Because he was a hotty, smarty, and lovey,
an older married woman desired him
because he wanted to stay pure
he was thrown to jail
Because he was a goodie
he did not wallow in self pity or plan revenge
because he was faithful
he was productive at home , in prison, or in the palace
Because he knew that God was ( and is and is to come ) good
He could say to the people who had hurt him
" You meant evil against me but God meant it for good "
His name was Joseph
He is my HERO today
Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
A Rather Unusal Day
This morning at my kids' school, there were three police cars. Kids were outside.
I've been asked by the traffic ladies to park and let the kids wait inside the car.
What happened ? Accident ? Robbery ? Fighting ?
Well.. it was a bomb threat.
Later on there was a sniffing dog, going around and inside the school with an officer
Thank God , everything went well.. no panic or chaos.
The kids were waiting inside the buses because it was rather cold
After three hours searched , the police said the school was clear and safe
No bomb on the premises. The school activities were cancelled.
The kids who were not picked up by their parents stayed in the school.
Some of the parents could easily pick up their kids
( like me, who stay at home during the day )
But for the ones who work outside the home,
I imagined it would be complicated to pick up and arrange the care
( for my Asian friends who have maids or relatives at home, don't take them for granted )
When I emailed my Bible study leader about the bomb threat
She pointed to the positives .
So...today I prefer to thank God
for the police and the school who worked hard for the safety of my kids
instead of worrying about or cursing the person who did the sick joke like that
PS : It was very nice to see one parent brought some coffees from McDonald's for the teachers today
I've been asked by the traffic ladies to park and let the kids wait inside the car.
What happened ? Accident ? Robbery ? Fighting ?
Well.. it was a bomb threat.
Later on there was a sniffing dog, going around and inside the school with an officer
Thank God , everything went well.. no panic or chaos.
The kids were waiting inside the buses because it was rather cold
After three hours searched , the police said the school was clear and safe
No bomb on the premises. The school activities were cancelled.
The kids who were not picked up by their parents stayed in the school.
Some of the parents could easily pick up their kids
( like me, who stay at home during the day )
But for the ones who work outside the home,
I imagined it would be complicated to pick up and arrange the care
( for my Asian friends who have maids or relatives at home, don't take them for granted )
When I emailed my Bible study leader about the bomb threat
She pointed to the positives .
So...today I prefer to thank God
for the police and the school who worked hard for the safety of my kids
instead of worrying about or cursing the person who did the sick joke like that
PS : It was very nice to see one parent brought some coffees from McDonald's for the teachers today
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Don't Get What I Deserve
Should I complain ?
Should I be mad ?
Should I sue the other party ?
Well.. to be honest .. I am HAPPY that I don't get what I deserve.
For I really do not deserve an eternal life
Romans 5 : 8 said,
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
also John 3 : 16 said,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Thank God for giving me your salvation
Should I be mad ?
Should I sue the other party ?
Well.. to be honest .. I am HAPPY that I don't get what I deserve.
For I really do not deserve an eternal life
Romans 5 : 8 said,
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
also John 3 : 16 said,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Thank God for giving me your salvation
Saturday, September 8, 2012
SHOPPING AT MY MOM'S CLOSET
I don't find shopping relaxing at all
Shopping is like hunting for me..
Checking, comparing, scanning , deciding,
fitting, another deciding, paying, hauling, driving, organizing. TIRING.
But of course, I like to wear something new once in a while.
In Jakarta ( due to traffic jam and laziness ) I shopped at my mom's closet
" Apa yang kamu mau , ambil aja, " She asked me to take whatever I like.
Of course I did what my mama asked .
It's more relaxing than going out shopping at the mall
It was late at night. The kids were sleeping.
I ransacked my mom's closet, trying the clothes, grabbing the bags.
We were chatting and enjoying ourselves...
Back to US, in a gathering, I wore my mom's white cotton blouse
My friend said to me ( who saw my mom when she went back to Indonesia ) ,
" You look nice in that blouse.But it looked kinda familiar, "
I knew I was busted.
" From my mom's closet, " I answered.
" She wore this blouse when I met her, " my friend said.
Thinking about how full my mom's closet with good stuff
and her letting me taking what I like,
Heavenly Father's gift closet came into my mind.
Ephesus 1 : 18 , I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you,
the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
and His incomparably great power for us who believe.
Those forgiveness, faith, love, joy, faithfulness, power,
energy, healing, purity, balance, leadership, wisdom,
organization, boldness, grace, contentment,
modesty, honesty, the lists go on and on.
