“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”

–Psalm 126:5-6 [NIV]

Jesus once described the heart condition of men as soil. There are soil along path (hard soil), rocky places, soil among thorns, and good soil. The same thing actually happens inside our hearts. Many people do not guard their heart well so that when bad things happen in their lives and hurtful words came, they let their heart’s soil becomes dirty. That is why the Scriptures warn us to guard our heart above all else, for everything we do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23) What happen to the unguarded hearts? They become hardened. They are unable to respond to spiritual matter and being led astray to many other directions that will never give true satisfaction.

Jesus himself taught the Word of God in the midst of hardened and stiff-necked nation, Israel. The Pharisees and the scribes who had learned the Law the whole of their lives were indeed had the hardest hearts. Nevertheless God still love people like them.

Are you having difficulty to witness about Jesus in the midst of hardened people? Are you feeling that it’s hard to love them? The seeds of love are actually is in our hands. God has waiting for us to sow the seeds unto their hearts although it seems useless. As written in Psalm 126, we may sow with tears. It is not easy, but we sow as our act of faith by saying that nothing is impossible to God.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” –Ezekiel 36:26 [NIV]

The hardened heart is like the desert. The rainfall level is extremely low in the desert. Each time the rain falls can be regarded as miracle to people who live on it. One day, the rain (miracle) will fall unto the hearts of the people you have reached out and the seeds you have sown will have a chance to grow. But if you never sow on their hearts, even if the rain falls, the soil will only be merely empty soil without seeds. Nothing will ever grow out of it.

Many people wait for God’s miracle. They long for their family members to be saved, the bad characters of people we love to be changed, circumstances turn out to be better. But the miracle we actually need actually begin with the change of our hearts. Perhaps the person whom you pray for so long will never change until they die. But it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t work. He has worked in your heart so that you can have a heart full of love and forgiveness no matter what.

Keep waiting in the Lord with hope. There is no heart too hard for God to soften. But he wants to use your hands first to sow his seeds of love.

Sometimes the greatest miracle of all is the one that happens in your heart –Priscilla Shirer

 Blessings,

Leticia 

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.” –Psalm 20:7-8 [NIV]

There are moments in our lives when it’s hard to see hope and when faith fights with doubt. These moments of life can be called the darkness moment, the dreary winter, etc. It feels like everything we have planned so carefully is destroyed by unpredicted distraction. Or perhaps there is a chance that was opened widely before but suddenly the door is slammed right on our faces. Ouch! In this season, it really makes sense for us to think that God is unfaithful to his promises. Perhaps we are tempted to think, “God is so mean to me!” “If God is really good, he won’t let this happen to me.” But is it truly God mean for us? What is actually his plan when he suddenly closes a door in our lives? What does God really think when he makes us waiting for quite some time?

Firstly, we need to plant the truth into our minds, that God is forever good to us. Even when the circumstances try to convince us the opposite, we need to believe that God is good. The whole Bible can give you many testimonies regarding his goodness.

“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” -Exodus 34:6-7a

“And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” -Mark 10:18

Other times, we are too comfortable in our comfort zone that we forget to seek his face. In fact, most of us only seek him when we are in trouble which makes us grow the most in suffering. Thereby, the difficult times are times when we are called the most to seek God through prayer. Just like the sincerest gratitude often born when we have no reason to be grateful, the sincerest prayer usually is born out of adversity when we acknowledge how desperate we need God.

Sometimes God closes the door so that we can stop depending on humans’ strength whether our strength or other people’s and fully depend on him. Some other times, he closes the door to redirect our heart so that we place it at the right place. It is easy for us to love other things more than God in our good times. God knows that the safest place for our hearts are on his lap. He wants to protect us from things that can hurt us when we place our hearts at the wrong places.

God can close the door so that we learn to wait for his time. As the unripe food will taste not so delicious, people who are not ready yet to handle his blessings can only invite troubles. Even the right thing at the wrong timing can become the wrong thing. God always put attention more on inside of us rather than our circumstances. He concerns more to our characters rather than our look. Our holiness, than our pleasure. He loves us so much so that he won’t allow the right thing becomes the wrong thing simply because we are not ready yet.

There is no fix and absolute formula to explain what God is doing in our lives. God works in such a unique way in everyone’s life. But one thing for sure is that if it is God’s will, even the present closed door can one day be opened. Keep fighting and keep waiting for it. But if it is not God’s will and the door is opened for us, it will not be wise to keep going there. Not all the opened door is a chance for us. We can differentiate them as we maintain intimacy with God. God will show us his way step-by-step according to our ability. My prayer is that you might have longing to seek his face and his will in your current circumstances. Trust in the Lord, trust in his goodness. The dark moments is only a season, it will pass …

Don’t ask, “Why God?” but ask instead, “What do you want me to learn in this situation?” “God I don’t understand what you are doing now, but keep doing what you want to do.”

“The darkest moment is the biggest turning point in your life.”

