Easter This Year (2020)

Easter this year 

we stay home
with breakfast and a laptop
for Easter Sunday service

Easter this year
we stay home
with lunch for three
with no other family members

Easter this year
we stay home
when we go out
keep social distancing

Easter this year
we stay home
with special hope
no more Covid-19 patients reported

Easter this year

we stay home

with special prayers

for the nation, the world, and the front line teams

Easter this year
we stay home
hoping something special happen
God will show us another rainbow

Amen!

Saturday, April 11, 2020

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Thinking about several things that have not been done but I'm relief all the things I need to do today for my daughter's school are done: communicating with teachers, counselors, etc. She is ready for next Monday: the 4th Marking Period will begin.
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Our New Family Activity

Since last early August 2017, I had an initiative to bring my husband and our youngest daughter to gather and read the bible. We started from the Old Testament: Genesis that contains 50 chapters.

  This is one of my dreams. I had been waiting since my youngest daughter was able to read very well and prayed The Lord Prayer by herself. This initiative grew stronger since my youngest daughter told me she wanted to have bible study last year but I could not find any place of bible study for teenagers around our neighborhood. We have to wait till she is in the High School. They have extracurricular for bible study.
We use NKJV Study Bible--my gift for my husband years ago. This bible is the first publication. I got a special offer from the publisher which was free and only paid for $1 for shipping and handling. This bible is very special as we begin to open the pages one by one. It features presentation page (for every page we read); NKJV test with center-column references; 15,000 expository study notes; 350 word focus word study keyed to strong's concordance; 100 in-depth articles; 80 quick view charts; 8 full bible summary sections; 78 maps with index; subject index to annotation and features; 195-page concordance, and much more. My husband loves it! By reading together, we have time to discuss an interesting topic, especially for our youngest daughter. She has curiosity for many things.
Last Sunday was special because my husband asked to have a special time to read his favorite verses (Psalm 23: 1-6) and pray to confess his sin before we started to read. We also prayed for our son, William, who was still in the ICU at that time.
I thanked God for that special time. I hope our activity will grow well and it will bring us closer to interact with our creator and know him better. Below I enclose my husband's favorite verses:

The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

1The Lord is Ps. 78:52; 80:1; (Is. 40:11); Ezek. 34:11, 12; (John 10:11; 1 Pet. 2:25; Rev. 7:16, 17)my shepherd;

(Ps. 34:9, 10; Phil. 4:19)I shall not want.

2Ps. 65:11–13; Ezek. 34:14He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

(Rev. 7:17)He leads me beside the still waters.

3He restores my soul;

Ps. 5:8; 31:3; Prov. 8:20He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of Job 3:5; 10:21, 22; 24:17; Ps. 44:19the shadow of death,

(Ps. 3:6; 27:1)I will fear no evil;

Ps. 16:8; (Is. 43:2)For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5You Ps. 104:15prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You Ps. 92:10; Luke 7:46anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. ~~***~~ If you're interested to subscribe to this blog, please click the green sign below and follow its instruction.  Subscribe!
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Thank you family and friends for your support and prayers for our son, William, who is still hospitalized at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a strong young man. He had double lung transplant 6 years ago and now is battling his cancer. I believe his strength, faith, and determination are the powerful medicine to fight his cancer and God will use other special tools (doctors, nurses, medicine, treatments, etc. including family members) for healing. AMEN!

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LENT MEDITATION: Beloved Is Where We Begin

 I got this from Episcopal Church of the Trinity.  

Beloved Is Where We Begin
If you would enter into the wilderness, do not begin without a blessing.   Do not leave without bearing who you are: Beloved, named by the One who has traveled this path before you   Do not go without letting it echo in your ears, and if you find it is hard to let it into your heart, do not despair. That is what this journey is for   I cannot promise this blessing will free you from danger, from fear, from hunger or thirst, from the scorching of sun or the fall of the night.   But I can tell you that on this path there will be help. I can tell you that on this way there will be rest.   I can tell you that you will know the strange graces that come to our aid only on a road such as this, that fly to meet us bearing comfort and strength, that come alongside us for no other cause than to lean themselves toward our ear and with their curious insistence whisper our name:   Beloved.  Beloved.  Beloved     by Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace.   ***     If you're interested to subscribe to this blog, please click the green sign below and follow its instruction.    Subscribe!
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Getting back on my track after "hurricane": 
- 50% done reviewing;
- Done writing Cover Letter. My husband helped to review it.  
Tonight I'll write my Author Background. Tomorrow I'll write my Publication History.
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Journey Beyond Easter

