What I do and Why I do it | graphic design | DTP | corporate branding | marketing | freelance | photography | christianity | life | blog - Iasi, Romania
The Archives
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08.11.08The One I Rely On And I’ve Been Confident In
Bicaz (Romania) dam accumulation lake
Sphere: Related Content16 No king is saved by the great size and power of his army;
a mighty man is not delivered by [his] much strength.17 A horse is devoid of value for victory;
neither does he deliver any by his great power.18 Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him
[who revere and worship Him with awe],
who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness,19 To deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.20 Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord;
He is our Help and our Shield.21 For in Him does our heart rejoice,
because we have trusted
(relied on and been confident)
in His holy name.22 Let Your mercy and loving-kindness,
O Lord, be upon us,
in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.Psalm 33:16-22
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08.01.08Genuine Peace
29 Thus says the king:
Let not Hezekiah deceive you.
For he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand.30 Nor let Hezekiah make you trust in and rely on the Lord,
saying, The Lord will surely deliver us,
and this city will not be given into the hand of Assyria’s king.31 Hearken not to Hezekiah,
for thus says the king of Assyria:
Make your peace with me and come out to me,
and eat every man from his own vine
and fig tree and drink every man the waters of his own cistern,32 Until I come and take you away
to a land like your own,
a land of grain and vintage fruit,
of bread and vineyards,
of olive trees and honey,
that you may live and not die.
Do not listen to Hezekiah when he urges you,
saying, The Lord will deliver us.2 Kings 18:29-32
This passage is part of a larger one that describes Assyria’s army siege over Jerusalem. Here, Rabshakeh, one of the leaders of the Assyrian army, talks to the people of Jerusalem, trying to discourage them.
This ancient event resembles with something very contemporary. In the same way the Devil’s servants come to us trying to discourage us. We might have a good new pastor, one that really fears and obeys God. So the Devil sends a greater army to deceive us, to destroy us. In the same way we are promised earthly rewards. We are promised wealth and peace. But only the peace that comes from God is the real peace. The one that is not only exterior but the one that is also in our hearts and the most important will last for ever.
Devil wants to surrender to him. See in verse 31 the process that we are called to subscribed to, by the Devil. We have to stop listening to God and to any of His people. We have to make peace with the Devil, the lord of this world. We are called to subdue to him. And by doing us we are promised great wealth and the so called peace. In the same way the Anti-Christ will charm the whole word.
We have to be strong. To know in Whom we trust, to know our identity in Christ . So we have not to be charmed and fooled by this word that offers us the illusion of happiness and peace.
Peace I leave with you;
My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.
[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed;
and do not permit yourselves to be fearful
and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]John 14:27
The only genuine peace and happiness we find in God. So, please, do not get fooled by the lord of this world.
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06.25.08What Is A Good Investment on the Long Term?
Photo of an old gate guarding a monastery near Ohrid Macedonia
The earnings of the righteous
(the upright, in right standing with God)
lead to life,
but the profit of the wicked leads to further sin.Proverbs 10:16
This verse in Romanian says something like:
The righteous uses his earnings for life,
but the wicked one uses his earnings for sin.Proverbs 10:16
Those two different point of views. But I think that they work together. They do not contradict one another. The first one says that the earnings themselves, the type of profit we make, if you are righteous, helps us to go go on the good path. And if we are wicked will will produce some kind of black profit that buries us deeper in sin.
The other translations says that if we are righteous and we live accordingly to our name, then we will use all we have to do good. But if we are wicked we will find out delight in sin and we’ll do that by investing in sin, so sin more.
In the same time if I am training now and if I want to be righteous, to become a wise man, I have to invest in the real life, in my eternity. But if I invest in sinful activities, then I will become wicked. Actually…
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick!
Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?Jeremiah 17:9
All this means that our hart is already wicked. So what can we do to transform it into a loving and caring one? Well, the only way is to give my hart to God. I did, but the struggle continues. It happens with people to become saints the next day. But this does not seem to happen with me. I still have my war against sin and evil. The Devil is not just letting me alone. I pray everyday to have the strength to fight, even if sometimes I loose like I did yesterday.
We don’t have just money to invest, Time, sentiments, feelings are also available to be invested in a way or other.
