Persek Alumni Perkantas Solo "Bersatu utk berbagi"

Kemarin ada persek alumni Perkantas Solo. Tema Bersatu utk berbagi. Minggu lalu aku jg ikutan Paskah an siswa, mhsiswa, n alumni Perkantas Jkt. Tunggu aja rangkumannya. 😀

Firman kemarin...
Tuhan yg menyatukan para alumni dlm komunitas yg membangun.
Kisah Rasul 2: 41- 47
Ada kepedulian, belajar bertumbuh bersama, memberikan dampak pd org lain, berbagi n slg mendoakan.
Jd berkat itu beri dampak n manfaat buat org lain.
Ada pembaharuan n perbaikan dlm berbagai hal dimulai dr pembentukan karakter+iman dlm kelompok PA, pelayanan keluarga, memengaruhi masyarakat lwt tulisan, dll.
Alumni tdk blh puas sm keterampilan sendiri tp hrs berkualitas, produktif, n inovatif. Belajar byk skill contohnya menargetkan diri sendiri tahun dpn hrs bs bhs Jepang, berenang, dll. Ini gw bgt, aku suka belajar byk hal baru. Hihi. 😁

Pembicara adl bpk Sigit Budi dr Jkt. Beliau mengatakan ada komunitas alumni menurut bidang pekerjaan yg ditekuni, misalnya PA guru, hukum, dosen, enterpreneur, dll. PA nya bhs Bible sm tantangan dlm bidang yg ditekuni itu. Sepertinya asyik. Aku jg ingin bergabung.
😀😃😄 Oiya bpk Sigit itu ketua RT. Beliau menolak utk warga yg mau buat KTP double. Ada byk kasus KTP double itu kuncinya dr ketua RT yg longgar. Nah itu beri dampak besar. Kalau 1 org pny 5 KTP krn izin pak RT, dia bs double2 wkt pemilu Presiden. So, meski ada di lini plg bawah dlm birokrasi atau apapun itu, tetaplah jujur n berintegritas. Jgn mau jg kalau diminta Korupsi n memalsukan laporan tahunan pekerjaan, termasuk memalsukan tanda tangan. Setia n berintegritas dlm perkara2 kecil memberi dampak positif pd org2 d sekitar kita plus jd kesaksian nyata. 🙆💪 Semangat. Jia you.

Kuis emansipasi wanita

Kuis ni...
Menurutku perempuan itu bisa belajar dan berbagi banyak hal. Pada zaman dulu, perempuan tidak bisa bersekolah. R.A. Kartini yang suka belajar dapat membawa perubahan yaitu emansipasi pada perempuan. Karena jasa ibu Kartini, perempuan jadi punya hak untuk belajar di sekolah seperti lelaki. Sejak kecil aku sudah suka belajar. Entah itu belajar hiking, belajar membaca, belajar menulis, belajar dari buku, belajar keterampilan membuat prakarya, belajar dari seminar, belajar bahasa, belajar internet, belajar dari orang-orang yang berpengalaman, belajar psikologi, belajar bisnis, belajar komputer, belajar ini, belajar itu, dan belajar-belajar lainnya. Banyak orang mengejek dan mungkin menganggap kurang kerjaan, mereka lebih memilih pergi ke mall daripada seminar. Tapi menurutku, belajar adalah proses seumur hidup. Camp bisnis dan seminar rohani yang kuikuti juga menegaskan bahwa belajar banyak hal adalah ciri orang sukses tangguh yang tak terbawa arus perubahan zaman tapi mempengaruhi masyarakat. Dari ilmu yang kita miliki, ilmu dapat dibagikan pada banyak orang sehingga mempengaruhi mereka untuk bisa berubah ke arah positif. Berbagi ilmu berarti berbagi berkat yang dapat menguatkan kita sendiri maupun berbagai orang. Selain menghormati jasa ibu Kartini, ilmu dan keterampilan yang kita miliki dapat kita wariskan ke anak cucu generasi penerus kita di masa depan. Mari terus semangat belajar dan berbagi banyak hal..😀
#kuis #challenge #emansipasi #wanita #internationalwomensday

Alam, buku mb mona n campur sari

Aku suka sekali alam.
Kadang aku tak bisa membayangkan kalau tidak travelling dlm waktu lama.
Hem...Biasanya aku 2 bulan sekali ke alam gitu..
Dulu aku dan teman2ku ke alam yg keren...
Namanya Bukit Mojo, Jurang Tembelan dan Puncak Becici di Jogja..
Di sana spot foto plus pemandangannya keren bgt..
Love it very much..
Semoga di Bandung n Tangerang jg msh ada wisata lam yg dilewati busway n kereta..
Aku janjian dgn cukup byk org d Jkt..
^_^

Ada byk yg ucapi ultah d fb n br sempat ku like hr ini..
Haha..menurutku kalo pny nmr WA, mending di WA aja drpd fb bejibun yg mengucapi..
Atau double ucapi d mn2..itu lucu..wkwk..


Oya aku minjem buku mb Mona...Bagus sekali ttg cinta...judulnya Romantika Kehidupan Orang Muda..Hehe..tp gara2 byk deadline nulis jd minjemku lama, belum selesai2..
Aku berjuang ngebut tp tetep mencatat..
Setelah seminar Tetap Memberkati walau sendiri, banyak banget orang ajakin aku kenalan d fb..
minta 2 nmr hp gitu..sempat shock..soalnya jumlahnya puluhan..kebanyakan cowok..
tp ga semua kukasih..haha..
tiba2 byk bgt yg add aku..trus tiap hari semenjak seminar itu aku jd di add puluhan org..
gpp lah buat nambah pembeli..
Parafrase hikmat yg kudpt dr buku yg kupinjem dr mb Mona:
Jika tidak bisa berkomunikasi secara mendalam dari hati ke hati, jangan mau menikah dengannya...Kalau kalian hanya bisa membicarakan ttg film, makanan, minuman, dan semua yg umum2 saja, lebih baik ditinggalkan..Kalian bs membicarakan semua itu dengan orang2 yg baru dikenal di mall...Salah satu faktor penting dlm pernikahan adalah keterbukaan komunikasi dan saling memahami...Pasangan haruslah menjadi sahabat terbaikmu. Cinta yg benar itu setia & menepati janji, mengutamakan Tuhan n sesama, berdoa senantiasa, slalu bersyukur, beriman n memuliakan Tuhan dgn tubuh, bs menguasai nafsu n perasaan...
.😀

Ketika Tuhan Menolak Proposal Hidupku

Ketika-Tuhan-Menolak-Proposal-Hidupku

Oleh Listiyani Chita Ellary, Jember
http://www.warungsatekamu.org/2017/04/ketika-tuhan-menolak-proposal-hidupku/

Semua orang tentu bercita-cita untuk memiliki hidup yang damai, aman, semua impian tercapai, dan tentunya tidak ada orang yang ingin hidupnya dipenuhi kerikil-kerikil tajam. Aku pun bercita-cita demikian. Sudah sejak lama aku membuat daftar rencana hidupku ke depan, mulai dari tempat kuliah, target kelulusan, nanti akan bekerja di mana, bahkan menikah di umur berapa. Semua itu telah kurencanakan dengan rapi bahkan sejak aku masih duduk di bangku sekolah.

Selama bertahun-tahun aku memohon supaya Tuhan mengabulkan semua impianku itu, seolah-olah aku sedang mengajukan sebuah proposal kepada Tuhan. Namun, setelah tahun-tahun berlalu, aku terus menerus mengajukan proposal itu tanpa memohon persetujuan-Nya. Akhirnya tidak satupun proposal hidupku itu yang berjalan sesuai dengan rencanaku. Aku pun menjadi kecewa ketika ternyata Tuhan tidak mengabulkan apa yang selama ini aku impikan.

Ketika Tuhan menjawab proposal itu dengan jawaban lain

Jurusan kuliah yang kutekuni ternyata melenceng jauh dari yang aku rencanakan. Sejak sekolah dulu aku selalu membayangkan diriku menjadi seorang interior designer ternama. Namun, impianku buyar ketika orangtuaku ternyata tidak setuju dengan keinganku berkuliah di jurusan itu. Kami pun berselisih paham dan akhirnya aku memilih untuk kuliah di fakultas teknik.

Selama kuliah pun indeks prestasi yang kuraih hanya pas-pasan, bahkan di beberapa semester aku sempat mendapatkan nilai yang sangat rendah. Aku sempat menyalahkan Tuhan dan mengeluh kepada-Nya. “Tuhan, aku sudah berusaha sebisa mungkin tapi kenapa hanya hasil seperti ini yang kudapatkan?” Aku juga menyalahkan kedua orangtuaku karena mereka menuntutku untuk kuliah di jurusan yang bukan keinginanku. Jadi, kupikir wajar saja jika nilai-nilai yang kuperoleh itu pas-pasan.

