan Saya, Pinta Mikayla Francis
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 08:17

 

Mikayla Francis mungkin tak akan bisa merayakan Natal lagi. Namun, itu bukan ketakutan terbesar gadis enam tahun ini. Ia meminta dengan suara sendu kepada sang ayah. "Tolong, jangan lupakan ketika saya sudah pergi."

Mikayla menderita kanker hati yang langka dan kini sudah menyebar ke paru-parunya. Sang ayah, Andrew Francis, mengatakan sang anak tercinta terus memeluk orangtuanya.

"Dan mama, jika mama memiliki bayi lagi, akankah menceritakan tentang saya atau tidak?" demikian pertanyaan Mikayla.

"Ia sungguh luar biasa dan tidak mengenal rasa takut sedikitpun. Ia benar-benar menjadi panutan," kata sang ayah. Dokter meminta orangtua Mikayla agar merayakan Natal lebih cepat karena kemungkinan Mikayla tak bisa merayakan Natal dan tak dapat melihat Santa Claus.

Mikayla akan merayakan Natal dan ulang tahu ketujuh pada Sabtu, pekan ini. Semua orang tersentuh akan kisah Mikyala. Banyak yang datang memberikan dukungan, balon, makanan, dan menyediakan kebutuhan ulang tahun serta 500 orang akan datang di perayaan ulang tahunnya.

Mikayla didiagnosa kanker hati hepatoblastoma, Agustus lalu. Francis mengatakan dirinya kagum atas sikap anak perempuannya yang tabah. Dia menghadapi suatu percakapan paling sulit dari setiap orangtua yang memiliki anak, memberitahu bahwa dirinya sedang sekarat.

Ketika sang ayah bertanya apakah dirinya takut, ia menjawab sangat tabah. "Tidak ayah. Saya tidak takut. Saya merasa luar biasa dan sedikit berpikir bahwa sorga akan menjadi tempat yang menyenangkan," katanya.

Suatu ketabahan dan pengakuan iman yang luar biasa dari seorang anak kecil. Meski dalam situasi yang sulit dan mungkin menakutkan, janji firman Tuhan memberi kekuatan yang mengagumkan. Keyakinan Mikayla memberi pelajaran bagi kita semua, Yesus telah membuka jalan bagi orang-orang percaya untuk menerima hidup kekal di sorga bersamaNya. (Herald Sun/tribun)

"Barangsiapa memiliki Anak, ia memiliki hidup; barangsiapa tidak memiliki Anak, ia tidak memiliki hidup. Semuanya itu kutuliskan kepada kamu, supaya kamu yang percaya kepada nama Anak Allah, tahu, bahwa kamu memiliki hidup yang kekal." (1 Yohanes 5:12-13)

Sumber : Terangdunia & Herald Sun

Technorati Tags: mikayla francis,andrew francis,keyakinan,sorga,natal,terakhir,melupakan,tabah

Mikayla Francis

Please don't forget me, pleads cancer-stricken Mikayla Francis

Mikayla Francis with her father Andrew. Source: Herald Sun

MIKAYLA Francis probably won't be here for Christmas, but that's not her biggest worry.

Mikayla, 6, who suffers from a rare liver cancer that has spread to her lungs, is worried she might be forgotten.

Dad Andrew Francis said she kept wrapping her arms around her parents, saying: "Don't forget me, don't forget me when I'm gone.

"And, 'Mummy, if you have another baby, will you tell them about me or not?'

"She's not leaving with any sense of fear, and she has done it with the utmost dignity ... she's amazing."

Doctors told Mikayla's parents to bring Christmas forward because they didn't think she would last until Santa visited.

She will celebrate Christmas and her seventh birthday on Saturday.

Brave Mikayla's courage and dignity have touched all who know her.

Well-wishers have rallied, providing jumping castles, pony rides and caterers for Mikayla's party, with up to 500 people expected at her Cockatoo home this weekend.

Mikayla was diagnosed with the liver cancer hepatoblastoma in August.

Mr Francis said he had been astonished by the grace and selflessness with which Mikayla had fought her illness.

He faced the most difficult conversation any parent could have with a child: telling her she was dying.

When he asked her if she was scared, "She said, 'No, Dad, I'm kind of excited, I just reckon heaven's going to be awesome'.

"She has no fear of dying ... she's very calm about all of those sorts of things.

"She's in good spirits. She was doing homework at the kitchen table with me yesterday, she had a dip in the pool.

"She's tired, she's unwell but it just doesn't seem like she's dying."

Their world fell apart when, after she suffered tummy pains for a week, doctors discovered a 10cm tumour in Mikayla's liver that, to their surprise, did not respond to chemotherapy.

Royal Children's Hospital oncologist Francoise Mechinaud said she did not understand why treatment had failed Mikayla.

