I Love How God Works in My Life. . .

In Ladies Bible Study we have been studying about David, in particular, his prayer life.  However on Wednesday we were looking at how David lived, for the most part, with an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’.

As the Lord taught through me, I challenged the ladies to live their lives with and ‘Attitude of Gratitude’, and then we talked about what that would look like.

I told them that when they look at the mountain of laundry that is waiting to be washed and dried, instead of moaning (out loud or silently), that they thank the Lord for each of their family members that wear the clothes and thank the Lord that they have more than enough clothes.

When faced with a sink overflowing with dishes and pans, instead of feeling dread at the prospect of washing them, give thanks to the Lord.  Thank Him whole heartedly for the bounty of food that He has provided for their families, and for the many pans and dishes they have to cook and eat from.

If someone breaks a glass and no one gets hurt, I challenged the ladies to be grateful that no one was hurt and to clean up the mess with a thankful heart.

There was some skepticism about whether in the midst of busy family lives; they would be able to live with an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’.  I reminded them that they have lived their lives to this point probably without even thinking of thanking God for laundry, dirty dishes or any of the other myriad of things that call for our attention.  They nodded their heads affirming that this was true.  Even living here in Thailand, with each lady being from a different country, we still all seemed to share the same struggles.

So I suggested that we were going to have to go about this challenge very deliberately.  When situations would come up that would normally have us frustrated or anxious, we would ask God to help us to be thankful.  I told them that we could not do this in our own strength, but that we would need the Lord to help us to change our thought patterns.  Ultimately if we made it a practice of being thankful we would: Feel less stressed; Be more joyful; Feel more grateful, Feel more peaceful, Feel better inside our heart, Be more attractive for others to want to be around. . .the list goes on.

So, that was Wednesday morning. . .

Wednesday night as we prepared to go to bed, I used the bathroom and flushed the toilet.  When I pushed the handle down, nothing happened.  My mind automatically went to “Oh no, not at 11:00 at night!” and then it hit me. . .the lesson from earlier in the day.  I quickly asked God to help me be grateful in the situation, and He changed my heart.  I told Bill about the problem with the toilet and he went to get tools to fix it.  While I waited for Bill to return with tools, I thanked God that we have a toilet.  I thanked Him that I did not have to use a squat pot, like a lot of people in Thailand do.  I thanked Him that I did not have to go outside to dig a hole.  You get the idea!

So, instead of feeling upset I felt joyful, thankful and peaceful!  Even if Bill could not fix it right away, I was still grateful.

My Mr. Wonderful, Bill, did fix the toilet in just a matter of minutes.  Praise God!

So each day I do not know what I am going to wear, but I do know that I will put on an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ each and every day.

As for the Ladies Bible Study group, we will get together this Wednesday and share how our week went with our new attitude.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Care to join us? . . . J  I think you will find it worth the effort!

Blessings,

April

Let’s Make a Deal. . .

In order to teach the Youth Group the importance of decision making, sometimes we play 'Let’s Make a Deal'.  We have been teaching from Proverbs and about how to make wise decisions.  We play the game at a fairly quick pace, so the youth have to make some snap decisions.  They will often turn around to the group looking for help as to what bag or bucket to choose from.

We start by asking for a volunteer and then we invite that youth to come forward and choose Bag #1 or Bag #2.  Once they decide which bag they want to choose something from, we have them look away from the bag and reach in and grab something.

It could be something ‘good’ like a new toy or some candy or it could be a ‘not so good’ item like a broken chewed pencil, a toothpick or a crumpled paper towel.  Once they have taken their item out of the bag, we then offer them the option of keeping their item or trading it in for what is in one of three bowls.  We do not give them a lot of time to think about it, forcing them to make a quick decision.

If they decide to keep the item then they go back and sit down with their item, however, if they decide to trade it in they return the item they picked and then they reach in the bucket they have chosen.  At this point there is either a lot of laughing, because they traded a new toy for a used toothbrush or there are oohs and ahh’s because the new item definitely was better than the first.

Then, we challenge them by offering them one more choice, to keep what they have or trade it in on an unknown item in one of two buckets.  After either keeping the item in their hand or trading in their item for another ‘treasure’, they return to their seat.

