Attentive to the Warnings of our Heavenly Father

February 2018  Attentive to the Warnings of our Heavenly Father

Going to the park--sunscreen and sunglasses ready but not looking totally thrilled

2 Chronicles 36:15  "The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place.  But they mocked God's messengers, despised His Words and scoffed at His prophets."

Throughout the Scriptures, God was giving warnings to His people--like a loving, caring parent trying to guide his children and to help them avoid danger.  In Genesis, God warned Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil--but they were free to eat of any other tree in the garden.  What  devastating results for all mankind because they did not heed God's warning.  Just a little later, Cain is also on a path of destruction in thought and attitude, and God warns Him:  "Why are you angry?  Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?"  And then, "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." Once again Cain did not heed the warning, and dire consequences resulted.   And for us today, like a loving parent, God sends us warnings through different means.  God's Word can sound a warning if we are perceptive enough to hear it. That's why being regularly in the Word is so important.   Kyle Idleman says, "...part of the supernatural power of God's Word is that it often intersects our lives when we are most desperate for the truth.  Like a GPS system that gives us a heads up when our exit is quickly approaching, God's Word speaks into our lives right when we need it the most."  God has  been speaking this into my life recently from a book I've been reading--AHA (Awakening, Honesty, Action) by Kyle Idleman.

Ezra is always ready to interact with kids.  Here he is playing with the little neighbor girl at our house.  A shovel, a couple of toys, and some dirt--what fun!

Sometimes we need a wake-up call to let us know that we're off the path or headed the wrong way--headed for destruction.  Sometimes something dramatic in our lives has woken us to this need.  If we're sensitive, God's holy Word can convict us and get us back on the path--headed the right way.  But that wake-up call must be followed by brutal honesty on our parts.

                         What fun to have lunch recently with Home of Faith, part of the foundation for which Matthew and Audrey work.  

                                  Dad and Ezra showing off/ Dave's brother,Doug and wife, Cathy--bottom right
                                  Dave and I are hidden behind the raised Ezra on the far left

God can also use examples in Scripture like Adam and Eve and Cain and many others as a wake-up call.   I Cor. 10:11-12 says, "These things happened to them (Israel) as examples and were written down as warnings for us.  So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall."  God's Word can sound the alarm, we have examples from Scripture,and hopefully we have godly friends that will tell us what we need to hear and not only what we want to hear.  May God, our loving Father, open our eyes to any sin that has blinded us and any lies from the evil one that have deceived us.  And then---hopefully we can be brutally honest about what needs to change and be willing to take action.  Our actions as a result of faith is what sets us apart--that we might declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into this wonderful light.

                                                           Joy and Bom's Wedding

                                                                  Grandma and Ezra at Maria's wedding

                                                               Matt sharing at Maria's wedding

                                                                  Sher speaking at GICS Chapel
Please pray:

• That our lives--actions---may declare the praises of our great and mighty God--that we might be salt and light everywhere we go and to everyone with whom we come into contact.
• That we might have patience to "go with the flow" here.  We are definitely learning this truth--but we need to learn it yet more and more.  
•  For Dave as he preaches to such a diverse group of people each week--that he may preach the Gospel clearly and succinctly
• For Sher's Bible study--that all involved will grow in their knowledge of the Word and be transformed by it..
• Thank you for your prayers for our yearly visas--your prayers were answered! Please continue to pray for scheduled check-ins and paper work that we must continue to process.
• For continued good health and strength to do necessary tasks
• For us to love and encourage this body of believers to the best of our ability
• For Matthew and Audrey's ministry with Faithful Heart Foundation
• Please pray for the challenges that come in any labor for the Lord--that our hearts and attitudes would be right and pure
• That we would make the most of this dear time with Matthew, Audrey, and Ezra--what a wonderful gift from God--and for the ones we miss back home.

January 2018--Joy Whenever

                                                              Ezra and Grandpa--Christmas morning

Ezra seemed to enjoy his Christmas gift!

