Archive for May, 2009

PLANNING BRINGS YOUR FUTURE INTO THE PRESENT

It isn’t enough just to want.
You’ve got to ask yourself
what are you going to do to get the things you want.
You need a plan.

Your problem is to bridge the gap which exists
between where you are now and the goals you want to reach.
With a definite, step by step plan, you cannot fail,
because each step carries you along to the next step, like a track.

All you need is the plan, the road map,
and the courage to press on to your destination.
Knowing where you’re going is all you need to get there.

You can’t get lost on a straight road.
—————————————

Indo community

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HARI PEMBERSIHAN

(thoughtful story) / * By Josh McDowell, Family Devotions
** By J. David Branon, Our Daily Bread

Ibu menarik keluar sebatang alat pancing dari lemari dikamar. “Benito,” teriaknya, “barang rongsokan tua ini kok masih didalam sini?” Benito berhenti memainkan video game dan menengadah. Cuek dan masa bodoh ia mengangkat bahu ketika melihat barang itu.

  • “Pokoknya, ini akan ibu buang keluar,” demikan kata ibunya.
  • Lho, lho jangan, jangan..” jerit Benito. Hampir2 kontroler video gamenya itu terbuang kelantai saat itu melompat berdiri dan berlari untuk merebut batang pemancing itu. “Jangan dibuang bu, jangan ibu buang…”
  • “Kenapa tidak?” tanya ibunya. “Kan kau sudah laaamaa tak pakai.”
  • “Ya karena patah,” Benito nyeletuk dengan kecut. “Musim panas yang lalu itu si Matt yang mematahkan, sialan …”
  • “Pokoknya gini deh, kau betulkan atau buang saja sekali,” kata ibunya.
  • Tidak bisa aku betulkan lagi, bu,” Benito mengeluh, “barang itu sih sudah betul2 tak ketolongan lagi. Tiap kali ingat itu aku jadi marah lagi.” Ibunya menggelengkan kepalanya. “Kedengarannya bukan cuma barang ini saja yang butuh kau buang dan hilangkan.”
  • “Maksud ibu apa sih?”
  • Temanmu Matt sudah minta maaf dan menyesali kok sampai mematahkan alat pancing ini?” tanya ibunya kembali.
  • “Oh yah, iya,” kata Benito. “Tapi barangku itu kan tetap masihpatah..”
  • Begitu juga sikapmu ini, patah dan rusak!” Ibunya agak ngomel sambil menaruh kedua tangannya dipinggang. “Kau ini kan terus mempertahankan sikap dendammu juga, sama seperti menyimpan batang pemancing tua ini! Dan tak satupun dari keduanya yang bakal bermanfaat bagimu!”
  • Benito dan ibunya saling berpandangan untuk sejenak tanpa bicara. Lalu,Benito buka mulutnya, “Ehh……, jadi apa ya yang musti kulakukan bu?”
  • “Ya kau renungkan dan bilang dong pada ibu,” kata ibunya, sambil mesem dan bersilang tangan didadanya.
  • Benito menundukkan kepalanya. “Benar juga ibu,” katanya. “Aku tadinya begitu marah sekali ia mematahkan pemancingku itu.”
  • “Yah, ibu tak tahu mengenai dirimu, tapi dalam hidupku ibu pernah berbuat kesalahan yang lebih parah dari itu, Benito, dan Allah telah mengampuniku.”
  • “Aku sadar sekarang,” kata Benito, “Dia juga mengampuni aku kok.”

Dilihatnya lagi pemancing yang patah yang dipegangnya itu. Tampaknya jadi begitu konyol dan bodoh kok masih menyimpan dendam terhadap temannya gara2 sebatang pemancing [yang tak sengaja dipatahkan]. Dia berbalik setelah membuangnya kembali.
Ibunya tersenyum gembira dan merangkulnya. “Ya kayak gitu lho,Benito, kan jauh lebih baik,” katanya.

  • Mengapa adalah tindakan benar untuk mengampuni orang lain?
  • Adakah seseorang yang perlu kau ampuni? [Mungkin seorang teman, atau anggota keluargamu?]
  • Kalau iya,kenapa tak kau lakukan SEKARANG?
  • Adakah seseorang yang padanya kau harus dan perlu minta ampun atau minta maaf? Kalau ada, lakukan SEKARANG juga.

Tuhan, kami butuh dukungan dan kasih sayangmu untuk mengampuni orang lain.
Bantulah agar kami bisa melepaskan dendam apapun yang masih tersimpan.

Pengampunan adalah sebuah anugerah dari Allah
patut kita sebarkan kesekeliling kita;
Jadi bagilah pada yang bertobat dan menyesal
Dimanapun mereka dijumpai.” (JM)
Shared by Joe Gatuslao

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CLEANING DAY

(thoughtful story) * By Josh McDowell, Family Devotions
** By J. David Branon, Our Daily Bread

Mom dragged a fishing pole out of the hall closet. “Benito,” she said, “why is this old thing still in here?” Benito paused the video game he was playing and looked up. He shrugged when he saw the pole.

  • “Well, I’m throwing it away,” Mom announced.
  • “No!” Benito called. He almost threw the video game controller on the floor as he jumped up and darted over to claim his pole. “I don’t want you to throw it away.”
  • “Why not?” Mom asked. “You never use it anymore.”
  • “It’s broken,” Benito said with a frown. “Matt broke it last summer.”
  • “Well, either fix it or get rid of it,” Mom said.
  • “I can’t fix it,” Benito complained. “It’s not good anymore. I still get mad whenever I think about it.”
  • Mom shook her head. “It sounds to me like this pole isn’t the only thing you need to get rid of.” “What do you mean?”
  • “Didn’t Matt tell you he was sorry for breaking your pole?” Mom asked.
  • “Yeah,” Benito said. “But it’s still broken.”
  • “And so is your attitude!” She propped her hands on her hips. “You have been holding on to an attitude of unforgiveness, just like you’ve been holding on to that old pole! And neither one of them is ever going to do you any good!”
  • Mom and Benito stared at each other for a few moments without speaking. Finally, Benito said, “What am I supposed to do?”
  • “You tell me,” Mom said, smiling and crossing her arms on her chest.
  • Benito hung his head. “You’re right,” he said. “I was just so mad at him for breaking my pole.”
  • “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve done a lot worse in my lifetime, Benito, and God has forgiven me.”
  • “I know.” Benito said. “He’s forgiven me too.” He looked at the fishing pole in his hands. It seem so silly to hold a grudge against his friend because of a broken fishing pole. He turned and tossed it back on the pile. Mom smiled and wrapped her arms around him.
  • “That’s better Benito,” she said.

Why is it right to forgive others? Is there anyone you need to forgive?
[Perhaps a friend, or a member of your family?] If so, why not do it now?
Is there anyone you need to ask for forgiveness? If so, why not do it now?
Lord, we need your courage and your love to forgive others. Help us to let go of any grudges we’re holding on to.

** “Forgiveness — it’s a gift from God **

That we should spread around; So give it to repentant ones Wherever they are found (JM)
Shared by Joe Gatuslao

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