Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

What kind of feeling do you have when you have such a shepherd?

I think most of would say: the feeling of save.
One even say, feel relaxed since u don't need to be worried. Just lay back and know that God will take care of everything.
What else? Feel comfort maybe?

Well everything is true. But last night during LG, I was impressed with one friend's answers.

He said that for him is that, he would get motivated if he had a shepherd a.k.a a leader like this. He will do his best to perform well.

You remember those days when you're always feel forced to go to the office, just because you hate your boss SO much?
Well, image you got a totally terrific, cool, supportive boss!
Would just like to do anything for him/her?
You would feel ok to work overtime, you will feel so motivated, that you will just give him/her the best.

See, that's what it should be with us and Jesus.
We sure know He's a totally a good Shepherd. Even THE best!
That's why we need to give our best also.

But what popped up in our mind when that question was handed out?
We thought, wow cool then, we can just relax. We took advantage of it. Typically human, ha? :)

Well, now that we know that there might be another way to looked at this passage, hope can change our mindset and our life

Be blessed!

Today and Tomorrow

Today's thoughts are tomorrow's actions.
Today's jealousy is tomorrow's temper tantrum.
Today's bigotry is tomorrow's hate crime.
Today's anger is tomorrow's abuse.
Today's lust is tomorrow's adultery.
Today's greed is tomorrow's embezzlement.
Today's guilt is tomorrow's fear.
Today's thoughts are tomorrow's actions."

Max Lucado, A Love Worth Giving
-from today's IES Bulletin-

Is a $20 fake Rolex WORTH IT?

Today we had a preacher came from KL in church.
Actually he's not a stranger. He often came and preached in IES. His wife even said that he came more in Jakarta then to KL. (Huh? :) )

Anyway, what amazed me most is when Pt. Chris shared about his traveled to Cambodia with his team. Whereas they went to a village near a padi field, and the church was basically just a plastic mattress. The congregation was just a very very poor farmers.

After they preached, he asked God what He wanted him to do. And then he felt that God wanted him to give out something. He still didn't know what.

A young man came to him and asked him to pray for him. He was dressed quite nice, among the others.
When he started to pray, he then asked the guy to raised his hands. Then he himself started to release his watch, and put it in that guys wrist.
Pt. Chris shared that he thinks that this guy would've felt awkward, thinking what are this pastor doing to him? hahaha!
And then out of curiosity, the guy took a peak, and saw what Pt. Chris was doing, and tears started to comes down from his eyes.

Pt. Chris was shocked. It was a Rolex watch, but a fake one! The one that probably has double L and X es hahaha! Only like $20, that you can easily get at Mangga Dua :)
And still it can make a man tremble.
Later he's been told that this man just got a new job as a supervisor, so the dad got him a brand new sleeves, pants, and shoes. So he's been praying for God for a watch!
So, this is God's answer for him.

Even a $20 worth material, can make a person truly belief that God do answer prayers!

So is it worth it?
You answered it!

JUST FOR A BAG OF GIFTS

Just to get our ole-ole from US, me and Vera marched our way heading the airport to meet up with Hari's dad who just arrived from the US visiting him. I was so sure that everything is settled until 15 minutes to 3pm, I got text message from Vera -she's supposed to picked me up @3pm:

"Big mistake! I don't know the airline and flight number. Hahaha. But I got his cell. So why don't we arrived there above 4pm? Let him land first."

I was like, ARE YOU SERIOUS?

After that we end up texting each other.
I suggest her to texted Hari. She did already, but apparently still midnite there, so he's probably still asleep. And am sure, he won't be bother for just one beep! Suggested Vera to rang him up until he wakes. She refused, too expensive, and not worth it. Hahaha. Logic enuf!
OK lah.. with faith, we head ourselves towards the airport. The only information Vera remembered was, the dad is arriving around 3am, flight from China. Afterwards he'll go straight to Terminal 1 to get a local flight to Ambon. Well, at least we know for sure what time that would be: around 11pm!!!

