PSALM 1

BIRTHDAYS

Quite a few of them celebrated their birthdays this weekend. Invited to some, but none of them I could attend because of other schedules. Missed out on Caitlin's & Damon's birthday parties. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to little Caitlin (1st) and big Damon (20 "something"). God bless as always!

And one more birthday on last Wednesday... we sang this song this morning "dalam memperingati HUT Indonesia", a prayer that God would touch, forgive and save our nation as they (and we) turn away from their (our) wicked ways.

KAMI UMATMU, YA TUHAN
By. Robert & Lea

Verse:
Kami umatMu ya Tuhan datang di hadapanMu
Merendahkan diri berdoa cari wajahMu
Kami umatMu ya Tuhan sujud di hadapanMu
Dan kami berbalik dari jalan yang jahat

Chorus:
Pulihkanlah neg'ri kami, ampunilah bangsa ini
LawatanMu ya Tuhan kerinduan kami
Pulihkanlah neg'ri kami, s'lamatkanlah bangsa ini
Lawat sekali lagi, ini doa kami...

Bridge:
Seg'nap hidup ini kami persembahkan
Di atas mezbahMu
Hingga kemuliaan penuhi baitMu
Ya Allahku...

BEAUTY FOR ASHES

By. Crystal Lewis

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy on your head
Know what tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

When what you've done
Keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself
At home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound, I've been set free
Been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see

Peace for despair
Peace for despair
Peace for despair
He gives peace for despair

PATIENCE

If you pray to God for 'patience' (like I do), don't be surprised to find yourself in a situation where your patience is being put to test. Such as waiting on the phone line for nearly an hour until your neck and ear are really sore just to find out that you have to be transfered to another department and there will be another half an hour wait PLUS end up having to talk to a very unpatient and unkind operator of immigration. Arrgghh... it's not a nice experience, it ruins your day.

Living out a christian life just not easy. It's not nice when you are in a process of being shaped into His likeness. For me, living a life itself is not about the outcome (how well you are right now, how content, how blessed), but more to how you undergo each process believing that He'll carry you through good and bad situations.

I can see my life is very hard right now, sometimes I doubt His sovereignty. Then I thought to myself, why am I doubting Him now after being a christian for so long? Why am I questioning His power over every event in my life? ................................. Then I realised that it is because I want things happen my way, what I desire, what I want and what I need; instead of what God sees fit and best.

However, I thank Him that He has put me in situations where it is absolutely difficult to trust His power and might right at this moment, so that in such way that I can practice my faith in Him. Just pray that I cling to His guidance, though I won't be strong enough to do it on my own, may God's strength be with me.

LOOK...

It might be the camera, but our faces were REALLY red. Though I can assure you, I wasn't tipsy! Don't know about Cath hehe... That's how I normally look like with only 1/4 cup of white wine. Nothing can be done about that. I'm just healthy..

WAIT OR DON'T WAIT?

As I was leaving Hurstville station today, accidently saw an ad that says "Good things come to those who don't wait."

Is that so...?

I remember a song called "In His Time";

In His time

In His time

He makes all things beautiful

In His time

Lord please show me everyday

As You're teaching me Your way

Let You do just what You say

In Your time

.......

In Your time

In Your time

You make all things beautiful

In Your time

Lord my life to You I bring

May each song I have to sing

Be to You a lovely thing

In Your time

So... wait!

IT IS COLD

So so cold today. Snow everywhere, but Sydney! Love to see some snow....... aah it refreshes the memory of going skiing last few years back. I couldn't do it properly, silly me, but a great experience really.

Got my graduation letter from Uni today.. I'm graduating!!!! And our parents are coming over in a month time. I am just too excited about it.

Remember the things I was complaining about? About my transcripts and all that? Got it all done and sent to Melbourne at the last minute via registered express post. But guess what? The delivery got delayed. It was not delivered overnight like was promised and guaranteed. So I found out and lodged in my complain to the Aust Post and got a call today from its customer service that it was their fault and I am given one free satchel. Yey!!! But still not very happy about the delays. Hmm...

