Listen To God

The Slowness Of Wisdom (John 8:1-11)

Whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak. —John 12:50

When the Pharisees came to Jesus with the woman caught in adultery and asked Him what should be done with her, He knelt for a moment and scribbled in the sand (John 8:6-11). We have no idea what He wrote. But when they continued asking Him, Jesus responded in one short sentence: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (v.7). His few words accomplished much in confronting the Pharisees with their own sin, for they walked away one by one. Even today those words resound around the world.

Jesus had such a closeness to and dependence on His Father that He said of Himself, “Whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (12:50). Oh, that we had such a relationship with our Father that we knew how to respond with His wisdom!

Perhaps it begins with obeying James’ challenge to be “swift to hear, slow to speak” (1:19). This is not the slowness of ignorance, emptiness, timidity, guilt, or shame. But the slowness of wisdom born of dwelling quietly on the Lord and His thoughts.

We’re often told to stop and think before we speak. But I think we should take it much further and live a life where we’re always listening for God’s wisdom. —David Roper

Lord, grant that we may hear You speak;
For truth within our hearts we seek;
For unto Christ we would be true
And know what He Himself would do. —D. De Haan

Listen to God before you speak for God.

Source : Our Daily Bread.

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Bicaralah

DIAM YANG BUKAN EMAS (Kejadian 3:1-7)
Dikirim oleh : Fransisca Adella Kipuw

Lalu ia mengambil dari buahnya dan dimakannya dan diberikannya juga kepada suaminya yang bersama-sama dengan dia, dan suaminya pun memakannya (Kejadian 3:6)

Andika bekerja sebagai karyawan di sebuah perusahaan besar. Ia adalah orang kristiani yang setia beribadah dan sangat tahu bahwa korupsi sungguh adalah perbuatan dosa. Maka, Andika tidak pernah  mengambil uang yang bukan miliknya. Namun suatu kali, dalam sebuah pertemuan, bisnis klien Andika memberinya uang suap dalam jumlah besar. Andika memang tidak mau menerimanya, tetapi ia membiarkan rekannya menerima uang tersebut. Kelak ia juga ikut menikmati apa  yang telah diterima rekannya ini.

Dalam Kejadian 3:1-7, dikatakan bahwa Adam sedang bersama-sama Hawa  ketika Hawa mengambil buah pohon pengetahuan tentang yang baik dan yang jahat. Adam tahu Tuhan melarangnya untuk memakan buah pohon tersebut (Kejadian 2:17), tetapi Adam membiarkan Hawa mengambil dan  memakan buah itu. Bahkan, Adam menerima buah tersebut dari Hawa dan turut memakannya. Sejak itulah manusia jatuh ke dalam dosa.

Walau bukan Andika yang menerima suap, walau bukan Adam yang memetik dan lebih dulu memakan buah terlarang, mereka tetap bersalah. Yakni bersikap diam, justru ketika mereka tahu bahwa apa yang dilakukan  orang di dekat mereka adalah dosa. Lebih buruk lagi, mereka juga  akhirnya turut menikmati hal yang salah tersebut.

Yakobus 4:17 mengatakan, "Jika seseorang tahu bagaimana ia harus  berbuat baik, tetapi ia tidak melakukannya, ia berdosa." Tak selamanya diam itu emas. Ada saatnya kita perlu menegur dan  memperingatkan orang yang hendak terperangkap dosa. Tatkala kita mencegah orang lain berbuat dosa, kita juga sedang mencegah diri  kita berbuat dosa --SL

DIAM PADA TEMPATNYA ADALAH EMAS; DIAM PADA SAAT KITA HARUS BICARA JUSTRU BERBAHAYA

Sumber : Renungan Harian

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Kekuatan Cinta

KEKUATAN CINTA (Kidung Agung 8:5-7 & Bilangan 19-21)
Dikirim oleh : Fransisca Adella Kipuw

Air yang banyak tak dapat memadamkan cinta, sungai-sungai tak dapat menghanyutkannya (Kidung Agung 8:7) Kerap orang kemudian mengartikannya sebagai ketundukan yang memposisikan istri sebagai pelayan dan pengikut kehendak suami Bilangan 19-21

Robertson McQuilkin mengundurkan diri dari jabatannya sebagai rektor Universitas Internasional Columbia demi merawat Muriel, istrinya, yang mengalami alzheimer atau gangguan fungsi otak. Muriel sudah tidak bisa apa-apa, bahkan untuk makan, mandi, serta buang air pun, ia harus dibantu. Pada 14 Februari 1995 adalah hari istimewa-tanggal itu, 47 tahun lalu, Robertson melamar Muriel-maka ia memandikan Muriel dan menyiapkan makan malam kesukaannya. Menjelang tidur ia mencium Muriel, menggenggam tangannya, dan berdoa, "Bapa surgawi, jagalah kekasih hatiku ini sepanjang malam, biarlah ia mendengar nyanyian malaikat-Mu."

