Monday, February 4, 2019

What is Love

What is Love – Seasoned Feelings

Ask any teenager or senior citizen, “What is love?” and their answers reflect a similar influence. Love involves feelings -- romanticized by music, literature, and media. We all yearn to recreate that intimacy based on what seems so ideal. Our deepest longings shape what defines love -- fervor (passionate), flawless (perfect), and fulfillment (joy).

When we express love, we develop a strong emotional attachment, anticipating our love to be returned. What do I receive out of the relationship? What’s my level of contentment? Our feelings focus upon discovering that one individual who satisfies all our heart’s desires. Sadly, what nourished and warmed our love for one season often withers and grows cold. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”1


What is Love – The Cost of Giving
What is love if not costly? Real love demands sacrifice that can’t be found in self-centeredness. You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. Sacrificial love requires that we give what we value most: our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Real love does not always follow our natural inclinations; it is not an impulse from feelings.

Love can only be understood from the actions it prompts. When we bear with the failings and weaknesses of others, divine love reveals itself (Ephesians 4:2). At all costs, this love compels us to give so that we alleviate the suffering of others. Instead of seeking to fulfill our emotional and physical needs (receiving), we humbly give of ourselves (1 Peter 3:8–9). 


What is Love – God’s Nature
In a response to, “What is Love?” it is erroneous to say “love is God.” God created love, not the reverse. He deliberately chose to express His love to us -- revealing the very nature of God Himself.

  • God Is Sacrificial – God initiated an eternal love relationship with us before we loved Him (1 John 4:10).

  • God Is Merciful – God extended the wealth of His kindness even when we were undeserving of His love (Ephesians 2:4-5).

  • God Is Faithful – Even in the most extreme circumstances, God’s love for us remains secure (Romans 8:35, 38-39).
God did not need to create the universe. He made that choice as an expression of His ultimate love for us. Then God created us a certain way -- to experience all that perfect love was meant to be (Song of Songs 4:9-10; 8:6; 1 John 4:7-12). 


“ . . . May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is” (Ephesians 3:17-18). 



Souce:
 http://www.allaboutgod.com/what-is-love.htm

Monday, January 28, 2019

Everyone Needs Someone , By. Helen Steiner Rice


Image result for holding hand

People need people and friends need friends,
And we all need love for a full life depends
Not on vast riches or great acclaim,
Not on success or on worldly fame,
But just in knowing that someone cares
And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers -
For only the knowledge that we’re understood
Makes everyday living feel wonderfully good.
 
And we rob ourselves of life’s greatest need
When we “lock up our hearts” and fail to heed
The outstreched hand reaching to find
A kindred spirit whose heart and mind
Are lonely and longing to somehow share
Our joys and sorrows and to make us aware
That life’s completeness and richness depends
On the things we share with our loved ones and friends.

Helen Steiner Rice
(1900 – 1981)

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

The Key to Love , By : Author Unknown


The key to love is understanding...
The ability to comprehend not only the spoken word,
but those unspoken gestures,
the little things that say so much by themselves. 

The key to love is forgiveness...
to accept each others faults and pardon mistakes,
without forgetting, but with remembering
what you learn from them.



The key to love is sharing...
Facing your good fortunes as well as the bad, together;
both conquering problems, forever searching for ways
to intensify your happiness. 


The key to love is giving...
without thought of return,
but with the hope of just a simple smile,
and by giving in but never giving up.


The key to love is respect...
realizing that you are two separate people, with different ideas;
that you don't belong to each other,
that you belong with each other, and share a mutual bond. 


The key to love is inside us all...
It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients
that will take you to its threshold;
it is the continual learning process that demands a lot of work...
but the rewards are more than worth the effort...
and that is the key to love.

Friday, December 28, 2018

Empat Kunci Rumah Tangga Bahagia, By Marriage Rebuilders

1. Saling menghormati
Cinta memang alasan utama kita menikahi seseorang. Namun cinta tak akan bisa bertahan tanpa rasa saling menghormati. Menghormati bukan berarti tunduk, melainkan komitmen untuk saling mendukung pasangan dalam keadaan seperti apapun. Seburuk apapun keadaan pasangan, tak ada satu alasan pun yang membolehkan Anda menghinanya. Ingat, semua aib pasangan, juga merupakan aib Anda. Kegagalannya juga merupakan kegagalan Anda.