Menzies Creek Primary School principal Tanya Cooke said of Mikayla: "She's an absolutely amazing little girl. She's touched every soul here."

bettsma@heraldsun.com.au

If you wish to donate to Mikayla's party, go to Essentialhealthfitness and click on 'Donations'

Source : Herald Sun

Technorati Tags: mikayla francis,herald sun,chemotheraphy,royal children's hospital,christmas

Dia Besertamu

MENDEWASAKAN ANAK ala INDIAN

Ada sebuah suku pada bangsa Indian yang memiliki cara yang unik untuk mendewasakan anak laki-laki dari suku mereka. Jika seorang anak laki-laki tersebut dianggap sudah cukup umur untuk di dewasakan, maka anak laki-laki tersebut akan di bawa pergi oleh seorang pria dewasa yang bukan sanak saudaranya, dengan mata tertutup. Anak laki-laki tersebut dibawa jauh menuju hutan yang paling dalam.

Ketika hari sudah menjadi sangat gelap, tutup mata anak tersebut akan dibuka, dan orang yang menghantarnya akan meninggalkannya sendirian. Ia akan dinyatakan lulus dan diterima sebagai pria dewasa dalam suku tersebut jika, ia tidak berteriak atau menangis hingga malam berlalu.

Malam begitu pekat, bahkan sang anak itu tidak dapat meilhat telapak tangannya sendiri, begitu gelap dan ia begitu ketakutan. Hutan tersebut mengeluarkan suara-suara yang begitu menyeramkan, auman serigala, bunyi dahan bergemerisik, dan ia semakin ketakutan, tetapi ia harus diam, ia tidak boleh berteriak atau menagis, ia harus berusaha agar ia lulus dalam ujian tersebut. Satu detik bagaikan berjam-jam, satu jam bagaikan bertahun-tahun, ia tidak dapat melelapkan matanya sedetikpun, keringat ketakutan mengucur deras dari tubuhnya.

Cahaya pagi mulai tampak sedikit, ia begitu gembira, ia meilhat sekelilingnya, dan kemudian ia menjadi begitu kaget, ketika ia mengetahui bahwa ayahnya berdiri tidak jauh dibelakang dirinya, dengan posisi siap menembakan (melepaskan) anak panah, dengan golok terselip dipinggang, menjagai anaknya sepanjang malam, jikalau ada ular atau binatang buas lainnya, maka ia dengan segera akan melepaskan anak panahnya, sebelum binatang buas itu mendekati anaknya sambil berdoa agar anaknya tidak berteriak atau menangis.

Dalam mengarungi kehidupan ini, sepertinya Tuhan "begitu kejam" melepaskan anak-anak-Nya kedalam dunia yang jahat ini. Terkadang kita tidak dapat melihat penyertaan-Nya, namun satu hal yang pasti Ia setia, Ia mengasihi kita, dan Ia selalu berjaga-jaga bagi kita seperti yang terdapat dalam Mazmur 23:4, "Sekalipun aku berjalan dalam lembah kekelaman, aku tidak takut bahaya, sebab Engkau besertaku; gada-Mu dan tongkat-Mu, itulah yang menghibur aku."

Sumber : Milis Maleakhi # 1391

Technorati Tags: indian,anak,menangis,berteriak,anak panah,golok,binatang buas,siap,setia,beserta,berjaga-jaga

God Owns It All

God Owns It All
Author: Melva Cooper

"The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours…" Psalm 89:11 (NLT) “The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.” -Psalm 89:11 (KJV)

I went outside in the early morning to get the newspaper that had been thrown across the driveway. It was a perfect spring day. The dew was sparkling on the lawn that my husband had freshly mowed the afternoon before. The crepe myrtle bushes were showing off their deep purple blooms.

Around the hummingbird feeder was a couple of those tiny birds with the long beaks that are so much fun to watch. A streak of brilliant blue flew past my face. I turned around to see Papa bluebird flying into the bluebird house. They had already raised one family this spring, and now were busy building another nest.

When I looked up to the heavens there was not a cloud in the sky. "Thank you, Jesus," I found myself praying as I picked up the paper and headed back in the house.

Driving back from the grocery store later in the day, I noticed the sky was dotted with clouds. I was disappointed because it had been so gloriously bright early in the morning. Getting out of my car I continued to gaze at those clouds "messing" up my beautiful view.

I thought this is the way our day begins. So clear. So clean. And then before long it gets "messed" up with the frustrations of a job, raising a family and maybe just living.

I know that sometimes clouds turn into thunder and lightning and become violent storms. Also, I realize the problems of the day often become turbulent and we feel like our lives have been turned upside down in a few hours time.

But, God reminded me that just as He says in Psalm 89, He owns it all. He still controls the storms of the air. In the same way, He, also, controls the storms of our lives.

