Doa mengubah segala sesuatu - Regina Pangkerego

SAAT KEADAAN SEK’LILINGKU
ADA DI LUAR KEMAMPUANKU
KU BERDIAM DIRI MENCARI-MU
DOA MENGUBAH SEGALA SESUATU
SAAT KENYATAAN DI DEPANKU
MENGECEWAKAN PERASAANKU
KU MENUTUP MATA MEMANDANG-MU
S’BAB DOA MENGUBAH SEGALA SESUATU
DOA ORANG BENAR BILA DIDOAKAN, DENGAN YAKIN, BESAR KUASANYA
DAN TIAP DOA YANG LAHIR DARI IMAN BERKUASA MENYELAMATKAN
S’PERTI MATA AIR DI TANGAN-MU
MENGALIR KE MANAPUN KAU MAU
TIADA YANG MUSTAHIL DI MATA-MU
DOA MENGUBAH SEGALA SESUATU

Standing In The Fire / Berdiri Di Tengah Api

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:17 

Wrapped in blankets in my grandparents’ pickup, I watched as fire consumed our home. My father says I slept soundly as he carried my brother and me and our puppies out to safety. When I woke up and saw the huge blaze, I was already safe. I was too curious and too young to be scared.

I remember several things from that night. Even inside the truck, the heat was intense and the fire was mesmerizing. I remember too the fear on the faces of everyone else, checking and re-checking to see if loved ones were safe. Later I learned that in the chaos my father raced into the fire to look for my grandfather, which prompted my grandfather (who was not inside the house) to race in to get my father. Their courage affected all who saw it that night.

I’m reminded of that fire every time I read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. When challenged with the decree to bow to the king or face execution (Dan. 3:10-12), these three bravely faced the fire for the One they loved (vv.16-18). And the Lord stood with them in the flames (v.25).

When life’s “flames” test us, may those who observe our choices recognize our love for each other and for our God.

For Further Thought
Read more of Daniel and his friends in Daniel 1–3.
How do their lives encourage you to stand firm for God?
Ask the Lord to help you make courageous choices today.

Trials are the soil in which faith grows.

 _________________________________________________________

 Jika Allah kami yang kami puja sanggup melepaskan kami, maka Ia akan melepaskan kami dari perapian yang menyala-nyala itu, dan dari dalam tanganmu, ya raja.

Daniel 3:17

Sambil terbungkus selimut di dalam truk pikap milik kakek, saya menyaksikan bagaimana api menghabiskan rumah kami. Ayah saya berkata bahwa saya tertidur pulas ketika membawa saya, kakak saya, dan anak-anak anjing kami keluar ke tempat yang aman. Ketika terbangun dan melihat nyala api yang membara, saya sudah aman. Saat itu, keingintahuan dan usia muda membuat saya tidak merasa takut sama sekali.

Namun saya mengingat beberapa hal dari malam itu. Walaupun berada di dalam truk, saya dapat merasakan panas yang menyengat dan kobaran api yang begitu mencengangkan. Saya juga ingat rasa takut yang terlihat di wajah orang-orang, ketika mereka memeriksa berulang kali untuk memastikan bahwa orang-orang yang mereka cintai sudah selamat. Belakangan saya mengetahui bahwa di tengah kekacauan itu, ayah saya berlari ke dalam api untuk mencari kakek saya. Tindakannya membuat kakek saya (yang sebenarnya tidak berada di dalam rumah) ikut berlari masuk untuk mencari ayah saya. Keberanian mereka menyentuh hati setiap orang yang menyaksikannya malam itu.

Saya ingat akan kebakaran itu saat membaca cerita Sadrakh, Mesakh, dan Abednego. Saat ditantang dengan titah untuk menyembah raja atau menerima eksekusi (Dan. 3:10-12), mereka dengan berani memilih dimasukkan ke dalam dapur api demi Allah yang mereka kasihi (ay.16-18). Tuhan pun berdiri bersama mereka di tengah perapian itu (ay.25).

Ketika “api” kehidupan menguji kita, biarlah orang-orang yang memperhatikan setiap keputusan yang kita ambil dapat menyaksikan kasih kita antara satu sama lain dan kepada Allah kita. —RKK

Untuk Dipikirkan Lebih Lanjut
Baca selengkapnya kisah Daniel dan teman-temannya di Daniel 1-3.
Bagaimana kehidupan mereka mendorong Anda untuk berdiri teguh
bagi Allah? Mintalah agar Tuhan menolong Anda
untuk mengambil keputusan yang berani hari ini.

Ujian adalah tanah tempat iman bertumbuh.

Source : odb

4 Reasons Not to Worry

 4 Reasons Not to Worry, By.Mary Fairchild

I've spent an awful lot of time in my life worrying. I've worried about grades in school, job interviews, approaching deadlines and shrinking budgets. I've worried about bills and expenses, rising gas prices, insurance costs and endless taxes. I've even worried about having my home in perfect condition for "company," and within seconds of their arrival, the house is turned upside down and no one even notices. 

I've worried about first impressions, political correctness, identity theft and contagious infections. In spite of all the worrying, I'm still alive and well, and all my bills are paid.

Over the span of my lifetime, worrying accounts for hours and hours of invaluable time that I'll never get back. So, I have decided that I'd like to spend my time more wisely and more enjoyably. If you're not convinced yet to give up your worrying, here are four biblical reasons not to worry.

1. Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing.  I don't know about you, but I don't have any time to waste these days. And worrying is a waste of very precious time. Worrying won't help you solve a problem or bring about a solution, so why waste your time and energy on it?
   
   Matthew 6:27-29 (NLT) Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
    
2. Worrying is Not Good for You. Worrying is destructive to us in many ways. It becomes a mental burden that can even cause us to grow physically sick.
   
   Proverbs 12:25 (NLT) Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
    
3. Worrying is the Opposite of Trusting God. The energy that we spend worrying can be put to much better use in prayer. Here's a little formula to remember: Worry replaced by Prayer equals Trust.(Worry - Prayer = Trust)
   
   Matthew 6:30 (NLT) And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 
    
   Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
    
4. Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction. When we keep our eyes focused on God, we remember his love for us and we realize we truly have nothing to worry about. God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us. Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn't care, we can put our trust in the Lord and focus on his kingdom. God will take care of our every need.
   
   Matthew 6:25 (NLT) That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
    
   Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT) So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
    
    
   Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
   1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Love Forgives, By Janet Mullaly