God’s Will or My Will?

“I want to travel all over the world and become a full time missionary!”

Yes, that’s my dream when I was young. I love traveling. I love serving God in a mission field. I also met my husband in a mission trip. Everything seems goes in line with my dream.

Now I’m 37, I become a stay at home mom and homeschool mom of 3 boys. Despite all the challenges, I love being a mom. But honestly sometimes there is a question in my heart, “Why am I here, Lord? Why my life now is so different?”

Changing nappies, nursing and feeding the kids, juggling with so many house chores, dealing with kids tantrums or fights, doing the same things and same activities day after day.. I thought I’d be like those missionaries who travel to so many places and serve many people.. Why, Lord? Why?

God finally answered my question in a very unique way. He spoke to me through someone’s posting in social media. This lady also has the same experience and she used to ask God the same questions. Through her posting, God really spoke to me:

“Is it your will or My will?”

“Is it your dream or My dream?”

Wow! That really made me thinking and also crying. I didn’t realise that this is what God wants me to do, this is His dream and His calling for my life: to do His mission work in my home. He wants me to follow His will and His plan, not mine. He wants me to be faithful in this ministry called motherhood. He wants me to learn to be faithful in small things every single day and to do all the unseen things with all my heart. He wants me to do everything as doing it for the Lord!

No matter where we are right now, whether we are in a mission field or in a working place or even at home, we can still serve God! Don’t be discouraged and disappointed when we don’t get the life that we expected.. but let’s follow God’s will, God’s plan and God’s dream for us, and live it to the fullest!

Now I’m grateful and thankful for God’s special calling for my life, to be a wife to an amazing husband and also to be a mother to my 3 wonderful boys. Now I believe that God’s will is always better than my will.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬

What's The Most Important?

Beberapa waktu yang lalu (waktu lagi saat teduh kalo ga salah), aku dan suami sempet diskusi tentang earthquake yang terjadi di Nepal plus sambil ngebayangin gimana ya kalo misalnya kita yang ada di posisi mereka..

Dalam sekejap semua yang kita punya hilang.. rumah, uang, baju, sepatu, pokoknya semua harta benda yang selama ini kita udah susah payah beli and kumpulin tiba-tiba hilang lenyap dalam sekejap.. Pernah ga ngebayangin kayak gitu? That must be really hard.. but aku yakin dalam situasi kayak gitu kita jadi mengerti what is actually the most important things in life.. Orang-orang yang lagi dalam bencana, ga mungkin mikirin baju or sepatu yang baru mereka beli, or mikirin karir mereka, popularitas dll. Kalo menurut aku ada 2 hal paling penting yang pasti langsung muncul saat itu..

***

1. KESELAMATAN. Bukan cuma keselamatan jasmani, tapi juga keselamatan rohani kita. Sama seperti orang-orang yang ada di dalam pesawat terbang. Aku inget banget di tahun 2012, aku pernah naik pesawat (sendirian) dari Jakarta ke Bangkok. And itu penerbangan paling ngeri yang pernah aku alamin so far.. di tengah-tengah perjalanan, pesawatnya sempet goyang dan kita bisa berasa kalo itu pesawat kayak lagi going down, mau jatuh ke bawah. Orang-orang udah pada panik, ada yang sampe nangis, jantung udah pada deg-degan and semuanya langsung pada berdoa.. Aku bisa denger orang di belakang aku ada yang langsung teriak-teriak, "Jesus!!" And buat aku pribadi, aku juga jadi bisa ngerasain kalo di saat itu bener-bener ga ada hal lain yg lebih penting dari keselamatan. Semua orang juga pasti langsung jadi mikir, apa yang bakal terjadi nanti kalo mereka ga selamat. Aku waktu itu juga doa, but doanya gini.. "Lord, is it time for me to see You face to face?" But ternyata belom waktunya, hehe.. Tuhan belom selesai beurusan sama hidup aku :p But di saat itu Tuhan cuma ingetin kalo ga ada hal lain yang lebih penting dari keselamatan (hidup kekal) yang kita peroleh di dalam Kristus. Hubungan kita dengan Kristus itulah yang terpenting!

