True Story: Overwhelmed with His Words

Hi! Hi! Hi!

I hope you are on your perfect day today :)

What will come across your mind after seeing the title of my post? You may question and respond, "How come? Bible is so dull, or it is incomprehensible, or it is irrational."

Yes, you may utter something like that. However, I wish you will sense the same experiences I had through this post.

In this special opportunity, I would like to share one of my best experiences in my whole life. Let's get started!

I would like to begin with a story when I became a Christian and received Jesus Christ as my only Saviour.

I received Jesus when I was in first-grade of high school. I became on fire with Him. I read the whole Bible from Book of Genesis to Revelation once, I served as an usher and worship leader at my local community, and 

I broadcasted God's message through social media. Yet I did not feel overwhelmed with His words at that time. It seemed I serve God as an OBLIGATION not OBEDIENCE. I got nothing!

Three years later I graduated from my high school, and I pursue my bachelor degree in Jakarta. I joined as an usher at English Worship Service. 

Three years later, I am involved as a Sunday School Teacher until now. As a Sunday School Teacher, I was trained for almost six months. 

I was prepared on how to be a good teacher, how to understand children's behaviour, and most importantly how to understand God's words and explain them comprehensively.

While I was trained, there was a pastor said like this, "Please read your Bible. Bible is so interesting. You will find out many interesting things and prophetic messages. It is so beautiful"

At that point, I thought "Oh my God! He said interesting"? It seems I do not believe his words, until I proved it by myself. 

As time goes by, I read Bible deeper and some commentaries or trustworthy resources to sharpen my understanding. Boom! I got it now! After I know His prophetic messages, now I feel that God speaks to me clearly. I was so overwhelmed with His words, and it feels so pleasant and peaceful deep inside my heart.

In conclusion, I encourage you to immerse yourself with His words. Learn from Him because He will guide and show and reveal His perfect yet mysterious plan. Let us slide back and heed to Him. In the end, you will find a peaceful life like never before.

Surrender and let God take control of your life.

Have a great day!

God bless :)

BB

brian.bernadi@yahoo.com

Spiritual Discipline

"And after he (Jesus) had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,"

(Matthew 14:23 - ESV)

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed."

(Mark 1:35 - ESV)

"And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place." 

(Luke 4:42 - ESV)

As a man of prayer, Jesus shows us great examples of spiritual disciplines. If we look at the Scriptures carefully, we will see many verses on how Jesus maintains His spiritual walk with His Heavenly Father. Three above-verses are some example to show us clearly that Jesus prays early morning, day, and night--all the time. Therefore, He wants to show us that we need God in every moment of our life, even to the smallest moment.

If you do not have enough time and proper place to go to a desolate or private place, you actually can pray everywhere and everytime you want quietly. However, it would be better or I would highly suggest you if you can find a quiet place to come to His holy presence. Trust me! You will feel His presence comes so strong.

You can do your spiritual disciplines individually or together with your community. Individually, you can read and meditate on His words, praying, fasting, quiet time, or reading any Christian journals like my blog :)

Together with your community, you can join regular Sunday service, local community, Holy Communion, and other church events.

By practicing spiritual disciplines we also keep our eyes on God more often. When we focus on God, we stop letting other things get in our way or cloud our vision. Our lives find a clarity when we become more disciplined in our faith.

It does not matter how long you can pray or worship Him, but the most important thing is they should be fruitful and influential to your life. Trust me! Your time with God will never be wasted. 

Enjoy your time with Him!

Have a great quality time with Him!

God bless!

BB

@brian_bernadi

brian.bernadi@yahoo.com

Independence Day: The Truth That Sets You Free

Yeayyy!!! It is Indonesia Independence Day! :D 

But...

Unfortunately, it is on Sunday which means no extra holiday. T.T

Anyway...

Congratulation Indonesia on your 69th birthday!

When I was in high school, Independence Day reminds me about many traditional and unique games. That was so pleasant and fantastic. Moreover, I am also involved in flag-hoisting forces, named Falcon, to exhibit my high school at district level.

When I did my exchange program to Thailand, I met many people from different country and with different background. I contended with Thai, American, Canadian, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, Singaporean, Australian, and many more. Every student will be a representative or an ambassador of their respective country indirectly. At that time, something went across my mind,

"What makes Indonesia so exceptional? What can I be proud of?"

Frankly, even I felt embarrassed to represent my own country.

Briefly, I transformed my mind and straighten out my vision for Indonesia. I dream to change Indonesia someday. At least, I wish to be a successful entrepreneur and reduce unemployment in Indonesia (7% unemployment rate).

