Sorry Mom

Som Tum Pla Ra

I’m so sorry mom but I just couldn’t endure it anymore. She warned me all the times that I shall not buy any Thai foods in Australia for it is much more expensive compare to Thailand (of course). She told me to endure and wait until I come back to Thailand. But, I have been so craving for this Thai food called “Som Tum”. It’s a papaya salad. It gives a sour and salty flavour and of course it is real HOT and SPICY. I used to eat Som Tum everyday when I was in Thailand for I can just walk out from my house and get it. It costs only 20 baht which is about 40 aussie cents. I so wanted to eat it. Now the chance has come, I went for a haircut owned by a Thai lady in Chinatown – she told me that I can get an authentic Som Tum in the Thai restaurant just close by. And amazingly, I found out later that the restaurant owner is my ex-employer. Yes! I used to work for her when she owned a Thai restaurant in Lutwyche 3 years ago!!!!!! I can testify that her Thai cooking is AUTHENTIC.

After work on Wednesday, I kept thinking about “Som Tum”. I went to buy it and I had a great time catching up with the restaurant owner – Aunty Chaleo. She looked quite old now! I was nearly in tears when I saw her for I am grateful that she hired me to be a waiter during those days. I ordered Som Tum with fragmented fish and as I expected, she gave me discount!

God must be so generous with me these days, on Sunday after church, somehow, Daniels people wanted to go to eat Thai food (it was Derek’s idea hehe – thanks Derek). So we went to the Thai restaurant in Chianatown (not the one that I got Som Tum from). And guess what!!! THEY ALSO SELL SOM TUM!!!!!! We enjoyed it so much. Myrna, Amos, Christensen & Issac loved it. I’m so gald. 

Som Tum. I love you. You are so yummy and spicy. I am forever satisfied … I can’t ask for more.

How to make Som Tum – you can try at home hehe

Self-Discipline!

Self Discipline is the ability to regulate (control) conduct by principle and sound judgement rather than by impulse, desires, high-pressue or social customs.

 

 

How to cultivate a self-discipline life?

 

1. Start Small

eg. clean your bed-room, arrive on time for church/life group/lecture, have a dead-line, get up early.

 

 

2. Do the hardest things first

If you do easy tasks first, you will end up having least amount of time and energy to do hard tasks – not effective. To-Do List will help!

 

 

3. Prioritise wisely

Do ‘important’ and ‘urgent’ task first.

Do ‘important’ and “not urgent” task second.

Then, focus on ‘urgent’ but ‘not so important” tasks.

Lastly, do “not urgent” and “not important” tasks.

 

 

4. Learn to say “NO”

You don’t have to do everything that you have a right to do. eg. eat junk foods, play computer game overnight etc.

 

 

5. Be grateful for correction

People will a teachable spirit will GO FAR in God!

Leaders, shepherds and brothers, sisters in Christ are there to help you!

 

 

It’s my heart to see guys have a discipline life. I am still learning too

 

Love

 

Jimmie Thongkul

The boiling stew

I better write this down before I forget. Today we had a really great time listening to God through our favourite brother – Torchie. I was so pumped to hear the sermon today because today is the introduction of the coming church seminar - A Priesthood Church. ”Priesthood” sounds so holy to me. When I hear the word “priest” I can’t really relate to it and I want to find out what does “priesthood” mean to me. I’m looking forward to church seminar this coming Saturday!

Today we learned that we are CHOSEN/HAND-PICKED by God to be His people. And as His people we are to serve Him because we love Him for what He has done for us on the cross. The message was so simple but it penetrated my heart and once again reminded me how privillage I am to be CHOSEN by God. It once again reminded my identity in God. I thought before that if I am a leader, I would be able to serve Him more effectively. But I understand that regardless of the position in a church, I can serve Him faithfully at where I am. Right here, right now! I pray that I will no longer be caught up with a title or position but learn to serve as per His will.  

After the sermon, I responsed to God. A brother prayed for me and he prophosied over me that I am like a boiling stew! When the stew is boiling, a chef will have to get rid of the overflowing part of the boiling soup. God spoke to me through him that I often feel dissatisfied with myself and I would have to get rid of the necessary things that will hinder my growth. The reason I dissatify with myself is because God hasn’t finished with me yet. It comes to the conclusion that God hasn’t finished with me yet! 

