Are You Worry About nCoV-19?

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: 92% of Your Worries...

Worry is a natural part of life, in a small dose, it’s helpful. But too much worry can distract and paralyze you. It crowds out the good in your life and keeps you focused on your problems, which only makes them seem worse. It’s like giving a steroid to your mini-minny problems that if you examine at it closely, most of the time it never happens. An old man was asked what had robbed him of joy the most of his lifetime. He replied, “Things that never happened.” I heard someone say it best: Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s trouble.

Consider the things human beings worry about. The average individual’s worries can be divided into four categories (I get this somewhere in a scientific journal): First, there are things that will never happen, which constitute 40% of worries. Second, there are things over and past that can’t be changed by all the worry in the world, and they are another 30% of the total. Third, there are petty, needless worries, which constitute 22%. Fourth, there are legitimate worries, and these are only 8% of the whole.

Now my dear friends, which category of worry is you struggling with right now? Remember: Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s trouble.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: A True Warrior Can TAME the Lion of Fear

I didn't say you need to kill the lion. I didn't say you have to surrender to the lion. I didn't say you run away from the lion. I say "TAME" the lion. Nobody can really get rid of fear, let's be realistic (motivational and inspirational quote like this can be unrealistic sometimes).

Confident people have fears; Successful people have worried; Godly people have doubts. But what they - the warriors - do is they don't let these feelings stop them. It is not necessary to try to get rid of fear, worry and doubt in order to be a true warrior.

I still fear of public speaking even though I did it 3-4 times a week on average. I sometimes doubt if people ever read my blog or not, but I do it anyway. I still fear to share the Gospel to strangers but God gives me strength and boldness. Don't kill, surrender or run from fear... A true Warrior can TAME the lion of fear.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Book Review: Manuscript Found in Accra (2013) by Paulo Coelho

Manuscript Found in Accra (2013) by Paulo Coelho

Since I first read The Alchemist, I've always loved Paulo Coelho's books. I think this book is the most spiritual of all. No doubt you can sense Catholic influence in all of his writings (he once attended Jesuit school); New Age mystical and philosophical ideas in every sentence; and obvious syncretistic* beliefs permeated in his narrations [*combining or blending all religious belief systems into a new system or doctrine]. With this awareness, as an evangelical Christian, I read this novel as frictional, fantasy and to some extend – inspirational. A solid Biblical (Christian) worldview is needed to filter some of these ‘unbiblical’ ideas and a gift of discernment should be applied when reading this book.

There are two things that I don’t like about this book. Let me tell you up front: 1) Some of the languages is too spiritual and mystical – too deep – that I couldn’t really comprehend what Coelho is really saying. I feel the same way when I read Henri Nouwen’s works. Sometimes I think I’m too worldly-minded and logical. And 2) Syncretistic belief is really confusing. I couldn’t pinpoint what Coelho really believes about God or god, Love, and Humanity. But these two reasons don’t stop me from liking this book. I love his concept of question-and-answer that he borrowed from the Greek method of learning. I appreciate his brieflessness and simplicity. I admire his ability to capture the imagination of his readers, his wisdom and story-telling power. Officially, Paulo Coelho is one of my favorite novelists together with James Rollins and Nicholas Sparks. Oh yeah!

About his book: In the year 1099, the people of Jerusalem awaits the invasion of the crusaders who have surrounded the city’s gates. There, inside the ancient city’s walls, men and women of every age, race and faith gathered together to hear the wise words of a mysterious man known only as the Copt. He has summoned the townspeople and the religious leaders around him and said: “None of us can know what tomorrow will hold, because each day has its good and its bad moments. So, when you ask your questions, forget about the troops outside and the fear inside. Our task is not to leave a record of what happened on this date for those who will inherit the Earth; history will take care of that. We will speak, therefore, about our daily lives, about the difficulties we have had to face…” With that, the people begin asking questions and the Copt answers them kindly and briefly.

