The Morning Star

God's Plan and Intention

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 04:43:00 +0000

God's original plan and intention for mankind are clearly explained in Genesis 1, verse 31. After God created day and night, skies, oceans, animals, and us (human beings), "God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good."

God gave us the beautiful earth and everything in it for our enjoyment and fulfillment. God really loves us and has a good plan for our lives. Contrary to what you heard and learned, God intends for us to have happy lives!!! God is not cruel and unkind. God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). In Jeremiah 29:11, God says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

When you see pain, suffering, and deaths in the world, the problems are not from God--they are actually from us. The first human couple rebelled against God. We (everyone of us) became disobedient. We turned away from God and followed our own plans and desires. From the beginning of the world, we sinned and continue to sin.

If we follow God and God's Word, we will save ourselves a great deal from all heartache and pain. If you notice, the present problems in the world such as crime, wars, violence, divorces, abortion, and abuses come directly from our own rebellion. We "deviate" from God's instruction, which is His good intention for us. God's instructions for living a life can be found in the Bible. God's advice is valuable. The problem is we don't take God's Word seriously enough. That's why we suffer and make other people suffer.

The great Christian thinker, author, and apologist G.K. Chesterton was once asked by the Times to contribute an article on the topic "What's wrong with the world?" Chesterton wrote the magazine's editor back in one sentence: "Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely yours, G. K. Chesterton."

"I am" and actually "we all are" the problems that the world has. Most people, unfortunately and sadly, blame everything on God but never look at their own faults.

We need to be humble before God by confessing our sins and turning away from them.

We need to follow God's perfect plan for our lives.

Joy to the World

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 16:14:00 +0000

What can be more joyful than spending time with someone you love on a special day like Christmas? God has given us the most wonderful gift, Jesus Christ, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. We are grateful to God because God has reached out to us through Jesus. Without Jesus, there will be no peace, no joy, no hope, no reconciliation between God and men. That's why the angel announced in Luke 2:10 and 11,

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

The angel told us not to be afraid of anything because there will be a great joy and good news. The birth of Christ is the GOOD NEWS, and this good news is for ALL people, not just for some groups of people. Jesus is the Lord and Savior who loves us and saves us from our sins. He gave His life so that we can have an abundant life now and an eternal life later. What a wonderful, loving God we have!

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

God and the Rich Man

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:55:00 +0000

I have an interesting phone conversation with my Thai friend this week. We talk about possessions like houses, cars, jewelry, etc. We agree that material things do not always bring a person's happiness. In my life, we (my friend and I)see many rich people having a miserable life. What is an importance of having a big house, nice cars, nice vacations and gadgets in our lives? Everyone is pursuing these things? And what is a goal of being a Christian?

Jesus says "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and
give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."(Matthew 19:21). There are similar references in Matthew 6:20 and Luke 12:33. God is interested in our pursue of Him, not in how big our house is. He is interested in our spiritual growth, our faithfulness, our understanding, our devotion, and our obedience to Him. After we die and stand in front of the throne of Jesus, He will ask us what we did when we live on earth, were we kind to other people, did we help anyone to know Him? did we love others, did we help strangers in need? There won't be questions about how big is our house or how much education you have.

We watched a video about the Egyptian empire this week. Those kings were very rich but their palaces and possessions turn into dust today. Material things are very short-lived and temporal.

Christian refugees and orphans in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:13:00 +0000

Bluetree, an Irish Christian band, recently visited, Freedom Tent, an interactive exhibit set up by Christian Freedom International (CFI). The band talked about lives of Christian Karen refugees living along the Thai-Burmese borders.

The children in this video are mostly orphans. Their parents and relatives are killed by Burma's totalitarian government. Despite difficulties, the children really love Jesus with all they have.

Christian Freedom International has been working in Thailand, helping the persecuted, for years. They deliver rice, Bibles, and medical aids to those in need.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtW0BBcjWyg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma0YR9273iI&feature=related

Light of the World in Thai

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:07:00 +0000

This is a really nice video for Thais, describing a plan of salvation that is very easy to understand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jRCSWLeoro

Amazing Worship

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:04:00 +0000

I've just got back from visiting Thailand, my home country. I had an opportunity to worship with vibrant Thai churches, listen to heartfelt testimonies, and pray along with them. The Lord is doing a mighty work in Thailand, bringing Thai people to Himself. I am greatly encouraged to see the church's enthusiasm, their zeal to share the gospel (Good News), and their love for Jesus. What an amazing trip!

Below is another active, great Thai/international church here in Seattle area, USA. I am amazed at how God uses these wonderful people to bring hope to the world! Their music is uplifting.

The church is called New Hope International Church. Pastor Lao and Da are kind, humble servants of the Lord whose love for God and others is compelling and contagious! Their ministry has touched so many lives (including mine). Visit their website at http://www.newhic.org/

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)

The God Who Connected

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:21:00 +0000

I remember when I was a child. I was sitting in a religious room in my house praying to lifeless statues. There was no peace in my heart. The statues were made out of stones and metal. They could not hear me. They could not talk. There were no responses, no comfort.

