Great Words from My Dear Dad

Mobil jerman bukan jaminan keselamatan.
Menyetir dengan hati-hati dan sabar itulah kunci keselamatan.

Membawa selusin bodiguard bukan jaminan keamanan.
Rendah hati, ramah dan tidak mencari musuh, itulah kunci keamanan.

Obat dan vitamin bukan jaminan hidup sehat.
Jaga mulut, diet yang benar dan olah raga yang teratur itulah kunci hidup sehat.

Rumah mewah bukan jaminan keluarga bahagia.
Saling mengasihi, menghormati dan memaafkan, itulah kunci keluarga bahagia.

Gaji tinggi bukan jaminan kepuasan hidup.
Bersyukur, hemat dan menyayangi berkah itulah kunci kepuasan hidup.

Pangkat tinggi bukan jaminan hidup terhormat.
Jujur, berkredibiltas dan disiplin itulah kunci hidup terhormat.

Hidup berfoya-foya bukan jaminan banyak sahabat.
Setia-kawan, bijaksana, solidaritas, suka menolong itulah kunci banyak sahabat.

Kosmetik bukan jaminan kecantikan.
Semangat, kasih, ceriah, ramah dan senyuman itulah kunci kecantikan.

Satpam dan tembok rumah yang kokoh bukan jaminan hidup tenang.
Hati yang damai, kasih dan bebas tiada keserakahan dan kebencian itulah kunci ketenangan dan rasa aman.

Tuhan memberkati :)

God's Love Letter To Women

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breath life into his nostrils. But you woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you.

Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity. From one bone, I fashioned you. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you, I modeled you, I created you perfectly and beautifully.

Your characteristics are as the rib: strong, yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The ribcage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart.

Support man as the ribcage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken for his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand by him and to be held close to his side.

You are My perfect angel… you are My beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and My eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes… don’t change them. Your lips, how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form. Your hands, so gentle to touch. I have caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I have held your heart close to Mine. Of all that lives and breaths, you are most like Me. Adam walked with Me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely. He could not see Me or touch Me.

He could only feel Me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with Me, I fashioned in you; My holiness, My strength, My purity, My love, My protection, and support. You are special because you are an extension of Me. Man represent My image, woman My emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God.

So man, treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt Me. What you do to her, you do to Me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart; the heart of your Father and the heart of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness, show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self.

Source: knowgodknowlove.com

Manners

The first and most important rule of good manners is kindness and consideration to others. This rule never changes. The source of this rule is the Bible, and it is the second most important commandment next to loving God: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself".


General Good Manners

* Think of the others first. (Phi 2:4-5, Rom 12:10)
* Be hospitable and friendly. (1 Pet 4:9, Rom 12:13, Prov 18:24)
* Always say, “Thank you” - this is a way of praising others and one of the keys of good manners; not forgetting “Excuse me”, “Please”, “You are welcome”, “Hello” and “Goodbye”. (Col 3:15, 1 The 5:18, 3 John 14)
* Do not be boastful, arrogant or loud. (Titus 1:8; 1 Cor 13:4-5)
* Listen before speaking. Never interrupt. Look people in the eye, and listen carefully. (James 1:19)
* Before speaking to others consider what effect your words will have. Don't say thoughtless, unkind things. Pause and weigh your words carefully and say them in the right manner. (Prov 15:23,12:25,25:11)
* Never whisper, as it makes the person who can't hear feel left out. (Psalm 41:7)
* Never point or stare, especially at people with disabilities or those who are “different”. (Phi 2:3, Rom 2:11)
* Be thankful and show appreciation for gifts, help, etc.(Col 3:15, Ephe 5:20)
* Give compliments - a fundamental rule of good manners is to give. (Acts 20:35)
* Be considerate and do not embarrass others - treat others as you would like to be treated, and think of how you can put them at ease. Never demean anyone with rude jokes or an unwelcome nickname. (1 Cor 13:4, Phi 2:4, Luke 10:27)
* Do not criticise or complain. Negativity in any form is to be avoided. If you hear gossip, don't join in, be indifferent to it. If you disagree with others, do so respectfully. Don't verbally attack or condemn them. (1 Cor 13:5-7, Phi 2:14, Ephe 4:29)
* Never be ruffled. Be a calming, happy influence in any stressful situation and maintain your composure. (Prov 16:32, Psalm 37:8)
* Respect people's time and be punctual. If you make an appointment, arrive on time or even a bit early. If you're going to be late, always call and let them know. (Ephe 5:16, Matt 5:37)
* When you give your word or promise something, then you must fulfill it. Your explanation as to WHY you cannot keep your promise must be perfectly acceptable and not due to your own fault. (James 5:12, Ecc 5:4-5)
* If you borrow something it should be treated more carefully than if it were your own. It should also be returned promptly and if possible in better-than-original condition. When someone lends you money and you owe it to return this loan, then NEVER forget or delay this payment back. (Deut 23:21)

