When Is It God?

(Source: www.dothegreenthing.com)

A lot of us have been through tough time, going through tough time or about to go through tough time. It's a normal and repetitive process, also a stressful time. Because each time, things are just tougher than the one we been through before.

But we just can't expect life to always go according to what we want or how we want. We can only embrace it, went for it and persist through it.

Recently, I've been in one. I was so stressed, until one day i just broke down and ask God for His help. But His answer doesn't come right away. I just keep praying day after day. Until He answer me one day. Then I felt a sudden relief, knowing that my God hasn't leave me yet, and He won't of course.

Sometimes, we just let out a big grunt: "When is it God?" (like what I did). As if it was supposed to be His job to get us out of trouble every single time. While we ourselves didn't put in effort. What I learn from what happen to me this past few days is that "tough time" is supposed to be a TEST. A test to our faith, a test of our character.

Will we be able to stand strong and face whatever comes our way, or just grumbling our way through without doing anything? So, no more asking, "When is it God?" instead asks "What can I do right now?"

3 things, we should keep in tough time: Keep on believing. Keep on persevering. Keep the character.

Legacy: A Tribute to Steve Jobs

Today the world shocked at the news of Steve Jobs passed away. The man behind the success of Apple & Pixar, that's what everybody say and that's so true.

Here are few lessons from this great man, and how he created his legacy:

1. Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower

We are created to be creative. If you have any idea, why don't you pursue it!

2. Be a yard stick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellent is expected.

To make excellent your priority is the same as having success knocking at your front door. It just requires patient and perseverance.

3. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.

When you love what you do, you will do it with passion, and undoubtedly, you will be successful in what you do.

4. You know, we don't grow most of the food we eat. We wear clothes other people make. We speak a language that other people developed. We use a mathematics that other people evolved... I mean, we're constantly taking things. It's a wonderful, ecstatic feeling to create something that puts it back in the pool of human experience and knowledge.

Be someone with contribution, instead of complaining.

5. It's wonderful to have a beginner's mind.

Humility is a trait of every successful person. When you are humble, you learn more!

6. I'm the only person I know that lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year ...  It's very character building.

Successful person do fail, it's their ability to bounce back that makes them successful.

7. We're here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?

Remember, for dent to appear, there must be smaller and continuous impact. Don't expect to become successful overnight. It requires hard work and unyielding sacrifice.

8. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by the dogma - which is living with the result of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinion drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Why live a life that people want us to? Be what we want, go and catch our own dreams!

A tribute to Steve Jobs.

Fruitful

"I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have give you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. - John 15 : 1 - 5

(Source: www.it.wikipedia.org)

What exactly is the fruit being spoken here? Growing as a Christian, I sure heard a lot about being fruitful, go and bear fruit. It's everywhere in the New Testament, and in sermons once a while. But somehow, there seems to be a lot of explanation to it.

Fruit in a Christian's life should be the changes in his / her characters. Changed in his / her life, living a Christ-centered life. The passage above says that "you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." Yes, God wants our obedience.

When we are living a Christ-centered life, surely our character  won't be the same. We will produce fruits as a result. The fruits of the Spirit is what we called it. What are those? Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5 : 22 -23).

We as Christians, we need to show others that we are changed through Christ. Our lives, our actions need to have the essence of love, and all those characters of Christ.

If we are not fruitful, we will be cut off. What good is an unfruitful branch? Therefore, let us live a life that will be a blessing for others through our characters.

The Thief Has Come

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. - John 10 : 10

Unlike your typical thief, there is none more professional than this one, the devil. He does his job sleekly that no one would ever realized how much they have lost. And when they realized it, everything are gone.

What are those things that the devil wanted to steal so much?

Happiness: The devil wants to steal away our joy
Faith: The devil wants us to doubt God
Foundation: The devil wants us to stand on an empty ground
Mercy: The devil wants us to be selfish and do not care for others
Commitment: The devil wants us to lose our determination
Peace: The devil wants us to live in emptiness

Certainty: The devil wants us to doubt our God-given salvation
Character: The devil do not wants us to grow in Christ
Holiness: The devil wants us to live an unworthy life before God

The devil will use the most vicious way to steal and destroy our lives. But it is different with Jesus, who comes to give life.

Are we losing our joy, faith, kindness, determination, character, commitment and holiness?

~ Realize Now, Before Everything Is Gone ~