Setelah melewati pergumulan sepanjang kuliah, aku pun lulus dan menyandang gelar sarjana Teknik. Tapi, permasalahan tidak berhenti di situ. Pekerjaan yang kudapatkan ternyata jauh berbeda dengan bidang yang aku pelajari selama kuliah. Kok sarjana Teknik kerjanya di bidang marketing? Pertanyaan itu sering kudengar dari orang-orang sekitarku yang akhirnya membuatku gerah dan menggerutu.

Rasa kecewaku itu masih harus ditambah ketika aku dan kekasihku harus putus setelah menjalin hubungan selama 4 tahun. Aku merasa hatiku saat itu telah hancur dan aku kembali mengeluh kepada Tuhan. “Tuhan, aku sudah merencanakan pernikahanku dengannya, tapi kenapa kami harus berpisah?” Aku sudah mengenal kekasihku dengan baik, sikap buruk maupun baiknya aku sudah tahu, bahkan aku juga sudah sangat dekat dengan keluarganya. Dan sekali lagi, Tuhan menolak kembali proposal terakhirku. Sirna sudah rencana pernikahan yang sudah aku susun dengan rapi.

Di mana Tuhan ketika aku kecewa?

Aku bertanya, “Di mana Tuhan ketika aku mengajukan banyak proposal hidupku? Tuhan diam saja kah? Atau Tuhan sudah tidak mau ambil bagian di hidupku? Kenapa semua proposal hidupku tidak satupun yang Tuhan kehendaki?”

Pertanyaan-pertanyaan itu menggantung di benakku hingga suatu ketika aku hadir di sebuah ibadah hari Minggu. Khotbah hari itu diambil dari Yeremia 29:11 yang berkata, “Sebab Aku ini mengetahui rancangan-rancangan apa yang ada pada-Ku mengenai kamu, demikianlah firman TUHAN, yaitu rancangan damai sejahtera dan bukan rancangan kecelakaan, untuk memberikan kepadamu hari depan yang penuh harapan.”

Sejenak aku merenung dan melontarkan pertanyaan kepada diriku sendiri. “Apakah selama ini semua rencanaku adalah rencana damai sejahtera? Ataukah semua rencanaku itu merupakan buah ambisiku semata?” Tentu aku hanya mengajukan permohonan, bukan lagi memohon revisi Tuhan atas semua proposal hidupku.

Aku mulai menyadari bahwa aku terpaku pada rencanaku tanpa mempedulikan rencana Tuhan yang sudah Dia rancangkan untukku. Aku telah melupakan Allah pencipta hidupku yang sudah tentu jauh lebih mengenalku bahkan sejak aku masih dalam kandungan.

Dari setiap kejadian “kegagalan proposal” ini aku menyadari banyak kesalahan yang terjadi pada diriku sendiri. Aku salah karena aku mengabaikan kehendak Tuhan tanpa bertanya terlebih dulu apakah Dia menyetujui proposalku. Aku malah bersikeras menganggap kalau proposal versiku sendiri adalah yang terbaik buatku.

Aku menyadari bahwa setiap proposal yang aku ajukan kepada Tuhan itu hanyalah ambisiku pribadi dan aku mengabaikan apakah proposal itu menyenangkan hati Tuhan? Apakah proposal hidupku itu memberi dampak baik bagi banyak orang, membuat makin mengasihi Tuhan, atau justru malah membuatku membanggakan diri dan menjauh dari Tuhan?

Kalau saja Tuhan menyetujui semua proposal hidupku, mungkin sekarang aku sudah semakin tinggi hati dan berbangga diri atas kemampuanku sendiri. Tapi, aku bersyukur karena Tuhan sudah menolak bukan hanya sebagian, tapi seluruh proposal hidupku. Penolakan itu membuat aku bergantung sepenuhnya kepada-Nya. Sekarang aku tidak lagi mengajukan proposal hidupku, melainkan aku menikmati Tuhan menyatakan semua rencana dan proses-Nya di dalam hidupku. Aku percaya bahwa aku sedang dibentuk-Nya untuk semakin baik dalam karakter, iman, dan cara pandangku terhadap hidup.

Kita dapat memandang kehidupan dengan cara yang berbeda ketika kita bergantung sepenuhnya pada Tuhan. Kita percaya bahwa tangan Tuhan senantiasa tersedia bagi masa depan kita. Tidak ada yang patut ditakutkan dan dikhawatirkan lagi ketika kita memiliki penjamin hidup yang kekal. Sebuah kesia-siaan ketika kita hanya sibuk pada fokus pribadi tanpa mengerti tujuan kita. Apakah kita mau memuaskan keinginan diri sendiri atau menyenangkan hati Tuhan?

Aku pun mulai menyadari dan terus menghidupi firman-Nya di dalam hatiku. Bahwa bukan saja aku yang memiliki rencana melainkan Tuhan sudah berencana dan berkuasa penuh atas hidupku. Masa-masa mendatang tak perlu kucemaskan lagi, karena Sang Empunya hidup sudah memegang kendali penuh atas hidupku.

Lalu apakah aku hanya diam saja menanti kehendak Tuhan? Tentu tidak. Aku menjalani hidup dengan “proposal baru” dengan membiarkan Tuhan mengoreksi proposal-proposal baruku. Sehingga hidupku bukan hanya saja tentang aku melainkan tentang kehendak Tuhan atas hidupku.

Pekerjaanku sebagai seorang marketing bukan hal yang harus kututup-tutupi lagi. Aku bersyukur dan bangga bahwa melalui pekerjaan ini aku banyak bertemu orang dengan berbagai karakter, malah menjadi sarana untuk boleh mewartakan kasih Tuhan melalui perjumpaanku dengan mereka. Aku percaya melalui sikap yang baik, pikiran yang baik, dan tutur kata yang baik akan membawa orang-orang mencari sumber dari kebaikan tersebut dan dari situlah aku tahu bahwa Tuhan mengutusku bukan hanya mengerjakan bagianku ala kadarnya melainkan aku diutus untuk menjadi garam dan terang bagi sekelilingku.

Kisahku sebagai Putri Seorang Penarik Becak yang Belajar Mengampuni

Kisahku-sebagai-Putri-Seorang-Penarik-Becak-yang-Belajar-Mengampuni

Oleh Yezia Sutrisni, Tangerang

http://www.warungsatekamu.org/2017/04/kisahku-sebagai-putri-seorang-penarik-becak-yang-belajar-mengampuni/comment-page-1/#comment-163261

Aku adalah anak bungsu dari enam bersaudara. Ibuku menderita penyakit kanker payudara dan akhirnya meninggal saat aku duduk di kelas 2 SD. Selama hampir satu tahun ibuku terbaring lemah di tempat tidur melawan sakit kankernya.

Setelah ibuku meninggal, aku tinggal bersama ayah dan dua orang kakakku. Hari demi hari kami lewati tanpa kasih sayang seorang ibu. Sehari-harinya ayah bekerja sebagai penarik becak di kota Yogyakarta, sedangkan kami tinggal di kabupaten Klaten. Ayah hanya pulang menemui kami beberapa kali dalam satu bulan.

Ketika aku berusia 9 tahun, ayahku juga jatuh sakit sehingga tidak bisa bekerja maksimal. Penyakit darah tinggi akut yang diderita ayah membuatnya tidak bisa menarik becak setiap hari dan aku pun harus merawatnya. Di usiaku yang masih kecil itu aku harus menggantikan peran ibu.

Setiap pagi sebelum berangkat sekolah aku harus bangun jam 5 pagi dan memasak untuk seluruh isi rumah. Sebelum berangkat ke sekolah aku harus memastikan makanan untuk ayah sudah tersedia sehingga dia tidak harus berdiri untuk mengambil makan. Penyakit darah tinggi ayah membuatnya sulit berdiri, mungkin juga dia akan jatuh. Mau tidak mau aku harus membantunya makan, mandi, dan melakukan aktivitas lain.

Ketika tetangga-tetangga melihat keadaan kami waktu itu, mereka selalu bertanya, “Di mana saudara-saudaramu yang lain?” Usiaku dengan kakak-kakakku terpaut cukup jauh. Dengan kakak pertamaku saja kami berbeda hampir 20 tahun. Empat kakak-kakakku waktu itu telah sibuk sendiri. Ada yang sudah berkeluarga dan ada juga yang merantau jauh. Mereka seolah tidak peduli dengan keadaan ayah saat itu.

Sebenarnya aku tidak terlalu memikirkan keberadaan kakak-kakakku. Entah karena aku terlalu polos atau hanya menerima segalanya dengan ikhlas, aku lupa persisnya perasaanku seperti apa. Yang aku tahu adalah kakak-kakakku mungkin pernah mengalami kepahitan. Ayah memang orang yang keras, dia sering memukul dan melontarkan kata-kata kasar kepada anak-anaknya.

