Who Am I That He Would Consider Me?

Several times last night, I awoke to an awesome thunderstorm and Andrew's words from the other day rang in my head, "Right, Mommy, the thunder shows God's power?" Even a child can recognize God in creation. When I got out of bed this morning, I could hear the sounds of birds outside. They are chirps that I had never heard until I came to Thailand. My devotions this morning reminded me to look for God everywhere. He is "richly present" in everything! The last line of my devotions read, "Search for deep treasure as you go through this day. You will find Me all along the way." So many times we overlook the "treasures" God puts in our path. He will always be with us no matter what may be going on around us. Through all things that happen, God strategically gives us things that remind us of Him IF we let them. These things may be trials or blessings. Both turn our thoughts toward Him. I read Psalm 8:3-5 which says, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." I thought of all the new things I have seen that have amazed me while on this side of the world - flowers, fruits, and birds. And yet, to think that the same sun and moon I see can also be seen from the other side of the world! God's majesty is proclaimed everywhere!

Oriental Magpie Robin that we see everyday around our house.

Dragonfruit which has become one of my favorite fruits! It is very similar to kiwi.

As we left for church, I watched things along the way and pondered the thought that no matter how small or insignificant I feel, God sees me and I am important to Him. And the thought amazes me. Even with all the people that are in the world, God knows me and loves me. How awesome! This was definitely the message God was sending me today because one of the first songs that was sung in our church this morning was a song entitled "Who Am I?" The words go like this:Tears came to my eyes as I thought of how much God truly loves me! He knows me by name. He hears me when I call on Him and He is there to see me through the good times and hard times. No matter what I do or say, HE LOVES ME, whether I deserve it or not! I am His and He is mine. I am loved with an everlasting love. I am in awe of his majesty and creation. We are not promised tomorrow. My desire is that while I am here on earth, people with be able to see God through me. I pray that I will be another part of His creation that He can use that gives all honor, glory, and praise to Him.