As like Christmas, Easter is one of important parts of our Savior's journey and for us to celebrate as Christians.  We celebrate Life! The winning of life! The implementation in our life to share with others is simple. It is how others see us in our daily life. To fulfill this vision we need to act. According one of the sources I read today, Christianbook.com mentions:  * Nourish our soul and mind Our Daily Bread helps me to be reminded everyday. Using online ODB in Indonesian, my soul and mind are renewed again. Reading books is also one of the smart choices. My lunch time at work is the perfect time to do this. One more thing: singing/praise Him or listening the worship songs. * Study the Word It has been answered above. Attending Sunday service and listen the sermon. I always encourage my little daughter to attend Sunday school and other activities that connects with her growing Christianity life: 5 Life every month and Camp Good News every summer. If there is Bible study available, I'll send her there too.  * Grow together Going to church together, praying together, sharing together, watching His story together, and any activities that can build our Christianity life I'll do it with my family and close friends.  * Teach our kids about Him I read what my little daughter read: The Bible adventure. I have trained her since she started to read independently (Second grade). I gave her as Christmas present and till now she is still reading it. We read and pray. Our Father in Heaven prayer is a must prayer said before going to sleep.  * Remember the cross This is not an easy part. As we struggle in many things happened in our life, it is the right moment to remember the cross. We are not alone. He has carried us on her back. He bears our burdens and sets us free. (Thank you God)

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God, please, help me to learn what you want me to do to follow your steps so I won't be outside of the lines from what you have planned. If I may ask, could you please show me if my plans are as same as yours? about 1 minute ago from web

Still Standing

I have been having cough since in the beginning of April 2013.  It was the stupidest thing I ever did.  I dusted basement without wearing mask.  After finished, I had cough right away.  On Thursday in this week I'll have an appointment to see doctor.  I hope everything will be fine.  It has filled my mind, so worried about my cough and other health problem meanwhile I'm still busy with my work, my online activities, and my study.  It seems I will be late to finish my study by the end of June or before the end of summer.  I scheduled for 7 months but it seems it would be late till 8-9 months.  That's OK: slowly but I'm sure I'll get great result.

This afternoon I got a new blessing.  Still Standing, a song by Israel Houghton gave me the strength.  Day by day, month by month, year by year, the temptations never stop and we have to face them--like or unlike. When I said to my friend, "What God will give me in this year or next year? You can't imagine how tired to face them every year."  And she replied, "I pray this year.  It will be the blessing year for you and family."

That was a very sweet thought.  Thank you.

The devotional message on last Sunday mentioned: We still stand is not because we are strong but he sustain us. (Amen)

Still Standing by Israel Houghton

Verse One: You gave me courage to believe that all your goodness I will see 
and if it had not been for you standing on my side where would I be

Chorus: If not for your goodness, if not for your grace, I don't know where I would be today
 if not for your kindness I never could say I'm still standing
if not for your mercy, if not for your love, I most likely would have given up
 if not for your favor I never could say I'm still standing but by the grace of God

Verse Two: To you I lift my offering and set my heart on higher things for if it had not been for you standing on my side where would I be

Vamp: I'm still standing, I'm standing, I'm still standing but by the grace of God (*)

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Done one test yesterday night. I got 100% after little disappointed for getting 75% for other test last week. about 1 minute ago from web