Paginya, ketika Robertson sedang berolahraga dengan sepeda statis, Muriel terbangun. Ia tersenyum kepada Robertson. Dan, untuk pertama kali setelah berbulan-bulan Muriel tak pernah berbicara, ia memanggil Robertson lembut, "Sayangku ...". Robertson terlompat dari sepeda statisnya. Ia memeluk Muriel. "Sayangku, kamu benar-benar mencintaiku?" tanya Muriel lirih. Robertson mengangguk dan tersenyum. "Aku bahagia." Itulah kata-kata terakhir Muriel sebelum meninggal.

Alangkah indahnya relasi yang didasarkan pada cinta; tidak ada kepedihan yang terlalu berat untuk dipikul. Cinta adalah daya dorong yang sangat ampuh untuk kita selalu melakukan yang terbaik; menjalani kegetiran tanpa isak, melalui kepahitan tanpa keluh, melewati lembah kekelaman dengan kepala tegak. Tak heran Salomo pun mengatakan, cinta kuat seperti maut (ayat 6). Maka, mari kita menumbuhkembangkan cinta di hati, untuk melandasi setiap tindakan dan ucapan kita; di mana pun dan kapan pun --AYA

CINTA ADALAH DASAR YANG KOKOH TEGUH UNTUK SEBUAH RELASI

Sumber : Renungan Harian

Technorati Tags: robertson mcquilkin,universitas internasional columbia,muriel,berdoa,cinta,tindakan,ucapan,relasi,alzheimer,meninggal

Kehendak Tuhan

JIKA TUHAN MENGHENDAKI (Yakobus 4:13-15)
Dikirim oleh : Fransisca Adella Kipuw

Sebenarnya kamu harus berkata, "Jika Tuhan menghendakinya, kami akan hidup dan berbuat ini dan itu" (Yakobus 4:15)

Semua orang pasti memiliki rencana. Ada rencana jangka pendek, ada juga rencana jangka panjang. Dalam menyusun rencana, orang mendaftar apa saja yang akan dilakukan dan apa saja sumber daya pendukung yang ada agar rencana itu terwujud. Dan, orang kerap membuat perencanaan dalam berbagai aspek kehidupannya: kehidupan pribadi, keluarga, pekerjaan maupun pelayanan.

Ada orang yang membuat perencanaan dengan sangat rinci, ada juga yang tidak. Dalam pelaksanaannya pun ada rencana yang terlaksana dengan baik, ada yang berjalan walau tidak sesuai, bahkan ada yang sama sekali tidak terlaksana. Nyatanya, sebaik apa pun sebuah rencana dibuat, manusia tidak punya kuasa mutlak membuat semuanya terjadi seperti yang ia kehendaki. Oleh karena itu, dalam surat kepada kedua belas suku di perantauan (1:1), Yakobus mengingatkan jemaat untuk senantiasa melibatkan Tuhan dalam setiap perencanaan. Hal ini akan membantu mereka, juga kita, untuk peka terhadap kehendak Tuhan dan tidak cepat bermegah diri. Apalagi sebagai anak-anak Tuhan, kita tahu bahwa Tuhan adalah sumber kehidupan dan kekuatan kita.

Semua yang kita rencanakan untuk dilakukan di sepanjang hari ini atau esok, hanya dimungkinkan jika Tuhan menghendaki kita hidup dan melakukannya (4:15). Inilah yang harus selalu kita ingat; bahwa kita adalah manusia yang terbatas, dan Tuhanlah yang punya kuasa mutlak atas hidup kita. Sehebat apa pun rencana kita, tanpa Tuhan menghendakinya terjadi, maka hal itu tidak akan terlaksana. Sudahkah Anda melibatkan Tuhan dalam perencanaan Anda hari ini? --SL

SEMAKIN BANYAK HAL YANG KITA RENCANAKAN SEMAKIN PERLU KITA MELIBATKAN TUHAN DI DALAMNYA

Sumber : Renungan Harian

Technorati Tags: rencana,menghendaki,pendukung,pelaksanaan,kehendak tuhan,sumber kehidupan,kuasa mutlak,melibatkan

Terbiasa

TERBIASA DENGAN DOSA (1 Raja-raja 11:1-13)
Dikirim oleh : Fransisca Adella Kipuw

Tetapi jika engkau tidak berbuat baik, dosa sudah mengintip di depan pintu; ia sangat menggoda engkau, tetapi engkau harus berkuasa atasnya (Kejadian 4:7)

