EACH OF US NEED A FRIEND

The photo above was taken from one scene of the  film The Legend. Starring Will Smith, the movie tells about a city that lost  its inhabitants, except for Will and his dog. It is very frightening, being alone in the wilderness of concrete buildings.

The booming  of social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc,  as well as easy access to communicate is an indicator that people need friends, people are afraid to be alone.

A word of God says that it is not good for  man to live alone was inspired the creation of  Eve to accompany  Adam. That is the origin idea of  community. Ranging from the smallest one like spouse,  to the larger ones like family and  friends wherever we involved within;  school friends, business friends, playmates or just casual acquaintances. We build relationship within any community we engage in.

But the relationship between human beings often do not last. Some end up with sadness, hurt and disappointment. Any form of relationship doesn’t immune from the threat of splitting and destruction. Selfishness of men  often lead to disunity. Provocation, dishonesty, jealousy and envy, betrayal are some causes of the rift.

It would help us   if we understand the background and character of a person before getting involve too close  in relationship.  Different  style and point of view would  automatically create a different definition of the meaning of a friendship.  Some people would give everything for their friend,  some were just looking for connections, some were  looking   in terms of wealth, some were just want to have fun, but I’m sure that each of us want at least one true friend.

Kahlil Gibran said, “there is no such thing as true friends, only interests.”

Truly said, that if we honestly examine the types of relationships that we have in any community, there is only one basis, which is the basis of the same interests, the same desires, the same ideals. That’s the basis which  makes two people or more match to each other.

A long term nor close relationship guarantee it will be lasting in the future, because people change.

If we want to improve our  quality the area of ​​friendship, maybe there are some things to learn.  I have quoted  three things that we can develop, which are:

• Motivation: Sincerity in touch, is there a hidden agenda? or manipulate others in order to achieve our goals. (Romans 12:9 Let love it do not pretend).
• Image: Are we consciously give different impressions of ourselves with reality? (Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also, next to the outside you appear righteous in the eyes of men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy next and iniquity)
• Words: Speaking of discipline, which is stated is the truth. (Mat 5:37 If so be ye say yes, if it does not let you say no. Better than what comes from the evil one).

With such attitudes in mind, we at least put and offer ourselves as a good friend to those who needs us. In addition, I believe that God puts certain people as true friend to us, it could be more than one. It features those who  appears when we really need a strut. Those people can be found  in every episode of our life, in childhood, adolescence, adulthood, marriage, parenting etc. Try to think back and recall whoever  has ever emerged as a true friend when we experience hard times and need mental support.

Remember that there is always a figure of a true friend to everyone, He is the faithful Jesus Christ.  When the rest of the world does not care about us, persecute and throw us,  He is the one who would  sustain us and hold our tears.
Let us learn to be like him. Being a true friend to our friends, although sometimes abused, slandered, insulted and persecuted, learn to stay with true love.

“You’ll probably forget someone who laughs with you, but it is impossible to forget those who have cried with you.” – Khalil Gibran

Be Blessed,

a Better me, a Better life

Note: This article is translated from its origin Indonesian version “Kita Semua Butuh Teman” at  www.juelyjulie.com  posted 19th July 2011

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DoN’t LOOK BACK

Our life episodes content  the past, the present and the future. It is a saying that the world  is a drama stage,  each person has their roles in this life.  We can clearly see the story and the role we took from the previous moment, but we never know what is coming for us in the future. Yet, we have to wait for it and continue to take the role until finished.

Not everyone is ready to move on to  the next episode of his life. One reason among others called failure which was happened in the past. Failure often results in low self-esteem, shame, trauma and even despair.

I’m sure that no one plan for  failures in his life. However,  the wheel of life  gives us the turn to experience  different things. With  different levels and intensities  as well. When the wheels are rolling  to the bottom point, which is the point of failure, it would require an extra  effort to make it roll up back.

When our time is fall  at the bottom point, we often forget that we need to increase the thrust to  lever up. We often slumped. And if we await without doing anything  in the same position, we will never experience the blessings listed on the top of wheel. We feel bad for everything that surrounding us at that moment. Failure often invite other failures if we do not clean up the soonest possible.

On my wheel of life, I had  been at the bottom point for4 years. It obviously took me quite a long time  to  spin up. My friends were  fear, no self confidence  and trauma. It was not an easy life period. Although I know that God is with me, but intimidation whispered louder than my faith, roaring  into the ear of my heart and mind. My pace was blocked.  It made me weak to move.