After I became a Christian, I know that God hears my prayers and He can feel what I feel. Human sufferings are not new to God because God was here on earth! He experienced sufferings, hurt, rejection, persecution, betrayal, poverty, sickness, and everything that I've ever experienced and more. Jesus Christ is so humble and kind. He mingled with low-class people, poor people, sick people, lepers, the handicapped, and the outcasts of the society.

Jesus is compassionate. He went everywhere to heal sick people, to preach the good news. He is actually the best social worker in the whole universe. He is someone we should look up to and follow his examples. We have been looking for heroes at the wrong places---Hollywood movie stars, sports figures, singers, famous authors, our friends, presidents, kings and etc. But the real hero is Jesus Christ who suffers all things and dies for our sins so that we can have an eternal life. This is what prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 53, "He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows."

Lately, I have been reading the Book of Mark. I noticed how Jesus interacted and connected with poor and sick villagers. These people were invisible in the society---no one cared about them. They were in the background and people just walked by them. But Jesus took time to minister to them. It was amazing to read about how Jesus related to them in a special way.

In Mark 7, Jesus drove a demon out of a young girl. He then healed a deaf and mute man who begged him to place his hand on him. In Mark 8, Jesus fed a large crowd with bread and fish otherwise the crowd would collapse with hunger and exhaustion. In the same chapter, Jesus healed a blind man at a town called Bethsaida.

Jesus is welcoming everyone into God's kingdom. You don't have to be rich, powerful,educated, strong, attractive, or have a certain race. Just come to Him with a heart of repentance and believe that He can cleanse your sins and He is the only way to salvation. Only through Jesus, you will be forgiven and reconciled to God. The Bible says, "If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Happy Easter Day (two days late)!!!

The Wonderful Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:23:00 +0000

Last week, we took a vacation in Florida. We sat at a secluded beach quietly watching the picturesque sunset, enjoying our peaceful time off together. I looked at the fine, sugary white sand, the turquoise blue ocean, and the majestic seagulls. The orange sun was dipping into the waters giving a bright golden glow. The picture before me is more beautiful, more stunning than the masterpiece of any famous artists. I thought about God, the Artist behind this beautiful work of art. God is creative, kind, and truly wonderful. Next time when you see God's creation, let's admire and praise God for his kindness.

"Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;"

Someone is Loving You

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:23:00 +0000

Before I was a Christian, somebody was trying to tell me that there is God and God loves me. A series of uneasy questions popped up in my mind. "Where is this God?" and "Why don't I see him and who is he?" I did not want to offend the person who spoke to me so I quietly kept these questions to myself. Until one day, one important day, God revealed Himself to me through His Word (the Bible) when I was sitting alone in my apartment, glancing through the scripture with great curiosity. Some months ago, I had purchased this particular bible from Thailand Bible Society in Bangkok. Out of a sudden, all my questions were answered. After I read verse after verse from the Bible and decided to accept Jesus as my Savior, I personally knew God!

God's love and peace touched me and embraced me in a special way. There are no words to describe the depth of God's love. It's supernatural. The best way to explain is to quote this verse from Romans 8:38-39. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Because God's love has no limits and knows no bounds, you can trust God at all times. Your family, your spouse, your friends might love you but there is no comparison to God's love. You might not know it, but God is with you and taking care of you. He is your intimate friend, your refuge, and your trust. If you still don't know Him, He is asking for your love and friendship right now. I urge you to turn to God and accept His love through His Son, Jesus Christ. God is faithful and His love is amazing.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Unattainable Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:41:00 +0000

I remember reading 1 Corinthians 13:4 (Love is always patient; love is always kind...) to my Thai friend over the phone. After I finished, there was a long pause, and my friend commented, "Who will be able to do all that? It's so unattainable!" Yes, to be always patient and kind and forgiving is difficult to do, if at all possible. Trying to do it all by yourself is like trying to climb Mt. Everest without climbing tools. The simplicity and sincerity of my friend's question made me think of several ways that people have tried to be religious, sinless, perfect, or to be like God. However, in whatever they do, they miserably fail.

I remember praying well-memorized prayers every night at bedtime before laying down on the bed. I remember giving food to monks on my birthday every year. I remember staying in a secluded temple to meditate and to pray, trying to live a "clean" life. I remember going to temples or a cemetery to perform mindless rituals such as pouring water on your hands to atone for your sins, letting the monks sprinkle "holy" water on you, burning cut-out gold papers and donating food to my deceased ancestors.

In the place where I'm from, people refrain from eating meat on certain months of the year. Young men enter monkshood when they are eighteen so their parents can go to heaven. There are five precepts to keep for laymen and for clergy, 227 rules and regulations to live by. Of all my life, I've never seen anybody successfully keep even one rule out of those 227 ones!

