A Bunch of Burts

Kudos to those of you who also memorized “The Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll in 7th grade. For some reason, I can remember that poem in its entirety, even though it has served no useful purpose in my life other than completing the poem memorizing assignment in 7th grade English class, and giving me a source of fun and odd words for various occasions.

So I have to ask myself, why I am able to remember this nonsense poem with apparent ease when I struggle with memorizing God’s Word? What better to memorize than the Living Word of God, His Scripture, our Sword of the Spirit? Even verses I know I knew, seem hazy and distant. I find it must be a constant effort and application on my part to fill my mind with those Words of Life.

Not so with more inane info and tidbits. Again from 7th grade, I can recite, in alphabetical order no less, all the prepositions. As well as all 18 forms of the verb ‘to be’. Now, in defense of my 7th grade teacher, those did actually come in handy for me while I was in language school and had to diagram sentences in other languages (with a loose translation to help me).

While we still lived in the States, our kids greatly enjoyed being part of an AWANA program. Although they truly did learn those verses then, I think they would be hard pressed to pull them out for you on demand now. We are working with the kids, and ourselves as well on memorizing Scripture together. To train our minds to absorb God’s Word.

Surely the ablility to retain obscure movie quotes, commercial jingles and useless facts such a what the first product marketed by Sony was, while at the same time struggling to have Bible verses at my recall is absolute proof that my mind is fallen and my heart is desparately wicked!

Now that we are studying Thai, I wish I could push out some of that old stuff to make room for the new. Some words I just have a mental block with. You think that after a year and a half I would have a handle on the difference between salt (gleua) and afraid (glua).

No thank you, I do not want to eat that, it is salty
Not the same as:
No thank you, I do not want to eat that, it is scary
Ok, either one of those could work when presented with this as a snack.

Look! There is a bag of little fried larvae ready for you to buy and snack on too.

Perhaps it is because, at heart I am lazy. I use a computer program to act as my concordance and help me find verses, I just cannot remember where they are. Perhaps, if I am honest, it is not important enough to me. Maybe I have lived such an easy life, that I take for granted having ‘helps’ available to me, having Scripture available to me.

Eeek, more evidence of my sinful nature.

But God is good and faithful, even when I am not.
2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny himself.”

And I can take comfort in His words to Moses.

Exodus 4: 11-12 “So the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.’ ”

Thank you Lord for using me, a sinful woman who too often seeks her own way, but a redeemed saint whom the LORD can use for His purposes, in His way and allows, encouraged and indeed, enables me to renew my mind each day through Christ.

I had a sweet comment waiting for me from Kim from Frogpondsrock and she gave me this!

Isn’t that sweet?
Thank you Kim, you made my day!

This week at our children’s school is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week.

Our kids attend Grace International School, a school founded by 4 mission organizations. Nearly every teacher and most of the administrative and support staff are themselves missionaries, serving at the school as a ministry to families like ours. The only exceptions are the national employees.

Each year as the school grows, the need for teachers grows as well. We the parents and students are taking this week to try to communicate how much we appreciate their obedient response to the Lord’s calling and direction to teach and serve at Grace International School. Every one of these men and women could be doing what they are doing anywhere, but they are here, serving our kids.
Thank you Grace teachers and staff for being here in Chiang Mai and using your gifts and talents here to honor God and serve us.

(There are many needs for the upcoming school year at Grace. Do you know anyone who could fill any of these needs? Can you? You can see them listed here.)

And let me tell you, we have wonderful teachers!

Zach’s 4th grade teacher

Scripture tell us that gratitude flows from the knowledge of God and glorifying Him. Ungratefulness is what we get when man is lifted up instead of God.

'because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful..
Rom 1:21'

We bless God and glorify Him by giving thanks to Him.

'Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be Thankful to Him, and bless His name.'
Psalms 100:4

So in the spirit of Teacher Appreciation week, I have my own thanks and appreciation to publically declare to the people God has blessed me with.

Thank you Greg, for being my wonderful husband, who loves me regardless of my loveabilty.
I appreciate they way you are eager to serve God where ever he leads us, even when I am afraid or unsure of where that may be or how it will look. Thank you for your desire to be a husband and father who seeks after God and His will for our family.

My Superhero, conquering cockroaches, crazy drivers, language barriers and spicy food

Leah, Ema and Zachary, I appreciate each one of you and thank God for giving me such treasures as you three. Thank you for trusting us as we trust God for our family’s direction and leading. We appreicate how you are growing in the knowledge of Him and learning to walk with Him by yourselves and not just by our side.

We are blessed to have a great number of people who are our partners, our team members, our undergirding as we are here in Thailand. For all you who pray for us, what a blessing you are. There are days when we struggle and feel so incompetent and unqualified to be at this end of taking the Gospel to those who need to hear, but we are encouraged and strengthened by your prayers and notes of encouragement. Thank you!

We are also humbled by all those who give to financially to enable to live here. It is a sacrifice we do not take lightly or forget. We appreciate your willingness to give so generously. Your giving blesses us and others. Thank you for being God’s means of provision for us.

My dear friends, C, K, M, M, P. You have made the effort to maintain our friendships although we are now far away. Your notes and emails and yes, even packages! show your love and care for us. We cannot tell you how much your families mean to us. Thank you for responding to the nudge of the spirit and writing or calling, even if it was not a convenient time. You have often ’spoken’ just the words we needs to hear at just the right time.

Our families. We have taken your grandchildren to the other side of the world, and us too, (although we know where we stand in that pecking order!) You are faithful to remember them at birthdays and special days and to stay connected and foster that very important relationship. Thank you for all the effort it takes and for not compounding the distance for the kids by complaining that they are not close to you. That means so much to us.

How about you?
Who do you need to show your thankfulness to? Let us praise God together by our thankfulness in all circumstances and for all things.
Who is in your life that you are so thankful for?