Before & After

I made some people laugh when I told them the reason why I cut my hair is because I want to be more effective for God. In deed, I really mean it. With my previous hair, I can spend up to 40 minutes; styling and strengthening my hair. I should rather spend that 40 minutes in doing my QT. Now, after I take a shower, I can just dry my hair, get dress and go out! I spend less than 1 minute on my hair now. How convenient!

 
Before

Even Before!

After

Oh God, I’ve changed so much in You. Not just the hair style and shape but MY LIFE too! Thank You!

Indelible ไม่มีวันลบเลือน

“Lord … in the past I have denied you

and walked away from You numerous times.

But I know that there is an indelible mark of the Cross You left inside my heart.

From now on, I will bear the Cross for You.

I will do it!”

 พระเจ้า … หลายครั้งเหลือเกินที่ลูกปฏิเสธพระองค์

หลายครั้งเหลือเกินที่ลูกเดินจากทางของพระองค์ไป

แต่สิ่งหนึ่งที่ลูกรู้ คือ รอยไม้กางเขนนั้น

ที่พระองค์ทรงประทับไว้ในใจของลูก

มันจะไม่มีวันลบเลือนไป

นับตั้งแต่วันนี้ลูกของแบกกางเขนร่วมกับพระองค์

ลูกสัญญา!

It’s ok to learn

I have to tell you that I don’t know how to make a tie. Well, I actually do know how to make the simple version one but don’t know how to do the perfect triangle tie. I always want to know to make a perfect triangle tie I think it is necessary for me to really learn how to make a proper tie plus I’ll be working soon so I MUST know how to make a proper tie.

The only person that I can think of is our super – Seya. I’m embarrassed that she can make a better tie than me although she is a girl. So i kindly ask her to teach me how to make a tie and out of her excellent spirit, she taught me discreetly of how to make a proper tie. Out of her excellent spirit, she even drawed me a picture of how to make a tie step by step. And out of my several times of practice – I can now make a perfect triangle tie. I am so happy!

Let’s together mark this date in the history - 18th May 2008: Jimmie Jom Natthawut Thongkul can make a perfect tie

I’ve realised that it is ok to learn. To learn from anyone, anything. Jesus even wants us to learn from the little chidren. And don’t be embarrassed to ask and say that what you don’t know! When I look at the grass, I can learn from it. I learned that I am like that grass, today i’m green, tomorrow I may withered but what last in my life is His love fo me. I can learn from Brisbane River near my apartment that I won’t be able to go back to fix the past, I have to make the most of everyday for God just like how the river never flow back. I can learn from the stars on the sky that God will fulfill His calling in my life, just like how God took Abraham out to look at the stars in the sky in order to reassure Abraham of His promise. I can learn from …. my church, my leaders, my shepherds, my sheep, my friends, my housemates, my future partner, my parents and of course ….  my GOD. 

How to make a tie by Seya Ong (Copyright)

Girlfriend

I love attending a Christian wedding. I love it not because it only reflects the picture of God and the church (God as a groom and church as His bride) but it shows a commitment of two people becoming ONE. I’m honored to be invited by Don & Grace for their wedding. Congratulations to both of you!

I started to get a bit anxious although I am VERY young that I may not find a perfect wife or even not able to find one! Moreover, I don’t even have in mind what kind of wife that I intended her to be. I didn’t even do the godly wife criteria planning whatsoever. I started to get even more anxious as my mom kept bugging me to get a girlfriend. I think this is because my Thai friends/cousins that went to study overseas carried girlfriends back with them when they come back to Thailand but every time I back to Thailand - I had none except my 2 big luggages. My mom get even more anxious as I’m an already graduted but still no girlfriend! She must have been thinking what’s wrong with me. No matter how much I explain to her why I don’t want to seek for a girlfriend now, she will never be able to understand! I think that’s why she doesn’t want to become a Christian because to her it seems like Christianity prevents her son from having a girlfriend. Oh, mom my life is far more than having a girlfriend!

All of my friends who are around the same age as me have girlfriends/boyfriends. I just met up with my Thai friend recently and I was just couldn’t see how having a girlfriend at this age can fulfill him since he always anxious, worry and complain about her girlfriend.

As for me, having a life partner that has the same vision as me is important – I’ve been taught like that since Hope Suratthani. I believe it is going to be great to have someone that is always there to encourage you in your walk with God, the one that always support you, the one that serve God together wih you. I determine to have only one girlfriend because she is going to be a girl that I will marry. At this age of 21, my life in God is more worthy than wasting time “dating girls” or “trying out girls” like buying shoes. 

Now I can think of one criteria, the first and most important criteria of my future wife -
She must love God more than me

How important is my soul!