James 1 : 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
Someone I know, felt she was not interested to her husband anymore.
If she just followed her flesh, bitterness,
affair and divorce would be waiting around the corner.
Thank God, she prayed . She asked the gift of love for her husband.
Of course she was given that gift. She fell in love with her husband again.
This year I asked God to give me more energy.
By nature, I was a low energy person.
Well.. I also tried to improve my energy by doing more exercise.
Prayer and action, I thought.
Then I got a annual blood test result. I am pre-diabetic.
I should cut my refined carbohydrate.
After I did that, I felt that my energy levels were up.
So, my prayer was answered .
These days what I need is consistency to keep doing exercise and eating healthy...
And I will get that from my heavenly Father's gift storage.
I unlock that storage with prayer.
John 15 : 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you ,
ask whatever you wish , and it will be given to you. Amen.
Shopping is like hunting for me..
Checking, comparing, scanning , deciding,
fitting, another deciding, paying, hauling, driving, organizing. TIRING.
But of course, I like to wear something new once in a while.
In Jakarta ( due to traffic jam and laziness ) I shopped at my mom's closet
" Apa yang kamu mau , ambil aja, " She asked me to take whatever I like.
Of course I did what my mama asked .
It's more relaxing than going out shopping at the mall
It was late at night. The kids were sleeping.
I ransacked my mom's closet, trying the clothes, grabbing the bags.
We were chatting and enjoying ourselves...
Back to US, in a gathering, I wore my mom's white cotton blouse
My friend said to me ( who saw my mom when she went back to Indonesia ) ,
" You look nice in that blouse.But it looked kinda familiar, "
I knew I was busted.
" From my mom's closet, " I answered.
" She wore this blouse when I met her, " my friend said.
Thinking about how full my mom's closet with good stuff
and her letting me taking what I like,
Heavenly Father's gift closet came into my mind.
Ephesus 1 : 18 , I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you,
the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
and His incomparably great power for us who believe.
Those forgiveness, faith, love, joy, faithfulness, power,
energy, healing, purity, balance, leadership, wisdom,
organization, boldness, grace, contentment,
modesty, honesty, the lists go on and on.
James 1 : 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
Someone I know, felt she was not interested to her husband anymore.
If she just followed her flesh, bitterness,
affair and divorce would be waiting around the corner.
Thank God, she prayed . She asked the gift of love for her husband.
Of course she was given that gift. She fell in love with her husband again.
This year I asked God to give me more energy.
By nature, I was a low energy person.
Well.. I also tried to improve my energy by doing more exercise.
Prayer and action, I thought.
Then I got a annual blood test result. I am pre-diabetic.
I should cut my refined carbohydrate.
After I did that, I felt that my energy levels were up.
So, my prayer was answered .
These days what I need is consistency to keep doing exercise and eating healthy...
And I will get that from my heavenly Father's gift storage.
I unlock that storage with prayer.
John 15 : 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you ,
ask whatever you wish , and it will be given to you. Amen.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Treasure Notebook
 |
| my recipe book |
I could remember vaguely about them...
for example , there is something in Psalm about God is my shepherd
but I do not remember which chapter or which verse
I joined Sunday school during my childhood,
youth cell group during my teens..
worked in Christian based ( media ) production house during my twenties
join women's Bible study during my thirties..
After all these years
the only verse that I remembered is
John 3 : 16 : For God so loved the world that He gave His only son ,
so that everyone who believes will not perish but has eternal life...
That's too bad, since there are millions of wisdom in the Bible
that I should record in my brain.
Well... maybe I don't have a good memory
Although when someone did me wrong, I have no trouble remembering that !
But then I think I should expect memorizing Bible verses
would be difficult and challenging
After all it is the truth...
One afternoon, Carolyn, one of the ladies in my Bible Study group ,
showed her pretty little notebook.
Filled with her neat penmanship of Bible verses that spoke to her heart.
I thought ..Voila ..It will help me to memorize the Bible verses...
So I started one too....maybe it will work, maybe not.. but it will be worth trying.
 |
| Inside the Bible verses notebook ( left ) |
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Everything Is Permissible, but Not Everything Is Beneficial
Going out of the store with bags of groceries and Sophie in the cart, I noticed that super cutsy-cute car sliding along the parking lot. Then it was parked next to mine.
" Nice cute car, is it electric?, " I asked the owner.
" Actually , it's regular car. But I've been stopped by a lot of people
asking question about it, " he said.
