Count Your Blessings

You can change the title as you want, the options are as follow:

1. Things that I want to show off

2. Things to be thankful for

3. My happy moments

Just kidding...

Although this writing is telling you what I received and went into recently, I'll make sure that IF you follow this post, you will find sharing that will encourage you :)

We tend to forget that we are blessed and highly favoured, yes we do...

I'm actually helping myself to be grateful by writing this post, as how I wrote the previous post

I'm such a forgetful person, I can forget God's kindness just like that, not a good thing for sure

2013:

1. I'mma remind myself of how grateful I am for a brother named Brian Adam Pratama in my life.

Ajarin gua selca dong, Bri

This awesome guy became my one on one partner since last year, and I have the sweetest brotherhood ever since.

Strong relationship needs sincerity, efforts and commitment.

2. Playing for Monash University Malaysia Futsal Team

Yoi merah sendiri

I was like "Go-International" huh?
I'm not the best Goalkeeper they can find, but through unexpected event, my friend, Vedo Irawan talked to Monash Captain, Shaf and recommended me to train with Monash team.










3. Freelance futsal

Elastico vs Oli's Team

It's not like they pay me or something like that, but some nice and generous people who don't mind if I play bad, such as Elastico's coach (which happens to be my cousin's friend, Samuel Siew) . He sometimes invited me to play for their team.
I'm honoured.






4. Leading worship in a wedding ceremony

Deo mukanya lagi jelek di sini, jadi gua upload yang ini

My first ever experience in doing so. I was confused, like: "What song to bring? I know I can't shout like usual, but how am I gonna do this?"
Thank you Ko Jackson Pang and Silvie Hosea for the privilege :).








5. Meeting my "twin sister", Wellney Yarra

Abis makan brutal sama mamanya Welni

Buku Max Lu Kado kalo menurut dia

I met her last year as she enrolled herself in CIMP Malaysia. I found many similarities between us, we are both smart, talkative and attractive *teehee. Hence, I often introduced her as my twin sister to my friends. I'm thankful that I have the privilege to listen and share stories with such great woman of God.
She gave Max Lucado's book as my birthday present and wrote a message as her appreciation, it goes like: "Makasih karena menghabiskan waktuku yang sangat mahal buat cerita sampe subuh." Well, it's pretty much summed up her gratitude, eh?

God really loves her, I tell you...
If any guy wants to date her, he better be really serious about it and take care of her well. You mess with her, means you mess with me.

6. Steven Furtick and Elevation Church

    

Through an unexpected event happened last year, I found a post on my Tumblr that led me to Elevation Church, in November 2013 (read it HERE)
I love Pastor Steven Furtick very much, he is one anointed, passionate and enthusiastic preacher of God.

Through their Elevation app, (of which you can download for android and iphone for free) I am able to listen to God's Word easily.
I follow their sermons and projects from that moment onward, I even listen to Ps. Steven's sermons over and over again because they are powerful and encouraging, they help me to stay on track and stand strong big times, perfect food for your spirit.

2014:
Fast forward to this year, shall we?

7. Invitation to serve with FreshGe in Semarang

The invitation came from Ko Franklin Gunarto, an alumnus and a senior Worship Leader in FGCC.
I never expected me to be invited, you know (I'm being honest here), I was at a loss for words, thank you :)

                             

Song lists :3

Ps. Eddy Chang's preaching

Sound Check at GMS Tower of Victory

FreshGe at GMS ToV, Semarang

FGCC (+Alumni) in GIA Pringgading, Semarang

 8. Ko Frank's efforts and response

Si Ko Frank dan bayangannya Ci Mon2

I'll try to tell his story briefly: He has bought a train ticket for Friday night from Bandung to Semarang, but due to flood, he needed to drive all the way back to Jakarta while calling travel agents to get flight ticket in order to reach Semarang on Saturday noon
(because we had rehearsal at 1 pm, and this team is expert, they didn't meet each other for 2 years and only had practise session on the day they served ahaha). 
Ko Frank then reached Jakarta at 3 am after long hours of driving. By God's grace he managed to get 9 am ticket, though previously he got 11 am ticket.

My FreshCom Leader, Adrian Kosasih told me that when he gave Ko Frank a call on Friday night, he could hear that Ko Frank still sounded excited and didn't even feel down.

I'm sorry for my short explanation above, maybe you can't understand what happened really well, but after a whole night driving right after you worked, without being able to rest or even taking a shower, due to some unexpected development (flood), yet you are still joyful?
Soo, his response really inspired me :)

Not only that, actually later on, I found that all FreshGe members had their own trials but they still served God whole-heartedly and you can see joy on their face when we worshipped together.
I'm really grateful to be there.

9. Steven Furtick's message

As I implied above, I was never a member of Elevation before this, I just love the sermons and the books (Sun Stand Still and Greater).

Makasih lho Jansen

Here's a preview from Sun Stand Still, that helped me stay sane.
Before you swim out any farther, be sure that God is the One leading you out into deep waters. Count the cost. Consider the ramifications. Apply wisdom. Then, once it's clear he is calling you into the waves, don't you dare let the magnitude of your fears send you back to dry land. Keep moving out deeper. Keep reaching up.