I found this picture this morning and although I have never seen the movie from which the top picture was taken, I was astonished at the similarities to the reality picture of Bangkok on Wednesday. May 19, 2010 will be a day that will forever be remembered in Thai history. A day when Thai people destroyed part of a Thai city and killed Thai people. As protesting had gone on for weeks, we knew something was about to happen when the Prime Minister gave the protesters an ultimatum. There was an eerie feeling that hung in the air. Randy and I watched news updates after we heard that soldiers and armored vehicles had begun to move toward the city of Bangkok. Our day started somewhat normal. My devotional entry for the day said, "I want you to know how safe and secure you are in My Presence." The Bible verse with it was Psalms 29:11 - "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace." I have never felt any fear while living here, even with all the protesting going on. But what a wonderful blessing to be reminded THAT morning of God's protection over us. We knew we couldn't go to class because the public transportation had shut down so we decided to go to the Lotus (like a Walmart) to stock up on some groceries and eat lunch. This Lotus is located in a mall that is some distance away from the protesting. We did most of our shopping and then went to a restaurant on the 4th floor that overlooks Bangkok. Out the window, we could see a little black smoke in the air over the area where the protesters had been burning tires. We were almost done eating when we began to see plumes of black smoke going up, one by one, in the distance. We finished and decided to run in one last store before leaving. As we left that last store, vendors were hurriedly closing their shops and people were rapidly moving out of the mall. We got stuck in a massive crowd of people trying to get across the road on the pedestrian overpass. As we looked both directions, vehicles were bumper to bumper. I have to admit, it was unnerving but I felt no fear or panic. Just a peace that swept over me that I was safe in God's hands as my devotional words kept ringing in my head. When we made it to the other side, Randy said that we should just walk for a ways and then get a taxi. When we finally got in a taxi, the driver in a few words was able to let us know there was a curfew. Randy commented to me that a night curfew couldn't be causing this kind of chaos. When we made it home, the news revealed that the Red Shirt leaders had surrendered and everyone thought there was going to finally be a peaceful end to the protesting. However, the protesters began burning buildings and working their way to this side of the city. In all, 39 buildings were set on fire. As malls were some of the buildings being set on fire, every mall decided to close, hence the mass of people were stuck in trying to get out of the mall. An announcement was made over the loudspeaker in the last store we were in, but since they do that often, we didn't think anything about it and since we don't understand the Thai language, we don't know what was actually said. After looking at the news and pictures this morning, it is hard to believe what this city went through on that day. Many people are comparing it to the World Trade Center experience in the U.S. However, the major difference is that the WTC experience brought people together. This series of events in Thailand seems to have brought more division among the people. Like as Paul waiting in Athens, my spirit has been stirred as I have seen Bangkok (and all of Thailand) "wholly given to idolatry." These people were praying for the sacred objects to protect them! I have the promise of safety from my Lord. In the safety of our home, I silently prayed that this madness would end as we watched events unfold before us on the television. Firefighters couldn't get into some of the areas to put fires out because the protesters would shoot at them or do things to keep them away. Central World Mall, the 2nd largest in Southeast Asia from what I have heard, burned for at least 9 hours before firefighters were able to get in and try to control the blaze. At 10 p.m., Prime Minister Abhisit went on TV to ask for cooperation from the people and promised heavy punishment to those involved. As Thursday morning dawned, it seemed everything was finally over. There was a calm stillness. Still, several more fires were set. It was unbelievable to watch people cheering and clapping as the Central World Mall collapsed! Other reports told of protesters booing and jeering firefighters as they brought other blazes under control. A lot of what I have seen makes no sense. But then I have to remember, this is a Godless people. My prayer is that eyes will be opened and that Thai people will embrace a loving, forgiving, peaceful, compassionate God. My desire is for Thai souls to accept Him. Please pray for the Thai people and the country of Thailand. As my devotional book read this morning, "I, the Creator of the Universe, am with you and for you. What more could you need?" Pray that we will let God be our All in All as we seek to serve Him in this country so desperately in need of Him.

Awestruck

As I sit in the comfort and safety of my home, I remain awestruck as to what I have just seen. We have now lived in Bangkok for four weeks and have pretty much settled into a schedule and routine. When I look out over the balcony of my front and back porch, it is hard to believe that we live in a city, much less a city of 11 million people. The view around us seems like we are out in a country so to speak because we really can't see any high-rise buildings that would indicate that we live in Bangkok. As I have said before, when I see the pictures and videos of what is happening, it is unfathomable to believe it is all happening 5 and 1/2 miles from us! Today, Randy and I met some friends for lunch at a motel close to the rally site but far enough away that we weren't in any danger. After lunch, they took us to their room on the 24th floor of the building. As I walked into the room, the view in front of me was breathtaking. My heart sped up at the sight. The city of Bangkok, or at least a part of it, lay before me as far as the eye could see. My eyes filled with tears and my heart broke. I was reminded of how many people actually live in this city and why God has brought us to this dark place in the world. I have lived protected from the city by trees and other buildings. I sat down in a chair and while everyone else talked, my mind and heart raced. So many people that have never heard the precious name of Jesus! Through the window in a distance to the right, I could see black smoke rising. Just a short mile away, people were being injured and killed in the streets. I came to the conclusion that every missionary here should either live high above the city or at least frequently visit a high-rise building to look out over the vastness of buildings that contain precious souls. To be reminded of why God has brought us here. To have their heart broken every time they look out over Bangkok. I realized that every muscle in my body was rigid and I was gripping my chair as if I were going to fall through it if I didn't hold on. These people are calling on sacred objects to protect them and asking for help from Buddha. They don't know about the One True God who can save them from so much more than gunfire. I thought of all the times that I have gotten on the skytrain to go somewhere and the reality grips my soul when I think that Randy and I may have been the only ones on that skytrain who knew Christ as their Saviour. It is a bone-chilling fact. A verse came to my mind on our way home as my mind reeled with what I had seen and how God had used it to once again break my heart. Isaiah 9:2 says, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." This city, this country is in a great darkness. They are living in the shadow of death. God is shining His light of love upon them through the missionaries He is calling and sending to this "Land of Smiles." Pray for us and pray for Thailand that this land will become of land of smiling faces that know Him as their Lord and Saviour. May it one day be said that these people have seen the Light.