I have seen people try to impress other people by acting and sounding "religious." They are dressed in impressive suits carrying the big book around citing scriptures anytime they have a chance. They act very important, making sure people know they never miss church services and that they tithe big amounts of money. They look down on other people who seem to be less "religious" than they are. They are shrewd, selfish, proud, and unkind. These are people whom Jesus call the Pharisees or the hypocrites, who recited long prayers, wore long robes, and made a big show of giving.

Isaiah says, "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." Paul emphasizes this truth in the book of Romans, "they exchanged the truth of God for a lie." (Romans 1:25) We are all sinners, helpless, and prone to committing sins. However, there is the Good News. The bible says, "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace." The book of Galatians made it clearer, "a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ...because by observing the law no one will be justified."

Righteousness doesn't come from ourselves, it comes from God. No matter how many rituals you perform, how many "good deeds" you think you do, they don't bring you closer to God. On the contrary, they distract you from God's goodness and grace. The only way to God and to be saved is through repenting of your sins and turn to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Through Jesus, the unattainable goals become attainable, for as He himself says, "nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37)."

Where are Our Babies?

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:16:00 +0000

This week Barack Obama reversed the previous administration's abortion policy that bans giving our money to "family planning" groups overseas that provide abortions and counseling about abortions. His radical decision will directly result in many more deaths of unborn babies, not only in this country, but also in developing countries all over the world. For Obama, who is a stauch supporter of abortions and infanticide, this is just another move to fullfil his radical agenda. Obama had successfully delivered his promises to Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and other pro-abortion groups. For Obama, lives of unborn children, disabled, sick people, and people with down syndromes are as worthless as used tissue paper. In the name of womens' rights, he endorsed the killings of children who can not protect themselves.

However, for Jesus, each life is precious and to be treated with tender care. He said in Luke 18:16, "let the children come to me; and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God." Jesus always treats children, women, sick people, and the outcast with love and utmost care. Jesus went out of his way of showing love to the underprivileged. He healed sick people and felt compassionate toward them, when others turned a blind eye.

The statistics of abortion in the US. is staggering. I don't understand why the people of this country let the genocide of this multitude happen and continue. Are we so busy in our daily life that we don't have time to speak and stand for our precious babies? Or do our hearts become cold and indifferent to other people's circumstances? How long will we let this continue?

I advise all women who plan to have an abortion to watch a video of actual surgical abortions and see for themselves how cruel and inhuman the procedure really is. The baby in the womb feels pain, anger, hurt, and fear as much as an adult does when his or her body is being shredded or cut in pieces. It's a terror beyond words. Pregnant women should be informed that it's a child's life that they are taking away, not a blob of tissue or a tumor. An alternative to abortion is adoption, either by a close family or by loving parents who want to take care of children.

I said that and will say it again. Every single human being's life should be respected and we, as a society, must cultivate the value of human life.

**************************************
Join the Pro-Life Action League's grassroots resistance to Obama's pro-abortion agenda and help restore a Culture of Life in America. Go to:
http://prolifeaction.org/

Visit American Life League's website to learn more about the issue.
http://www.all.org/

Sign a petition to stop Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion chain in America, from receiving taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. http://www.stopplannedparenthoodtaxfunding.com/

Priests For Life has an extensive list of what you can do. I find their list very useful.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/youcan.html

Watch a Youtube video about why abortion is bad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIJZATxUVLg

49,515,832 deaths since Roe v. Wade
Estimated killed by surgical abortion since 1973

One in Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:21:00 +0000

In Matthew12: 46, while Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were standing outside waiting for him. Someone told him about them, but Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:48-49.)

Several years ago when I first read this passage, coming from an Asian background where family is closely tied, I felt it was odd that Jesus declared that other people who were with him were his real family instead of his biological mother and brothers. However, as I grew spiritually over the years, I could see why. We, Christians, are adopted into the same family ---that is God's family, and we are united by love and hope in Christ. I could see why bonding with the church is so important and why I should spend more and more time with my spiritual family.

There's so much comfort, love, and encouragement, in spending time with your brothers and sisters in Christ, with someone who loves God and is passionate about Him as much as you do. Someone who has the same goals and priorities in life. I spent my weekend with my family in Christ and I felt lifted up. It was so nice to just talk and share a meal with a friend who knows Christ, who knows biblical truths, and applies them to his or her life. Also, sharing, reading the bible, and worshiping together with the church is a heavenly time for me.

God has spoken to my heart this week that these are the people whom He deeply loves and cares about, and I am to be there to encourage, help, and share my life with them. Christian life is never a life of isolation. I feel blessed to be surrounded by caring Christian friends who love God and who devote their lives to serve Him and others.

The Business of Reconciliation

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:17:00 +0000

Around two thousand years ago in a small, unknown town called Bethlehem, in a country now known as Israel, Jesus was born to reconcile the world back to God. The bible says, "that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:19

Webster Dictionary gives a definition of to reconcile as "to restore to friendship or harmony." Humans have committed sins and turned away from God. We all have become the enemies of God, doing things that are hostile toward God. However, God doesn't hold grudges against us. He yearns to reconcile with us and forgive us. God reaches out to humankind in a special way. He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to pay for the penalties of our sins on the cross. God has forgiven us completely in Jesus Christ.