Amazingly, through the weakness,  I became very dependent on Him in my hopeless time.  He did not  suddenly give super human strength to me, but He recovered me by worked through my heart. Broken heart was finally cured and revealed. Slowly but sure,  new vision are formed, new habits are formed till it was strong enough for me to rise and spin up.  Since then (in 2004), I live in victory because of my dependent on Him.

VICTORY MEANS TO LEAVE THE PAST AND RUN TO THE FUTURE.

Whatever the failure was, it should not be a reason for us to become stagnant and unable to do anything about it.  Let us  not live in past failures.

In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s wife were mentioned that she turned into salt-pole when she was looking back. This also means when God prepare a way out for us, let us not look back to the past. If  we do, we will be “petrified”. Instead of  being stuck in sorrow and  fear, we must continue to learn to get up, motivate ourselves, lift our  head and look at one point where the  hope and future belong. We only live once, and the time will continue to run, do not be squandered. Are you ready to welcome the future?

Like when we write something on sand shore, when the water came washing the shore, the text will disappear and a new sand surfaced again. Supposedly that’s our mentality to failures in the past, leave and start new again. Forget the past … run on goal …. to a future full of hope. LET NOT CHOOSE TO BE A SALT-POLE.

Richly blessed,

a Better me,  a Better life

Note: this article is translated from its Indonesian version “Kemanakah Aku Harus Melangkah” at www.juelyjulie.com, posted 13th July 2011.

 

 

 

DO OTHERS HAPPIER THAN US?

In fact, the meaning of the word “satisfy” is  difficult to  understand by mankind. And, it  is getting worse, because a lot of great motivators who exist nowadays are mostly inspiring people to make money, more and more money. Books with the theme of “A Fast Way to Get RICH”  are well sold. Everyone seem to compete to each other  to reach the highest peak of success.

There is never enough, no satisfaction. Comparing life with others is motoring people to do better than others.  We ought to keep our garden greener than the neighbors have.  We forget the word and the meaning of “true happiness”. We consider that to have more means  happier, have more control means happier, have more knowledge means  happier. When and where this thing going to stop if there is more and more achievements to reach?

Yes, the pursuit of  successful has done nothing wrong in our life. Honestly it is a good way of living, as long as it is done without  forgetting  the other aspects of life. But  to the pursuit of happiness, we have to know what the true purpose of our lives, because every human is born with their own portion. Ask ourselves, what does really make us happy and feel complete, if  “rich” is the answer, then go on – continue the battle.

Sad but true,  a lot of people have  became very tired of life.  We look at other’s  life are better than ours, we sometimes want their life. We are struggling hard to be success, and don’t realize we are getting old and in the end find ourselves have nothing other than wealth. We lost a lot.

I boldly declared that happy is the point where we feel grateful and satisfied with anything we’ve had in our lives, and have the balance of physical and spiritual life.

Satisfaction can be reached by placing the right priorities, and with that we can enjoy everything to the fullest in everyday life, inside and out, body and soul.

The balance in the personal (the soul / spirit), for example:

• Faith believes in God
• Health
• Wisdom and knowledge.

Balance physically, for example:

• Family
• Career
• Ministry
• Community
• Hobby.

Remember, the most important of  a balance life is the  presence of God in us. Without Him, the soul was empty. The empty soul is obviously an unhappy soul.

Wealth, Success, Fame, Beauty, Ingenuity or the other great achievable thing are not be able to fully fill one’s heart. Discontentment would always encourage them to seek and find something to fill the vacancy.

A philosopher,  Pascal said, “In every human being there is an empty space created God and only He alone can fill.”

So, why not seek God first to fill us?  as an empty soul can not fully enjoy what they have, for example:

• rich  but unable to enjoy his wealth.
• famous and always surrounded by the masses, but feel lonely.
• beautiful but  not satisfied and never get enough to do surgery to be perfect beautiful.
• have a good spouse but  see other’s spouse are better.

Friends, we are  considered as the apple of HIS eyes. We are important creation of God. He never reject us as long as  we are open to Him, invite Him and allow Him to stay in us.

Satisfied in God to make us happy, make us feel  beautiful, makes us feel good and make us feel complete. Be thankful. Feeling good makes us happy.

People who are happy will not experience prolonged distress, although he lives in simple life, but always doing everything meaningfully. Happiness is not an emotion for a moment.  It is not judging from how hard we laughed, but it radiates from the inside out, and you’re sure can recognize it.

Invite Him into our life and be happy!

Thousands Blessing,

a better me, a better life

Note: this article is translated from its Indonesian version “Orang Lain Lebih Bahagia?” at www.juelyjulie.com, posted 09th July 2011.