Why Lord?

Ever since we set foot in this land of smiles, God showed us things that we never expected before, things that we've been praying in the Philippines. I have prayed that my wife will come to the real meaning of the word "Christianity", claiming to be a Christian is entirely different than living the way Christ expects us to live and show that w e are really His. 
With the kind of attitude that most of us Filipinos have, that is to say our being too opinionated in almost everything, it is quite difficult to really make us understand that Christianity is not just on the knowing Him basis. it is a matter of fact being in relationship with Him. One cannot claim as His child if you only know Christ by name or what He did. Thus it is essential that for you to be able to claim that you really is God's child you have to have Christ as your savior not just as someone who was hanged on the cross for the sins of mankind. It is indeed good that you have that knowledge but that would be vain if you will not claim that among those "MANKIND" that he died and bleed, you are one of them.
It is in this land, that my wife came to know Christ personally, it is through here in Thailand that I cam e to realize the need to share God's word, that I have been slacking in sharing His love.
I thought that once I am here in this land were Christianity is just a small portion of their population, I don't really have to exert so much effort in proving myself that I am a Christian. This is where I was wrong, it is here that I realized and came to my senses that I don't have to be a Missionary or a preacher just for you to be able to share His love and word.
It is here that i realize that the reason why Christians doesn't succeed here in Thailand it is simply because they have failed to fulfill that responsibility that has been implanted the moment that one will claim that he is now God's child.
 I have heard so many complaints of discrimination, of unsuccessful attempts to find work and people who are claiming to be Christians but became bitter because they failed to achieve what they have set their mind to accomplish way before they set foot on this land.
There is just one simple reason why this happens to them, it is because they have forgotten that aside from acquiring money to help feed their families, we as Christians has that responsibility to feed those who need spiritual feeding.
the moment that I have realized that and started to make an extra effort to do what I am suppose to do as His child, it is then that His abundant blessings started to pour out on my family.
I may sound to be bragging but I am not. I am sharing my thoughts on the said matter as every now and then my FB wall is often filled with Filipinos here in Thailand who are claiming to be Christians, of their murmurings, complaints and reflections of a chaotic kind of life. 
Why are they living in such a chaotic and unsuccessful life, the answer lies within them, the answer is on their hands. If they do the will of God, if they do what is the most important thing that they should do. it is only then that they will be able to see and receive the endless and abundant grace of God even in this pagan land.
It is only then that they will find peace, contentment and success the moment they have learned to embrace what We as Christians were commanded to do in the first place. " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel..." Mark 16:15


Each one of us can be a good contribution to God's ministry here in Thailand, you don't really have to go out and visit. We can share God's word to every one here in Thailand wherever we are and whatever we do.
This is why I am so proud of my wife as she is slowly incorporating Christian values to her class and at the same time slowly sharing God's word in anyway she can. 
One of such act is by teaching her Matthayom class the traditional Christmas song "Go tell it on the Mountain", and has been presented during one of their early morning ceremonies.

The REHEARSAL  of the Song with Matthayom students of Bodindecha Sing Sing Haseni

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SONG "GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN" with Bodindecha Sing Sing Haseni Mattayom Students

As God has put us in this land, there is just one thing that we should bear in mind, we are His children and we have to do what our Father in heaven has appointed us to do. However, the choice is yours whether to take heed to such call and live the way the world lives.

Eight Days Before Christmas

This is a very sad and true story, but with an important message: never forget the important things in life, the things that mean the most to you. 

-----
When did my life begin? In all truth I would have to say that it began eight days before Christmas when I was already the mature age of nine years old. Or to be more exact, I was nine and a half. That extra half makes all the difference in the world to a child who wants to grow up quickly. December 17, 1986, that is the day I so vividly remember. My mind is a VCR that can play, rewind, fast forward and pause any second of that day. But regretfully, I cannot stop it.