Sebagai mahasiswa kedokteran, seorang kerabat saya diwajibkan berdinas di rumah sakit. Tugasnya cukup menguji nyali: jaga malam di kamar mayat. Di hari pertama, ia sangat terganggu oleh suasana dingin dan aroma formalin. Namun, setelah dua-tiga hari, ia mulai bisa bertugas dengan santai, bahkan sambil makan di situ! Manusia memang bisa "kebal" menghadapi situasi buruk, asal dibiasakan, sebab Tuhan memberinya kemampuan adaptasi yang hebat. Tanyai saja orang yang sudah lama bekerja di WC umum, pelelangan ikan, atau pompa bensin, pasti mereka merasa nyaman saja, walau tempat kerjanya tidak nyaman.

Sayang, saking baiknya kemampuan adaptasi manusia, kadang dosa pun bisa tak terasa seperti dosa lagi. Seperti bacaan firman Tuhan hari ini. Sulit dipercaya bahwa yang melakukan tindakan tercela itu adalah Raja Salomo: sang penulis puluhan amsal yang bijaksana dan berwibawa. Salomo jatuh cinta pada gadis-gadis asing dari Moab, Amon, Edom, Sidon, dan Het. Seiring berjalannya waktu, kesenangan Salomo atas istri-istrinya menggantikan posisi Tuhan di hidupnya (ayat 3, 4). Kesenangan-kesenangan itu memalingkan kasihnya dari Allah.

Belajar dari Salomo, mari kita lebih waspada. Jangan berkompromi dengan dosa demi kenyamanan pribadi. Mungkin di awal kita masih punya rasa bersalah, tetapi lama-kelamaan kita bisa terbiasa hingga merasa tidak ada yang salah. Jangan sampai kita terlena dan terjerumus. Seperti kata pepatah: Jika kita menghabiskan waktu di pasar, kita akan tercium seperti ikan; jika kita menghabiskan waktu di taman, kita akan tercium seperti bunga; jika kita terus-menerus berbuat dosa, ada waktunya semua akan terbuka --OLV

SERAPAT-RAPATNYA DOSA DISELUBUNGI SUATU KALI IA AKAN MEMBUAT PELAKUNYA MERUGI

Sumber : Renungan Harian

Technorati Tags: kamar mayat,makan,adaptasi,salomo,moab,amon,edom,sidon,het,memalingkan,allah abraham,dosa,kompromi,merugi

Answered Prayers

Cheyenne ~ An Angel Unawares
Author: Unknown

You may have written these words yourself.
May be you have "been there?"

"Watch out!  You nearly broad sided that car!" 
My father yelled at me.  "Can't you do anything right?" 

Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him.  A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes.  I wasn't prepared for another battle.

"I saw the car, Dad.  Please don't yell at me when I'm driving."  My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts.  Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain.  The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil.  What could I do about him?

Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon.  He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature.  He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often.  The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess. The years marched on relentlessly.  The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it.  He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.

Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack.  An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing.  At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room.  He was lucky. He survived.  But something inside Dad died.  His zest for life was gone.  He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders.  Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults.  The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether.  Dad was left alone.

My husband Dick and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm.  We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.  Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation.  It seemed nothing was satisfactory.  He criticized everything I did.

I became frustrated and moody.  Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick.  We began to bicker and argue.  Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation.  The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us.  At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind.  But the months wore on and God was silent.

A raindrop struck my cheek.  I looked up into the gray sky.  Somewhere up there was "God."  Although I believe a Supreme Being had created the universe, I had difficulty believing that God cared about the tiny human beings on this earth.  I was tired of waiting for a God who didn't answer.  Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it. The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages.  I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered.  In vain.

Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you!  Let me go get the article." I listened as she read.  The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home.  All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression.  Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.

I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon.  After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels.  The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens.  Each contained five to seven dogs.  Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs-all jumped up, trying to reach me.  I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons. Too big, too small, too much hair.

As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the room and sat down.  It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats.  But this was a caricature of the breed.  Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray.  His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles.  But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention.  Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.

I pointed to the dog.  "Can you tell me about him?"  The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement.  "He's a funny one.  Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate.  We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him.  That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing.  His time is up tomorrow."  He gestured helplessly.

As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror.  "You mean you're going to kill him?"  "Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog."

I looked at the pointer again.  The calm brown eyes awaited my decision.  "I'll take him," I said.

I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me.  When I reached the house I honked the horn twice.  I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch.  "Ta-da!  Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly.

Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust.  "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one.  And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones.  Keep it!!!!  I don't want it!!!"  Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.  Anger rose inside me.  It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples.  "You'd better get used to him, Dad.  He's staying!!!"  Dad ignored me.