What a good news this is! ---that God doesn't count my sins against me. How kind and how sacrificing God is. I am sure a list of my sins is as long as a roll of paper in a cash register and much more. But God torn it apart and erased it. God forgives and forgets even though I don't deserve such a treatment. I have never seen a person so thoughtful, so forgiving as God!

I believe that God wants all human beings to get back to him, to have a close relationship with Him again. Through Jesus Christ, we can get back to the loving arms of God. Friendship with God is sweeter than anything I've known. Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Today Jesus is inviting all of us to go back to God.

Jesus is in the business of reconciliation. We witness his ministry of reconciliation at the cross. I am in awe of God's loving heart and his commitment toward mankind through Christ's sacrifices.

Merry Christmas to you all.

My Father's Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:34:00 +0000

It was not even my birthday. We were in a department store right in the middle of Bangkok. My dad told me to pick out a new expensive brand name handbag---the one that I especially liked, the one that was in trend and the kind that all the girls in the university carried around. I was very touched by my dad's kindness. I will never forget my dad's love toward me.

When I was growing up, my dad supported me to learn foreign languages (English and French). He would pay for my extra lessons and tutoring schools. I remember one time I needed to take a special exam and we didn't have much money. I told my dad about my need (for that money) in the evening. In the early morning, when I got up, I saw the money my dad had left for me on the stairs. Later in my life, my dad paid for my entire graduate school tuition fees and expenses. I didn't have to pay a cent or take out a loan like my friends did.

My dad instilled in me the love to learn new things and to work hard. This is his philosophy. He often taught me to give my best shot at work---to go beyond my employers' expectations. He said if there is a situation and they had to let some employees go, I should be the last person whom they thought about laying off because of all my hard work and contributions that I did for the organization. I don't know if I ever worked that hard but my dad lived what he preached every day in his life.

I am blessed to have a wonderful earthly father and a Heavenly Father who love me and give wonderful gifts to me. Just like my earthly father, God listens attentively to my prayers and needs. He sacrifices everything He has for me. The best gift that he gave is His salvation in a form of a baby wrapped in clothes lying in the manger. This gift, I reached out my hands and claimed it for myself. Jesus Christ is God's best gift to the whole world. How kind and thoughtful God is.

Happy Father's Day (Thailand)!!!

I Dared to Call Him Father: a Startling Book with Inspiring Messages

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:10:00 +0000

It started with a cold, strange presence that floated like a mist over her garden. The presence that came with darkness and the persistent sickness of her grandson. Bilquis Sheikh, a prominent, upper class woman in a quaint unknown town of Pakistan, had been a Muslim all her life until that one important day when she secretly asked her servant to find her a Bible. Not only Bibles are rare, in a Muslim-dominated country where everything Christian is opposed and punished, Bilquis was just asking for trouble. When she finally acquired the Bible, these verses sprang into her eyes:
"For Christ means the end of the struggle for righteousness by-the-Law for everyone who believe in him." (Romans 10:4) Startled by what she read, she continued on to the following verse:
"For the secret is very near you, in your own heart, in your own mouth...If you openly admit by your own mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord, and if you believe in your own heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

God revealed Himself further to convince Bilquis of his love for her. In a vivid dream one night, Bilquis found herself having supper with a man whom she knew to be Jesus (From the Quran, Muslims know Jesus as a prophet). In that dream, Jesus sat across from the table from her. With peace and joy, they had dinner together. Bilquis's life was changed upside down by that encounter. She started to delve into God's Living Word and make friend with missionaries. She found herself having more joy, more peace, more love to people around her, including her servants. She forgave her husband who left her for another woman. Ultimately, she decided to give her life to Christ. Bilquis traveled across the globe to tell the world about her Savior.

I want to recommend I Dared to Call Him Father: the Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman's Encounter with God to anyone who are seeking truth. This inspiring book is a page-turner and gives you a glimpse of how oppressed Christians in a Muslim country are. Professing to be Christians, they are facing death threats, ostracization from families and friends, brutal attacks, and murders on a daily basis. It is an amazing book that shows us that God is the Pursuer who reaches out with his love to people who don't even know him. He is the God who embraces us with his comforting arms. The life story of Bilquis reminds me of Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Like Bilquis, I would like to thank my God for changing my life several years ago.

Thank you, Lord, for reaching out to me as a Buddhist and a sinner who did not know you and for dying on the cross for my sins. I am eternally grateful to you. Amen.

Precious in His Sight

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Thousands of years ago, a psalmist penned these beautiful verses for us to ponder upon, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Regardless of whether you are a Christian or not, I believe that you have noticed this truth about yourself. You are significantly different from your friends, even your siblings. You look, act, and think differently than they do. Your abilities, talents, and interests are unlike theirs.

