Uncategorized – Page 3 – 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐫

Don’t Get Frustrated

Frustration and despair often arise when people are in very difficult situations as if there is no way out, when problems come one after another, when the burden of life feels heavy. The peak of frustration and despair is feeling bored of life, so there is an intention to end life because you feel that you don’t matter anymore.

This condition was once felt by Job! His constant suffering frustrated him: his possessions were gone, his children died, and even his beloved wife left him. Job’s misfortune was more complete, for his closest friends also moved away. That’s the world! When a person is “above” and abundant in wealth it is natural for many people to swarm him, but once he is “below” and falls into poverty, not many people want to be friends with him or abandoned by his friends, “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.” Proverb

Having lost everything, Job became so frustrated and his frustration reached the limit, that he felt bored of life. Even Job felt regret for being born into this world: Why then did you bring me out of the womb? I wish I had died before any eye saw me?”Job 10:18

In today’s difficult times, there are many people who feel frustrated and discouraged because of the heavy pressures of life. Not even a few of them had the heart to end their lives just like Job. Never desire to end your life! No matter how hard the suffering we experience, there must be a way out. There is help, there is deliverance. So, there is hope for your future.

Blessed To Bless Others

The rainy season has lasted for two months and everywhere the trees appear to be green. A caterpillar burst out among the green leaves swaying in the wind.

“How are you green leaves?!” he said. Jolted, the green leaves turned their heads in the direction of the oncoming sound.

“Oh, you caterpillar. Your body looks small and thin. Why?” asked the green leaf.

“I barely get leaves for my food. Can you help me buddy?” said the little caterpillar.

“Sure… certainly… Come closer here.”

Green leaves think, if I give a little bit of my body to the caterpillar, I will still be green, only I will look hollow, but that’s okay.

Slowly the caterpillar moves its body towards the green leaves. After eating satiatedly, the caterpillar thanks the green leaves that have given up parts of their body to become the caterpillar’s food. When the caterpillar said thanks,there is a sense of satisfaction within the green leaf. Even though it body is now hollowing here and there, he is happy to be able to do it for the hungry little caterpillar.

Not long after that when summer came, the green leaves dried and changed color. Eventually it fell to the ground, was swept away and burned.

What is so meaningful in our lives that we are reluctant to sacrifice a little for our fellow man? After all in the end everything that is there will perish.

Good green leaves represent people who still have a “heart” for their fellow man. Who does not close his eyes when he sees his fellow man in trouble. Who does not turn his back and does not seem to hear when his fellow man cries out for help. He is willing to do something for the benefit of others and momentarily ignores his own self-interest. Giving up one’s own pleasure and self-interest for others is not easy, but it is beautiful.

When we sacrifice, we ourselves become like a hollow leaf, but it doesn’t actually affect our lives. We will stay green, God will still bless and nurture us.

For the “green leaf”, sacrifice is impressive and feels beautiful and satisfying. It was happy to see that the fellow creation of God could smile because of the sacrifices it made. It also did so because it realized that it would not forever stay as a green leaf. One day it will dry up and fall.

Such is our life, this life is only temporary and then we will die. That is why fill this life with good works: love, sacrifice, understanding, faithfulness, patience and humility. Make sacrifice fun and bring us joy.

In many ways we can sacrifice. Put the interests of others first, do things for them, give what we have and many more sacrifices can be made. Let’s not forget that we once received an incomparable sacrifice from our Creator until we could be saved as we are today.

It’s Not Too Late

Marjorie Newlin, 72, was shopping at the supermarket. At that time there was a sale so he bought about 25 kg of cat food for his pet.

As a widow trying to live independently, she felt annoyed because she was tired of lifting her groceries. Since then he decided to join a fitness club near his home in Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, United States.

Richard Brown, trainer at Rivers Gym fitness was amused to see this grandmother who already has 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren start to follow the exercise. But this old grandmother diligently practiced day after day, week after week until for a year. Until then this grandmother managed to lift a weight of about 50 kg and her body had a shape like a person practicing body building.

Encouraged by fitness trainers, Marjorie participated in the Body Building Amateur Athletic Union competition which was open to the public. Actually, she felt uncomfortable when competing, because she had to wear a bikini like a bodybuilder. However, long story short, she managed to become the champion for the category over 45 years old. The audience was hysterical when it was announced that the winner was 74 years old.

That’s just the beginning. After that, She participated in many competitions that took him to Italy, Germany, and France. She has collected 40 trophies and many award certificates.

Marjorie is now gone. However, she has inspired many that perseverance can lead to achievement and that age is not a barrier to achievement.

Reflect On Yourself

When two mirrors face each other, an infinite reflection appears. That’s how it is if you want to reflect on yourself. You will find infinite shadows. The shadow is an extraordinary ability: infinity that gives the power to break through the limits of one’s obstacles.

Reflect on yourself, and discover that strength. Put away the mirror of others. There are only visible shortcomings and weaknesses that will foster dissatisfaction only. And this will plunge you into the abyss of disappointment.

You are not someone else. You are you who have your own path of success. Start today by looking yourself in the face. Look for that infinite shadow. There is a force that will take you to the pinnacle of success.

“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”

Before You Complain…

Today… before you complain about the taste of your food,
Think about someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about having nothing,
Think about someone who has to beg on the streets.