There is no chapter division, so, I will divide this book into topics and include quotes that I underline throughout the pages of this book:

#1 Defeat. “Does a young man, rejected by his first love, declare that love does not exist? The young man says to himself: ‘I’ll find someone better able to understand what I feel. And then I will be happy for the rest of my days’… Ever since he fell in love for the first time and was rejected, he has known that this did not put an end to his ability to love. What is true in love is also true in war”; “Only he who gives up is defeated. Everyone else is victorious”; “Learn three important things: Wait patiently for the right moment to act. Do not let the next opportunity slip by you. Take pride in your scars”; “I here to tell you that there are people who have never been defeated. They are the ones who never fought”; “Woe to those who were never beaten! They will never be winners in this life.”

#2 Solitude. “If you are never alone, you cannot know yourself”; “In solitude, they will learn that saying ‘No’ does not always show a lack of generosity and that saying ‘Yes’ is not always a virtue”; “At life’s most significant moments we are always alone”; “Just as Love is the divine condition, so solitude is the human condition.”

#3 Usefulness. “Don’t try to be useful. Try to be yourself: that is enough, and that makes all the difference”; “A life is never useless. Each soul that came down to Earth is here for a reason”; “The people who really help others are not trying to be useful, but are simply leading a useful life. They rarely give advice, but serve as an example”; “Do one thing: live the life you always wanted to live.”

#4 Change. “It’s nice to dream… [But] dreaming carries no risks. The dangerous thing is trying to transform your dreams into reality”; “The angles say: ‘Now!’… Nature is telling us: ‘Change!’; “The Unwanted Visitor visits those who don’t change and those who do. But those who did change can say: ‘My life was an interesting one. I didn’t squander my blessing.’ And those who believe that adventures are dangerous I say, Try routine: that kills you far more quickly.”

#5 Beauty. “People always say: ‘It’s inner beauty that matters, not outer beauty.’ Well, that’s not true. If it were, why would flowers put so much energy into attracting bees?... Because nature longs for beauty, and is only satisfied when beauty can be exalted. Outer beauty is inner beauty made visible, and it manifests itself in the light that flows from our eyes”; “Beauty is present in all creation, but the dangerous fact is that… we allow ourselves to be influenced by what other people think”; “The world is what we imagine it to be”; “Beauty exists not in sameness but in difference.”

#6 Direction or Guidance. “Like the sun, life spreads its light in all directions… But, if we want to make a fire, we have to focus all the sun’s rays on one spot”; “He focuses not just on the goal to be reached, but on everything happening around him. He often has to stop because his strength fails him… Rest a little, but as soon as you can, get up and carry on. Because ever since your goal found out that you were travelling towards it, it has been running to meet you; “Only the person who accepts God’s plan with humility and courage knows that he is on the right road.”

#7 Love. “True Love, however, is the love that seduces and will never allow itself to be seduced”; “Love is an act of faith, not an exchange”; “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”; “Love is only a word, until we decide to let it possess us with all its force. Love is only a word, until someone arrives to give it meaning”; “Don’t give up. Remember, it’s always the last key on the key ring that opens the door.”

#8 Choice. “I am going to think of this day as the first day of my life”; “I will look at everything and everyone as if for the first time, especially the small things that I have grown used to, quite forgetting the magic surrounding them”; “For the first time, I will smile without feeling guilty, because joy is not a sin.”

#9 Sex. “Sex goes far beyond pleasure”; “For most people, generosity consists only in giving, and yet receiving is also an act of love. Allowing someone else to make us happy will make them happy too”; “See sex as a gift, a ritual of transformation”; “[In sex] time will cease to exist, because in the land of pleasure-born-of-true-love, everything is infinite.”

#10 Respect. “Respect those who grew up and learned alongside you. Respect those who taught you”; “You will only be loved and respected if you love and respect yourself. Never try to please everyone; if you do, you will be respected by no one.”

#11 Elegance. “Elegance lies not in the clothes we wear, but in the way we wear them”; “What is simplicity? It is the coming together of true values of life”; “Elegance transforms complex thoughts into something that everyone can understand.”

