Kingdom News 3 June 2012
Safe Under God’s Wings Source from Daily Grace Inspirations From Joseph Prince Ministries Psalm 91:4 “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge…” A farmer walked around his farm to take stock of his losses after a fire had destroyed it. When he came to the chicken coop, he noticed the charred carcass of a mother hen. He used his foot to turn the carcass over and to his surprise, live chicks ran out from under it! The mother hen had died protecting her chicks from the fire. In the Bible, wings speak of protection. David said to God, “Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” (Psalm 17:8) Jesus Himself offered protection to the Jewish nation when He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34) He wanted to gather the children of Israel under His wings to protect them, but they were not willing. That was why He wept over
Jerusalem. He literally shed tears because He saw the destruction that would come upon His people. He saw the Roman siege of Jerusalem in AD70, when the Romans burnt the city and holy temple, slaughtered many, took some captive and sold others as slaves. (Luke 19:41–44) I believe that He also saw the Holocaust of World War II, which resulted in the extermination of six million Jews. For us, because we have not rejected Jesus, but have received Him as our Savior, we have His protection, especially in these times of deadly pestilences, natural catastrophes and terrorist attacks. Like the mother hen who spread her wings and died protecting her chicks, Jesus spread His wings of love and died on the cross for us. And after He had died to save us, He rose again and lives today to make sure that we are well taken care of. Beloved, see yourself under the wings of your Savior, who has promised you this in His Word: “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.”
“Let the shalom peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus” ~ Philippians 4:7
be Peaceful! Psalms 23:2 “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams” (NLT) Mazmur 23:2 “Ia membaringkan aku di padang yang berumput hijau, Ia membimbing aku ke air yang tenang.” kingdomnews 02
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Belajar dari Ikan Bandeng source from www.giajemursarisurabaya.blogspot.com Rancangan di dalam hati manusia itu seperti air yang dalam, tetapi orang yang pandai tahu menimbanya. Ikan bandeng memiliki daging yang lezat. Namun, sayangnya memiliki tulang dan duri yang susah dipisahkan dari dagingnya. Salah satu cara mengatasi masalah ini adalah dengan mengolah bandeng menjadi bandeng presto. Bandeng diolah dengan pressure cooker, alat masak yang bekerja dengan memberikan tekanan tinggi. Tekanan ini telah diatur sedemikian rupa, sehingga tulang dan duri bandeng tersebut bisa menjadi lunak, tapi dagingnya sendiri tidak rusak. Kita pun dapat menikmati daging bandeng yang lezat tanpa harus terganggu dengan tulang dan durinya lagi. Hampir sama dengan ikan bandeng, ada juga banyak “Tulang dan Duri” dalam diri kita yang membuat hidup kita tidak menyenangkan bagi TUHAN. Mungkin “Tulang dan Duri” itu berupa kesombongan,
kekurangpercayaan, kekerasan hati, pola pikir yang salah, dan sebagainya. Maka, kerap kali TUHAN harus mengatasinya dengan “Memasukkan” kita untuk sementara waktu ke dalam “Pressure Cooker”, yakni situasi hidup yang sering kita anggap membuat kita stres. Tentu dengan “Takaran Tekanan” yang sudah DIA atur, sehingga tidak akan melebihi kemampuan kita untuk menanggungnya. Cukup kuat untuk “Melunakkan Duri” atau membentuk kita, tapi tidak sampai membuat kita hancur. Apabila saat ini kita sedang berada dalam situasi yang tertekan, yang membuat kita stres, jangan menyerah!! Tetaplah beriman kepada-Nya. Bahkan, pakai kesempatan ini untuk merenung dan mencari apa yang DIA ingin kita ubah dalam diri kita. Lalu jalani dengan kesabaran dan ketekunan, agar melalui proses ini, kita menjadi pribadi yang lebih baik.
Ulat dan Pohon Mangga source from www.ceritakristen.org Seekor ulat yang kelaparan terdampar di tanah tandus. Dengan lemas ia menghampiri pohon mangga sambil berkata, “Aku lapar, bolehkah aku makan daunmu?” Pohon mangga menjawab, “Tanah di sini tandus, daunku pun tidak banyak. Apabila kau makan daunku, nanti akan berlubang dan tidak kelihatan cantik lagi. Lalu aku mungkin akan mati kekeringan. Hmmm…tapi baiklah, kau boleh naik dan memakan daunku. Mungkin hujan akan datang dan daunku akan tumbuh kembali.” Ulat naik dan mulai makan daun-daunan.