Oh yes, it started out just like any regular day for a young boy just itching to get out of school as quickly as possible. I was always the teacher's pet and the quiet type but just between you and me, school was no roller coaster ride. The most terrifying thing I remember is my teacher from that year. Oh how I would dread the end of the school day. Miss Tanner would stand by the door as we filed out one by one and kiss us on the cheek. It was a slobbering mess.

I cannot recall what the weather was like that day - it seems like such a trite and needless detail. But I can tell you this much; we lived in South Florida, so I can pretty much guarantee you that it was very hot. The sky may have been blue but your skin would be bright red. No, I don't remember what the weather was like, but I do know that it couldn't have been beautiful.

I would meet my sister, Sarah, at the bike racks as soon as school let out. She was two years younger than I and probably a lot prettier. We lived nearly two miles from the school grounds and had driven our bikes to and from the campus all year. We walked the distance before that year because there were no sidewalks along the side of the road leading to our home. Our parents both worked full time and riding our bikes back and forth wasn't exactly a hardship, it was more like a grown-up responsibility. More importantly, it was fun.

Now you have to understand, we needed to get home as quickly as possible. With Christmas being so close, we assured ourselves that there were possibly unwrapped presents lying around hidden in our parents' room. The goal was to get home before Mom and Dad. My sister and I were cohorts in this great and terrible deed. Pssst?it wasn't the first time.

Anyway, we rode like mad, passing by tons of new houses going up in our developing city. New hotels and supermarkets were arriving nearly everyday. There were many times we saw a tour bus drive by slowly filled with people eager to spend every penny they had. On what, I have no idea. Royal Palm Beach was just a speck becoming a star at the time.

A smiling crossing guard led us silently across the last intersection before our intended destination. Just four more blocks and we waited side by side for the traffic to subside before crossing the street to the dirt road our house was on. Two more minutes and we might have to chance to sneak a peek at our presents.

I don't know which way my eyes were looking but I did see the white van. It was the last vehicle that would pass us before we crossed the street. I looked over at Sarah. Her eyes were focused on something down the road in the opposite direction. That's when I realized that her feet were propelling her bike forward.

"Sarah, No!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. She was in the opposite lane, almost across the street. Screeching tires. My sister never turned her head. I watched her fly off of her bike and skid several feet along the harsh pavement.

"Sarah! Sarah!"

The driver of the white van jumped out quickly. He slammed the door shut and pressed his body against the side of his vehicle. He pounded his fists furiously against it. I looked at my sister lying there helplessly. There was no movement.

"I'm going to get my parents!" I shouted at the driver, not knowing what I should do or say. He glanced at me but said nothing. I ran down that old dirt road faster than a cheetah could dare ever hope for. All the while I was shouting, " Mom, Dad?Mom, Dad!" Our house was the fifth one on the right. It was a small, prefabricated home sitting on a large hill on two acres with a nice pond in the front.

I could see the front door open from halfway down the street. My mother had a hand over her chest.

"Sarah got run over! Sarah got run over!" My mother bounded furiously down the steps and ran down that road faster in flip-flops much faster than I had in my tennis shoes. She never once looked at me or anything else on her desperate journey. Her sights were only set on keeping her daughter alive.

I continued to run all the way to our house. My father stood there looming in the hallway. I couldn't understand why he just stood there. I told him again that his daughter had been run over. He walked slowly to the phone and started dialing. He only dialed one number before asking, "This is a joke, isn't it?"

A neighbor took me over to her house only a few moments later. My father disappeared to join my mother. I wanted so badly to know what was going on. I deserved to be with my sister. She was my best friend. A friend of my mother's picked my up nearly thirty minutes later. She had a daughter that was my age that was a friend of my sister and I.

At their house I watched the movie 'Never Ending Story' nearly all the way through. I spent most of the time crying by myself though. It was then that Mrs. Cramer came to me and said it was time to go home. She looked tired and her daughter was crying hysterically. I was only confused. No one told me anything. I just wanted to see my sister and make sure she was going to okay. She was going to just fine, I never doubted that for one minute.