Ketika aku ditelantarkan oleh kakak-kakakku

Setelah sekitar tiga tahun hidup dalam keadaan sakit, ayahku dipanggil pulang oleh Tuhan. Kehidupan keluargaku semakin sulit dan aku pun tinggal berdua bersama kakakku yang kelima. Kakak-kakakku yang lain ada yang sudah berkeluarga dan ada juga yang merantau.
Kami berdua menjalani hidup tanpa orangtua. Kadang kami hanya makan menggunakan nasi putih dan sambal saja. Kadang kami pun menjual pohon bambu yang kami tanam di depan rumah untuk bisa membeli makanan. Beras pun kami dapat dari jatah beras miskin pemerintah. Kadang juga tetangga kami yang merasa iba memberi kami makanannya.

Aku sempat berpikir kalau kami ini enam bersaudara, maka seharusnya aku tidak sampai harus hidup seperti ini. Aku merasa ditinggalkan dan tidak memiliki siapapun dan bertanya-tanya mengapa kakak-kakakku yang lain itu tidak mau peduli dengan kedua adiknya? Sejujurnya kami punya alasan untuk menyimpan luka dan membenci mereka.

Ketika aku mengenal Yesus

Dulu aku bukanlah orang Kristen, demikian juga dengan kedua orangtuaku. Saat aku mulai duduk di bangku sekolah dasar, salah seorang kakakku yang telah menjadi Kristen terlebih dulu sempat membawaku untuk ikut ke sekolah minggu. Setelah itu aku menjadi lebih sering datang ke gereja walau tidak selalu hadir setiap minggunya. Sekalipun orangtuaku bukan Kristen, tapi mereka tidak melarangku untuk pergi ke gereja.

Setelah kedua orangtuaku dipanggil Tuhan, aku sendiri bingung akan masa depanku. Hingga pendeta di gerejaku mempertemukanku dengan seorang bapak dari Kalimantan. Akhirnya bapak ini secara tidak langsung “mengadopsiku” dengan membiayai seluruh kebutuhanku. Saat aku masuk SMA, aku pun pindah dari Klaten ke kota Yogyakarta untuk mendapatkan pendidikan yang lebih baik.

Aku memang tidak tinggal satu rumah dengan ayah angkatku itu, tapi beliau sering menyempatkan dirinya mengunjungiku di Yogyakarta dan memastikan kebutuhanku terpenuhi. Ketika liburan tiba, aku pun diajaknya ke Kalimantan dan tinggal bersama keluarga angkatku. Mereka begitu mengasihiku dan menganggapku sebagai bagian dari keluarga mereka sendiri.

Kebaikan mereka itulah yang akhirnya semakin memantapkan imanku kepada Tuhan Yesus. Mereka mendukungku selayaknya aku adalah anak kandung mereka sendiri. Ketika aku sudah lulus dari SMA, mereka mendukung penuh studiku di perguruan tinggi hingga akhirnya aku bisa lulus menjadi seorang sarjana.

Sekalipun sejak kecil aku datang ke gereja, tapi aku merasa hidupku datar. Aku membaca firman Tuhan, tapi tidak mengerti apa yang dimaksud. Barulah ketika aku mulai duduk di bangku kuliah, lambat laun aku mulai mengerti betapa baiknya Tuhan Yesus kepadaku. Lewat kasih sayang tulus yang diberikan oleh ayah angkatku, aku dapat merasakan kasih Tuhan bahwa Dia tidak pernah meninggalkanku seorang diri.

Saat ini aku telah menyelesaikan studiku dan bekerja di sebuah lembaga pelayanan di Tangerang. Sesekali ketika aku merenung, aku bisa saja berpikir untuk membenci saudara-saudaraku atas perbuatan mereka saat aku menderita susah dulu. Tapi, setiap kali bersaat teduh aku selalu ingat ayat di mana Tuhan Yesus mengajar kita untuk mengampuni, bahkan lebih dari sekadar mengampuni, Tuhan meminta kita untuk mengasihi. “Tetapi hendaklah kamu ramah seorang terhadap yang lain, penuh kasih mesra dan saling mengampuni, sebagai Allah di dalam Kristus telah mengampuni kamu” (Efesus 4:32).

Aku manusia berdosa dan Tuhan sudah mengampuni dosaku. Ketika aku mulai berpikir untuk membenci kakak-kakakku, aku selalu melihat kembali kepada diriku sendiri yang penuh dosa dan Tuhan sudi mengampuniku. Betapa egoisnya aku ketika Tuhan sudah mengampuniku tetapi aku tidak mau mengampuni saudara-saudaraku.

Secara manusia memang berat untuk mengampuni orang yang telah menyakitiku, tapi aku selalu memohon agar Tuhan memampukanku. Setiap hari aku berdoa untuk semua kakak-kakakku, memohon agar mereka yang belum mengenal Tuhan dapat menjadi percaya. Aku belajar untuk sesekali menyapa mereka lewat telepon. Saat ini aku sudah mengampuni mereka dan mengasihi mereka.

Aku belajar dari kisah Yusuf yang tetap tekun dan berpengharapan sekalipun dia harus dibuang oleh kakak-kakakknya. Aku percaya bahwa kisah masa laluku yang kelam merupakan alat yang dipakai Tuhan untuk menyiapkan masa depanku. Tanpa masa lalu yang keras mungkin aku takkan menjadi seorang yang tegar.

“Memang kamu telah mereka-rekakan yang jahat terhadap aku, tetapi Allah telah mereka-rekakannya untuk kebaikan, dengan maksud melakukan seperti yang terjadi sekarang ini, yakni memelihara hidup suatu bangsa yang besar,” (Kejadian 50:20). Seperti kisah Yusuf, mungkin ada rancangan-rancangan jahat yang dilakukan oleh manusia terhadap kita, tapi aku percaya bahwa Tuhan sanggup mengubah itu menjadi kebaikan untuk kita.

Tuhan telah menunjukkan kebaikan-Nya kepada kita dengan pengorbanan Yesus di kayu salib. Kita yang seharusnya dihukum karena dosa-dosa kita, tapi karena kematian-Nya kita beroleh keselamatan. Dari pengalaman hidupku, aku dapat memaknai Paskah sebagai momen ketika Tuhan mengampuni dosaku maka aku pun harus mengampuni orang lain yang bersalah kepadaku, bahkan mengasihi mereka sama seperti Tuhan mengasihiku.

Kita tidak akan pernah bisa mengampuni bahkan mengasihi orang yang sudah menyakiti kita dengan kekuatan sendiri. Kita membutuhkan Tuhan. Hanya Tuhan saja yang memampukan kita untuk mau mengampuni dan melembutkan hati mereka. Datanglah kepada Tuhan dan minta supaya Dia memampukan kita.

Life Is Fragile, But God Is Faithful

Life Is Fragile, But God Is Faithful

Thumb marylynn johnson fiutxq90 Article by MaryLynn Johnson
Guest Contributor

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/life-is-fragile-but-god-is-faithful

When I was fifteen, I almost died.

The morning before it happened, I walked into my cardiologist’s office for a routine check-up. The annual appointment often felt more like a formality, since the final report always indicated no change in the minor heart condition that I’ve had since I was little. This time, however, my doctor decided to do one more test — mostly out of curiosity, rather than an inclination something was wrong. I would wear a heart monitor for 24 hours, just so there would be no doubt everything was stable.

“Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Everything we have in this world could be taken away in an instant.” Tweet Share on Facebook
Several days later, I was asked to come back to the hospital right away. When I saw the doctor, he unfolded several pieces of paper in front of me, each containing a long sequence of squiggly lines. He pointed out one particular area where the lines differed from the rest. As he began to explain what they meant, the only thing I heard was, “You almost died that night.”

It happened while I was sleeping. No warning. No symptoms. I was totally unaware. For one split second, my heart did not beat correctly. If it had lasted a few moments longer, I would not have woken up the next morning.

That one episode sent me into a spiral of tests and appointments. A team of doctors worked to explain why it happened and if it might happen again. No cause was found and no explanation could be given. We hoped and assumed it would not happen again.

Holding onto the Temporal

During this time, I remember sitting in my hospital room and having fear and anxiety overtake me. Chronic illness has been part of my life since the beginning, but the burden suddenly felt too heavy for me. What if it did happen again? What if it turned out differently? There was nothing I could do to stop it.

In those moments, I became more aware than ever that life is fragile. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Everything we have in this world could be taken away in an instant. Still, we often believe we have some amount of control over our lives. Overwhelming fear invades when reality confronts us, leaving us frantically grasping for control we do not have. The harder we work to hold it together, the more fear threatens to enslave us.