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)

2. PEOPLE. Hal kedua selain keselamatan, kita pasti akan langsung mikirin orang-orang yang penting dalam hidup kita. Kita akan berusaha sebisa mungkin untuk menolong mereka supaya bisa selamat dari bencana. Suami-istri yang lagi berantem, mungkin bisa langsung jadi baikan and maaf-maafan kali ya, haha.. And pasti ada orang-orang yang nyesel juga karena selama ini mereka terlalu sibuk and gak spend more time with their spouse or their family. Aku bilang ke DM, kalo sampe kita ada di posisi orang-orang yang ngalamin earthquake, di saat kita udah ga punya apa-apa lagi.. "one thing that I want is I want to be with you." :)

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:39)

#Selfie Generation

A selfie is a self-photograph, a style of portraiture that became popular in the 2000s. Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Twitter and MySpace. They are usually flattering and made to appear casual. -Wikipedia

***

When I grew up as a kid and as a teenager, I never heard the word #selfie before. I even didn't have a mobile phone.. until I was in the senior high school.. but I never used it, I just left it at home because I didn't need it at all and not many people had it. At that time we only used mobile phone to call someone (no SMS, no camera, no social media, no applications, and no touch screen of course, we can touch but nothing happen, haha..) And I still remember when the first time I received an SMS from the provider, I was so surprised.. "Wow, what is this??" :p

I also remember at that time, it was so hard to get an internet connection. I need to go to a place called "warnet" (warung internet) and I need to pay to use their computers to check my email, or sometimes I did chatting with mIRC.. It was so exciting because we were able to use the internet only once in a while.. Hmm.. I'm kinda miss those old times.. LOL.

But now.. internet and social media is everywhere! Mobile phones has replaced so many things in our lives (cameras, books, letters, radios, video games, even Bibles) so everywhere we go, we won't forget to bring our mobile phones. (But honestly, until now I still love and prefer to read my Bible book than the one in my phone :p) Technology is good.. but we also need to be careful with it..

#Selfie is one of the most popular things these days. We live in a #selfie generation. There is nothing wrong with #selfie, but we need to be wise. We have to know that there are things that we need to keep it just for ourself and we don't need to share it on the social media. We have to check our heart and our motivation, "Do I need to post and share this to others?" "Do I only want to impress people, or do I want to impact people through this posting?" "Do I only want to prove myself in front of public?"

Being constantly connected via technology is exhausting and unhealthy. I’m a recovering iPhone addict, but I’m learning that when I can shut down my phone and computer for extended periods of time, I’m more present in the moment and have more focus. When you do use social media, use it as a way to encourage people; not a way to try and impress people. -Dave Willis

I told my husband few days ago that I really really want to be careful with what I post on social media. I don't want to post something just for my own advantage, but I want to bless others and I want to impact people's lives. There are some pictures and moments that I will keep just for myself, or just between me and my husband (for example, we use "Between" application just for both of us).

I know it must be hard to stop posting something that we like to post; something that can make us look good, make people think positive about us, or maybe can make other people jealous :p But let's see what kind of example that Christ has done for us:

Philippians 2:3-8, MSG

Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

Christ lived a #selfless life, and he also died #selfless. Can you see the difference?

Let's become a #selfless generation.. and not a #selfie or #selfish generation.. :)

***

I want to live to impact, not to impress..

I want to live to influence and inspire, not to intimidate..

Because..

My life is not about ME..

It is about GOD..

Run Your Own Race

Last weekend I joined 2 days women conference that hosted by Enjoy Church called Adore Conference. I really had a great time there and I could feel that God recharged my spirit. There were 5 great sessions in that conference that led by Georgie Baxter, Lisa Bevere and Lisa Kai.

I can't share to you all what I have learned from those 5 sessions (I've learned a lot!) But I remember in one of the sessions, Ps. Lisa Kai talked about "Run Your Own Race". What does it mean?

***

We are as a human (especially as a woman), we are tend to compare ourselves to others. We are tend to compare our look, our personality, our status, our talent and even our ministry to others. "Oh.. why I can't be like that woman.." "Why I'm not as beautiful as her.." "Why I can't preach or sing like she does.." and so on.. We want to be in other people's race and we forget that actually God has given us our own race!

You are unique.. yes.. you are different than others.. and God has set a special plan for your life.. Run your race and you can encourage others to run their race as well.. Don't be jealous and don't compete with others.. Find out what God wants personally from your life and do it with your best!

***

I know it was a very simple message, but without realizing we are struggling with it in our everyday life. We live in a "social media" generation and sometimes it can be like a competition.. how many followers do you have, how many likes and thumbs-up do you get, how many friends do you have on facebook.. and actually through those things, we keep following others and we want to be like others or more than them. Are you agree with me? I don't blame social media, haha.. Honestly, there were times when I almost want to deactivate all of my social media.. But I decided not to do that, why? Because I know God still want me to use it to glorify His name and to encourage others to run their own race :)

There is only one Marcella Flaorenzia in this whole world, I want to run my race and finish it well. There is only one YOU in this whole world. Run your own race and finish it well. For His glory.

Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. -Galatians 6:4-5, MSG

When Marriage is Hard

Today is my parent's 33rd wedding anniversary, and I'm so grateful to see the journey of their marriage. It wasn't an easy one.. a lot of challenges, a lot of fights, a lot of tears.. but at the end I can see that their relationship grow stronger and they keep loving each other until now :)

I still remember when I was a child, when my parent had a big fight and they almost wanted to give up on their marriage (surprisingly I still can remember that moment!) but thank God they decided not to give up and I can see how God restored their marriage beautifully.. Can you imagine what would happen to me and my family if they decided to give up?

Marriage is hard.. yes, I agree with it. Even the Bible says that those who marry will face many troubles in this life (1Corinthians 7:28b). It takes a lot of hard work and efforts. It is not going to be easy, but it is all worth it :)

The first year of marriage between me and my husband was also very challenging, even until now. We still face a lot of trials, challenges, differences (and I think it is something that will never end until we die, haha..) but we can always choose how do we want to respond. Do we want to give up or do we want to let God shape us more through our spouse?

When I was still single, I remember someone said to me (or maybe in one of the sermons about marriage) that when we decided to get married with someone, we have to delete the word "DIVORCE" from our dictionary. So when we fight or when we argue with our spouse, or maybe when you feel that you don't love your spouse anymore.. the word "DIVORCE" would never be an option :) Instead, we will choose to fight for our marriage and make things right with our spouse..

But sadly, the percentage of divorce in the world these days is getting higher! I read one of the articles from theriches.com about World's 10 Most Divorced Nations, and here is the percentage in 2014:

10. USA: 53%

9. France: 55%

8. Cuba: 56%

7. Estonia: 58%

6. Luxembourg: 60%

5. Spain: 61%

4. Czech Republic: 66%

3. Hungary: 67%

2. Portugal: 68%

1. Belgium: 71%

This is something that we really need to pray for.. And if we are talking about world transformation, I think this is one of the areas that need to be transformed. My heart is broken when I see this percentage and I really pray so this percentage will go lower and lower in the following years.. Let's pray for every marriage who has been struggling with this, and also for their children, for our next generation.

When marriage is hard, turn to prayer. Pray for your spouse and ask help from God to enable you to love and forgive your spouse. It is hard, but nothing too hard for our God. He is able to restore your marriage and bring back all the love and joy into your marriage. Don't give up, and see greater things that God has prepared for both of you in the future! I'm praying for you right now.. xoxo

Perfectionism

Are you a perfectionist? Are you a type of person who always want everything to be perfect?

Yes, I am one of them... I am a type of person who always want my house to be clean (not only clean, but very very clean) and organized. I am a type of person who always double check everything that I write, everything that I read and everything that I do (my husband knows that I will always double check our front doors and garage to make sure they are locked every night, or even when I leave the house :p) I am a type of person who always have an agenda, goals and to-do-list everyday.

I know, there are few good things about being perfectionist.. but we really have to be careful with this perfectionism.

Perfectionists tend to be harsh critics of themselves when they fail to meet their standards. When perfectionists do not reach their goals, they often fall into depression. -Wikipedia

Sometimes I really need to remind myself that it's okay not to be perfect. And actually the truth is, none of us can be perfect.. nobody is perfect.. and there is no perfect life or a perfect job. The One who is perfect is only God himself.

Few days ago, my husband asked me to listen to this program that he listened on a radio. He knows that at that time I was really struggled with my perfectionism. And what they discussed on the radio, it is truly me! I have let my life to be driven by my perfectionism and it makes me stress. Trying to be perfect in everything is a very tiring job.

Focus on the Family – 20/05/15: Ending the Pursuit of the Perfect Life – Part I

Focus on the Family – 21/05/15: Ending the Pursuit of the Perfect Life – Part II

Through this radio program, God reminds me that actually He never expect me to be perfect (because He knows that I can't and I would never be..) but He wants me to depend on Him and surrender my life to Him. My husband also said to me that he never expect me to be a perfect wife.. "I want you to be a woman that God created you to be," that's what he said. So why do I need to push myself so hard to be perfect?

These days, it is very easy for us to be intimidated by others. For example, through social media.. people will always post something nice about themselves, about their family, their marriage, their house, what they have.. and everything looks perfect! We will see that they have a perfect life and we wish that we could have that too.. But don't be intimidated by that.. remember that there is no perfect life, and everyone also has gone through a hard times and hard seasons in their life.

Now look at yourself, be grateful with your life, with all that you have and all that you have done. You don't need to be perfect and try to impress people. You are good enough. And God loves you just as who you are..

God made my life complete

when I placed all the pieces before him.

