Journey of love

Great lent is here! It's been such amazing moments of reflection, of being refreshed and of repentance.
In this beautiful time, the passage of Christ's revelation about Last Judgement (Matt 25:31-36) stuck really strongly in my mind.
In this particular part of Holy Gospel, Christ clearly tells us how all nations, every human will be judged. Such dreadful yet true as it is, when The Lord The Most Holy and Truthful Judge will reveal all things plainly.
To my amazement, the standard which He will use to judge is love. Do we really love God and do we love our neighbor? Seems then, after all, our very existence must revolve in these two most important matters.
We know that Love comes and flows from The Lord and none else. It is our sins, impurity and disobedience which block His precious gifts to be active and bearing fruits in us. Thus, it is the act of humility and denial of the flesh which makes our heart contrite and be open to the grace of God.
Now, among important things which a Christian can do to have this disposition of heart are... prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These acts are not meant to make us 'good' or religious; rather these acts are what Christ highlighted to be done out of sincerity and love toward Lord and others very powerfully.
Let's ponder very quickly how important these three things are.
Prayer directs our being toward God: our mind, heart, body and soul. Let us lock our small room i.e. our deepest heart to be sanctified by the presence of The Lord in every single moment we have. Let us craving for Him and His presence like a deer panting for the water, and not merely for vain glory.
Fasting makes our flesh and desires bridled thus giving us much more opportunity to think and seek not something worldly, but His Kingdom and righteousness.
Almsgiving done in secret are great ways to help others, to open the abundance of God's mercy to be experienced by our brothers and sisters and not stop in us.
So prayer, fasting and almsgiving... these very powerful staffs for our pilgrimage in the journey of Love. May this not be merely religious duty, rather our yearning to learn and to love God in very real way. Because we want to serve and please Him and because we see Him with us in every moment of our life.

Glory to You, O Lord. 

Enjoyment of reading

Literacy and ability to process symbols into meaning in general is one of our gifts. I am tickled to reflect how this capacity can lead us into exploration, learning and creativity. Reading a good book at a time can be really good way to reflect and 'listen to' something outside of ourselves. However, of course we need to be somehow selective of what we are going to read, because not everything is beneficial and even can be harmful to our soul.

So, in this post I really want to encourage my beloved readers and dear friends of mine to take up something to nourish our mind. Number one and foremost, of course the Holy Scripture! Since in these sacred text we are not only studying, but even we are being enlivened: just picture a dough being leavened so that we might grow and alive! For the words from Holy scriptures, very especially the books of Gospel has power to brighten our understanding and transform our mind into His likeness. What a blessing it is! It's that simple: Can you read? Then grab and open reverently your Bible and read it. Well, that's sounds rather easy. But in reality? Yes, I know. Since I also experience that heaviness, reluctance and excuses not to practice this. But only  one or two things we really need to have --specific time and consistency! And these two are in our power.

Again, we have that gift of understanding letters, combination of them to make a meaning (very amazing if you know in Original languages of Holy Scripture, yet at least in our mother tongues), so let's read! It just needs a bit of 'smart tactic' in sparing the time and being consistent in that. The Lord who sees our earnestness to approach Him and our faithfulness in struggle will grant His grace and mercy even more (as He has been). So #1 let's dedicate our reading to... Holy Scriptures!

Then, the second book which I really recommend to be recited regularly is the prayer book. All other books might require us to wander around in imagination and mental activity, but this beautiful book collects us and empowers, even sanctifies us into a real person. Since through this book we submit our ego and let ourselves to be taught and to be purified both in thought and in wisdom to dispose our hearts into the right bearings and into the truth. So, let us embrace and diligently search and recite our treasures and let our hearts be strengthened and recharged by the expressions inside. So, #2 let's sit and recite our prayer books (by this I include psalms and hymns of the church).

The rest of the books which beneficial are the writings of Holy Fathers and Mothers in the Church.They warm up our heart and seed the desires to be with God and to praise Him. And since we are also called to serve others in the world, we might find any subjects which we are on. I especially love history and geography books since they let me know how wonderful is God's secret hands among mankind from ages to ages.    

workshop of holiness

It has been a great experience for me to be together with my friends during this practicum in Kalimantan Island. I and three of my friends Jonshon, Bambang and Rudy will be here, in Pontianak to do the field experience during these 3 or so months. So far we had very exciting days! It is always good for brethren to be together in peaceful manner. We are Christians, and it is great to share and talk to each other heart’s about our real lives and struggles in living our faith in Christ. We had great time to share our concerns and all that happen to us to purify them and offer them back to the Lord.

After hearing a few things being shared after the reading of Holy Scriptures in our room, I heartily concluded that our joy is not depend on the favorable circumstances, but depend on Christ who fill our hearts. We will face a quite busy and tiring days for sure during these months, but our good relationship and brotherhood is such precious refresher of strength. And I keep praying that the Lord grant us love, patience and humility so that the enemy would not defeat our friendship. Let it be that the will of God to show love to each other being evident in us to glorify His name.

Truly every relationships and circumstances which God allows to be in our lives are aimed to sanctify us and make us humble to be filled with his love. We need to have courage to strengthen each other, to bear each other and help each other in a so very real manner in this group of four for me specially. Thank God for this opportunity to train my patience and forbearance. I reflect how needful it is to look on our own sinfulness rather than that of others. It is excellent to overlook the weaknesses of others, to pray for them. Never hold back, don’t take offense. Leave it right away.

It is for us to look at others and forget ourselves. I continually praise the Lord for this opportunity, for this time and everything which He has prepared and provides. I am so thankful for friends and lovely Dad ;)! Lord, to be nearer to Thee and following Thee is my greatest joy! Remember, O Lord in Thy kindness those you have sent, preserve them, bless them and grant them eternal life. Ameyn!

morning walk

Our dorm is very busy recently, while we are in the time just before the semester break. The time is ticking so fast and it's like being in a hurry. I have just finished my intensive class of Statistics and some other activities, really only because of Lord's kindness that I might pass through them. There's no any other beautiful day but being with Faithful and Great Lord!

I take this special time to stop by here. I have not posted anything for a long time in this clumsy blog! But one song which I always chant here in my heart, The Lord is very faithful and merciful.

On the morning as I walked and looking at the green park, my youth friends with their energies, smiles and enthusiasm, I pondered in my heart. How the Lord loves us greatly. Sometimes in my ignorance I tend to think that it is what I do or what I have which matters. But the more I walk behind Him; I realize that his love is pure and unconditional. If all that's with me and all I 'have' are gone, what am I? My identity is not on those things, but hidden in Christ. Outside Him I can do nothing. It's in Him we move, we live and we have our being.

Life is pure gift from God. And He alone knows perfectly of who we are in Him. Yet it is my weakness which makes me think that I am this or that, and many times my life is not what I think. Lord, help me in all times to rely upon Your Holy Will, to act wisely and firmly without embarrassing and embittering others, those whom You love. You have shown us the Light, and our hearts can't stop to seek to be in Your Light. You have led us into Your Truth and our hearts are thirsty and hungry for Your righteousness. Being in You, my heart finds rest, and let it be so unto eternity. How gladsome it is that this life is not about me or what I can do or what I have, but that this life is about You and Your mighty love! Blessed be Your Holy Name, O Lord! Ameyn.