"I know God is real because I have a microwave," were not the words that I expected to hear from my student Eak. At first I thought this must be one of those language barrier moments that missionaries speak about so often. But as he continued to tell the story, and I tried to follow his rapid Thai, I realized that I'd heard him right. Let me back up and explain from the beginning.
Two years ago, Eak, a student at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, would hardly look foreigners in the eye. His good friend attended our weekly Bible studies at the Grapevine Student Club. She'd tried coaxing him to our free Tuesday meals, but his shy manner prevented him from coming. A year later, though, he decided to join us for a party, and had so much fun that he returned the following week. Soon he became actively involved in the ministry, and eagerly listened as we shared stories about Christ. When we began to talk about the power of prayer, he decided to experience it for himself. That's where the microwave comes in.
At a New Year's work party, Eak's company raffled several items, including two big ticket pieces - a TV and a huge microwave. Looking around the room of over 2,000 people, Eak knew he had a slim chance to win. So he enlisted the help of God. The simple prayer crossed his lips, "God, if you are real, let me win that microwave." And he got it.
I had a good conversation with God this morning. I often find that the best conversations include His gentle reprimands. Sometimes the better than the best conversations include His not so gentle reprimands.
This particular prayer time was no different. Since learning about my need to raise additional support, my prayer times have contained a large dose of supplication for funding and new givers. Today almost before I'd sat down, I said, "Lord, please help me to raise support." I didn't start out with a cheerful, "It's such a beautiful day, God, thanks for sharing it with me." Nor did I greet Him with a, "Our Father who Art in heaven." I rushed in and just said, "Dad, I need 20 bucks." I found it rather interesting that I could do this with my heavenly Father, but I've never done that with my earthly Dad. It rankles me when kids selfishly demand money in that manner.
I stopped, backtracked, and asked myself, what's the issue here? Unfortunately for me, there are several. God and I tackled worry first. My preacher's kid training automatically took me to Matthew, where I picked up reading under the not too subtle heading "Do Not Worry." It's a passage we're all familiar with, so I won't quote it here (if you want to read it, though, go to Matthew 6 : 25 - 34). Toward the end, the famous exhortation to "seek first His kingdom and righteousness " stood out to me, just as it does every time I read that chapter. (You'd think I'd learn sooner or later)
I pondered the nature of seeking verses the nature of worry. While both can saturate us thoroughly, worry is easy, but seeking is not. Seeking requires action; worry drives us to inactivity, or I should say, worthless activity. Seeking inspires us , but worry drains us.
I chose worry this morning because worrying is easy, and seeking is hard.
After turning these ideas around in my mind, I latched on to the phrase, "His kingdom." I adore this phrase, and love the way that it pops up in the Gospels. I've recently started reading the phrase "His kingdom" with a silent definition tacked on to it. I always think, "His kingdom - any place, situation or opportunity where His will is being done."
Taking a deep breath I waited for this to saturate me. The silence brought me this thought, "Worrying is about my will, while seeking is about His will."
I started to protest (perhaps too much) saying, " It is undoubtedly God's will that I return to Thailand. It's His will that I become team leader. The team needs me there, and the students need me there. The ministry needs me there. I need to be there, and not here. I need to go, not sit around and wait for the money so that I can go."
And then God brought me to the deeper issue, which by the way is always the issue and I don't know why I didn't just jump straight to it. Pride always nestles itself very closely to my heart. My pride tricked me into believing that without me the ministry would have a terrible start at the beginning of the year. Pride deceived me by whispering to me, telling me that if I don't raise the funds no one will do it for me. It's no wonder I worry. If all my success depends on my will then I do not worry enough.
But, the addition of goodness in our lives does not depend on our will, so why worry? Instead seek first His kingdom. Seek His righteousness.
I'm seeking the strength to ask, and seeking people to help in this process of revealing His will to the nations. Seeking people to help usher in His kingdom. I'm trying not to just sit around and worry about how it will happen or if I'll get the funding on time. I'm seeking to swallow my pride and ask for His will to occur even when it forces me off of center stage.
Like I said, it was a good conversation, and you didn't even hear the half of it.
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
We started December in a festive way with a Girl's Christmas Party. We had dinner, made some Christmas crafts, played some games, and watched "Beauty and the Beast Christmas." Normally we encourage giggling at our girl's nights, but this time we "prohibited" it by making any giggler wear the Santa hat, which actually caused us to giggle even more. As always getting together with the ladies of the grapevine inspires and encourages me, and this festive beginning to the holiday season was no exception.
About two weeks, 39 courageous grapevine friends drove off to the mountains for our annual Khao Yai retreat. As always we enjoyed the fellowship of new and old friends, as we climbed rocks, took pictures at the waterfall, performed skits, and sand songs around the campfire. This year we asked our student leader Bank to share his story focusing on the question,
"Is Jesus worth it?"
That's not the only question we asked, the theme for the retreat was FAQ's, so we kept asking, and asking and asking. Finally, we came up with an answer. Most of you who've grown up going to Sunday School already know this, so let's see who can say it first. What's the answer to EVERY question in our lives?
- JESUS!
We had 53 reasons (new and old) to thank God during our 2009 Thanksgiving Dinner. Every year, the dinner draws in plenty of students who want to experience a "real" Thanksgiving holiday with Farang. For many, it's the first time they've eaten mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce and stuffing. Sometimes, the students love the food, and sometimes it's just a little too different for their taste buds. Regardless of our feelings about the food, we all agree that we have so much to be thankful for in a place to love and be loved.