In the beginning of January, I just tweeted randomly about Ps.Steven's new book, Crash the Chatterbox and Elevation Worship's new album, Only King Forever. Then this pastor, who barely replies anyone on Twitter, sent me the message you can see at bottom.

I was like: "No, Pastor, thank you, I just want to support Elevation by buying your books and cds."

After that, I felt like God said: "Accept it, it is for you"

So I sent my address anyway.

And on 4th of February, the package came (after being missent to Taipei), hurray!
It's not like I used God's name to justify my doing, but for me personally, this is really His way to show how I am not lost from His eyes.
Recently I felt really down, I felt like I'm doing something that seems pointless, and even sometimes I even felt worthless, but I know God was the One who started everything. I often find myself wondering, "Do these things have purpose, God? I need a break, I want to get my joy back."
And just like that, He sent me fresh winds, as if He wanted to say: "You got My attention, son."

10. I'm grateful for my (real) sister, who forgot about my birthday and had short-circuit in her brain since she started doing internship :|

Many times she asked me some silly questions and then realized after some moments, she would say: "Dedek bego ya ko."
One time I told her, "My whole body is sore, I just had futsal match yesterday" and she was like: "Heh? You played futsal yesterday, why are you feeling sore now?" I'm unable to answer this question.

Still, she is my precious younger sister, we often do stupid things together, be idiotic together, share stories (you can name the categories: funny, serious, stupid, good-for-your-future, relationship, ga-jelas, ga-penting, apa-sih-ini.) and have fun together.
So yea, I'm cherishing my every moment with my beloved ones.

11. I am grateful for battles that scarred me but didn't break me

You guys have your own battles, I have mine.
This was what happened recently, it took me some time to finally be able to say: "Yes, You are Who You are, You are faithful, great and loving. I will trust You wherever You lead me to."

When darkness seems to blur His plans, believe His character.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11

My point in writing this is not to show how blessed I am.
I'm counting my blessings and teaching myself about God being my only joy.
I believe the key not to be anxious about anything is through thanksgiving.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God - Philipians 4:6

In every season we are currently in, there are blessing and beauty all around if you look for them.
Maybe you're feeling down right now, you feel disappointed, you feel worn out and broken, but we have to learn not to be anxious about anything. Surrender our doubts and fears to God, because He cares.

You don't believe me? Never mind, just trust His words, for He is trustworthy.
You can start doing what I did, counting my blessings and see that God is faithful!

New Chapter 23/05/2013

Hey there, so this is about processes I've been going through til today :)

Years have passed and I know that I've grown and I'm still growing
1-2 years ago I was offered a certain responsibility, which was a huge one, (started from a smaller one for sure), yet in doing that, I faced many pressures from many places.
Fulfilling these tasks are not easy, even without them, studying Mechatronics in Monash is never easy since the beginning

But I looked at how God has led me through years of processes, and wow, I'm standing firmer compared to how I did before :)
God never ceases to amaze me!
Through commitments I built with people I love: Fresh Com, Fresh Ministry, ISCF (until last year) etc. I was brought to a long journey that sharpens me very much.

There was times when I felt like I'd fallen and I was just holding a spiky rope to make sure I didn't fall off. I often thought, why I should keep some of these. I'm bleeding because I try to put everything together, maybe it's better if I release my hands, that's not my responsibility (I had this option actually, after consulting with my leaders, and I know noone would blame me for quitting in a good manner).

I kept learning about priorities and commitments, even higher price I should pay, tears-sweat-blood I should shed and often time I was brought down to my knees.
But that's not my point, for everything I pay for Jesus is worth it
Even currently I can't foresee how these services and efforts (ministries, study, cell groups) will turn out to be, I just believe "He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecc 3:11a)

Ah, about commitment, through these people I learn so many things I never expected actually, some of them sharpen me really 'harshly' that sometimes I unconsciously tried to run away.
What I mean is not about sharpening process that may cause anger, misunderstanding etc (you may suspect what Kak Tama did to me, but this is not about him :P), it's about them who sharpen me due to their past, their relationship with me, their words, their behaviour, or their lifestyles.

Once Kak Tama told me: "Beruntung ya kamu, dapet anak2 komsel yang baik."
Compared to these "new" commitments I got myself into, I could say that my previous commitments/communities are really good and soft. I'm thankful meeting them, cell group mates who didn't cause too much troubles haha!

I might be hurt  here and there, yet I'm still holding on, it is because I can see God's plan for me through this year's processes, this new chapter. There are many aspects of my life that haven't been spotlighted, because it was not the time yet, not it's the time.
I could run away (not an option, just my ego, although noone would blame me either), I could be giving logical reasons, I could use "how do I know that this is my time to do this?"
I just know one thing: God wants me to be faithful in this new level, this sole reason is enough compared with other reasons I could think of to avoid this process.

Like everyone else, many things were unclear at first, and I just walked by faith step by step. As results, I started to know myself even deeper, about my weaknesses unexposed before (I did not even know this aspect of mine), learnt to overcome my feeling, to stay neutral in facing problem (mine or other people's) and see from God's perspectives. I learn all of these through this year's chapter of life ;), but above all else, I'm grateful that I could learn more about God's Heart!

Hey you guys, who sharpen me many times, I thank y'all.
I hope I'm not the only one who learn from our journey together,
and let's keep praying for one another.
God bless :)