Should You Choose To Accept This Mission....

I grew up watching Mission Impossible. The moments the agent is presented with the new cases are my favorite part. 'Should you choose to accept this mission.....' And followed by the infamous theme song. Awesome!

I went to watch 'Ghost Protocol' and had so much fun. A combination of childhood memory, amazing stunts, smart plot and cool gadgets.

Impossible Mission Force. When we believe in Jesus, we are automatically drafted into Jesus-IMF team. Seriously. We are in this world but not of this world. We are called to be salt and light in the dark. We are like lambs in the midst of wolves. We are fighting against enemies we cannot see with our own eyes. We are to forgive those who persecute us. We are to love our enemies. We are to rejoice when we face adversity. We have to be a servant among those we lead. And these are just some of the examples.

A very interesting verse in John 12:25 says 'Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life'

Impossible if we do all of that without Holy Spirit to guide us. How could one hates his or her life? Revelation12:11  also states 'they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death'...

Amazing. We all are called to be God's agents of change in His own impossible mission force, to bring light in this dark world, to shine like stars with His love, with no fear of death.

Christmas is just a day away, and I am amazed by one of God's special agent. Her name is Mary. A young virgin girl who was chosen to cary baby Jesus in her womb. God was silent for 400 years until the day Gabriel paid Mary a visit. She was given a mission that would caused her to be rejected, despised and even killed. Mission Impossible. But in her humility and faith, she obeyed.

I could just imagine Gabriel said to her : Your mission, agent Mary, should you choose to accept it, involves you being pregnant and giving birth to a son. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

And Mary accepted her mission.

When I watched Ghost Protocol, I thought, wow...they have the coolest gadgets! But, actually...we do too. 

We have the Holy Spirit, The Word of God, Blood of Jesus, the Covenant, Sword of the Spirit, and Paul explains to us that we all should put on our full armor of God that would put out the fiery darts from our enemies. Most of all, we have the power of prayer and relationship with God. 

Even though the whole world is out to get us, we are linked with the Maker of the heaven and the earth. He called us to be His agents. He gave us amazing gadgets. And He is Immanuel. He will always be with us. He never leaves us, and never even slumbers.

IMF Agents in Ghost Protocol had no plan, no back up, no choice. We on the other hands, are the beloved agents of God's IMF. Our God cannot be shot dead. Our gadgets will never ran out of battery. Our mission may cost us sweat, blood and tears, but we have been declared 'victorious' even before we began.

So beloved agents, should you choose to accept this mission, you will have to build a solid relationship with Jesus through prayers and The Word. You would go into a war between good and evil, where you may stumble and fall. Your partner, The Holy Spirit will help you and guide you to fulfill your mission. He will never leave you nor forsake you. May The Lord Your God be your award and satisfaction.

Your Fellow Agent,
Astrid Suryatenggara

By Sight and By Heart

Why do we close our eyes when we pray?
Why do we choose the darkness when we cry?
Why do we shut our lids when we dream?
What happen when we open our eyes?
Reality bites?
Truth hurts?
Facts are worse than fictions?

I used to live in my own imaginary world.
I thought nothing will surpasses my dreams.
I believed my fantasies are grandeur than my realities.
I slumbered in my unfulfilled and unseen visions

Then Jesus came....
He opened my eyes...
He overcame my fear....
He held me as I walked in reality
He believed in my dreams, visions and realities

He took me out of the pit and placed me on solid rock
He crawled with me to help me see
He pulled me from invisibility to invincibility

I opened my eyes and see
The most beautiful things in life
Which are not seen, but felt by heart..
I opened my eyes and see
The reality that win over my inability
I opened my eyes and see
The Truth that has captured my vision and my reality

Only You Lord....whom I can see both with shut and opened lids. Only You Lord...whom I can see and feel with sight and heart.

By heart and sight I follow You...
The Way, Truth, Life ever more...

(November 2011, AS)

Christmas...

This season, we celebrate the birth of our King of kings.....the reason for this season. Up until I'm writing this note, I have been invited to three different Christmas celebration and one Christmas tree decorating party.

I was asked to sing at Women of Faith ministry's Christmas. I sang. I cried. When I picked the song, I didn't know that the Holy Spirit was trying to teach me something.

I chose a song based on Isaiah 9:6 'For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.'

Beloveds, have you lived your life without knowing that you have a God who is always ready to counsel you, a Father who unconditionally loves you, and a Prince of peace who will lift you up above the storms in your life.

He was, is and even more real than I have ever expected Him to be. He implicitly, beautifully, though invisibly yet invincible in counseling me, guiding me, loving me and giving me the real Peace that no one and nothing in this world could offer.