Our conversation continued about his car and his family while I'm loading Sophie and my groceries into my car. He was putting soda bottles and cans into plastic bags.
At the end, he invited me to his son's birthday party which I politely declined. Then he asked to exchange cellphone numbers because it's been hard for his family to find another family to be friends with.
" I don't give out my phone number, " I said
He said he understood. It was just like old days. But he insisted to give his phone number and saying it was up to me whether I want to erase it or send message or call him. He's a family man not somebody who would pick me up or something like that.. He did not want to know what else I would do with his phone number anyway .
He got my cart and used it for his soda bottles. I said goodbye.
While I was driving, a lot of things came to my mind. I am ashamed to say it, but I felt a little bit " bewitched, bothered and bewildered " ( only the title of the song though, not the whole lyrics )
Maybe I look better than before , thanks to Zumba and ( an on and off ) diet . I also felt the impulse to google his number.
" This is not right ! " the better, more rational part of myself took charge.
" That man could just be someone who's lonely, or a stalker or psycho . But the feeling.. is not good for you or your family. It's neither healthy nor holy, Lord Jesus won't be happy, " the preacher in me preached to my impulsive self.
" Maybe he really wants to find a play date for his son..but are you really lacking of play dates for your kids? You have turned down some invitations from your friends' kids in the past, better get in touch with them .." the socialite self reasoned with me
" You don't lack anything in your marriage.. You are loved by you husband. Your kids adore you.
Keeping their schedule, is already time consuming enough. Now you want to waste your time to google this man? Better do some blogging, " the counselor part of me spoke up.
OK, OK.. I got the point.When I 'm home, the third thing I did after unbuckled Sophie, and unloaded the groceries , was erase that man's number.
Then I call my husband..
" Guess what happened to me, Eddy..."
" Nice cute car, is it electric?, " I asked the owner.
" Actually , it's regular car. But I've been stopped by a lot of people
asking question about it, " he said.
Our conversation continued about his car and his family while I'm loading Sophie and my groceries into my car. He was putting soda bottles and cans into plastic bags.
At the end, he invited me to his son's birthday party which I politely declined. Then he asked to exchange cellphone numbers because it's been hard for his family to find another family to be friends with.
" I don't give out my phone number, " I said
He said he understood. It was just like old days. But he insisted to give his phone number and saying it was up to me whether I want to erase it or send message or call him. He's a family man not somebody who would pick me up or something like that.. He did not want to know what else I would do with his phone number anyway .
He got my cart and used it for his soda bottles. I said goodbye.
While I was driving, a lot of things came to my mind. I am ashamed to say it, but I felt a little bit " bewitched, bothered and bewildered " ( only the title of the song though, not the whole lyrics )
Maybe I look better than before , thanks to Zumba and ( an on and off ) diet . I also felt the impulse to google his number.
" This is not right ! " the better, more rational part of myself took charge.
" That man could just be someone who's lonely, or a stalker or psycho . But the feeling.. is not good for you or your family. It's neither healthy nor holy, Lord Jesus won't be happy, " the preacher in me preached to my impulsive self.
" Maybe he really wants to find a play date for his son..but are you really lacking of play dates for your kids? You have turned down some invitations from your friends' kids in the past, better get in touch with them .." the socialite self reasoned with me
" You don't lack anything in your marriage.. You are loved by you husband. Your kids adore you.
Keeping their schedule, is already time consuming enough. Now you want to waste your time to google this man? Better do some blogging, " the counselor part of me spoke up.
OK, OK.. I got the point.When I 'm home, the third thing I did after unbuckled Sophie, and unloaded the groceries , was erase that man's number.
Then I call my husband..
" Guess what happened to me, Eddy..."
Monday, January 30, 2012
My Prayer from Psalm 90 : 12
" Teach us to number our days aright , that we may gain a heart of wisdom "
Teach me O' Lord
to count the hours that I spend on : watching movies
facebooking
blogging
reading novels
chatting on the phone
aimless activities
that I may gain the heart of wisdom..
because...
kids need leading
husband needs loving
food needs cooking
chores need delegating
body needs sleeping
Teach me O'Lord to prioritize
my time with You alone
that I can live to the fullest
without breaking
my limit
Teach me O' Lord
to count the hours that I spend on : watching movies
facebooking
blogging
reading novels
chatting on the phone
aimless activities
that I may gain the heart of wisdom..
because...
kids need leading
husband needs loving
food needs cooking
chores need delegating
body needs sleeping
Teach me O'Lord to prioritize
my time with You alone
that I can live to the fullest
without breaking
my limit
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