"Did you hear me, Dad?"  I screamed.  At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp.  He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him.  Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw.

Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw.  Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes.  The pointer waited patiently.  Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal. It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship.  Dad named the pointer Cheyenne.  Together he and Cheyenne explored the community.  They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes.  They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout.  They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet.

Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years.  Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends.  Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers.  He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room.  Dad lay in his bed, his face serene.  But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.

Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed.  I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on.  As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind.

The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary.  This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church.  The pastor began his eulogy.  It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life.  And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. 

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.

For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before:  The sympathetic voice that had just read the right article. Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. His calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father. The proximity of their deaths.  -  And suddenly I understood, and I knew. God had answered my prayers after all.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” - Genesis 1:26 

Source : Sherry's Inspirational

Technorati Tags: dad,dog,pointer,cheyenne,angel,battle,lumberjack,trophies,biker,argue,pastor,dick,god,answer,prayers,in vain,ignore,restore,accpetance,devotion,church

Bad Temper

Nail in the Fence
Author: Unknown

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.  His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.  The first day the boy had drive 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.  He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence...

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day he was able to hold his temper.  The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. 

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.  The fence will never be the same.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  It won't matter how many times you say 'I'm sorry,' the wound is still there."

"A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.  Friends are a very rare jewel indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.  They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."

"Please forgive me if I have ever left a hole in your fence...."

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” -James 3:8 

Source : Sherry's Inspirational

Technorati Tags: bad temper,father,hammer,nail,not lose,holes,fence,anger,scar,knife,wound,physical,jewel,smile,encourage,succeed,hearts,forgive,tongue,poison

Quiet Time

Silence, Please! (Psalm 46)

Be still, and know that I am God. —Psalm 46:10

Our world has become increasingly noisy. But according to a news report, science has found a way to achieve absolute silence: “Scientists have shown off the blueprint for an ‘acoustic cloak,’ which could make objects impervious to sound waves. The technology, outlined in the New Journal of Physics, could be used to build sound-proof homes, advanced concert halls, or stealth warships.”

When we seek out a quiet place for devotional time with God, we may wish we had an “acoustic cloak.” But even if we could silence all external sound, the internal noises of worry would still reverberate in our minds. We are told: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). But how do we calm our hearts in practical terms?

God understands our dilemma and has provided His own “acoustic cloak” to quiet our hearts. It involves exchanging our cares for His peace. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

As we place our concerns in God’s capable hands, we find a quietness that only He can provide. —Dennis Fisher

Be still and know that He is God
For pathways steep and rough;
Not what He brings but what He is
Will always be enough. —Anon.

God gives peace to those who are quiet before Him.

Source : Our Daily Bread.

Technorati Tags: silence,noisy,acoustic cloak,devotional time,reverberate,anxious,prayer,supplication,christ jesus,hearts,minds,dennis fisher,peace

Starting Young

Starting Young (Proverbs 2)

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, . . . you will understand the fear of the Lord. —Proverbs 2:1,5

Addie was a bit worried. Before we all sat down for Sunday dinner, someone had started eating. That’s when our 3-year-old granddaughter said, “We haven’t prayed yet.” She was concerned that we might forget to give thanks.

Her concern was a good sign. It showed that at her young age, Addie was beginning to form one of those good habits that parents teach their children as part of their instructions for life. This little routine, for instance, helps her see the value of prayer and thanksgiving, which can be a powerful resource for her in the years ahead.

Raising children in an age of hostility toward the Christian faith is not easy. Parents wonder how best to help their little ones learn to trust the Savior and live to please Him. Proverbs indicates that a key to directing children is through purposeful instruction by parents (Prov. 1:8) on such things as listening to wisdom (2:2), seeking discernment (2:3), understanding the fear of the Lord (2:5), recalling parents’ teaching (3:1), and gaining insight (4:1). These become habitual when parents give instruction and when children “retain” those words of teaching (4:1-4).

Got kids or grandkids? It’s never too early to begin instructing them in wise living. —Dave Branon

God gives us children for a time
To teach them how to love the Lord,
To train them in His righteous ways,
To follow and obey His Word. —Sper

The character of your children tomorrow depends on what you put into their hearts today.

Source : Our Daily Bread.

Technorati Tags: young,treasure,good sign,prayer,thanksgiving,instructions,wisdom,teaching,habitual,retain,christian,dave branon,sper,savior

Evangelism Power

Evangelism Power

John G. Paton, a missionary to the South Sea Islands, often lived in danger as he worked among the hostile aborigines who had never heard the gospel. At one time three witch doctors, claiming to have the power to cause death, publicly declared their intentions to kill Paton with their sorcery before the next Sunday. To carry out their threat, they said they needed some food he had partially eaten. Paton asked for three plums. He took a bite out of each and then gave them to the men who were plotting his death.