2. Menjaga keintiman
Menikah berarti menjalankan babak baru dalam kehidupan cinta Anda. Akan ada banyak perubahan yang terjadi jika dibandingkan dengan masa-masa pacaran. Saat menikah, keintiman terkadang terlupakan. Terlalu sibuk mencapai tujuan hidup atau sekadar mengejar materi seringkali membuat para pasangan lupa untuk menunjukkan rasa cintanya.
Untuk itu selalu sediakan waktu untuk pasangan Anda. Kecupan manis dan kata-kata cinta yang tulus akan kembali membangkitkan keintiman Anda. Anda dan pasangan juga tak akan pernah lupa alasan kalian saling jatuh cinta.

3. Kerja tim.
Setelah menikah, Anda dan pasangan adalah sebuah kesatuan. Tak ada lagi 'Saya' atau 'Dia', yang ada hanya 'Kita'. Untuk itu Anda harus menyusun cara kerja tim yang sesuai. Jangan saling memaksakan pandangan. Menyatukan dua pikiran dari latar belakang yang berbeda tak pernah mudah. Namun jika Anda dan pasangan saling mendukung, hal itu sangat mungkin dilakukan.

4. Menjaga komitmen
Menjaga komitmen sangat penting dilakukan. Hal ini akan menambah rasa percaya diri Anda dan pasangan terhadap pernikahan kalian. Anda dan pasangan pun tak akan mudah digoyahkan oleh cobaan yang melintang.


Ayu Kinanti  (editor Yahoo! Indonesia)

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Prayer – Talking to God


Prayer – Talking to God
Prayer is a privilege.

Imagine meeting your best friend for coffee at your favorite cafe. Your friend knows everything about you. You can count on your friend being exactly where he says he will be. Anytime you need him, you can call and he won’t be upset with you. He is willing to listen and responds with love and concern.

That is just like prayer. The only difference is that your best friend is God.

God is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He knows everything you ever did and He still loves you! He knows your future too. He has the best plans for your life. He cares for you so much that He gave His Son so that you could be with Him forever. “For God so loved the world, the He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

You can talk to Him about anything that concerns you. Tell Him your desires and passions. Share your concerns for your loved ones. Talk out your fears with Him.

Communicate to God what is inside you without fear. 


Prayer – What do I say?
Prayer may be accomplished in many ways. The best way is to be natural, just as if you were in the room with Him. He is very anxious to hear every word you say. You can say whatever is on your heart. He’ll even listen to your anger and sadness.

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus taught the disciples a pattern for prayer. “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” 


Prayer – Why Pray?
Why is prayer important? If God already knows all about you and knows all that He has written, why should you pray? It’s because God created us to have free will. He wants us to come to Him willingly and not as robotic creations. He has given us a mind to make decisions and the most important decision is about eternity. Even though He knows the future, we don’t know the future choices we will make. It’s important to live by His guidance to make the right choices.

In the Bible, you will find kings, prophets, and ordinary people like you and me, averted destruction by praying to God. One prayer stopped the sun, one prayed fire down from heaven, one gained fifteen years to his own life, and one prayer even saved a whole city. These people prayed intensely to the God who answers prayer.

When you pray, God listens to your cries. When you don’t pray, God feels left out of your life. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b). As you pray consistently, you are affirming the existence of God in your life. You are building your faith as you see God’s hand do His mighty work on your behalf just because you asked.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). 


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Doa - Berbicara dengan Allah
Prayer is a privilege. Doa adalah hak istimewa.

Bayangkan pertemuan teman terbaik Anda untuk minum kopi di kafe favorit Anda.  Teman Anda tahu segalanya tentang Anda.  Anda dapat mengandalkan pada teman Anda yang persis di mana dia mengatakan dia akan. Setiap kali Anda membutuhkan dia, Anda bisa menelepon dan dia tidak akan marah dengan Anda. Dia bersedia untuk mendengarkan dan merespon dengan cinta dan perhatian.

. Itu adalah seperti doa . Satu-satunya perbedaan adalah bahwa teman terbaik Anda adalah Tuhan.