Mrs. Cramer stopped the car halfway down the driveway and told her daughter to go pick a rose from the rosebushes in their front yard. She only cried more as she did so.

When we finally got back to my house there were people everywhere. Friends, neighbors, family, and police. My father grabbed me by the shoulders and led me to an old wooden swing just in front of the house. He sat beside me and without any fanfare or explanation he said, " Tim, your sister is dead."

Yes, that is the day my life began, eight days before Christmas. It changed the way I feel about people and events. Christmas presents aren't the most important things in life, family and friends are. I cherish and respect every living day. I learned early on that you must let the ones you love know that you love them. Thirteen years later I still cry when I think about my sister and that terrible day. I don't remember much about her and I can't even picture what she looks like in my mind. But I do know this; I know I loved her.

Unexpected Present

THE BEST CAKE EVER...no offense to SALLY :)

Last Dec. 15 was my birthday together with my twin brother. I was used of "not" getting any presents in any form from anybody, since most of my presents were from my mother which usually most often comes very late in British POUNDS form...:)
When my wife asked me as to what is it that I would want to prepare for my birthday, I just replied and told her not to bother at all since I already have all the things that a man in his 40 could ask for. 
I am actually most thankful to God for allowing me to reach this age. When I was a bit younger and during the time when I was hospitalized I even wondered if I will be able to reach the age of 35 since my biological father died of the same condition at the age of 37 or less.
anyways, to make this post short, I received an unexpected visitor last Saturday afternoon.
After posting all the articles for Build My Rank, I head upstairs on the 3rd floor and played PS2. Yes, I do play PS2 and played "BLACK". I was there and enjoying my game when my daughter Khiara called me and told me that I have a visitor, it was Pat and he's got something for me.
So, I went down and there He was with his big smile holding the cake that you can see above this post.
Maam Avin along with Khiara and Kiff were singing the birthday. I was speechless and honestly i was flattered.
Here he(PAT) is, with all that happened to him, losing all of his belongings to greedy and selfish taxi driver who took all his books and literally his entire "LIFE" when he was about to transfer to his new dorm.
He took an effort in buying this simple cake for me. The cake really didn't matter much to me, but it was the ACT, or the effort that he showed that touched and impressed me much.
We've been praying for this young man ever since we first met him and God has been showing us signs that He is already working in the life of this young friend of ours.
So, in appreciation and in showing my gratitude for the simple yet heartily given cake, I dedicate this post to a member of our family "PiPat".

ME blowing the candles on the Cake while PiPat holding it

Thank you and may God continually work in your life and may you know His Son Jesus Personally.

The Gift of Forgiveness

By John William Smith

The Christmas of 1949 we didn't have a tree.

My dad had as much pride as anybody, I suppose, so he wouldn't just say that we couldn't afford one.

When I mentioned it, my mother said that we weren't going to have one this year, that we couldn't afford one, and even if we could - it was stupid to clutter up your house with a dead tree.

I wanted a tree badly though, and I thought - in my naïve way - that if we had one, everybody would feel better.

Taking Matters into my Own Hands
About three days before Christmas, I was out collecting for my paper route.

It was fairly late - long after dark - it was snowing and very cold.

I went to the apartment building to try to catch a customer who hadn't paid me for nearly two months - she owed me seven dollars.

Much to my surprise, she was home.

She invited me in and not only did she pay me, she gave me a dollar tip!

It was a windfall for me - I now had eight whole dollars.

What happened next was totally unplanned.

On the way home, I walked past a Christmas tree lot and the idea hit me.

The selection wasn't very good because it was so close to the holiday, but there was this one real nice tree.

It had been a very expensive tree and no one had bought it; now it was so close to Christmas that the man was afraid no one would.

He wanted ten dollars for it, but when I - in my gullible innocence - told him I only had eight, he said he might sell it for that.