So what can I do? What can we all do about this fight? Well, as the verse says, to continue to fight the good battle. To continue to invest in the eternal life and try not to invest in sin.
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06.20.08The Trademark on all God’s Works is Love
Photo I took in Macedonia, on Lake Ohrid, when I went there for the IFES graduates conference in June
Yesterday I left unread one Psalm that I planned to peruse. Today I realized what jewel I lost . This is a real encouragement Psalm. It really helped me today to boost my trust in the Lord . Check it out.
1 I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King! and I’ll bless your name into eternity.
2 I’ll bless you every day,
and keep it up from now to eternity.
3 God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.
There are no boundaries to his greatness.
4 Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;
each one tells stories of your mighty acts.
5 Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;
I compose songs on your wonders.
6 Your marvelous doings are headline news;
I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.
7 The fame of your goodness spreads across the country;
your righteousness is on everyone’s lips.8 God is all mercy and grace—
not quick to anger, is rich in love.9 God is good to one and all;
everything he does is suffused with grace.10-11 Creation and creatures applaud you, God;
your holy people bless you.They talk about the glories of your rule,
they exclaim over your splendor,12 Letting the world know of your power for good,
the lavish splendor of your kingdom.13 Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;
you never get voted out of office.God always does what he says,
and is gracious in everything he does.14 God gives a hand to those down on their luck,
gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.15 All eyes are on you, expectant;
you give them their meals on time.16 Generous to a fault,
you lavish your favor on all creatures.17 Everything God does is right—
the trademark on all his works is love.18 God’s there, listening for all who pray,
for all who pray and mean it.19 He does what’s best for those who fear him—
hears them call out, and saves them.20 God sticks by all who love him,
but it’s all over for those who don’t.21 My mouth is filled with God’s praise.
Let everything living bless him,
bless his holy name from now to eternity!Psalm 145
I hope it was good encouragement for you as well, especially the second part.
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06.19.08God Guide me on the Road of Eternal Life
Photo of Lake Ohrid from Macedonia. IFES graduates conference
Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.Psalm 139:23-24
Sphere: Related Content1-2 God, come close.
Come quickly!
Open your ears—it’s my voice you’re hearing!
Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising;
my raised hands are my evening prayers.3-6 Post a guard at my mouth, God,
set a watch at the door of my lips and eyes.
Don’t let me so much as dream of evil
or thoughtlessly fall into bad company.
And these people who only do wrong—
don’t let them lure me with their sweet talk!
May the Just One set me straight,
may the Kind One correct me,
Don’t let sin anoint my head.
I’m praying hard against their evil ways.Psalm 141:1-6
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06.18.08Trip to Ohrid Macedonia for the IFES University Graduates Conference
For a few days I will be away for the IFES University Graduates Conference that takes place in Ohrid, Macedonia.
Bellow are the photos from the trip to Ohrid, Macedonia. Enjoy the photos and feel free to comment. If you want any of the photos in high quality, please contact me. The ones from bellow are just for preview purposes, if you want to see them bigger please go to the links at the end of the post.
You can see the photos I took at the IFES university graduates conference bellow, for each day:
- photos from trip from Bucharest to Ohrid - click here (on Zooomr)
- photos from Friday - the first day of conference - click here
- photos from Saturday - the second day of conference - click here
- photos from Sunday - the third day of conference and the trip back to Romania - click here .
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06.18.08My New Prayer to Fulfil
Photo I took on the trip to Ohrid (Macedonia), in Bulgaria, near a Shell gas station
God gave me such a beautiful, encouraging Psalm to read. I want it to take it as my new prayer, and to fulfill it each day.
My theme song is God’s love and justice,
and I’m singing it right to you, God.
I’m finding my way down the road of right living,
but how long before you show up?
I’m doing the very best I can,
and I’m doing it at home, where it counts.
I refuse to take a second look
at corrupting people and degrading things.
I reject this world’s gods,
stay clear of their contamination.
The crooked in heart keep their distance;
I refuse to shake hands with those who plan evil.
I put a gag on the gossip
who bad-mouths his neighbor;
I can’t stand arrogance.
But I have my eye on salt-of-the-earth people—
they’re the ones I want working with me;
Men and women on the straight and narrow—
these are the ones I want at my side.
