My Psalm

I wrote this song two years ago.

And actually it's just an early prototype... would like to thank Wenceslaus Fred for the melody and arrangement.

It is in Bahasa Malaysia... The meaning of this song (summary)... as person on the moving... loneliness is an unavoidable experience and there are different levels or kind of loneliness. For us Christian, we are very lucky, that even though there is no one beside us in time of sorrow, sadness, hopeless and loneliness Jesus Christ is always there, to comfort us, to listen to us and to show us the way. 

Dia_Sahabat_Ku.wmv Watch on Posterous 
 

And in the ministry, i too sometimes feel alone, though my friends are all out there. Perhaps that what they say, we belong to nobody, but God. And in that particular moment, Jesus is my only hope and friend. He is indeed truly with me. I am really thankful to God that he always help me in the ways that i cannot imagine. 

And i am really sorry for the poor quality and certain mistakes. As i said it is not finalized yet. Pray for me one day i'll be able to produce a mini album...wow what a dream..but singer will be others hehe..

Rejection

The moment we being rejected, that particular moment we ask why? And at the same time we answer the questions to dozens of answer or nothing at all to please ourselves.

Rejection among teens and adult is the most common hurt that affect much of their very inner self. Some may lose confident, some may become wilder and some are trap in their own imagination on why he or she was rejected.

Rejection, is one of the thing that people trying to avoid, in doing so many are being easy led to the temptation to better than others. May it through clothing, circle of friends, talents, wildness and etc... Because of this many are feeling tired and become much lonely in the midst of everyone.

The question is what are you looking for? What are you seeking in this life? What is your greatest fear? These can only be answered through prayer; through it God will reveal your innermost self. He will guide you to face the fear and the seeking within you. Though it is not easy to accept the kind of person you may encounter but, by fully TRUSTING in God. You may be healed. 

And finally, rejection is not bad after all. Why? Because, we at least as mere human, can experienced Jesus' feeling when He is being left and rejected by His own close friends and follower. And now we can be in solidarity with thousands of people in this world who cannot handle rejection. Rejoice because God had given His Spirit to guide and make us strong to sail through the storms of life.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

LIFE

....bEl!V!ng iN YoURsElf....iS tHe bEst eNdOrsEment ....
.....allOw YouRsleF s!MplE Joys tO bR!ng You tO New Hope And CoURage...
....kEep oN liFes pAth WhereVer iT tAkes You..
.......t!mE !s a L!m!tEd ResOurCe ,The LoVe oF fR!eNd !s Not...
..PeAce w!th!N yOurSleF !s tReAsUrE beYond mEasUre....:

.............TrUst !N tHe LoRd !n AlL yOuR DoINg.....................

When I say ' I am a Christian'

When I say that 'I am a Christian', I am not shouting that 'I am clean living. I'm whispering 'I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say 'I am a Christian' I speak of this with pride. but I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. 

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name. When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Kembali...

Cambodia Mission:

Leadership Training Program

Cambodia, Phnom Penh Vicariate, Youth Office 

Para peserta Leadership Training Program bersama Bishop Olivier

Pengalaman sebagai salah seorang team pelaksana Leadership Training Program yang  diadakan di Phnom Penh Vicariate, Cambodia pada 1-9 April merupakan anugerah dan hadiah Paskah terindah yang sangat berharga saya alami. Di dalam program ini yang bertemakan “Towards a New Life” secara keseluruhannya memberikan tumpuan kepada beberapa kemahiran asas dalam memimpin belia melalui bengkel, pengajaran, renungan firman, testimony, dan pembelajaran berlandaskan pengalaman. Peserta-peserta yang terlibat adalah para belia dari paroki-paroki di sekitar Phnom Penh Vicariate yang berpotensi menjadi pemimpin di paroki mereka masing-masing. 

