February 2019 The Lavish Love of God

The Lavish Love of our God--February 2019

                                        Grandma and her 3 granddaughters at Ginger Farm in Chiang Mai

                                                            Pound family in Chiang Mai--what a blessing!
We had a busy and difficult couple of months.  We thank our great and gracious God that we had health and strength--though not quite full strength--to enjoy visits of friends and loved ones from the states.  What made the situation more difficult was that we were both struggling with health issues at the same time, but we are "pretty" much on the mend now--and again we thank and praise our gracious God for renewed health and strength.

What better spiritual truth to convey this month than the love our God has lavished on us!
I John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God!  And that is what we are!"  When asked in  his later years to share the most meaningful truth of his life, the great theologian Karl Barth replied, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so."
We normally think of these words to convey the truth of God's love for children--a popular children's song taught early on in Sunday school, but whether you are an aging theologian or a child just beginning life's journey, the knowledge of God's love is the soul's anchor.  Many are searching for love, acceptance and identity in all the wrong places--especially our young people.  Recently our church had a prayer retreat to lift up teens specifically and the unique challenges they face today.  God's love is never changing. It is infinite.  It is eternal.  It is sure.  It will never, ever disappoint.  God' love is the source of our identity.  Our self-worth comes from knowing we are deeply loved children of God.  Our self-confidence comes from God too--knowing we are lavishly loved and created for a purpose.

                Liesl and Evie were so good with their cousin Ezra--giving him constant attention and assistance

Because of this great lavish love of God, we have the assurance that we are blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed and forgiven.  (Ephesians 1--our Believing God Bible study).  Ephesians says, "According to the pleasure of His will--it pleased God to make you His own.  God loves you and likes you.  He finds joy in you.  How great is that?!

                                                 Dave Nitsche and Dave Pound/Dave and Kathi at Doi Su Tep

 

Our Bible study group that meets at our home

One of the ladies in our Bible study made a lovely cake for us at our last study

           I am so thankful for our Bible study group--these ladies are amazing--as iron sharpens iron--so we are sharpening one another as we study God's Word together.

In Ephesians 3:18, Paul says, "I pray that you, Ephesians, together with all the saints may know how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."  Paul says God's love reaches every corner of our experience.  It is wide--it covers the breadth or our own experience, and it reaches out to the whole world.  God's love is long--it continues the length of our lives.  It is high--it rises to the heights of our celebration.  His love is deep--it reaches to the depths of our discouragement, despair, and even death.  We will never be lost to God's love!

                                                          Gathering church fellowship

Good time right now for roses

Flowers on our morning walk

And of course, how could we talk about God's love and not mention Romans 8:38-39?  

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  

I hope right now you are feeling much loved by your loving, Heavenly father and are feeling secure and blessed in that love.  

                                                                    The Pound clan at our Gathering church

"God is love... Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us." (I John 4:11-12)  This is always a challenge to me.  God's love is the source of all human love, and it spreads through us if we are living in and  following Him.

Once again we covet your prayers on our behalf.  Please pray for the following:

• Health and strength to keep to the task God has called us to here in Chiang Mai
• The Lord will continue to meet the needs of our Gathering Church
• Christians in many places being persecuted for their faith
• A young man will take the final step and surrender his life to Christ (very close)
• For Matthew and Audrey as they continue to labor at Faithful Heart Foundation--they will be taking on added responsibility--please pray for them and for that ministry--for God to continue to provide for the needs.
• For many in our church body who labor for the Lord in various ministries in SE Asia
• That we will "Shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the Word of truth." (Phil. 2:14-15)

November--December 2018 Believing God is Trusting Even When...

                                              Ezra taking a little rest break after swimming
What a privilege and blessing to spend a little more time with this cute guy while Mom and Dad are tending to new sister.  What fun we are having--what memory building--praise our great God!

                                                   Ezra loves holding baby sister Sienna
How we praise our great and faithful God for the gift of Sienna Faye Pound.  She had a pretty smooth entry--an answer to many prayers,  How great that we get some time to know and love on her too.

Thank you for your prayers!  We give thianks to our Heavenly Father for the precious gift of life.