That's because God creates each person as a unique human being. Each life belongs to God and is precious to Him. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Sadly, I observe that when pregnant women make up their mind to abort their babies, they usually come up with these four common reasons to justify their action.

1. This is not a human being. It's just a tissue or blood clot. Furthurmore, it is their (women's)choice to do whatever they want with their body.

2. The pregnancy will prevent them from having a good future. It is an obstacle for their education and career. That is why they call it a "(pregnancy) crisis" instead of a blessing.

3. They need to go through abortion because they don't have financial abilities to raise a baby.

4. They are not married. The baby born out of wedlock embarrasses them and their families. This is usually a reason women from Asian countries and cultures have for abortion.

Over decades, Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry keep bombarding us with one lie after another. They never tell us that through abortion, women are taking another person's life. Killing an unborn child is wrong regardless of circumstances. Like all of us, the babies have the capacity to feel pain when their skulls are clamped and their bodies are shred to pieces. The heartbeat of a baby starts on the 18th day after conception. Listening to Planned Parenthood's propaganda, women never know that there is an alternative to abortion, which is adoption.

As a country, do you see our hands splattered with blood when you look into these staggering numbers? One million abortions happen in the US. every year. In 1996, 1.37 million babies died from abortion. To me, the graveyard of unborn children is as big as the Pacific Oceans.

We need to embrace and cultivate a culture of life in this country and around the world. Ironically, I have friends who told me that they are against the ongoing wars, and they support a presidential candidate who will withdraw our troops from Iraq. They hate to see innocent lives die in these horrible wars. What I don't understand is that the same people who told me this turned around and voted for a candidate who strongly supports the murder of unborn children through abortion.

Jesus said "you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free." It is time for women to know the truth and stand up against the genocide of innocent lives.

Strong Tower

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:47:00 +0000

www.freefoto.com

I'm reading Psalms this week, and every time I read these soothing words, I find comfort in knowing that God is sovereign. In a time of trouble and crisis, King David cried out to God and he depended on Him for his safety. So many times in the psalms, David referred to God as his "rock," "refuge," and "a strong fortress." I believe David was in danger and in battles so many times more than one could count. He certainly knew who to turn to and who to trust.

At present, we are facing an economic crisis, jobs reduction, and probably a recession. We live in an uncertain time of terrorism and wars. We are nervous about who will be our next president---will this person lead America to greatness or destruction? Will he hold and support our dear values and preserve them? In a time like this, we need to pray and ask for God's leading. Like King David, as God's people, we need God's shield and guidance.

I'm including Psalms 27 and 28 here because they are so relevant to us.

The Lord is my light and my salvation
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear

Psalm 28 says:

Praise be to the Lord,
for he has heard me cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.

One of my favorite songs from a Christian rock band, Newsboys, is called "Strong Tower." It really gives me a clear picture of God as our Great Protector, whom we can trust in time of need. It is such an inspiring song. I keep it playing in my CD player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRvQGYnMjBk

Have a blessed week!

Top Ten Lies Satan Uses to Mislead Thai People about God (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:05:00 +0000

Lie Number Six: The Bible is just a book written by humans. When I was a university student in Thailand, there were missionaries visiting our campus. They showed me some verses from their Bibles. I thought this in my heart. How dare you quote from the Bible? The Bible is just a book written by men! However, later in my life, after I studied the Bible and its amazing history, I found out that The Bible is God-inspired (2 Timothy 3:16). Written over fifteen hundred years, by forty different authors, at different places, under various circumstances, the Bible has one main theme: God's redemption of man and all of creation. Jesus confirmed this truth by saying, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Luke 21:33).

Lie Number Seven: We CAN go to Heaven by ourselves. Satan keeps telling us, "It's ok. We don't need God. We can go to Heaven by our own good deeds." We then think that we are good enough. Why not? We did not kill anybody. We have good jobs. We have a good education. We are respected by our families, our friends, etc. We sometimes give money to charities. We even love animals and pets. However, this is a great lie aimed to destroy us. The truth is we are all sinners. For God, our 'good' deeds are like dirty rags. The Bible says, "all have sinned and continue to fall short of God's glory." (Romans 3:23) And there is none righteous, not even one." (v.10) We all need the Savior's blood to cleanse our sins.

Lie Number Eight: All religions are equally 'good'. They all teach people to be good citizens. I heard this lie so many times hurled at me from Satan. The truth is all religions are NOT equally good. Some led people to commit violence, murder, terrorism, adultery, having many wives, and etc. Some divided people into many classes, resulting in poverty and discrimination. Most of them give rules and regulations that no one can keep! Jesus says this about Himself, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

Lie Number Nine: Keep busy with religious duties. The deeds that you have done will help/save you. Satan keeps telling us to be busy with religious duties or mindless ceremonies. "If you are a Christian," Satan says, "you will not be able to perform these traditional ceremonies that you are so used to." The truth is that ceremonies and religious deeds can not save you. Only Jesus can save you. The Bible says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Lie Number Ten: God doesn't love you nor does He cares about you. This is a lie that Satan has used with Adam and Eve since the Garden of Eden. Don't let him use this with you. The Good News is God loves you and He says this several times throughout the Bible:
"I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3)
God is love (1 John 4:16)
Jesus said, "as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you" (John 15:9)
Nothing will ever separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35)
Ultimately, Jesus sacrificed His own life for you on the cross to demonstrate His love for you (John 15:13)

