Diamond or Stone?

For the past two months, I have been travelling to quite a number of places. It started with 7 days trip to Ranong and Phuket over in Thailand, then, to Sibu, Sarawak for 3 days. From Sarawak, I went to Medan and Brastagi over in Sumatra, Indonesia. And recently, I just came back from Singapore and also to Fraser Hill, Penang and Cameron Highlands.

Sometimes, I wonder why am I so busy and running here and there? Do I need too? or can I just say, I am busy.. next time la! I am tempted too just leave it and give excuse I am busy...hey I really am busy. I am still trying to finish up my thesis for PhD. It already took me a year to write my thesis. After all, I am a student and trying to cope with my time and study...

However, I do feel, I have some obligations to my family. I have not visited them over 3 months back in hometown though they came to my place. I am trying to tell it to my family, I LOVE them. They are always in my thought and I treasure the time I have with them all the time. Everytime. Everywhere.

At the same time, I have to serve God. No matter what, I made it a point that I will continue to serve Him no matter how busy I am. Can I at least give me 10% of my time. Simple mathematics....

24 hours x 10% = 2.4 hours or 144 mins per day!

Thus, I have always set it a side for God.. anytime in the day. I can just do anything for Him. Simple. Serving him always bring joys and happiness. Fulfillment. Satisfaction. Always light. maybe. I do struggle at times. hard press. tired. But, when I commit myself to him, I am always refresh. Strengthen. I have learn to yield myself to Him. One step nearer, thousand steps lighter. One step closer, thousands steps lighter.

Over time, I realise, I am able to cope with my life better. I am able to be more cheerful. happier. Everytime I struggle, and when I come out of it, I overcome problems that will strenghten me. It builts into me personalities and spirit that is stronger.

People from around you will realise you have change. People feel it. My family members knows it. My grandparents admit it. It's different. Praise the Lord for that.

Carbon will remains as carbon if it did not go thru the process of 'compression' and 'heating'. from there, it appear as harden stone. From a stone, it will have to be cut and polish. Then, you will get the DIAMOND.

Every person will have to be press. compress. broken. reshape. mould. polish. then, the full potential will start to shine. We will always have to look deep into the situation we are in to realise there is a reason for it.

To some, rain is bad. scary. flood. Yet, to many, its blessing. However, above all, after all the gloom... we can see the RAINBOW! Nevertheless, RAINBOW doesn't comes easy. Sun ray have to penetrate into the rain drops and behind it, then, you enjoy the rainbow.

Praise the Lord!

Hati Sebagai Hamba (heart as a slave)

by Jonathan Prawira

Kutak membawa apapun juga (I did not bring anything)
Saat ku datang ke dunia (the moment i came to earth)
Ku tinggal semua pada akhirnya (I leave everything at the end of it)
Saat ku kembali ke surga (the moment i go back to heaven)

Inilah yang ku punya (this is what I have)
Hati sebagai hamba (a heart as a slave)
yang mau taat dan setia (who wants to obey and be faithful )
PadaMu Bapa (to You Father)

Kemanapun ku bawa (everywhere I go, I will bring)
hati yang memyembah (a heart that worship)
dalam Roh dan kebenaran (in spirit and in truth)
Sampai selamanya (until eternally)

Question in LIFE?

Have you ever think thru about life? what is life? I ponder a lot when I was growing up during my teenage years. a lot of the questions comes to my mind. Questions like will I be rich? what will I do or what is my career when i grow up? Where will I stay? will I still in my own country? will I be able to go overseas for holiday trip yearly? and the questions will go on and on....and I remember I used to listen to the song, Que Sera Sera.

what ever will be will be,
the future is not for us to see,
que sera sera....

And comes every new year, I will think of new year resolution! Yup, I know everybody (maybe not, but majority) will do that. But how many actually fulfill the resolution. I know I don't. And sometimes, I just have the same resolution again. suddenly, one day I was send an email with the four questions below.

1) What is the most difficult to find in Life?
2)What is the most challenging to deal with in Life?
3)What is hard to let go in Life?
4) What is hard to convience about in Life?

Yes, I use upper case letter for Life! all about LIFE!!!! All the question we ask are related to our LIFE! At the end of the day, I reckons that we are just a creature created by God. God is in total control. He created us human beings in His own image! Than, why we worry?

In times of weakness, we always have Him to support us! We are His creation, created beautifully by Him. When we are down, call upon Him. He will let His arms surround us. He LOVE us! He will comfort us in times of despair! He will life us up! He has dreams for us. Dreams that is good, to give us hope and a future!

Look to the Lord and His strength; Seek His face always. remember the wonders He has done.

~Psalms 105:4,5~

Let's relax. Enjoy every moment now. Things are not that complicated as it looks. We will always go thru bend in the road of life. however, every bend will reveal a new road ahead. Sometimes, we will be dizzy, but we shall reach our destination! Every bend is not end of the road! Every tunnel will have its source of LIGHT too! Let us look upon Him for the LIGHT!