"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you are mature and complete--not lacking anything." (James 1:2-3)  The beginning of the book of James gets right to the point. We've been experiencing a few trials of late--nothing major--just the kind that cause one to really put the Christian faith into practice.  Beth Moore says the word "consider" calls us to a mental exercise.  Not an emotion.  James isn't, Beth says, telling us to have a knee-slapper over all we're going through.  He's telling us to think, to reflect, and to esteem the unalloyed joys available to us whenever we experience various trials.  The Greek word here literally means when we "fall into" various trials.  That's what it feels like sometimes, doesn't it?  The Jesus Calling message for one day this month says this, "Don't waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been.  Start at the present moment--accepting things exactly as they are--and search for My way in the midst of those circumstances.  Trust is like a staff you can lean on, as you journey uphill with Me.  If you are trusting in Me consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed. Lean on, trust and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind."  We have been doing a lot of thinking about this word, "trust."   Again Beth says, "Trials don't get to steal from followers of Christ unless we hand over the goods."

                                                           

                                                             Dave speaking at Faithful Heart Christmas Party

It's been a busy December, and the busyness has continued into January.  In December, Dave spoke at the Christmas party for Faithful Heart Foundation, and we had our own Gathering church Christmas party.  We are so thankful Matthew and Audrey work with Faithful Heart; it is a wonderful ministry here for children, and they are blessed to work with godly people.  We are also very thankful for a wonderful Christian couple who run an international school here.

Had dinner after church with some dear friends

and allow our church to use their beautiful facility at no cost.  This has been a huge blessing since we don't have a building of our own.We usually have a lot of guests visit our church during this of year in Chiang Mai, because  many come for Christian conferences at this nice weather time.  It is a blessing to meet many people from different backgrounds and cultures--but all brothers and sisters in Christ.    In January, the social worker (Joy) at Matthew's foundation is getting married on January 27th.  On the 20th, I (Sher) gave a devotion at a shower for her.  

   

                                                              Joy and Sher at the shower (trying on her wedding veil)

                                                          The Gathering Family Christmas Party 2017

"...the testing of your faith develops perseverance."  What does the testing of your faith give you?  There are two meanings for perseverance.  From our study we learned that neither are like the passivity we tend to associate with patience.  First, perseverance means nerving oneself--determined to stay on one's feet, holding tightly to Jesus while the storm winds try to toss one like a rubber duck on a swelling sea.  The other meaning is "heroic endurance."  I especially like this one.  With Christ's help we can have heroic endurance in the storm, and we can be a flesh and blood example of doing so.

 And then perseverance must do what?  Have its way so that we can be perfect and complete--not sin-free--but that which has achieved or reached its goal or purpose--fully grown and fully developed.  We all know this, right?  In the pressure of the challenge or trial, we fight against that pressure, and it's difficult in the midst of the storm to remember our sovereign God and the big picture.    We don't want the experience--though we want the result. Jesus Calling again says, "Anything that tends to make you anxious is a growth opportunity."  Please pray for us in this that we might give way to our Lord as he refines us--that we might experience His peace in the midst of the process.

                                                From my nephew's wedding this summer--granddaughter Evie and Ezra

                                                  What can I say?  I just love this picture and forgot to use it earlier!

           

                                                                       This bear is entirely made of paper--amazing!

  We've had some interesting conversations with new friends from a different country that are living here.  They were given a Bible in their language and have a lot of questions.  Please pray about this.  One can speak enough English for us to converse.  What she doesn't know, she is able to use an App on her phone to translate the English word to her language for understanding. Amazing what the technology can do!  We had a great time of sharing at our last ladies' Bible study, and I am greatly encouraged by several ladies seeking to memorize some of James.

 So, Beth Moore says in our study, "What are you going to do with what you are going through?"  Will we grow up fully in Jesus as we submit to Him in our tenure here on planet Earth, bearing much fruit, giving God the glory, and not missing a single thing that Christ died on the cross to give us.  Please pray for us in this.  And please pray for the following:

• Our visa renewal in Bangkok January 29-30
• Still some uncertainty about our house situation
• Wisdom and discernment for leadership of this diverse, transient body of believers called The Gathering
• For health and strength to continue to minister here
• For Sher's Bible study and Dave's ministry in preaching
• Good visit with Dave's brother and wife in February--safe travels for them
• For missionary family here who lost 8th grade daughter to severe asthma attack

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