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Monday, January 22, 2007

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focusing my eyes

when i look back through my holidays in indo and singapore, i realised that it's the most boring holiday ever. hahaha!

but i realised something else: i've had the most time connecting with God. i have learnt so much about His characters (thanks to max lucado's "just like Jesus") and the amazing blessings He has given me.
there's really beauty in the broken... or in this case: beauty in the boredom...

still, this holiday taught me to focus my lens.

just a week ago, i went to make some glasses to bring to auzzie, since the spectacles there are so overpriced. and with the glasses, i've got an eye exam too, to check whether my degree has changed or not.
for those who doesn't wear spectacles, you may not know how the traditional eye exam works... the optometrist use this special "spectacles" where he can insert different lens of different degrees. and until we can read the letters on the wall opposite the room clearly, the degree of the lens will be added consequently. if we can read the letters clearly and correctly, the lens are then of the correct degree. sometimes, even if we can read the letters correctly already, the optometrist will try one more lens with a higher degree just to check whether the lens before is the optimum one or not.

i realised that it's like focusing on Jesus.

we are born to earth with sins. sins made our spiritual eyes unfocused. that makes us not able to see God. we need to try different lens so that we can focus our spiritual eyes on Jesus. many Christians (including me) has tried so many "methods" to see Jesus. we have Bible studies, cell groups, daily devotionals, evangelism, church sermons, Bible camp, videos and audio tapes, just to name a few. some don't even try other methods beside church sunday services. the "methods" we use can be like the degree.

some people can focus on Jesus with small amount of supervision. some cannot focus on Jesus even when his whole church lays their hands on and pray for him. everyone has different degrees. we need to try and find the optimum amount of things we need to do to focus on Jesus. if you think you're doing too much, lessen it. if too little, increase it. remember that God creates everyone differently and uniquely.

for example, moses was convinced to not burden himself in changing his society. he was told to share his responsibilities with the priests and shepherds (if i remember correctly). i'm not saying that doing too much will not help you focus on Jesus, but of course, it'll wear you down.

but one thing i'm very sure about: everyone needs a lens. as i've said before, every man's (except Jesus's) eyes are unfocused. we need the degree to change our focus.

find your degree and focus your lens now. don't miss out on your clear vision of God. and don't
wear yourself down too.

focus your spiritual eyes.

signing out,
drew

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Sunday, January 21, 2007

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give

i am lazy to blog after writing in my diary...

but i wanna share what i've written today with you guys. i've been touched by God (with the help of max lucado) to do more of what i'm moved by.
i realised today that my "gift of touch" (that's what i call what the blessings God has given me to bless others with) is...
to give.

well, it started on the road...

my diary entry:

I listen to Christian songs endlessly (of course, until battery went off). And I was touched by one song: Indescribable by Avalon.

That song helped me see how amazing is God - indescribable, and of course, bigger than my imagination. The song has a line that touched me so much more:

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

I don't have to meditate much to realize that God knows me so much more than I do know myself. If He knows the zillions of stars by name, what about us? He knows us more than we know ourselves. We are God's special creation. We are given life, breath, abilities, skills.

The stars definitely have different names, like us do.

We are THAT special.

I combined that with Max Lucado's book "The Cure for The Common Life".

Yeah!

We are so special! God has given us things to give that others cannot give.

I joined Max in asking myself a question: What drives me? And when I lift my head up, I know one thing that drives me. It's simply

To Give.

Nothing more than that. I want to give what I can to the world. I want to give my all to Jesus. I want to glorify His Name by any means!


...

As God's Word stated,

"Give it from the best that you receive"

[Numbers 18:29]

"Give to others, and God will give you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands - all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you."

[Luke 6:38]

"When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back."

[Proverbs 19:17]


and currently, i'm working on a project. i want to ask my reverend and my brothers and sisters in the church whether it's alright first or not. it's an act of giving.

i looked back on my life and i realised that i have been a so much more of a giver than a receiver. truthfully, i ask for God to give me brokenness, not blessings. because there's so much more blessings in brokenness than in blessings itself.

look at Jesus: He is so broken in His life. but yet, He is so blessed by so many people now.
now i truly understand what pastor tim goh has always said: the world system sucks! the system only wants the best for himself. for Christian, it's humility that's important.

so, share and give. for blessing others will receive blessings from the Lord Himself.

signing out,
drew

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Saturday, January 20, 2007

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bring the rain

this is a song i just listened to. the lyrics is very very meaningful. meditate upon it.
a song of hope i can say...

