A Place of Discovery

THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD LIVE So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. (‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭11-12‬ NLT) What are the good things that your faith are prompting you to do lately? Think and pray about it! Christian faith isn't an impulsive faith but it certainly is a living faith!  A living faith requires tangible actions! So think and pray about it but don't forget to live (act) it out. That's worth our calling. What are the things that our Lord has prompted in your heart? It won't be something too simple that we can do it without God. It certainly something that will stretch our abilities (knowledge, skills,...

Dear Lord, We grieve deeply knowing that Yet another passenger aircraft has been lost along with all lives on board. Lord, how long before we wake up to ourselves and stop all war. Our hearts break at the loss of innocent lives. Our hearts bre ak at the loss of innocent lives. We pray for the families who have lost loved ones; We pray for the children whose lives have been cut short far too soon. While their lives have now been destroyed, we are thankful for the many of them who lived for the sake of others, We also pray for those who work in the travel industry, those who crew aircraft, and those who manage air safety. Our hearts are breaking Lord, We don’t have enough words to say what we feel. We don’t have enough words to say what we feel. Our grief includes shock, sadness, loss, anger and anguish. We remember your tears for Jerusalem when it was occupied and threatened with destruction; We remember your invoking of the flight of the innocents. We remember your anguish on the cr...

RECOGNITION AND RESPECT Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭12-13‬ NIV) Democracy gives freedom and power to everyone. We are free to speak up and free to criticize our leaders. Paul gives us some classic principles that will enrich and strengthen the democratic system:  recognition (acknowledgement)  and respect. Leaders are not only those on structural leadership. Recognize and acknowledge those who have been working hard for you, care for you, and provide spiritual guidance for the community.  Give respect to where respect is due. By respecting leaders we will listen and support their leadership,  and seek to live in harmony with each other. Apply this not only within the Christian community. As we will have new leaders for our ...

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭11-12‬ NIV) What a contrast: on one hand the Thessalonians are famous for being loving and caring Christians (vv 9-10). Thumbs up!! Yet, on the other hand, they don't work hard enough to make their own living and depending on others. What a shame!! It's a very good reminder that we never use our Christian ministry as an excuse! We have to manage both well, loving people as well as excell in our profession/business.  That's how we can gain respect from others and bring glory to God's name!  (plt 210714)

LOVE LEADS TO ADORATION But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:5, 6 NIV) Love means adoration (memuja). When we adore Him, we learn to be like Him, to look like Him, to do what He does, to love what He loves. We love Jesus, we adore (memuja), we extol (menyanjung, meninggikan) Him, not only on the form of adoration in Church. But adoration to Him become the sole business of our lives. The purpose of our life is to worship Him, giving our life as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing. (Rom 12:1) Loving Jesus means living in Him, adoring Him, and seeking to walk like Jesus walked, to live like Jesus did. (PLT 030714)

STANDING FIRM! Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (1 John 5:5-6, 8 NIV) Water baptism - external affirmation to confirm our internal conviction that through His blood, Christ has cleansed us from our sins, and the Spirit stands as witness. We may call this as the foundation of our believe, our faith. As witness, The Spirit will always be with us, to help us to live in the truth, to hold us accountable and to rebuke us when we are not following the truth, which is Jesus himself (John 14:6). He will help us to live as Jesus lived. No wonder Jesus warns us that the unpordanable sin is the sin that against the Holy Spirit (Mat 12:31-32) No wonder, Paul says, "in Chris...

GRACIOUS WORDS Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6 NIV) All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. (Luke 4:22 NIV) May our lives be filled with Your grace so that like Jesus, our lips will utter gracious words to bless and uplift others. Put your truth in our minds and you r grace on our lips, like salt, may our words will not only be pleasing to the ears but will bring life, hope, and healing to the broken world around us. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14 NKJV) - plt160714

Do I Need Flattery Words and masks? ... we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. (1 Thessalonians 2:4-5 NIV) I believe Paul's example isn't only for preaching the Gospel. But also how we are living out our faith... Let God be our witness... He tests our hearts. Let him also guide and guard our attitude, words and actions. Seek His approval, not the world's! For sure, God's approval will not require flattery words and masks. (Plt180714)