Sparks

"But man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." Job 5:7

Jesus said...

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:36-38

Stone for Bread?

First week of work was hectic. So much to learn, so many confusing things, so early in the morning. But things are rolling smoother these days. I'm starting to know where things are kept in the lab, where boxes are stored, where things are made. I can actually help out in 'times of trouble', when tubes come in like streams of water. Just happy that tomorrow is Thursday.

Earlier today I had my breakfast in the hospital cafeteria. It was already around 9.30 when I decided to take my break. Most of everyone in the hospital had already taken their morning break, so the cafeteria was more on the empty side. It was late enough that I almost missed out on my hot cereal/oatmeal bar (not sure what's the difference), as the cafe lady was in the middle of setting up the soups for the lunch meal.

As I was eating my food next to the window aisle, I looked straight across the room and saw a man, also sitting next to the window, feeding/cheering his baby boy. Apparently the little baby needed a little persuasion to take his breakfast with joy. hehhe. Having no other form of entertainment, I took the liberty of just watching the baby's change of expression from crying to joy as meal time resumed. I thought to myself, "Man, babies take a long time to grow up don't they?" lol. "It takes at least a year until they can start to walk, another year or two until you can dialogue with them. What an effort to raise up a child. Did my dad actually go through all that in raising me?" Not long after, the man's wife came back with another toddler/still-baby-looking girl, maybe a year older than the baby boy. Looking at them this morning, made me think of my parents back home.

The Bible says,
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

"What father among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him stone? or a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

Luke 11:11-13

Here's a traditional song from my dad's hometown (far western part of Indonesia). I don't really understand the dialect, but the song's message: "Not by my own strength, that I'm able to walk this road. God is my Help." (Thankful for my brother-in-law who shared this song).

"Ho Do Tuhan"

Do not Weary

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

The LORD is my Shepherd, I Shall not Want

I start work on monday. Had my physical today. But not feeling too lively spiritually.

"Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
my Salvation and my God."
Psalms 42:5

Maybe because I'm still a struggling sinner. I had to use google to find that verse in the Bible, and somehow I got more than one result. Sure enough, it's also the same verse on Psalms 42:11 & Psalms 43:5. I remember my friend David told me how this verse is like the Chorus in this psalm, which is a song. Have you ever felt this way? Maybe this is the chorus of your song this week too.

I tried to run away from God but He's still there to find me. As with this whole 'working full-time for the first time' deal, I think God has been calling me out. I have so many plans running through my head... "Oh when i finally start working, the first thing I'll buy..." or, "What kind of car will I find, used or new?" and my favorite, "But iPhone 4 is finally on verizon!"

Oh Andrey, [just tonight] I even looked up the word 'covet' on my computer's dictionary to try justify for myself. "If I don't want other people's stuff, but just want nice things in general, that should be ok right, God?"


And then, like a coincidence, a faithful friend put an entry on her blog with just this verse (with bold letters too):

"For the love of Christ controls us [...] and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." II Cor 5:14,15

I feel like Jonah trying to hide in the bottom of the ship.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and rainment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." I Tim 6:6-9

"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (verse 11,12)

Lord, I surrender everything to You. Make me and mold me. Shape my character to Yours. Thank you oh Holy Spirit for the conviction. Will be playing piano for tomorrow's service, accompanying Kuya Ronjo who will be singing. Without a clear conscience, I can never play well. Forgive me for relying to much on feelings this week... Your grace is enough for me, Your righteousness alone sustains me, O LORD my Salvation.

Skate

My friend Neil teaching his daughter how to skate on a frozen basketball court.
(music's hilarious).

Watch his other videos too.. they're all pretty funny. :)

Camp Wakonda

Came back from Camp Wakonda, Wisconsin a couple of hours ago. Great times spent with the rest of the youth. But a more important thing as I look back at the weekend past, I pray for a true revival to take place in the individual lives of our youth. Not just a mere valley after a blessed weekend.

"The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley which was full of bones.
And He led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.
And He said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest."

Ezekiel 37:1-3

A true revival happens when one realizes the need to be revived; when the dead realizes there's something better than death and come to the Father for life that 'undries' the bones. Can these bones live?