Ia hidup di atas pohon itu sampai menjadi kepompong dan akhirnya berubah menjadi kupu-kupu yang cantik. “Hai pohon mangga, lihatlah aku sudah menjadi kupu-kupu. Terima kasih karena telah mengizinkan aku hidup di tubuhmu. Sebagai balas budi, aku akan membawa serbuk sari hingga bungamu dapat berbuah.” Dalam hidup kita sering memperhitungkan untung rugi pengorbanan yang dilakukan. “Jika saya memberi, saya akan kekurangan. Bagaimana mengatasinya?” Atau, “Bagaimana kalau ternyata saya ditipu?” 03 kingdomnews
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Tapi sadarkah kita, setiap kita memberi, ada sepercik sukacita di hati? Mother Teresa pernah berkata, “Lakukan apa yang menjadi
bagianmu, dan jangan berpikir apa yang akan kita dapat.” Bila ingin memberi, lakukan saja karena semuanya akan kembali ke kita juga.
THE WHITE DRESS
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eorang mahasiswa non Kristen di Afrika, Hawa Ahmed, memutuskan untuk menjadi Kristen setelah membaca sebuah traktat di asramanya. Namun adalah sebuah pergumulan yang berat saat ia harus mengatakan hal itu kepada ayahnya, karena sang ayah adalah seorang pemuka agama yang dulu dianutnya. Ketika akhirnya ia mengungkapkan kebenaran itu, ayahnya menjadi sangat murka begitu pula saudara laki-lakinya, mereka langsung melucuti pakaiannya dan kemudian membuatnya duduk disebuah kursi yang akan dialiri arus listrik. Faith, nama baru Hawa Ahmed duduk dikursi itu sambil menyentuh alkitab. Anehnya listrik tidak dapat mengaliri kursi tersebut. Sang ayah dan kakak-kakaknya mencoba terus tapi tidak pernah berhasil, akhirnya mereka menyerah, dan melepaskan Faith yang dalam keadaan telanjang tersebut ke tengah jalan. Faith berjalan sambil merasakan malu yang luar biasa karena semua orang memandangnya dengan pandangan aneh. Tidak lama setelah Hidup adalah tantangan, hadapilah. Hidup adalah anugerah, terimalah. Hidup adalah pertandingan, menangkanlah. Hidup adalah tugas, selesaikanlah. Hidup adalah cita-cita, capailah. Hidup adalah misteri, singkapkanlah. Hidup adalah kesempatan, ambillah. Hidup adalah lagu, nyanyikanlah. Hidup adalah janji, penuhilah. Hidup adalah keindahan, bersyukurlah. Hidup adalah teka-teki, pecahkanlah. kingdomnews 04
itu seorang teman mengajaknya masuk kerumahnya dan memberikan Faith pakaian. Hari berikutnya, temannya itu bertanya kepada para tetangga tentang apa yang mereka pikirkan saat melihat Faith berlarian tanpa busana dijalanan. “Aku tidak mengerti apa yg engkau tanyakan?” mereka bertanya. “GADIS ITU MEMAKAI BAJU PUTIH YANG SANGAT INDAH”. Bahkan kami bertanyatanya kepada diri kami sendiri mengapa ada seorang yang memakai baju putih seindah itu berlarian disepanjang jalan. Tuhan tidak pernah mempermalukan umat-NYA. Untuk setiap keyakinan yang kita pegang dengan teguh. Tuhan pasti menyatakan pembelaan-NYA kepada kita. Hal ini telah terbukti mulai dari jaman Daniel, Sadrakh, Mesakh dan Abednego. Jika kita berada dalam jalan-NYA maka anda harus percaya bahwa Ia adalah penolong kita dan kesetiaan-NYA sungguh terbukti. Based on true story (2002). Faith sekarang menjadi evangelist fulltime.
1 hal 1 hal buat kita Bahagia adalah CINTA 1 hal buat kita bertambah Dewasa adalah MASALAH 1 hal buat kita Hancur adalah PUTUS ASA 1 hal buat kita Maju adalah USAHA 1 hal buat kita Kuat adalah DOA.
