Reflecting

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! The last few weeks have been full of fun, new traditions, and very warm temperatures. As we prepared for the "big day", we took turns taking the children out shopping with us. Surprisingly, in several stores there was English Christmas music playing! Outside the big malls, there were decorations and lights. The children (along with a few of their American friends) had the opportunity at church to do a short narrative of what the decorations on a Christmas tree mean. A few days before Christmas, they were able to "perform" the same narrative inside one of the largest malls in Southeast Asia as well as one of the department stores inside of it. They were so thrilled to have the chance to do this! They did a very good job.

On Christmas Eve, a group of people from the church went out caroling and came by our house to sing Christmas songs. I think the highlight of making it "feel" like Christmas was being able to take the children (Thanks to the help of some very sweet friends!) on the skytrain to one of the malls that was decorated for the holidays. There were many lights and decorations, and an oversized "snow globe" that we were able to get inside of to take a picture!

This year, Christmas Dinner was very different as there were just the 7 of us! We had grilled chicken instead of turkey! After lunch, we took the children to the park so they could ride the bicycles they got for Christmas! What a difference to have 85 degree weather on Christmas Day! And, what a blessing it was to be together as a family. God allowed many new things to happen in our lives this year but I think one of the biggest blessings for me is that none of us are sick with illnesses. For the first time in 9 months, we all have runny noses, coughs, and something similar to the flu, but we are mostly over that now. But, as far as serious problems, we are free of those. To have five children and to be able to say that is truly a blessing! God has watched over us over the last year. As I have been reflecting over all that has happened in the last year, a verse came to mind: Psalm 23:6a - "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Even during the times when I haven't had the right attitude or haven't been as faithful to God in things as I should have been, God has allowed good things to happen and His mercy has surely been poured out on me! How wonderful to know that He is always there with us, guiding and leading, even if the path is unknown to us. All praise to Him Who knows where the path will lead and what lies ahead. With all the changes the past year brought, and all the blessings God showered on our family, I anxiously await what is in store for us this year. I know there will be "bumps in the road," but I also know that He will continue to show Himself good and faithful.

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

Today, Randy and I went to the party store to find stuff to make a piñata for the Children's Christmas party at church this weekend. While we were there, I was able to find Christmas plates and napkins! My favorite find of the day was snow fluff. I was so excited to get home with it and decorate the tree. I have been trying to think of something to add just the right finishing touch to the tree and that was it! While the children were in Thai class and the "babies" were playing in their room, I made it look like it had snowed on our Christmas tree. The children were absolutely thrilled and so was I to see the reaction on their faces. They have been "down-in-the-dumps" about not having snow for Christmas. This was what they needed to uplift their spirits. Needless to say, so was I! I also bought spray snow and sprayed the cabinet door windows. You can almost "feel" the cold when you walk into the room. NOW, I think our living room is ready for Christmas. Thank you, Lord, for the little blessings You send our way JUST when we need them!

Of course, there is no snow on the bottom of the tree as I was afraid William would try to eat it!

"All I Want For Christmas Is ..."

"... a Christmas tree with ornaments!" That is what I told Randy several weeks ago. And, I got it!!! Early, of course, and it obviously has made it "feel" more like Christmas really is this month. This year, I already have in mind what I would like to get the children for Christmas. Since the Christmas holiday is not officially celebrated in Thailand, the children don't see all kinds of advertisements on the television about "Christmas toy gift ideas." That's been kind of nice because they haven't been selfishly saying, "I want that" or "I HAVE to have one of those!". Although this Christmas will be very different for us, we rejoice in the fact that we have the CHRIST of Christmas living in our hearts. The sad truth this Christmas is all around us - people who don't have the joy of knowing Christ as their personal Saviour. So, the real question shouldn't be "What do I want for Christmas?". Rather, it should be, "What does HE want from me for Christmas?" The only person who can answer that question is you. Only you know what Christ wants from you. Maybe it is to change something in your life or some bad habit. Maybe it is greater service for Him. Maybe it is a greater love for the unsaved. Or for someone, maybe it is your heart. Whatever the case may be, He wants something from us. Not just because it is Christmas, but because He IS the King of Kings and we should celebrate His birth every day.