I really didn't want to spend the whole eight dollars on the tree, but it was so pretty that I finally agreed.

I dragged it all the way home - about a mile, I think - and I tried hard not to damage it or break off any limbs.

The snow helped to cushion it, and it was still in pretty good shape when I got home.

You can't imagine how proud and excited I was.

I propped it up against the railing on our front porch and went in.

My heart was bursting as I announced that I had a surprise.

I got Mom and Dad to come to the front door and then I switched on the porch light.

Surprise!!
"Where did you get that tree?" my mother exclaimed.

But it wasn't the kind of exclamation that indicates pleasure.

"I bought it up on Main Street. Isn't it just the most perfect tree you ever saw?" I said, trying to maintain my enthusiasm.

"Where did you get the money?" Her tone was accusing and it began to dawn on me that this wasn't going to turn out as I had planned.

"From my paper route." I explained about the customer who had paid me.

"And you spent the whole eight dollars on this tree?" she exclaimed.

She went into a tirade about how stupid it was to spend my money on a dumb tree that would be thrown out and burned in a few days.

She told me how irresponsible I was and how I was just like my dad with all those foolish, romantic, noble notions about fairy tales and happy endings and that it was about time I grew up and learned some sense about the realities of life and how to take care of money and spend it on things that were needed and not on silly things.

She said that I was going to end up in the poorhouse because I believe in stupid things like Christmas trees, things that didn't amount to anything.

I Just Stood There
My mother had never talked to me like that before and I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I felt awful and I began to cry.

Finally, she reached out and snapped off the porch light.

"Leave it there," she said. "Leave that tree there till it rots, so every time we see it, we'll all be reminded of how stupid the men in this family are."

Then she stormed up the stairs to her bedroom and we didn't see her until the next day.

Dad and I brought the tree in and we made a stand for it.

He got out the box of ornaments and we decorated it as best as we could; but men aren't too good at things like that, and besides, it wasn't the same without mom.

There were a few presents under it by Christmas day - although I can't remember a single one of them - but Mom wouldn't have anything to do with it.

It was the worst Christmas I ever had.

Fast Forward to Today
Judi and I married in August of 1963, and dad died on October 10 of that year. Over the next eight years, we lived in many places. Mom sort of divided up the year - either living with my sister Jary or with us.

In 1971 we were living in Wichita, Kansas - Lincoln was about seven, Brendan was three and Kristen was a baby. Mom was staying with us during the holidays. On Christmas Eve I stayed up very late. I was totally alone with my thoughts, alternating between joy and melancholy, and I got to thinking about my paper route, that tree, what my mother had said to me and how Dad had tried to make things better.

I heard a noise in the kitchen and discovered that it was mom. She couldn't sleep either and had gotten up to make herself a cup of hot tea - which was her remedy for just about everything. As she waited for the water to boil, she walked into the living room and discovered me there. She saw my open Bible and asked me what I was reading. When I told her, she asked if I would read it to her and I did.

The Truth Comes Out
When the kettle began to whistle, she went and made her tea. She came back, and we started to visit. I told her how happy I was that she was with us for Christmas and how I wished that Dad could have lived to see his grandchildren and to enjoy this time because he always loved Christmas so. It got very quiet for a moment and then she said, "Do you remember that time on Twelve Mile Road when you bought that tree with your paper route money?"

"Yes," I said, "I've just been thinking about it you know."

She hesitated for a long moment, as though she were on the verge of something that was bottled up so deeply inside her soul that it might take surgery to get it out. Finally, great tears started down her face and she cried, "Oh, son, please forgive me."

"That time and that Christmas have been a burden on my heart for twenty-five years. I wish your dad were here so I could tell him how sorry I am for what I said. Your dad was a good man and it hurts me to know that he went to his grave without ever hearing me say that I was sorry for that night. Nothing will ever make what I said right, but you need to know that your dad never did have any money sense (which was all too true).

