Paul’s frustration, my frustration!

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

For I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good Iwant to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this i keep on doing. Now, if i do what i do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: when i want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war aginst the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”  Romans 7:15-24

at least, the seeds have been sowed

When I was in high school in Thailand, I tried to evangelise one of my friends who is a buddist.  If you have read The Purpose Driven Life book by Rick Warren, you would know that we are here on earth to share God’s love to people around us. That is our fifth purpose why we are here on earth. We are created by God to worship God; fellowship with other believers; serve God; to be Christ’s disciple and to evangelise. 

While I was on MSN, I saw my friend’s msn popped up, somehow I really want to share my faith to him again. He still remember that I am a Christian. The first thing that I told him instead of saying “Hi, How are you” or “Hi, old friend, long time no talk”, I said “Jesus loves you” over MSN.

He replied me back, he said what is this? What is Jesus? I said, please google it. He said “Oh it is Pra-Ye-Soo ( That is how we say “Jesus” in Thai, I typed to him in English). He said “sorry, Jimmie, no matter what I cannot believe in Him”
I don’t know why but if i know that someone whom I don’t even know love me, i would be appreciated and greateful. Jesus died for my friend but he doesn’t even know the word ”Jesus”.

What I am trying to encourage you here is that at times, when we share our faith to our friends, we can come to a place of rejection or disappointment because no matter how hard we try to convince our loved ones to believe in Jesus, their hearts are just harden and they  just don’t want to believe in Him. Sometimes, it can lead to religious argument which makes it worse – you know what it’s like especially those who are leading Seeker class in Life Group.

I know that my friend, he is still believe in Buddha and he is still think that he doesn’t need God. But, I believe what I said to him today, at least, the seeds of God’s love have been sowed on him and  I hope and pray that one day it will grows.

Again friends, don’t get disappinted when you don’t see salvations out of your evangelism, remember …

At least, the seeds have been sowed ….

Tag – my sheeps

Dear Sheeps

I hope it is not too late to say Happy New Year!!

If you are on MSN, you may notice my MSN nickname which stated “Happy New Year – the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corin 5:17b) “. This is what God encouraged me during this festive season. New Year means NEW! New plans, new goals, meeting new people, new careers, new attitudes etc.

I have received a prophecy during OC2009, God told me that may I treat my life like a book of history. May I focus on the current page of the history book which is the present and don’t flip back to the past. I believe this is true of all of us. At times; we may look back into the past and may think, oh! I could have done this, done that, or not done this, not done that. Once we think like that, instead of thanking God for the past, we may end up blaming ourselves, blaming the situations, blaming others and even blaming God for what happened in the past.

But let’s look at what the Bible said so we shall “forget what is behind and straining towards what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

2009 may be your good or not-so-good year, it doesn’t matter, let’s thank God for it, whatever finished, it is finished! Now, let’s focus on the present and in 2010 may you “be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16). Despite all good/bad things that happened in my life in 2009, I can say that 2009 was my blessed year because the Lord was with me and because of that I am already blessed!

May you make the most of every opportunity in 2010 to please God! I believe 2010 will be a blessed year for all of us as long as we fix our eyes on Him in all things that we do.

Love,

Jimmie Thongkul

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year for Hope of Suratthani Church

I haven’t been back to visit my home church, Hope Suratthani for nearly 2 years already. I do miss them terribly and really want to bless them this Christmas and New Year season. I have found a software in my computer called ”Windows Movie Maker” (I think it’s in every Windows’ user’s computer) and I really wanna try to use it. So I decided to flimed myself and make this nice VDO clip to bless my  brothers/sisters in Hope of Suratthani Church. (Thanks to Peter Park who help with the fliming)

Translation:

“Hi Pastor Samai and Porntip, P’Gift, P’Sao, Gain, High School and University District, P’Mem and International Fellowship Unit, P’Krit and worship team and to all brothers ans sisters of Hope Suratthani Church. This VDO would like to tell you all that may you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We haven’t seen each other for around 2 years already but I want to tell you that I still love of Hope Suratthani Church the same and I am constantly missing the church.

My life here in Hope Brisbane, Australia is well, in this year I have a chance to serve the Lord more especially in the leadership team as I got to take care of more people and I got involved more in the worship ministry here and I am still serving in the university student unit. This year I believe I have grown although there were some up and down times but God never forsake nor leave me here in Brisbane.