It Was On Palm Sunday

As I was so tired and decided not to go to church on last Palm Sunday, I planned to do just simple things at home.  Although my schedule to finish my writing was postponed, I had done one more schedule for my studying. While I spent not too long on the computer, I took a special time to do exercises with my little daughter in the evening, accompanied by Burlesque--by Jazzercise. We started to follow the movements as we watched on DVD and had fun together.  She was stop doing the exercises when the forth music just began, but I kept going meanwhile she watched me and played with her toy on my moving chair.  That was so cute as I knew that exercises took a lot of her energy, hehehe.... As the night came.  After taking shower, she chose a piece of reading cards of Bible Adventure and read it aloud.  The story was about David and Goliath.  I told her it was my favorite story in the Bible from the Old Testament. As she had just finished praying, I reread a last message on the last card: "Remember that bravery is not about how big you are, but how much you believe in yourself."  Thanks God, she has learned something from that story as David was brave because he knew God was with him when he was afraid, but God gave him the strength.  With only small tools (sling and stone) he could make a giant soldier, Goliath from Philistines fell to the ground.  She learned something that God could use anything for His Glory.

http://www.watchgmctv.com/jesus

As it was on Palm Sunday, my husband also put us on the movie, The Greatest Story of The Bible: Jesus.  It made me stay on the couch and watch it until finished while he and our little daughter went to bed.  I told him it was the most movie I like about Jesus because they picked the right character about Jesus.  I used to watch the character of Jesus was a calm person, and other kinds like that, but in that movie, he was just RIGHT, shown his character as a normal human and the son of God. I love it!  I think the director of this movie is a very intelligent and detail person.  It reminds me how I would write every character in my writing.  At that time I could not wait to take my notebook and continuing my writing, sit down many hours, many days, many weeks, and many months to finish the whole story of my second book of the Enthusiasm saga. (*) If you're interested to subscribe to this blog, please click the green sign below and follow its instruction. Subscribe!


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Habits Die Hard

Habits—good or bad—are difficult to break. Aristotle said it best: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act...it's a habit."  
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me.
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed; just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.  (Habits Die Hard by  Mac Anderson & John J. Murphy)   Today I celebrate "the habits".  Habits are shaped since we were child.  That's why the parents are the important element to shape their children habits.   Yesterday I kissed my little daughter many times as she showed me something that she was able to pray "Our Father In Heaven" without reading its text.  I was so happy.  She did it in just around two months!  It happens because of one reason: her mom has planted a habit to her to read its text almost every night before she goes to sleep.   She smiled and knew that she had made herself and her mom soooooo happy.  Thank you, God for the small thing I've taught to her. (*)   If you're interested to subscribe to this blog, please click the green sign below and follow its instruction.   Subscribe!



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In Memory of My Late Father and Brother: Gift From Max Lucado

Two days ago, January 31, was 40 days of my late father, Imam Sujono.  I finally decided to make bolu kukus (steamed cupcakes) before going to work.  My husband and my little daughter like it.  When I went home from work, there were only five left on the cake platter.  It gave me big smile to know they both like it.

One thing that I wanted to do at that time was going to visit his grave, and of course my brother's grave, too. But what can I do?  . . .

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and could not sleep anymore.  Around an hour staying on the bed, I decided to read.  A book from Max Lucado entitled God's Promises For You--a Christmas present from my son last year--had taken my interest to read it. One of the verses I read had touched my heart and reminded me about the strength from God.  I could not hold my tears anymore.  I just let it go down and down on my cheeks, but I had to hold my voice not to come up so it would not bother anybody who was sleeping.

I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens.  I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens . . . I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13) ***    

Bolu kukus (steamed cupcakes)

Bubur ketan hitam (black sticky rice with coconut milk sauce)
I made when celebrating 40 days of my late brother, Agus Prihandoko.
(I still don't believe if he's gone forever and ever. I still keep crying every time  I remember him, including when reading every post that mentions his name in this blog)

And below is an Indonesian Cyber Radio's small banner I just knew it several days ago via FB after its founder, Relie, posted a message on his wall.  I have been entertained by listening the songs through this link.  Now I'm waiting for any Indonesian Christian Cyber Radio.  Does anybody know if  it's one there in Indonesia?  Please, let me know. Thank you. ***

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Happy Easter

Dear Family and Friends,

Easter Means Eternal Life

A perfect God demands a perfect justice;
He cannot let us get away with sin.
We used God’s gift of our free will to trespass,
So heaven’s gates were closed; we couldn’t get in.