#12 Work. “A poet: I fell asleep and dreamed that life was only Happiness; I woke and discovered that life was Duty; I did my Duty and discovered that life was Happiness”; “There are two types of work… The first is the work we do because we have to… The second type of work we call the Offering… The person making the Offering is always rewarded. The more he shares out his affection, the more his affection grows”; “The Offering is a wordless prayer. And like all prayers, it requires discipline – not the discipline of slavery, but of free choice.”

#13 Success. “People who seek only success rarely find it, because success is not an end in itself, but a consequence”; “Real success means: enriching your life”; “What is success? It is being able to go to bed each night with your soul at peace.”

#14 Miracle. “Each time we see the humble exalted and the arrogant humbled, we are witnessing a miracle”; “Miracles do not go against the laws of nature; we only think that because we do not know nature’s laws”; “Give us this day, Lord, our daily miracle.”

#15 Anxiety. “Anxiety was born in the very same moment as mankind. And since we will never be able to master it, we will have to learn to live with it – just as we have learned to live with storms”; “Although anxiety is part of life, never let it control you.”

#16 Future. ‘Our soul is governed by four invincible forces: love, death, power and time”; “When you are going through difficult times, remember: you may have lost some major battles, but you survived and you’re still here”; “What the future holds for you depends entirely on your capacity for love”; “The greatest gift God gave us is the power to make decisions.”

#17 Royalty. “What was broken will never be the same again”; “Royalty can never be imposed by force, fear, insecurity or intimidation”; “Where there is loyalty, weapons are of no use”; “True here is not the man who was born for great deeds, but the one who has managed to build a shield of loyalty around him out of many small things”; “The most terrible of all weapons is the word, which can ruin a life without leaving a trace of blood, and whose wounds never heal.”

#18 Enemies. “We will always meet rivals in everything we do, but the most dangerous are those we believe to be our friends”; “Beware of anyone who tries to please you all the time”; “Only fight with a worthy opponent…”; “Your enemies are not the adversaries who were put there to test your courage. They are the cowards who were put there to test your weakness.”

There are more topics that Coelho (or ‘the Copt’, the main character) covered in this book. But these 18 topics are the most obvious ones. Do you like these quotes? If you do, don’t settle with my summary-review – buy the book!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Things I Wish My Father Knew #10 When Financial Pressure Arise Again

Utility payments,

auto expenses,

Study loan,

children schools,

is there no end to them?

Just about the time you think

you are going to get out

from under it all,

something happens and

the money-go-round begins again.

Perhaps you think

the problems would be solved

if only you had more money.

But would they?

It seems that even when

there is more money,

there just never seems to be enough.

You have a Heavenly Father

who is concerned about

the financial pressure you feel.

The bills will probably keep coming,

all earthly belongings

may be lost,

the pressure may continue,

but rest assured –

God will always be with you.

Remember, your Heavenly Father knows

all about those problems –

those situations that test,

develop and expand your faith.

“I know what it is

to be in need,

and I know what it is

to have plenty.

I have learned the secret

of being content

in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty

or in want.

I can do everything

through him

who gives me strength”

(Philippians 4:12-13)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Things I Wish My Father Knew #9 Balance Between Work and Family

Whether it’s called labour, job,

employment, business, career,

or simply – MAKING A LIVING –

work is a necessary and natural part

of being a father.

Providing your family with

food, shelter,

clothing, and security

is not simple task!

It takes much

time, energy and thought.

And sometimes,

it is easy to fall

into the trap

of giving work

too much of yourself.

However important your work is,

it must be balanced

with other things.

There must be

time for your family,

time for yourself,

time for rest,

recreation,

refreshment!

And, especially time

to develop and strengthen

your relationship

with the Heavenly Father

who wants you to enjoy

the life He gave you.

“Do not worry, saying,

‘What shall we eat?’ or

‘What shall we drink?’ or

‘What shall we wear?’

For the pagans run after

all these things,

and your heavenly Father knows

that you need them.