“In the stillness of reflecting on what God has done and what he can do, he assures that he is fighting for us.” Tweet Share on Facebook
We tightly wrap our hands around things that will inevitably fade into dust (Ecclesiastes 3:19–20), forgetting that our lives belong to the Lord, to begin and end as he ordains (Job 1:21). He will be faithful to accomplish the plan he has for us (Psalm 138:8). It cannot be cut short before he allows. Although it may be hard to relinquish the illusion of control, once we do, we can begin to understand the reality of his protection.

Battles We Cannot See

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, it was no easy process. Once they left, Pharaoh came after them, intending to take their lives. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites were trapped up against a body of water.

The miracle that God preformed in parting the Red Sea was something Israel could see unfold right in front of them. His protection was immediately evident and tangible. God’s protection over our lives may not appear in the same way today, but he has not stopped parting the Red Seas in our lives.

Whether the Israelites lived or died, it was all within God’s control. But when fear overwhelmed them and they began to desire their enslavement over rallying the faith it would require to walk the journey toward the freedom God had promised, Moses reminded them, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14). I do not think it’s a coincidence that as Psalm 46 reminds us of God’s great power and sovereignty, we are compelled to be still and know that he is God (Psalm 46:10). In the stillness of reflecting on what God has done and what he can do, he assures that he is fighting for us.

A war between life and death ensued in my heart that night while I slept. But God not only protected my life, he graciously protected me from the fight. The battle was not mine. There was nothing I could do to guard myself. And while I rested in the safety of his hands, he fought for me.

The Victory Won

Death and illness are part of this world, but they are not the end of our story. Because of Christ, these things have no lasting power. It may seem like they continually win the battle with our physical lives, but the victory of the war belongs to the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:55–57). Because of this, our burdens have been lifted. The illusion of control is broken down. Fear fades into confidence in his strength. We are reminded that nothing can ever happen outside of God’s plan (Job 12:10). His plan is unfolding, and he fights against anything that tries to interfere. The world will not win. It cannot steal you from God’s hand.

“One day we will look back on all the battles God fought on our behalf and praise his eternal victory.” Tweet Share on Facebook
No matter what his plan entails, he is walking alongside us through the deep waters — through the halls of hospitals — toward his promises. He is guiding and protecting us each step of the way. Fear may threaten to take over as we wait to see where he leads us next, but we can be assured we will receive the ultimate promise of life given to every believer (Romans 8:38–39). One day, we will be free from this world. Death and suffering will be no more (Revelation 21:4). We will look back on all the battles he fought on our behalf and praise his eternal victory.

AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL

AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL

http://www.setapartgirl.com/devotional/center-it-all
by Leslie Ludy | December 29, 2011
C.T. Studd wrote, “Marriage can either be a great blessing or a great curse, depending on where you place the Cross.”

Eric and I recently celebrated our 17th anniversary. Looking back over our many adventure-filled years together, I have found the above statement to be absolutely true. Eric and I are more in love with each other now than we were on our wedding day. And yet, this is not because we are perfect communicators, or that we never say hurtful things to each other, or because our life is replete with roses and romantic sonnets. Rather, it is because Jesus Christ has remained at the center of our marriage. By God’s grace, we have purposed to approach each other with a selfless attitude – focusing on washing the other person’s feet, rather than constantly evaluating if our spouse is perfectly meeting all of our needs. We do not always excel in carrying this out, but serving each other has been our focus and aim every year that we have been together.

I have learned over the years that nothing will kill marriage intimacy faster than selfishness. Whenever I take my eyes off the cross of Jesus Christ, I begin focusing on what I want and what I need, rather than on pouring my life out in selfless service to my spouse. And suddenly I find myself nagging, nitpicking, and criticizing, rather than loving, serving, and giving to my husband.

There are many simple principles of the Gospel that can easily be overlooked in a marriage – commands like “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “love is not rude” often seem far more difficult to apply to marriage than to any other relationship. For some reason, marriage seems like the one place where it is somehow acceptable to fight and claw for our own wants and needs, and to complain about all the shortcomings of the other person. But if we are not willing to live out the Gospel in our marriage relationships, we will not be truly capable of living out the Gospel in any other sphere of life. When the cross of Jesus Christ remains at the forefront of a marriage, self-denial and sacrificial love are the natural result. And that is the only kind of love that can truly stand the test of time.

Eric and I do have a romantic life together. We love to go on special getaways, have special date-nights, and write each other special letters. And yet, I know it is not romance that has kept us thriving for seventeen years – it is the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ultimate Bridegroom, and He has set the pattern for our earthly marriages. Though self-denial and selfless love is not always the most gratifying way to approach marriage, in the long run, it is truly the most satisfying.*

A Prayer For Broken or Strained Relationships

A Prayer For Broken or Strained Relationships
By Sophia Vilceus
http://theprayingwoman.com/a-prayer-for-broken-or-strained-relationships/

A Prayer For Broken or Strained RelationshipsI’ve been extremely reflective in regards to some recent relationships that have gone awry.

I have been unconstructively ruminating over offensive situations, to the point where I  have had consecutive nights of vivid dreams about loved ones who I no longer share a healthy relationship with.

My sub-conscious has been speaking to me.

I’ve wondered, “why can’t I just get this person out of my head?” I’ve searched my heart to check if there was some residue of unforgiveness still left in me for these people. And I can truly say there is not.

So I continue to pray for my loved ones who I need to love from a distance. But I can truly say there has been an unsettling feeling that I’ve gotten because of that. And it dawned on me today why I have felt unsettled.

I realized that I have felt unsettled, not because I was harboring unforgiveness or because God was prompting me to reconcile, but simply because I have been rejected. Rejected by people who I have loved well, who I have prayed fervently for, who I have honored with my love. It is one thing to be rejected by an outsider, or a job; it is another thing to be rejected by family or people who vowed to love you as such.



God spoke to me about this rejection while I was doing a simple, mundane task– as He so often does. I was pruning my house plants. I went to get my scissors to chop off the dead parts of my plants. As I was pruning one particularly, large plant, the dead parts began to simply fall away at my touch. I did not even need my scissors. And God said to me, “only things that are dead can fall away so easily.”

That gave me tremendous peace. I realized that it wasn’t so much that I was mourning healthy ties that I desired to keep. I knew these relationships were fragile, unhealthy, and one-sided.

I was more so offended that people opted to fall away from me. God reminded me that relationships that are ordained by Him, that are healthy, and conducive to my Spiritual Walk, will not so easily wither and fall away.

If you are having trouble maneuvering through hurt feelings, I encourage you to lift up this prayer that is helping me:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your love. Thank You for teaching me how to love.

I thank You for all the good, healthy, loving people you have placed in my circle–both birth family, and chosen family.

Lord, help me pray for those who have not loved me well. Give me Your Peace, as I learn who I need to love at a distance to safeguard my heart and my well-being.

Help me get passed the offense and help me to love in spite of.

Give me the grace to forgive. The wisdom to know when to reconcile. And the willingness to find closure in the absence of an apology.

Thank You for reminding me that every person who does not love me well, only gives me a greater capacity to love others better.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

How a Man Loves a Woman

How a Man Loves a Woman

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-a-man-loves-a-woman

Thumb ben stuart vtvso4yv Article by Ben Stuart
Pastor, Washington, D.C.
“How do I love my wife well?” Young husbands frequently ask me this question, and it is a great one to ask. They are often faced with a laundry list of good tips: prioritize date nights, lead family prayer times, organize evening devotionals, take walks together, buy her flowers, write poetry, help around the house, etc.

I have found that these lists can be extremely helpful examples or extremely tyrannizing laws. If you anxiously try to accomplish them all, the stress could steal the joy of your marriage.

So what do we do? Is there one guiding principle that can help us navigate marriage well? I believe so. I believe we see it clearly in Genesis.

God Initiates

Genesis 1:2 presents a problem: “The earth was without form and void . . . ” “Formless” means quite literally that it lacked form; it had no structure. “Void” means that it had no content. It was not full of anything. No form, no fullness. No structure, no content.

Then God initiates. He spends the first three days of creation building structure: first air, then sea, then land. He fashions the static systems necessary to sustain life.

Then in the following three days he fills these structures with content. He fills the air with birds, the sea with sea creatures, then the land with animals.

God sees formlessness and void and responds by bringing form and fullness. He creates order, but not stuffy, stifling order. It is order specifically designed to maximize the flourishing of life! This is our God. He brings structure, then content; form, then fullness; order, then flourishing.

Foundations for Flourishing

You see a similar rhythm play out in Genesis 2. God places the man in the garden. Though the garden is truly a “delight,” it is not yet all that it could be. Thus God commands the man to “work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). God charges the man to take the raw materials he has been given and structure the environment in such a way that promotes the flourishing of all the living things under his care. This is the role of man in the image of God!