My PR application process is going really slooowww... feeling worried. It's been slow from the very start, and it has still been the same. I am still waiting for my temporary visa from Adelaide. Not much I can do right now except be prayerful about it.

PLAN AND DIRECTION

Friends,

Ever wondered what is the difference between "Plan" and "Direction"...

Ideas Go Away, But Direction Stays by John Mason.

How do you know the difference between what comes to your mind, and direction from God? There is a persistency to direction.

The Bible says in Proverbs 19:21, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

In Psalm 32:8 the Lord promises, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

When we know what God wants us to do, then we can have total confidence that what we are attempting is right and that God is on our side.

Direction is simply this: a stream with banks. And the most far-reaching, challenging direction is the most significant, because God is in it.

One characteristic of direction from God is that it will always be humanly impossible to follow and fulfill alone without Him - John Mason.

Direction is a matter of fact; ideas are a matter of opinion.

Direction is the mother of divine discomfort. We should have a certain divine discomfort at all times. A sensing that God is always wanting to direct us every day. A stirring in our hearts so that we are never quite satisfied spiritually with where we are in God or what we're doing for Him.

We believers should be known as a people with a mission, not people just fishin'.
Evangelist R. W. Schambach puts it this way: "Be called and sent, not up and went."
We are a people with a purpose, not a problem.
God always calls us to and from.

In Colossians 1:12-13 the Apostle Paul writes: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."
Be sure to look for areas God is calling you out of as well as in to.

There is also a difference between God's will in our lives and God's will for our lives.
God's will for our lives are those things that He intends for every person - salvation, strength, health, peace, joy, etc.
But God's will in our lives is unique to each individual. One person may be called to live in one place all his life, while another is called to move six times within ten years.

Never be afraid of the light of God's direction. Maurice Freehill said, "Who is more foolish, a child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light?"

Know this: wherever God guides, He provides. And where God calls, He appoints and anoints to do the work. Lay hold of those persistent directions in our life, and tap into the power of God's will for you.

IT'S FRIDAY

PRAYER

Just last night before I went to bed, as usual I would pray. After prayer, I thought to myself...
it's been a long time since the last time I realised how much of a priviledge it is to be able to talk to God this way... in our prayer directly to Him with all that we are, with boldness in the presence of Him. What a priviledged people we all are.

Imagine if (only if) we could talk to Prime Minister John Howard just anytime we wanted - that would be a miracle. Now what about this great God, King above all kings, Creator of all, He created John Howard too you know....; we can't talk to John Howard but we can talk to God? How is that possible?

I can't start to imagine how it is so true that our great God, in all His majesty, came and reached down to us by dying on the cross, so we could have a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. What a great God yet a humble Servant He is.

We should take it more seriously about prayer. For me, talking to God is the greatest priviledge a human being can have in this world, which we have often taken it for granted.

Ooh... and the fact that He listens!

SPOOKY

Fred and I have been getting these weird calls from someone (obviously) without anyone speaking and suddenly just disconnected. Not only once, it would've been the 10th time today. These calls happen around the same hour almost each day! Weird...

If someone was trying to call but got disconnected, they would certainly try again, wouldn't they? But funnily enough these calls just happen once each day.

We get really annoyed....!

*SPOOKY*

GIVING MY BEST

GIVING MY BEST

=VERSE 1=
There's been many times I've let You down
Searching for happiness none to be found
To think that the price You paid for me
Wasn't in vain of that agony

But I'm here to say I've had my ups and my downs
But I'm here now today 'cause of the love that I've found

=CHORUS=
Now I'm giving my best to You, Lord
All that I have I won't withhold
Giving my best to You, Lord
All of my heart and all of my soul

=VERSE 2=
When I think of love You've shown to me
The times You've waited so patiently
My heart is filled with such love for You
And I know the best thing for me to do

Now I've come to You Lord to answer Your call
Not holding back but I'm giving my all

=BRIDGE=
You are the One who gave Your life for me
You gave Your best at Calvary
You are the One that made that sacrifice
So now I'm giving my best
I'm giving my life, I give my life

=ENDING=
Giving my best to You....