----

bring the rain by mercyme

i can count a million times
people asking me how i
can praise You with all that i've gone through
the question just amazes me
can circumstances possibly
change who i forever am in You

maybe since my life was changed
long before these rainy days
it's never really ever crossed my mind
to turn my back on You, oh Lord
my only shelter from the storm
but instead i draw closer through these times

so i pray

[chorus]
bring me joy, bring me peace
bring the chance to be free
bring me anything that brings You glory
and i know there'll be days
when this life brings me pain
but if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

i am Yours regardless of
the dark clouds that may loom above
because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
by suffering Your destiny
so tell me what's a little rain

so i pray

[chorus]

Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
is the Lord God Almighty
is the Lord God Almighty

----

if you think your life is so broken, think about Jesus's life. He was humiliated, insulted, betrayed - beaten physically, emotionally, psychologically, mentally - even to the last minute of His life. but He endured. there's hope in everything, if you just put faith in God's strength. rejoice in troubles, like Jesus!

i just read this book called "just like Jesus" by max lucado, which i HIGHLY recommend. it's the most amazing book i've read. it taught me a lot about how to be like Jesus (well, obvious from the name).

in this book, the next-to-last chapter, lucado describes how Jesus suffered. and i couldn't picture His sufferings, despite the so many blessings He has blessed countless number of people with.
the horrible (or so it seems) last 5 minutes of His life was a source of strength for me for the rest of my life.

i realised this: Jesus suffered to save the world. Heaven will rejoice when the world is saved. our strength is in the joy of the Lord. thus, we should be even stronger because Christ has paid our debt.
agree?

my pain compared to Christ is NOTHING. seriously NOTHING. i cannot even begin to imagine how He can handle so much pain. true, He is Son of God. but, if Jesus is on our side, and He can do anything, i'm sure that He can make us be like Him too! Father God wants us to be like Him! so, endure! and have a rejoicing heart!

and thanks max lucado! i really love your book!!! one year well-spent. i believe your life in Christ will even be more enriched! God bless you abundantly!!!
eat more!! you deserve it!! =)

signing out,
drew

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Friday, January 19, 2007

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power of prayer

this is my testimonial:

more than an hour ago, the lights at the whole of cibubur went off, which is a wide place.

my mum told me that i should pray that God will help me to turn on the light. but her reason is that i feel warm at home. but then, i don't want to. i just sang praises and worships by myself.
nothing happens.

my laptop can also be on battery mode for only about 1.25 hours. after an hour, the computer will shut down. i thought i might get bored...

and then, james my best bud asked me to pray. i thought, ok fine. it's a "sign"... God wants me to pray. so, i did pray. i closed my eyes. and i asked God to turn on the lights at cibubur. and in less than a minute of prayer, i felt the air-con wind on my feet again. i opened my eyes and there was light!!!

so, there you go! the power of prayer. if there is anything you need: PRAY!!! no matter what you do, don't be hesitant to pray!!! never hold your feelings and what you want in the presence of God!!! He knows you better than you know yourself. so might as well, speak whatever in your heart to Him!!!

signing out,
drew

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Thursday, January 18, 2007

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my dream

i found this poem which i wrote quite a long time ago... and so, i thought of posting it on the blog again. hehe...

<< ~-=-~ >>

My Dream

I'm just a nobody,
Running this sad race.
I'm never out of my lane,
Enclosed in this little tiny space.
But I always tell myself,
If I ever want to be a somebody,
I need to do my best in everything.
...Perseverance...
...Determination...
And, if, one day, I finish this long race,
I will not only move out of this small space,
But I will show the world who I really am,
What this small person can do.
I will become a "somebody".
And until that day,
I will not stop to try,
To try my best in everything I do.
And, if, I ever last any longer,
I will pass this to many,
To tell them to trust themselves,
Not to give up,
And they will soon taste true glory.
And I'll tell them,
How I've turned from one useless piece of garbage,
To a new person who soars high.
But until then,
This is just a dream,
A dream that I will hold,
Until it becomes a REALITY.

<< ~-=-~ >>

hope that it shows hope and faith in your life. =)

signing out,
drew


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Monday, January 15, 2007

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phone call to Heaven

this is one clip i've found on the web... it's really cute... listen to it...

click here to listen!

if you are lazy to wait for it to load, it's about a conversation between a person and "Heaven"... here's how the conversation goes:

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[Dialtone]
[Heaven picks up the phone]

Heaven: Hello! This is Heaven! May I help you?
Person: Hello! I'd like to know how to get to Heaven.
Heaven: Well, sir. Are you a sinner?
Person: No, I'm a good guy...
Heaven: Oh! Then, you're sinless...
Person: Well, I'm not sinless... But I've done more good than bad...
Heaven: Then, you ARE a sinner. In that case... ...
Person: Well, what am I supposed to be? Perfect!?
Heaven: Yes!
Person: Well, how then can I get into Heaven?
Heaven: First step is to admit that you are a sinner.
Person: But, I'm NOT!!
Heaven: I'm sorry. We can't help you. Thank you!