Sebahagian Ajk Pelaksana Leadership Program

April 1-3 merupakan program khusus (Training of Trainees) yang diberikan kepada semua AJK pelaksana. Leadership Training Program kepada peserta bermula pada 4-9 April.  Terdapat 43 peserta yang berumur di antara 17-25 tahun menyertai program ini. Antara sesi yang diberikan adalah “Experience of life, Crazy Dream, Darkness/Experience of death, Experience of God, Plan of Salvation, Jesus Christ, Passover dan Ministry of Presence”. Menerusi program ini para peserta di bimbing untuk melihat pengalaman hidup peribadi mereka sendiri. Persoalan “What is lacking or has been lacking as the most essential in my life?”, “What is the experience when you felt you were at the best of yourself?”, “What is my crazy dream?”, “What are the prisons that wound me?” adalah antara soalan-soalan renungan yang diberikan. Para peserta kemudian dibimbing untuk melihat penyelamatan oleh Yesus Kristus menerusi dramatari dan sesi yang bertajuk “Moving Forward in your new life with Jesus Christ”. Seterusnya, peserta-peserta berpeluang menyatakan komitment mereka melalui ritual (Passover ritual) di hadapan salib Yesus yang kemudian di persembahkan di dalam Misa Kudus. Kemuncak kepada program tersebut adalah sesi berkaitan Taize dan doa taize di adakan pada waktu malam yang dipimpin oleh bro. Gillan dan bro. Andreas (from Taize).

                                                                      Sebahagian daripada aktiviti yang dijalankan 

Apa ertinya “Cambodia Mission” ini bagi saya…

Merenung kembali pengalaman yang saya lalui sepanjang program ini, saya sungguh-sungguh kagum dan bersyukur kepada Tuhan Yesus kerana rahmat kekuatan yang Dia berikan kepada saya. Pada hari pertama di Negara ini keadaan fizikal saya amat lemah dan ianya berterusan sehingga ke akhir program tersebut. Namun, cara Tuhan Yesus menyembuhkan begitu ajaib. Kehadiran para peserta ke program ini memberikan kekuatan yang luarbiasa kepada saya. Walaupun keadaan fizikal yang lemah, saya masih mampu menyertai program ini sepenuhnya. Tuhan menyembuhkan jiwa saya melalui mereka.

Apakah misi saya sebagai seorang belia? dan secara khususnya sebagai belia kristian? Persoalan ini seringkali menghantui dan menuntut saya mencari jalan penyelesaian. Selama 9 hari bersama dengan peserta-peserta program di tempat ini membuka mata hati dan telinga saya untuk melihat dan mendengar erti misi dan gereja secara lebih mendalam. Sembilan hari bersama, sekali lagi menuntut saya untuk KEMBALI kepada SUMBER HIDUP yang paling asas, YESUS KRISTUS. Saya mula menyedari betapa kritikalnya saya bergelar belia dan bukan setakat belia sahaja tetapi sebagai BELIA YANG BERGELAR KRISTIAN untuk kembali kepada SUMBER ini. 

                       Wheel of life with Jesus as the centre 

Sesi  “Moving Forward in your new life with Jesus Christ” yang disampaikan oleh Manny San Luis (Fondacio, Philippines) memberi inspirasi kepada saya untuk mengenali Yesus lebih mendalam. Dalam sesi ini, beliau memberikan 8 perkara yang perlu diberikan perhatian bagi memastikan kehidupan sebagai kristian sentiasa berjalan bersama Yesus Kristus. 

 i. Doa peribadi

ii. Merayakan sakramen-sakramen

iii. Renungan firman Tuhan

iv. Hidup berkomuniti

v. Pembentukan

vi. Ministry/service

vii. Evangelisasi

viii. Pengembalaan (memimpin orang lain)