“Men are meant to create structures so that life can flourish.” Tweet Share on Facebook
Men are meant to create structures so that life can flourish. We create farms where the conditions can be perfectly calibrated to maximize the fruitfulness of the trees. We create ranches where animals can grow strong. We create financial structures where investments can reach their full potential. And, in the home, we create an environment where our wives and children can flourish in every area under God.

This is the mindset we are meant to take into our marriage: “How do I structure our family life so that everyone can flourish?” Certain constants will be present in every Christian home: study of the Bible, prayer, time together, time apart, etc. And yet we have the freedom to organize these constants in a way that best suits our particular spouses and children.

Crucial Questions to Ask

Therefore as husbands we wake up every day and ask ourselves, How can I best organize the time, energy, money, and relationships that the Lord has given me to allow my wife to best flourish as a woman under God? Regarding time, have I given her enough time alone, away from the kids, to meet with God devotionally? How much time does she need? How will I create that space?

Have I given her enough time to meet with other women for support and encouragement? Have I given her enough time with me? With regard to our money, have I allocated it in the best way in order to fund those things that stir her affections for the Lord? How can I make that happen? What best helps her rest well? Vacation? Hobbies? Books?

“Jesus Christ gave all in order to create the ideal circumstances for us to flourish as children of God.” Tweet Share on Facebook
For some of you the greatest gift you can give your wife is a night to get dressed up and hit the town. Others of you could go for a cheaper date night and use those funds to buy some lumber so she can build a picnic table (don’t laugh; that’s where my wife comes alive!).

With this approach, we are not tyrannized by a list of things we are supposed to be doing, but rather we are liberated to be excellent students of our wives. We are free to consider how we can use the resources God has given us to best love them.

Just Like Jesus

In many ways that is what Jesus did for us. He gave his life in order to create an environment where we can flourish under God. What do we need to be fully alive in God? The word of God? He came and preached it. The removal of our sin? He took it away on the cross. The indwelling power of the Spirit of God? He released the Spirit into us! A community of brothers and sisters? He created the Church.

Jesus Christ gave all in order to create the ideal circumstances for us to flourish as children of God. We husbands are called to love our wives the same way. We give of our resources so that they can be all they were meant to be as the daughters of God. This pleases him and blesses them.

Testing a Man's True Character

Testing a Man's True Character
with Leslie Ludy | February 20, 2017

http://setapartgirl.com/podcasts/testing-a-man-s-true-character

PODCAST SHOW NOTES

Kesimpulanku dr sini: ga blh ksh tau kriteria2 apa aja..rahasia..plg yg umum2 doank..trus kalo jauh n LDR, tetep hrs bertemu spy tahu sifat2 asli..