Our sin required our blood, a sacrifice,
To atone for all the wrongs that we had done.
"But I love them!" cried our Father, filled with sorrow;
"I’ll send my only Son to be the one."

Good Friday marks the slaying of our Jesus,
The unblemished lamb, the perfect sacrifice.
He took our guilt and blame upon Himself,
So we could be with Him in paradise.

On Easter morning, he came back from death;
He vanished from the tomb, the empty grave.
His resurrection means eternal life
For us, the ones he came to earth to save.

This summarizes all the Easter story
And because of it, we’ll be with Him in glory.

By Joanna Fuchs


Happy Easter from Fida Abbott and family


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Happy Easter everyone!
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REFLECTION (4): Two Days Before Christmas

Celebrating Four Years of My Car Accident
Today, December 23, I celebrated the 4th year of my big car accident by posting the pictures of my damage cars below as a reminder for all drivers of any kinds of vehicle they're driving.

Photographs by Grand Sport Auto Body


This is a link if you would like to read its story in English and this is a link if you would like to read it in Indonesian as I wrote an article at KabarIndonesia entitled "Sabuk Pengamanku" (My Safety Belt).

Four years ago I had a car accident. A big trailer truck hit my left car when I turned right in the green light. I just finished turning and would like to straight my car and suddenly "brakkk!!" I had no idea where that truck was coming from because when I did turning, I didn't see any vehicle on other left side and also it was red light for that line. I didn't want to retell again that story but I just would like to remember something that I need to share here.

When I got the report paper from the Police Officer, it didn't mention the truth. They said that after the accident, I didn't know anything (the statement from the Police Officer) and I was driving in other line (the statement from the truck driver).

As the route 30 I went through has speed limit 55 miles/hour. And I knew that truck drove over that limit and went through the red light. I was sure because it was too fast, he could not control his stirring wheels. You can see that damage!!! Even the stupid person would know that damage could not happen for the vehicle that run under 55 miles/hour. My car spinned many times so fast and finally hit the right curb. Thanks God, there wasn't any other vehicle behind me. I could not imagine if its condition was opposite. The police officer was a woman and she just came to me asking my driver license without asking anything.

You can imagine how I felt at that time when reading that report. My body at that time still had many brushes and my head still felt something--not right. Imagining my condition after that accident, in three days I was in pain badly, my head was so heavy and I could not sit or stand directly because it made me dizzy or something I could not describe. I thanked to my car insurance who had responsible for all medical expenses, even gave some money and we used it for buying other second hand car.

My husband and I went to a lawyer but we had to close my case two years later because of some reasons: I didn't show any problem as the result of that accident after two years of that accident, there was no evidence when it was happened, the report put me in the wrong place that mentioned I was driving in the wrong line and I didn't know anything after that accident-- which they weren't true.

When reading that report I really wanted to scream and meet them both--the police officer and the truck driver. I wanted to hear from them why they lied. I wanted to cry but I could not. My heart was really hurt. But something I had to learn at that time, I should forgive them. It wasn't easy for me but I had learned and I could. That made me happier because I was sure God would bless me abundantly by giving them forgiveness. And when I was feeling that, I was sure they both had gotten what they had done to me. God is fair!! I believe that!!

That car accident four years ago was my Christmas present--I thought. I thanked God for that so I would be more carefully when driving everywhere. I thanked God, He had saved me. I thanked God I was still alive and be with my family, especially for my little daughter who still needed me. I thanked God, I got the good service from my car insurance. I thanked God I got other car--bigger car than before. I thanked God I didn't lie. I thanked God I could forgive them.

And also I've learned two things from that accident:

1. What do I thank for in Christmas this year??? Have I prayed to the people who have sent the Christmas card/Christmas wishes to me?? . . .

2. If any of us still have hurt feeling to other family members, friends, coworkers, etc, would we forgive them??? If it seems so hard for us doing it, ask HIM to help us in doing it. He will make us able to do it--and we can celebrate Christmas this year with full of PEACE and JOY. Amen.(*)

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