“Do not be afraid of “those who kill the body” but cannot kill soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows! (Matthew 10:28-30)

When we read the verse “those who kill the body” above, we often think of a man that persecutes Christians but tonight God gave me another meaning of “those who kill the body” ….
That is my “fleshly desire”

Fleshly desire to me doesn’t neccessary have to always related to sexual desire but rather any desires that I WANT TO DO which contradicts to God’s standard. I admit that my fleshly desire keeps killing my body day and night. It directs my body what to do etc. and after wrestling hard with my flesh – I got so exhausted, thinking when I can get out from it to fully be a person that live righteously for God, set apart for Him alone. I do afraid of my flesh. I do afraid of it. Yet, God encouraged me with the above verse not to be afraid of anything that can kill me body but afraid of Him – the One who can kills both body and soul.

Now i realised how important is my soul. Now I know the solution. Though my flesh may fail me yet my soul can choose to be firmed in Christ. And I believe once my soul is deeply rooted in Christ – nothing can shake me anymore because nothing can take away my soul in Christ. No matter how strong my fleshly stuffs will be – I can choose to set my soul alive in Christ. For I will fear Him alone – knowing that I am more worthy than a sparrow and even my very hairs are numbered my God. Oh, How I love You!

 

My God, My Birthday, My Sandgate

When I first came to Brisbane, the very first suburb that I stayed at is called “Sandgate”. I thought Sandgate must be something like New York or busy lively city. But out of my expectation, when I arrived at Sandgate what I could experience was peace and beautiful fragance of the sea. I was so glad that I got to stayed with a homestay which the house is near the beach. Nearly everyday after I came back from school, I would walk along the beach, stepped on the sand with my bare feet. Sandgate to me is such a wonderful place and I fell in love with Brisbane since then. However, after a while, I regreted that I live in Sandgate because it is TOO far from the Brisbane City. It’s 5 zones away! I could only travel by train! I took me 45 mins to get to the city from Sandgate by train. Beautiful sea is no longer attractive. I need a city! 

Yesterday was my 21st birthday! Every year of my birthday I have to take God out for a date. It has already become our (me & God) culture. I already planned at the beginning of this year that for my 21st birthday this year I will take God out for a date at Sandgate since I haven’t been back there for a year and I really miss the good old times!

So we (God & me) went to Sandgate on 2nd May 2008 in the morning. It was such a beautiful and refreshing morning. I was excited to spend time with God at Sandgate, to reflect of what I have done on earth in the past 21 years and to enjoy myself in God. We caught the train together and we arrived at Sandgate around 11am. I took God to visit my homestay house and It was great that I got to catch up with my homestay mother again. She is now really old. Then, I took God to my favourite Fish&Chip shop in Sandgate then we sat near the beach and had lunch together.

At the beach, I read God’s birthday message (Bible). He encouraged me with a story of Ruth how she was so faithful to God although her husband died whereas when Orpah’s husband died, Orpah turned back to her gods (Ruth 1:14-17). God encouraged me that things in life can go wrong anytime and as I am 21st year old - there will be countless of unexpected things happen in my life but if I keep my conviction strong like Ruth - i will not be shaken by any circumstaces whatsoever! It was such a beautiful birthday message from God at the beautiful Sandgate beach with beautiful yummy fish&chips. After I finsihed reading birthday message from God, I took God’s hand and we walked together along the beach, I sang to Him worship songs in my native language. It was such a beautiful moment with God. I want nothing more. I don’t refuse that i’m a romantic person. If I love somebody, I will take that person to the beach and God is the very first one that I did that. As for me there is no whereelse as romantic as Sandgate.

Thank You God, Thank You for creating me, Thank You for bringing me to the point where I want to give to You rather than to take. Thank You for making me understand Your love. I want nothing more, nothing else, nothing less on my 21st birthday except wanting You to use me more according to Your perfect will.

Happy 21st Birthday Jimmie! I am still alive and kicking in God’s hand!

Oh yeah thank God for another job interview next tuesday – what a big birthday persent!

 

Party Owners – Jimmie’s 21st Birthday & Christine’s Housewarming

From the depth

I don’t know how long do I have to endure this. I know that You are molding me with Your mightly hands. It’s hurt everytime you mold me but I believe in You. I just want to serve You. Why do I always have to face changes? I’ve been facing changes for the rest of my life. The changes made me lose hope. I don’t know what I will face from now on.

Will there be any more changes come to my life? Do I have to re-start again?  Will I be able to pass the test that You given to me daily? Will I run away from You again?

No I won’t runway. I cannot run away from God! No! because You teach me to trust You despite the circumstances and Your plan for me is the greatest plan You teach me that as the heaven is higher than the earth so Your way is higher than my way. Your will must be done in my life

 Alright, I will fight. I will endure. I must grow. Nothing can stop me from having a relationship with You – for this is the most important thing in my life.  

Your son – Jom