But no one who traffics in lies
gets a job with me; I have no patience with liars.
I’ve rounded up all the wicked like cattle
and herded them right out of the country.
I purged God’s city
of all who make a business of evil.Psalm 101
God please help me to do so each day, all day long.
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06.09.08God Makes His People Strong, God Gives His People Peace
Photo of me and Denisa at her graduation festivity - Computer Science Faculty of Iasi
Today God had for me only encouraging words. I don’t have any enemies, but God spoke to me about enemies. He told me that irrespective of all the other people that might want my harm, God will rescue me.
Thank you God! Thank you because you are always at work and you warn me in advance. Thank you for your support and for your care.
1 Light, space, zest— that’s God!
So, with Him on my side I’m fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.3 When besieged,
I’m calm as a baby.
When all hell breaks loose,
I’m collected and cool.13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness
in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
Take heart. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
Stay with God.Psalm 27
11 God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.Psalm 29:11
3-5 You’re my cave to hide in,
my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader,
be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps;
I want to hide in you.
I’ve put my life in your hands.
You won’t drop me,
you’ll never let me down.24 Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up.
Expect God to get here soon.Psalm 31
Please read those psalms: 27, 28, 29, 31, 35. They are full of encouragements. Maybe you go through hard times and God wants to talk to you.
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06.06.08We Trust in and Boast of the Name of the Lord our God
Group photo of friends at Ruben Schipor’s birthday party in Iasi Romania
Sphere: Related Content7 Some trust, in themselves,
in what they have
or what they think that they can do,
but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God,
not in what we have,
neither in out own power.8 The others are bowed down and fallen,
but we, even if we fall sometimes,
we are risen and stand upright,
by God’s help and mercy.adaptation after Psalm 20:7-8
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06.05.08Who Gets Invited to Dinner at Your Place?
photo I took at home, at my parents house, back in Botosani Romania - grape leaf rolls filled with rice, vegetables and meat and baked and roasted potatoes with scattered garlic, green onion and dill
Sphere: Related Content1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?2 "Walk straight,
act right,
tell the truth.3-4 "Don’t hurt your friend,
don’t blame your neighbor;
despise the despicable.5 "Keep your word even when it costs you,
make an honest living,
never take a bribe."You’ll never get
blacklisted
if you live like this."Psalm 15
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06.03.08Tu poti TOTUL in Hristos
Photo of Denisa at Ruben’s Birthday Party in Iasi Romania
Poate iti este frica si te gandesti adesea ca nu vei putea birui, ca nu esti destul de bun ca sa fii crestin, ca nu ai fi rapit daca Isus ar veni azi. Te rog sa te intaresti si sa-ti amintesti: noi nu avem nici o putere si atunci cand credem ca avem, ne mandrim si cadem, facem fapte murdare, din firea pamanteasca . Priveste la Domnul Isus clipa de clipa. Lasa-L sa vorbeasca prin gura ta, sa caute pe cei pierduti, pe cei intristati si cazuti. Lasa-L sa lucreze si stai in umilinta si minuneaza-te de felul in care te poate folosi . Da, pe tine… tu esti special in ochii Lui, tu ai pret, tu poti TOTUL in Hristos ! Tu ai TOTUL deplin in El! Fa din EL pasiunea vietii tale si vei fi cel mai fericit din lume aici si in vesnicii!
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05.30.08The True and Real Happiness and Joy
photo of Denisa as we were walking to Cetatuia ("Fortress") Monastery on one of the hills surrounding Iasi
Sphere: Related Content5 Offer just and right sacrifices;
trust (lean on and be confident) in the Lord.6 Many say,
Oh, that we might see some good!
But I say
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord.7 You have put more joy and rejoicing in my heart
than [they know] when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly.8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.Psalm 4:5-8
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05.29.08Continua sa te increzi in Dumnezeu
Oricat de dificile ar parea lucrurile, trebuie sa ramai mereu deasupra situatiei! Continua sa te increzi in Dumnezeu . Stai treaz si roaga-te toata noaptea daca trebuie, dar nu te da batut. Continua sa te bazezi pe Cuvant . Poate visul tau nu a luat viata in totalitate, dar a inceput sa se incalzeasca. Lucrurile incep sa se imbunatateasca. Dumnezeu misca lucrurile. Raspunsul asteptat de tine este pe drum; nu te da batut inainte sa-l primesti!