In Public

* Be helpful. Open doors (regardless of gender). Men should always open doors for women. (Heb 13:16, 1 Pet 3:7)
* Do not ask too many intimate or invasive questions the first few times that you meet a person. (Phi 2:3)
* To strangers/new ones: Do not comment on personal appearances or clothes in a negative way; if you cannot say something complimentary, do not say anything at all. (Psalm 12:5, Prov 11:22)
* Don't address elders and seniors by their names, unless they have specially asked you to. Stand up when an elder or a guest enters the room and don't sit until you've offered them a seat. (1 Pet 5:5, Levi 19:32)
* If an elderly person enters a bus or train, the younger offers him/her a seat. (Levi 19:32)
* A man should always offer the woman to enter a room first. (1 Pet 3:7)
* At a restaurant/official dinner, the man moves the chair away from the table and offers the woman her seat. (1 Pet 3:7)
* Girls/women should always dress modestly. (1 Tim 2:9)
* Be involved in a variety of community service organisations. (Matt 5:16, Titus 2:14)

At Home

* Introduce guests to everyone in your home. (1 Pet 4:9)
* Offer something to drink (a glass of water, a cup of tea/coffee) to anyone who steps into your home. (Heb 13:2)
* Do not continue to watch TV or surf the net when you have a visitor.
* Wear clean clothes at home. (Gen 35:2, Levi 6:11)
* Children should learn at a young age to help in the household and take over responsibility. (Deut 6:7, Exod 20:12)
* Children should stand up when the father or older people enter the room. They do not remain seated, e.g. in front of a TV. They should also offer the best seats. (Col 3:20)
* Goodbyes should be short and cheerful when you are the guest. If you have guests, be with them when they are leaving, making their visit pleasant to the end. (Phi 2:3, 1 Pet 4:9)

Prayer

What
Prayer is a quiet time to devote ourselves to God.
It is a communion with God to be in His presence.
It is a fellowship with God to remain obedient to His command.
It is a time to talk and listen to God: a dialogue.
It is a time to express our dependance to God.
It is a a time to praise God for His power, presence, and wisdom.
It is a time to thank God for His love and grace.
It is a time to make known our intercessions, requests, and petitions.

Where
Prayer is personal thing with God, not a parade in public.

How
Prayer is with faith and simplicity like a child talks to his /her father.
Persistent prayer is praying relentlessly keeps on asking, seeking and knocking.
Prayer is priceless contribution we can make to the life of other people, spreading God's kingdom and its righteousness.

When
Pray the hardest when it is the hardest to pray.
Prayer should be the first and foremost. It is not the last resort when all else fails.
Prayer should not be the only time to pray when we are driven to a corner.

Bible: The Oldest Book on Management

Mission Statement
The Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:3-10) articulates that the kingdom of God is a lifestyle comprising:
1. Fellowship with God,not merely adherence to religious rituals.
2. Motive, not appearance, is the bottom line. Man sees outward appearance, but God sees our heart.
3. This is equivalent to mission statement.

Leadership
1. Servanthood leadership. As the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (Matt 20:28, Mark 10:45)
2. Service is a gift of love to people in gratitude for God's gift of love to us.

Paradigm
1. Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear. (Mark 8:18)
2. It takes a dramatic turn of business environment to reinforce vision and change the business strategy.

Planning
1. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch (Gen 6:14)
2. Plan ahead. Fail to plan means plan to fail.