If you are a single woman, chances are you’ve felt discouraged or frustrated by the state of modern masculinity. In this encouraging episode, Leslie offers hope-filled, Biblical answers to two common questions that Christian single women ask:
“Do godly men really exist anymore?” and “How do I know if a man is truly Christ-focused and marriage-ready?” Using candid real-life examples and practical insights, Leslie shares helpful principles for guarding your heart, protecting your feminine mystery, and testing a man’s true character.
Listen as Leslie Shares:
The focus of a Christ-centered man
Character traits to look for in a potential spouse
Advice on choosing patience over panic in seasons of singleness
The potential dangers of digitally-based interaction
PODCAST TRANSCRIPT
INTRODUCTION:
Leslie Ludy: Hi everyone, it’s Leslie Ludy, host of the Set Apart Girl Podcast: Biblical Encouragement for Women of All Ages. Today in our relationship series we’re going to be talking about how to test a man’s true character. So for you single women out there, this is a great episode for you to listen to as far as determining if a man is truly worthy of your heart.
So two questions that single women are asking a lot today are, first, do godly men really exist? Because it’s very easy to look around this world and become discouraged and disheartened and think, We can have these great fairy tale ideals of these Christ-focused, honorable men, but what if I don’t see any in my own life? Should I actually still hold onto that hope that there are men like that out there? A lot of women are settling for less than God’s best for their lives because simply they don’t believe that godly men really exist — that honorable, Christ-focused men are out there. They think, Well, I’d rather avoid being alone for the rest of my life, and be with someone who is less than ideal because of my loneliness. But I want to answer that question, do godly men really exist?
The second question that single women are asking a lot is the question: how do I know if a guy is truly godly? Say you do meet a man, and you think that he might be marriage material, how do you really know if he is the real deal? In this episode we’re going to go into those two questions in detail.
QUESTION NO. 1: DO GODLY MEN REALLY EXIST?
Leslie Ludy: So the first question: do godly men really exist? Yes, they do! And I will say that Eric and I have travelled around the world in the past 20 years, and we’ve been very surprised and encouraged to find so many amazing, godly, Christ-centered men that God is raising up in this generation.
The reason that a lot of times single women do not see them often in daily life is because they aren’t found in the typical places that guys go to hang out and look for girls. Usually they’re not going to be in singles’ groups and on the prowl for women. They’re not going to be out on a Friday night looking for a good time. Where godly men can be found is oftentimes behind the scenes. Usually they’re in the prayer closet. They’re witnessing to the unsaved. Maybe they’re on the mission field. They’re serving at home. They’re being faithful in the small things that God has given them to do. They are building the Kingdom of God. So if you’re not seeing godly men don’t be discouraged because they do exist, but they’re not usually front and center trying to get a woman’s attention.
One thing that you’ll discover is that as you build your life around Christ and around God’s priorities, more and more you will begin to see godly, Christ-focused men. As you begin to spend your time on the very same things — in prayer, and evangelism, serving on the mission field, and building the Kingdom of God— you will naturally be drawn toward other godly Christians, including young single men, who are on that same path.
I remember when I was a young woman in my mid-teens, my mid-to-late teens, I had been in a public school, and I had really not seen any truly, godly men. I had seen guys who called themselves Christians and went to youth group and professed Christianity, but it really wasn’t until my life was completely centered around Christ’s priorities that I began to meet men of true godly character — men who didn’t just say that they valued God and had a relationship with Christ, but men who’s lives were truly different, and didn’t reflect the value systems of this world. As I began to center my life around Christ, I developed some really precious friendships with some brothers in Christ who were on that same path and it was so encouraging for me to realize that godly men did exist, and it was as I built my life around God’s priorities for my life that I began to find them.
QUESTION NO. 2: HOW DO YOU TEST A MAN’S CHARACTER?
Leslie Ludy: So testing a man’s true character. How do you know if a guy is truly godly, rather than just saying he’s a believer? There are a lot of deceptive men out there today who can masquerade as strong Christians, but if you really get down to the brass tacks of who they are in the inner life, they are not truly centered around Jesus Christ.
Now of course we’re not waiting for perfection. We’re not looking for a man who is perfectly reflective of Jesus Christ in every single area of his life every moment of every day because we probably will not find that this side of heaven. But what’s important is the aim, the focus, and the direction of his life. Is Jesus Christ truly his greatest desire, his All in all, his focus for his life? Here are some ways that you can observe a man and test his true character to find out whether he really is building his life around God’s priorities.
#1. OBSERVE HIS INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS
Leslie Ludy: First of all, how does he treat his family members? Oftentimes we overlook this as a step for determining who a man really is, but if you can look at the way he treats his mother, his siblings, his sister … does he treat them with honor, with respect, with sensitivity? Or does he make fun of them and disregard them? How does he treat people who can’t elevate his popularity status? And how does he act when people can’t see him — when he doesn't even realize that other people are watching him? Guys can very easily put on a good show, and even get up on stage with their guitar and lead worship, but what about when it’s time to clear tables, or stack chairs, or wash dishes, or things that are not as appreciated and applauded? Is he willing to do those things? Spend time observing how a man treats his family members, how he treats the people who really can’t help him gain anything in this life. How does he act in the mundane tasks — the tasks that aren’t going to bring him a lot of human glory and applause? Is he truly more consumed with Christ than anything else?
I’ll never forget one time, before Eric and I were married, we were on a missions trip, and we were leading this vacation Bible school with a large group of other Christians. I remember around lunch time I was with some of the women. We were making about 50 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for these inner city children, and Eric and some of the other young men were entertaining the kids and playing games with them.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy trip and fall, and start crying. Then I watched Eric go over to him and encourage him, tend to his needs, minister to him, and show sensitivity to him. In that situation he had no idea I was watching him. He had no idea anyone was watching him, but it gave me a little glimpse into the gentleness, and tenderness, and outward-focusedness that God was cultivating in his life.
#2. TEST THE LEVEL OF HIS COMMITMENT TO CHRIST
Leslie Ludy: I saw in Eric, as I observed his life, that he was more interested in talking about Jesus than about anything else. Anytime I was in a conversation with him the subject would always come back to that. Now, it didn’t mean that he wouldn’t talk about other things, but he was more excited about Jesus, and the things of God, and his relationship with Christ than anything else in his life. And that excitement was actually contagious! It inspired me to grow deeper in my relationship with God, and that is really a key testing point as well.
If you are wondering whether a man is truly built around Jesus Christ, when you are spending time with him are you inspired and motivated to grow in your own relationship with Christ? Or do you feel that being around him is distracting you from your relationship with Christ? That’s a really, really great way to test his true character, and to test the value of his relationship with Christ in his life.
Eric was more interested in pursuing Christ than in pursuing a girl. When I was building a friendship with him he wasn’t pursuing other girls. He wasn't dating. He was completely trusting God to say, “Lord, You will show me if I’m supposed to get married. You’ll show me who the girl is, and I’m not going to go out there on the hunt for a girl.” That gave him so much more time to grow in his relationship with Christ and spend his time on God’s priorities because he wasn’t spending all of his spare time in the singles’ scene and trying to get hooked up with somebody. It was really inspiring to watch him as our friendship unfolded, because he truly was so secure and confident in his relationship with Christ that he didn’t have to flirt or try to gain girls’ attention. He was honorable towards his family. Earlier in his life he had actually been very dishonorable towards his family members, but God had done a work in his heart, and he was learning how to speak with sensitivity and honor towards his mom and his sister — to build them up and to encourage them. He was Christ-like behind the scenes. Even in those moments when it didn’t seem like anyone was watching him, he was very consistent and very Christ-like.
#3. REST IN GOD’S PERFECT TIMING
Leslie Ludy: So those are some of the ways you can observe a man to find out if he truly is godly. Now if you’re unsure, don’t be in a hurry. A lot of times when you are single and you see a guy with these glimmers of godliness, you feel this panic like,
If I don’t figure out if this is the right guy for me in the next week, he’ll be taken by someone else! And I think a lot of times that is because we don’t see a lot of godly guys. But like I said, God is raising up more and more Christ-built, honorable men all the time, and if His plan and purpose for you is marriage, He will bring the right man to you in the right time. You don’t need to be in a rush. You don’t need to be in a panic mode when you see a guy that might be marriage material. Take time to let God reveal to you his true character. Take time to really observe him and understand who he is, not who he wants you to see, or who he is on social media, or who he is when everyone’s watching — but who he really is at the core of his being.
Now remember, it is better to be single for the rest of your life then to settle for less than God’s best for you in this area. I have known many married women who regret their decision because they were in a hurry. They were impatient, and they married a non-Christian (or someone who was not truly honorable and built around the priorities of Heaven), and they have struggled their entire marriage with not being likeminded with their spouse because they were in such a rush, and they did settle for less than a Christ-focused man.
Singleness has been looked at as something bad, something to avoid at all costs, and yet God has a tremendous purpose for singleness whether it’s for a short season or for the rest of your life. So it’s not something to be avoided like the plague. It’s something that God can work tremendously through the single years of your life. Don’t be afraid of singleness. When you make Jesus Christ your All in all, singleness is definitely not something to dread or something to fear. It can be an amazing season of your life.
#4. MONITOR DIGITAL AND REAL LIFE INTERACTION
The other thing to be aware of when you’re testing a man’s true character is the difference between digital life versus real life interaction. With everything going on in our culture with online dating, and dating apps, and social media – it’s so easy to try to base a man’s character on what you see of him online. What does he post on Facebook? What does he write on his blog? What’s on his online dating profile? (Which I really hope you’re not looking at online dating profiles, but a lot of girls do!) It’s easy to think, Oh! This guy looks so amazing! He looks so great! But keep in mind that when a guy is posting something about himself online he’s doing it knowing that everyone is going to see it — knowing that everyone will be evaluating how he looks, what he sounds like, and what he’s saying.
I think I’ve told this story in previous episodes of a young woman that I knew who used her personal blog like a diary. She wrote down on her blog everything that she was looking for in a husband, and then came along a young man who was interested in her, and he wasn’t marriage material — at all. But he used his social media and his blog to brag about all of these qualities, and they just happened to be the same qualities that she wanted in a husband. He was like, “This is the type of man I am!” And he listed all these qualities, and that was a disastrous situation because she was evaluating him based on a digital reality instead of real life interaction.
It’s not bad to have some digital interaction, with the opposite sex in some way as long as it’s done honorably, but that should not be your primary way of determining a man’s character and looking at who he really is. You need to observe him in real life, or you won’t really know who he is. Men can come across as the perfect gentlemen on blogs and social media, but we have to see how they live, not just the words that they say.
AN INSPIRING TRUE STORY
Leslie Ludy: Now there’s a great example of this in a true story that happened during World War II. I have told this in previous articles, and in different courses, and events, but if you haven’t heard this before, it’s the story of John Blanchard and Harliss Maynell. So I’m just going to read you the story, and it’s such an amazing picture of a young woman who was willing to wait for an honorable man and willing to put him to the test. So here’s the story:
Lieutenant John Blanchard stood in Grand Central Station. He was oblivious to the crowd that was scurrying all around him. With a racing heart he fixed his eyes on the big clock towering overhead. It was almost time! At six o’clock he would meet the girl that he thought he loved, but had never met. As the minutes ticked by he kept wondering what color her eyes would be, and what her voice would sound like when he heard her speak for the very first time. John’s mind drifted back over all that had happened in the past few years, ever since his pilot training days in Florida at the beginning of World War II. He had visited a library on his day off, and he picked up a book and started thumbing through the pages. His eye had immediately been drawn to the beautiful and insightful notes that someone had written in the margins of the book. He found himself wishing he could meet this mysterious person who seemed so kind and wise.
He flipped to the front of the book and saw a name — Harliss Maynell, New York City. On a whim he decided to try to find her. He tracked down a New York City phonebook and looked up her address. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her name and address listed in the phone book. He wrote her a short letter telling her how he found her name, and expressing how much he appreciated the ideas and insights that she expressed in the margins of the book.
The day after he wrote the letter he was shipped overseas to fight in the war. To his amazement she replied to his letter! Her letter was forwarded to him overseas. It was just like the note she had written in the pages of the book — it was gentle, kind, full of grace and wisdom. So they began corresponding. All throughout his time as an Air Force pilot during the war, Harliss’s letters brought him joy and comfort in the middle of darkness and fear. Every time he flew over Germany and heard the bombs all around him he never knew if he would make it out alive. He confessed his fears to Harliss, and she encouraged him with Scripture and told him to look to God for strength.
As they continued to write, John began to realize he was falling in love with this amazing woman named Harliss. He wrote, “Please send me a picture of you.” But she replied, “No, I won’t. Relationships are not built on what people look like.” Still he was intrigued by her and longed to meet her in person. He was elated when he found out that he could finally return to the United States on leave. He wrote to her and asked if he could meet her in New York and take her to dinner. She had arranged to meet him on the day of his arrival at Grand Central Station at 6 o’clock underneath the big clock. “You’ll know who I am because I’ll be wearing a red rose.” She told him in her letter.
At last the day had come! John fidgeted nervously as the clock struck six, his eyes glancing this way and that. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a beautiful young woman in a pale green suit walking towards him, a smile on her face. Her blond hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears, and she had sparkling blue eyes. She was one of the loveliest women John had ever seen! Excitedly he started towards her entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a red rose. As he looked at her, she tilted her head teasingly, “Going my way, soldier?” she said. John took a step closer to her, and just then he saw another woman standing directly behind the girl in the green suit with a bright red rose pinned to her coat.
It was Harliss Maynell, the woman John had been waiting to meet for the past two years. His heart sank. She was a plump woman well past forty. She had greying hair tucked under a worn hat. Her thick ankles were thrust into low shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. John had to make a choice. Should he follow after the beauty who had just spoken to him? Or stay and face Harliss Maynell? He made his decision, and he did not hesitate. Choking back disappointment, he turned to the woman and smiled. This would not be love, but maybe it would be something even better — a precious friendship for which John would always be eternally grateful.
“You must be Miss Maynell?” He said kindly extending his hand to her. “I’m so glad you could meet me. Will you join me for dinner?” The old woman’s face broadened into a smile.
“I don’t know what this is all about, son.” She replied. “But did you see that young woman in the green suit who just went by? I met her on the train. She asked me to wear this rose in my coat. She said that if you should ask me to dinner to tell you she’s waiting for you in that big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of a test.”
Wow! What an incredible story! Now what did Harliss Maynell have that most women today don’t? She was willing to put him to the test. Most women today, if they were being pursued by a handsome Air Force pilot, would be very aggressive at sending him selfies, texting him all day long, and trying to keep him interested. She was willing to actually lose the relationship to find out if this man was truly honorable or if he was just motivated by selfishness.
Another name for what Harliss Maynell exemplified in that situation is what I like to call feminine mystery, and it’s also called strength and dignity in Proverbs 31. In Proverbs 31:25, it says, “Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future” (NASB). But the femininity of today’s world exudes the opposite of strength or dignity. Today’s femininity is weak, desperate for approval and attention, and undignified — self-promoting and in your face. Why is that so? Well, the answer is found in the next line of the verse. A woman of strength and dignity smiles at the future . When we are not satisfied in Christ we can’t smile at the future. Therefore, we can’t have the strength and the dignity that the Proverbs 31 woman has. Instead we throw our feminine mystery to the wind in an attempt to get the one thing that we think will secure our future and make us really happy.
In 1 Timothy 5:11-12, Paul is talking about young widows who cast off their first love because they desire to get married. He says, “…for when they feel sensual desires and disregard of Christ, they want to get married…” (NASB) “…thus incurring condemnation, because they have cast off their first faith”. And if you take a deeper look at what that means, to “cast off their first faith” means to disregard their convictions about putting Christ above all, and to believe that something besides Christ can bring them ultimate happiness. That is what single young women do so often today, doing whatever it takes to find their Prince Charming, posting selfies, doing online dating, flirting with guys — basically doing the opposite of what Harliss Maynell did with John Blanchard.
If you want to know the outcome of manipulative femininity just read the biblical story of Isaac and Ishmael. It gives us a glimpse of what happens when we become impatient and try to manipulate our circumstances. I love the famous quote that says, “God always gives his very best to those who leave the choice to Him.” And that is certainly true in the area of relationships!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Leslie Ludy: So, some final thoughts I want to share. The number one reason that women settle for less than God’s best for them in a man is because they are insecure and impatient, not finding their ultimate fulfillment in Christ alone. Waiting for God’s timing doesn’t mean hibernating away in a cave and never talking with the opposite sex, but it means trusting in His perfect timing and yielding to Him daily — letting Him bring the right man into your life in His own time and in His own way without manipulation and without impatience. And it means trusting that God can bring this kind of man into your life and not settling for less than one who's character has been tested and proven. Remember that God cares more about this area of your life than even you do, and the Bible says that if we put our hope in Him we will not be put to shame.
I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s episode! For more on this topic please visit www. setapartgirl.com , or the new Secrets to an Amazing Love Story online course available at
www.braveheartedchristian.com . I pray you have a blessed and Christ-centered week!
"Jim Elliot." AZQuotes.com. Wind and Fly LTD, 2017. 18 February 2017. http://www.azquotes.com/quote/88553

