Breaking Free - Jan 5

First DIY: tissue paper rolls wall-art

So October is a family month at my parents church, and they have this family-themed event going on at church. One of the activity is to make useful things from recycled materials.

I'm so excited because i've been collecting my tissue paper roll and i know exactly what i'm gonna make (i have this empty wall on my bedroom that i want to decorate with it). Unfortunately i came too late for the competition, anyhow i still manage to make this at home. Maybe it'll inspire you to start save your tissue paper roll as well :D

Here's the DIY (It's all over pinterest, youtube even on google search!)
Look 'em up for ideas and inspiration.

What you need:
- tissue paper rolls (you need 7 paper rolls for the cross that i made down below)
- scissors
- glue (i used regular glue, but please use glue gun for a better hold)
- paint for coloring

Steps:
1. cut your tissue paper roll in half and then cut each half by another half. In short: divide your paper roll into 4 parts, evenly.
2. plan out your design before you glue 'em
3. glue them based on your design. i put paper clips in between the rolls that i glued just to make sure they stick to each other. you can take the paper clips out after the glue all dry-up.

and TADAAA!!!

Who will bail me out?

So I heard this from my parents, that there's this man being put in jail because of his dishonesty. Long story short he needs bail-money and also letter from community that could guarantee that is ok to bail him out. His sibling is trying so hard to come up with certain amount of money. None of the community willing to sign the letter and so his dad end up doing it for him, guaranteeing that he will not commit the same crime after the bail. He's now out and I really hope he learned his lesson and doesn't take for granted what his sibling and his dad did for him.

So it got me thinking:
Who will bail me out?
Jesus did. He not only bail me out but also took the blame.

2 Corinthians 5:21

New International Version (NIV)

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

But guess what:
I'm taking it for granted, most of the time :(

"I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it"

Freedom in Christ

In the past month I've visited a friend whose mom passed away and then another grandpa of a friend and also heard it from a friend that another friend's dad passed away.

I don't know if you're familiar some of chinese tradition/rituals: but after visiting the funeral home:
- you must go somewhere else first before going back to your house (the argument is that "the dead" could follow you home)
- you must wash your hand/feet/face before entering the house, sometimes change clothing (I forgot what's the argument about this one, but it kinda make sense to me since the relatives/family are barefooted in the funeral home)
- If the one that passed away is your parent and so happen you and your significant other are planning to get married, you have to get married within a 100 days otherwise you have to postponed for another year or 3 years. (my 2 friends have different years that they practice, but luckily they are in the safe 100 days zone, however it's sad to see that they're less than 3 months away from their wedding day and one of the parent cannot make it there)
- my first time going to a Buddhist funeral and they have this rituals when all the family members gather and they are led by someone (from the temple, i'm guessing) they're praying/chanting so that "the dead" can go into heaven peacefully. The family members then would burn paper money, houses, etc so then "the dead" can have a comfortable "life."

After experiencing all that:
- I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ: when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed! we're not bounded by these rituals because it has no effect on us. I didn't go elsewhere before I go home. I went straight home because it's late and it's work night hahahaa but I know the one that following me is goodness and love all the days of my life :p
- My God is beyond awesome! He takes care of me before I was born, in my lifetime and after life.

John 14:2-3

New International Version (NIV)

2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

He is preparing a place for me, I don't need no paper money or house to be burned. I don't need no chants to clear my way because my God will come and take me with Him. Amen!

Ending this with one of my favorite song:

"One True God" by Mark Harris:

"I don't have a God I can put on a stand

Or a God I hold in the palm of my hand

I have a God that's holding me."

*blushed

grace standard

I came across this on pinterest. It encourages me not to be too hard my self and not to be too harsh on others.

Ephesians 2:8-9

New International Version (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 4:2

New International Version (NIV)

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

while i've been MIA

Sharing pictures from my blackberry:

APRIL-MAY
I had the opportunity to go visit the US end of April-early May (It's really just for a week. a short week) but nonetheless thankful that i got to meet people and food i missed the most. More pictures on my facebook, this following pictures on my blackberry only a small portion on what i missed :p

JULY
Attended Bertha's wedding in Bali. Again a short, but sweet weekend :)

When i shared my last post on June, if you by any chance read it :p you must know about my grandparent's helper who got diagnosed with cancer. Anyhow she finally went back to Belitung and then a month after, which is in July, she went to be with the Lord. It's all happened so fast, we still think it's a dream. But thankful that she didn't have to endure the long painful sickness. Most of all we are grateful for we know that she is indeed went home with God :) It's a bittersweet moment, thank you for everyone that's been praying with us. And despite all that happened, i do think: what a great life she had. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior previous month and then she got to be with Him a month later :)

AUGUST

We have finally moved in to our "new house" praise God! Here's a little pictures of my room. I thank God everyday for this. For every furniture and for everything inside: they are all God's blessing and God's providence.

Then i got to visit yossi's villa during Indonesian independence day weekend. We harvest carrots and bok choys and put them in our supermies! It's organic :p hopefully it compensates the negative effect of the instant noodles :p and also proudly made our version of MILO-DINO! and we think its a success!!!

SEPTEMBER

Had a short visit to Singapore for work. It was supposed to be a day trip however because of un-finish business i have to stay over. Thank God for Vicky and family always welcoming an unwelcome guest :p

Vicky is currently having a giveaway with the Wagyu Story up on her blog. Please check to see if you might be qualified to win an hour of photo session. Hurry! Giveaway ends on September 30, 2013

That is all for the updates! I hope you are all have a wonderful time with God and your loved ones.

Like little children

Sharing a cute picture of my niece, Prudence. She is adorable! Seeing her reminded me how simple little children are. Simple things make them content and they couldn't care less on the pair of adult eyes that are looking.

"Wherever we focus our attention the most, that will become the driving force in our lives. The more I focus on trying to figure out how to please people, the more of a magnified force people-pleasing will become in my life. The more I focus on trying to figure out how to please God, the more of a magnified force He will become in my life." -Lysa TerKeust

I bet that's how little children are joyful, they focus on that one thing they get not anything else not anybody else. Not bothered being jealous on something else when they have that hand full of chocolates, also reminded me on being thankful on what we have and where we are.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV).

Praying for all us to have a child-like heart especially for Indonesia so we can escape the corruption caused by evil desires and instead participate in the divine nature! YAY! 

P.S.: I've been enjoying reading Lysa TerKeust blog. Blessed, rebuked, encouraged all together!