And if we turn to Him for answers He moves those clouds of darkness right out of our lives. We can begin afresh again!

Email & Website of Melva Cooper

“Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.” -1Chronicles 29:11 

Source : Sherry's Inspirational

Technorati Tags: turbulence,heaven,earth,dew,hummingbird,spring,frustration,tunderstorm,darkness,melva cooper,jesus christ

A Good Sermon

A Good Sermon

Dear Saints,
I don’t know what your neighbors are like, but the family across the street from us are really wonderful people. They have three great kids and a friendly dog. They’re just about the nicest people you could meet.

But here’s the thing—if all they are is good and sincere people and have not received Jesus as the only hope of their salvation, then one moment after they die, they will be in hell.

I know that’s hard to hear. Popular is the notion that "being a good person" qualifies you for heaven. Most people believe that someday we’re going to stand before God and He’s going to set our whole life on the scales. If the good outweighs the bad then we go to heaven. If the bad outweighs the good then we go to hell. You’ve heard that, right? Maybe there was a time in your life when you even believed that. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."

Right now millions of people are racing toward eternity—not prepared, oblivious, and in for a shocking surprise that simply being good will never measure up to God’s requirements for heaven.

I thought of that this week as millions of people watched "The Passion"—the movie depicting the suffering of Jesus in the final twelve hours before the cross. Have you seen the movie yet? I wonder if the theater you were in was as intense as ours. People sat riveted to their seats, their eyes fixed on the screen. Some hid behind their hands, not wanting to see the horror but somehow not able to look away.

Yet, just think. If you and I could be good enough to get to heaven on our own, then all that Jesus suffered—everything about the cross of Christ—would be an agonized waste.

What exactly did Jesus die for anyway? To be a good role model? To be a starter ramp to God that we push ourselves up the rest of the way? That kind of thinking is a knife in the heart of the Jesus. Galatians 2:21 says that if righteousness or perfection could be obtained by doing good, then Jesus died for nothing. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the Way." He’s not one of the ways, or even the best way. Jesus is the only hope of salvation. And He willingly laid down His life for you. What seemed to be a tragedy born of hate was in fact, God’s greatest act of love (John 3:16).

Now forgive me if I’m preaching to the choir here. You say, "James, I already know this." I’m so glad! But have you ever been at a family reunion or been standing around at work when the subject of heaven comes up? Someone says, "I’m a nice person. Hey, I’ve never killed anyone. God’s gonna let me off the hook." What do you say to them? Does your heart break when you realize someone you care about has bought into such a tragic lie?

Pastor James McDonald
From Rejoice Sermons to subscribe please write to RejoiceSermons

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6

Source :  Sherry's Inspirational

Technorati Tags: jesus,pastor james mcdonald,passion,good,sincere,heaven,suffered,tragic lie,greatest act of love

Perjalanan Ke Neraka

KISAH nyata ini disaksikan oleh Philip Mantofa. ditulis ulang tgl 20 oktober 2000.

Sahabat, Tanggal 1 Januari 2000 pukul 05.00 wib pagi, aku dibawa ke suatu daerah GURUN PASIR YANG LUAS, TANDUS,KERING-KERONTANG, SERTA PANAS TERIK SANGAT MENYENGAT. Aku melihat banyak binatang aneh dan menjijikkan yang tidak pernah aku temui sebelumnya.

Aku berjalan setapak demi setapak melewati gurun tersebut hingga sampai pada suatu tempat yang menyeramkan. Rasa aneh meliputi aku, tulang-tulangku serasa sakit semua, terlebih lagi tidak ada sedikitpun angin berhembus, suasana sunyi mencekam dan mendung menyelimuti daerah tersebut! Aku tidak dapat menggambarkan dengan lebih baik lagi sebab hanya kengerian yang ada di sana.Sebuah pintu gerbang berdiri menjulang di hadapanku dan dengan rasa gelisah namun ingin tahu aku mencoba membuka gerbang tersebut. ternyata gerbang tersebut tidak cukup sulit untuk dibuka tetapi membuat aku tersentak sebab di hadapanku masih berdiri sebuah pintu gerbang lagi dan diatas gerbang tersebut terdapat papan palang bertuliskan "valley of torture" (lembah penyiksaan)!!!!

Aku sempat ragu apakah aku harus melanjutkan 'perjalanan' ini atau tidak,tetapi aku merasa ada sesuatu yg mendorong aku untuk melanjutkannya. Dengan jantung berdegup keras aku membuka gerbang berikutnya dan ... oh Tuhan!!! aku tidak percaya pada apa yang kulihat tetapi itulah kenyataannya! Aku melihat suatu lorong yang diliputi oleh kegelapan. Saat itu aku berdiri di pinggir pintu gerbang , aku tidak tahu seberapa luas dan panjang lorong tersebut tetapi aku dapat melihat asap samar2 pada ujungnya dan aku merasa itu adalah lautan api yang dahsyat.

