4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Soninto our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4: 4-7) | Christmas is the time of the year when gifts are exchanged and shared. But of course the best gift of all is the birth of Christ in our lives. Christ in us makes us see and feel everything as a great blessing, including missing someone who is no longer around. I remember how mom loved giving away gifts on Christmas to people around her. It is not so much about expensive gifts, but gifts as token of love. LOVE--This is the essence of Christmas. The birth of Christ is a token of the greatest love of God to us. Through Christ, the greatest promise of God to save us and give us eternal love is fulfilled. Cherish God’s love displayed through the presence of families and friends around us. They are what we will remember when the gifts are no longer under the tree. Share God’s love, peace and joy to everyone around us. Merry Christmas, all. Joy to the World and Peace on Earth. |
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INTRODUCTION Sea of Galilee The Sea of Galilee, also Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias (Hebrew: יָם כִּנֶּרֶת, Judeo-Aramaic: יַמּא דטבריא, Arabic:بحيرة طبريا), is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, and it is approximately 53 km (33 mi) in circumference, about 21 km (13 mi) long, and 13 km (8.1 mi) wide. The lake has a total area of 166.7 km2 (64.4 sq mi) at its fullest, and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m (141 feet).[3] At levels between 215 metres (705 ft) and 209 metres (686 ft) below sea level,[4] it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake overall (after the Dead Sea, a saltwater lake).[5] The lake is fed partly by underground springs although its main source is the Jordan River which flows through it from north to south. Much of the ministry of Jesus occurred on the shores of Lake Galilee. In those days, there was a continuous ribbon development of settlements and villages around the lake and plenty of trade and ferrying by boat. (Source: Wikipedia) THE MESSAGE Read: Mark 4:35-41 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:39) Because of its geographic location, the Sea of Galilea was often struck by strong wind and even storms. This natural phenomenon shouldn’t have surprised the disciples of Jesus. However, they were still scared and got panicked when a big storm hit them. As long as we are still on earth, we shouldn’t be surprised if we experience different types of storm in our lives. KEY ISSUES
Questions for Discussion: 1. Can Christians experience storms in their lives? (John 16: 33) 2. So, what’s the difference between Christians and Non-Christians in facing the storms in their lives? · Psalm 34: 22 · Psalm 34: 18 · 1 Corinthians 10: 13 3. What should we do when the storm hits the boat of life? · Psalm 46: 1-3 · Matthew 7: 24-27 · Philippians 4: 6-7 KEY MESSAGE · Everyone will experience different types of storm in their lives. · Quite often, storms come when we don’t expect them to come (verse 35) · Sometimes storm comes even though we think we are following God’s will. Yet, trust and obey. · When storm comes, don’t panic, be quite and be still, trust God and kneel down and pray. (Ayat 40) Life journey is often illustrated as the journey with a boat in the open sea. The journey may be colored by good and bad weather along the way. In whatever type of weather we are traveling, invite God into our boat of life. Then, trust Him to make our journey meaningful, joyful, and safe to arrive in the destination. Only then, we can face all the storms that we may experience along the way. ACTION PLAN 1. Do you have any experience facing the storm of life that you can share with us (your own storm or the story about others who God enabled to overcome the storm in their lives)? What are the lessons learned? 2. List down the things that you plan to do when you experience the storm of life. 3. List down what you can do when someone you know (family member, neighbor, and good friend) faces their storm of life. PRAYER POINTS People around us who are facing storms of life. Thank you and God bless you.