Setting Priority
1. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (Matt 6:33)
2. Setting our minds on things above (God) not things on earth.
3. First things first. 80/20 principle.

Organization
1. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men.. (1 Pet 2:13)
2. Each one is accountable to higher authority.

Delegation
1. Moses' father-in-law said to Moses "The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone" Select capable and trustworthy men, then delegate them, this will make the load lighter (Exo 18:17-22)
2. The perfectionist CEO says: If I don't do it, no one will. Even if others do it, they would not do it right. This CEO will become burned-out.

Change Management
1. There is a time for everything and a season for everything under heaven (Ecc 3:1)
2. Understanding the seasons of life for better prospective and the changed business situation for staying competitive.

Strategic Focus
1. This one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead (Phi 3:13)
2. Strategic focus/ targeted segmentation and forecasting is an essential ingredient for success.

Team Work
1. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls, his friend can help him up...A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecc 4:9-12)
2. Team work divides the effort and multiplies the effect.

Capital Budgeting
1. Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough funds to complete it? (Luke 14:28)
2. This is similar to modern day cost analysis.

Praise the Lord!

Going Home: A Heartlift

Ingatkah lagu sederhana yang kita pelajari ketika masih kecil yang berjudul "Hitung Berkat"? Lagu itu berbunyi sebagai berikut:
Hitung berkat satu per satu
Kau kan kagum oleh kasihNya
Berkat Tuhan mari hitunglah
Kau niscaya kagum oleh kasihNya

Banyak dari kita yang sering mendengar lagu ini, tapi seberapa sering kita menghitung berkat kita? Menerima berkat berarti mendapat bantuaan dari Tuhan. Dan seringkali berkat ada di dalam hal kecil di hidup kita di mana kita benar-benar dapat meliat keberadaanNya.
Berkat seringkali ada dalam hal kecil, seperti sentuhan dari saudara di saat-saat sulit atau dalam kata-kata nasihat yang bijaksana oleh papa dalam situasi tertentu.
Keluarga berada dalam posisi yang unik dalam hal memberi berkat. Sejarah yang sama, latar belakang yang menyatu, dan tahun-tahun yang dilewati bersama, memberi sebuah keluarga pandangan khusus dan kedekatan yang intuitif.

Jika kita meminta nasihat, mereka akan memberikannya. Jika kita ingin berbicara, mereka akan mendengarkan. Ketika kita selesai berbicara, kita merasakan sebuah beban diangkat dari bahu. Masalah tak lagi seberat seperti ketika kita belum berbicara dengan mereka.

Untuk alasan yang tidak kita mengerti, Tuhan kadang membiarkan cobaan masuk dalam hidup kita. Berbagi dengan orang lain membantu kita menyelesaikan masalah itu. Dan ketika kita bebas, kita menyadari bahwa kita telah belajar banyak, tentang cinta Tuhan, keyakinan padaNya, dan jaminan keamananNya yang penuh. Sehingga pada akhirnya, kita pun dapat berbagi dengan orang lain dan membuat mereka nyaman.

Finding Your Life's Purpose

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

While it's true some people seem to find their life purpose easier than others, it's also true that God really does have a plan for every single person. In Ephesians, we see that we are to do good works God PREPARED IN ADVANCE for us to do.
Most people think finding your life purpose means doing something you truly love. The area in which you are passionate at. But what if things aren't so clear for you? What if you're not sure what your gifts are? What if you haven't discovered any particular talent that makes you think it could be your true calling in life?

Well, the next step in finding your life purpose is right in the Bible. All you have to do is read it. The Bible says Jesus told his disciples they were supposed to love one another as he had loved them.
You wouldn't dream of building high tower without a solid foundation. Discovering God's purpose for your life is exactly the same. The foundation of the process means getting really good at being a Christian. Yup, that means being nice to people even when you don't feel like it, forgiving people, and loving the unlovable people in the world.
So, what does all that stuff have to do with my life’s purpose? When you get good at being a Christian, you also get good at hearing from God. He's able to use you. He's able to work through you. And it's through that process that you'll discover your true purpose in life.