Merenung kembali 8 perkara ini mengingatkan saya akan misi Dioses iaitu Kita Umat Allah Dioses Keningau yang berjalan bersama dalam Yesus Kristus komited untuk taat berdoa, menghayati Sabda Allah, merayakan sakramen-sakramen, hidup berkomuniti, memperjuangkan keamanan, keadilan dan cinta kasih, serta keharmonian alam ciptaan Tuhan. Sesi ini menuntut saya melihat dan berhadapan kembali dengan kehidupan lalu saya sebagai belia di tempat saya sendiri dan pengalaman sebagai seorang guru. Saya menyedari misi ini tidak pernah saya titik beratkan dalam hidup seharian dan pengalaman bersama rakan belia yang lain menyedarkan saya bahawa misi ini tidaklah begitu dibincangkan. Namun pada saat ini saya berharap misi ini bukanlah setakat “ayat” yang perlu dihafal tetapi benar-benar dihidupi. Saya percaya belum terlambat bagi peribadi saya untuk menghidupi dan menjadikan misi ini sebagai misi dalam pelayanan saya. 

             Penyerahan diri di hadapan salib Kristus 

Keterbukaan hati para peserta sepanjang program ini mengajar saya tentang erti kerendahan hati dalam pelayanan. Kejujuran mereka mengungkapkan kerinduan hati yang mendalam untuk mengenali Yesus menjadi saksi bahawa Allah sedang bekerja (Yoh 5:17). Komitmen mereka untuk berusaha mengenali Yesus menyebabkan saya berfikir sedalamnya identiti saya sebagai kristian, belia kristian. Bagi memperjuangkan identiti kristian di tengah-tengah dunia sekular, saya diingatkan untuk menjadikan Yesus sebagai sumber dalam kehidupan.

Sebagai belia kristian, saya bertanggungjawab meneruskan misi Yesus di dunia ini dan tanggungjawab ini menuntut saya untuk sentiasa berakar dan dibangun dalam Yesus Kristus, teguh dalam iman (kol2:7, tema SYD3). Apa yang perlu saya lakukan agar benar-benar menghidupkan Yesus?  Persoalan ini mengingatkan saya kepada pesan yang seringkali diucapkan oleh Bapa Uskup Cornelius Piong “Kita haruslah sentiasa kembali kepada Yesus dan harus mempunyai relasi peribadi yang erat dengan Yesus Kristus”. Pesan yang begitu ringkas namun mempunyai makna yang sangat mendalam.

Akhirnya, saya sangat bersyukur kepada Tuhan Yesus atas segala kesempatan yang diberikan kepada saya untuk lebih mengenali Dia melalui pengalaman ini. Saya bersyukur kerana Dia sentiasa mengajar saya melalui setiap individu yang saya temui. 

Dialah yang memberikan kekuatan dan kerinduan di hati saya untuk terus melayani

Dialah yang menjadikan saya berseri-seri sepanjang hari

Dialah yang memampukan saya berdiri teguh dalam pencobaan

Dialah yang lebih dulu mencintai saya

Dialah yang memberikan kebebasan sepenuhnya untuk berhadapan dengan kelemahan saya

Dialah YESUS SUMBER KEHIDUPAN di dalam kehidupan saya

Semoga melalui rahmatNya saya sentiasa dikuatkan untuk meneruskan misi Kristus.

“Now we continue to be a witness. Our generation is also to become a witness”

-Mgr. Ives Ramus, Bishop Emeritus (his homily, Mass on April 07)

Selamat menyambut hari Paska,

Roselinah Francis 

Hi..how are you?

Wow..it has been a long time since last update. Lately life is a bit here and there, though not so much to do but, things are surely catching up.

Hi how are you? hope you are fine...if not well please go and see your doctor.

Holy Week is here, how have you done so far...surely you have just doing good.Wish everyone have a nice silence, reflective holy week.

Let us pray for each other, we are community though we are far from each other..but do pray for each other.

Me,
JWD

7 day - A Journey to Remember

Greetings!