Top Ten Lies Satan Uses to Mislead Thai People about God (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:29:00 +0000

As I continued to be a witness for Jesus to Thai friends, my family, and whoever I encountered in my daily life, I observed that Satan often uses these same old lies to confuse Thai people about Christianity. The Bible says that Satan is cunning and full of schemes (Genesis 3:1). I would like to share his devious schemes with all of you so that you will be aware of his plan to destroy mankind. The main reason he wants to spew out these lies is that he did not want you to believe in God. But God is the most wonderful, the most loving, and the sweetest Person you will ever meet. If you never know God personally in your life, you miss out knowing your best friend who loves you and who is dependable and trustworthy. God wants to know you and receives you into His arms. Don't let these lies obstructing you from knowing your Creator and your Father in heaven.

Lie Number One: Christianity is a foreign (western) religion. Christianity is only for American people with blond hair and blue eyes. This is the most outrageous lie. God is the God of all creation. The Bible says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1). And God created man in His image (Genesis 1:26). That's right! God created all of us, whether we are Thais, Americans, Jews, Chinese, Europeans, etc.

Lie Number Two: God does not exist. There is no God. Satan uses this tactic very often to confuse people. If you look around you, you will see that the beautiful, complicated world that we live in testifies that there is a Creator. God says, "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me." (Isaiah 46:9) And "I am he; I am the first and I am the last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth." (Isaiah 48: 12-13)

Lie Number Three: There is no hell. Hell is something that religious people invented to scare other people. But the truth is there is, in fact, Hell. The word "hell" is used at least 54 times in the Bible. Even in Thai and other cultures, there are some references about a place called Hell. The description of hell from the Bible is gruesome. It says, "they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:42) "It (the fire) will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will rise forever." (Isaiah 34:10)

Lie Number Four: When people die, they will go into a state of nothingness or they will be reincarnated as animals or humans. When I was not a Christian, Satan sold me this lie and I believed that after I died, I would come back as another person. But the Bible made it clear that God made us a unique individual and we live only once. The Bible tells us,"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

Lie Number Five: Jesus is only a mortal man, just like any other religious leaders. This lie is used a lot with Thai people to dissuade us from believing in the divinity of Jesus. I myself used to think that Jesus was just a human. However, after I read the Bible and put Christianity under close scrutiny, I found out that Jesus is unique. Jesus is God incarnated. Jesus performed supernatural miracles that no one else can do. "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, ..." (Matthew 11:5) The most amazing miracle is Jesus' own resurrection. After being crucified, on the third day, Jesus was raised from death and came back to life.

Wow, do you think a human being can do that? Of course, not! The good news is Jesus is God. He is the Savior of the world who loves you and who cares about you. Don't believe in Satan's lies and miss out His good news.

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Five more lies ---to be continued in Part 2

Nam Prik Ong: Comfort food from My Mom's Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:54:00 +0000

Whenever I think about my mom, I think about her tasty Northern Thai food. One of my favorite childhood dishes is called 'Nam Prik Ong,' a minced pork dish mixed with tomatoes and aromatic spices. My mom was born in a small province of Northern Thailand and she inherited her cooking talents from my grandmom, who also learned how to prepare this exceptional ethnic cuisine from her mother. When I was young, I enjoyed visiting a village where my grandmom lived. I remembered her spacious home was always filled with a tantalizing aroma of spices and herbs. Her big family, including my uncles and aunts and their families, ate together, and it was fun to listen to their lively conversation.

At home, my mom often cooked an unusally large amount of food for three of us children. She would get up in the early morning and hopped on a bus to the market. On her way back, she usually hired a tuk tuk (a popular three-wheeled vehicle in Thailand) since a tuk tuk had more space for several bags of ingredients that she bought from the market. The tuk tuk driver would ask her, "Did you buy all this for your food shop?" He thought that she owned a restaurant because she bought so much food! My mom would reply with a smile, "No, this is just for my family." The tuk tuk driver would sometimes have to help my mom carry her heavy bags down from his vehicle.

I like Nam Prik Ong because it combines spicy, salty, sweet, and sour flavors in a perfect union. The fragrant smell of Nam Prik Ong comes from dried chillies, garlic, shallots (Asian small red onions), galangal, and sweet tomatoes. Nam Prik Ong is often served with a variety of steamed vegetables such as cabbage, carrot, and long green beans. It is also served with sliced fresh cucumber. You will get plenty of vitamin A from carrot. Cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumber are excellent sources of vitamin C.