Pimpinan Tuhan dan cinta

Parafrase hikmat yg kudpt dr buku yg kupinjem dr mb Mona:
Jika tidak bisa berkomunikasi secara mendalam dari hati ke hati, jangan mau menikah dengannya...Kalau kalian hanya bisa membicarakan ttg film, makanan, minuman, dan semua yg umum2 saja, lebih baik ditinggalkan..Kalian bs membicarakan semua itu dengan orang2 yg baru dikenal di mall...Salah satu faktor penting dlm pernikahan adalah keterbukaan komunikasi dan saling memahami...Pasangan haruslah menjadi sahabat terbaikmu..😀

"Pimpinan Tuhan dan cinta tidak dapat dipisahkan. Keduanya harus ada." D. Scheunemann dlm sebuah buku ttg romantika...

Uang DAPAT Membeli Kebahagiaan - parenting

Uang DAPAT Membeli Kebahagiaan
Siapa bilang uang tidak dapat membeli kebahagiaan? Bisa koq.
Pertama, dapati kebahagiaan dengan memperkuat ikatan sosial. Belikan adik Anda tiket nonton konser, lalu menontonlah bersama-sama. Atau belikan diri sendiri tiket untuk pulang ke kampung halaman, lalu berliburlah seminggu di sana dengan mengunjungi satu per satu saudara dan tetangga Anda.
Kedua, kurangi atau akhiri pertikaian di dalam rumah tangga Anda. Remaja Anda suka membantah dan melanggar aturan? Mintalah ia rutin mencuci mobil Anda. Kalau sudah 30 kali mencuci, ajaklah ia pergi nonton film berdua saja. Atau suami Anda jarang memperhatikan Anda? Belikan ia barang-barang sesuai hobinya dan pujilah tiap kali ia mengutak-atik mesin mobilnya. Lama kelamaan, ia juga akan mulai memperhatikan Anda.
Ketiga, mulai pikirkan kebutuhan Anda sendiri. Salah satu cara terbaik mendapatkan kebahagiaan adalah dengan suasana hati yang positif. Kalau suasana hati nyaman itu bisa terbantu dengan mendengarkan musik, berarti membeli iPod adalah investasi yang bagus.
Keempat, utamakan rasa gembira. Gunakan uang Anda untuk memperoleh pengalaman-pengalaman yang menyenangkan daripada sekadar membeli barang-barang. Ya, belilah "pengalaman," bukan barang.
Kelima, uang juga dapat membeli ketenangan dan rasa aman. Caranya? Gunakan uang Anda untuk membayar hutang-hutang Anda dan perbanyak tabungan.
Keenam, belanjalah makanan sehat. Jangan gunakan uang untuk mengonsumsi makanan yang malah merusak kesehatan.
Ketujuh, berbagi. Gunakan uang Anda untuk menolong orang lain, entah anak yatim, menyumbang sekolah di tempat pembuangan sampah, atau bergiat dalam LSM internasional.
Selamat berbahagia dengan uang Anda.
Page
Dono Baswardono
# Happiness # MoneyCanBuyHappiness # Wellness # MentalHealth

My Birthday 😀

Halo2...
Mau bercerita ttg ultahku..
Jd pas aku ultah, c Yenny tiba2 dtg k rmh..
Bawa kado sm kue tart..
Trus kita poto2 d cafe gitu..
Mengagetkan..dia ga blg2 dlu..
C yenny emg sahabat yg lucu n tdk sombong..

Hbs itu mlm nya aku ada seminar bisnis..
Oya aku dpt gratisan go food gara2 sering pake..
pesen mie, nasi goreng ma jus jambu..jus jambu nya lbh yummy..

Trus ttg CG Disciple...pas komsel..ksh kado sm kue brownies yg creamer nya byk skali..Lilinnya kue brownies nya patah..
Hahah...lucu bgt..tinggal 7 doank gtu..
Ada yg blg 7 angka kesempurnaan dlm Bible..
Jd teringat ayat ini..tiba2 cling2...
Matius 18:21-22 (TB)  Mengampuni 70x7x.... artinya tak terhingga...
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Amsal 24:16 (TB)  Sebab tujuh kali orang benar jatuh, namun ia bangun kembali, tetapi orang fasik akan roboh dalam bencana.
Intinya jgn menyerah...jatuh tetep bangun bersama Tuhan..

.
Hehe..oya td aku ikut rally mahasiswa Perkantas..
Inti firman Nya...
Hidup yg hanya setitik kecil ini akan berdampak besar untuk kekekalan ribuan tahun kalau kita sungguh2 memanfaatkan hidup dengan baik dan melakukan hal2 yg bermanfaat utk kekekalan...
Tetap setia n taat pd Tuhan..sekecil apapun itu..
Miliki perspektif yg benar n jauh k dpn agar tdk sutris n penuaan dini..
Fokus pd Tuhan, bukan hidup pribadi yg akan sgera berakhir..
Jia you..
Mat 28:19-20..
Td jg didoain mas Gun..spy aku ma pasanganku jd berkat buat kluarga n org2 lain..trus kita mjd terang yg berdampak bagi kekekalan..
Trus pasangan nya siapa?
Belum tau..msh doa n penelitian2 saat didekati..
Yg jelas gue ga bakalan mau sm orang yg suka tebar2 pesona ke byk cewek..gue bukan pilihan kedua, ketiga, dst..jd kalo ga setia, ga usah deketin aku krn sdh pasti kutolak mentah2..kcuali klo urusan bisnis, kuterima gpp..tp klo pasangan, jgn berharap..
 wkwk...
Thanks buat doa2 n ucapan2 nya..sm ayat2 nya..
Teringat siaran radio wkt mb Mona menginspirasi ttg tdk perlu menghitung brp byk yg ingat kita n mengucapi..tdk usah hitung brp byk yg ksh hadiah.. tdk mengucapi n tdk memberi kado jg tdk apa2...yg penting berterima kasih..
Makasih utk orang2 yg sudah berkontribusi dalam hidupku,,baik itu jadi pelajaran yg sekedar lewat...maupun orang2 yg selalu mendoakan n menguatkan di jatuh bangun hidupku,,,
. GBU all...