Kerukunan dan Kesatuan Hati
PENGANTAR Ilustrasi: 1. Jika kita diminta untuk memindahkan meja/lemari besar sendirian. a. Bagaimana hasilnya? b. Apa kendalanya? 2. Coba bayangkan hasilnya jika kita melakukannya dengan dibantu beberapa orang. a. Bagaimana hasilnya? b. Mengapa demikian? Pelajaran yang bisa dipetik dari kegiatan ini: Biasanya pekerjaan berat yang dilakukan secara gotong royong akan terasa lebih ringan dan lebih cepat diselesaikan, serta hasilnyapun lebih baik dari pada jika dilakukan sendirian. Untuk itulah kita memerlukan SINERGI – tidak hanya bekerja bersama-sama, tapi bekerjasama dengan kesatuan hati. PESAN FIRMAN TUHAN Filipi 2: 2-4 2:2 karena itu sempurnakanlah sukacitaku dengan ini: hendaklah kamu sehati sepikir, dalam satu kasih, satu jiwa, satu tujuan, 2:3 dengan tidak mencari kepentingan sendiri atau puji-pujian yang sia-sia. Sebaliknya hendaklah dengan rendah hati yang seorang menganggap yang lain lebih utama dari pada dirinya sendiri; 2:4 dan janganlah tiap-tiap orang hanya memperhatikan kepentingannya sendiri, tetapi kepentingan orang lain juga. INTI PEMBAHASAN Kesatuan di antara keluarga Allah adalah sesuatu yang Allah inginkan terjadi dan itu adalah teladan yang diberikan Allah Tritunggal. Dalam persekutuan kasih, Bapa juga mengutus Anak-Nya menjadi perwakilan kita, dan memeteraikan kita di dalam Kristus sebagai anak-anak-Nya dengan kuasa Roh Kudus. Filipi 2: 2-4 Lalu, apa saja yang bisa kita lakukan untuk membangun kesatuan dan kesatuan antara anggota keluarga Allah? Kita diingatkan untuk rendah hati seperti yang diteladani oleh Yesus. Selain itu, kita juga diingatkan untuk tidak melulu memperhatikan kepentingan sendiri, tetapi juga memperhatikan kepentingan orang lain, terutama sesama anggota keluarga Allah yang membutuhkan perhatian dan pertolongan. Karena kita ini ibarat Jendela bagi dunia untuk melihat kasih karunia Allah yang begitu luar biasa. Jika kita rukun, saling menolong, saling menghargai dan memahami perbedaan, serta saling memberkati, maka dunia akan melihat melalui jendela perbuatan kasih kita bahwa Allah kita memang penuh kasih. Jadi, jagalah agar kerukunan terjaga. RENCANA PENERAPAN Diskusikan pertanyaan berikut lalu coba share dengan anggota kelompok lainnya. · Coba pikirkan apa yang bisa kita lakukan untuk mewujudkan kesatuan hati dan kerukunan di FoN? Apa contoh tindakan atau kegiatan yang bisa kita lakukan? · Pikirkan juga apa yang bisa kita dilakukan sebagai individu untuk bertumbuh dalam mewujudkan kesatuan hati antara kita? INTI PESAN UNTUK BERTUMBUH Kerukunan dan kesatuan hati di dalam Kristus diantara anak-anak Tuhan bisa menjadi JENDELA bagi dunia untuk melihat kebesaran dan kemuliaan Tuhan dan banyak orang sekitar kita (misalnya: teman sekerja, anggota keluarga kita, tetangga dan orang-orang lain yang kita layani) boleh dikuatkan dan dimenangkan melalui kesatuan hati ini. Bahkan Tuhan menyediakan berkat dan kelimpahan dalam hidup di tengah persatuan anggota keluarga Allah (Mazmur 133: 1-3) POKOK DOA BERSAMA 1. Kesatuan hati dan kerukunan antara sesama anggota dalam komunitas. 2. Kesatuan hati dan kerukunan antara dalam keluarga kita masing-masing. 3. Lainnya? POKOK DOA PRIBADI 1. _____________________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________________ Terima kasih. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Sampai bertemu di kesempatan berikutnya. LEADING AN IMPACTFUL LIFE (This article was shared to Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Pelita Harapan, on Faculty Christmas Celebration, Dec 15, 2014) We are now entering the 15th day of December – the last month of the year. It seems that we just started the year 2014 not so long ago. A well-known proverb says: “Time Flies When We are Having Fun.” If this applies to us too, it means that we are certainly having fun. This also means that we have a lot to do that we don’t realize time has passed us by. The Question is: What kind of activities are we so involved in that we don’t realize time flies so fast and we are now at the end of the year? When doing these activities, what do we focus on? Are doing activities that are in accordance with our calling to be the ambassador of the Kingdom of God? So, the point is: Are we focusing on Self or Christ? Are we dedicating the time and activities for our Glory or for God’s glory? Approaching Christmas time, perhaps this is the best time for us to be reminded to appreciate God’s greatest gift of love: Sending His only begotten Son: Jesus Christ to be our Savior. We are reminded that our job, our work, our responsibilities are just the tools, the instruments to tell HIS STORY to the world around us. Have we put Christ in the center of the decision we are making every day