Blessings,
Leticia

Photos by Voir Pictures

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” –Isaiah 41:10 [NIV]

Is there anything you are afraid of? Fear can be directed to various things, such as fear of heights, fear of poisonous snake, fear of darkness, fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of making wrong decision, and many more. We have natural tendencies to live by fear. But for some of us, the level of fear is so intense until it hinders and paralyzes us. Someone who has fear of failure may not be willing to try new things. Imagine how many opportunities would never be achieved unless he is bold enough to try. But on the other hand, the right amount of fear may help us on certain area. For example, fear of having car accident will motivate us to use seat belt and drive safely all the time. Hence, the problem lies not on the presence of fear itself, but its level of intensity and whether the object of our fear is right or not.

There are 365 verses on Bible which said, “Fear Not.” This is surely not a coincidence. God has designed His Words for every day in a year to be applied. But of course it is not something we can do instantly. But if we are willing to decide to get out of our comfort zone and face the fear day by day, God’s word will set you free eventually from fear.

We can be relax by knowing that God never gives us a command without sending the strength to do it. His command is accompanied by promise that he will always be with us.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” –Deuteronomy 31:8 [NIV]

You are never alone. God is always with you. God will fight for you, and what you need to do is enjoying his presence [Exodus 14:14].

One of the sources of our fears is because we depend more in ourselves rather than on God. Those who are mature in the Lord will learn to depend their lives more on him instead of their own. Fear is actually the situation where we are lacking of the right faith unto God. Today, God reminds us that, “I am with you, why should you fear?” Nothing is impossible for God. Whatever now that seems impossible to you, God is able to change it. He sends you this message only: “Fear not.”

As you walk with God, you will find that the more you trust in God, your fear will be more directed to the right things. God is faithful. When he gives you his guidance, he will also give you the strength to do it. Do not be afraid with enemy’s intimidation, but be afraid that the enemy has no fear to you because you do nothing to expand God’s Kingdom.

We cannot expect to have no fear at all, but we can press through the fear whenever it shows up and choose boldly to do the right things.

Fear not the attack of Satan,

but fear that you never make his hit list.

Fear not the unknown, but fear that you never learn what is beyond the unknown.

Fear not trials and tribulation, fear a life of ease.

Fear not the God haters, but fear the God himself.

Fear not that your messages are not good,

but fear that your messages are not of God.

Fear not what men say about you,

fear what God would say about you.

Fear not attempting something great for God and failing,

but fear rather attempting little things for God and succeeding.

Do not live a life free from fear, but live a life fearing the right things –Richard Crisco

Blessings,

Leticia

Photos by Angga Permana Photo

Bedtime stories are usually being opened by, “Once upon a time …” and ended by, “… and they lived happily ever after.” Happy ending is everyone’s dream. But here is the good news: happy ending doesn’t belong only to the fairy tale world. Our beloved God also has promised us a happy ending. The Scripture has conveyed the ending of all incidents that happen in this world.

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” –Revelation 21:4 [NIV]

When you cry, God cries. He understands your present sufferings. But keep on hoping, because you have assurance that all these things will pass away. Do not give up with the problems that life offers to you.

“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” –Isaiah 59:1 [NIV]

Many people ask, “Why did the missionaries who lived for the Lord died tragically? Why didn’t they experience a happy ending?” The truth is, what we see as ‘tragic’ may not be ‘tragic’ in God’s eyes. Jim Elliot was a committed missionary who always aimed to please the Lord, not people. His soul was utterly on fire to share the gospel to those who never heard of it. His enthusiasm found interest to reach the Aucas in Sourth America who had never heard the gospel at all. After carefully planned everything, in January 1956, Jim and the other four missionaries landed successfully on the riverside of Curacay, east of Equador. But two days later, they were speared to death by the very own tribe they would minister, Aucas.

Didn’t it seem like a sad ending? But their death becomes like seeds, which died but at the end produce many fruits for the gospel to spread. Jim’s wife, Elisabeth Elliot, together with the other missionaries’ wives, forgave and came to minister to the tribe who killed their husbands. Many people of Aucas eventually received Christ as their own savior.

Perhaps you are not called in mission field as some people do. But today, God is speaking that wherever you are, no matter how difficult is your situation, God is not finished with you yet. There are a lot of things God wants to work in your life. If you are not satisfied where you are ended now, then it means that it is not the ending. There is always a hope to those who wants to hope. What you are going through now can become just like the seeds die but at the end they become much more fruitful and become blessings for many. Endure the current process with God and God will reveal his beautiful plan for you step by step.

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” –John 12:24 [NIV]

The happy ending we long for is not just what has been reserved for us in heaven. God is also able to create happy ending on this earth. For those who walk in God’s ways, happy ending can happen. But keep in mind that it may not happen as what we think of, but as what God intends to be.

If it is not happy, then it is not the ending.

God is not finished with you.