4 Ways To Discern If An Open Door Is From God

4 Ways To Discern If An Open Door Is From God
By TPW

http://theprayingwoman.com

Is it an open door from God or are you trying to kick the door open?
Here are 4 Ways To Discern If An Open Door Is From God:
The Open Door Points to God’s Glory
No door that God opens will contradict Scripture. If an opportunity arises that requires for you to go against God’s word, it’s not from God. If it requires for you to compromise your beliefs and morals, it’s not from God. If it makes you feel more guilty than good, it’s not from God. If it doesn’t feel right, more than likely it’s not.
Loving God means obeying His commandments (2 John 1:6). If someone says they know Him but doesn’t keep His commandments, he is not of God (1 John 2:3) and God calls him or her a liar (1 John 2:4). Obedience to God glorifies Him.
You Won’t Have to Force it
Jesus is the one who opens doors.
‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelation 3:8).
If the door simply won’t open for you to do something, then that door is not supposed to be opened. Even jimmying the lock or trying to break the door down won’t work. Pray for God to reveal to you which door you are to walk through and make it obvious to you by opening a door that you can’t.
The Door Makes You Utterly Dependent on Him
If you can manage to go through a door and not need God’s help for anything, then you might be walking through a door in your own flesh, depending on the strength of your own arm, which isn’t a good indication of God opening a door for you. God wants us to be totally dependent upon Him because any work we do is for Him anyway. Jesus said we can’t do anything without Him (John 15:5), and we won’t be able to produce any fruit of God at all without Him (John 15:4).
The Door Opens by Itself
I touched on this briefly in the second paragraph, but this is a bit different. You know the automatic doors you find at the stores? These doors open because they have an electronic eye and they can sense when someone’s about to walk into the store. In the same way, we might have to simply try to go through a door that’s shut at the moment to see if God wants us to walk through it. There may be no reason for God to open a door until He sees you are going to walk through it. He may be waiting for you to “go” before you can “enter” and watching for you to take that first step of faith.
Conclusion
I am not saying that you must have all of these indications because God will make it clear to you in time but until then, pray to God, seek His will, counsel with others, petition their prayers for God’s will for your life, and trust Him. Start taking steps to go through a door that might seem closed for now. Perhaps God is waiting to see if you’ll trust Him to take the first step.
TPW

Tuhan dekatkan 2 hati 😍

Buat yg kurang memahami bhs Inggris, intinya quote2 d atas: Godly man itu bisa menjaga hati jadi tidak bercabang2 ke banyak orang tapi setia karena memahami bahwa dia diberi mandat oleh Tuhan. Ketika Tuhan menulis cerita cinta, Tuhan tidak cuma melunakkan 1 hati tapi Tuhan yang mendekatkan 2 hati shg saling mencintai. Dekat itu juga tidak disengaja, tapi semua dalam skenario Tuhan. Kadang ada yang dari kejauhan beda negara, ada yang di 1 kota. Cinta itu ga baik kalau dipaksa. Yang jelas tidak perlu wanita itu mengejar2 pria, soalnya bukan seperti para fans aktor Korea yg ngebet bgt gitu. Let man be man, let woman be woman. Yang seharusnya berinisiatif mendekati adalah pria, kalau terbalik berarti tidak menghormati Tuhan. Sebenarnya mungkin ada puluhan orang yg mendekat, tapi jika kita punya hubungan dekat dengan Tuhan pasti kita diberitahu yang mana orang2 yang hanya merupakan pelajaran numpang lewat, terus yang mana yang setia memotivasi dalam jatuh bangun hidup. Ketika kita menyadari kita seharga nyawa Tuhan Yesus, kita pasti juga tidak dengan sembarangan mau bersama dgn orang2 tidak sepadan yang membebani hidup. I love # true # quotes from many sources...Ora et labora...wait n see...

Masa Kecil yg hilang

Seminar Parents Care Education
Masa Kecil yg hilang
by ibu Maria Herlina.
#parenting #psikologi #strong

Ciri2 org tangguh
1.dpt jalin hubungan
Sosialisasi, bs jd tmn
Btk hub.yg positif

2.selera humor baik
Bs tertawakan diri
Tdk mutung n tersinggung
Disindir tdk ngambek

3.pny internal locus of control
Pilihan/keputusan pd evaluasi internal.
Tg jwb pd keputusan sendiri.

4.perspektive
Menghargai opini org lain

5.mandiri
Jaga jarak thd org yg tdk sehat

6.positif thd ms dpn
Optimis
Harapkan masa dpn positif

7.fleksibilitas
Sesuaikan diri dgn perubahan, berubah utk atasi scr positif

8.suka bljr
Pengembangan diri

9. Motivasi
10.Kompetensi

11.Self worth

12.Spiritualitas.

13.Ketekunan

14.Kreativitas

Jangan Menyerah

Hai2..kmrn tgl merah pas Nyepi aku n tmn2 komsel ke Panti Sayap Ibu..di sana tu org2nya cacat ganda..ada yg ngiler2 mlulu gitu...byk yg autis...

Selama kita msh bernafas, tetaplah berbagi berkat dgn sesama...
Meski kecil, tp bahagia itu kalo bs membuat org lain bahagia..
Masukin pensil mereka dlm botol misalnya...
Kami menyanyikan bbrp lagu bersama...
Salah 1 lagu favorit anak2 yg cacat ini adl jangan menyerah...
Hdp itu persis lagu ini...
Tak ada manusia
Yang terlahir sempurna
Jangan kau sesali
Segala yang telah terjadi
Kita pasti pernah
Dapatkan cobaan yang berat
Seakan hidup ini
Tak ada artinya lagi

Reff :
Syukuri apa yang ada
Hidup adalah anugerah
Tetap jalani hidup ini
Melakukan yang terbaik
Tak ada manusia
Yang terlahir sempurna
Jangan kau sesali
Segala yang telah terjadi
Syukuri apa yang ada
Hidup adalah anugerah
Tetap jalani hidup ini
Melakukan yang terbaik
Tuhan pasti kan menunjukkan
Kebesaran dan kuasa Nya
Bagi hamba Nya yang sabar
Dan tak kenal putus asa
Jangan menyerah
Jangan menyerah
Jangan menyerah
Jangan menyerah
Jangan menyerah
Jangan menyerah

Never give up...

Tetap Memberkati Walau Sendiri

Seminar Tetap Memberkati Walau Sendiri... By ibu Asriningrum..
Seminarnya ga sendirian tp rame2...
Hoho...
Sebenarnya sempet pingin lo..mupeng pas liat instagram tmn2 pd berpasangan gtu konseling pra nikah sm mb Mona..hem secara gitu..mas Gun n mb Mona kan pasangan sepadan...sama ma P Ahok n Bu Vero yg seimbang..keren pokoknya..ya aku berharap sih d masa dpn, aku bs dibimbing konseling pra nikah selain di gereja, juga scr langsung oleh tetinggi Perkantas yg berpengalaman gitu..keren pasti bs belajar dr pasangan2 yg sepadan n slg melengkapi..
Sudah lah krn blm ada calon yg pas, ya aku ikut pembinaan single dulu aja..
Nti klo sdh ada yg sepadan, mg2 ada byk kesempatan belajar..
.
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Apa saja yg perlu diingat selama kita single?
-Jgn peduli pd ejekan2 org. Smua baik single sementara, selibat, menikah, dll itu berharga di mata Tuhan.
-Single lbh bebas dlm melakukan pekerjaan Tuhan krn blm pny anak. Misalnya mission trip.
-Single kembangkan potensi sebyk2nya.
-Selama single, jgn bertindak spt menolong Tuhan. Yg hrs berinisiatif dlm mendekati n menyatakan cinta adalah pria, bukan wanita. Pria jgn terlalu pasif n diam, hrs berinisiatif utk mengenal tp setia bukan k byk org. Hrs berada dlm peran masing2. Kalau terbalik, berarti tdk menghormati peran yg sdh Tuhan ciptakan. Let man be man. Let woman be woman. Tuhan tdk butuh ditolong. Semuanya akan indah pada waktu Nya. Just wait n see. .
-Single jg bs jd teladan bg pertumbuhan org yg menikah.
-Kepenuhan anak2 Tuhan hanya pd Tuhan, bukan pasangan.
Hehe. Ini sudah pernah kutulis d blog ttg rumus benar. God+man=100%. God+woman=100%.
Mzm 73:25, 16:11, 107:9
Ef 4:13
Flp 1:21
Yoh 15:12
1. Single mengasihi n dikasihi shg mengenal Allah sbg kasih.
2. Hdp diisi byk persahabatan n relasi sehat.
3, Bljr jd loveable.
Caranya:
-Penerimaan diri baik n mau menghormati org lain.
-Membangun komunikasi scr terbuka.
-Membangun kebersamaan n pemecahan konflik.
-Pny kestabilan emosi .
.
Kesimpulanku: tetaplah memberkati walau msh single. Nanti kalo sdh berpasangan jg memberkati. Slalu memberkati d smua fase.
Happy # Sunday ...
.
#strong #single #women #happy #seminar #friendship #loveable