Violence in Bangkok

Just a week ago, it seemed the protesters were going to go home and now we are on the verge of a civil war. An area of Bangkok has been declared a "live firing zone." The public transportation systems have been closed. Electricity, water, and phone use in areas has been shut down. As of the writing of this entry, over the last few days there have been 29 deaths and 221 injuries. The Red Shirts have called on the governent to stop using force and they would go to the negotiating table again. The life of one of their leaders hangs in the balance as he entered kidney failure this afternoon. During the day, there is absolutely nothing to indicate there is practically a war zone 5 and 1/2 miles from our house. Life continues as normal around here. But after it gets dark and everything is still and quiet, we can hear the intermittent gunfire and explosions from RPG's. We know we are in the center of God's will and we know there are many people praying for us. God has brought us here for a reason. Lost souls. I cringe at the sounds I hear at night just knowing these people more than likely have never heard the name of Jesus and they are not ready to enter an eternity without Him. My devotional book started the other day with this sentence : I AM A MIGHTY GOD! Isaiah 9:6 immediately came to my mind: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." My heart breaks for the people of Thailand who don't even know this precious truth! Governments rise and fall as to God's discretion. He was in control in the beginning. He was in control when He gave His only Son. He was in control when Jesus arose. He is in control now in the midst of the controversy in the country and He will still be in control when the problems are resolved. How truly thankful I am to know that I can rest in peace, knowing that whatever happens, it was ordained by God. One of the Red Shirt leaders called on the "sacred objects to protect the protesters." Before we moved over here, Randy and I both felt like something was going to happen in Thailand that would cause more openess to the Gospel. Maybe God has brought us here for such a time as this. We feel so inadequate since we don't know the language. However, we know that God is going to use us. Please pray for us that we will be sensitive to the people here and also to the Lord's direction in our lives. Please pray for the people of Thailand that they will be willing to open their minds and hearts to Christ.

One Week of Language School

Our first week of language school is completed! I am amazed at how much we were taught during the first week. 42 consonants and 24 vowels. I can now write my name in Thai, also! I am surprised at how much I remember when I am out and look at signs. Today, our teacher said the name of the consonants and the vowels so we could write them down. She also dictated consonant and vowel blends for us to write. That doesn't sound like it would be too difficult, but it is crazy how the blends go together! The vowels are a combination of symbols that can be above the consonant, below the consonant, to the left, to the right, or a combination of all these! Some vowels are one symbol while others are five symbols all around one consonant! Short and long vowels determine the tone of the consonant-vowel blend. There is so much to remember and still so much to learn! Please continue to pray for us. We were going to try to go every day but with the travel time and school with the children at home and still trying to get adjusted, we decided we would be better off to go only three days a week. It is better to go at a slower pace now and learn the basics well. The children have a tutor who comes to our house Monday through Friday for one hour in the evening so they are learning the Thai alphabet as well. They are doing a very good job!

We had our first "accident" this week as a glass top on a living room end table fell and broke into hundreds of pieces. As usual, it was a combination of things that caused this to happen. In the process, the floor got wet and Caleb slid and fell and cut the back of his leg on a piece of the glass. Randy looked at his leg and cleaned it. We praise the Lord that it wasn't a very deep cut, not even deep enough to need stitches. Of course, since we have just moved here, we didn't have any band-aids so Randy had to go to a pharmacy and buy some. I fortunately had brought some Neosporin with me! This most definitely could have been so much worse than it was. We thank God for watching over us at ALL times!

