Marina Naomi Permatasari

I love you freely.

noreply@blogger.com (Marina Naomi Permatasari) — Sat, 11 May 2024 05:11:00 -0700

I love u freely.

I love you without expectations.

I love you freely.

I love you without requesting anything.

I love you freely.

I love you without asking why.

I love you freely.

I love you without debating why we cant be together.

I love you freely.

I love you without judgment.

I love you freely.

I love you strong enough to let you go.

The Journey of Israel

noreply@blogger.com (Marina Naomi Permatasari) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 01:34:00 -0700

Hello Friends,

It's been a while since I last wrote a blog, but I promise you that from this day onward, I will resume writing. Hope you are blessed :)

As Christians, it is a strong desire to reach the promised land. However, many factors can cause this desire to wane, one of which is the cost. I want to testify to God's goodness and His faithfulness in fulfilling everything He has promised.

On August 16, 2012, God allowed me to visit the Promised Land, Jerusalem, with my second family (Coolers). Before I embarked on this journey, God taught me many things. I'm not referring to the amount of money I possessed; honestly, as a college student, $2500 was a significant sum for me.

A few months prior to my trip, God gave me a verse to meditate on:

"But for now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 The Message)

In this verse, three things are emphasized: trusting steadily in God, unwavering hope, and extravagant love. Developing unwavering faith, maintaining hope, and practicing unconditional love were indeed challenging for me, especially when faced with circumstances contradicting my faith. Yet, through prayer, praise, and worship, my faith was strengthened, enabling me to embark on this journey to the promised land.

God continually teaches me the importance of unwavering hope. He reminds me daily to cling steadfastly to Him, making me acutely aware that every moment is incomplete without His presence.

Regarding unconditional love, the Lord Jesus has taught me the essence of giving. While sometimes the desire to receive more arises when I give, I've come to understand that true giving is selfless, devoid of any expectation. I give simply because I love the Lord.

After undergoing these three processes, on August 9, 2012, I received a letter confirming that God had provided for my trip to Israel. Though I may not comprehend the means, one thing is certain: the Lord Jesus never fails to fulfill His promises.

Visiting Israel transcends mere financial capacity; it is about our longing and our relationship with God, which transforms the impossible into reality. I firmly believe that just as God graciously afforded me this opportunity, He will also provide and open doors for you.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9 NIV)

Below are some pictures from my journey:

(I will provide a review of each place I visited in Israel, so stay tuned. Catch you very soon :D)

Dome of the Rock's view from Dominus Flevit
Garden of Gethsemane
Church at Cana
Front view at the City of David
The Baptismal Site on the Jordan River
Sea of Galilee
Hill at Tiberias

True Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Marina Naomi Permatasari) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:22:00 -0700

Beautiful..Is the one word that could be a dream of every woman in the world, isn't it? Many women do a lot things to beautify herself, don't they?

Yep .. the fact tell me that it's may occur ... but what exactly is the meaning behind the word of "beauty" that make women tying to get it ..???

True Beauty came from God's. This happened to one of the biblical figure named Esther. She is the prettiest girl among a lot of pretty girls who gathered of King Ahasuerus at the Susan castle. The question here is why she can be the prettiest?

1.Holiness

"Then the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king." (Esther 2:2)

Virgins means holiness. A holy life can be obtained when we do not be conformed to the world and not living in sin. The first thing we can do to maintain holiness is ask God to forgiveness for all sin and committed to not doing it anymore.

2. Obedience

"Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so." (Esther 2 :10)

We as humans should obey the firm and His will. Because when we obey, then there is a tremendous blessing granted by Him. Blessing in this way to form the abundant life, full of peace and joy, or even multiplication and promotion :)

3. Surrender and Be a Different.. Esther looks surrender when he did not ask for anything when allowed to see the King.

"When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her." (Esther 2 : 15)

Different things happen to other girls who always give the request when it is allowed to see the king.

"When it was time for her to go to the king's palace, she was given her choice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem." (Esther 2 : 13)

Esther's surrender also shows that as a woman she has something different. To obtain true beauty, a woman must be able to become agent of change and be a different from that existing in the world. Because of difference in her (Esther) , not only all the people who love her but first the King was also very pleasing to him. And then he was appointed as a Queen.

"Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti." (Esther 2 : 17)

4. And her heart filled with love .. Esther was willing to fast for the sake of his people, for the King not to kill the family and the Jewish people.

"Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die." (Esther 4 : 16)

And after Esther fasted for three days and three nights with no food and drink,she overlooks the courtyard of King. Without a basic love of people, she will not be able to do fast. The same thing happen to us as human beings, that should have of doing things which is based in love. Both in our daily behavior, our actions or even to those closest to the people who do evil to us. As said in 1 Corinthians 13.

5. Be a blessing channel .. As a queen, she did not neglect to always defend his nation in front of the King.

"Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life--this is my petition. And spare my people--this is my request." (Esther 7 : 3)

And because Esther's demand , the king destroy Haman, hold respect for Mordecai (Esther 6: 1-14) and place a defense of the Jews (Esther 9: 27)

When we become a channel of blessing, then many people will be preferred, and especially the Lord also will joy because of our good deeds. It is not difficult to be a blessing to others, this can begin with a simple means such as a smile and say God bless you to everyone who encountered. Do you want to do all that things ? :)

Based on the story of Esther, the King is the parable of the Lord Jesus and Esther are we as human beings. Conclusions from the translation of the fourth point above is that the true beauty came from intimacy that between us and God. When we have an intimacy like a bride (the queen to the king), then we will have these three things: a Pure Heart, Holiness and Character. Because those three things, it will result in tremendous favor of God and then we get a true beauty as woman.

In fact, people always judge and see someone on the basis of physical condition and from the things that they have. But our physical condition is not primarily, as beautiful or ugly is only seen by human eyes, whereas our Father in Heaven sees us as beautiful as HIS children, provided we have a heart that would love Him more than anything.

So why should we strengthen our makeup to be beautiful while your heart is empty ??? Start by establishing your relationship with God, then everything will be added unto you .. even things that do not you ask though. " However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corithians 2 : 9)

After you did it, you can be a blessing for others and everyone can see the goodness of your heart."Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." (Philippians 4:5)