Di sepanjang lorong yang gelap itu aku melihat banyak orang disiksa oleh orang-orang berpakaian hitam-hitam serta bertanduk dan aku melihat mereka sangat bernafsu untuk menyiksa setiap orang yang ada disana sebelum mereka semua dimasukkan dalam lautan api pada ujung lorong tersebut. Tangis ngilu serta erangan bercampur dengan tertawa yang menjijikkan aku dengar dalam tempat yang sangat kotor tersebut.

Di tepi lorong aku melihat seorang wanita muda, tangannya diikat pada sebuah kayu. Banyak sekali orang-orang bertanduk yang mengelilingi dia serta mentertawakannya Aku melihat wajahnya yang sudah putih pucat itu diliputi oleh rasa ketakutan yang amat sangat, di depan matanya terdapat suatu senjata aneh yang tidak pernah aku jumpai sebelumnya, aku tidak tahu namanya tapi bentuknya sejenis garpu penggaruk dengan mata pisau yang sangat tajam. Senjata tersebut dibawa oleh salah satu iblis bertanduk yang sedang mengerubuti wanita tersebut, aku mendengar si iblis mengancam wanita malang itu "ayo berdusta!!! ayo berdusta!!!" aku melihat wanita muda itu makin ketakutan dan dia sudah sepenuhnya jatuh dalam kuasa para iblis bertanduk itu sehingga ia mau menuruti kemauan mereka. Jawab wanita itu,'Ya!! Ya!! aku berdusta!! aku berdusta!!!" para iblis yang mengancam itu tertawa terbahak-bahak dan mereka merasa puas akan jawaban wanita muda tersebut.

Aku menyangka setelah wanita itu menuruti apa yang mereka mau maka ia akan dilepaskan tapi apa yang terjadi? Para iblis jahat itu malah menyorongkan garpu penggaruk dengan mata pisau yang tajam-tajam itu kedalam wajahnya dan darah segar menyembur keluar dari wajah wanita yang telah hancur dan tidak berbentuk itu. Pada saat itu aku mendengar wanita itu berteriak kesakitan, 'AAAAAHHHH tolong!!!!!" aku langsung berteriak "Stopp!!! hentikan...!" aneh! mereka tidak mendengar teriakanku dan bahkan aku tidak terlihat oleh mereka walaupun aku ada disana. Aku merasa muak melihat pemandangan yang mengerikan dan suara-suara itu tapi ternyata masih banyak lagi pemandangan yang lebih mengejutkan.

Berikutnya aku melihat seorang laki-laki, rambutnya sudah hangus, wajahnya tinggal tengkorak yang membusuk dan ulat-ulat yang tidak dapat terbakar oleh api keluar dari lubang-lubang tengkoraknya. Laki-laki tersebut disusung dari ujung lorong yang mendekati api, aku rasa mereka telah lama menyiksa orang tersebut, orang tersebut telah hangus dan dagingnya meleleh karena telah diletakkan dekat api yang tidak terhingga panasnya. Iblis-iblis yang mengusungnya tertawa-tawa mengejek laki-laki di atas usungan tersebut dan tidak ada yang dilakukan laki-laki tersebut selain pasrah. Ia sekarat! tetapi tidak bisa mati. mulutnya megap-megap seolah ingin memohon belas kasihan.Salah seorang dari iblis itu berteriak "Ayo masturbasi!!!! ayo masturbasi !!!!" jawab pria itu dengan bergetar, "ya aku masturbasi!! aku masturbasi!!" AHHHHH!!!!!! " aku melihat ulat-ulat yang amat sangat banyak keluar dari dalam tubuhnya ... seluruh tubuhnya!!!!! aku makin jijik melihat semua itu apalagi mendengar teriakannya! aku merasa ngeri!!!!!! masih banyak lagi teriakan dan perintah2 yang aku dengar," ayo minum! ayo mabuk! ayo judi !ayo menipu!!!" dan para iblis itu tertawa tawa menikmati serangan dan tangisan seolah-olah mereka sedang mendengar musik yang indah.

Aku tidak berani berjalan masuk lebih dalam ... aku hanya melihat sejauh mata memandang dan aku yakin masih banyak lagi jenis2 penyiksaan yang dilakukan sebab lorong tersebut lebih pas kalau disebut barak penyiksaan. Aku menemukan suatu pemandangan yang amat sangat mengagetkan, aku melihat banyak orang saleh beragama di sana! aku tidak percaya...!!!! tapi aku tidak berkuasa untuk menyangkalnya!!! aku mendengar teriakan mereka saat disiksa, mereka menyebut nama Tuhan, "Tuhan tolong aku!!!!!" Tuhan bukankah aku selalu bersama dengan Engkau?" Engkau mengajar di kota-kota kami " "aku melayani Engkau Tuhan!!!!!".

