The Mightly Protection over Hope Suratthani

 My heart broke when I got an e-mail from my buddy from Hope Suratthani saying that there was an accident during the journey from Hope Suratthani to Hope Thailand Convention at Khon Kean province. This happened last week. My heart is even more broken and cried when I saw the pictures of the coach that carried Hope Suratthani people to Khon Kean turned upside down at the street isle.

It is shocking. My friend told me that there were 3 coaches that carried our Hope Suratthani people to the convention but the first coach got an accident because the driver drove carelessy plus it was raining so they street was slippery. 

I was thinking of all of my dear Hope Suratthani bros and sis, my dear uncles, aunties, my dear ex-shepherd and my best friends – HOW ARE THEY!?! I made a phone call to ask my dear buddy and i rejoiced with tears. No one died but heaps of them are injured and one of my dear sisters is now in ICU but now she is saved!! I was speechless but really thank God from the bottom of my heart that no one died, look at the pictures below - normally accident like that is a diaster but WE ALL ARE SAVED! The most encouraging part is those who injured (except those who have to stay at the hospital) continued their journey to the convention! They did not blame God at all insted they rejoiced over the situation as you can see from the picture of my beloved Dangnoi’s Mom Aunty with her thumb up! - what a heart of Hope Suratthani people. I truly adore their simple faith and words can not explain how much I really treasure every life in Hope Suratthani. Most importantly, Thank You God for your mightly protection over our Hope Suratthani. Thank You God .. Thank You .. Thank You and Thank You!  

Friends, if you are reading this post now, please set aside 1 minute to pray for the Hope Suratthanians who are injured. Pray for the healing. Any sickness and pains that not belong to God – may Him cast it away in Jesus name.

Please also pray for Ps.PN, he is now in the hospital, he got sick because he used too much noise. This happened after the OC. And he couldn’t go to join Thai Convention this year. Please pray for protection over Hope Thailand Churches. We are in the period of spiritual warfare. Please 1 min – uphold them into God’s hand!

The most important thing in life

What is the most important thing in life? Some say family, Some say money, Some say healthy body etc. I’ve just discovered the most important thing in my life just about 5 years ago. In fact, I didn’t learn to see the value of that most important thing in my life until about 2 years later.

My most important thing in life is “Having a relationship with God”

“Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind. The is the first and greatest commandment” Matthew 22:37

If you love somebody, you would want to have a relationship with that person. No love No Relationship. I am not sure if I really love God ALL of my heart, soul and mind but I pray daily that I will learn to thrive in this holy relationship with God for it is the most important thing in life.

“…. Martha , Martha the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, BUT ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her …” (Luke 10:42)

This is one of my favourite Biblical stories. It’s about Jesus went to this women house named Martha and Mary. Martha was so busy with preparation that had to be made for Jesus but Mary just sat at Jesus’s feet listening to Him. How can that be, while Martha was so busy preparing things for Jesus and Mary just sat down with Jesus and didn’t help Martha, but guess what!! Jesus said Mary has chosen what is BETTER! 

Martha was doing things for Jesus, She did it FOR JESUS but Jesus seemed to please with Mary more! Does it sound familiar? Yes! Have we ever been thinking why there are so many things need to be done for life group and church? Aren’t we doing that for God? Yes! But it is better (As Jesus said), if we choose to just enjoy the rest in relationship with Jesus then do things for God (serve God) out of that relationship.

Jesus spoke to me again and again the partial of that scripture “But only one thing is needed”  …“But only one thing is needed” … “But only one thing is needed”

I use that to remind myself every time I have a tendency to be busy. When I feel like there is no time for me to grow in my relationship with God, When I feel like there is no time for me to do QT, When I feel like I’m busy doing things for God”

I remind myself with that quote of Jesus “Jimmie, But only one thing is needed” …

is to have a relationship with God! For it is the most important thing in life.

True Accountability is so hard!

Yes. “True” Accountabiblity is so hard to do. I hated it. When I first learned about Accountability when I was in Hope Suratthani; it was just unacceptable. Why do I have to tell everything to my spiritual mentor? They don’t have any right to know my secret.

My view of Accountability totally changed when I came to Hope Brisbane. Accountability means I’m responsible for my decisions or actions and expected to explain them when I am asked. It is like being an Accountant which responsible for financial decisions or actions and need to report to senior accountant when being asked. 

I now see Accountability as attitudes of submission, humility and intergrity. Why? Because Accountability cannot be forced, it needs to be understood and applied willingly. So, there is no doubt that Accountability and Willingness cannot be separated from each other. Accountability is not just to share to your spiritual mentors or leaders about what we are going through but also willing to let them to advise us which sometimes advices can be painful but they will help us to grow heaps if we allow them to speak into our lives.

I come to see the value of Accountability even more last year where I had an issue that was too ashamed to tell anyone but God challenged me to be accountable to my leader. It was not easy I tell you. It took me months until I decided to be accountable to my leader about this issue. I doubted whether I should be accountable about this issue to my leader or not but God was gracious, He told me that as long as I choose to do the right thing and submit myself under God’s authority, He will protect me! So whatever it takes, I am going to obey You, God!  

I’ve learned so much once I have accounted to my leader about that issue. Now I did my part and I believe God will do His part too by deliver me from this issue. And He amazingly did in His perfect timing!

I now see Accounability as a gift from God. It all comes down to His love for us that is why He wants us to be accountable to His appointed leaders. At the same time, it will grow our inner man and prepare us before we step into leadership roles.

What is your definition of “True Accountability”?   

Christian Accountant is back in Brisbane

Hi again Brisbane. Finally I made it to Brisbane. Truly the trip from Bangkok to Brisbane this time was a trip of faith. First of all, there was a chance that I couldn’t come to Brisbane because of my visa. This is because I have already graduated and the immigration tends to cancel my visa anytime, yet, my agent suggested me to book the flight and fly anyway. And praise the Lord, here i am in Brisbane!

Secondly, I had to transit the flight at Sydney in order to go to Brisbane. But there was something wrong with the plane so they canceled the flight and I end up stay at Sydney for one night. And finally, here i am in Brisbane!

Oh Brisbane here I come. Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! Especially my housemates and the 2408 girls! Kelvin too! Thanks for the welcoming dinner and your presence of my very first night in Brisbane in 2008!

So, Welcome to the real world as this year I will have to put myself in shirt, black pants, tie and black shoes in order to be another Christian Accountant! I called myself “Christian Accountant” because I really want to be different from other accountants by keep maintaining God’s standard at my workplace and now it is a time that I can put it in action.

Working world is scary because I will have to deal with different people from different backgrounds and definitely there will be quarrels, misunderstandings, jealously and many many things in workplace. But I believe God’s standard prevails all. I pray that I will be an accountant who always demonstrate God’s standard and to be Salt & Light to the people in my workplace and wherever I go. 

All in all, it’s time to get my hands dirty, after the 4 months holiday, to serve the Lord here in Brissy with all my heart, my soul and my strength. Arrrrr ….  Use me!