We were fighting all the time - though not in front of you - we were two months behind in our house payments, we had no money for groceries, your dad was talking about going back to Arkansas and that tree was the last straw. I took it all out on you. It doesn't make what I did right, but I hoped that someday, when you were older, you would understand. I've wanted to say something for ever so long and I'm so glad it's finally out."

Well, we both cried a little and held each other and I forgave her - it wasn't hard, you know.

Then we talked for a long time, and I did understand; I saw what I had never seen and the bitterness and sadness that had gathered up in me for all those years gradually washed away.

It was marvelously simple.

The great gifts of this season - or any season - can't be put under the tree; you can't wear them or eat them or drive them or play with them. We spend so much time on the lesser gifts - toys, sweaters, jewelry, the mint, anise and dill of Christmas - and so little on the great gifts - understanding, grace, peace and forgiveness. It's no wonder that the holiday leaves us empty, because when it's over, the only reminders we have are the dirty dishes and the January bills.

The Great Gift
The great gifts are like the one gift - the gift that began it all back there in Bethlehem of Judea. You can't buy them, and they're not on anybody's shopping list. They come as He came - quietly, freely, unexpectedly - and if you're not careful, you'll miss them entirely.

Funny Things Kids Have Said

LOT 'S WIFE

The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, "My Mother looked back once while she was driving," he announced triumphantly, "and she turned into a telephone pole!"

GOOD SAMARITAN

A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?"

A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH?

A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?"

"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms."

HIGHER POWER

A Sunday school teacher said to her children, "We have been learning how powerful Kings and Queens were in Bible times. But, there is a Higher Power. Can anybody tell me what it is?"

One child blurted out, "Aces!"

MOSES AND THE RED SEA

Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School.

"Well, Mum, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."

"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his Mother asked.

"Well, no, Mum, but, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.

Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

How to Use Facebook's TIMELINE THEME

Are you wondering as to what is this FB's TIMELINE Theme is all about and how to apply it on your profile?
You may have wanted to apply it but you feel like you are not that confident to play along with your FB profile so you just dismissed the idea of taking advantage of these good and advance features that Facebook is offering to its users.
 Well, here is one post that will help and guide you on how to make use of this THEME and FEATURE. Knowing at the same time on how to use it and present yourself to the people who are close to you and those that you have just meet and known through this Social network site.


You will find this post interesting, useful and helpful in setting up your own timeline as it will guide you on how to set it up through a step by step procedure for you to be able to come up a unique and special timeline that is truly of your own.


CONTINUE READING.....CLICK HERE

I Have Learned

We spend our whole lives learning new lessons through trials and experiences. None of us are perfect, so all we can do is pick ourselves up and learn from it. I've learned....that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person. I've learned....that when you're in love, it shows. I've learned.... that just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day. I've learned...that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world. I've learned....that being kind is more important than being right. I've learned...that you should never say no to a gift from a child. I've learned....that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way. I've learned....that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with. I've learned....that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand. I've learned....that simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult. I've learned....that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. I've learned....that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for. I've learned....that money doesn't buy class. I've learned....that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. I've learned....that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved. I've learned...that the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can? I've learned....that to ignore the facts does not change the facts. I've learned....that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you. I've learned....that love, not time, heals all wounds. I've learned....that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am. I've learned....that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile. I've learned....that there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks. I've learned....that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them. I've learned....that life is tough, but I'm tougher. I've learned....that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss. I've learned....that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. I've learned....that I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away. I've learned....that one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them. I've learned....that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. I've learned....that I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it. I've learned....that when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life. I've learned....that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it. I've learned ...that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life threatening situation. I've learned....that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Blind

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend.. He was always

there for her.. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see

the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages
came off, she was able to see everything, including her
boyfriend.

He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The
sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'


This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who
was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't
speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone
who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone
who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went
too early to heaven.

Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who
walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the
unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your
job.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on
your face and think: you're alive and still
around.