On Sunday, the missionary entered the village with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. The people looked at each other in amazement, thinking it couldn’t possibly be Paton. Their “sacred men” admitted that they had tried by all their incantations to kill him. When asked why they had failed, they replied that the missionary was a sacred man like themselves, but that his God was stronger than theirs.

From then on Paton’s influence grew, and soon he had the joy of leading some of the villagers to the Lord.

Source : unknown

Note from Jakarta Berdoa :
I found one source telling the same story. You may read the whole story at this website, but here is part of them.

The Text Speaks of the Protecting Presence

On one occasion when Paton was preaching in one of the villages, three sacred men stood up and declared that they could kill him by Nahak or sorcery, if only they could get possession of any piece of fruit or food of which he had eaten. Being thus challenged, he resolved, with his Lord's help, to strike a blow at the tremendous power for evil wielded by the sorcerers. After taking a bite out of three plums, he handed one of them to each of the sacred men. The natives were astounded at his action and momentarily expected to see him fall over dead, as the sorcerers proceeded with their incantations. With many gesticulations and mutterings, they rolled up in leaves the three plums, kindled a sacred fire and burned them. "Stir up your gods to help you," urged Paton. "I am not killed. In fact I am perfectly well."

At length the sorcerers said that they would call all the sacred men together and that they would kill Missi before the next Sabbath arrived. Paton told the people he would meet them at that same place the next Sabbath morning. Great excitement prevailed on the island. Every day messengers came from different quarters inquiring if the white man was ill. Sabbath morning he appeared before the people in sound health and said: "Now you must admit that your gods have no power over me and that I am protected by the true and living God. He is the only God who can hear and answer prayer. He loves all human beings, despite their great wickedness, and He sent His dear Son, Jesus, to save from sin all who will believe and follow Him." From that day two of the sacred men were very friendly but the others were his bitter enemies and incited the natives to new animosity.

Source : The Apostle of Christ to The Cannibals

Technorati Tags: john g. paton,aborigines,kill,plums,incantations,stronger,nahak,sorcery,sabbath,no power,jesus,answer pray,living god

True Love

True Love

Jack had been president of a large corporation, and when he got cancer, they ruthlessly dumped him. He went through his insurance, used his life savings, and had practically nothing left. I visited him with one of my deacons, who said, “Jack, you speak so openly about the brief life you have left. I wonder if you’ve prepared for your life after death?”

Jack stood up, livid with rage. “You *** Christians. All you ever think about is what’s going to happen to me after I die. If your God is so great, why doesn’t He do something about the real problems of life?” He went on to tell us he was leaving his wife penniless and his daughter without money for college. The he ordered us out.

Later my deacon insisted we go back. We did.

“Jack, I know I offended you,” he said. “I humbly apologize. But I want you to know I’ve been working since then. Your first problem is where your family will live after you die. A realtor in our church has agreed to sell your house and give your wife his commission.

“I guarantee you that, if you’ll permit us, some other men and I will make the house payments until it’s sold.

“Then, I’ve contacted the owner of an apartment house down the street. He’s offered your wife a three-bedroom apartment plus free utilities and an $850-a-month salary in return for her collecting rents and supervising plumbing and electrical repairs. The income from your house should pay for your daughter’s college. I just want you to know your family will be cared for.”

Jack cried like a baby. He died shortly thereafter, so wrapped in pain he never accepted Christ. But he experienced God’s love even while rejecting Him. And his widow, touched by the caring Christians, responded to the gospel message.

Even if people reject the gospel, we still must love them.

Van Campbell

Reported by Ralph Neighbour, pastor of Houston’s West Memorial Baptist Church in “Death and the Caring Community,” by Larry Richards and Paul Johnson

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Simple Action

Operation Mobilization

While serving with Operation Mobilization in India in 1967, I spent several months in a TB sanitarium with tuberculosis. After finally being admitted into the sanitarium, I tried to give tracts to the patients, doctors, and nurses, but no one would take them. You could tell that they weren’t really happy with me, a rich American (to them all Americans were rich), being in a government sanitarium. They didn’t know that serving with O.M., I was just as broke as they were!

I was quite discouraged with being sick, having everyone angry at me, not being able to witness because of the language barrier, and no one even bothering to take a tract or Gospel of John. The first few nights, I would wake around 2:00 a.m. coughing. One morning as I was going through my coughing spell, I noticed one of the older (and certainly sicker) patients across the aisle trying to get out of bed. He would sit up on the edge of the bed and try to stand, but because of weakness would fall back into bed. I really didn’t understand what was happening or what he was trying to do. He finally fell back into bed exhausted. I then heard him begin to cry softly.