Love,
Leticia

Photos by Jennifer Phelps Photography

We all have experienced brokenness at some point in our lives. Either it is a broken heart from relationship, broken dreams, broken family, broken financially, and so on. The truth is .. we live in a broken and fallen world. No wonder that there are things in our lives which inevitably hurt us. But here is the good news .. God is able to use your brokenness and turn it around to become His greatest glory!

In brokenness season, there is a tendency for us to respond it with either self-pity or bitterness. Self-pity is a feeling that we are the most pitiful person in this world. It is seeing that there is nothing good in our lives and we mourn over it all the time. When self-pity overwhelms us, it is hard to see the fingers of God in our current situation. It seems like we are in a very big problem but cannot see any way out. That’s why we can only mourn over it. Self-pity seems harmless on its very first stage. It seems so natural to pity ourselves for all the calamities that happen to us. And it may feels … good. But what we don’t realize is … it gives the devil a foot hold in our hearts. It is like a seed of cancer which keeps spreading all over our bodies. There will come a point where we have no ability to be thankful at all to our beloved Creator. It causes us losing our joy, and eventually makes us us losing our strength. ” … Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). Thereby, as natural as it may seem, self-pity should not linger even for a second in our lives. The cure for self-pity is simply shifting our concerns from ‘self’ to ‘others’. If you desire a compassion, give a compassion to others. If you want to be loved, give love to others. If you want to be comforted, bring comfort to those who mourn. It may sounds weird, but God really gives more abundantly to a cheerful giver.

The other ‘natural’ response to brokenness season is by being bitter. Our hearts does not become bitter automatically when people hurt us. Bitterness is our choice. No one can affect our hearts’ condition unless we allow them to. In every situation we can always choose whether we will be ‘bitter’ or ‘better’. The fact is, I never see any bitter person is thankful nor a thankful person bitter. It may sounds strange, but thankfulness is the medicine to bitterness. “Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:18) Of course, give thanks in the midst of trouble will be so unnatural for us. Some even do it just with a burdened heart simply because they have to (for example they try to obey God). But here is the view point. It is a matter of acknowledging His goodness in our present trouble. Yes, we can admit to God that, “I don’t understand it Lord. But I still believe in your purpose. Keep doing on what You do.” It’s a whole different perspective which can set us free from a bitter heart. Another important key to be free is releasing forgiveness for those who hurted us. It’s difficult and it will take time. But if we are willing to forgive, there is a hope. 

We need to be sensitive on asking God instead of “Why God?” but “What do you want me to learn from this?” God is in control. He never allows circumstances occur in our lives without any purpose. If you have prayed and nothing changes, maybe God wants to change you first. Instead of seeing the ugly sides of other people and circumstances, ask humbly to the LORD to help you see your own heart’s condition. Is there any unwillingness to forgive and reconcile? Is there any bitterness? God is more than willing to reveal your heart and His plan for you as you come in humbly before Him.

Though it is hard to comprehend, but brokenness season is the only place where we can truly know who God is. It is the only season where we can truly feel His presence in a very intimate way. As someone says, “God does not promise you explanations about everything, but He promises you to walk through the pain.” It is a place where depending upon God is the only choice we have. And that in the end leads us to a deeper relationship with Him.  “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Shouldn’t it all that matters in this life?

As illogical as it sounds, God uses people who are ‘weak’. People who acknowledge that they are nothing without their God. People who come humbly upon Him and surrender their independence to become fully dependent to Him alone. Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” And sometimes, it takes a series of circumstances to bring us up to this point. Peter was being broken for his failure by denying Christ three times. He wept bitterly. Yet God touched his brokenness by asking “Do you love me?” three times (John 21:15-17) and in the end God used him so powerfully to preach the good news. The fact is, we simply cannot be broken where things are running so good in our lives, can we? Be glad if God breaks your heart right now, for it always meant for a greater purpose beyond your imagination. Yes, you cannot see it now, but one day you will, and you will be amazed.

Today,if you are in brokenness season, I believe that God wants to speak comfort for you. “For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” If a desert can be turned to become a garden in the hands of God, than your brokenness is more than able to be used to  proclaim His glory too. It will be just like a dream, but God’s promise will come true as we respond to our brokenness correctly. Do not harbor anger, self-pity, nor bitterness in this season. Just offer your sacrifice of a broken heart, sincerely trusting God, and offer thanksgiving for His goodness. As you respond in God’s ways, you will be more likely to end up in God’s plan. 

“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the Repairer of the Broken Walls, the restorer of streets to dwell in.” (Isaiah 58:10-12)

One day, in the midst of your current ruins, God will built a new home. He is the ultimate Repairer of Broken Walls, broken soul, broken hearts. He is the ultimate healer. If you respond correctly, pouring your life to serve others instead of focusing on your own wounds, releasing forgiveness, and willing to surrender to God, this will be your destiny. God is more than able to heal the broken hearts, if you give Him all the pieces.

Blessings,

Leticia

Photos by Baby Axioo Photography