Mereka memohon-mohon pada Tuhan tetapi mereka sudah tidak mendapat kesempatan itu, sampai pada akhirnya aku mendengar mereka menghujat Tuhan. Hancur hatiku melihat hal ini.Setelah itu aku betul2 berada dipuncak kengerian dan shock berat meliputi aku!!! aku sudah tidak kuat lagi untuk melanjutkan 'perjalanan' ini dan jika dilanjutkan kemungkinan besar aku akan 'mati' secara jasmani. "Tuhan, tolong bawa aku untuk keluar dari sini....

Tolong Tuhan ...!!!!" seketika itu juga aku ... aku tersadar! semua yg terjadi tadi adalah sebuah vision, sebuah penglihatan .... penglihatan yang sangat mengerikan ... penglihatan tentang neraka ...!!!!!!! aku senang menemukan diriku berada dirumah meski setelah itu aku harus mengalami sakit berhari-hari. tulang dan sendiku ngilu semua. penyakit maag ku kambuh dan shock masih membayangiku!!! aku berdoa pada Tuhan, apa arti semua ini? dan apa yang Tuhan mau terhadap pengalamanku itu Tuhan memberiku suatu pengertian dan beban yang sangat mendalam bagi orang-orang disekelilingku. Tuhan mau aku memberitakan apa yang telah terjadi dan yang akan terjadi kepada semua orang. saat ini banyak dari mereka sedang bersenang-senang, makan-minum, pesta pora, pesta sex, narkoba dan banyak kesenangan lain yang seolah-olah mereka bisa nikmati selamanya, tetapi mereka tidak sadar bahwa neraka ada di depan mereka dan iblis2 bertanduk sedang menanti mereka untuk menjadi mangsa berikutnya!!!!!

Penutup : Aku tahu Tuhan Yesus sangat mengasihimu oleh sebab itu Ia masih mau memberi kesempatan kepadamu!!! untuk bertobat melalui 'penglihatan' yang telah ditunjukkannya kepadaku. sahabatku, aku HARUS MENULIS SURAT INI pada mu untuk mengingatkan mu sebab aku tidak mau kamu mengalami hal yang sama dengan mereka disana. sungguh, aku mengasihimu!! dan aku harap kamu mau MERENUNGKAN semuanya ini dan benar2 bertobat, terima Tuhan Yesus secara pribadi, HIDUP BARU, dan jangan keluar dari jalan yang telah Tuhan Yesus TETAPKAN.

PS. Forwardlah pesan ini ke semua masih ada waktu tersisa!! atau anda akan menyesal bila suatu saat anda akan melihat orang2 yg saudara cintai berada pada "valley of torture!!""

GOD BLESS US, HOPE AND PRAY! KEEP THE FAITH THAT HE ALWAYS BE WITH US AND TRUST IN HIM THAT HE REALLY KNOWS YOU!!

Sumber : Lebensentscheidung

Technorati Tags: neraka,lembah penyiksaan,api,garpu,menipu,masturbasi,tuhan yesus,mengasihi,menghujat,iblis,tertawa,menerima,ulat2,mangsa berikut,hidup baru

A Trip to Hell

A Trip to Hell (Rev. 20:15)
David Mende
(Preached first on 15/06/08, Sunday)

Introduction
Often the word “hell” is thrown around casually like it was no big deal. Many people even joke about Hell.

Some have been heard saying that they didn’t mind going to Hell, because all of their favorite film stars and cricketers were going to be there too.

However, anyone making such a statement has little knowledge of what Hell is really like. Some people say that they are already going through hell on this earth.

When you compare your problems to the torment in hell, your biggest problems will look like pleasures! God’s Word always speaks of Hell as a very literal place, filled with very literal people for all eternity.

It goes without saying that I could have found many more pleasant topics to speak on today than that of Hell. But if I am to be a faithful steward of God’s Word, I must preach the whole counsel of God, not just the pleasant parts.

Besides that, Christ Himself has set a very good precedent for me, in that He preached more about Hell than about Heaven, during His earthly ministry. The writer to the Hebrews stated that the doctrine of hell was one of the foundation truths of the faith: Hebrews 6:1-2. There are a number of things that make Hell a horrible place.

Some Facts about Hell
God originally prepared hell for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25:41). But man chose to follow the devil instead of God!
Those who leave the One True God and follow Satan also go to where the devil goes.

This morning I want to take you on a trip to hell! I know it’s not going to be pleasant, but it is absolutely essential to take this trip!