I want to tell everyone that I really miss you. Although, we are from different churches but I still hold on to our Hope slogan which is Love, Committed and Never Forsake.  As I prayed for Hope of Suratthani during this Christmas season God led me to Job 23:10, it said “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, i will come forth as gold” 

I believe God wants people of Hope of Suratthani Church to be His gold.  This is the Scripture that I want to encourage Hope Suratthani and even to encourage myself. At times, we may face testings from God and differnt struggles in life but when you pass those fiery time, you will become God’s finished product which is gold because of that it gives us a reason to rejoice in Him regardless of circumstances. 

To sum up, I would like to thank you everyone for still loving and remembering me. I really want to go back back but because of work and ministries over here. So may this video be a substitute of my actual presence. May God bless you all and once again Merry Christmas and Happy New Year”    

Everyday is my Christmas day!

I can’t believe Christmas has been gone and New Year is just around the corner! 96.5Fm played Christmas music 24/7, I have received a number of greeting cards, gifts and sms. The atmosphere was so Christmasssy. Christmas always give me a hapiness of heart knowing the true meaning behind this festive season – the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Everyday is my Christmas day because of his birth that is why I am breathing today. 

Christmas a time where we should be with family and friends and people that you love. Since I do not have my family here, the people that I love the most are my Daniels. I invited some guys to my house for fellowship and dinner. I played board games ie. Poker (we were using chips not real money) and of course my favourite Last Word.  I made roast pork for them.  I was my first time making roast pork and It turned out quite well – it was so delicious!  The best part of it is its cracking (crispy pork skin) hmm….But the above all, I got to have dinner with people whom I love and that is forever satisfied for me.

As I looked back in 2009, I could say nothing except “Thank You, God”. I could say without hesitation that 2009 was my Blessed Year. Despite goods and bads, 2009 was my blessed year because GOD WAS WITH ME. I have come to understood the true meaning of blessing is that in order for us to blessed, we  don’t actually have to receive blessings but as long as God is with us, we are already blessed.

Jesus chose to be with us 2000 years ago and the fact is He is still with us now. His name is Immanuel means God is With Us. The Lord that we worship is WITH US. And If He is with us - we are blessed DESPITE how good or how not-so-good your life is. I would rather live a life that is not-so-good in my perspective but God is with me rather than living a good life but God is not with me. Imagine how scary life would be with out God! That is why many Christians in some countries willing to undergo persecutions just so that they may called Jesus “God”. Those Christian can live a “good” life but it means that have to forsake Jesus but they are not forsaking Him. They take up their Cross and though the Cross that they are carrying is heavy they are willing to walk with joy. Many of them, have been put into prison and even been put to death simply because they believein Jesus, I believe the big crown is awaiting for them in the heaven. It is glorious to be able to suffer for Jesus and live for Him like that, isn’t it?

 As we have celebrating Christmas and New Year in this wonderful free land called Australia - may we remember our brothers and sisters in Christ who cannot freely celebrate and enjoy Christmas! Remember our brothers and sisters in China and Mulsim countries! Pray for them! 

I am wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a spectacular 2010! May everyday be your Christmas day!

Just Someone from Thailand who wants to make a difference

Something simple but it brings a victory!

There was a king in the Bible. His name is King Jehoshaphat. During the time of his reign, there were 3 tribes of people wanted to raise a war against him. They wanted to defeat him and his people

Instead of panic, fear, despiar and worry of getting defeated by the enemies, King Jehoshaphat chose to be still before God in his heart, yet in that stillnes, there was ONE action that he took .. this is what he did …

“After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to SING to the Lord and to PRAISE him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give thanks to God, his love endures forever’.

As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were DEFEATED! (2 Chro 20:21-22)

God brought about a victory to Jehoshaphat and all he did was just praising God. How hard it was for him though to praise God knowing that the enemies coming to defeat him. But God’s solution is always higher than ours – it doesn’t depend on a logic, it depends on OUR FAITH! and how we would response the the situation.

