This is a marathon
Not a sprint
This is a long time competition that requires endurance
Not speed
Consistency
Perseverance
Determination
Now I more and more understand
What St. Paul meant by saying "“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7)
It means that he has finished a long weary race, a competition.
This is the Bible verse we put (I chose) on Mom's gravestone [peace be with upon her]. Why? Because I think, she has finished her race on Earth as well. She endured all the years of agony, being betrayed, being faithful to the unfaithful spouse, being dedicated to her children, the congregation and her students and the poor and the needy ones. She did it. She endured life. She was able to did it all, because she believed in Jesus. Until her last breath, she mentioned Jesus' name. What a beautiful thing to know that she held onto that name, that very Name, name upon all names.
Now I remember her, and recall, that I too must follow her example. Living in faith
ODB today (13-04-2017, Good Friday eve)
"Jesus faced the agony of the garden without the comfort of a hand to hold. But because He bore that pain, we can be confident that God will never leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). Jesus suffered so that we will never have to experience separation from the love of God (Rom. 8:39). His companionship makes anything we endure more bearable."
“Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Just some rough ideas about life and the small daily crumbs..
Friday, April 14, 2017
Monday, April 3, 2017
Foolishness, to me is...
What is foolishness?
Foolishness is the inability to distinguish an original, pure thing from the fake one.
Foolishness is knowing that you when you have the opportunity to get only the second, third, fourth quality of a thing, and still think it is OK to sacrifice the purest, most genuine and original one with the second, third or even fourth quality stuff.
Foolishness is to believe that good thing comes fast and as we want, when we want it
Foolishness is to think that poor quality goods will last, when you know from the beginning that it would not last a second or a minute..and you still go for it, expecting some different results (that junk will turn into gold overnight, just because you want it to turn into valuables).
Foolishness is doing same thing over and over, and expect for different results (this should be quoted from somewhere but I'll do that later).
Foolishness is the inability to distinguish an original, pure thing from the fake one.
Foolishness is knowing that you when you have the opportunity to get only the second, third, fourth quality of a thing, and still think it is OK to sacrifice the purest, most genuine and original one with the second, third or even fourth quality stuff.
Foolishness is to believe that good thing comes fast and as we want, when we want it
Foolishness is to think that poor quality goods will last, when you know from the beginning that it would not last a second or a minute..and you still go for it, expecting some different results (that junk will turn into gold overnight, just because you want it to turn into valuables).
Foolishness is doing same thing over and over, and expect for different results (this should be quoted from somewhere but I'll do that later).
Rock of Ages, let me hide myself in Thee
1
| Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power. | ||||||||
2
| Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All could never sin erase, Thou must save, and save by grace. | ||||||||
3
| Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace: Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die. | ||||||||
4
| While I draw this fleeting breath, When mine eyes shall close in death, When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. O Love that wilt not let me go
|
Now this..2nd day
Another heartbreak day
Feels like you’re miles away
Don’t even need no shade
When your sun don’t shine, shine
Feels like you’re miles away
Don’t even need no shade
When your sun don’t shine, shine
Too many passin’ dreams
Roll by like limousines
It’s hard to keep believin’
When they pass you by and by
Roll by like limousines
It’s hard to keep believin’
When they pass you by and by
I know your heart been broke again
I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet
I know you’re feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so
I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet
I know you’re feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet
Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet
Echoin’ inside your head
Are the words that your sweet momma said
“Shoot for the moon, my dear”
So you took aim out of this atmosphere
Between high…
Are the words that your sweet momma said
“Shoot for the moon, my dear”
So you took aim out of this atmosphere
Between high…
He is just victorious
The Wonderful Cross
When I survey the wondrous CrossOn which the Prince of Glory diedMy richest gain, I count but lossAnd pour contempt on all my prideSee from His head, His hands, His feetSorrow and love flow mingled downDid ever such love and sorrow meet?Or thorns compose, so rich a crownOh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful CrossBids me come and die and find that I may truly liveOh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful CrossAll who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your nameWere the whole realm of nature mineThat were an offering far too smallLove so amazing, so divineDemands my soul, my life, my allOh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful CrossBids me come and die and find that I may truly liveOh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful CrossAll…Today, Sunday, 2 April 2017
Minggu Pra-Paskah ke-5
I have been so lost, so far away from Him
I had no idea, no feelings about Pessach, Resurrection, Lent, Easter, whatever
The classical Judeo-Christianity holy days and rituals in Spring time
I thought I will deliberate miss these moments of reflecting faith this year
2017, the year I started my life here
Because everyone here don't care anyway, of God, of Divine intervention
of those ancient myths, they say, or flying spaghetti monster, whatever
Then today, in the morning
That devil called
I felt so wild, so bad, so rebellious, almost liberated, from Him, from His command, from his Words.
I followed the devil
I followed the weak flesh of mine
and tainted this Domingo day, this memorial of the VoskreseniyeAnd there, when some odds drive led me to the church at 4.55 pm
I followed.
At that very conjunction of D***n and Sy**** Rd.
When my feet stepped into the pavement for pedestrian
After getting off the tram
I think.. when the battle started to be swinging to His side
I stopped and thought..to follow T* to the left - and didn't go to church
Or to step to the right and go to church, and accepted the fact that I'm a sinner
Which perhaps can reconcile my sins with the Words
So I took the right step, which proved to be the RIGHT STEP
I thought it was a luck of me, a lottery of coincident
But I was wrong, it was not me
It was Him, always, all the time
I think hard now.... that I imagine the process behind the screen:
Screwtape and Wormwood on the training in Inferno
And their enemy, their very Enemy (in capital)
Were trying to look at me and bet
Or did some power struggle
To get me, by my fall and wrecked or by my standing up
And there
In that old ancient red brick church
Cold and dampened in this early autumn
Again
The battle is won by Him
Something was sent
I think from heaven, while I was there in church
So when I got home
All the messages I knew I would receive
To convince me to leave the Devil
Are received, right in front of my face
That was when I know
That moment
That Screwtape and Wormwood, had been defeated
That this is a loss for them
'Cause He wins once more from them
He is victorious and He shows me that
BLUNTLY
All evidence and proofs are provided
Without me asking
Right on the table
By some stupid mistakes of others
That put me in the corner
That I can run, but I can't hide from Him
Blessed be Thy name o Lord
Nothing compares to you
Like ancient Israel in the Bible
Who knew that God has helped them through thin and thick
But still looked for other idols
And made Him jealous and angry
I am like them
Not grateful, but betrayed Him
With my repeated sins
Then I got into this song, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Then I wept on these lines when they are sang:Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
Then I remember Screwtape and Wormwood
Poor guys
I'm sorry
It is your loss
I'm His, not yours
And then this from ODB today, which title is, ODDLY: Behind the Scenes
https://odb.org/2017/04/02/behind-the-scenes-5/
The Old Testament prophet Daniel also anxiously awaited a reply. After receiving a frightening vision of great war, Daniel fasted and sought God through humble prayer (10:3, 12). For three weeks, he received no reply (vv. 2, 13). Finally, an angel arrived and assured Daniel his prayers had been heard “since the first day.” In the meantime, the angel had been battling on behalf of those prayers. Though Daniel didn’t know it at first, God was at work during each of the twenty-one days that elapsed between his first prayer and the angel’s coming.
I can say no more. Speecheless. How great Thou art!
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