Who would've thought that I could still stand firm and sing of His great love to me. I feel YOU Christmas, I found You in Your grace and mercy.

I was also invited to a Christmas tree decorating party. It was so much fun. God literally took me out of my pit of sin and shame, pursued me and placed me in His arms. I feel like I am indeed a new woman.

Are you broken right now? He truly is the reason for this season. To bring you Joy in reminding you that He was here on earth for God so loved the world, for God is so in love with you.

Are you fearful right now? Call unto the Wonderful Counselor who would not for a second condemn or blame you, but would wrap His mighty hands around you, secure you and show which way to take.....

Are you rejected and abandoned? There is a reason why He was born in a manger my dear. He knows how you feel. He wants you to focus unto Him and only Him. His love is more than enough for you. Though not often tangible, His love is even more real that visible reality.

Christmas season is here. Not about the gifts and parties. But....about a love like none other, that would change a mess into His message, a test into His testimony, a trial into triumph and most of all a victim into a victor.

Merry Christmas my beloveds, let us spread the Christmas spirit and live for His glory....

God loves you, I do too....
Astrid
--sent from Astrid S®'s mailroom--

Legacy of Integrity

By the grace of God, I have a chance to be taught by Dr Chris Marantika. He is one unique man of God. Coming from a very limited background, he has emerged and still emerging in his 72 years of age as a history maker for His Majesty's glory. Amazed....

72 years old man, sharper than any of us in the classroom. Mind faster than my 33 years old brain.

A man with integrity and love for the lost.

Were Leaders Born or Made?

Centuries ago, in the ages of Kings and Queens, leaders are determined by blood line, heritage and ownership. In the process of modern civilization, there has been a shift where people appointed their leaders based on their ability and affluences especially in times of major crisis.

We are all made by God's perfect image, we are also spiritually the sons and daughters of the King of kings. We are all born to be leaders, yet we are also made to be leaders by our circumstances and communities.

Where we come from is not as important as where we are going, nonetheless we pick up things along the way that would shape us either as leaders or as followers.

Whether it is by nature or nurture, we are all created as leaders within ourselves. Born and made.

At any given point in our lives, we shall be either a leader, a follower or even both at the same time in different circumstances. In a household, a school, a company, a church, a community and even in a nation. The discussion surrounded on how we became leaders should only be highlighted with the fact that during our lives here on earth, we have led others towards Christ. Leaders who lead by example on how Christ has regarded our helpless estate and shed His blood for us all.

God bless,
Astrid Suryatenggara


--sent from Astrid S®'s mailroom--

Never Asked For

I never asked for big diamond rings
Nor a fancy car
Nor a palace..
But I asked God for
A vision ..a purpose...a mission
That is only His for me to
See...have...do.

I pursue no worldly rich
Nor fame and fortune
But ,Yes, I pursue after my Father's heavenly treasures
And my King's pleasures

I enjoy no glamours of the world
Nor its promises and kindness
I just want to enjoy being in my Father's bosom
To hear every beat of His merciful heart
That never ceases to say "I LOVE YOU"

(~by antaresa hendita, kemang, nov 16,2011~)

Persembahanku Bagi Tuhanku

Puisi HUT Pdt. Antaresa Hendita

Persembahanku Bagi Tuhanku

Detak jantungku menjerit 'Aku mencintaiMu'

Detup yang menggema keras menggoncang tubuhku

Renung merambang di pikiranku rindu untuk mengenalMu

Bergerak cepat mencari dan menggapaiMu

Yesus, cinta sejatiku

Hatiku rindu berjumpa denganMu

Menyentuh tangan yang telah menjamah mengubah hatiku

Membenamkan diriku dalam pelukanMu

Beristirahat di dadaMu

Mendengar kelembutan suaraMU yang memanggil dan mengangkatku menjadi milikMu

Memandang kedalaman mataMu yang tidak pernah berhenti menjagaku

Kapan aku bisa menjumpaiMu, Penebusku?

Yang mencintaiku dengan kekekalan cinta

Yang sabar menantiku untuk mengerti

Yang menerimaku apa adanya namun tidak pernah membiarkan aku seadanya

Kapan aku bisa bersamaMu, Tuhan dan Rajaku?

Kan kubawa persembahanku

Tidak beragam ataupun banyak

Namun persembahan terbaik untukMu

Indah, nikmat dan harum bagi inderaMu

Menyenangkan hatiMu

Aku menanti, aku percaya...

Suatu hari nanti Yesus...

Aku percaya

Amin

(Original Poem By Pdt Antaresa Hendita titled 'My Offering to My Lord', translated by Astrid Suryatenggara)