One of the true blessings for us is to see the youth when they reach in and pull out a brand new Bible.  Every time it has happened the youth has looked delighted.  One time one of the Thai youth reached in and got an English Bible.  I explained that the Bible was in English and that he could trade it in for something else, he hugged the Bible to his chest and said he wanted to keep it.  He went and sat down and held the Bible like it was a priceless treasure. . .and that it is!  What a wise young man.

We have been blessed with seeing the youth that ‘won’ Bibles carry them to and from Bible study faithfully.

We have also been blessed to hear how God has spoken to their hearts as we have challenged the youth to read a chapter of Proverbs every day.  We explained to the youth that sometimes when you have to make a decision you have plenty of time to pray, or to ask for counsel from someone you trust.  But, sometimes circumstances require us to make on-the-spot decisions; and that is where Proverbs comes in.

The Book of Proverbs in the Bible is replete with words of wisdom for us to live by.  We explained to the youth that when they have to make snap decisions it will be helpful to them to have words of wisdom from the Bible in their hearts and minds, so that they can call on them as they try to make wise decisions. 

Proverbs 22:17-21  “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?”

1 Timothy 4:11-13  “Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-19  "So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”

Psalm 119:11, 105  “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ...  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

So, my challenge to each of us is to read a chapter of Proverbs every day.  The youth have been reading from Proverbs for over a month now, and with 31 Proverbs it works out really well to read one a day completing all of them in a month.  As the youth had read through all 31 Proverbs, they started at Proverbs 1 again and they found that they now comprehend some things that they did not understand the first time through.  Praise God! 

I know that I am finding the same thing as I read through Proverbs and the rest of the Bible.  God’s living Word is continually opening up to us in new and refreshing ways.

You can do this!. . .And I believe you will be blessed for doing this as you find yourself making decision after decision, day after day; using wisdom from Proverbs as your guide to making wise decisions and living a life that honors the Lord.

A chapter of Proverbs a day. . .

Blessings,

April

Bill and the youth waiting to start playing 'Let's Make a Deal'.

Now that is Generous Giving. . .

Bill and I have the privilege of being involved with an orphanage here in Thailand.  We teach English at the orphanage each week, and they come to the Youth Center for Youth Group for games, food and Bible study.  We ask often how we can help more, but they are reluctant to tell of their needs.

A while back we wished twin teenage girls Happy Birthday during Youth Group.  A few days later, after we finished teaching English at the orphanage, one of the teenage girls started to give me a hug.  Suddenly she pulled back, saying that she just remembered something, and asked if we could wait a minute.  I told her we would wait, and to take her time.

She ran off to the small room that she shares with the rest of the girls that live at the orphanage.  She emerged a few minutes later with two beautiful bracelets in her hands.  She explained that they were for the twin girls that had just had a Birthday, and that she wanted me to give them to the girls.  I told her that they were beautiful, and asked her why she didn’t want to give them to the girls herself.  She just insisted that I give them to the girls for her.  I finally agreed and said I would.

I then asked her where she had bought them, because I really thought they were gorgeous.  She looked confused for a moment, and then told me that she had made them.  She had made each one specifically for each of the girls, based on what she thought they would like.

I was amazed, and awed.  Here was a young lady, who was living in an orphanage, she had just started college, and she worked to provide money for the orphanage and for school.  And yet out of her generous heart she had made two bracelets that she would normally sell, and she gave them to two new friends.

She was not reluctant in giving.  She was actually beaming (and yet shy), as she handed the beautiful bracelets to me.

Her giving was not about her.  She did not call a press conference, so that everyone could see how generous she was.  She did not even want to be the one to give the bracelets to the girls.  She just wanted to give the gifts.  For her, the time that it took to make the bracelets, was just part of the gift, and it gave her joy.

Wow!  That all of us that have given our lives to Jesus would give with such a humble joyful heart.

We hugged and I promised that I would give the bracelets to the girls.

When I gave the bracelets to the girls, and explained who they were from. . .they were stunned.  I could see how moved they were, by the generosity of someone who has had so little in the way of possessions and yet sought to share what little she had.

How humbling and grateful I am to see God’s Word in action in the life of a beautiful Thai teenage girl.

Mark 12:41-44 “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.  And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.  And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.""

I don’t know about you, but I am feeling very challenged to live more generously. 

My prayer for each of us is that we would honor and glorify God with our generous giving, and that our giving would reflect our heart.

Blessings,

April