Father's Day

In Thailand, December 5 is King Bhumibol Adulyadej 's birthday. The king is celebrating his 88th birthday. He has reigned since 1946. It is also considered Father's Day. All over the nation people are honoring their king; most whom have only known him as the king. He is highly revered and loved. He is truly adored as a father who has proven to care for his people; dedicating much time and energy for the improvement of the country and his people.

Quite coincidently today I remember the day of my father's passing. It was 10 years ago the Lord decided it was time to bring my father home to be with him. Though it has been so long, the feeling and longing is still strong. There is still heartache and times where I can't breath from missing him so.

He never saw his grandchildren. Something that I knew he waited for so long. There are moments when the kids do something special or funny I catch myself wishing he could be here to see it.
When I was little, my father always took time for me. He would take me to the park or play games with me. Even in his busy schedule, he would make sure to be present for all major events like school concerts or church pageants. He loved to get down and dirty with me to dig up for bugs or run out and help me ride my bike. I know he would have done the same with our boys.
I love my mother very  much but I am a proud daddy's girl. In my father's eyes I could do not wrong. Sometimes, when people ask whether I wished our family had a daughter, I jokingly answer that I was so spoiled by my father that I can't imagine having to share the title of the only princess of the house.
I have heard many times that people say their perspective of God the father is reflective of how they perceive their own father; some as a hard and unforgiving or some as weak and soft.  I can agree with that at some level. Even though my father wasn't perfect, and there were times we really conflicted, overall I adored my father. I always strived to please him and knew he loved me so much. Before my husband, he was the man I would run to if I was in trouble. As a little girl, if I got hurt, I would run into his arms. I can still remember his embrace and smell.
And that is how much I adore God. I wasn't perfect. I made many mistakes, but God was always on my side and I knew He loved me. If there was any trouble, I could run into our father God's arms.
This is also what drives me to share about God's love in Thailand. Sadly there are many who have never experienced this unconditional love; Lives empty or shattered. My heart burns to show them the father's love. To tell them that even when all seem lost there is hope and a love so beautiful and healing. Accepting you and inviting you.
So today, I remember my father and I hope I am making him proud. I am also asking Father God to continue to burden my heart for the Thais and all people to know of His great love for us.
Would you kindly say a prayer for Thailand and for our family to continue to be faithful to God's calling to us? Thank you dear friends.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

One after another. We have shared at several missions conferences, churches, small groups, and with many individuals by now. It is easy to lose sight that it is about connecting God’s people with God’s heart for missions, and not just another event to attend. It is easy to wonder whether the message is getting through and whether there will be lasting impact.

However, I (Dave) was reminded of God’s goodness and faithfulness in the midst of our perseverance through a recent Facebook message I received. Over ten years ago when I was still a single man, working as a civil engineer, God had given me the privilege to meet up and disciple a group of students at the University of Maryland.  Week after week for about four years, I would commute to campus right after getting off work, and lead a bible study with the group of guys in their dorm room. After they graduated, we parted ways and I didn’t feel like much really resulted from my efforts. Unfortunately, I did not keep in touch with many of them either, except through being friends on Facebook.

About three weeks ago, I received a Facebook message from one of the young men in that group. All he wrote was, “Thanks for making those long commutes out to College Park, Dave!” And right under the message was a link to a testimony he wrote for a Christian website. You have to understand that he was the only non-Christian in the group at that time. In fact, he shared in his testimony that he was furious when confronted with the existence of hell and the exclusivity of Jesus as Savior and Lord in one of our bible studies. He even exclaimed that he would rather be in hell than believe in our kind of God. But along his spiritual journey, he came to believe in Jesus Christ by God’s grace through the Alpha Course, and is now a fourth year graduate student at Westminster Theological Seminary.

So what is the point of sharing this story? Ministry is not always easy. Sharing God’s heart for missions is not always effortless. Many times we may not see any immediate fruit. Yet, the bible says, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). We thank you for partnering with us in this “work of the Lord” through your prayers.

Gazing heavenward ~ Dave, Lila, Caleb, Caden & Corban



 

NST Full Gospel - Building Dedication

Our family had the privilege to be invited to a  new church building dedication in the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Full Gospel church of NST also had the distinction of celebrating 46 years of being a church. It was a wonderful sight to see churches and church leaders from all over the area come and celebrate this occasion. There is a very small population on believers in Thailand and even smaller numbers represented in the South, so  it can easily get discouraging to see how small the groups are compared to the whole population. That is why  Christians in South Thailand will always take the opportunity to join other believers so they can be mutually encouraged. We took members of our church to join in the celebration. What blessed me was that you had all churches, no matter the denomination or distance come and join in praise and worship. Bethlehem church is another church in the city that has been there for over 100 years. When their senior pastor spoke during the service, he praised God for Full Gospel sharing in the work of spending the gospel to the Thais. What a wonderful sample of heaven, when we can all come together and praise our God.

The full of the church.

Dedication

                                                               

Some of the members of our church with the Italian Catholic Priest that has been serving in Thailand for over 30 years.

Good Friday and Sunrise Easter Service

A favorite tradition Pak Phanang Church has is meeting for Good Friday as well as  having Sunrise Easter Service at the beach.