Getting really good at being a Christian means you stop thinking about you all the time. Take the focus off you and look for ways to be a blessing to someone else.
There is no better way to receive help and direction in your own life than to focus on someone else. It seems completely opposite of what the world tells you. After all, if you're not looking out for yourself, then who will? Well—that would be God.
When you focus on someone else's business, God will focus on yours. It means planting seeds in great soil, and then simply waiting for God to bring a harvest into your life.

Working with God to find your life purpose is like working as a team. When you take a step, God takes a step.
• Be willing to try some things that interest you. Take opportunities and risks. You will know very quickly if you've found the right thing for you.
• Be patient. Learning to trust that God will show you when the timing is right—that takes patience. God isn't going to show you every piece of the puzzle at once. If he does, you'll be so overwhelmed by it all.
• Don't waste your time on things you know aren't from God. "Get rich quick" schemes never work. Finding a Christian husband or wife won't happen if you're focused on activities and events that don't involve Christians.
• Don't let the people around you talk you into things. Just because it all sounds like a good idea from the world's view doesn't mean it's God's plan for you. Following God's leading sometimes means you have to say no to family or friends’s opinion. Following His designated way, no matter where it leads, will always be the best use and fulfilment of life .
• Never give up. You may not know your specific purpose today or tomorrow, but as long as you're really great at being a Christian, and have a close relationship with Him, you will discover it.

God bless you. Have a great Saturday :)

God's Masterpiece

Today I want to share about God's love. Please take a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXut0HxncvY
If you have watched it, lets watch it again. I've watched it a few times,but it keep reminding me on how He loves us.

A father disciplines the one HE loves. Let us let God work in our life, creating His masterpiece.
Like the man said "God doesnt make junk". Whatever sinful actions or dark memories we have, he is there and waiting to chisel us.
One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the opportunity to start again- and no exception, we all need a fresh start.

For we are God's masterpiece, He created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

Masterpiece- showpiece; blockbuster, success; gem, jewel, prize, treasure...these are the synomyms (words that mean the same) for masterpiece.
Hmm, I don't feel like a masterpiece. I certainly dont look like a masterpiece. How can this be..

God loves what He created, so shouldnt we too? I struggled much not to get down on myself. I focus on what I do wrong more than what I do right. I look in the mirror, try on some clothes, compare myself to someone else and I feel just... Yeah. Whats special about me?

But thats not what my Creator thinks. He says, "Oh, you don't always get it right, but I love you so much. Look in My mirror and see what I see; my beautiful creation; My treasure; My masterpiece. And the sooner you see yourself for who you really are, the sooner you can begin your reign as My priceless princess with a purpose."

Repeat after me, "I am a MASTERPIECE." And mean it when you say it. Because you are :)

Arise & Build

"He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way"
Psalms 25:9

As I typed these words, I was overwhelmed by gratitude to God. Two weeks back, I was aking for His guidance on how much should I give for my church's Arise & Build. I know that there are some conditions need to be met first.
In Isaiah 58, we find that the conditions are honoring God, observing the Sabbath, not pointing the finger in accusation of others,etc. Above all, having a humble heart. Humility is the key that unlock His provision.
"And the Lord will continually guide you" written in Isaiah 58:11.

In one of the morning prayers, a voice whispered in my heart to give a certain amount. I was surprised. Well, it might not seem very pleasant at that moment; since there is a gap between my own thoughts, reasons and His. Then in the weekend service, He spoke again through a verse in Luke. Wow,He is God-He has the right to pick what He wants to say,how to say and even confirm it again!
It became my task afterward, to show a right response. Yesterday, after I withdraw some cash to be given this weekend, I suddenly received email offering 2 part-time jobs,which is a very rare opportunity given by my school.Indeed He is the Provider! Amazing!

If we can hear God's voice and have been called to do a small task in building His kingdom, let's be grateful because we are found worthy to be His children and we are to be TESTED on the promises He has given. God won't allow us to be tested beyound what we can bear. He is a loving Father who wants His children to succeed. He wants us to grow up becoming more like Him.
Although we may find it difficult to fulfill, we can be sure of His character, which is good; and expect for His promises. Sacrificial giving is foundational if we want our life show that we are following His steps.
God bless you :)