Taken at our church Christmas party--cutest little boy ever

I like the little book of Habakkuk because like Job and like the Psalmists, Habakkuk pours out his heart, his emotions to God.  He doesn't hold anything back. Habakkuk means both to wrestle and to embrace. "How long O Lord must I cry for help, but you do not listen?"  Habakkuk was a man looking for answers.  Troubled by what he observed, he asked difficult questions.  These questions were not merely intellectual exercises.  Habakkuk saw a dying world, and it broke his heart.  Why is there evil in the world? Why do the wicked seem to be winning?  He boldly and confidently took his requests directly to God--to the One who could truly answer.  And God did answer!  God spoke and told the prophet to write his answers so all would see and understand.  God told Habakkuk that though it seemed that the wicked triumph, eventually they would be judged, and righteousness would prevail. It may not come as quickly as Habakkuk would like, but it would come. In his grace, God relieved some of Habakkuk's anguish--even as He left other questions unanswered.  Habakkuk closes his book with a prayer of triumph.  He now has a new understanding of God's power and love--here is a God who responds to his questions.  Habakkuk, like Job, rejoices in who God is and in what He will do.  "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in god my Savior.  The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."

Our Church Christmas Drama

God wants us to come to Him with our struggles and doubts.  God is not shocked.  He reads our hearts and knows our confusion, our disappointment.  His shoulders are big--so much better that we go directly to Him.  More than 1/3 of the Psalms are prayers or songs of people in pain.  But God's answers may not always be what we expect.  God sustains us by revealing Himself to us--not in providing answers to all our questions.  His answer to Habakkuk was, "Be patient. I will work out my plans in my perfect timing."  Maturing spiritually takes time, effort and spiritual understanding--it is a process, and the process is as valuable as the end result.  We want God to sanctify--transform us now--we don't want to go through the process, but the process is important.  Craig Groeschel says, "To really know God, you have to wrestle through pain, struggle with honest doubts, and even live with unanswered questions."

Dave and I have been going through some difficult processing, and we have been reminded of these truths--to wait on Him and to trust Him to work out His plan and purposes. Once again, Groeschel says, "While turning to the only true God and asking for His help is always a good idea, Jesus said the the key was having trust--faith that "with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26) This is the embracing part. We have been here before-- and we know that in the waiting and trusting we learn valuable truths not otherwise gained.  We have both had some health issues that have required seeking out doctors and decision making. We appreciate your prayers in all this.  We haven't experienced the difficulties with which many have to struggle, but these are real issues for us.  Dave had a serious kidney infection and is looking ahead to possible prostate surgery in the near future.  We have done some of our own "crying out to God," and through it all we are reminded of His marvelous goodness in the past.  He is sustaining us in the present--we feel His presence with us.  The truth of Christmas--Immanuel--God with us!

Habakkuk says in 3:2 "LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD, renew them in our day."  

Just like Habakkuk, Asaph cries out to God for courage during a time of deep distress. (Psalm 77) As Asaph expressed his requests to God, his focus changed from thinking of himself to worshiping God.  "You are the God who performs miracles."  Only after he put aside his doubts about God's care did he eliminate his distress. Memories of God's care sustained Israel throughout their history.  They knew God was trustworthy and capable.  God often had them set up memorials of some sort to remind them of God's faithfulness and provision in the past.   Asaph begins to recall God's past work, and his faith is renewed.  Asaph would tell you in your doubt, in your struggles, review how good God has been and what He has done for you in the past--and it will strengthen your faith and renew your resolve to wait and trust Him in the current situation.  Wrestle and embrace!  "We serve the same God who split open the sea by His power, hung the sun and moon and established the boundaries of the earth." (Beth Moore)

After the wonderful drama, food time

And, of course, game time!

Gabriel and the heavenly host

Pastor Dave's message on the greatest of all gifts--Jesus

Finally, Groeschel says, "Instead of finding that the questions (like Habakkuk's or those of the Psalms) distance you from the heart of God, you will discover something else,...honest questions, sincere doubts, and deep hurts can draw you closer to God thatn you've ever been before."

                                  Reading of Luke 2:1-20 in 20 different languages Christmas Sunday

We appreciate and covet your prayers.  Please pray:

• Health concerns
• Surgery in the future--wisdom and discernment --trust in the One in whose hands we ultimately rest
• Matthew and Audrey and family--FHF ministry here
• Strength and empowering to encourage people of Gathering Church in their walk and understanding of spiritual things
• For one young man to relinguish all concerns and yeild life to Christ
• That we be a positive witness for Christ--wherever we go and whatever we do
• Opportunities to share the reason for our hope
• For Christians in several countries experiencing increased persecuted for their faith

Your Statutes are my Delight; They are my Counselors (October 2018)

                                             Grandpa and Ezra  and snack time at the park
There are some amazingly beautiful passages of Scripture and at times when I read them (though I have read before) I stand in awe of our glorious God.  What an encouragement and comfort they are to those who know and love the Lord Jesus!
Psalm 119:9 "How shall a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your Word."
Psalm 119:18 "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from your law."
Psalm 119:35 "Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight."
Psalm 119:89 "Your Word, O Lord, is eternal, it stands firm in the heavens.  Your faithfulness continues through all generations."
Psalm 119:105    "Your Word is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet."

