“The True Hospitality”

Romans 12:13 “When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night”

Christian hospitality differs from social entertaining. Entertaining focuses on the host: The home must be spotless, the food must be well prepared and abundant, the host must appear relaxed and good-natured.

Hospitality, by contrast, focuses on the GUEST’S NEEDS, such as a place to stay, nourishing food, a listening ear, or just acceptance.

Hospitality can happen in a messy home. It can happen around a dinner table where the main dish is canned soup. It can happen while the host and the guest are doing chores together.

Don’t hesitate to offer hospitality just because you are too tired, too busy, or not wealthy enough to entertain.

It is my desire for our new family home later to be a place where God dwells, where people in need able to come just to enjoy a good chat, fellowship, & if I do cook, for them to also enjoy it In the situation of a big & crowded city like Jakarta where individualism reaches the highest level, this is the challenge, and I believe this is God’s purpose for giving us our new home. Let God use it to glorify His name, because it comes from Him and for Him…

Let us serve the true hospitality in Christ!

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother :)

Spending my half morning searching for casual/part time jobs through SEEK… for some looking for jobs can be a stressful thing to do, including me..hehe… the thought of applying, checking over and over again your resume & cover letter, getting interviewed (!) etc etc, and to actually do it, wewwww…!!! Although in my life til now I’ve experienced more or less 10 different jobs, everytime I face the cycle it still pumps up my heartbeats and most often, in a so not comfortable way… ukhhh…

Yet I want to give thanks to my Lord… Although I am still looking for jobs, I am lack of nothing… He provides me a nice place to leave in, sufficient foods, all my needs He provide!… Thanks God…

 

This morning I also realized that God is in particular teaching me this:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves” – Philippians 2:3

He is using this one single person particularly to teach me a humble and serving heart… who else than my brother that currently is together with me in Melb! For over two weeks doing these “housewifes chores” (and still going to continue to December at least! huehehehe..), I have to admit not all I did it with a cheerful heart… >.<

At some times I expected a little bit help from him (as simple as washing the dishes, filling up the drink water) yet he didn’t… Some other times I didn’t like he was being rude (either to me or his comments towards others)… Another time I complained in my heart why he couldn’t be more self independent (some of his actions and thoughts are still childish)… But well… He is my brother! I have this greater bond with him-we are family, and I know God is doing something in my heart as well as in his, so I do not want to put all blame in him. I admit sometimes I am also impatience… huhuhu.. forgive me Lord…

This morning as I sat ‘whining’ to God about him, He opened my eyes to other brighter side… Jesus’ point of view…

 

The more I complained, the  more I realized how much I should give thanks to my mom and my Lord…!

How often I didn’t realize I did the same thing to my mom (not giving her hand whenever she was in need, replying her comment or advice in a strong tone of voice-this meant acting rude towards her too-those are even still few to mention!)…

And also, how often I didn’t or forget to say thanks to my God for His goodness and for what He’s done to me, when on the other side I often expect my brother to at least say thanks for food I’ve prepared or on things I have helped him…

Not a good attitude of heart eh…

So, the more I complained, the more I was ashamed to myself…!

 

I thank God for He “does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our inquities” (Psalm 103:10)… and I also thank my mom for she’s been a wonderful, faithful, and loving mother to all of her children…! Hiks… Now I feel wanna cry…. :’(

Thank You so much Lord, for You have loved me just like Your own Son, therefore You allow this thing to process the purity of my heart…

Thank You for You have prepared me from now on to be a wonderful, loving, and faithful mother for my future- a mother who loves her children with all her heart, a wife who serves and loves her husband just like she loves her own, do anything for her family without any selfish ambition… You want me to serve, Lord, not to be served… When You serve, You never think of Your own benefits… You never expect something in return… How wonderful Your love is to me, Lord… You are my perfect role model, Jesus

Thank You for this wonderful lesson, God.. Enable me to serve and love my brother with all my heart, with a cheerful, giving, humble heart…

Me & my lil Bro who's not so little anymore... - Taken in China, Oct 2008

In the end, thank u baby, through u God’s shaping my character. I know God’s been preparing a wonderful plan and future for u too in Melbourne. I wanna be a wonderful sister for u, one who u can rely on… xxxx

A Letter from Father

I can’t sleep, again. I’m not feeling well either, and I hate it. I just wish time could stop and my mind goes freezed, I don’t want to think about anything at all, just blank momentarily would be nice. Then I opened my email. I’ve received this from one of my friends days ago but just decided to have a read of it just now.