This year, the church members met at one of the leader's house to observe Good Friday as well as spend some time of fellowship. The time was filled with songs, share scripture and eating together.

 

 



 

Though the beach is only about 5 minutes from our home, it is quite a production to awake our family as well as go and pick up other church members. But it is so worth it when we finally get there.

We come when it is still dark and later are greeted with a beautiful sunrise.



Again, we gather to sing songs and share scripture.  It's a beautiful sight to be worshiping Jesus's resurrection with our small church on the beach. I will definitely miss this next year when we are back in the States.

How long are you staying?

When my family first moved into our house, we would be asked this question frequently. It perplexed us a bit wondering why they would ask such a question. Back in the U.S., where we were originally from, if you were to move into a new neighborhood it would be considered quite odd for someone to ask you that.
We then realized it was a question asked because they will determine, based on how long you plan to stay, whether it is worth building a relationship with you or not. Relationships are quite important in Thai culture. If you have not grown up with them or lived around them for a long time, it is not automatic that you have their attention or trust.
So the next time we were asked this question, we would answer that our term has us in the area for three years but our hope is that we will be here for our whole life. You would be amazed what doors opened up when they heard this and was delighted to see we were here for the long term.
And now, as we finish our first term, the question we are being asked by our neighbors are "How much longer before you leave?... When will you be back? Are you going to live here when you do?" These questions both saddens me as well as gives me joy because I know they are asking not because they are wondering whether it's still worth keeping a relationship with me and my family but they have become so close to us and opened their lives to us that now they are also sad to see us leave. And I am sad as well that it will be a while before we see them again but our neighbors have become like family and we will keep these ties for the long term.
I have come to realize that God wants us to share His name, yes, through sharing his words, but also by sharing his love through opening up our lives and making connections. Would you pray that we will continue to make the best use of our remaining time to share the good news with them and also continue our relationship afterwards for the long term?

The Graciousness of Uncertainty

Part of my daily devotion for many years now has been reading Oswald Chamber's  My Utmost of His Highest  
 
It's amazing even after all the years the words still strike me. Here was today's devotional


It has not yet been revealed what we shall be . . . —1 John 3:2
  

"Our natural inclination is to be so precise—trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next—that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

 

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life—gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God—it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “. . . unless you . . . become as little children . . .” (Matthew 18:3).

 

The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “. . . believe also in Me” (John 14:1), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in—but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.."

 

 

 I'm reminded again that my life is a daily abandonment and trust to God. Not certain of what is ahead but certain God is in control. Learning to " Let go, and Let God" He has always been faithful and exceeded our expectations.

We struggle through each day on our knees wondering what is ahead here and many times facing frustations and uncertainty, But we continue to look to the certain God and know He is with us and ahead of us. He is bigger than everything.

 

An old song has popped up in my mind today. Today I confess this song to Him

 

BE MAGNIFIED

 

I have made you too small, in my eyes
O Lord, forgive me
And I have believed in a lie
That you were unable to help me.
But now O Lord, I see my wrong
Heal my heart and show yourself strong
And in my eyes,and with my song
O Lord, be magnified
O Lord, be magnified.

 

Chorus
Be magnified O lord,
You are highly exalted
And there is nothing you can't do
O Lord, my eyes are on you,be magnified,
O lord be magnified,O Lord be magnified

 verse 2
I have leaned on the wisdom of me
O Lord, forgive me
And I have responded to them
Instead of your light and your mercy
But now, O Lord, I see my wrong
Heal My Heart and show yourself strong
And in my eyes and with my song
O Lord, be magnified
O Lord, be magnified.

 Chorus
Be magnified O lord,
You are highly exalted
And there is nothing you can't do
O Lord, my eyes are on you,be magnified,
O lord be magnified,O Lord be magnified
x2

 Ending
O Lord be magnified
O Lord be magnified
O Lord be magnified
O Lord be magnified

Giving Way

I (Lila) was faced with an interesting "dilemma" the other day. While at the airport going through a line, a young monk was walking the opposite direction towards me. In Thai culture, it is forbidden for a monk to have any direct  physical contact with a woman or it is considered unclean. These includes even "brushing past" each other. So with the crowd, only one of us could pass through while the other must step back . So who gives way to who? The pregnant woman or the young monk?

I ended up stepping back,  In Thailand, Buddhism is very strong and monks are highly respected and given priority treatment wherever they go. As a foreigner, I try to be respectful of the cultural traditions and customs of our host country but honestly,  I did have a short thought beforehand thinking that I should stare him down and demand he step back and give way to the 30 week pregnant woman waddling around.

Now, I'm sure if I did wait a bit, he would have stepped back. He was a young man and all Thais are very polite but later, I did reflect on my action  and attitude and was reminded a bit about how this situation ties into our current life being here sharing God's love. As we share the gospel, it is not with an approach that we get our way all the time but sometimes, we need to recognize that we must take the step back or humble ourselves to show the true love of God. We could even be in the "right" but that is not always for us to demand and show. Even with Jesus who "did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom" (Mt 20:28), I'm reminded, even when we see no fruit or responses, it is my heart attitude and service God sees. And sometimes, it about taking that step back so God can do the work first. And I take joy and peace in that.