There were times where I felt like i just cannot move on in my walk with God. I was stuck and couldn’t find a way out. At those times, I decided to turn on praise songs, turned the music volume to the max, and I started to praise God like crazy!!! (of course, my housemates were not at home otherwise they wouldn’t be able to sleep) Although, the situation wasn’t completely changed but deep in my heart I knew that God was pleased with what I did and after I praised God, He gave me an assurance that everything will be alright soon or later.

Praise Him now!

I believe there is more

Today is Sunday, at the moment, I am enjoying a breakfast that my roommate, Peter, made for me . It’s an egg omelette. Very nice!! 

Monday to Friday, I usually don’t have time for breakfast. Well, I do have If I choose to make a time for it, but I choose to sleep rather. My new working hours is super early. Starting at 7am, finishing at 3pm. I usually get up at 5.20am, do my devotional time til 5.50am, then, I will take a shower, groom myself and rush off to Roma Street train station in order to catch 6.34am Caboolture train which will allow me to arrive right on time at 7am. Yes, this is my life Monday to Friday. After work, I usually have shepherding, meeting or worship practice for church/LG. Otherwise, I will come home. 

I really enjoy my life and I have come to the mode where I am satisfied at where I am at. With my work. with my life, with my ministries, everything seems to be going ok at the moment. But deep down inside my heart, I believe there is more for my life. I want to be the one who is living a radical life for God. I believe there is more!! More that just getting up early in the morning, go to work and come back home! I don’t want to come to a satisfied mode but I want to desire more of Him.

Everytime where I pray, God use me! use me! I believe that He will use me more that what I can imagine. There is a promise that He has given to me in

1 Cor 2:9 saying No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has has conceived what God prepared for those who love Him

I believe there is more! More than this. As I am hoping for more of my life, I pray that I will not forget to be thankful for the present and the past. God has done so much in my life and He has brought me so far! And He will continue to bring me far as long as I love Him. Use me!!

What if the dream comes true?

This is an email I received from our dear sister Jos:

“Hey Jimmie,

Did I tell you, you and Winnie were in my dreams the other night. It was so scary. The scariest dream I have ever had. Anyway, it went like this. You, Winnie and I were at this random place. One day the headline of the news went like this: Jesus is not real. The Bible is hoax. We were furious. We were protesting, claiming that Jesus is real, and word of God is true and will live forever.

Then the people of the place wanted to prosecute us. It was so scary. Then it went pitch black. You, Winnie and I were running, running because we trying to escape, and then the mood changed. We were running because we were running late for dinner [HAHAHAHA].

Then we were at this very dark road being attacked by people. It was so dark, and the people were so dark, too. We were being robbed. Then I ran away, cried out for help. I screamed in real life, then I woke up because of my scream. That was it. It was very scary”

This is a very hilarious dream :-). Yet, I am thrilled to know that in the dream we are able to stand firm to what we believe despite harm that come against us. Not to surprise everyone here, but one day we will face a persecution! Let’s read the below: 

2 Tim 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

In our church, we have been learning on the topic of godliness. We are urging to live a godly life and I believe in every’s heart that love Jesus – there is a desire to be godly. We are striving to be godly daily. But it said that we will be persecuted when we live a godly life . If you choose to be godly, be prepared for a persecution! it said in the Bible, what an uncomfortable true! 

 

We will be persecuted for our belief one day! Ourselves may not face directly but our generations that come after us may face it and infact, our brothers and sisters in some countries ARE ALREADY FACING IT!! MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN PUT TO DEATH BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH IN JESUS!

In JG Advace, Ps.Wenan asked us “if one day, you have to die for God, how would you die”? People came up with different answers: some said that they want to be put to death by injecting toxic into their blood, some said by being drowned into the sea and so on. For me, I just kept silence and was asking myself – can I really die for God? I really hope and pray that I can say yes and never reject Jesus no matter what.

Are you ready for persucution? [What a question!]

True Wisdom (For students)

The Scripture that God wants me to encourage us during this specific period of time is:

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”

Many people in this world claims that those who are in a high degree of their studies eg. doctor degree, honour degree etc. are those abundant with wisdom knowledge but God said it is not! We can only acquire true wisdom and knowledge when we fear God!!

Why do we fear God? For me, it is because of what He did for us on the Cross drive me to love and fear Him! Continue to remind ourselves of what God did for us on the Cross so we may fear Him and may we acquire wisdom from Him as we are studying for our exams and doing our assignments!

Love

Jimmie