How is everyone after gone through a week of Lent season? How is your journey last week? Was it easy for you? Entering into Lent season is not that easy, I presume. By knowledge, yes, so easy, but by heart? hmmm…

Reading the gospel today (Mat 7: 7-12) telling me how the word of God truly alive in my life last week. I would like to invite you to journey with me through my experienced last week. I was motivated to write this reflection every night after attending the Mass last Wednesday. Can we start? Are you ready? It’s quite long but bear with me ok..ok..let’s go back day by day from Wednesday until today (Wednesday) ok..let’s begin.. J

March 9, 2011 (Ash Wednesday)

I woke up very early and prepared myself for the Eucharist Celebration. The feeling was not so different from other day though I knew that today was the start of a Lent season. No extraordinary feeling.

 I went for Mass at 6 am. The sermon was beautiful. There were 3 points pointed out from the readings by Fr. Rolando Tuazon, the main presider of the Mass this morning.

1. Lent is about building relationship with others. (Mat 6:1-4)

By giving alms to others, we are building relationship with them. Building relationship is more important than the alms itself.

2. Lent is about deepening our relationship and be reconciled to God. (2 Corinth 5:20)

3. Lent is about fasting. (Mat 6:16-18)

I started my “Lent Journey” with these points. It was not that easy. Questions rose as I gone through my daily life. Knowing that building relationship is not so easy for me, how can I do this? My relationship with God? And now, fasting? Why do I have to fast? For what reason? Fuh! What a very challenging questions I have today. 

March 10, 2011 (Thursday)

What was the color of my life today? 

Recalling the first point and my question yesterday, can I break the ‘not so easy’ in me in building relationship? Can I throw away my pride? This is another challenge i encountered today.

The reading today was about the first prediction of the passion. Jesus telling his disciple how he must suffer(Luke 9: 22) and continue saying “ If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”. This verse struck me most.  What is my daily cross? Am I ready to take up my cross daily? 

As I pondered my life, there are crosses that I need not to carry anymore, but I still insisted to carry it. On the other hand, there are crosses that I need to carry but I don’t want to carry. 

March 11, 2011 (Friday)

The question about fasting kept on playing in mind the whole day. Perhaps it was because today is Friday. J

I went to church in St. Nicholas together with my friend Judith to join the Mass before the Station of the Cross at 6 pm. The experienced was nice. Seeing the journey of Jesus in his station of life, I felt blessed.  Question raised in me. What will be the face of my journey in my own station?

After went back home, I felt I wanted to read the gospel for today. But I could not understand it even I read it many times. So I closed my bible and just be silence with myself. My heart telling me to read the first reading from Isaiah 58:9b-14. And I was amazed because through the reading I found out the meaning of fasting. It says “this, rather, is the fasting that I wish; releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” (Isaiah 58:6-7). Wow! So wonderful! My question was answered.

Now I can sleep peacefully. J

March 12, 2011 (Saturday)

What is so nice about today?

Today my health was not so good. I felt weak so I slept almost the whole day.

The earthquake happened to Japan yesterday, still remain in me. I watched it live through internet and watching how people in Japan suffered from that made me feel sad. Deep inside me now is praying for them. I believe right now I am not the only one praying for them. Many people out there are also praying for them.

As I continue my journey in this path, I believe many people out there are willing to pray for me. The only thing that I need to do is to invite them to journey with me.

March 13, 2011 (Sunday)

First Sunday of Lent.

What do I want to write? There are many things in my mind. I don’t really understand what had happened to me today. I found it difficult to understand things. It’s meaning. Despite of this difficulty, I still put my personal theme for today which is to focus on my daily life. It was not easy. There was a time where I really wanted to give up. With many things inside my mind and to focus only on one thing was a struggle.

Today’s reading helped me to win this difficulty. The reading empowered me to hold on to my faith. Jesus was able to make the evil left him because he still holds on to his faith.

In our life, I believe there are many temptations we will encounter along the way. We have the choice to hold on to our faith or to let it go. What will be my choice? What will be yours?

March 14, 2011 (Monday)

What is my guide for the day?