In the past, when I felt that I could no longer move on in my walk with God, I would tell myself that “God hasn’t finished with me yet”, “I am yet to reach the fullness of Christ” for it will give me a sense that God is still in control, take heart, Jimmie. I’m gald that the prophecy reminded me again of this.  I don’t want to know when will He finish with me. It may take my entire life in order for God to finish His business in me. I don’t know, I don’t want to guess. But right here, right now, I will choose to serve Him faithfully and trust Him completely. Here I am .. use me!

Power to choose

I craved to spend time with God, to sit at God’s feet and to just offer simple worship songs unto Him. This week, I didn’t really get to spend time with God. I felt dry and tired spritually. So I made a determination that on Saturday, I will “GO TO MEET GOD”. And God met me!

God surprised me with the word “power”. In fact, God has been speaking the word “power” to me this week. It is exciting when God speaks because when He speaks because it will convicts our heart and we will never be the same. As I was spending time with God. God told me that, as a child of God, I have a power. It is a POWER to CHOOSE.  Sometimes, I think that if I keep praying hard and fasting 40 days/40 nights, my life will be changed. But I believe, instead of just waiting and expecting for the change, I too have to coorperate with God by using a power as a child of God to MAKE A RIGHT DECISION. I have to make a decision. I have to make a decision to love God, to obey God, to be righteous and holy before God. At times, it is not easy to make a right decision although we know a choice we should choose. But we have a power as children of God to make a decision according to His will. How much do we excercise this power in our daily life, power to say YES, power to say NO, power to do or not to do certian things, in order to please Him?  

Recently, Some of my Aussie colleagues asked me to go clubbing with them to celebrate their birthday, It was hard to say no because we are working in the same department and I am the only Asian that they ask to go clubbing with them so I felt quite honored by that. They asked me If I do drink and stuffs. My weakness is that I sometimes tend to make a decision to please people rather that to please God. I was tempted to say “yes” for I feel good and honored that they considered me as their friend and I may lose the friendship if I say “no”. But to go clubbing, is it pleasing God? The answer for me is NO! Decision is now lies with me whether say “YES” or “NO” and I praise God that I did excercise a power to CHOOSE to do the right thing and eventually I said NO to them!

I appreciate God that He once again reminded me of who I am in Him. we can MAKE A DECISION! to stand firm. To obey Him. There are many choices for us to make in many cirucmstances in our life. Choices are ours but make sure we MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

Refreshed!

Where to draw the line?

Where to draw the line? A person asked me ”Should I put God first or to put study first”, “I want to go to church but I need to study for my exam” and I simply answered “Of course you must put God first”. I even decorated my answer with the Word of God too in Matthew 6:33 – “if you put God first, He will add all things that you need including your study” This may sound quite cliche to some people and even sometimes to me BUT it is the Word of God It can’t be a cliche. After I encouraged that person, I thought, where should we draw the line between being committed to church/life group and study?

Both are important. Church is important as well as study for examination. If I say “you have to come to church no matter what” Does it mean that we have to totally abandon our study? Or if I say “don’t worry, you don’t have to come to church, it’s an exam period, we understand” If I encourage that person as such, Isn’t this show that I don’t see the value of having a commitment to church?

My weakness is I want people to have my perspective and to understand it my way rather than me learning to understand them and putting myself into their shoes. My perspective regarding exam and commitment is “no matter what, I must come to church. Although, I don’t get to do your study at all and although you have exam on Monday morning you must come to church for this is a act showing that you put God first” This perspective may be too hard to grasp for some people. Can a new believer understand this? No way! If I say this to him/her, they would immediately run away from church.  Where to draw the line? Can we study for exam on Sunday or on life group day?  

I hope and pray that I will learn to understand people more. I want to learn to know them, know situation, know where they are at. I realise how important it is apply God’s wisdom in dealing with people’s business. The more I mature in Him, the more I need it. Oh yeah .. I pray that I will do everything out of love too.