The next morning I realized what the man was trying to do. He was simply trying to get up and walk to the bathroom! Because of his sickness and extreme weakness he was not able to do this, and being so ill he simply went to the toilet in the bed.

The next morning the stench in our ward was awful. Most of the other patients yelled insults at the man because of the smell. The nurses were extremely agitated and angry because they had to clean up the mess, and moved him roughly from side to side to take care of the problem. One of the nurses in her anger even slapped him. The man, terribly embarrassed, just curled up into a ball and wept.

The next night, also around 2:00 a.m., I again awoke coughing. I noticed the man across the aisle sit up to again try to make his way to the washroom. However, still being so weak, he fell back whimpering as the night before. I’m just like most of you. I don’t like bad smells. I didn’t want to become involved. I was sick myself but before I realized what had happened, not knowing why I did it, I got out of my bed and went over to the old man. He was still crying and did not hear me approach. As I reached down and touched his shoulder, his eyes opened with a fearful questioning look. I simply smiled, put my arm under his head and neck, and my other arm under his legs, and picked him up.

Even though I was sick and weak, I was certainly stronger than he was. He was extremely light because of his old age and advanced TB. I walked down the hall to the washroom, which was really just a smelly, filthy small room with a hole in the floor. I stood behind him with my arms under his arms, holding him so he could take care of himself. After he finished, I picked him up and carried him back to his bed. As I began to lay him down, with my head next to his, he kissed me on the cheek, smiled, and said something which I suppose was “thank you.”

It was amazing what happened the next morning. One of the other patients whom I didn’t know woke me around 4:00 with a steaming cup of delicious Indian tea. He then made motions with his hands (he knew no English) indicating he wanted a tract. As the sun came up, some of the other patients began to approach, motioning that they would also like one of the booklets I had tried to distribute before. Throughout the day people came to me, asking for the Gospel booklets. This included the nurses, the hospital interns, the doctors, until everybody in the hospital had a tract, booklet, or Gospel of John. Over the next few days, several indicated they trusted Christ as Savior as a result of reading the Good News!

What did it take to reach these people with the Good News of salvation in Christ? It certainly wasn’t health. It definitely wasn’t the ability to speak or to give an intellectually moving discourse. Health, and the ability to communicate sensitively to other cultures and peoples are all very important, but what did God use to open their hearts to the Gospel? I simply took an old man to the bathroom. Anyone could have done that! - Doug Nichols

Source : WORLD, March 12, 1994, p. 26.

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Evangelism

A Responsibility

Even though we may have a hard time sharing our faith and, yes, some people have a gift for sharing, the Bible clearly indicates that evangelism is for everyone; in fact, it is considered to be a fruit of the Spirit! Most of us associate the fruit of the Spirit with Galatians 5:22-23, where Paul describes fruit as godly character. But Paul indicates that fruit also involves leading unbelievers to Christ (Romans 1:13, 1 Corinthians 16:15, Colossians 1:6).

Considering that Jesus called us to produce lasting fruit (John 15:16), that we glorify God by being fruitful (John 15:8; Colossians 1:10), and that God despises unfruitfulness (Matthew 21:10,43), Christians cannot relegate the activity of evangelism to a group of “specialists.” Everyone is challenged to be prepared in and out of season to preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:2) as well as to give an answer to everyone who asks us for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15).

The responsibility for evangelism, then, is for all believers who are instructed to bear fruit and are challenged to be prepared. It is not an issue of personality type, nor should it be an issue of personal comfort. It is an issue of obedience.

Source : Jeffrey J. Schutz, “A World in Need: The Multiple Dimensions of Christian Relevance in Society,” Focal Point, summer 1997, p. 9

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Envy

Envy

Dwight L. Moody once told the fable of an eagle who was envious of another that could fly better than he could. One day the bird saw a sportsman with a bow and arrow and said to him, “I wish you would bring down that eagle up there.” The man said he would if he had some feathers for his arrow. So the jealous eagle pulled one out of his wing. The arrow was shot, but it didn’t quite reach the rival bird because he was flying too high. The first eagle pulled out another feather, then another—until he had lost so many that he himself couldn’t fly. The archer took advantage of the situation, turned around, and killed the helpless bird.

Moody made this application: if you are envious of others, the one you will hurt the most by your actions will be yourself.

Source : unknown

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Expect The Best

Expect the Best

You can have a brighter child, it all depends on your expectations. Before you’re tempted to say, “Not true,” let me tell you about Harvard social psychologist Robert Rosenthal’s classic study.