Well, acting as a loyal friend, I go along with whatever plan she has in mind :)
On the way to the airport, we text meiriza, wishing her a happy Ied. I add an additional message, btw, we're otw to the airport to pick up the ole2 from Hari, but we have no clue what flight his dad is taking. Isn't that great or what? :)
Instantly, we got replies -of course!
"Hahahaha, btw tx guys. And don't forgot to share the gifts"
"Sure, no worries. But prayed first that at least we DO meet him!"

Arriving in the airport, we go straight to the board, searching for flights that's arriving from China around 3-4pm. Great! We got around 3 airlines arriving nearly the same time, but different gates. Ok, we just do our best, and waited for the earliest ones. So, off we go.
One thing, I totally don't know how he look, and Vera only remember a glimpse of him, and that she got also from a picture that our dear friend sent. Yeah! :)
At least she's sure that the father is as tall as the son. OK. that wud helped just a tiny bit.

So, we were waiting on the arriving gate. No clue. Just guessing here and there. Hopping from one gate to the other:

"No, not that. Too old."
"Nope. That one's short"
"Maybe that one. Yes, that could be him. Let's see if there's a wife with him. Oh, looks like this guy is traveling alone. Can not be." etc.

Meanwhile, we manage to get contact with Hari. We finally shocked him out of bed after 16 missed calls!! That HE said.
Amazingly, he has no clue about the flight number. WOW. So he's giving us everyone else's numbers. All the ones who's related to him. The brother, the cousin, the brother's wife, etc. And all is a NO LUCK one! Ouggggggh.

Finally, assuming it's late already, 630pm something, we decided to go to the local terminal. We go to the parking lot, to get the car. And... the door won't opened!! oh mi gosh! what now? Vera tried and tried and tried. Right door, left door. No progress at all. Damn. She called the hubby, complaining! Yes, good time to do that. :((((

Then we decide to go back to the terminal, at least they got air-con. Along the way, we asked one of the officer on flights from China. "Oh yes, Cathy Pacific arriving 7.45pm"
OK. got hope! (",)


So we sat ourselves on one of the benches waiting together with a bunch of people who's also waiting for this flight. Luckily we mingle with the right group, these are a group of talkative ibu-ibu. Potential to become my prospect also! hahaha.

Time went by quickly. Already 745pm. They're announcing that the flight has already landed. The group dismissed, all rush to the departure gate. 15minutes later, Vera got report that her text to Hari's dad has been delivered. OK. Another good sign.
She then starts ringing him. Got connected. Nice! :0

"We're waiting on the left door uncle!"
"I'm wearing red polo shirt"

Nice, for sure we won't lose him now!
So, I waited for Hari's dad, and Vera went back to the parking lot and tried to work on the door. The plan was to dropped the couple at Terminal 1 before we head off back to Jakarta. Good luck girl! :)

I was already waiting for almost 45 minutes, no clue of a red polo man with a wife heading my direction.

"Nope, too old"
"No, he won't be that weak to be using a wheel chair"
"Hmm. No MACY's carrying bag"

This goes by my head while waiting. Hari said that the parents would be carrying Macy's bag, since all the gifts is in there.

Suddenly Vera was back again. No luck with the car door.
BUT..
Hari's dad already call her. They're all at Terminal 1 already. Ugh!

Now, how are we going there? Door is still stuck!
With confident and faith, we just go to the parking lot, and tried our luck.

Click.. click..
Hmm. Still no luck, both right an left.
Almost lose hope.
Suddenly a guy from across the lot came by.
"Door problem is it? What happened? Do you mind me trying?"

And then, just like that, Click! It opened!! OMG. Just like that!
We thanked the guy, gave him a little tips. Thank God for him!

We go straight to terminal 1, but the plan was never to leave the car locked from outside. Hahaha. Too afraid already.

Arriving at Terminal 1, we decided not to go to the parking lot. We pass the car in front of the departure gate. Saw a red polo guy sitting on the bench with a wife, with another young lady, who turns out to be one of the contact that Hari gave. She just arrived from Japan -that explains the no connection!

The dad totally looked like his son. No expression at all.
"This is for you."
That's the only thing he said. No pep talk.
Sounds more like, "ok here's the bag, now get out my sight, I got things to sort here." Hahahaha.

And we totally do accordingly.
What a long day!