(Fixed Up a few things)
God longs so much for us to be free ... he's paid for our freedom, now its our choice to really live in it. To be all that he created us to be. We no longer have to be held back by the world. We have the freedom to live real life, to no longer settle for the false reality the world has sold us. God has created us to be so much more.
We were made to be more than average ... more than 'just ok' ... more than just getting by!Switchfoot sings about that in one of their songs, and movies like truman show and the matrix ... speak of making a decision to face our fears, choose life over false life (death), and living life to its fullest.
The things that God has for us do not make sense to the world, they are extreme to world, and they were extreme to me, because I had been shaped by the world. Instead of focusing on the world or myself, My focus is now on the most EXTREME person of all (at least to the world) JESUS!! he was extreme!!! and He was ridiculed for it! If I'm to be like Christ, then that would mean I would rediculed by the world too right!?... it says that in the Bible.
Ouch I never liked that!! it made me squirm and I would shrug it off, because I wasn't being persecuted for Christ. OK maybe one dayin the future I would be, but at the time I was doing just fine being accepted by the everyone, the world and the church. Though the time came when I got sick of being just average. And decided to take a risk and trust that God really did have something better, that I couldn't hold onto the things of the world and the things of God, I had the freedom to let go ... to live real life... to live like Christ.
To be honest I didn't think I would ever be to do extreme things for God, to see the impossible happen, to walk everyday trusting in God instead of myself. I didn't feel like I was able, that I was good enough ... I hadn't really belived that God's love for me overcame all of my weaknesses!
When I started accepting God's extreme love for me, thats when things starting changing. When impossible became possible. When what the great things God had for me became reality!
It doesn't matter how you look or feel ... whether you have lots of friends or none, whether you feel like you're able to do great things or you feel like you can't do anything. God has an 'extreme' life for us all to live, one that is greater than we had ever imagined.
Extreme living begins when we receive extreme love, when we realize that we are not worthy to be loved yet we are loved, when we believe we can't do anything, but we can do everything. Its something I don't get a grasp on by just hearing or reading about, its something I had to meditate on and that I had to receive ... to believe even though it doesn't make sense. I know I'm not able, but I know I will do because God will do it. And I'm not going to say in 10 years, I'll have the faith to raise the dead, or see a blind man healed ... I'm just going to live life as God intended not limited by this world, to live by the power of Jesus. Being absolutely weak, So God can make me strong. If you want to see how the paradoxs of God work, you can't just think about them you got to live them.
I was once even scared of the word 'extreme' but now I know thats what God has called me too, and you too :). It doesn't mean to throw away 'balance' but it does mean to re-evaluate what you are balancing. Are you balancing the things of the world with the things of God. YES I DID THAT! Instead throw away the things of the world, and be extreme the world, don't compromise, don't be just ok. Find your balance and wholeness in Christ ... and be EXTREME! for Christ
In His EXTREME love =)
Tom
August 29, 2004
August 26, 2004
II Corinthians 5:16-18
16 So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! 17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.
August 25, 2004
Ephesians 3:20
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
August 06, 2004
Start staff training this Monday ... should be good to have the whole staff team togethor, and to stretch each other.
I'm really excited about the DTS, its going to be a great time, where I will learn alot through being a staff member. Anyone that is involved in DTS's, or is a disciple of Christ for that matter is always learning whether they're 'staff' or not
I'm really excited about the DTS, its going to be a great time, where I will learn alot through being a staff member. Anyone that is involved in DTS's, or is a disciple of Christ for that matter is always learning whether they're 'staff' or not
July 31, 2004
An updated test
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personality tests by similarminds.com
July 26, 2004
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
July 20, 2004
1 Corinthians 1:18
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God"
July 02, 2004
And he will make the weak strong
I saw this quote on This blog
It was taken from relevantmagazine.com
It encouraged me, and I really needed to be reminded of some of the things God was teaching me not so long ago ... it is easy to forget what God has taught you, when you start focusing on the wrong things.
"the goal is to come to the end of our own power. Just as Christ came to the cross without a scrap of His divine power, so we live our lives in a state of weakness, for only there can God truly reveal His power in us. die to everything we hope people will admire about us, and any personal desire for power, fame , wealth, public speaking or influence. in the places where we are angry and depressed, abandoned without hope or simply confused about how to think or believe, that is an opening for God to be present among us. it doesnt matter how much you dress yourself up, how well you learn to hide your sin from people, better for you to come out, and actually better, and i really do mean better--like you will be more filled with joy--to be able to say, 'you know what? know me for who i really am. im completely exposed. heres my sin; heres my Savior; ive got nothing to hide. ive got nothing to be ashamed of. ive got no fear. im totally filled with joy because im liberated, 'cause im exposed, but im not scared. and thats because i know that Gods favor for me is based on Jesus. im not scared to tell you who i really am. im not scared to tell you what my sins really are, not just the ones im comfortable with, but my real sins. im not afraid to tell you, and thats because im not condemned by them anymore, and thats because i believe Jesus is sufficient" - relevantmagazine.com
It was taken from relevantmagazine.com
It encouraged me, and I really needed to be reminded of some of the things God was teaching me not so long ago ... it is easy to forget what God has taught you, when you start focusing on the wrong things.