- Psalm 18:20, MSG

So... Being driven by perfectionism or being led by God? It is your choice.. :)

Diamond In The Rough

This morning I had a devotion from "Wife After God" book by Jennifer Smith. And I wanna share to you a bit, what she said in the chapter that I read about Diamond In The Rough...

***

Diamonds have always been treasured as highly sought after gemstones throughout human history. They are resilient, strong, and beautiful. Diamonds are formed beneath the weight of the world. Despite the harsh conditions required to form a diamond, its name is derived from an ancient Greek word meaning unbreakable.

You are like a diamond; however, your worth is far greater! As you journey through life you will endure harsh conditions. There are so many different pressures that you may face daily. Pressures to be better, to be a superwoman, a wife that manages perfectly or a mom who does it all. Ridicule, rules, standards, and unrealistic expectations: chains wrapped around your heart, pushing against your soul, forcing you to conform to the world.

However, that is not the message found in the love story of Christ! Rather, His love says you are worth more and with Him you are unbreakable!

Like a diamond endures through time resulting in an exqusite sought after gem, you can endure every season and circumstance allowing each one to refine you, resulting in an exquisite God-fearing woman who is worthy, far more than diamonds, you are worthy! You are resilient, you are strong, you are beautiful!

***

Dear Lord,

There are so many pressures in my life. I feel heavy burdens at times and I also feel insecure that I don't always measure up to people's standards. I pray that you remind me daily to find hope in you, to rely on you and to trust what you say about me. Your opinion is truly the only one that matters!

Thank you for being my source of strength to persevere, my everything. May you continue to transform me into the woman you created me to be. Help me to see myself as beautiful. May your Holy Spirit guide me through every season, every circumstance, every pressure and every moment of intensity.

I pray that I can be a wife who endures for the sake of her marriage. Please bless my husband and release him of the burdens of this world. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

The pressure of this world cannot destroy me if I place my hope in God.

Honeymoon

Sebelum married: "Nanti kalian honeymoon ke mana?"

Sesudah married: "Kalian abis honeymoon dari mana?"

Setelah lama married: "Dulu kalian honeymoon di mana?"

Jadi pertama intinya, honeymoon itu identik sama tempat. Kalo punya budget gede, ada yang bisa honeymoon ke luar negeri or ke negara-negara yang terkenal romantis di Eropa. Kalo budget gak gede-gede amat, bisa ke luar kota (ke Bali or Lombok misalnya). But gimana kalo budgetnya bener-bener terbatas? Hmm..

Kedua, honeymoon itu identik sama newly wed, alias orang-orang yang baru abis married. Pasangan yang mau menikah juga biasanya excited mikirin rencana untuk honeymoon. But gimana dengan pasangan-pasangan yang udah lama menikah? Apa mereka masih bisa honeymoon? Hmm..

Jadi sebenernya, apa sih honeymoon itu?

A honeymoon is the traditional holiday taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage in intimacy and seclusion. This is the period when newly wed couples take a break to share some private and intimate moments that helps establish love in their relationship. This privacy in turn is believed to ease the comfort zone towards a physical relationship, which is one of the primary means of bonding during the initial days of marriage. -Wikipedia

So first, honeymoon is a getaway and it is not about the place. Jadi gak perlu sedih kalo kalian misalnya nanti gak bisa honeymoon ke Eropa or ke Korea (hehe..) apalagi kalo budget memang terbatas, we need to be wise as well :) Beberapa tahun yang lalu ada satu pasangan yang aku kenal di Indonesia, dan sebelum menikah, mereka bilang bahwa mereka berencana untuk honeymoon di Puncak. Jarang-jarang kan denger orang mau honeymoon di sana, hehe.. But I said, "Wow, that's great!" Karena mo honeymoon di mana aja sebenernya gak jadi masalah, yang penting bisa punya waktu berdua :)

Aku sama DM dulu juga budgetnya terbatas, kita gak pergi jauh-jauh, cuma nginep 2 malem di B&B di daerah mountain (DM cuma nyetir sekitar 30 menit dari rumah) but we had a great time :) Intinya, kita bisa punya quality time and intimate moment berdua without any distraction.. And ini juga bisa berlaku sewaktu kita kembali ke dunia nyata, hehe..