Fear
Ps 73:18-19 – fear in hell
Imagine millions and millions of people screaming in terror!
Tiger – Zoo Park – very ferocious – you will live with that fear forever!

Literal Fire
Hell has lot of heat!
Mt. 13:49-50 – Literal fire in hell
Luke 16:23-25 – if it was metaphorical flames, water would not suffice. It was literal fire!
Rev. 9:2 – if there was no fire, how could there be any smoke?

Torment
Rev. 14:11 – there is no rest from torment.
In Luke 16, we see the Rich Man possessed the sense of sight, the sense of touch, and thinking processes in hell.
The Scriptures clearly indicate that the inhabitants of Hell experience immeasurable physical pain.
Matt.13:42 “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Endless Punishment
In hell, even if you want to die, you can’t!
Exodus 3:2 – Moses saw the fire which did not consume!
The Bible is opposed to universalism and annihilation. Hell is forever!!! Hell is forever! Can you fathom that? I wish hell wasn’t forever! But the Bible very clearly presents that it is forever and there is no end to it. Those in hell will suffer permanent misery.

Rev.14:11a “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night…”

When we travel in buses and trains, we see Emergency windows and doors – But people, there will be no exit signs in Hell, for there will be no escape – there will be no way out.

The time to miss Hell is now, while there is still time. No one knows when time will run out for them. Education and travel – you make plans; how much more we need to plan for our eternity!

While I was traveling from New Delhi to Hyderabad, a man said that he booked his train tickets 90 days back! I wish we could plan about our eternal destiny like that!

There is no word such as hope in hell! There is no second chance given to those who have been sentenced to eternal torment. The decisions made in life find their eternal consequences fully carried out after death.

There will be no second chance. This should stir the Church to proclaim the message, "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Jesus’ picture of hell as a place where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48) indicates that this manifestation of God’s wrath is unending.

This fact, that God the Judge, the "Lord of glory" himself (1 Cor 2:8), accepted the punishment due us, suggests that the penalty for sin against the Infinite is infinite!!!

Hell is completely the opposite of heaven! Hell is absence of all of God’s goodness and blessings! Eternal fire, eternal darkness, eternal pain, eternal separation from God, eternal loneliness, eternal weeping, eternal anger! There are tears, no presence of God, no joy, etc.

No Water
Luke 16:23-24 – you’ll not even get one drop of water!
Contrast this with Rev. 21:6 – living waters!

Degrees of punishment.
There are degrees of punishment in hell – but still it’s terrible. Should a man like Adolph Hitler, who was responsible for the murder of millions of Jews, suffer the same torment as an unbelieving German, who sought to spare the Jews from persecution and death?

The scripture tells us,. . . who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation (Mark 12:40).

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds (Revelation 20:13; cf. also Romans 1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Revelation 16:5-6). Different levels of torment – Mt. 23:14; Heb. 10:29; But still there isn’t any nice spot in hell!

Haunting memories in hell.
Cf. Luke 16
Those in Hell will remember every mean and ungodly thing they ever did. They’ll remember the times they lied, cheated, hated, lusted, committed adultery, etc. Those in Hell will remember the face of every person who ever tried to tell them about Christ. Those in Hell will remember every message they ever heard on repentance and salvation.
Those in Hell will remember every time the Holy Spirit pled with them to be saved, and how their heart pounded with conviction as they considered a decision for Christ. The inhabitants of Hell will be haunted throughout eternity by the memories of missed opportunities to receive Christ.
Hell is hell because there is no God over there.

We choose hell
G. K. Chesterton once remarked, "Hell is God’s great compliment to the reality of human freedom and the dignity of human personality." Hell, a compliment? Yes, because God is saying to us, "You are significant. I take you seriously. Choose to reject me -- choose hell if you will. I will let you go."

No one who is ever in hell will be able to say to God, "You put me here," and no one who is in heaven will ever be able to say, "I put myself here." John Hannah.

A Doctor’s Testimony
Dr. Maurice Rawlings, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University Of Tennessee College Of Medicine, was also a devout atheist. But in 1977, while trying to resuscitate a man who had been screaming in terror, something happened that changed his thinking. He gave this report in Omni magazine:

Each time he regained heartbeat and respiration, the patient screamed, “I am in hell!” He was terrified and pleaded with me to help him. I was scared to death…Then I noticed a genuinely alarmed look on his face. He had a terrified look worse than the expression seen in death! This patient had a grotesque grimace expressing sheer horror! His pupils were dilated, and he was perspiring and trembling—he looked as if his hair was “on end.” He later wrote a book called “Beyond Death’s Door” – saying that hell was real!