Motivated by yesterdays’ reflection, I chose to continue to focus on my daily life. By putting this guide I began to appreciate my daily life. I woke up, said a prayer, washing my clothes, took bath, hanged my clothes, smile with the mothers who are fetching their children from kinder garden, preparing food for lunch, had a meeting, lunch etc..this simple life I had, become meaningful when I really put myself into it. Through this I found the meaning of deepening relationship with God. Listening to our simple life is important. Through this simple life we will find the characteristics of Jesus. And our relationship with Jesus will tell us the kind of relationship we have with God.

What is the characteristic of Jesus I encountered today? The gospel today revealed his characteristics and it is alive in my day today. As I preparing food for lunch I realize that Jesus gave food to those who are hungry, gave drink to those who are thirsty (Matthew 25:35). As I smile with the mothers whom I don’t know, I remember Jesus welcome those strangers (Matthew 25:35). As I hang my clothes this morning it remind me that Jesus gave cloth to those who are naked, cared to those who are sick and visited those who are in prison (Matthew 25:35-36). Imagine how beautiful it is to recognize His characteristics by our simple daily life. 

But, is that enough just by knowing it? What is my respond to this? Can I also give food to those who are hungry? Drink to those who are thirsty? Welcome the strangers? Gave clothes to those who are naked? Care to those who are sick? Visit those who are in prison?

March 15, 2011 (Tuesday)

What do I want to achieve today?

Today I was planning to finish all my work. That was my focus of the day. I guess I did achieve it. Yes! What helped me? Reminding myself, again and again to focus helped a lot.

We had a beautiful community prayer this afternoon. It gave me opportunity to be reconciled to God and to others. It was the time to let go of my pride, my fear and to let God lead me in my relationship not only with Him but also with others. I thank God for this grace I received today. I was reminded again to really empty myself and put my trust on Him.

March 16, 2011 (Wednesday)

Today was a tiring day. Sitting in front of computer the whole day doing my task made my eyes tired. But, I am satisfied because I finished my task J

I took rest at around 5pm just to let my eyes free from the computer. While resting, my eyes were caught by a sentence written on a paper on my table “unless we let the Word of God affect our attitudes and our daily lives, all our effort will have been wasted.” I was astonished by the power of this sentence. Did I let His Word affect my attitudes?

I carried this question since then. But because I had to finish another task, I put it aside first and finished my task. Just before I was about to sleep, I was disturbed by the sentence again. So I decided to read the gospel reading for tomorrow and recall what had happened to me the whole day. And I realize that it is already one week since the Lent started last Wednesday. Time is very fast. What is this ‘Lent’ for me these days?

I started to check again my “Lent Journey” from last Wednesday. Looking back at my journey, I was amazed of how God journey with me with the question I carried. His word today is so real “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mat 7:7) what an amazed journey I had this week. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and now Wednesday again. This seven day journey of me reveals that God gives what he promised to give.  “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks; the door will be opened.” (Mat 7:8)

So, did I let His Word affect my attitudes? Looking back at my previous days I would say that I am moving toward this. Thanks to the previous days. And most specially thanks to God for letting me experience His Word. His WORD is ALIVE, truly!

End of the week. Are you still with me? J

Friends,

Lent season is our Journey to enter into deeper relationship with Jesus. For some, this is the time to rebuild this relationship with him. Whatever reason we have, let us not miss each day of our journey with Jesus. whatever work we have everyday day, remember that through our daily life, Jesus is always there accompany us. 

I would like also to invite each one of us to always look behind. Perhaps we are too fast and leave Jesus behind. Let us not let him walk behind. Let us journey with Him side by side and experience His passion. We will see that His Word is ALIVE!

Last but not the least,

I believe you also have a beautiful experience of Lent season. Let us share this precious experience to each other and JOURNEY TOGETHER into His Kingdom!

Love.

Roselinah Francis,

March 16, 2011