Our women's Bible study began again this fall, and it is a delight every year to study the Word together as women from different backgrounds and cultures.  This week we mentioned Hebrews 11:6 as a part of our Believing God study--that "the Lord rewards those who diligently seek Him."  So, we earnestly study and seek the Lord together and "as iron sharpens iron," we sharpen one another spiritually.  I am blessed by these women and know we have much to teach each other as we study God's holy Word together.  I am continually reminded that we are each called to this particular place at this particular time and that more than likely, our paths would never have crossed.

                                         Beautiful September flowers on our morning walk

In our Bible study this week, we studied Ephesians 1, and I was reminded afresh of what a treasure trove of promises this passage is--it should encourage us as believers immensely.  So, throughout the blog, I want to remind and encourage us with these wonderful truths.

Paul, an apostle (sent one) to the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus.  May such an address be given to us--that we are the saints--sanctified people made holy by Christ and living faithfully in that holiness.   Paul was sent by the will of God--not by his own efforts or design.  (Galatians 1:1) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." 

                                                  What an adorable little guy!

 We are very thankful to continue ministering together with the body of Christ here in our international church.  We are grateful for health and strength to do so.  Our church ministry and accompanying hospitality keeps us very busy.  Yes, I love to cook and bake, but all of it is a bit more of a chore here.  We continue to love meeting and interacting with many from different places.  Several weeks ago, we had a group of 25 visit our service while attending a conference here.  We often have teams come through--but this was an especially large group.  For several weeks, it has been good to have a pastor from another country--we were happy to confirm and encourage him in his ministry.  Dave was actually using an illustration for his message one Sunday, and he was able to confirm with this man the truth of his illustration.  We continue to struggle with people coming and going. Several families that we have come to know and appreciate will be leaving or have already left.  The Jacobsons have already left us, but they were a tremendous help in the ministry here, and we know that God will continue to use them.  Another family that we have really enjoyed will be leaving soon for a new ministry--and we will miss them as well.  However, as we are sad for one family leaving, a new one arrives, and we get to embrace them and hopefully encourage them spiritually.  Please pray that we can effectively minister during the time each person or family is with us.  We had a church dinner after services in September in the hotel where our church meets.  It was a good time of fellowship for all.

                                                 Jacobson Family

                                                             Fellowship in our home

                                                 
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (1:7)

                                          Getting balloons for Ezra's 2nd birthday-- Iwasn't 
                                               expecting to have to have my picture taken

"We are made blameless by the beloved son, chosen and accepted in Him to be adopted as God's sons and heirs." (1:4)

Our church is excited to be partnering with Faithful Heart Foundation--the foundation that Matthew works with--to host a retreat for local pastors and their wives.  We always struggle to do more for the local people--whose beautiful country we enjoy.  Being an international, English-speaking congregation, it is often difficult to bridge that gap.  FHF did a retreat last year for these pastors, and it was a huge success.  The pastors and wives have few opportunities to be fed and grow themselves.  It is October  20th-22nd.  Some of our church leaders will be sharing in the seminars--including Matthew and Dave.  We are also desiring as a church to help provide funds for this.  Please be in prayer for this.

"His incomparably great power is available to us who believe." (1:19)  "In accordance with the riches of God's grace that He has lavished on us--and we are the beneficiaries of a great and glorious inheritance." (1:9

                                  Lunch with The Gathering Worship Ministry Director

                                          Sunny, my Korean neighbor practicing English
The Pound family in Thailand is eagerly awaiting the arrival of a baby girl very soon.  Please continue to pray for Audrey's health and strength in these days and for little girl Pound as she is in the final stages of being knit together by her creator.  Pray for Ezra's transition to a baby sister and to no longer being the center of all our attention.

"Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of His glory." (1:13)

Please pray:
                      

• For our continued ministry at The Gathering--for strength and good health.    
• For our witness and testimony with everyone with whom we come into contact--that we might reflect our Savior
• For each woman who comes to the Bible study to grow and learn more about God and His Word
• For Audrey's health and strength in the coming days and for baby girl Pound--for a smooth and easy labor and delivery  For Ezra's transition
• For the Pastors' retreat in October--that these men of God would be refreshed and renewed as well as strengthened for ministry
• For wisdom and discernment in ministry--and for Dave to be God's instrument in preaching              

