Would you die for God?? – stay tune for the next post :-)

Unexpected (very) Belated Birthday Gift

Yesterday at church, I received a VERY BELATED birthday gift from a dear sister. It is thoughtful of her. The gift is a microwaveable glass container and she urges me to eat healthy with this container. Thanks sis for your care – I promise you to eat healthy but often haha!

Brokenness is good

Brokenness from God is good. Because it will bring you to a total dependant on God. As I was praying to God, God asked me to pray for brokenness. He wants me to be broken again so He can reshape me to a better utensil for Him. I was a little reluctant because when God brings a situation that cause be to be broken, it’s always very hard to go through it. But by God’s grace, I know that this brokenness will cause me to grow me in Him and to be used by Him for effectively.

Alright, bring it on, God. Smash me!!

[Psalm 51:17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Are you envious because God is generous?

The landowner was looking for people to work in his vineyard. He went to look for workers and he found a man standing in a marketplace doing nothing. He asked him whether or not he wants to work for his vineyard. That man agreed and he will be paid with a certain amount of salary. The landowner then went around to look for more workers and he found workers who are not being hired by anyone. They just standing around and do nothing. The landowner also invited them to come to work for his vineyard.

Now, it’s a payday, the man who got hired first expected to get paid more than other workers because he was being hired FIRST! He believed that he has a full right to receive more pay than other workers. Unexpectedly, the landowner paid salary to those who got hired last first and paid to a man who got hired first last. They all got paid the same amount. A man who got hired first wasn’t happy. He expressed that he should get paid first and get paid more than other workers because he worked longer hours and because he was the first. He expresssed “How can the landowner made me equal to other workers who came last?!?”

The landowner, however, believed that what he did was fair. He told all of his workers that “Don’t I have the right to do with my money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”

The story above is taken from Matthew 20:1-16. Now, put yourself in a man who get hired first shoes. Would you be happy to get paid the same as other workers, eventhough, you worked longer than them? I would be complanning to my boss for sure for I deserve to get paid more than them, if I worked longer than my colleagues. Not just he got paid the same amount, but he was the last person who got paid! In my company, I am always looking forward to Thursday of each week for it is our pay day. Imagine, if my boss come to me and say “Jimmie, I know you have been working really hard but I will have to pay you next Thursday, I would like to pay other people first” Man … if that happened to me, I would be furious!

In the story, God is the landowner and workers are us. He has called us to be in His service because we were standing around and doing NOTHING. We all were useless and insignificant before He called us. It is the greatest privillage ever to be used by the King of Kings.

I have been walking with the Lord and been in His service for 7 years, I have been seeing God bless many ones who come to know God after me, who come into God’s service after me. I have seen God’s promotion and provision upon their lives. I see how God use them mightily in their talents and gifthings. I could understand that man’s feeling. I was disappointed with God. Why why God doesn’t use me like how He use other people. But today God is asking me, “Jimmie, don’t I have the right to do with my money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:15)

I was envious. My attitudes failed before God. It’s called PRIDE. Pride in thinking that I deserve this and that from God. Pride in thinking that I deserve to be the first for God for I come first. Pride in thinking that God must use me in this way today right now in my timing. I came to realized how immature I am in my thoughts and attitude before God. But God has brought me to repentance as I acknowledge His sovereignty. I don’t have a right to say to the Potter – “HEY dude! Mould me this way otherwise I will not be your pot”.
Brother Yun said in his The Heavenly Man book “If God continues to use me for His service, Praise God ! But if one day God stops using me, Praise God too! For He is God. This quote sums up everything that I want to share.

“ God, I praise You that I have come this far and I still have a long way to go. You have been using me in the past 7 years and I will continue to have a relationship with You. I need Your humility in my heart again. Use me in Your way but my way and let me consider other people better than myself, God”

Dare to trust God? (sharing for D2 men)

Dare to trust God?
 
Welcome to the busy period of examinations. Would you place God as your frist priority at this very period of time? When life goes smooth – it’s easy to trust God and coming to Life Group and church.
 
I was encouraged by certain ones who came to Life Group last Friday although they have exam at 8.30am next morning. This show that they are serious in their commitment to a local church and all in all their commitment to GOD! What about you? I dare you! As you put the Lord first, as you put Life Group and Sunday Service as your first piority out of an act of trust, let’s see how God will bless you in your exams this semester. Let’s show your manhood by trusting in God and faithfully coming to Life group and church!
 
D2 guys, I dare you!!
 
Love

Jimmie

P.S. I think this sharing is applicable to every student so I want to also share it here in my blog. Dare to trust God, students?

My Blog Commitment Renewal

I want to annonce to all of you, my faithful readers, in the presence of the Lord, that I am committed in writing this blog to let the WHOLE WORLD know that Jesus lives! May I quote this Scripture from Joshua 24:15 ” As for me and my blog (household) - we will serve the Lord” From now on, I am committed in not leaving my blog inactive for more than 3 weeks!

Jimmie Jom Natthawut Thongkul 
Wednesday, 18/06/09 8.35pm @ QUT GP Computer Lab

To all readers!

I’m very sorry for leaving my blog inactive for such a long period of time. Since I came back from Thailand, I was in a period of adjusting myself to a new working hours, to new wheather. Many changes happpened. I still  haven’t managed to sit down, collect my thoughts and put it now just yet. It was not a very easy period but now I think I am back in place.

Please stay tune for the next post!!

Love

Jimmie

G’day from Thailand 2

Everyone wants to live a comfortable life in a comfortable place in a beautiful country. Despite the heat and political problems, Thailand is a place where I want to reside in for the rest of my life – mainly because of the spicy foods . 

