Lost & Found

That one lost sheep that has been baaaa! Found 🐑

[idiasty]

Lombok Powerful Earthquake, August 2018:

As I roamed around the area of Tanjung, I spotted a newlywed couple enjoying their lunch in the midst of their house’s debris. Raden Dedi (20) and Denda Dewi (19) were enjoying Moringa leaves soup that they picked nearby and omelet that they made with the eggs that were distributed to them.

idiasty

[idiasty]

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’ Lombok Powerful Earthquake’s Survivors in front of their house’s debris, July 2018.

idiasty

[littlethingsaboutgod]

You are the light   Song of my life You always lead me You are the voice inside

You are my love No one before you All that I am Points to You

And I was made by you I was made for you I am unfulfilled without full communion

[idiasty]

Since Your love got a hold of me, I am a new creation. I am forever changed.

[idiasty]

Some of you came here this morning with the hope that God would change your circumstances and fix your situation. The first thing I want to say to you is that God has more concern about changing you than your circumstances. Do you understand that? It could be that God wants to keep you in this difficult circumstances because he is changing you. See it is about your character. God loves you so much he does not want you to stay where you are at.

Francis Chan on 2 Peter 1:5-11

[idiasty]

#Process trumps #truth. Not in the sense that our goal is the first that we neglect the latter, but instead it is the latter will surely emerge when we go through the right process. So I am training myself to set my #eyes not only on the truth, but also on how to get there. If I hope that #underagemarriage and #childneglect will come to an end here in 10 years time, then it is important to not only keep in mind why they need to stop. It is necessary to engage young girls and boys and parents to see why they need to stop. In between here and there, there should be #relationships, #trust, #dialogue, #discernment, #empowerment, challenging #questions, #patience, #rest and #time to allow the process to take place. Maybe my logic is not so logical right now, and maybe it needs some real, concrete steps... I don't know it is 12.20 AM and I am half asleep. Thoughts?

[idiasty]

It's been 4 years now. Everytime I revisit the day you passed away, I see it with different light. The light of faith, the light of hope and the light of redemption. I am forever thankful to God for your presence in the first 21 years of my life. Also for the sense of humor and artistic soul you passed to my gene. I miss you, papa.

[aestatemagazine]

[idiasty]

Home

[idiasty]

I could stay awake all night just to hear another story of #healing and #redemption just like the one I just heard from a dear, dear friend of mine. Another #sheep was brought back to the flock! Here's to the next 4 hours of sleep with joy and hope! 🎊🎉🎊🎉 #mightneedsomeaspirininthemorning #worthit #Luke15

[idiasty]

What I learned when I heard the words I didn’t want to hear

Some days we need a cheerleader—someone to pick up the pompoms on our behalf. Someone to say, “Keep going, you can do this!” when we feel like giving up.

Then there are other days—days when we need that gentle voice of encouragement from someone who knows us well. That’s when we need someone to say, “I know this feels hard, but you did the right thing.”

And then there are the days when you just need someone to tell you the truth.

This was one of those days. You see, a conversation hadn’t gone well. Someone on my team came to me with a problem deep from the heart, and it was a problem with me.

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t want to hear it. During the conversation I could feel my body tense. I could hear my words getting hard. I couldn’t stop myself as I took a turn around the bend to an ugly destination: defensiveness.

After the conversation, I felt defeated. Why did I again feel the need to go down the path of justification? I had responded by saying “But that’s not what I meant! I don’t understand how you could think that.” I could have responded with even the slightest trickle of humility. I could have said, “I’m sorry. I can see how that hurt your feelings.”

But I didn’t.

What Is God Whispering?

Going down this path again, even though I didn’t want to, made me feel sad and disappointed.

As I talked it over with my friend Sibyl, she didn’t launch into how wonderful I was or how perfectly human it was to have this response. She didn’t immediately tell me everything was going to be fine. She didn’t tell me not to feel bad. She just listened. She sat with me and didn’t rush my words, giving me freedom to empty my heart of selfish indignation and the prideful resentment of being misunderstood. Then she made an observation, almost in the form of a question: “I wonder what it is that God wants to whisper to you.”

Whispers are so gentle. Sometimes the very breath tickles your ear and you have to get still and lean in. Whispers are intimate, words meant just for you and you alone. They are compelling. Come closer. I want to share this with you.

Sibyl’s response took me off guard. Whispers from God?No Sibyl, what I really want is for you to tell me I’m not in the wrong here.

But Sibyl was leading me a different way. She knew I felt hurt in my heart. She also knew that in the midst of conflict, in the very center of relational pain, God has things he wants to teach us. She encouraged me to slow down, saying, “Get still, Sherry. Listen to the voice that matters. There are things God wants to say to you. Lean in to the gentleness, the very roots that God grounded you with so long ago. It’s not me you need to hear from. It’s him.”

This was truth. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was what I needed. So often, I run to friends who love me when my heart or feelings are hurt. I want their affirmation, their confirmation, their very words to heal my bruises. Tell me I’m okay. Tell me I’m right to be angry. Tell me you’re on my side!

Sibyl’s words reminded me that God’s holy whispers were the words I really needed to hear. It’s those whispers straight from God’s heart that give my soul the roots to grow and the wings to fly. Sometimes God has so much more to say than “You’re okay.”

Sometimes he wants to work on my attitude, to form me into the woman he knows I can be. Sometimes he wants to whisper what my anger really means—that it’s a reflection of my pride and self-centeredness. God’s whispers aren’t shouts of condemnation. They are quiet and compelling, an invitation to come and be still. But it’s an invitation I’ll miss if I’m not careful. Come and listen. Come and grow.

Lean into the whispers. He has things to say.

[idiasty]

In the spirit of #International #Women's #Day, let us pray to see what we can do for our sisters who are trapped in the evil cycle of human trafficking. And brothers too, actually, for that matters. #indonesia #facts

[idiasty]

We are sad, yet we are hopeful. It weakens our hearts to think of our loved ones, yet we are hopeful because they love the Savior. We feel sorry for those who mourn, yet we are hopeful that God could use us to comfort each other with the comfort we have received from Him. We grieve, but in hope. #whatilearnedaboutjesusinmygrief #jesus #hope

[idiasty]

Yea, there are a lot of problems breathing today, So many. And it can be exhausting to carry. But maybe.. It may start simple. To love and forgive. Experiencing wholeness by letting go. Listening where god is moving, and float in the current. Let go of expectation, of the desire to be right, having everything in its right place. Let go of “you.” Listen/purchase: The Delaware by Circle of Hope Audio Art

[idiasty]

[idiasty]

Bring Back Our Girls is a social media campaign in response to the mass kidnapping incident in Nigeria.

"More than 200 Nigerian girls are still missing, weeks after being abducted from their school by militant Islamist group, Boko Haram.

Eight more girls were kidnapped by the group just this week.

Boko Haram has threatened to sell the girls into slavery and forced marriage.

We can't let this happen."

[idiasty]

Girls' Kidnap Will Be 'End Of Nigeria Terror'

My heart breaks for this. My prayer of protection and peace goes for the girls, of comfort and faith for the families, of repentance and revelation and mercy for those who are responsible for this and of wisdom for the stakeholders and those who are helping. In Jesus name, amen.

[idiasty]

Can't get this out of my head--True Worshippers Kau Rajaku (Glory to Glory)

[idiasty]

My tear-pal aaaaaaall the way in Seattle. Talked and listened to her voice over voxer today and I cried two good buckets of tear. God knows how thankful I am for you!