Indonesia_ Bali is filled with an indefinite number of statues everywhere, so many gods, so many burning essence sticks, so many little plates with offerings, so many temples, so many lost souls. Isn't it easy for me now to just quote the Bible, judging them for all these man-made, dark-side inspired idols. I Find myself sitting in a taxi staring out the window trying not to make eye contact with all these immense statues dominating the place. The bags all around me limits my movement so all I did was pondering on the beliefs of the world. It came to me that their gods, we too have in a way, just not in a statue form. Food. Money. Beauty. Fame. Control. Anything I put more important than God is a god or idol in my own life. Basically anything that would be difficult for me to just give over to God. As humans we seek, without always knowing, for a deep accepting unconditional love from God, but we try satisfying this desire in fail relationships, fading beauty, people or money. Once again our own gods, packing little statues out in our souls. I even went to far as to think that maybe without the Holy Spirit at work people can make Jesus a statue as well. Placing Him where we want to, lacking to acknowledging the power He really have or believing we have to offer Him something to get something in return. It's all just wild thoughts running in my mind but what I do realize is to continuously seeking inward places where I can change and not spending my time on finding something that I can prove wrong with scripture.
Acts 17: 28,29- ''For in him we live and move and exist. We are his offspring. And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.'' (NLT)
The birds and street dogs in Bali feast on all these offerings set out for the gods, I was tempted too a few times. Apples, candy, cool drink, cookies, all kinds of snacks on a daily basis. There some kind of irony in this verse : Matthew 6:26 'Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store foods in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.'
We had a great time in Bali as a few parents came to join our journey for a short while, we shared our testimonies but I'm pretty sure the character changes in their children was speaking louder than words. Bali is beautiful and green. Exactly that picture one would imagine in their minds when I say Bali. We also had a opportunity to visit a children's home called Widhya Asih in Melaya Jembrana. We did gardening work and played with the children. My whole perception of a orphanage was shaken in this place, it's a Christian base home and the mother of the house shared with me how some children ask them why haven't they found them earlier to come live here. It's a complete contrast to what I expected. The place is filled with peace and love. I believe in some cases that environment is better for children in this place than most normal households.
We then traveled to another Island_ Java and stayed at a church center point in Yogyakarta where we worshiped with the students as Java consist of major universities. We established really good relationships and gained allot of spiritual wisdom. I was blessed with so many people sharing my birthday and spoiled me with some local street food including cobra, bat, Luak, squirrel, frog..it actually goes on but I don't want to start a riot. I also had an opportunity to share my testimony in the church about how I started to acknowledge the Holy Spirit as a unique being (person) in the trinity and the power that follows. When Christ had left the world, the spirit was given his most specific work. The book of acts portrays the Spirit as directing and controlling the new Christian movement. The spirit helps me to live out and develop what God has already given me. It's CRAZY to think that we are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, a part of God!! Now suddenly it makes sense that we can do ALL things through Christ!!!! Can I get a Amen? ..........But then sometimes logic, lies, insecurities, doubt, people, etc try to steal this mood.....in Indonesia we served at a Christian school which was amazing! Prayed for the entire school. Here is the link to the video I made being at the school. =)
Lacked a little on updating my blogs, Thailand and Malaysia is soon to follow.
Love
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jEiiHG2zzVM