A dear family in our Gathering church family

The Spirit of the Disciplines--The richness of Solitude/ August 2018

Special time with our granddaughters in Minnesota

Jay, Heidi and girls and Dave and I--walking bridge on Mississippi River

We enjoyed a whirlwind of activity in the states,and we continue to be grateful for many wonderful friends and for our family.  Of course the highlight was spending time with our precious granddaughters and our son and daughter-in-law.  We are thankful for dear friends who encourage us and support us in prayer--it was great to catch up with many of them.  In addition, we are very thankful for special people who care for our home and concerns that arise there.  I really appreciated Matthew's recent blog--"It Takes a Village..."  I was reminded of how thankful we are for the many people in the church who contributed to the spiritual development of our three sons. I don't dare start to give names because I would inevitably leave out someone important, but how heartwarming to see their pictures on the desk of one the church staff at Berean.  He told me that he still prays daily for our sons. 
 I was able to share about this when I talked at our first Children's Ministry retreat a couple of weeks after we returned.  We all know that the Bible gives primary responsibility for spiritual training of children and the modeling of God's truth to parents.  However, it is true that as a church we come alongside parents to reinforce and affirm what the parents teach.  I know many in our church served as role models and mentors of our sons' faith--and was so glad Matthew mentioned it in his blog.  Thankfully we didn't have to do it alone. 

One of the many mentors in my son's life (Steve and Becky were introduced to Korean ice cream while visiting here) 

Sunday School Retreat Activity

Our children's ministry retreat (first ever) was a huge success.  Nearly 40 people gathered to share and fellowship together as teachers of children inSunday school.  We are very thankful for a wonderful lady heading up this ministry who is very efficient and organized.  It was good for all of us to get to know each other better and have a chance to interact about goals and procedures.  
2 Peter 1:56, 8 LB
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge,  self-control; and to self-control perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, botherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.   For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."  
Yes, faith must be more than belief in certain facts.  It must result in action, growth in Christian character and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away. (James 2:14-17) How do we, as long-time Christians, continue in growth and maturity of our faith--in our walk with God? I have been deeply influenced lately by a book by Dallas Willard The Spirit of the Disciplines.  We don't especially like that word  "discipline," but these disciplines of the spiritual life are what enable us to get to the point of maturity in Christ that we all strive to accomplish.  We're saved through faith--there's nothing we can do to obtain our salvation. However, there is much we can do to advance in our faith walk with Christ.  Sometimes I tell God how sorry I am that it has taken me to this point in my life to really get some of these truths He has been pressing into me for many years--and others--well, He's still working on. 
Dallas Willard says,
 "The disciplines for the spiritual life are available, concrete activities designed to render bodily beings such as we ever more sensitive and receptive to the Kingdom of Heaven brought to us in Christ,even while living in a world set against God.  Lovingly practiced, they join with grace to enable us matter-of-factly to come boldly to the the throne of God." 
I was especially impressed by the discipline of solitude.  In this discipline, Dallas says that the normal course of day-to-day human interaction locks us into patterns of feeling, thought and action that are geared to a world set against God.  "In stark aloneness it is possible to have silence, to be still, and to know that Yahweh indeed is God (Ps. 46:10),to set the Lord before our minds with sufficient intensity and duration that we stay centered upon Him--our hearts fixed, established in trust--even when back in the office, shop, or home." Jesus led as an example in this when He constantly retreated away from people--from the many demands placed upon Him.  He also called the disciples to come away and rest.  Solitude is the most fundamental in the beginning of the spiritual life and it must be returned to again and again as that life develops.  "In solitude," says Willard, "you will find yourself and God will find you in new ways."  Isn't this the desire--the longing of our hearts?  "Joy and peace," Dallas continues, "will begin to bubble up within you...praise and prayer will come to you and from within you.  With practice, the soul established in solitude will remain solid when you return to your ordinary life with others." In this world of noise and activity--of technology-driven lives, it is difficult to find solitude, but I am convinced it is where we find God, and when we come away from times of solitude with God, we tend to look and act more like Him.

What great fun we have with this little guy!

We had a great time entertaining this group of people in our home.  We had a great time of fellowship together.  It is always great to hear the God stories of His working in the lives of people seeking to know and follow Him daily.  And of course, we are always glad they are a part of the body of Christ we call The Gathering.

We value so much and covet your prayers for our ministry here.  Please pray for the following:

• Many things we need to do in the next couple of months--renew our driver's license, get a new lease for the home we are renting, and several others
• Please continue to pray that we can stay in our current home.  We really like it--especially the location.  We know how to get everywhere from here.
• For continued effective ministery to the people in our church--to encourage and support them in their walk with God.
• To reflect our Lord always--to be salt and light in this place and with everyone with whom we come in contact (to have opportunities to give a reason for the hope we have in Christ)
• Pray for the ministry of Faithful Heart foundation (Matthew and Audrey)
• For Audrey in the last months of her pregnancy (due Oct. 28) and baby girl Pound
• For health and strength to continue to minister
• Dave in preaching and leading and for me as I begin the women's Bible study once again this fall Please pray for all who attend.