Life is SIMPLE, not easy,

Don't try to understand LIFE,

Just LIVE it.

life is GLORIOUS

Isn't life glorious! Isn't life GRAND!

Here- take it- hold it tight in your hand.

Squeeze every drop of it into your soul;

Drink the joy of it, sun-sweet and whole!

Laugh with the LOVE of it, burst into song!

Scatter with richness as you stride along!

Isn't life SPLENDID and isn't it GREAT!

we can always start LIVING- it's never too late!

For I know the Plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are PLANS for GOOD and not for disaster, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE.

What a Wonderful God

What a Wonderful God

We have,

He is the Father of our

Lord Jesus Christ,

The source of every Mercy,

And the One

Who so wonderfully

Comforts and

Strengthens Us.

Broken and reshaped!

I am sitting reflecting thru my year (2006)...wonderful, amazing, exhilarating! These are few words I can think of to describe what I have been thru. There are ups and downs, but above all, I am still who I am created by our gracious God with love! So many times I tried to finish or accomplished things with my own strength but i struggle. Again, trained a scientist, doesn't help. I can meticulous at times, making sure everything is in place, where it should be, how it should be, by my own standard. Times and times again, God will have to break it down to pieces and remould it again. This is because, God wanted me perfect in His eyes...not mine or anyone else in this case. He created me, special! He wanted His standard, not my standard. Many times, I will have to say, yes Lord, You are in control! But many times too, I bargain.

There will not be another way, another shape...just His! I am glad that He is so interested in me. He is always making sure that I am in perfect condition, at least in His eyes. That's all matter. Can I say this, He is deeply in love with me. I know a lot of people will not agree with what I says, but hey! He love me. not just superficial love, but with tender, care and interest. When He shine in my life, all darkness leave! As the sun shine, all darkness left, the coldness change to warmth. Things sprung to life, birds flies. Flowers blooms. I love to be in light, not darkness.

I thank God for all He did for me, in me and through me! I love it. And now, in the new year, 2007 (Happy New Year), I am nervous. Exited. Afraid. Motivated. Scared. Irony, isn't it? I am expecting the Lord not to slow down with me, but continue to work with me, in me, changing me constantly. I am anticipating His work in me, but at the mean time, I am afraid and nervous of what He is going to do. How will He change me to be a better person? How will He change me to be more like Him, in His likeness? Don't get me wrong here, I don't want to be God, but I want to be like Him, pure and holy. I want to be His mouthpiece. Vessel. Lighthouse. Holy nation. Royal priesthood.

I wil continue to be like this new sprout, having new exiting journey with the Lord. Continue to have hope. As God continue to mould me, I have my expectation this year.

I wanted to be His disciples. I intended to study His Words more, so, I want to enrol for some classes. I wanted to win at least 2 people for Him. I still remember what I am committed to do. "With Jesus Christ as absolute Lord of my life, I am commited to pray for, win and nurture at least 2 people in a year" I signed this as a spiritual parent and I wil keep this as a mission for me this year. Next, I desire to see my members to continue to grow and be grounded in the Words. Apart from this, I hope I can graduated this year too. I shall have an exiting year ahead. I pray the same for you too.

God Bless. Have a great year.

A minute creation

Coming from a mind of a trained scientist, sometimes, I amused myself of what I can do and how much I can think highly of myself and of what I have. Reading a friend's blog earlier, I came to realise how much tiny of a spec I am in this vast wonderful world of His creation. Such a great beauty that we are, created in His own image, He crafted me in such a wonderful detials. Yet, most of the time, I will think that I can handle it myself, forgetting about His grace upon me. Not just me, but millions out there, still searching for the supreme being, do think they can survive, not want to says overcome, but JUST 'survive' without Him and His grace.

How can anyone think that He does not exist. Yet, so much to prove He does and still creating things with just a Word. He is so much actively involved in daily life. Looking at the pics (both are DNA) I knows I am in a good hand. Into such details, that I am crafted. Maybe some may wonder, what is DNA. In short "DeoxyriboNucleic Acid"; is a genetics map of who we are. We can't see this DNA with our naked eyes, yet, this tiny molecules are found in millions in our body to make who we are now, TODAY. Amazing isn't it? Yup, that is how our Creator created us. This is how much hassle He has to go thru to make us. Each DNA molecule is unique to a person, much more than the finger print, iris, palm print, etc.

So, who says we exist by ourselves and that He is in no business of what we are doing today? Who says He does not loves us, knowing that He goes into such details and hassle to create us that each and everyone of us can be unique in our own way?

All I can says, at least for myself, I am blessed that I am in His image, that He loves me so much and willing to send His only Son for me. All I can only do is to say THANK YOU and stand in awe, lost in the beauty of His creation!

signed,

Once a Wretch