Since I couldn't find 'Nam Prik Ong' in any Thai restaurants in the US., I cooked this dish by myself at home. I thought of my mom as I blended garlic, shallots, juicy tomatoes, and pork in a hot wok. To give a final touch to the dish, I garnished it with fresh cilantro sprigs that contrasted with the vibrant red color from tomatoes. I am not as a good cook as my mom but the result of my experiment was fantastic. Together with a scoop of steamed jasmine rice and a glass of Thai iced tea made this a perfect dinner that reminded me of my mom's love and her unique heritage.

For delicious Nam Prik Ong's recipe, click here.

God of this City

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:30:00 +0000

My friend forwarded me an e-mail from Thailand that is so encouraging that I need to share. It is about a song from a Christian rock band named Bluetree from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The song is called God of this City. This amazing song was written in Pattaya, Thailand.

When you listen to this song, you will feel the power of God surrounding you and experience true worship. Why? The inspiration behind the song is awesome. In November of 2007, Bluetree was invited to play at "Pattaya Praise," an event organized by a missionary group from Belfast. The band did not know anything about Pattaya when they arrived. But Pattaya is a popular beach city in Thailand where prostitution thrives and where Western tourists go to enjoy drinks, dances, and scantily-dressed bar girls in nightclubs. So, needless to say, the band was shocked, depressed, and disgusted to see this horrible, dark place. I know their feelings, I was in Pattaya about five years ago and experienced the same depression. I saw young Thai prostitutes everywhere hanging out with foreigners. For a Christian, it is hell on earth.

The turning point came when a nightclub owner heard about the band and invited them to play at his nightclub! The band (with a heart to serve God) accepted this guy's invitation and courageously went to the nightclub and played worship songs there. In the middle of people drinking and dancing, God inspired them to sing God of this City on stage. The Holy Spirit was with them and poured upon them. So the song came out and they kept singing and playing all night. The lyrics of this song say it all. Despite horrible things that happen in Pattaya, God is above it all. He has a plan for Pattaya and He will help its people. Hallelujah. The band said God is the God of all cities, including where you live. There will be a big change. God's people are making a difference in the world. The gospel will be preached. Lives will be touched.

God can turn the ugliest thing around and transform it to be the most beautiful thing. From the darkest place on earth, God's light shines through. Jesus said, "Behold, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:5) He is making all things new, indeed.

To listen to God of this City (Chris Tomlin's version), click here .

It is (NOT) Hard to Say I'm Sorry

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:03:00 +0000

Have you ever had a song played in your head and its crazy tunes stuck in your brain forever? When I was young, I heard this popular song, Hard to Say I'm sorry, from Chicago repeatedly from our radio. Before I knew it, I started to sing along at the top of my lungs. It was about a guy whose girlfriend was leaving him. This poor man found out that he couldn't live without her but at the same time it was hard for him to say he was sorry for what he had done to her.

Often in our Christian life, we hurt somebody, act inappropriately, or judge wrongly. We do not exactly live in God's will, but we are too proud or too ashamed to say that we are sorry about what we've done. However, the bible is all about being humble and repenting of your sins. Saying that you are sorry to God and to your friends and turning your life around are noble characteristics of a Christian. It is an act that pleases God. The bible says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I know that repentance is not a popular topic to discuss among Christians. Most Christians tend to think that repentance is only for non-believers, and as for them, it's a one time thing that took place when they received Christ. But repenting should be our state of mind, something that we practice daily as long as we live on this earth. Peter says this so eloquently in 1 Peter 5:5, "clothe yourselves with humility toward one another." James teaches us to"confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed" (James 5:16).

Did you hurt somebody that you love? Did a loving Christian brother or sister try to tell you to change something that is wrong in your life but you came up with long excuses? Did you take feedback well from your family or from your pastor? Today, instead of trying to defend yourself, listen to what they say, turn around, and say to them, "I'm sorry. You are right and I'm wrong. Will you forgive me?" I believe that you will build a better, stronger relationship when you say you are sorry.

Friend For Life

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:35:00 +0000

I have the most wonderful friend in the whole world. I believe what I am today and what I have become is the result of the friendship that I shared with my friend, Tan, when we were in college back in Thailand.

I remember when I first knew her, my world was brightened. Suddenly, classes were not that boring and I had the new motivation to show up and learn. At that time, my self esteem was pretty low. I was about two years younger than my classmates and the university I attended was one of the best in Thailand. I was thrown into a sea of the brightest and the coolest students who did not know me and probably did not care to know about me. I was afraid; in fact, I was frightened. But, oh, how Tan's presence brought me comfort. After class, we shared precious time eating delicious supper in the school's cafeteria, which was near a soothing river. We dug our heads into old, dusty books and made a corner of the library our home. We had a great adventure taking trips outside Bangkok together. Tan is an adventurous type, and I couldn't resist her. The moment that I will never forget is when a male classmate teased me and mocked at my leg (I contracted a polio virus when I was two and it weakened my left leg and made me walk with a slight limp). I was deeply upset. Tan was there at a bus stop to comfort me and cheer me up. She even tried to take the same bus with me even though her home was on the other side of Bangkok.

