"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

::Relating to Diamonds::

This morning I overheard my co-workers discussed about a diamond that my company has it re-graded. She said "Wow, the imperfection went away." and I was puzzled, "can it be, really?"
But as I clarified with her, she actually meant that the imperfection in diamond went away because GIA authorities decided that the diamond worth better clarity grade (VVS1) rather than (VVS2) -what it was graded as last time. My co-worker emphasized that the imperfection of a diamond can not go away unless the imperfection side of the diamond is cut.

That particular statement reminded me of the Vine, the Gardener, and the Branches analogy in the Bible.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15


Same thing with our lives, in order to be more fruitful or radiant (to show God's beauty); there are areas of our lives that we need to cut and trim.
Let's evaluate together which part of our lives we can cut in order to be more fruitful? or let's be thankful for His "pruning" since it is for our best :)


This diamond conversation also recall a cute conversation I had with a friend of mine about a year ago, regarding relationship.
(I kinda forgot how the conversation started, and it lead to either I was talking to him that he needs to lose weight, or i was whining that i need to lose weight)
which now reminds me again, that i need to cut down my chocolate consumption :P
...and He said "Even the G-I3 ae payu"
(talking about that even the people who isn't so handsome or pretty (=lower grade diamonds) still attractive to some people)
(He was either comforting me or comforting himself about our tiny weight problem...)
and I said "Yeah, because they can't afford the D-IF, that's why they settle for the G-I3 " :P

Let's still strive for the perfection in God ;)

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matt 5:48

Follow Your Heart?

I have been hearing people saying to me
"Follow Your Heart."
Same statement echoes over and over from people around me.
I don't know whether it is the right thing to do.

is your heart = your feeling= your mood?
feeling is fickle.
it is constantly changing depending on my circumstances....
If I decide to follow my heart, I certainly will waver.....
losing my focus, miss my mark, getting no where.

The bible said:
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9
"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." Matthew 15:19

I decide to remind myself to align my mind and my heart to God's word everyday so that I can be renewed and transformed. Praying that it will never be my feeling that guide me, but it is God's word, which is the ultimate truth.

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Jer 17:10

.on Trusting God.

Ever frustated with someone?
say.....
a boss that wouldn't give you the raise or promotion you deserve?
a professor that mark your final unjustly?
friends that go against your back?
parents that limit your freedom or push you to do certain things?
or someone you love that doesn't love you back?

I believe that if we trust God, He can do ALL things if it is in His will.

"The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases." Proverbs 21:1

Ezra 6:22
"And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel."

Acts 7:10
"He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace."

From scriptures above, I learnt that if God can turn those kings' heart, He can also change the heart of people around us that we may gain favor from them to glorify God.

All that we need to do is: "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might, and all your strength"

Kita Jompo.

Funny moments. Captured.

During our break to NYC, there was a funny conversation.

Dwi, Elsa, Ovie, and I were walking down Quincy Market.
We were discussing how many Indonesians are available in Boston.
So I asked Dwi & Elsa whether they usually hang out with people who are older from them...or their social circles just their classmates or schoolmates.

Me: "Kalian biasanya ada hang out sama orang2 yang lebih tua ga?"
Elsa: "Ada sih ci.. tua gitu, udah umur 21-22 gitu"
(Dwi melirik dan men-sikut si Elsa)
Me and Ovie paused for a second.
Ovie to me: "21 tua, kita jompo, ter...."

LOL.

Hunger and Thirst of Him.

A lonesome morning, accompanied by little sprinkling rain.
Make me thirst and hunger of something more.

This video describes my feeling best.

-WWJD-

A friend of mine posted a status in her facebook "a husband who treats his wife and kids like crap doesn't deserve a second chance." ; as a woman, my immediate reaction was to click the "like" button; going to post another nasty comment of wanting the husband to burn in hell. However, there is a gentle whisper in my heart. I paused.

WWJD. What would Jesus Do?

As a Christian, many times I have failed to act as little Christ. How many times have I followed my own flesh and disregarded the virtues that His words encouraged me to pursue.

I am reminded to have a little pause before I judge or evaluate a situation.
Inquire God. Mediate on His words day and night.
Selah.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. ~ Galatians 5:22

Boredom::

Lately, I often hear people say "I am bored."

I begin to wonder, what is bored/boredom is.

Wikipedia.org explains it as "Boredom is an emotional state experienced during periods lacking activity or when individuals are uninterested in the opportunities surrounding them"

I'll try to digest the word by its definition.

It is an emotional state - not the fact (just something in your mind)

Cause by Lacking of activity - need to be more busy.

or uninteresting opportunity - need to find something interesting.

I think boredom is curable. it is temporary and need a fix.

preferably something that can fix it for longer period.

Find something interesting!

Some suggestion (or something that my friends did)

1. Get a perm (for the ladies ;))
2. Buy a dog

3. Get into stocks

4. Write a blog - like me :P

5. Scrapbooking!

Anyway, that's just ideas during my "lacking of activity" moments =)

What if things don't go your way?

Yesterday I read the story of "Balaam & the donkey" in Numbers 22

I am pondering upon how's my attitude if things do not go my way.

Will I strike the donkey like what Balaam did and failed to see that it was God that trying to save him from the death?

or.....will I submit to God's authority?

How about if suddenly God has another plan, the twist to my story that God has planned all along, and I have to learn to yield my plan to His?

I am restless.

I totally need His peace. soaking well in His presence.

Spring is (almost) HERE!

I guess Spring comes early in Seattle this year! We went to the well-known Cherry Blossoms Quad at University of Washington for picture frenzy last sunny Saturday.

He IS the answer [Jesus IS]

Many times life raises too many questions...
too much of why, when, how...
or "who".... especially for the singles.

However, today i learn to trust God again.
He knows my "Who"
He controls my "When"
He understands my "Why"
and He leads my "How"

-Instead of asking "who"; I learn to know Who Jesus is, Who I am in Him.
-Instead of asking "When"- when's my next rainbow, when's my breakthrough...
I learn to trust His time; lost track of time in His presence.
Claiming Ecclesiastes 3:11 "Everything is beautiful in His time."
-Instead of asking "Why" - or the "how come"
I learn to have faith in Romans 8:28
-Instead of asking "How" - "I am scared , Lord, how can i get through this..."
I learn to walk step by step in His words.
Psalms 119:105. I won't be scared in the darkness because His light will shine through.
guiding me every step of the way.

"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen."
God's promise on Jer 29:11-12 (The Message)