Kedua, buat aku, honeymoon gak cuma berlaku buat newly wed, tapi setelah kita udah menikah lama atau udah punya anak pun, quality time and intimacy with our spouse harus selalu jadi prioritas. Make sure setiap hari kita bisa punya waktu yang berkualitas dengan suami (mungkin after anak-anak udah pada bobo) or set time to have a special date (nonton, jalan-jalan or dinner berdua). Take a break, and enjoy your marriage relationship again.. again.. and again :)

Also enjoy physical (sexual) relationship yang udah Tuhan kasih sebagai hadiah pernikahan. Jangan biarin Iblis merebut hal ini dari kita. Setelah menikah, it is the BEST time for you to enjoy the physical (sexual) relationship with your spouse! (Bukan sebelum menikah lho ya..) Ini ada satu artikel bagus buat para married couples yang mau honeymoon lagi, hehe.. Click here:

http://fiercemarriage.com/7-reasons-getting-away-good-marriage

And you know what, pernikahan itu sebenernya sama seperti hubungan pribadi kita dengan Tuhan. Di tengah-tengah semua kesibukan kita, we need honeymoon everyday with God. Take a break and spend quality time with Him. Building an intimate relationship with Him. Gak peduli tempatnya di mana, hehe.. And gak cuma berlaku buat orang-orang yang baru bertobat or lahir baru. Kita yang udah ikut Tuhan berpuluh-puluh tahun juga bisa tetep terus mengalami yang namanya "honeymoon everyday" :)

"Lord I pray for every marriage right now, so that You will strengthen their relationship as a husband and wife. Let your love flow into their hearts and let them experience 'honeymoon' again, everyday in their marriage. I also pray for everyone who is reading this post right now, so that they will have an intimate relationship with You as well. Let them experience your love everyday in their lives. In Jesus name. Amen."

See, I am doing a new thing!

How long have you been a Christian?

I've been a follower of Jesus for almost 17 years and I've experienced so many things in my life. I still remember the time when I received Him in my heart and I got baptized. I still remember the time when I got so excited about Him and couldn't stop reading my Bible everyday. I still remember the time when He started to use me in a ministry and when He put His compassion in my heart for the lost. I still remember the time when He did a breakthrough and reconciliation in my family. I still remember the time when He healed my sickness. I still remember the time when He provided all my needs in miraculous way. I still remember the time when we prayed for the sick people and they were healed, or when we asked God for the rain in Cambodia and suddenly heavy rain poured down. I still remember the time when all God's works really made me amazed...

But the question is... how about NOW? After 17 years (or maybe more), are you still excited about God? Are you still experience Him in your life? Are you still expecting new things from Him? When was the last time you experience His miracle? Or when was the last time something happened in your life and you said "WOW... this must be God!"?

Pastor Yudah started his sermon in our church yesterday, by telling us a story about 2 Cambodian boys from the village that went together with them to Phnom Penh city in 2006. These 2 boys had never been to the city before. So, when they arrived in Phnom Penh for the first time, can you imagine how was their reaction? "WOW..." I think they were speechless and they were so amazed by all the buildings, cars, and everything in that city... :)

In Isaiah 43 we can see that the people of Israel also had that kind of experience with God. They were so amazed and astonished by God; how God helped them through the water and fire, how God did miracle things in front of their eyes. But verse 18-19 says:

Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

This year be ready to be excited, to be amazed and to be astonished AGAIN by God! Forget all the things on the past, not only the bad things, but also the good things that make you not excited anymore or make you don't want to expect more from God this year. Remember that God still have something great to do in your life this year (not only in the past). He is not only God of your past, but He is God of your present and your future. He is still the same God who is able to do miraculous things in your life RIGHT NOW!

Do you still have faith and hope in Him?

Christianity is not a mediocrity. Christianity has to be full of faith and excitement!

So, let's expect new thing! Expect miracle! Expect breakthrough this year!

Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Wife After God

We love young couples! (Because we are still young couple too, hehe.. and going to celebrate our 1st anniversary soon, yay!) Meeting and sharing experience with them is really fun and also encouraging. They can understand how different it is to live as a single, and to live as a husband/wife. Our season of life has changed.. and our life as a wife suddenly become busier than before! Ha! Especially if you live in a different country, where you have no family or house maid around and have to do everything by yourself.. :p

Most of the problem is, after we get married (especially later if we already have kids), it seems like it's harder to give our time for God than when we were still single. One of my friends said that she even doesn't have a devotion time at all anymore. And I can understand that.

Apostle Paul said in 1Corinthians 7:34 that... "An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband."

When I was still single, I could get up every morning without thinking about anything else beside God. But now, everytime I get up, there is my husband beside me :p And I need to prepare his breakfast and lunch box very early in the morning. I agree that life as a wife is very busy, but it doesn't mean that you can't have time for God :)

Maybe our ways to do devotion now will be different than before. But it's okay! God wants us to be creative and try to find a new way to seek Him everyday. Here are some things that I do to build my personal relationship with God everyday as a wife, and maybe you can do the same thing too ;)

***

1. Everytime we get up (usually around 5 AM) we pray together on bed. I know we are still very sleepy, haha.. but short prayer it does matter in God's eyes :) Usually we say thanks to God for a new day, pray for one another and ask God for His protection and blessing.