weeklydevotional
I would walk the extra mile Article written by Christy Yuanita Matthew 5:41 “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two” One day, Nick was on his way home when a bunch of kids from his school started mocking, “Hey, Nick, do you need us to carry you so you can reach home faster? Or do you want us to hold your pen tomorrow so you can do your exam?” His friends laughed so hard and left him in despair. Nick was used to be bullied and struggled with depression and loneliness. But that day, he felt so stressed that he told himself, “I can’t do this anymore, if there’s any 1 more person who mocks me today, that’s it...” And true enough, somebody called him. Nick already prepared his heart. The kid came to him and said, “Hey, Nick, don’t listen to what they said, I know you are much better than that.” When nobody noticed, that day, Nick planned to suicide but his friend cared to walk a little more and his small action changed Nick’s life forever. Nick grows up and graduated with a double Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Financial Planning. He is now a well-sought international speaker, CEO of “Life without limbs” organisation and his story touches and lifts up the heart of millions of people around the world. He is Nick Vujicic. During my times in Singapore, there are times when I felt down and lonely. During these times, I know that God is always there but a small tangible care from people around me actually did the extra work. Friends who cared to walk me home, talked for hours, a little poke on the shoulders asking “How are
you?” or simple phone chat indeed lifted me up. I believe these are some ways God used to help me through and it changes my heart and life. Everyone hopes to be a world changer, but what they don’t realise is that they can be one by just “walking the extra mile” like what Jesus did during His ministry. When He raised Lazarus from the death, He could just said it from afar but He came personally to the tomb. When He cured Jarius daughter, He also came to his house even when it’s not needed. And finally when He took the cross on the Calvary and sacrificed His life for you and me, He walked that ultimate extra mile so that we can enjoy eternal life with Him. So if Jesus walked the extra mile to save a wretch like us, why can’t we do the same too? Of course, it’s easier to just sit and play with our phone than talk to someone new. It’s easier to go home and sleep than to spend time with friends at a coffee house. It’s easier to say “no” than to help a friend or accompany them. Sometimes, we won’t know or realize when our gestures actually change people’s life. Nick’s friend was just walking by and greeted him, but who knows that small action actually impact the world in a big way. One day, we would all be separated. What others would remember of us is not the things that we have given or said but our gestures that touches their life. Be someone whom people will remember and say to us, “If I can be who I am today, it’s all because of you”, like what I would say to those people who have walked the extra mile for me. And personally, I also want to be that person for others and “I would walk the extra mile”. My question is, would you too? 05 kingdomnews
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renungan singkat
BUNGKUS ATAU ISI Hidup akan sangat melelahkan, sia-sia dan menjemukan bila Anda hanya menguras pikiran untuk mengurus BUNGKUS-nya saja dan mengabaikan ISI-nya. Bedakanlah apa itu “BUNGKUS” nya dan apa itu “ISI”nya. “Rumah yg indah” hanya bungkusnya; “Keluarga Bahagia” itu isinya.
“Kecantikan dan Ketampanan” itu hanya bungkusnya; “Kepribadian dan Hati” itu isinya. “Bicara” itu hanya bungkusnya; “Kenyataan” itu isinya. “Buku” itu hanya bungkusnya; “Pengetahuan” itu isinya.
“Pesta pernikahan” hanya bungkusnya; “Cinta kasih, Pengertian, dan Tanggung jawab” itu isinya.
“Jabatan” itu hanya bungkusnya; “Pengabdian dan pelayanan” itu isinya.
“Ranjang mewah” hanya bungkusnya; “Tidur nyenyak” itu isinya.
“Pergi ke tempat ibadah” itu bungkusnya; “Melakukan Ajaran agama” itu isinya.
“Kekayaan” itu hanya bungkusnya; “Hati yang “gembira” itu isinya”
“Kharisma” itu hanya bungkusnya; “Karakter” itu isinya.
“Makan enak” itu hanya bungkusnya; “Gizi, energi, dan sehat” itu isinya.
Utamakanlah bungkusnya.
isinya,
namun
rawatlah
He knows how it ends source from Joel Osteen Isaiah 46:10, NKJV “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done...” Sometimes I will record a football game and watch it when I get home later. Most times, I already know how the game ends. I’ve talked to friends or watched the news. I know my team wins. While I’m watching, I don’t get discouraged if my team falls behind. I don’t get uptight if it’s halftime and we still haven’t scored. I’m totally at peace. Why? I already know the outcome. kingdomnews 06
The truth is that the further behind we fall, the more excited I am because that means a big comeback is on its way. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen. As believers, God has promised us victory. You may go through disappointments. At times, it seems like you’re far behind. But you’ve got to remind yourself, “God holds my future in the palm of His hand. He already knows the outcome. God never ends in defeat!” I’m going to come out of this better and stronger than ever before! Remember, He knows how it ends, and it ends in peace, joy and victory in every area of your life!
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