Later when I came back to Indonesia, I bought DAMN! I LOVE INDONESIA jacket. Yes, it is simply because I love Indonesia. Lol.

Through this patriotic opportunity, I would only remind you as God's people that God has died for you and me 2000 years ago to set us free from eternal death to eternal life.

As Indonesia has been set free from slavery for almost 350 years, God wants His people to be free from slavery of Satan as well.

As God has given freedom freely, let us strive for it!

The truth (God alone) has set you free! Jesis is the way, and the truth, and the life.

Never ever be a slave of Satan anymore!

Break your chain with him! Break up your relationship with evil.

Jesus has fought for your freedom, now it is your time to fight the good fight of the faith.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come

Last but not least,

If you are Indonesian...

I truly encourage you to pray for Indonesia!

Pray for president, vice president, minister, governors, and other leaders! Let God grants them wisdom and fear of God.

You can transform Indonesia! We can transform Indonesia! 

Once again,

Happy Independence Day Indonesia!

God loves Indonesia!

Have a great week ahead!

God bless!

BB

Guilty Pleasure

If you know me thoroughly, you may find out that I love an amicable relationship, or a phlegmatic person if you will. Believe it or not. :)

The very reason I do like that is simply because I want to maintain a long relationship with every person I encounter or meet up.

The most simple manner is just say "Sorry" every time you make faults. It is not difficult, is it? Even to the smallest matters, I often say this "magical" word because I am too scared to break the relationship with people whom I love.

I do believe we are taught to say "Sorry" since we were a kid by our parent.

However,

Do you say sorry to God when you make mistakes? Do you feel guilty when you make blunders?

Or...

Do you feel comfortable with your mistakes?

Do you think it is OK?

If you tend to feel the second statements, then it will be an immense and serious problem.

Today's post instructs us on how to respond to our mistakes or sins or transgressions rightly. Customarily, I would like to associate my story with God's words. The bible story is taken from Psalms 51 and 2 Samuel 12:1-7. The story is about King David's repentance on his enormous sins. Please read the whole story conscientiously, so you can have a a better understanding.

The main idea of this story is how Nathan, the prophet, reminded King David on his sins. However King David felt comfortable and did not feel guilty until the illustration given to him about rich and poor man.

I would say this story is still relevant up to now. I found friends of mine did not want to serve God because they feel unworthy before God.

They felt that they do not deserve God's mercy and forgiveness.

King David is a great role model of this situation. David teaches us on how to feel guilty for our sins and transgressions. He also advises us to say "Sorry" to God sincerely. As long as you confess your sins honestly before Him, I really believe God will see your deepest hearts and will forgive you. Moreover, He has died for you on the cross and He has paid everything for your sins. Right?

Feel guilty and say sorry to God!

Let us confess our sins frankly and ask God to change our heart and mind!

Ask for His mercy and forgiveness!

Listen to His voice through every medium He may use such as your friends, your families, and your surroundings.

Have a great day!

God bless!

BB

Credited to Benny Solihin (Bahasa).

A Lifetime Process

Hi friends! I wish you have accomplished great things with God last week :)

On this post, I would like to share about FORGIVENESS. You can read  Do You Forgive Immediately 

about forgiveness as well, but this time I would like to share a little bit deeper on what God means on Matthew 18:21-35.

Forgiveness must issue from the heart (v.35 So also my heavenly Father will do--deliver you to the jailers--to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.)

Even in the Lord's Prayer, God says "and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12). "Have forgiven" is in form of Present Perfect Tense, which means "already done or happened at an unspecified time before now."

Forgiveness is a lifetime process. Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times(v.22). Seven is a perfect number. God blessed the seventh day as a Sabbath Day (Genesis 2:2). Moreover, Bible says, "The years of our life are seventy" (Psalms 90:10).

What does it mean?

God longs us to forgive as long as we live on this earth. There is no limitation how many people or how many wrongs we should forgive. If we remember about our transgressions, I do believe we cannot be forgiven, even we have done many good deeds before Him. But God loves us very much by sending His only son, Jesus Christ, to save us. (John 3:16)

I know sometimes we desire to avenge our enemies, but God reminds you and

me  about His ultimate forgiveness on the cross 2000 years ago. No matter how bad people treated Jesus at that time, He said "Forgive them, Father. For they do not know what they are doing."

You can avenge your enemies, but avenge with goodness not evil!

God bless :)

Have a great week ahead!

BB