2. After that prayer, my husband gets ready for work and I need to prepare his food. And after he leaves, that's the time when I can have my personal devotion at home. My husband also has his personal devotion in the car. We have a different way in doing devotion. My husband loves listening, so he does it by listening to the sermon or worship songs in a radio. He also loves to pray in a car (with eyes open of course :p) I love reading and writing. So I really need to sit down, open my Bible, read a book and write a journal. Right now I'm using a devotion book called "Wife After God" by Jennifer Smith. It is a 30-Day Devotional Book, and it's very good! Inside this book there are Bible verses that you need to read, reflection, prayer, questions and also challenge that you need to do to your husband everyday :)

3. Other things that you can do is to manage your activity during the day. Instead of checking your Facebook (or other social media), you can read a good Christian book. Or if you don't like reading, you can listen to a short sermon at reviveourhearts.com and you can listen to it while you're doing something else. Sometimes I also like to turn on a worship songs playlist at home. Maybe this can be a good idea for you.

4. After a busy day, we always close our day with a devotion time together. Sometimes we read from ODB (Our Daily Bread), but right now we are using a devotion book called "Day By Day With God" that we just got from our church. We read together and then pray together before we sleep (this time our prayer is longer than the morning one, lol). It's really good to have your husband as your spiritual partner. But if he still doesn't want, you can always have a personal devotion by yourself and keep praying for your husband :)

***

We need God in our everyday life and we need to make Him as our first priority. Let's be the wife after God!

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

- Proverbs 31:30

The Strongest Relationship On Earth

What is the strongest relationship on earth?

I can answer it with one word: MARRIAGE :)

Why Marriage?

Because marriage is the mirror of the intimate relationship between Jesus and His bride, the Church.

Marriage is the relationship that God use to reflect our relationship with Him. And it is also the first relationship that God created on earth (Adam and Eve) before the relationship between parents and children, brothers and sisters, or any other relationships.

That's why God really loves marriage, and He wants to see His children living in an intimate relationship with their husband/wife. But the problem is, the devil really really hates marriage and he wants to destroy every marriage! Last year, about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce. And nearly 8 in 10 young adults in America favor same-sex marriage. My heart is broken, and I know God's heart too... :(

So today I want to challenge every married couples (especially the Christian couples) and also all of my friends who will get married soon, to see our marriage as a mission and a ministry for God. Let's build a strong and godly marriage in this world of darkness. God calls us to be the light and to be different than this world. This world needs you.. They need us to be an example and to show them the right way of marriage.

Each godly marriage can be an oasis for those who have forgotten what marriage is supposed to look like. - Gary Thomas

Some things that you can start to do today:

* For the married couples, you need to have a devotion and prayer time together with your spouse everyday. Beside that, you also need to keep having your personal time with God. Strong relationship with God is the key of a strong marriage :)

* After God, your husband/wife has to be your most important priority in your life (not your kids, parents, friends, or any other relationships). You need to always have time and communication with your spouse everyday.

* Take a short break, or maybe you can have a short getaway with your spouse (and don't let any gadgets or even your kids distract both of you). Take time together to remember again your wedding vow, or remember the first time you met each other, looking at your wedding pictures/video, holding hands, hugging, kissing and cuddling your spouse again like on your first honeymoon :)

* Don't keep any secret from your spouse. Always tell them the truth. Remember that two of you has become ONE. Make sure there is no secret password or secret chatting on your mobile phone, there is no secret bank account, there is no secret experience about your past.. Be open and you will see the difference in your marriage.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (Genesis 2:24;25)

* Please delete the word "divorce" from your dictionary. And don't let the devil destroy your marriage! If your spouse has decided to divorce, use the power of prayer and ask God to heal your marriage. Don't give up on him/her!

The most sacred promise we can ever make is the promise we make to God and our spouse on our wedding day. If the wedding vows don't matter, then no promise matters. (Dave Willis)

* Serve others together. When you serve others together, your marriage is also become stronger. And also teach the younger men and women how to live in godly ways.

Your marriage is a ministry where you and your husband can work together as a team to fulfill the needs of people around you, to show hospitality, to pray for people, to show compassion, to love by reflecting Christ's love as you mirror His image. (Jennifer Smith)

* For the single/unmarried people, make a commitment to live in holiness and strong relationship with God. Be an example for others by keeping your virginity and purity, and do not live in the same-sex relationship. I know these days many people support the same-sex marriage. I love those people and I don't want to judge them. But most of all, I want them to experience the truth and be transformed by God, so they can understand how marriage is supposed to look like. Pray for them!

