2 Chronicles 9:12
King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
Before Solomon deviate, he began to fulfill the dream God to bless the nations through Israel. Queen of Sheba to speak on behalf of the visitors from other countries when he said, "Blessed be the LORD thy God, which has pleased thee so, until he put you on his throne as king for the LORD your God!" (2 Chronicles 9:8).Centuries later, the Lord Jesus Christ said to his followers that what they received for free, they should give it too freely (Matthew 10:8). Solomon had asked for divine wisdom so that he can govern in a God's way. God freely gave him the wisdom that he freely share them with others - through words, music and writings.
Effective leadership and godly means to give what you have so that God can be glorified in everything you do. What has been freely you received, give freely - and so you bless others.
Bless others expressed through giving your life completely for others.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
How to heal broken relationship
Matthew 5:24: leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
How far is the journey that you must take to resolve problems with relatives or friends who do not want to talk anymore with you during the last 10 years? Would you like to travel as far as 480 kilometers, from Jakarta to Solo, with a riding lawn mower? Because do not drive and do not like ride the bus, Alvin Straight really do something like that. He travels using a lawn mower from Iowa to Wisconsin, which is roughly equidistant to both cities that I mentioned above. The story is presented in a film that aroused my curiosity, that The Straight Story. This is life real life drama about a 73-year-old man who decided to end the silence, stop the hatred and anger that has destroyed the wall separating the he and his brother.
I watch the story at home with some friends, and everyone including me no one spoke, all was silent from the beginning till the movie ended. I think about every time rift that would arise in the minds of the people who sit in the darkness. I also ponder the words of Jesus who asks us to make peace with people who have been away from us. He said, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and you think there will be something that your brother has against you, leave your gift before the altar and go make peace with your brother first, then return to offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23 - 24).
Currently, is there a relative, friend or brother in Christ who need to be reconciled by you? If so, why did you not immediately approached him?
A grudge against fellow will hinder your relationship with God.
How far is the journey that you must take to resolve problems with relatives or friends who do not want to talk anymore with you during the last 10 years? Would you like to travel as far as 480 kilometers, from Jakarta to Solo, with a riding lawn mower? Because do not drive and do not like ride the bus, Alvin Straight really do something like that. He travels using a lawn mower from Iowa to Wisconsin, which is roughly equidistant to both cities that I mentioned above. The story is presented in a film that aroused my curiosity, that The Straight Story. This is life real life drama about a 73-year-old man who decided to end the silence, stop the hatred and anger that has destroyed the wall separating the he and his brother.
I watch the story at home with some friends, and everyone including me no one spoke, all was silent from the beginning till the movie ended. I think about every time rift that would arise in the minds of the people who sit in the darkness. I also ponder the words of Jesus who asks us to make peace with people who have been away from us. He said, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and you think there will be something that your brother has against you, leave your gift before the altar and go make peace with your brother first, then return to offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23 - 24).
Currently, is there a relative, friend or brother in Christ who need to be reconciled by you? If so, why did you not immediately approached him?
A grudge against fellow will hinder your relationship with God.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
How to conquer worries
Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
When i was child, I was thrilled with the fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen. One is the famous tale "The Emperor's New Clothes" (The Emperor's New Clothes). At one point Hans Christian Andersen had experienced phobias that he will be buried alive. Therefore, he always carried in his pocket a memo that says that if someone found him in a state of unconsciousness, lest he be considered dead. Often he also left a note on the table beside his bed which read, "I just seemed to be dead." That anxiety is always endured until finally he died of cancer in 1875.
We may think it strange that such fears, but maybe we also have a fear that someday will look weird like that? Could it be that one day we 'll be amazed by our own anxiety in the past? Could we someday be amazed at our stupidity that does not want to pray and continue to feel anxious? Could we one day be the person to be pitied, which always disturbed by fear because they do not face life with common sense that God gave the universe?
Worries not change anything. Conversely, trust in God to change our whole outlook on life. Forgive us O God, because our tendency to worry. Help us to realize how stupid we were when worrying about things that actually would have you fulfill your appointment. Do not let us bury ourselves alive with fear.
When we entrust our troubles into the hands of God, He will give His peace in our hearts.