There was time that I doubted her loyalty to me. We had an argument, and I hurt her feelings. But Tan always forgave me. Not only that, she always encouraged me to write, to pursue my dream of being a writer. I kept on writing today because of her.

After college, career and a busy life separated us, but we continue bonding through long-distance phone calls and e-mails. Still like in the old days, Tan listened to my thoughts, my dreams, my goals, and sometimes my frustration with great patience. She came up with positive feedback with a good sense of humor.

I believe God gave me a good friend like Tan to laugh with, to cry with, and to bring me through difficult time. I am not sure I would ever graduate from college if it hadn't been for her encouragement. The bible is right. 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 says, "love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." I have learned the meaning of love and true friendship from my sweet friend who shares her life with me.

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To read Tan's musings on life, nature, Thai food, cultures, and different perspectives, visit her unique blog, The Intercultural Life.

The Gentlemanly Savior

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:55:00 +0000

In my life, I have never met anyone who is as kind as Jesus Christ. Jesus' kindness amazed me and radically changed me. I remember seven years ago when I perused my newly purchased bible with great curiosity, trying to find out who Jesus Christ really was. I was alone in the quiet apartment in one late afternoon. Kneeling down on the floor, I kept reading the bible until I came across this scene about the arrest of Jesus on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:47-51). On that important day, a band of armed soldiers came to arrest Jesus. One of Jesus' followers stepped forward and struck the servant of the High Priest with a sword. It must have been a gruesome sight with blood dripping, the cry of that servant, the pain, and the shock. I imagined everyone present expected the worst to happen. Maybe an ugly fight that left many dead. However, with His great mercy and kindness, Jesus simply said, "No more of this!" And He touched the man ear and healed him.

Can you imagine healing your enemy who is trying to murder you? Have you ever seen anyone so forgiving and kind? Later, Jesus was badly tortured, whipped, and scorched. The soldiers crucified Him on the cross and mocked Him with rude insults. But Jesus prayed for them and said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

I knew a Thai pastor whose life was touched by what Jesus said on the cross in Luke 23:34 and consequently prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior. The pastor said that if anyone could forgive this much, He must be God! Well, after I read and reread the bible, I did the same thing. I cried out to Jesus, "Lord, I'm sorry. I didn't know that you are God." I repented of my sins and invited Jesus into my life. Things have never been the same since!

Jesus is so kind and so polite. He is the gentlemanly Savior. Read about Him and find out by yourself what kind of person He is. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20). He is waiting to come into your heart and be your friend. Will you open the door and let Him in?

Our Body in Orissa

noreply@blogger.com (Sukalaya) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:01:00 +0000

Not many Christians in America know about the vicious violence against their brothers and sisters in Christ that broke out in Orissa, India in August. But the magnitude of their sufferings is horrific. As of today, hundreds of Christian homes and churches have been demolished or burned to the ground, and estimates put the total number of Christians murdered near 50. Close to 20,000 Christians are living in unsafe refugee camps and more are hiding in jungles.

As the killings spread out to nearby states, little has been done by the Indian government (local and State) to improve the situation. I am wondering if and when our major media will pick up this news and report it as they are supposed to? Since Christian persecution has never been their forte, the answer might be "never." However, we, as Christians, can do a lot for our own body. The Bible says that the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body (1 Corinthians 12:12).

During my prayer time this morning, my eyes laid upon this scripture in 2 Timothy 3, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Do you know that those believers in India live righteously and follow Jesus boldly even if it cost them their lives? That's why the Hindu extremists are filled with jealousy and hate towards them. The Hindus murdered our brothers in the most gruesome ways. They set fire to homes when Christians were inside. They ordered them not to return home unless they converted back to Hinduism and paid a huge fine to perform a conversion ceremony. One elderly man was forced to burn his own Bible in front of everyone. The Hindu mobs demanded that pastors and Christians stop converting local people and slaughtering cows because cows are considered sacred in Hinduism. A young woman who tried to stop the mob from attacking children in an orphanage was thrown alive into a burning building.

What will you do if parts of your body are set on fire? I don't believe you would just sit and let your whole body burn. I also believe that the Church needs to step up and help their family in a crisis like this. Paul wrote to the Romans and gave this instruction, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love." And "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn."

You can easily do what Apostle Paul did by devoting yourself to the body of Christ now! Prayer is our first weapon as Christians. Pray fervently that the Lord will protect and comfort Christians who are suffering in India. Pray that despite the horrid situation, the number of believers in India would grow. You can also send your financial help to Christian organizations to help rebuild homes, orphanages, and churches that were destroyed. Write to the media to inform them of this situation and request that the crisis be immediately reported to the world. Lastly, you can contact Indian government officials to ask for protection of Christians in Orissa and request that the Christians are treated fairly.

For more information and an update on Orissa Christians, please check International Christian Concern and Gospel for Asia websites.

This article appears on International Christian Concern's Blog.