I Am Loved!!!

This past week, Randy and I celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary! Thirteen years ago, I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would have been celebrating in Bangkok, Thailand. I have had people ask me all kinds of questions while being a missionary's wife. Of all the questions I have been asked, I think the most surprising question (which I have received many times) was, "If you had known all that was going to happen in your life, would you still have married Randy?" I have no doubt in my mind that God's will for my life was to marry Randy Ashcraft. There were too many "coincidences" to point me to the realization that Randy was the one for me. So, to answer the ever-surprising question, I give a resounding YES!!! Sure, we have had our disagreements and valleys, but doesn't every couple? God has been with us every second of the journey of our married life. Everything that has happened has been for a reason. Sometimes we discovered the reasons and some we will never know until eternity. However, as my devotions began the other day, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." God loves me more than I can imagine! He planned my life just as He desired. A dream I always had as a young child and teenager was to one day be able to visit Thailand. When Randy and I got married, I somewhat put the idea in the back of my mind, believing it would most likely not happen. And look what a change of events God has brought about in our lives! Not only did He allow me to visit this beautiful country, He has given me the opportunity to live here and share His Gospel with the unbelieving - to one day be able to share the knowledge of the "unknown God" as Paul did in Athens. God chose me to walk with Him down paths I wouldn't have dreamed and honestly, probably not chosen. My life has been unique because I have a unique God. God's plans for me are good. My future lies in heaven where I will one day relax from the "running" of this life. Although I do not know what lies before me in the future, I am excited to know that not only do I have a God that knows all and will lead the way but I have a loving husband who will walk alongside me as we fulfill God's plan for our lives together. Please pray for us as we continue our journey.

I love you with all my heart, Randy. I am so glad that God chose to put us together and give us five beautiful children.

2553???

Did you know the year is 2553 in Thailand!!! What??? How can that be? I was really confused. Well, confused would be an understatement. It was more like "Where has time gone?" So, really, how could it be 2553? And on top of that, it isn't A.D. It is B.E. Randy had noticed several days ago on paperwork that he was filling out that in the place for year there was 25___, like our American paperwork normally has 20____. So, we asked our teacher during class because we noticed her calendar. According to the symbols for the numbers that she had just taught us, the calendar said the year was 2553!!! She said the year really is 2553 because Lord Buddha was born 543 years before Christ! That is also the reason they use the letters B.E. It stands for "Buddhist Era." I sat there speechless. I didn't know what to think. Here I was in a country that even their calendar is based on Buddha and not Christ! Something I had not even thought about. I guess even the year is another thing we take for granted being from "one nation under God." The thought blew me away. And yet, she had just said the name "Christ." How much does she know of Christ? Just His name? Randy has made mention of the Bible and Jesus and stories from the Bible while talking about cultural issues with her. She has never given any indication to whether she knew or didn't know about the Bible and Jesus. Please pray for us that God may use even the little things like this to open a door to talk with the Thai people about Christ.

Another Year

Another year, another birthday! Thank you, Lord, for another year. Another year that was full of surprises. Another year that brought about moving from one place to another. Another year that brought another baby into our lives. Another year of ups and downs. BUT best of all, another year that God was with me! This time last year, I was pregnant, living in Mexico and getting ready for a big move. Little did I know ALL that would happen in one year's time! God protected and watched over me through an emergency cesarean that brought our little miracle, William, into this big world. God sent special people along the way to help with the packing while I was recuperating. God gave me special things all through the traveling to help with the children and my sanity! He let me know in His own special way that I was where He wanted me to be. I knew things would be hectic but I also knew He would be with me. Each day, God sends me something - whether through His Word or another person or just the thoughts He gives me through the day. Today, that special "something" came in the form of a birthday card. I want to share it with you because it was so special to me. Every person who reads this can apply it to their own life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." God's purpose for me today included many things but the most important one was serving Him where He has placed me. So throughout my 36-hour birthday (as it starts on one side of the world and stretches to the other!), maybe another one of God's purposes for me today is to share these thoughts with you. God bless each one of you!

"Just think ... You are not here by chance, but by God's choosing.

Just think ... His hand formed you and made you the person you are.

Just think ... He compares you to no on else - You are one of a kind.

Just think ... You lack nothing that His grace can't give you.

Just think ... He has allowed you to be here at this time in history

To fulfill His special purpose for this generation."