Those who never heard the gospel go to hell.
The Biblical view is that even the people who have never heard the gospel go to hell. I wish it was not true, but that’s the truth that the Bible presents. How could a loving God send anyone to hell, especially someone who has never heard about Christ? In fact, says Paul, God has revealed himself plainly in the creation to all people. And yet people reject even this basic knowledge of God.

Romans 1:18-20 reveals that even those who don’t know God’s Word have an intuitive knowledge of right and wrong and God’s judgment against sin.
Jesus says "the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). In other words, he came offering grace to a world that was "condemned already" (John 3:17-18).

God is Just
He is love, but He is also a God of justice and wrath when confronted with sin. Hell is not only God giving men what they deserve; He is giving them what they want. If God doesn’t punish people in hell, then He is not a holy and righteous God!

The greatness of our salvation is measured by the greatness of the judgment from which we have been delivered by our Lord.

Get Radical against sin!
As Habakkuk 1:13 states, God’s eyes are too pure to behold or approve evil and He cannot look upon sin.
Mark 9:43-48 – be radical with sin!

Turn or Burn!
II Cor.6:2b “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Rev. 20:15 – are you sure your name is written in the Book of Life?
If you are living in a back-slidden state in some sin, repent and come back to the Lord!

Let’s share the Gospel!
Finally, the doctrine of eternal judgment should motivate the Christian to take evangelism seriously. If men and women are going to spend eternity in torment, apart from the living God, it is imperative that we warn them of the danger they are in.

As the apostle Paul put it, “Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men …” (2 Corinthians 5:11). A grasp of the horrors of hell also affects our motivation in evangelism and our desire to live a pure and holy life!!!

Those of you who are saved – Rejoice and be grateful to the Lord that you have escaped the horrors of hell! With Paul, I say, "I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:16).

Primarily, I like to present the Gospel to the people that God is a God of love; but if people are stiff-necked, I will warn them that they are doomed to hell if they do not repent!
Even if they accuse me of terrorizing them about hell, I’ll not be ashamed because it is worth saving a soul by talking about the judgment of God!

Jesus is coming soon – NOW ...IS THE TIME TO REPENT AND NOW IS THE TIME TO REACH OUT TO THE LOST SOULS!!!

Are there corpses in your house who are not saved? Thank God for Jesus! We don’t have to go to hell because Jesus took our punishment! God doesn’t want even a single person to go to hell – 2 Peter 3:9.

William Booth of the Salvation Army is quoted as saying that if he could do it, he would have finalized the training of his soldiers with 24 hours hanging over hell, to see its eternal torment.

Charlie Peace was a criminal – the prison chaplain routinely and sleepily read some Bible verses – “Sir, if I believed what you and the Church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worth-while living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!”

I tell people that I have not sacrificed anything at all to come to the ministry. It’s worth it to leave all and to save just a single soul! Your Soul is priceless – it has more value than the riches of the whole world!

Ministry team, how much are you striving and sacrificing to serve God??? Saints of God, what price are you paying for the work of the Lord??? Because the Church has lost Holy Spirit fire, men go to hell-fire!

About 2 lakh people go to hell everyday!!! Is that nothing to you? Let’s live holy lives! Let’s reach out to the lost souls, no matter what the price is!

Source : SermonCentral.com

Technorati Tags: hell,david mende,complimentary,gpd. satan,devil,fear,ministry,fire,punishment,hope,memories,g.k. chesterton,john hannah,maurice rawlings,william booth,salvation army,charlie peace,sacrifice,church,priceless,soul

Beautiful Story About Love

A Beautiful Story - Love
Author: John Powell

John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago writes about a student named Tommy in his "Theology of Faith" class:

Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders.

It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under 'S' for strange, very strange.

Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was, for me at times, a serious pain in the back pew.

When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a slightly cynical tone, "Do you think I'll ever find God?"

I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. "No!" I said very emphatically.

"Oh," he responded, "I thought that was the product you were pushing."

I let him get five steps from the classroom door, then called out, "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!"

He shrugged a little and left my class and my life. I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line: "He will find you!" At least I thought it was clever.

Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, and I was duly grateful. Then a sad report came. I heard Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted, and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy, but his eyes were bright, and his voice was firm for the first time, I believe.

"Tommy, I've thought about you so often. I hear you are sick," I blurted out.

"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks."

"Can you talk about it, Tom?" I asked.

"Sure, what would you like to know?" he replied.

"What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?"

"Well, it could be worse."

"Like what?"

"Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals; like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real 'biggies' in life."

(I began to look through my mental file cabinet under 'S' where I had filed Tommy as strange. It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.)

"But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, "is something you said to me on the last day of class."

(He remembered!)

He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would ever find God, and you said, 'No! ‘which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time.

(My clever line... He thought about that a lot!)

"But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that's when I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven, but God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try something for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted; fed up with trying. And then you quit.

Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class, and I remembered something else you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.'

So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him.

"Dad."

"Yes, what?" he asked without lowering the newspaper

"Dad, I would like to talk with you."

"Well, talk."

"I mean it's really important."

The newspaper came down three slow inches. "What is it?"

"Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that."

(Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him.)

"The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me.

We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me.

It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying really nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years.

I was only sorry about one thing - that I had waited so long. Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to.

Then, one day, I turned around and God was there!  He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him.  I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop; 'C'mon, jump through.  C'mon, I'll give You three days, three weeks.' Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour.  But the important thing is that He was there. He found me. You were right.  He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."

"Tommy," I practically gasped, "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize.  To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather to open up to love.  You know, the Apostle John said that.

He said: 'God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.'

Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now.  Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me?  If I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you were to tell them."

"Ooh ... I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your class." 

"Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call."

In a few days, Tom called, said he was ready for the class that he wanted to do that for God and for me.  So we scheduled a date, but he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class.

Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard, or the mind of man has ever imagined.

Before he died, we talked one last time.

"I'm not going to make it to your class," he said.

"I know, Tom."

"Will you tell them for me? Will you...tell the whole world for me?" "I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best."

So, to all of you who have been kind enough to hear this simple statement about love, thank you for listening.  And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven - I told them, Tommy, as best I could.

If this story means anything to you, please pass it on to a friend or two. It is a true story and is not enhanced for publicity purposes.

With thanks, John Powell, Professor Loyola University, Chicago

I verified this story on www.truthorfiction.com ; which stated the following: “This story was written by Father John Powell; a retired professor at Loyola University in Chicago.  Father Powell is advanced in years, but TruthOrFiction.com found him and talked with him.   The story was fresh in his mind and he confirmed that it is true and happened in the way that he described it.”

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” - John 15:9 

Source : Sherry’s Inspirational -
http://groups.google.com/group/Sherrys_Inspirational

You may also read the story in Indonesian language.  Just click here : Ceritakan Pada Dunia Untukku

Technorati Tags: john powell,loyola university,chicago,truth or fiction,theology of faith,tommy,atheist,remember,god's love,cancer

3 Tingkat Peperangan Rohani

Tiga Tingkat Peperangan Rohani

1. Peperangan Rohani Tingkat Dasar
Pelayanan mengusir roh-roh jahat. Pertama kali Yesus mengutus keduabelas murid-Nya, “ … dan memberi kuasa kepada mereka untuk mengusir roh-roh jahat ….” (Matius 10:1).  Ketika 70 murid, yang Yesus utus keluar (Lukas 10), kembali dari misi mereka, mereka berkata dengan sukacita besar, “Tuhan, setan-setan takluk kepada kami demi nama-Mu” (Lukas 10:17).  Ketika Filipus memberitakan injil di Samaria, “… keluarlah roh-roh jahat itu sambil berseru dengan sura keras, ….” (Kisah Rasul 8:7)

2. Peperangan Rohani Tingkat Okultisme
Tampak jelas bahwa kita melihat sejenis kuasa roh jahat sedang bekerja melalui shaman, perantara/medium Zaman Baru, pelaku okultisme, dukun, para pendeta sesat, peramal nasib, dan sejenisnya.  Pada pokoknya berbeda dengan roh jahat biasa.  Ketika Rasul Paulus berada di Filipi, seorang peramal nasib yang kerasukan roh jahat sempat mengganggu dia selama berhari-hari sampai akhirnya ia mengusir roh jahat itu keluar darinya.  Peristiwa itu menyebabkan suatu pergolakan politik sehingga para misionaris dipenjarakan. (Kisah Rasul 16:16-24)

3. Peperangan Rohani Tingkat Strategis
Di sini kita bergumul melawan pusat kekuatan roh jahat yang lebih besar: territorial spirits atau roh-roh teritorial.  Kepada sidang jemaat di Efesus, Paulus menulis, “ … karenan perjuangan kita bukanlah melawan darah dan daging, tetapi melawan pemerintah-pemerintah, melawan penguasa-penguasa, melawan penghulu-penghulu dunia yang gelap ini, melawan roh-roh jahat di udara.” (Efesus 6:12)

Peperangan rohani tingkat strategis dapat ditemukan dalam Wahyu 12, “Maka timbullah peperangan di sorga, Mikhael dan malaikat-malaikatnya berperang melawan naga itu, dan naga itu dibantu oleh malaikat-malaikatnya” (Wahyu 12:7)

Sumber : Warfare Prayer (Doa Peperangan) – C. Peter Wagner

Technorati Tags: peperangan rohani,dasar,okultisme,strategis,roh jahat,kerasukan,peramal nasib,mikhael,berperang,sorga,c.peter wagner,mengusir,efesus,filipi,paulus