grateful attitude

I am still interested to reflect on the paradigm and how it affects either in small or great deal of one's behavior and actions. Now, it is something about how we receive and manage what is given to us.

Recently I am reading a very interesting book in Indonesian discussing about how to be a good steward especially something to do with managing the money and stuffs. He initiates a tricky talk on increasing income and getting some more. Yet when the discussion goes in the middle part of it, the author guides us the reader to realize that it is the paradigm first of all which needs to be evaluated. I am then very excited to know into what direction the author wants to lead us. He made a very good point that it must start with gratitude toward Him who cares what it really necessary for us. By then, we will have the courage to say enough, sparing good amount for others and not being caught with wanting for MUCH more attitude.

In continually giving thanks to the Lord for His love and presence, for what He allows us to have, for what He entrusts us with, we are glorifying Him and enjoying Him. In giving thanks unceasingly, we please His heart with sweet sound of praise, so that we won't be trapped with the worldly care, rather giving the whole works and heart unto Him who knows all.

Glory to You, O God!

transforming attitude

Life is very dynamic and I think it is wise to see that many times circumstances consists of challenges and opportunities. During the day both of them will actually appear, with one is more apparent at times. Yet, it is all provided by Our Supreme God out of his love and compassion to transform us and to make us in his own likeness. At times, I come to realize that one aspect of humility is moderation, for me personally this is true especially with something to do with emotions. One line which I really love from Jewish proverb which goes like, "This too, will pass." It is both sobering and comforting to remember this small phrase. Always be mindful and wise in responding any stimuli on our way. Anything over hurts and haste makes waste.

So, now back into emotions issue. I feel that it is somewhat powerful, because it just happens that way. We feel it and there we are swept by it: either joy, sadness, anger, anxiety, fear or anything. Yet, I find that even holy people and the saints sometimes have to face such strong emotions which let us know that they are humans like us! But what makes difference is that, they make friends with this language of the soul. The psalmists and many saints make use their feelings and genuine expression before the Lord and thus their very breath, anguish, song of joy and their very actions be a doxology to God. What I am trying to say here is that we can embrace our emotions and feelings, make friends with them to come the Lord in the journey of our salvation.

Thus, may those feelings not be distractions but on the contrary, be our intimate and personal alarm for us to seek the Lord and constantly be attentive to Him. And then, in everything, give thanks to the Lord!

live for God

The crown of meaning and beauty is You, O my Joy!
my Lord and Savior
how beautiful it is to pause and remember How You love me beyond me
that Your heart rejoices upon everything good that You set on me
You gave that trust, that love, that joy
so pure as the glimmering stream of fountain
'Cling on me! Feed on me. I am Good Shepherd' You call gently
Your embrace warms my soul, the sweetest of all
Everything is on Your mighty hands O Lord
Everything good is from You

Lord, it is trembling for me to draw so close to You
because Your beauty is so splendorous
You are the source of all
of all beauty and joy
Holy are You O God!

Lord, have mercy on Your little servant which You have created from dust
and that You have given life and gift of being
I am sinful, full of disgrace
but Your mercy I plea and Your love I trust... that You love me beyond me
may my life be totally for You and for Your Joy O Lord, nothing else
because I find nothing outside You
I can do nothing if not from Your mercy
There's no meaning but in Your bountiful blossom

Lead me, O Lord...
Save me, I am Yours
may I live for You and You alone, O Lord
in loving whom You love, the mankind and my neighbors
in rejoicing in Your joy
in weeping and caring for those who are in need
in taking care and being mindful of Your creation

in each step
in each breath
I am Yours

Bless, O Lord! Ameyn!

.. the God who loves me

My Strength, I play for you,
my citadel is God himself,
the God who loves me
(Psalm 60:17)

This verse is taken from one of the Psalms of 11th day. How beautiful and deep into the heart this prayer is, when St. David cried to the Lord with his whole being, ever trusting and contrite while spies were sent by king Saul to have him killed . He closed his prayer with a very beautiful praise out of his conviction, "the God who loves me."

May this become our prayer each time, especially in the world who hate us because we are Christ's. We walk with joy that cannot be shaken and courage from above. Let our thanks giving be overflowing, and we grow in awe before Him day after day, and even humbly we share this great love that we receive to others who are sent to us. Holy is the Lord!

My Strength, I play for you,
my citadel is God himself,
the God who loves me
(Psalm 60:17)

Each day....

The following passage I quoted from a very brilliant book from Archbishop Anthony Bloom "Beginning to Pray". It is very inspiring and touching me personally, so I would like to share it with you.

This day is blessed by God, and it is God's own and let us go into it. You walk in this day as God's own messenger; whomever you meet, you meet in God's own way. You are there to be the presence of the Lord God, the presence of Christ, presence of the Spirit, the presence of the Gospel -- This is your function in this particular day. God has never said that if you walk into a situation in His own Name, He will be crucified and you will be the risen one. You must be prepared to walk into situations, one after the other, in God's Name, to walk as the Son of God has done: in humiliation and humility, in truth and ready to be persecuted and so forth. Usually what we expect when we fulfill God's commandments is to see a marvelous result at once -- we read of that at times in the life of the saints. When, for instance when someone hits on one cheek, we turn the other one, although we don't expect to be hit at all, but we expect to see the other people say " What-- such a humility" -- you get your rewards and he gets the salvation of his soul. It does not work that way. You must pay the cost and very often you get hit hard. What matters is that you are prepared for that. As to the day, if you accept that today was blessed of God, chosen by God with His own hand, then every person you meet is a gift of God, every circumstance you will meet is a gift of God, whether it is bitter or sweet, whether you like or dislike it. It is God's own gift to you and if you take it that way, then you can face any situation. But then you must face it with the readiness that anything may happen, whether you enjoy it or not, and if you walk in the name of the Lord through a day which has come fresh and anew out of His own Hands and has been blessed for you to live with it, then you can make prayer and life really like two sides of one coin. You act and pray in one breath as it were, because all situations that follow one another require God's blessing.

Archbishop Anthony Bloom, Beginning to Pray, pp. 76-77.

A Christian Teacher's prayer

In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Father in heaven, You love me and have taught me to love. Help me to share Your love with my students, their families and those who minister with me.

I need Your help, for without it I would have failed miserably long ago.

By Your Spirit empower me to teach Your children. This is a high calling filled with great responsibility.

Take my words, my actions, and my will and make them yours. May they always reflect Your joy and love.

I love Your Words. It gives me comfort and direction.

More than that, it shows me Your great love for me. It shows me Your Son, my Savior. It shows me how You love me in spite of my inadequacies and failures. Move me to read, study and meditate on Your Words. I need it. I love to teach it. I dedicate my life and my teaching to You.

Be with me every day, both in and out of my classroom.

I praise and thank You for giving me my abilities and my ministry as a teacher.

Use me as an instrument of Your will.

I rely on Your promise to stay beside me. Amen

*A beautiful prayer shared to me (us) in my first day of teachers training program at SDH (Sekolah Dian Harapan) Lippo Village, Jakarta.

there is place...

to sit down and be calm

in the shadow of the clouds

or among the tiny grass

which waves harmonically by the sweep of the wind

There the coconut trees spread their arms

facing up to the sky

when the falcon steps on its youngest

to look down into the tiny stream

all shining

all glistening

by the sunshine

thousands rays dispersing make all colourful

make all singing