Allah tersedia untuk Anda 24 jam sehari, 7 hari seminggu. Dia tahu segala sesuatu yang Anda pernah lakukan dan Dia masih mengasihi Anda!  Dia tahu masa depan Anda juga. . Dia memiliki rencana terbaik untuk hidup Anda.  Ia yang memelihara kamu sehingga Dia memberikan Anak-Nya sehingga Anda bisa bersama Dia selamanya.  "Karena Allah begitu mengasihi dunia, maka Ia telah mengaruniakan AnakNya yang tunggal, supaya setiap orang yang percaya kepadaNya tidak binasa, melainkan beroleh hidup yang kekal" ( Yohanes 3:16 ).

 Anda dapat berbicara dengan Dia tentang apa pun yang keprihatinan Anda. Beritahu Nya keinginan Anda dan gairah.  Berbagi keprihatinan untuk orang yang Anda cintai.  Bicara keluar ketakutan Anda dengan-Nya.

 Berkomunikasi dengan Allah apa yang ada dalam diri Anda tanpa rasa takut.
 
  Doa - Apa yang harus saya katakan?
Doa dapat dicapai dengan berbagai cara.  Cara terbaik adalah menjadi alami, sama seperti jika Anda berada di ruangan dengan-Nya.  Dia sangat ingin mendengar setiap kata yang Anda katakan. Anda dapat mengatakan apa pun ada di hati Anda. Dia bahkan akan mendengarkan kemarahan dan kesedihan.

 Dalam Matius 6:9-13 , Yesus mengajarkan murid pola untuk berdoa. "Ini, kemudian, adalah bagaimana anda harus berdoa:Bapa kami yang ada di surga, Dimuliakanlah nama-Mu, Datanglah Kerajaan-Mu, Jadilah kehendak-Mu, Di atas bumi seperti di dalam Surga, Berilah kami rejeki pada hari ini, Dan ampunilah kesalahan kami, seperti kamipun mengampuni yang bersalah kepada kami. Dan janganlah masukkan kami ke dalam percobaan. Tetapi bebaskan kami dari yang jahat. Karena Engkaulah yang empunya Kerajaan dan kuasa dan kemuliaan sampai selama-lamanya. Amin.

Doa - Mengapa Berdoa?
 Mengapa doa penting?   Jika Allah sudah tahu semua tentang Anda dan tahu semua yang Ia telah menulis, mengapa harus berdoa ? Itu karena Tuhan menciptakan kita untuk memiliki kehendak bebas.  Dia ingin kita datang kepada-Nya rela dan bukan sebagai kreasi robot.  Dia telah memberi kita pikiran untuk membuat keputusan dan keputusan yang paling penting adalah tentang kekekalan.Meskipun Dia mengetahui masa depan, kita tidak tahu pilihan masa depan akan kita buat. Sangat penting untuk hidup dengan bimbingan-Nya untuk membuat pilihan yang tepat.

Dalam Alkitab, Anda akan menemukan raja, nabi, dan orang-orang biasa seperti Anda dan saya, dihindari kerusakan dengan berdoa kepada Tuhan.. Satu doa berhenti matahari, satu berdoa api turun dari langit, satu diperoleh lima belas tahun untuk hidup sendiri, dan satu doa bahkan menyelamatkan seluruh kota. Orang-orang ini berdoa secara intens kepada Allah yang menjawab doa.

  Ketika Anda berdoa, Tuhan mendengarkan Anda menangis. Bila Anda tidak berdoa, Tuhan merasa ditinggalkan dari kehidupan Anda. "Ia sabar terhadap kamu, tidak ingin ada yang binasa, melainkan supaya semua orang berbalik dan bertobat" ( 2 Petrus 3:9 b ). Ketika Anda berdoa secara konsisten, Anda menegaskan keberadaan Allah dalam hidup Anda.  Anda sedang membangun iman Anda seperti yang Anda lihat tangan Tuhan melakukan pekerjaan yang besar-Nya atas nama Anda hanya karena Anda bertanya.

  "Mintalah, maka akan diberikan kepada Anda, mencari dan Anda akan menemukan, ketoklah, maka pintu akan dibukakan bagimu. Untuk setiap orang yang meminta, menerima, dia yang mencari, mendapat dan setiap orang yang mengetok, baginya pintu akan dibukakan "( Matius 7:7-8 ).

 Source :
http://www.allaboutprayer.org

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

While I'm Waiting - John Waller



I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Kaya tapi Miskin Hati

  Ciri-ciri orang Kristen yang suam-suam kuku: Lebih mengandalkan harta dan kenyamanan dunia daripada Tuhan.  Hidup dalam kepuasan diri, mer...