All the children in one San Francisco grade school were given a standard I.Q. test at the beginning of the school year. The teachers were told the test could predict which students could be expected to have a spurt of academic and intellectual functioning. The researchers then drew names out of a hat and told the teachers that these were the children who had displayed a high potential for improvement. Naturally, the teachers thought they had been selected because of their test performance and began treating these children as special children.

And the most amazing thing happened—the spurters, spurted! Overall, the “late blooming” kids averaged four more I.Q. points on the second test that the other group of students. However, the gains were most dramatic in the lowest grades. First graders whose teachers expected them to advance intellectually jumped 27.4 points, and the second grade spurters increased on the average 16.5 points more than their peers.

One little Latin-American child who had been classified as mentally retarded with an I.Q. of 61, scored 106 after his selection as a late bloomer.

Isn’t this impressive! It reminds me of what Eliza Doolittle says in My Fair Lady, “The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated.”

You see, how a child is treated has a lot to do with how that child sees herself and ultimately behaves. If a child is treated as a slow learner and you don’t expect much, the child shrugs her shoulders and says, “Why should I try, nobody thinks I can do it anyway!” And she gives up.

But if you look at that child as someone who has more potential than she will ever be able to develop, you will challenge that child, work with her through discouragement, and find ways to explain concepts so the child can understand. You won’t mind investing time in the child because you know your investment is going to pay off! And the result? It does!

So, what’s the message for parents? Just this: Every child benefits from someone who believes in him, and the younger the child, the more important it is to have high expectations. You may not have an Einstein, but your child has possibilities!

Expect the best and chances are, that’s exactly what you’ll get.

Source : Kay Kuzma, Family Times, Volume 1, Number 3, Fall, 1992, p. 1

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Reading The Word

Reading the Word

It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer. The truth is that in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying. The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.

Source : George Muller, in A Narrative of Some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Muller

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Which Way To Go?

Which Way to Go

Dr. Seamands tells of a Muslim who became a Christian in Africa. “Some of his friends asked him, ‘Why have you become a Christian?’

He answered, ‘Well, it’s like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions, and you didn’t know which way to go, and there at the fork in the road were two men, one dead and one alive—which one would you ask which way to go?’“

Source : Warren Webster, April, 1980, HIS, p. 13

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Terima Kasih Tuhan

Terima Kasih Tuhan
Dikirim oleh : Octa de queljoe

Aku bermimpi suatu hari aku pergi ke surga dan  seorang malaikat menemaniku dan menunjukkan keadaan di surga.

Kami berjalan  memasuki suatu ruang kerja penuh dengan para malaikat. Malaikat yang mengantarku berhenti di depan ruang kerja pertama dan berkata, " Ini adalah Seksi Penerimaan. Disini, semua permintaan yang ditujukan pada Allah  diterima".

Aku melihat-lihat sekeliling tempat ini dan aku  dapati tempat ini begitu sibuk dengan begitu banyak malaikat yang  memilah-milah seluruh permohonan yang tertulis pada kertas dari manusia di seluruh  dunia.

Kemudian aku dan malaikat-ku berjalan lagi melalui  koridor yang panjang lalu sampailah kami pada ruang kerja kedua.

Malaikat-ku berkata, "Ini adalah Seksi Pengepakan  dan Pengiriman. Disini kemuliaan dan rahmat yang diminta manusia diproses  dan dikirim ke  manusia-manusia yang masih hidup yang memintanya".

Aku perhatikan lagi betapa sibuknya ruang kerja itu.  Ada banyak malaikat yang bekerja begitu keras karena ada begitu  banyaknya permohonan yang dimintakan dan sedang dipaketkan untuk dikirim ke  bumi.

Kami melanjutkan perjalanan lagi hingga sampai pada  ujung terjauh koridor panjang tersebut dan berhenti pada sebuah pintu  ruang kerja yang sangat kecil. Yang sangat mengejutkan aku, hanya ada satu  malaikat yang duduk disana, hampir tidak melakukan apapun.

"Ini adalah Seksi Pernyataan Terima Kasih", kata Malaikatku pelan. Dia tampak malu.

"Bagaimana ini? Mengapa hampir tidak ada pekerjaan  disini?", tanyaku.

"Menyedihkan", Malaikat-ku menghela napas. " Setelah manusia menerima rahmat  yang mereka minta, sangat sedikit manusia yang mengirimkan pernyataan terima kasih".

"Bagaimana manusia menyatakan terima kasih atas rahmat Tuhan?", tanyaku.

"Sederhana sekali", jawab Malaikat. "Cukup berkata, ‘Terima kasih, Tuhan' ".

"Lalu, rahmat apa saja yang perlu kita syukuri",  tanyaku.