But seek first His kingdom

and His righteousness,

and all these things

will be given to you as well”

(Matthew 6:31-33)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Don’t Worry about Others’ Opinions

Dear Annie,

            Love, I just want to share with you this story…

            A variation on one of Aesop’s fables tells of a wise man whose son was ashamed to leave the house because he thought other people would think him ugly. The father told him that he shouldn’t worry so much what other people though, and to follow his own mind and heart. To make the point, the father asked his son to join him on his trips to the market over the next few days.

On the first day, the father rode the donkey, and the child walked alongside. As they travelled they could hear passersby criticizing the father for making a small child walk in the heat of the day.

On the second day, the child rode the donkey, while the father walked alongside him. This time people commented about how disrespectful the child was for making an old man walk while he rode in comfort.

On the third day they entered the market, both walking alongside the donkey. They heard the people saying how stupid they were: “Do they not know that donkeys are for riding?”

The following day, both father and son rode on the donkey, and people expressed their indignation about how cruel they were to burden the animal in such a way.

On the fifth day they carried the donkey on their backs. Everyone in the market laughed and ridiculed them.

The wise man then turned to his son and said: “You see, regardless of what you do, there’ll always be people who will disapprove. Therefore, don’t worry about others’ opinions, and do what you think is just and right.”

I think you might need this: Annie, if you are constantly worried about what other people think, you will never get to where you need to go in life. You are going to have to do things that don’t always meet people’s standards. You will come into situations where you have to put your pride, and your reputation on the line to get what God wants you to have in life. If you are constantly worried about what people are thinking, you will never have the will to do what’s right. God’s approval matters the most; while people’s approval will expired soon.

I love you,

Rich

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Answers Whatever We Ask For, So Come with Bold Confidence (1 John 3:21-22)

“Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will received from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him”

(1 John 3:21-22, NLT).

A person who has what we call a ‘troubled conscience’ is an unhappy person – feeling guilty about practically everything, rethinking and reliving situations, and hanging on to past hurts. Living the past today. When I was on campus, I know a person like that. No matter where he went, it was like a small cloud was over his head, and it rained only on him. For everyone else, the sky was shiny and bright. So sad.

One of the ways we can grow as Christians are to share these troubles with God – “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). We can have great peace when our consciences do not continue to trouble us more than they should. As we learn to trust God and take Him at His Word, God’s love continues to change us.  A troubled conscience can become a means to remind us of our need to be close to God and others – and even to ourselves. “If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.” This is the confidence that not only can we approach God with our needs, but that He will answer our prayers.

Earlier, Jesus Christ had promised: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:7-11). What a great promise! This is an unlimited answer to prayer. Does Jesus (and John) mean that whatever you ask for you will get? Wouldn’t some people take advantage of this? Personally, I can think of all kinds of things I like to ask for myself!

But let’s put these thoughts in its context. Jesus said elsewhere, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” (John 15:7). In the fifth chapter of this letter, the Apostle John adds an important qualifying phrase: “If we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us” (1 John 5:14, Amplified Bible). In other words, we are not to ask for just anything that appeals to us. We should remain and live in Christ and get to know His will well enough so that what we want becomes what God wants for us. And we know that God wants what is best for us and what makes us truly happy (Besides our needs, it is always God’s will and joy that we ask for justice, mercy, and humility. Pray for these!).

So, as we pray, God may answer “Yes”, “No” or “Wait.” That doesn’t mean that our prayers are not all answered but that God may answer them in His own special way and time. We may be surprised by how much better God’s options are for us than what we pray for at first. God knows best. Keep on praying, and trust Him. Pray like this: “Lord Jesus, help me to want what You want for me. Help me to find out Your will. Right now, it seems that <immediate need> is the best option, but You know what is best for me. Thank You for the promise that You hear and answer my prayers. You know me better than I know myself. Thanks for what has been, and for what is yet to be. Amen.”