Before you complain that you are doing badly,
Think about someone who is at the worst level in his life.

Before you complain about your partner,
Think about someone who asked God for a life partner.

Before you complain about the fate of your life,
Think about someone who died too soon.

Before you complain about your children,
Think about someone who desperately wants to have children but is infertile.

Before you complain about the distance you have driven,
Think about someone who travels the same distance as walking.

When you’re tired and complaining about your work,
Think about the unemployed looking for a job like you.

Before you point your index finger to blame others,
Think about your other three fingers are pointing at you and there is no one who never makes mistakes.

If you are able to think before you complain, then when you are grieving and your life is in trouble, you can still thank God that you are still given life.

Tribulation Cultivated Tremendous Strength.

Great Basin Bristlecone Pines is the oldest tree in the world. Some of them are estimated to be 3,000 to 4,000 years old.

In 1957, scientist Edmund Schulman discovered a bar of these, and named it Methuselah. This humpky and very old evergreen tree is almost 5,000 years old. This tree already existed when the Egyptians built the pyramids.

Bristlecone trees grow over the mountains of the western United States, at altitudes of approximately 3,050 to 3,350 meters. They are able to survive, even in very bad environmental conditions: extremely cold temperatures, hurricanes, thin layers of air, and low rainfall.

Actually, it is the vicious environment one of the factors so that they were able to survive until this millennium century. Tribulation has cultivated tremendous strength and inexhaustible manpower.

Apostle Paul taught us “… tribulation give produce perseverance, and endurance develops strength of character and character strengthen our hope..” Adversity is a process God uses to bring good into our lives. The problems that make us come to God can actually bring good to us. It makes us completely dependent on Him.

God uses our difficulties to make us stand the test and endure.

A Tale of Two Seeds : 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰𝒔 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝑨 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆

There are 2 plant seeds stranded on fertile field.

The first seed says, “I want to grow big. I want to set my roots deep in this land, and stretch out my shoots on the harshness of this soil. I want to spread out all my shoots, to convey spring greetings. I want to feel the warmth of the sun, and the softness of the morning dew on the tops of my leaves.” And the seed grew, looming more.

The second seed murmured. “I’m scared. If I plant my roots into this soil, I don’t know what I will find down there. Isn’t it very dark there? And if I push my shoots up, won’t the beauty of my buds be lost? This sprout of mine will definitely be torn apart. What will happen if my buds open, and the snails try to eat them? And surely, if I grow up and bloom, all the little kids will try to pull me out of the ground. No, it would be better if I waited until everything was safe.” And the seed waited, in solitude.

Some time later, a chicken scavenged the land, found the second seed, and swallow it immediately.

Indeed, there is always a choice in life. There are always plays that we have to go through. Often, however, we are in our own pessimistic, horror, doubts, and self-created anxiety. We are often lulled by reasons for not wanting to take a step, not wanting to face life. Since life is a choice, then face it bravely. And since life is a choice, choose wisely.

Once Again About Life

We never knows what tomorrow will happen or what will happen in the future. We often hear shocking news, ranging from news about murders, traffic accidents, natural disasters. And there are many more things that can take human lives at any time. Death is a reality that cannot be avoided by everyone. Sooner or later death will definitely pick up. All human beings, whoever they may be, will at some point surely die.

We are reminded again that we really need to pay attention to how we live. What God cares about is not how we die but how we live.

In fact, life in this world is only temporary, proverbial like someone who stops by for a drink. We are just immigrants and nomads. Therefore look carefully, how you live, not like an ignorant, but like a wise man, for everyone will go before the court throne and held accountable for what has been done during his life.

So this very short time, let’s make the best use of it. Life is like a person camping, one day the camp will be demolished; but the God has prepared for us an abode in heaven, an eternal dwelling place, not made by human hands.

The Heaviest Load

“A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them.” – Proverb

Stone and sand weighing each are allusions to illustrate that there is no thing of no weight in this world.

Stone and sand are used to build houses. A person who does not want to lift stones and sand, then he will not be able to build his house.

Stones and sand can be collected to become merchandise. It takes a great deal of energy to be able to build it out of stone and sand in surrender to God. Life is the readiness to bear the burden; If you run from the load, it is life that becomes light – weightless.

Heartache is an attitude that is unable to bear the weight and that does not hurt others but oneself. Heartache can only be treated in the absence of cause of heartache or make this life not easily hurt.

The heartache for fools is a heavy burden even the heaviest because his foolishness will continue to hurt. Two things how to deal with fools: “the dogs barked caravan passes” or turn the fool into a wise man.

“Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”

Wise people are smart people but there are people only being smart people. The wise people takes care of life while the smart people is engaged in his field.

On the other hand, people who lack education can become wiser people than educated people to the level of higher education. The most destructive people are the unwise clever; worse the consequences than indeed unwise fools.

Smart people and wise people are needed in life. The more smart and wise people the better life.

Thinking of yourself “Mr/Ms.Know-it-all” make you want to intervent and participate in everything. And sometimes the whole thing becomes chaotic.

Pretend yourself wise is placing yourself in the seat of a figure but not having an exemplary attitude in life; This is not only detrimental to life together but such a person is a person who harms himself.

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” Isiah 5:21