I also want to thank the Lord for bringing new American friends into our lives. We have been e-mailing several missionaries here over the last few months - getting information and asking questions before we left the U.S. One of the families, Matt & Courtney Jones, came to our house to meet us yesterday. What a blessing! They have four children that almost perfectly match the ages of our four oldest children. Cynthia was thrilled to have two girls to play with that were around her age. We are looking forward to spending more time with them in the future.

To all of you Mothers who read this, I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. It was so wonderful to be able to spend Mother's Day with my husband and children! Sunday was Mother's Day in the United States, while Mother's Day in Mexico was Monday. I have been asked by several people which Mother's Day I would celebrate. I found out that Mother's Day in Thailand is August 12th, which is the Queen's birthday. So, technically, I could celebrate three Mother's Days! God gave me a new insight this year - no matter where I am, what I am doing or whether my children are with me or not, every day is Mother's Day because He has given me five blessings to hold, love, and raise, and two who went to be with Him before they were born. I am truly blessed! I pray that I will be the right example for my children. Who knows, maybe one of the reasons that God brought our family to Thailand was that He is planning to use one of our children here in the future to make an impact on this country. My Mom has a magnet hanging in her office that reads: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." - III John 1:3. For her, even though I am so far away, she knows that I am in the Lord's will and that I am right where He wants me. I can't imagine how hard it is for her for me to be so far away. Thank the Lord for technology that I can use Skype and actually see and talk to her at the same time!!! When the time comes for my children to leave home, I pray that they will follow His leading and go where He wants them to go and do what He wants them to do, while I wait to hear of how God is using them wherever they are.

Day One of Language School

We have just returned from our first day of language school. I am surprised I don't have a headache! I learned a lot today and I realize that although this is a hard language to learn, I will be able to learn it! God will get me through another language. I look at it as another way to praise Him and glorify Him. God's majesty is visible in so many ways - through flowers, animals, people and languages! I am in awe, again, as I today can pick out 9 consonants and 12 vowels in a language that yesterday was totally unrecognizable. Please pray for us. We have class every day Monday through Friday ffrom 2-4 p.m. An old hymn says, "Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing my Great Redeemer's praise." I think I will be satisfied with three!

These are only the consonants!!!

Living in the Closeness of God

Now that we have gotten settled in more or less, our daily lives now have a schedule. I am more dependent now than ever on my morning time with God. The little devotional book I have is becoming more and more special to me. It truly does seem as if it was written for me! Yesterdays entry began, "You are on the path of My choosing. There is no randomness about your life. Here and Now comprise the coordinates of your daily life." I most definitely am in the path God has for me because if I was truly honest, I would have to say that I probably wouldn't have chosen the road I am on. I am enjoying the newness of every day and everything that it holds for me. The first few weeks have been fairly easy, however, we start language school tomorrow and I will most definitely need more prayer! Friday, Randy and I went to look at the school that we believe God has led us to. A lady there showed us the curriculum and all I can say is wow! There are 44 letters in the Thai alphabet but now they only use 42 because of the similarities between a few of the letters. All the letters are divided into three groups depending on tones and then there are vowels and final letter! They don't use spacing or punctuation. This is going to be a major hurdle for us and surely won't be as easy as learning Spanish!

Today's entry in my devotional book began like this: "Living in dependence on Me is the way to enjoy abundant life. You are learning to appreciate tough times, because they amplify your awareness of My Presence . . . When you feel tired, you remember that I am your Strength." Tougher days are ahead for us, needless to say. But I am truly thankful for an omniscient God who knows what lies on the path in front of me. Only He can provide the strength for each day that I will need. I am comforted in knowing that the farther I go down this path, the more He can use me for His glory. He never promised life would be easy, but praise the Lord, He promised He would be there with us! My mind goes to verses that I heard frequently in college, "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Hebrews 13:20&21. I am determined to be dependent on God through my weaknesses that I may enjoy an abundant life while He is perfecting me to serve Him in a greater capacity.