* Beside that, if you have a desire to get married one day, pray so that God will bring you to meet the right man/woman who also fears the Lord and you can serve God together through your marriage :)

"Lord, today I pray for every marriage, so that You will strengthen them and help them to overcome every storm. Strengthen their relationship with You and also with one another as a husband and wife. I pray so their marriage can become a blessing and an example for others. I also pray for the single people, for every young men and women out there, so they can experience Your love and truth in their lives. Raise them to become a generation that live in holiness and do not live in the standard of this world. In Jesus name I pray. Amen."

Look Forward to a Wonderful Year in Christ

Hello all, here is my first post in 2015 :) And I just wanna start this year by posting this great article by Zac Poonen, that I got from my sister in Christ, ci Lia. Hope this article can be a blessing to all of you and also can make you excited to start this new year with God. Have a wonderful year, everyone!

With Love and Pray,

Mr. & Mrs. Widjaja :p

*****

WORD FOR THE WEEK

4 January 2014, Christian Fellowship Church, Bangalore, India

http://www.cfcindia.com

Look Forward to a Wonderful Year in Christ

Zac Poonen

   1. Make a new beginning today:  In the story of the prodigal son, we read that the father brought out the best robe for a son who had failed him so badly. This is the message of the gospel: God gives His very best even to those who have failed.  They can have a new beginning, because God never gives up on anyone. This is a great encouragement for those who failed in the past year.  Whatever your blunders or failures may have been, you can make a new beginning with God now. Even if you have made a thousand new beginnings in the past and have failed each time, you can make the 1001st new beginning today. God can still make something glorious out of your life. So be strong in faith and trust God to do for you the things that you considered impossible until now (Rom.4:20).

   2. Claim God’s promises:  This New Year can be better than all the years gone by, if you claim God’s promises every day. God promised to take all the Israelites into the land of Canaan (Exodus 3:17). Yet only Joshua and Caleb entered in, because they alone believed. What you believe in your heart, you must confess with your mouth (Romans 10:8, 9). Here are eight promises you can confess and claim this year.

   1. God the Father loves me as He loved Jesus – so I will always rejoice (John 17:23).

   2. God has forgiven all my sins – so I will never live with guilt (1 John 1:9 & Heb. 8:12).

   3. God will fill me with His Holy Spirit – so I will be strong enough for every task (Luke 11:13).

   4. God has determined all my boundaries – so I will always be content (Acts 17:26; Heb. 13:5).

   5. God’s commands are all for my good – so I want to obey all of God’s commands (1 John 5:3; Deut. 10:13).

   6. God controls all people and events that affect me – so I will always give thanks for everything (Rom. 8:28; Eph. 5:20; 1 Thess. 5:18).

   7. Jesus defeated Satan and freed me from his power – so I will never be afraid (Heb. 2:14, 15; Heb. 13:6).

   8. God wants to make me a blessing – so I will be a blessing to others (Gen 12:2; Gal 3:14).

   God’s promise and our faith are like two electric wires.  It is only when they touch each other (as in an electric switch) that the power begins to flow through the wires. So believe that everyone of these promises will be fulfilled in your life this year.

3. Be merciful to others:  Never forget throughout this year, how merciful God has been to you. Then be merciful to others in the same way. You have received much from the Lord freely. Give to others also just as freely (Mathew 10:8). Release everyone who owes you anything or who has hurt you or harmed you in any way.  Bury past grudges permanently and be merciful to everyone – and thus make a new beginning with the Lord today.

4. Live in the Spirit every day: When the apostle John was “in the Spirit”, he heard the Lord’s voice as loud as a trumpet (Rev.1:10). If you live in the Spirit every day of the coming year, you too will hear the Lord’s voice every day, as loud as a trumpet, guiding you and encouraging you. Keep yourself in the Spirit every day then by being sensitive to sin and by walking humbly before the face of God.

5. Be a worshipper of God: God has called you first of all to be His worshipper – and that means to desire Him alone. You will then see God’s glory just as Isaiah saw it. Immediately, Isaiah saw his own sinfulness too – and so will you (Isaiah 6:1-5). Be a worshipper then and cleanse away the areas of unChristlikeness that God reveals to you, in your life.  God will then make you partake of His own nature more and more, every day of this year.

6. You can experience a foretaste of Heaven this year: Under the old covenant, Moses told the Israelites that God wanted their days and the days of their sons to be like the days of heaven upon earth (Deut 11:21 - KJV). This is much more the will of God for you in the new covenant. God wants you to have a foretaste of the joy, peace, love, purity and goodness of heaven in your home and in your church in this coming year. Jesus lived a heavenly life on this earth. If you fix your eyes on Him and follow Him, then every day of this year will be like a day of heaven upon earth for you.