[Heaven closes the phone.]
[Dialtone]
[Person pressing phone buttons]
[Dialtone]
[Heaven picks up the phone]

Heaven: Hello! This is Heaven! ... ...
Person: Compared to some other people I work with, I am a PRETTY good guy!
Heaven: But we're not comparing you to other, sir. We're comparing you to God!
Person: But, that's impossible!!!
Heaven: Ooooookay... Thank you!

[Heaven closes the phone.]
[Dialtone]
[Person pressing phone buttons]
[Dialtone]
[Heaven picks up the phone]

Heaven: Hello! This is...
Person: Ok. Supposed I'm not perfect, then what?
Heaven: Then, you need to ask Jesus to forgive to you for being a sinner
Person: But, I'm NOT THAT BAD!!!!
Heaven: Oooooookay... Thank...
Person: OooOOOWW!!! Wait wait wait wait!!! Now, I ask Jesus to forgive me. Then, what?
Heaven: Since He already paid the penalty for your sin, then, He will forgive you.

[Narrator: To find out more about beginning a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, call 1-888-NEED-HIM.]

---

try to download it though... more worth it... but also, please, the message is powerful in this very very short clip. proves that it's not the length that count. it's the message that is important. =)

signing out,
drew

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thanks

today, i thought of sharing one of my thoughts. =P and sorry if i don't express myself so well tonight. i have a lot of thoughts, but cannot arrange them well enough...

----

as i was doing the compilation of songs for "amazing love", i came across one verse that has made me stronger in Christ.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.
[Ephesians 5: 20]

i found it to be very true. and when i glanced back to Genesis, i remembered that our Father gave us life by breathing one breath into Adam. and that has been my strength until now. i remembered that God GAVE us life. He is the source of our beginning. without that breath, we won't be where we are. we won't even exist. and i thank Him for that breath.
i thank Him for giving me life.

and that breath has been my strength until now. just imagine. if God has given us up after man has sinned against Him, would He continue to give us breath? would He be giving His only Son to die for us?
will we even have a chance to be breathing right now?

for all of those who thinks life is so tough, think about our Father in Heaven. think about Jesus.
is it easy to see millions of sins being committed every minute, and still love the sinners?
is it easy to carry all of those sins, and still love the sinners?

that's my source of hope in my life. i know one day that the breath our Father has given us will be worthwhile. i know that one day, as soon as i've completed the plan He had for me, i will be breathing out the breath of relief. and i believe my Father will be doing the same thing.
it's like a father looking at his son or daughter receiving a certificate during the graduation valedictory ceremony.
the journey's completed. there's joy. there's relief.

so, instead of being troubled by burdens now, let's work hard. like how a graduate has worked hard all the years in the university studying. like how Jesus has worked hard in spreading the Good News to the world.

my point. never give up. like how the Father never gives up. i do believe that the Kingdom of God will come to the world one day. the earth will change. the Father never gives up in saving His people - in saving countless number of lives.
thank Him for that.

and also, try to save one life - your life. don't miss out on His ultimate Grace - salvation.
thank Him for that.

signing out,
drew

[about me]

Name:Andrew Soetiono (DrUu)
Job: Student in Trinity Fondation
Age: 17 in 2006
The Schools:
Opera Estate Primary School
Tanjong Katong Secondary School
Trinity College
University of Melbourne

[ : : The Christian Soul : : ]
[ : : Doctor-to-be : : ]

[ :: Friends :: ]
[ :: HappyFamily :: ]

:: James :: Audrey :: Andrea :: Stanley :: Hui Ying ::

[ :: KAK :: ]

:: Keroy :: Kelvin ::

[ :: TKsians :: ]

:: Jian Xin :: Heidi :: Jeffry :: Nicholas :: Richard :: Yih Ching :: Shuuji :: Gita :: Jennifer :: Ronnie :: Cheryl :: Daniel Tan ::

[ :: Trinity :: ]

:: Zhao Kai :: Kelvin :: Zelina :: Rachel :: Sheryln :: Emmanuel :: Li Ern :: Ai-Lynn :: Waiyen :: Chris :: Albert :: Sylvia :: Mabel :: Clara :: Abraham :: Shi Xian :: Hilda :: Devina :: Stanley :: Richard :: Sue :: Adlin ::

And so many more...

[ my past ]



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