 

I only have one more week left beforel I return to my Brisbane – a place where God called me to be in. If I want to do what I want for my life, I would quit my job, ministry and everything in Brisbane and fly back to live comfortably here in Thailand but as God has already called me to serve Him in Brisbane. I can do nothing except gladly surrender my will to Him in obedience like Abraham.”By faith, he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents … For he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God [Heb 11:9-10]“  Thanking God for my parents too. They give me a freewill in making a decision for my own future including a country where I want to reside.

 

May my attitude be like Abraham always. May I not be too attached with either Thailand or Brisbane. May I live in everyplace I go like living a tent so when God calls me, I will be able to move quickly with Him. May I live in this world like living in a tent and look forward to my true home: heaven. I pray like Jesus that may God’s will NOT my will be done in my life. I only have one life to live, may I live it to the fullness for God. May God make me international so I can live in any place in this world.

 

I will be going to Bangkok on 30th April to celebrate my 22nd birthday with my grandparents and to do a little bit more of shopping :-p. I won’t be able to have my birthday in Brissy this year but if you want to bless Jimmie Thongkul, please drop me a word of encouragement via e-mail,facebook or blog . I love encouragement in any forms – it is something that boost me go on an extra mile with God. This is a blessing when we commit ourself to a local church. 

 

I will fly back to Brissy on 4th May. Anyone want to pick me up from the airport?? Ming, I know you will :p

 

Loved much,

 

Natthawut Thongkul

G’day from Thailand

Missing winter in Brisbane very much. Weather here in Thailand is very hot. It is about 35-42 degree here. In fact, April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand. The first day I landed in Thailand, I got a bad headache due to a sudden change of climate and 6 pimples on my forehead because my face was sweating all the times. My mom didn’t really like my hair dyed. She said I should be proud of my black hair, of being Thai but I kept insiting to her that my hair with a little bit of colour would make my face look brighter. Anyway, all in all despite my coloured hair she said that I l am more good looking than last time she saw me for I have lost weight.  Oh mom made my day

For my parents, grand-parents and relatives, I am like a superstar for them. They are so proud of me for me able to graduated and work in Australia. It is beyond everyone’s imagination that a simple Thai guy like me from a simple town of Suratthani is able to work in Australia. In this, I have told them a secret of my success – it is because of my God whom directed my path since the first day I stepped on Brisbane. Their funny faces amuse me every time I thank Jesus out loud in front of them. I really thank God for all that He did in my life – through up and down in my walk with Him - God has brought me this far. I am very humble to be called God’s child. He didn’t just die for me but He take care of me too.  I hope and pray that through God, my life would somehow touch my relatives and my mom for NONE of them are Christians. It is VERY HARD to speak “Jesus” to their life. Thailand is a land of idols. Every where is full of idols. Every where is full of unblibical beliefs. My voice would often barely small when I speak Jesus to them. Especially to my mom, I would often end up arguing with her with we talk about how and why we should have a relationship with God.

One thing that bring so much joy to my heart here is my nephew – Nong Aun (photo below). He has grown so much since last time I saw him. I still can’t believe that I am now called uncle. I went to visit him and when he saw me he pretended to ignore me. After a while, I said “anyone want a souvenir from Australia?”. Right away, he ran to me with a smiley face. He is so cute. I love him so much. I wish he can come to know God so I secretly whisper into his ear “Jesus loves you” hehe. His mom (my cousin) would kill me if she find out I tell him that for she is a strict buddist.

I think it should end here … it’s my dinner time now and we are going to eat out to night. Hopefully I won’t gained much weight this time. Will see how …

Miss you Daniels  ..

Jimmie

My OC Diary (Sharing for D2 Brothers)

Hi from Thailand

 

Missing all of you brothers! I have arrived here safely in my hometown – Suratthani. Weather here is very hot. . I have been eating so much of good spicy Thai foods. My all times favourite is sticky rice with pork mince salad (Please google Laab Moo) and already done heaps of shopping.

 

OC has changed me life and God has lifted me up to another level in my maturity with Him. He spoke so much to me. I’m unable to share all in this e-mail. I share to you below a summary of my OC Diary. I hope it will encourage you.

 

Day 1: Theme: “I won’t let you pass me by”

On the very first day of OC, HS stired in my heart to love and appreciate Him. I told God that no matter what, throughout this OC, I won’t let Him pass me by.

 

Day 2: Theme: “I will follow faithfully”

Once I know that moving in the HS is all for God’s service NOT for myself. God encouraged me today to serve Him faithfully out of my love that I have for Him. Not to give up on my walk with God. But I decided to follow Him to the very end of my life.

 

Day 3: Theme: “I will need to be still”

I have been anxious abut certain things and areas in my walk with God. At times, I feel inadequated, ineffective, having never-be-good-enough attitude. Today, HS made me acknowledge who God is in my life. If God i and who I am in Him.If He is on my side, what I shall fear? I will only need to be still and know He is GOD.

 

Day 4: Theme: “I am back to the real world”

Heaven on earth (OC) has ended! I’, flying back to Brissy and to Thailand. It’s time to face the real world. It’s easy to focus on God when I am surronded by such a great crowd of witnesses. It’s easy to pray, worship, doing QT during OC. As I am back to the real world. Prayerfully that I will be able to keep up my fire and practice of what He has spoken to me througout te OC.

 

Please let me know how you all are doing over there. Please support Christine and Kelvin to the best of your ability. Please love your shepherds and spiritual mentors – for they love you unconditionally!  Never cease to do QT. Amen??

 

I will see you soon.

 

Jimmie Thongkul