7. Trust the Lord to make you a blessing to others this year: God told Abraham: “…I will bless you... and you will be a blessing to all the families of the earth” (Gen 12:2, 3). That blessing is your inheritance also through the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:14). God wants to bless you by anointing your head with oil in such a way that your cup begins to overflow in blessing to many others.  In Elisha’s time, when God filled a poor widow’s vessel with oil, she poured it out into the vessels of all her neighbours (2 Kings 4:1-7). There is more than enough power and blessing in the anointing of God to bless every single person who comes across your path this year. You can bless your neighbours this year like that widow did. So keep pouring out into the lives of others. If, however, you selfishly keep God’s blessing for yourself alone, it will begin to stink like the manna kept overnight did. The one who waters others, however, will be watered by God Himself (Proverbs 11:25). May that be so in your life.

   May you have a blessed and Christ-centred New Year.

I Love Him Anyway

Dalam setiap pernikahan pasti ada yang namanya konflik.. kalo gak pernah ada konflik, hmm.. berarti mereka mungkin belom pernah tinggal bareng kali ya, haha.. Artikel kali ini aku mau tulis khusus buat temen-temen yang baru pada married, or yang lagi pada persiapan married.. Aku bisa bilang kalo pernikahan itu seru banget! And pastinya, kita jadi bisa belajar dan ngalamin kasih Kristus lebih lagi, melalui pasangan kita :)

Aku akhir-akhir ini lagi baca devotion dari buku Sacred Marriage (Gary Thomas), and di salah satu devotion-nya dia cerita tentang pengalaman satu pasangan suami-istri. Intinya, si istri ini berusaha untuk bisa mengubah suaminya, karena si suami ini keliatannya kayak kurang romantis. Pas Valentine, si suami cuma kasih kartu dan di dalemnya gak ditulis apa-apa, cuma ditulisin nama dia doang, haha.. Trus parahnya lagi, pas anniversary, si suami gak inget and gak ngasih apa-apa ke istrinya. Padahal si istri udah berusaha kasih hadiah macem-macem ke dia. Si istri ini juga udah coba kasih ke suaminya beberapa buku tentang how to love your spouse.. but suaminya gak tertarik buat baca tuh buku sama sekali, hahaha.. Tapi at the end, respon istrinya ini loh yang mantep, dia bilang, "I've realized it's never going to change.. But I love him anyway." :)

Gak lama setelah aku baca artikel ini, aku ngalamin konflik sama si DM, hehe.. Biasa deh, yang satu maunya A, yang satu maunya B.. And sempet bikin aku kesel.. huh.. But after that, kita pemberesan, kita cari solusinya.. and aku keinget devotion yang aku baca itu :p Lucunya pas lagi kesel-kesel gitu, aku bilang ke DM.. "I kesel sama u.. tapi tetep sayang.." (wkwkwk..) dan aku jadi ngerasa lucu sendiri.. koq bisa ya, kita tetep sayang dan mengasihi orang yang kita udah paling tau jelek-jeleknya dan paling sering konflik sama kita, haha.. koq bisa ya si DM tetep sayang dan mengasihi aku juga, padahal dia udah liat semua jelek-jeleknya aku.. Itulah indahnya pernikahan di dalam Tuhan :)

Luke 6:32-36 (NIV)

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

That's why dalam pernikahan, kita perlu yang namanya kasih Kristus.. to love our spouse "anyway", not to love him "because".. Sama seperti Kristus mengasihi kita, bukan karena perbuatan baik kita.. Tapi Dia mengasihi kita, ketika kita masih berdosa.. God loves us anyway!

Jenis kasih yang kayak gini nih yang bisa bikin pernikahan kita tetep bertahan and tetep kuat. Banyak pasangan yang akhirnya bercerai karena mereka cuma bisa mengasihi pasangan mereka kalau pasangannya bisa jadi seperti yang mereka harapkan. But masalahnya, kita menikah sama manusia (bukan sama malaikat kan? haha..) yang gak sempurna and gak bisa selalu sesuai sama harapan kita. Itulah serunya pernikahan! :p Kita jadi dapet banyak kesempatan untuk praktekin kasih Kristus setiap hari kepada pasangan kita yang gak sempurna.. karena kalo kita cuma mengasihi orang yang mengasihi kita or selalu berbuat baik sama kita, apa bedanya kita sama orang-orang di luar Tuhan? :)

To love anyway is to love like God and to learn about God's love for us, who loves the "ungrateful and wicked". That's love, Jesus style. Let's love like that. - Gary Thomas