"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!"

The Ashcraft house has the look of Christmas in one room with the heat of summer! It's looking like Christmas and feeling like the 4th of July! I have never cared much for the cold unless there was snow on the ground. However, this year, I have a new appreciation for the cold winter air. I would love to feel it! It's hard to get into the Christmas spirit when the temperatures are around 90 degrees outside.

Tomorrow is the King's birthday in Thailand which means it is Father's Day here. Everything is so decorated in honor of him and there will be a huge celebration tomorrow. Most everything that is decorated does look like Christmas. They have lights strung everywhere! There will be a river parade and fireworks tomorrow night.

As I was shopping for our Christmas tree, it was amazing to see all the holiday decorations everywhere! Christmas trees that decorate the outside and inside of the malls, taller than I have ever seen. And, wouldn't you know it, it was the one time I didn't have my camera with me! I will definitely have to go back.

I found a quote today from Nate Saint who was the missionary pilot for Jim Elliot. Two weeks before he was martyred by the Auca Indians, he said, "As we have a high old time this Christmas may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurdle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance. May we be moved with compassion as our Lord was. May we shed tears of repentance for these we have failed to bring out of darkness. Beyond the smiling scenes of Bethlehem may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha." I think many times we get so caught up in the festivities of the season that we honestly don't think about the Easter to come. Yes, Christmas is a time to be enjoyed but it is also the perfect time to be able to share the "Reason for the Season." God did love us and continues to do so, but our job, be it single lady, wife, Mother, business woman, housewife, or missionary, is to share that love with everyone we come in contact with. We need others to see there is something different about us. That person getting in line in front of us or pushing us out of the way to get to something we would like to purchase, or the one that is just obviously in a hurry, is like us - one breath away from eternity. Does their eternity hold the same blessings as mine? IF I show them one act of true Christian love and smile, will they remember that and wonder why I was so kind? You never know what may turn a person's attention to the true meaning of Christmas - to the babe in the manger who lies in the shadow of a cross.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

As our Thanksgiving Day comes to an end on this side of the world, many of you are just starting your special day. This day has brought back memories of many different Thanksgivings and many colder ones, as well! I missed having the boys around from our Children's Home and all the extra people that came over to our house just because they had been exposed to our "Special Day." Oh how we enjoyed the extra company! As I made deviled eggs this morning, I remembered all the times I had made many more dozens only to watch the boys devour them in a short amount of time! This Thanksgiving, we spent our day with other missionary families and had a wonderful time! The children had so much fun being able to play with other children their ages.

I have been reading a book over the last few weeks entitled Thanksgiving: The Pilgrims' First Year in America. I have learned many things about the Pilgrims that came to America that I never knew. It has made me even more thankful for how God provided for our move to Thailand. First of all, it was a fairly easy journey for us, even with 5 children, compared to what the Pilgrims had to endure. When we arrived, we had friends to greet us and a place to stay our first night. We had food to eat, clothes and shoes to wear, school books for the children, and toys for them to play with. We were able to buy dishes and only a few pieces of furniture because most of the furniture we needed was provided in our rental house. We were able to buy pillows and sheets. We had a computer and a phone to communicate with our loved ones on the other side of the world to let them know we had made it safely. All of these things sometimes seem so commonplace to have and I think we take them for granted many times. All of these important things to us were not readily available to the Pilgrims. They suffered through many things during their first year in a land which would one day be known as America. Yet, they endured their suffering and pushed on. Not one Pilgrim returned to England when given the chance. Through hard work, cold weather, and many other hardships, they continued to trust in God, knowing that He had led them to do what they were doing. Many of the Pilgrims died along th way. Their desire for freedom of religion and worshipping God the way they felt was best drove them to do what was needed for survival. My difficult times over the last few months haven't come close to the difficult times the Pilgrims suffered through. My desire, to see people here gain their "freedom of religion" and worship the One True God is what pushes me forward. When I experience these times, I have to refocus my attention on what is truly important, pick myself up, and move forward. God is teaching me to trust more deeply in Him. "I'm just clay in the Potter's hands." I must be willing to allow Him to mold me into what He would have me be.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for many things - my salvation, my family, my freedom. I am thankful for what God has done for me and what He has given to me. Most of all, I am thankful that He has chosen me to serve Him in the place He has put me. I am thankful that He knows what the future holds and I don't have to worry about it. I am thankful that He hasn't given up on me and that He continues to teach me. I am thankful to know that whatever He has for me is something I can handle as long as I keep my eyes on Him. I am thankful for the difficult times because that is when my faith grows. I am thankful for the mountain tops where I can look down into the valleys He has brought me through. I am thankful that my God supplies ALL my needs!