Malaikat-ku menjawab, "Jika engkau mempunyai makanan di lemari es, pakaian  yang menutup tubuhmu, atap di atas kepalamu dan tempat untuk tidur, maka  engkau lebih kaya dari 75% penduduk dunia ini.”

"Jika engkau memiliki uang di bank, di dompetmu, dan  uang-uang receh, maka engkau berada diantara 8% kesejahteraan dunia.”

"Dan jika engkau mendapatkan pesan ini di komputermu, engkau adalah bagian dari 1% di dunia yang memiliki kesempatan itu.

Juga.... "Jika engkau bangun pagi ini dengan lebih  banyak kesehatan daripada kesakitan ... engkau lebih dirahmati  daripada begitu banyak orang di dunia ini yang tidak dapat bertahan hidup hingga  hari ini.”

"Jika engkau tidak pernah mengalami ketakutan dalam  perang, kesepian dalam penjara, kesengsaraan penyiksaan, atau kelaparan  yang amat sangat .... Maka engkau lebih beruntung dari 700 juta orang di  dunia.”

"Jika engkau dapat menghadiri Gereja atau pertemuan  religius tanpa ada ketakutan akan penyerangan, penangkapan, penyiksaan,  atau kematian ... maka  engkau lebih dirahmati daripada 3 milyar orang di  dunia.

"Jika orangtuamu masih hidup dan masih berada dalam ikatan pernikahan ...
maka engkau termasuk orang yang sangat jarang.

"Jika engkau dapat menegakkan kepala dan tersenyum, maka engkau bukanlah seperti orang kebanyakan, engkau unik dibandingkan semua mereka yang berada dalam keraguan dan keputusasaan.

"Jika engkau dapat membaca pesan ini, maka engkau menerima rahmat ganda, yaitu bahwa seseorang yang mengirimkan ini padamu berpikir bahwa engkau orang yang sangat istimewa baginya, dan bahwa, engkau lebih dirahmati daripada lebih dari 2 juta orang di dunia yang bahkan tidak dapat membaca sama sekali.”

Technorati Tags: malaikat,sorga,seksi,penerimaan,permohonan,pengepakan,terima kasih,komputer,bangun,menderita,sakit,sehat,gereja,istimewa

Lemah Lembut

LEMAH LEMBUT (1 Tesalonika 2:1-8)
Dikirim oleh : Fransisca Adella Kipuw

Berbahagialah orang yang lemah lembut, karena mereka akan memiliki bumi (Matius 5:5)

Kalau kamu tidak bertobat, tinggalkan rumah ini!" seru Pendeta Joe pada Tim, anaknya, yang terlibat pergaulan bebas. Tim langsung minggat. Menyewa indekos. Suatu malam ayahnya ditelepon seseorang. "Anakmu ada di penjara. Ia terlibat perdagangan narkoba!" Segera sang ayah mencarinya di penjara, tetapi anaknya tidak ada di situ. Ternyata berita telepon itu salah sambung. Maka, Joe ber-usaha mencari tempat kos Tim. Menjelang subuh baru ketemu. Anaknya itu sedang tidur. Ia masuk ke kamarnya, berlutut dan memeluknya, lalu berkata: "Tim, kamu baik-baik saja, kan? Ayah sayang padamu!"  Ketika Tim melihat kelemahlembutan ayahnya, hatinya pun tersentuh. Ia pun pulang dan bertobat.

Kelemahlembutan kadang dipandang sebagai kelemahan. Orang lebih suka bersikap keras untuk menunjukkan kuasa dan wibawa. Padahal kelemahlembutan lebih ampuh! Ketika Paulus berkunjung ke Tesalonika, para lawannya telah menghasut jemaat. Paulus dituduh gagal menjalankan misinya, sehingga dianiaya di Filipi. Menghadapi hasutan itu, Paulus tidak bersikap keras dengan menunjukkan otoritasnya sebagai rasul. Ia tidak menghabisi para lawannya, atau membesarkan diri untuk merebut simpati. Namun, ia bersikap seperti ibu yang mengasuh anaknya. Lemah lembut. Berusaha mendengar dan memahami kebutuhan mereka. Belajar merendah dan melayani. Sikap itulah yang membuatnya disegani.

Apakah Anda dikenal sebagai orang yang kasar atau lemah lembut? Suka memotong pembicaraan atau membiarkan orang lain berbicara? Pemarah atau mudah mengalah? Jika Anda mau dihormati, terapkan kelemahlembutan --JTI

HATI YANG KERAS BISA DIKALAHKAN JIKA ANDA PUNYA SENJATA KELEMAHLEMBUTAN

Sumber : Renungan Harian

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