 

AnakKu yang terkasih, Aku hampir tidak percaya ketika membaca suratmu. Bukankah baru beberapa minggu yang lalu engkau berjanji tidak akan menyerah?

Aku tahu, mungkin minggu-minggu ini terasa sangat sulit bagimu, tapi, anakKu, kuatkan hatimu. Tetaplah berlari dalam track yang sudah Kusediakan karena Aku tahu yang terbaik bagimu. Bila kau merasa lelah, berhentilah sejenak, ambil roti dan air hidup yang PutraKu telah tawarkan dan makanlah. Aku yakin, setelah kau mendapatkan keduanya, kau akan merasa segar kembali. Setelah itu, tarik nafas dalam-dalam dan mulai langkahkan kakimu untuk bergerak maju. Fokuskan pandanganmu pada apa yang ada di depanmu, pada tujuan yang kau miliki, yaitu menyelesaikan perlombaan dan menjadi juara.

Buanglah kemarahan dan sakit hati yang menghantui pikiranmu. Amarah dan sakit hati itu tidak ada gunanya, hanya menguras tenaga dan menghambatmu mencapai tujuan. Terkadang Aku mengijinkan hal-hal yang buruk terjadi karena Aku ingin melatihmu. Aku ingin kaki-kakimu menjadi lebih kuat daripada sebelumnya. Dengan begitu engkau dapat berlari dengan lebih cepat. Berhentilah mengasihani dirimu sendiri, berdirilah tegap, dan punyailah mental seorang pemenang.

Seorang pemenang, bukan dilihat dari berapa kali ia sukses meraih gelar juara. Di mataKu, seorang pemenang adalah seorang yang tidak pernah menyerah terhadap kegagalan, yang mau bangkit setiap kali ia jatuh. Karena itu, jangan pernah menyerah ketika kau jatuh tersandung kerikil-kerikil di sepanjang jalanmu. Jangan pula kau merasa malu terhadap dirimu sendiri. Angkat kepalamu dan teruskan perjalananmu mencapai finish.

Ketika pertandingan dimulai, Kuharap kau bisa mengacuhkan omongan orang-orang yang menonton di bangku stadion. Jangan merasa sombong karena pujian atau karena kau diunggulkan. Pujian dan pengagungan yang keluar dari mulut mereka terkadang hanya sekedar basa-basi di depan para juara. Tak jarang, kata-kata manis itu akan segera berubah menjadi kritikan pedas dan kecaman ketika para juara itu gagal. Karena itu, kau juga tidak perlu risau ketika mendengar pernyataan-pernyataan skeptis yang mengatakan engkau pasti kalah. Kau bukan bertanding atas kemauan mereka. Kau juga tidak hidup berdasarkan omongan mereka. Pelari yang berpengalaman tahu akan hal itu. Karena itu, tidak usah pusing dengan perkataan-perkataan mereka. Fokuskan pikiranmu pada tujuan yang semula, bukan untuk mendapatkan pujian atau penghargaan dari orang lain, tapi untuk menyelesaikan pertandingan.

Aku, Pelatihmu, tidak pernah meragukan kemampuan yang kau miliki. Aku tahu seberapa besar potensi yang ada padamu dan Aku tahu kau pasti bisa mencapai garis finish dengan gemilang.

Selamat berjuang anakKu, Aku menunggumu di garis finish.

Yang mengasihimu,
Ayahmu, Pelatihmu, Sahabatmu, Penonton setiamu

Thank You Father… It is a very wonderful letter that You ‘send’ to me tonight… Thank You for letting me know how much You care for me, Father… I know I’ll be fine when I can see all things through my faith and trust in You… Please help me when I don’t seem to have it Lord… Thank You for You always protect and care for me… Thank You for being my Comforter and my Redeemer… Thank You God, that is all I can say for tonight…