Friends, first “obey him and do the things that please him,”

then "we will received from him whatever we ask.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Take Your Concerns to God (Thank You for Asking about Psalm 55:22)

Dear Annie,

            I miss you. Our distances somewhat makes our relationships grow stronger. I really believe that. But then again, I will see you soon. Can’t wait! Yesterday you asked me what Psalm 55:22 mean, well, in short: take your concerns to God. “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you: He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

            Annie, the Bible promises this: tough times are temporary but God’s love is not – God’s love endures forever. So what does that mean to you and me personally? Just this: from time to time, everybody faces disappointments and broken relationships (maybe friendships or with family members) – so will you. And when tough times arrive, God always stands ready to protect you and to heal you. Your task, my dear one, is straightforward: You must share your burdens with Him. What kind of burden? Any burden. But take note as Corrie ten Boom observed, “Any concern that is too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.” Those are comforting words for me, especially during difficult days. Smile.

            Whatever the size of your challenges, remember Psalm 55:22, God is big enough to handle them. Ask for Him to help you today, with faith and with fervour. Instead of turning things over in your mind, turn them over to God in prayer. Instead of worrying about your next decision, ask God to lead the way. “Cast your burden upon the Lord” the One who cannot be shaken, and rest assured that He always hears your prayers and “He will sustain you.” As for “the righteous,” you must keep your personal relationship with God alive. Keep on believe in the Son, Jesus Christ and sustain your faith with the Word of God every day. And don’t neglect to practise good deeds and love your neighbours. For the righteous are saved by grace through faith, faith that produce godly deeds and actions.

Thank you for asking me about Psalm 55:22. I appreciate it. I learned and encouraged by the Word myself. I commend your thirst to know about the truth. Let us claim all of God’s promises in the Bible such as this one. Our sins, our worries, our lives – we may cast them all on Him. So dear, what’s your response to this verse? Oh ya, read the whole chapter of Psalm 55 for its context, okay? So, I’ll wait for your reply soon.

Aku sayau ka nuan,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus talks about People’s Attitudes toward God and His Word (A Reflection on Mark 4:3-20)

To know the setting of this parable, we must know what is a parable (click HERE A Reflection on Mark4:1-2). A parable, in the simplest meaning, is a simple story drawn from ordinary nature or everyday life which conveyed spiritual truth. In this instance, Jesus talked about four kinds of soil to illustrate four kinds of attitudes toward God and His Word. I think Jesus probably told the parable as He and His followers were looking at the sight of an actual sower at work on the hills above the lake (4:1). Just my assumption.

“Listen! Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up” (Mark 4:3-4, GNB). Actually, this parable is self-explain in Mark 4:13-20. The sower is the one who sows God’s Word. Some people are like the seeds that fall along the path or hard-packed roadside soil that represents someone with a hardened heart. The Word doesn’t even have a chance to take root – and as soon as they hear the message, Satan or “the birds” in the form of temptations, resistances and stubbornness comes and takes or “ate” it away.

“Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn’t deep. Then, when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up” (Mark 4:5-6). Some people are like the seeds that fall on rocky ground that represents someone with a shallow heart. They hear the Word of course and “receive it gladly.” They will follow the shout ‘Amen’, ‘Halleluiah’, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ and jump up during praise & worship and even take notes during Bible Study, probably pray speaking in tongue too and always attend church services and fellowship. I know people like that. But sadly, the Word doesn’t sink deep into their hearts – only on surface level – and therefore they are very fragile in faith. So when “the sun” in the form of trouble or persecution comes, they “dried up” give up at once.

“Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants, and they didn’t bear grain” (Mark 4:7). Some people are like the seeds sown among the thorn bushes that represents someone with a crowded heart. They are no doubt are interested in the Word but the worries about this life, the love of riches, and all other kinds of desires crowd in and choke the Word. I know people who always make excuses such as ‘God will understand why I have to go to work but not to church’, ‘It doesn’t matter if I read the Word or not as long as I’m sincere. Beside I have many things to do’, ‘I want to be rich! If I get rich I will give more to God’, ‘I don’t want people to think that I’m too religious’ etc. All of these choke out love for God and His Word and so they “don’t bear fruit.”