Hebrews 13:15 - "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Difficult Days

Ever had a difficult day? Ever had a day where it seemed no matter how hard you tried, nothing turned out right? Ever had a day where it seemed that everything you touched turned into straw instead of gold? Me, too! So, I thought I would share my devotion from yesterday that helped me today.

"Learn to appreciate difficult days. Be stimulated by the challenges you encounter along your way. As you journey through rough terrain with Me, gain confidence from your knowledge that together we can handle anything. This knowledge is comprised of three parts: your relationship with Me, promises in the Bible, and past experiences of coping successfully during hard times.

Look back on your life, and see how I have helped you through difficult days. If you are tempted to think, "Yes, but that was then, and this is now," remember who I AM! Although you and your circumstances may change dramatically, I remain the same throughout time and eternity. This is the basis of your confidence. In My Presence you live and move and have your being."
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young - November 8th entry

Through difficult days, we should repeat the words of Psalm 50:15 - "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

Another Visit From Family

What a blessing to have had my parents come for a two-week visit! For those of you who know my parents, you know how difficult this is. My Daddy owns a funeral home and is the director so it is very hard for him to get away. While they were here, we celebrated his birthday. What a fun time we had!

During that time, many parts of Bangkok were experiencing flooding and we thought we were not going to be able to visit the temples we wanted to take them to see. By the end of the time, however, the flooding had gone down and we were able to go!

We were also able to take them several hours out of the city down south to a place called Cha'am. They enjoyed being able to see more of the country than just the big city. Cha'am is on the east coast of Thailand next to the Gulf of Siam. Of course, since we were at the beach, we had to have a meal of crabs and shrimp!

The children had an especially fun time, starting with the fact that they didn't even know their grandparents were coming! It was so much fun to watch their faces while they were playing when they looked up and saw their grandparents walk out of the bedroom the morning after they arrived. The highlight for them was getting to have Christmas early.

After having made several trips to Mexico, Thailand was very different for my parents. Seeing the temples and the monks walking around amid lost people who aren't aware there is a Saviour, my Daddy commented, "This makes you want to go to Israel and visit the Holy Land!" Yes, it makes one very sad to be in a culture where they don't believe in the One True God. How exciting it would be to visit the place where Jesus was born, lived, died, and resurrected!

If it wasn't for my parents' love for missionaries, I don't believe I would be where I am today. My parents have always been involved with missions in every church they have been in. They housed missionaries in their home many times. They allowed my brother and I to stay up late at night even though there would be school the next day so that we could hear their stories. We learned many things about many countries, and from a little girl, I wanted to be a pastor's wife or a missionary's wife. My mother, many times, allowed missionary wives to do their laundry at her house. I believe that my mother's willingness to help in an area that was never known about was rewarded through me while we were traveling in the States on deputation and furloughs. I have always been offered a place to wash clothes or at the last minute, found a roll of quarters in a missionary basket I was given, in order to wash clothes at a motel when needed. God watches out for us in every area, no matter how insignificant it may seem to others. Thank you, Daddy and Mom, for allowing me to have the influence of other missionaries in my life. God has used you both in a tremendous way through my life. Who knows how He will also use my children?!