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05.28.08
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05.27.08The Everlasting Bread of Life
People waiting to be baptized at First Pentecostal Church of Iasi, Romania
27 "Don’t waste your energy striving
for perishable food like that.
Work for the food that sticks with you,
food that nourishes your lasting life,
food the Son of Man provides.
He and what He does are guaranteed
by God the Father to last. "28 To that they said,
"Well, what do we do then to get in on God’s works?"29 Jesus said,
"Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent.
That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works."30-31 They waffled:
"Why don’t you give us a clue about who you are,
just a hint of what’s going on?
When we see what’s up, we’ll commit ourselves.
Show us what you can do.
Moses fed our ancestors with bread in the desert.
It says so in the Scriptures:
‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’"32-33 Jesus responded,
"The real significance of that Scripture
is not that Moses gave you bread from heaven
but that my Father is right now
offering you bread from heaven, the real bread.
The Bread of God came down out of heaven
and is giving life to the world ."34 They jumped at that:
"Master, give us this bread, now and forever!"35-38 Jesus said,
"I am the Bread of Life.
The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.
I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action,
you don’t really believe me.
Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me.
And once that person is with me,
I hold on and don’t let go.
I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim
but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me .39-40 "This, in a nutshell, is that will:
that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed
—not a single detail missed—
and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole.
This is what my Father wants:
that anyone who sees the Son
and trusts who he is
and what he does
and then aligns with him
will enter real life, eternal life.
My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time ."John 6:27-40
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05.22.08A Life Changing Encounter
Photo of girls playing and running in the fields of Comarna village Iasi district Romania
I’ve just read about a ordinarily woman that had a encounter that changed her whole life . She was doing something ordinary in an ordinary day , like she did in all the other days.
Like in any other day she went out of her town to get some water. In that times and place people didn’t have current water. Each day, the women had to go to the the wheel, that was outside the town, to take water for the entire day. They were much more eco-friendly in that times. For a family 20 liters was enough, except the animals, that were brought directly to the water.
So, we see the woman going to take water, in the same manner as she always did , like in any other day. But something is different today . There, at the wheel, she sees a man . This man had different clothes than they used to wear in that area - Samaria. Continue Reading…
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05.19.08My Repentance Prayer
Sphere: Related Content1 Have Mercy upon me, O God,
according to Your steadfast love;
according to the multitude of Your tender mercy
and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly]
from my iniquity and guilt
and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!3 For I am conscious of my transgressions
and I acknowledge them;
my sin is ever before me.4 Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done that which is evil in Your sight,
so that You are justified in Your sentence
and faultless in Your judgment.5 Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity;
my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful].6 Behold, You desire truth in the inner being;
make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially];
wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied;
let the bones which You have broken rejoice.9 Hide Your face from my sins
and blot out all my guilt and iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right, persevering,
and steadfast spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from Your presence
and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and uphold me with a willing spirit.13 Then will I teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners shall be converted and return to You.14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness and death, O God,
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness
(Your rightness and Your justice).15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.16 For You delight not in sacrifice,
or else would I give it;
You find no pleasure in burnt offering.17 My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God
is a broken spirit;
a broken and a contrite heart
[broken down with sorrow for sin
and humbly and thoroughly penitent],
such, O God, You will not despise .Psalm 51:1-17
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05.15.08The Courage To Make The Step Of Faith
Maybe you had you fill to hear again and again about David. So, we’ll have a little break today.
I really appreciate what Joab and his brother Abishai did when they had to lead the people into battle against Arameans and Ammonites. I have to say one tiny thing about David… that David was blessed with good people around him : Continue Reading…
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05.12.08Spiritual Jargon That Does Not Have The Real Meaning Anymore
We get used with the Word of God. We leave the church as we came. Nothing penetrates our heart anymore. We start to joke about God and even to take in vain His name. We become more and more anemic Christians. The temptation is getting bigger and bigger and has more effect on us. Our faith depreciates and we do not actively believe that God has real power. Why does it happen? Continue Reading…