or are we putting ourselves, our leaders, or other people in the center instead of Christ. Now, let’s switch the gear of our life journey to focus on Christ to make impactful life that glorify God. So, what’s the big plan, big responsibilities that God has prepared for us to do this year? In terms of carrying out our great mission and calling, we are going to learn from Nehemiah. Let’s read Nehemiah 6: 16 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Ketika semua musuh kami mendengar hal itu, takutlah semua bangsa sekliling kami. Mereka sangat kehilangan muka dan menjadi sadar, bahwa pekerjaan itu dilaksanakan dengan bantuan Allah kami. What did Nehemiah do that made him successful in his mission that brought positive impact to his nation? 1. Nehemiah started his work by involving God (he prayed and fast) Nehemiah involved God (Nehemiah 1: 4) 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.F)" >(F) For some days I mourned and fastedG)" >(G) and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: Ketika kudengar berita ini, duduklah aku menangis f dan berkabung selama beberapa hari. Aku berpuasa g dan berdoa 2 ke hadirat Allah semesta langit, Nehemiah 1: 11 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king. Ya, Tuhan, berilah telinga s kepada doa hamba-Mu ini dan kepada doa hamba-hamba-Mu yang rela takut akan nama-Mu, dan biarlah hamba-Mu berhasil hari ini dan mendapat belas kasihan t dari orang ini 1 ." Ketika itu aku ini juru minuman u raja. · He cried and prayed (Nehemiah 1: 4) · He admitted his sin and asked for forgiveness (Nehemiah 1: 6) · He asked God for help (Nehemiah 1: 11) 2. Nehemiah built good relationships and communicated with people around him, the authorities to talk about his plan (Nehemiah 2: 7 - 8) 7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me," the king granted my requests. 2:7 Berkatalah aku kepada raja: "Jika raja menganggap baik, berikanlah aku surat-surat bagi bupati-bupati di daerah seberang sungai Efrat, a supaya mereka memperbolehkan aku lalu sampai aku tiba di Yehuda. 2:8 Pula sepucuk surat bagi Asaf, pengawas taman raja, supaya dia memberikan aku kayu untuk memasang balok-balok pada pintu-pintu gerbang di benteng b bait suci, untuk tembok kota dan untuk rumah yang akan kudiami." Dan raja mengabulkan permintaanku c itu, karena tangan Allahku yang murah melindungi aku 2 . d 3. Nehemiah prepared everything well Nehemiah 2:13 13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackala Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Demikian pada malam hari aku keluar melalui pintu gerbang Lebak, j ke jurusan mata air Ular Naga dan pintu gerbang Sampah. k Aku menyelidiki dengan seksama tembok-tembok l Yerusalem yang telah terbongkar dan pintu-pintu gerbangnya yang habis dimakan api. · Conduct needs analysis: Analysis of self and the city (diri dan kota) · Getting help from people 4. Nehemiah took action: motivating his colleagues to take action too Nehemiah 2:18 8 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. Ketika kuberitahukan kepada mereka, betapa murahnya tangan Allahku yang melindungi aku r dan juga apa yang dikatakan raja kepadaku, berkatalah mereka: "Kami siap untuk membangun!" Dan dengan sekuat tenaga mereka mulai melakukan pekerjaan yang baik itu. What about us? We have been chosen by God to take part in a great mission to educate the students at FoN. What part of responsibilities did God put in our heart to take part in? Do we see our job as just a job to earn money, to pursue career? Do we see it as a way to serve God to tell His story to build the people around us? Find out the needs of the people around us, communicate with them, build relationships, and involve God. Involve God to win the battle. We are just the executor of His plan. Ask God to reveal His plan. Ask for forgiveness…. forgive people … pray…. make plans…. set up strategies with God’s wisdom … tell His story to build people and to make them disciples. Without God there is no progress, no impact, nothing. So, involve God, pray, and take action with God in the center and in the lead. And, pray until something happens. Let’s end this session by reading John 3: 16. We are reminded that we have received the greatest gift, the greatest love of all. This is a very good reason to share His love, tell His story to glorify Him. John 3: 16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. To God be the glory. Amen.
1 Petrus 2: 9
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From the Desk of the AuthorHere, I would like to share my experiences learning and growing to know about my God and His wonderful work for me and the people around me. Archives
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