“But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants sprouted, grew, and bore grain: some had thirty grains, others sixty, and others one hundred” (Mark 4:8). Some people, very glad to know, are like seeds sown in good soil that represents someone with a receptive heart, who cultivates an openness to God and His Word. The Word can grow and “bear fruit” because they not only hear the Word but also accept it wholeheartedly. They are receptive to God and His Word. I know that whenever I share the Word at campus fellowships most people will go back home empty handed (even some of the leaders too) but I trust and believe that someone in the group – two or three students – are receptive to the Word and really allow God to speaks and transform them through His Word. I can see that they will grow into maturity in faith much faster than everyone else.

As a closing, we must remember that a farmer “the sower” is NOT responsible for making the seeds grow into plants. “The sower” is only responsible for preparing and maintaining the soil. God has endowed “the seed” with the capacity to grow into a fruitful plant all by itself; “the sower” can only manage the conditions of the soil. Similarly, as God’s followers – you and me – are responsible to cultivate the soil in our own hearts. Are we hardened our hearts? or having a shallow heart? or are our hearts too crowded? or do we have a receptive heart to God and His Word? (Ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate your heart). We prepare the soil and God will produce unbelievable growth!

“Listen, then, if you have ears!” (Mark 4:9)

Don’t try to apply this parable to others without first of all applying it to ourselves.
Think it through, search our own hearts and respond accordingly. God be with you.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Don't Worry about Tomorrow

It is said that worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s trouble. Consider the things we worry about. The average individual’s worries can be divided into four categories. First, which constitute 40% of worries, are the things that will never happen. Second, which constitute 30% of it, are things over and past that can’t be changed by all the worry in the world. Third, constitute 22% of which that are petty and needless worries. And fourthly – only 8% of the whole – are legitimate worries.

William Arthur Ward warned, “Worry distorts our thinking, disrupts our work, disquiets our soul, disturbs our body, disfigures our face. It destroys our friends, demoralizes our life, defeats our faith, and debilitates our energy.” Worry, in the Scriptures, produces threefold reaction (no Bible quotes needed. These are general, most obvious truths): First, God’s love is doubted. Worry implies that He cares little for His Christ’s blood-washed children. Second, God’s wisdom is doubted. Worry indicates that He is not able to plan for His own children, that He does not know what is best for them who belong to Him. And thirdly, God’s power is doubted. Worry says His grace is not sufficient for our needs.

We need not to worry about tomorrow because in Christ, God is with us. Never doubt His love, wisdom and power in our lives. Jesus in His famous sermon said: “[Do] not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?... Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:25, 34, NIV). Worry is not the way His children ought to lives. Our mission is not to worry about tomorrow but to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (6:33) today!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Tuhan akan Menyediakan Apa yang Kamu Perlukan Hari ini

Banyak orang berkata, “Jika ini atau itu berubah atau berlaku, barulah saya dapat melakukan sesuatu perkara.” Karut! Tuhan memberikan kamu sesuatu hari ini secukupnya mengikut keperluan kamu untuk hari ini. Firman Tuhan menjelaskan prinsip ini secara jelas melalui cerita di dalam buku Perjanjian Lama dimana Tuhan telah memberi orang Israel makanan Manna. Baca Firman ini:

“TUHAN telah memberikan perintah supaya tiap-tiap orang mengumpulkan makanan itu (Manna) seberapa banyak yang diperlukannya, iaitu sebanyak dua liter bagi setiap anggota keluarga.

Orang Israel berbuat demikian; ada yang mengumpulkan lebih daripada dua liter dan ada pula yang mengumpulkan kurang daripada itu. Ketika mereka menakarnya (“measured”), ternyata bahawa orang yang mengumpulkan banyak tidak mendapat lebih, dan orang yang mengumpulkan sedikit tidak pula kekurangan. Tiap-tiap orang mengumpulkan sebanyak yang diperlukannya.

