Monday, May 24, 2010

Helping Hands and Feet

On Friday I walked down to Central World at Chidlom. This is where the concentration of red shirts were protesting, it is also where they set fire to Bangkok's largest mall. As I walked down the streets I could smell the burnt residue of the burning tires and buildings. The ash was kicked up as I scanned the streets, creating a layer of black on my shoes and legs. There were points were I had to hold my breath because the smell was to much to take in. Everywhere there were peoples clothes, shoes, trash, and debris that was left behind. Guards and military wearily moved through the piles trying to find left over weapons. I began praying, interceding, pleading with God to heal this land! Bring this nation to His feet! Wrap them in His everlasting embrace! I arrived at the mall that was set on fire. Media was everywhere and the structure was still smoldering, firetrucks were spraying gallons of water to subdue the smoke. I looked around and was speechless, bullet holes in the windows, graffiti on the walls and memorial sites lined the perimeter. How did this happen? How did we get here? When will it be back to normal?

Sunday was a complete 180 from Friday, instead of sorrow and hopelessness lining the streets there were brooms and trash bags, held by people who want to see their country back to smiling. No longer was there a stench of rotting food and soiled clothing but of clean air and streets. I loved working alongside the people of Bangkok, helping to clean a place that I have called home for the past 5 months. Language was not a barrier when your common goal is to bring back to life a place that has been dead for too long.

I came to Thailand to minister to the Thais, to show them Christ, to be His hands and feet. I put those hands and feet to use the other day and showed Christ in the simplest form, helping.

Friday, May 14, 2010

If we love our King...

Where do I start? Thailand is called the land of smiles but these past few months have been nothing but smiles. People have turned against each other; Province against province, friend against friend, family against family. A group has risen to the front lines called the red shirts officially named UDD (United front for Democracy against Dictatorship), these are the main protesters in this battle of politics. These protests are nothing like what we experience in America, these people have taken over the streets of Bangkok shut down malls, transportation services and local businesses. They are camping out in the streets; living, bathing, eating, sleeping on the streets for over a month now. Tires and bamboo spears have been placed at each end of their protesting sites to deter people from entering, later razor wire was added. They are chanting and protesting all day everyday from 6am-3am making it impossible for residents of that area to receive any type of peace and quiet. They have stormed Parliament, thrown blood on the Prime Ministers house, stormed a hospital searching for military, demanded that Parliament dissolve so that they can chose who is in office, bombed a BTS station and more. They are led by several leaders who all get their orders from a chain of text messages sent by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatrawho was exiled form Thailand around 2008. There has been attempts made to reconcile but so far the attempts have been denied. 

A few weeks ago I was in a taxi and my driver spoke English! He wanted to practice so we spoke my whole trip. Something he said stuck with me and really made me think. We all know that the two main topics to avoid in general conversation are politics and religion, I broke those rules! We began talking about the political situation and how it is affecting everyone around it. He said that every person had one thing in common, they love their King. He continued on by saying that if all of these people claim to love their King then why are they giving him such a headache? It is causing him pain to watch this violence progress. If they truly love their King they wouldn't want to do things that hurt him. I smiled to myself and said to him, that's exactly how God feels about his people. We as Christians claim to love our God but yet we continue to lash out at each other and cause dissension among our fellows believers and non believers. Christ has called us to love our brothers and sisters as Christ has loved us, even to love our enemies. In 1 John 4:20 He says, "If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."
If we love our King, why are we giving Him a headache?

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Whirlwind Love Affair

My time in Thailand has thrown me into a whirlwind love affair. I have never felt so in love with anyone before now. I can't stop smiling, laughing, praising, and talking about Him! He surprises me everyday with something new and wonderful. He's promised to love me and be with me even to the end of the age. He fills my heart with joy. He provides for my every need. He listens to me and hears me when I call. I can't stop thinking about Him, every second of the day. I want to tell everyone I know about Him and how much I love Him. He comforts me when I'm hurting and rejoices when I am happy. He teaches me how to love others even my enemies. He is my strength in my weakness. He saved my life even though I didn't deserve it. I am in LOVE <3
Who is he? He is Alpha, Omega, Savior, Redeemer, Provider, Lamb, Son, Protector, Lover, Immanuel, Creator, Author, Perfecter, Yahweh, Elohim, Yeshua, Messiah, Friend........GOD

GET TO KNOW HIM!