Musa berkata kepada mereka, ‘Tiada sesiapa yang boleh menyimpan makanan walau sedikit pun sehingga esok’. Tetapi ada di kalangan mereka tidak mengendahkan kata-kata Musa, lalu menyimpan sebahagian daripada makanan itu. Pagi esoknya, makanan itu berulat dan berbau busuk, lalu Musa marah kepada mereka.” (Keluaran 16:16-20).

Orang Israel memerlukan makanan. Mereka memerlukan makanan untuk hari ini, esok dan untuk hari yang akan datang. Tetapi Tuhan Allah menyediakan mereka bekalan seharian. Dia tidak menghantar makanan Manna dalam bungkusan untuk satu minggu! Tidak, Tuhan menyediakan mereka bekalan setiap hari – cukup untuk hari itu. Lihat disini, apabila mereka mengumpulkan lebih daripada yang diperlukan dan menyimpannya untuk hari esok, semua makanan itu “berulat dan berbau busuk”.

Kebenarannya ialah ini: Tuhan menyediakan keperluan kamu untuk sekarang, hari ini – pada saat ini. Kamu tidak akan memperolehi hari ini lagi esok. Jadi, kamu harus melakukan yang terbaik bagi setiap pekerjaan, perkara atau peluang yang ada pada hari ini. Apa saja yang Tuhan mahu kamu lakukan sekarang atau apa saja keperluan (bukan keinginan!) yang kamu perlukan untuk hari ini – Dia telah sediakan semuanya untuk kamu.

Kawan, Tuhan Yesus telah berFirman, “jangan khuatir” (3 kali dalam Matius 6:25, 31 dan 34) tentang kehidupan dan keperluan asas harian kita; dan Rasul menulis, “Jangan khuatir akan apa pun. Dalam segala hal, berdoalah dan mintalah kepada Allah apa yang kamu perlukan” (Filipi 4:6). Kawan, bersyukurlah dan terus memuji Tuhan Allah kita! Jangan khuatir tentang apa pun! Dia akan menyediakan apa yang kamu perlukan untuk hari ini. Jangan khuatir!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Be Continually Joyful

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4NLT).

If I say ‘be continually joyful’ you might think that I’m not realistic at all. Just look at the world today. It is filled with reasons to be downcast. The reality of suffering and sadness are unavoidable at this present moment. So I understand if you want to throw a big-hard-stone at me when I say ‘be continually joyful’.

‘Be continually joyful’ is what I say – this is the message I want to share today. This joyfulness does not depend on perfect circumstances or happy feelings; it is rooted ‘in the Lord’. This kind of joy is possible despite my problems because I know that God is with me (Emmanuel, ‘God with us’) to help me through them and that when troubles come my way, I consider it an opportunity for great joy (see James 1:2).

Crazy? Yes! Christians are crazy people! Paul was in prison writes this: ‘rejoice!’ God’s people ought to be the most joyful creature on earth because this temporary unhappiness in the world is nothing compare to our everlasting joy in the Lord. We can find genuine joyfulness only in the Lord and it can only come from God. Jesus is the source of this joy. John Piper writes, “Delighting in [Jesus] was not a mere preference or option in life; it was our joyful duty and should be the single passion of our lives.” When I display my joy in the Lord, God will be glorified. When I only seek my joy from Him, my soul satisfied. Oh I can’t express it fully in words –this joy in the Lord Jesus! Be continually joyful!

I’m done seeing my life only as here and now, but all the more to live with an eternal perspective in mind, to what is to come; experiencing joy in the fullness of God. When troubles happen I may cry but it won’t be long. When problems arise I maybe discourage but it’s just for a moment. Circumstances can’t get the best out of me for my joy is not on the temporary but in the Lord who is eternal and forevermore glorious. Resolved: - to be continually joyful in the Lord.

“Let the godly rejoice.
Let them be glad in God’s presence.
Let them be filled with joy” (Psalm 68:3NLT).

THINK JOYFULLY. START TO REJOICE. GO DEEPLY JOY IN THE LORD.