"the goal is to come to the end of our own power. Just as Christ came to the cross without a scrap of His divine power, so we live our lives in a state of weakness, for only there can God truly reveal His power in us. die to everything we hope people will admire about us, and any personal desire for power, fame , wealth, public speaking or influence. in the places where we are angry and depressed, abandoned without hope or simply confused about how to think or believe, that is an opening for God to be present among us. it doesnt matter how much you dress yourself up, how well you learn to hide your sin from people, better for you to come out, and actually better, and i really do mean better--like you will be more filled with joy--to be able to say, 'you know what? know me for who i really am. im completely exposed. heres my sin; heres my Savior; ive got nothing to hide. ive got nothing to be ashamed of. ive got no fear. im totally filled with joy because im liberated, 'cause im exposed, but im not scared. and thats because i know that Gods favor for me is based on Jesus. im not scared to tell you who i really am. im not scared to tell you what my sins really are, not just the ones im comfortable with, but my real sins. im not afraid to tell you, and thats because im not condemned by them anymore, and thats because i believe Jesus is sufficient" - relevantmagazine.com
A close call
Well Praise God ... I'm feeling better, for a little while wasn't sure if I had caught something ... seen as had lots of mosquitoe bites ... and had several symptoms similar to some of the least desired illnesses in the World ... but it was just mostly a small infection, and being run down, not eating enough vegetables, and being dehydrated probably didn't help either.
Other news, passes Thai Kindergarten today :) YAY it only took 6 days to learn the whole Thai alphabet :D and we started reading today.
*Just updated my photo blog too
Other news, passes Thai Kindergarten today :) YAY it only took 6 days to learn the whole Thai alphabet :D and we started reading today.
*Just updated my photo blog too
June 26, 2004
Thai class
Lately I have been cutting grass at the the DTS base with Somphon (another
staff) and we have just started learning Thai with a tutor.
It was amazing how God provided for us, the tutor that Somphon and I were
going to use is moving, and we can't really study at a language school, as
we only have a month before we need to do staff training.
We were recommended a pastor's wife and were told she was an excellent
teacher ... and she is.
She has lots of free time now, as many of her students are back in the US
for holidays, we started the day after we had made contact with her. We are
studying 2 hours a day mon-fri,and she doesn't charge us as much as some
tutors would, because she has a real heart to help missionaries. We are
learning how to read and write at the moment, and she is able to teach us
Thai Christian words, which other teachers wouldn't be able to do. She
doesn't actually speak to us in English during the lesson, which helps to
learn Thai much quicker.
God had it all in his hands, I didn't have a clue how I was going to be
studying Thai .
God has even provided more than enough money to cover the cost of this lot
of Thai language lessons.
And tomorrow I'm going to an orphanage near Chiang Rai to spend time with
the kids and give them gifts. Most of them don't have shoes, and some don't
even have t-shirts. We were invited to go with our Thai teacher =)
staff) and we have just started learning Thai with a tutor.
It was amazing how God provided for us, the tutor that Somphon and I were
going to use is moving, and we can't really study at a language school, as
we only have a month before we need to do staff training.
We were recommended a pastor's wife and were told she was an excellent
teacher ... and she is.
She has lots of free time now, as many of her students are back in the US
for holidays, we started the day after we had made contact with her. We are
studying 2 hours a day mon-fri,and she doesn't charge us as much as some
tutors would, because she has a real heart to help missionaries. We are
learning how to read and write at the moment, and she is able to teach us
Thai Christian words, which other teachers wouldn't be able to do. She
doesn't actually speak to us in English during the lesson, which helps to
learn Thai much quicker.
God had it all in his hands, I didn't have a clue how I was going to be
studying Thai .
God has even provided more than enough money to cover the cost of this lot
of Thai language lessons.
And tomorrow I'm going to an orphanage near Chiang Rai to spend time with
the kids and give them gifts. Most of them don't have shoes, and some don't
even have t-shirts. We were invited to go with our Thai teacher =)
June 17, 2004
in ChiangMai
Just arrived in ChiangMai this morning ... it took us 3 hours longer than usual to get out of Bangkok as the bus broke down, then we changed bus's, which had the airconditioning turned up even colder than the first bus, I was cold even with a jumper and blanket on... but thats why I love Thailand =)
I really enjoyed my short stay in Bangkok, made some great new friends at the church I stayed at, and will be sure to go there again. They have a really good teaching English ministry there too, though I don't feel teaching English is my gifting, I'd be glad to be involved in it for a time if God called me there =)
I really enjoyed my short stay in Bangkok, made some great new friends at the church I stayed at, and will be sure to go there again. They have a really good teaching English ministry there too, though I don't feel teaching English is my gifting, I'd be glad to be involved in it for a time if God called me there =)
June 12, 2004
whats happening
From now I will be in Bangkok for a few days, then will travel to ChiangMai. When I get there I will probably stay with director of the Dts for a while, then I will either be staying there to help him or studying Thai in the city.
We have staff training from August 9, then the Dts will start in September,
we have a few experienced guys coming over from the Philipines to staff with us this year. After that Dts finishes I some of us will probably goto the Philipines for some more training... I wasn't expecting this, but am quite excited about it if it is what God leads :)
At the moment I will be putting my all into being the staff that God wants me to be. this may mean not doing some of the things I thought I might do at first, but instead do training, and just focusing on staffing. And I like that idea, because I really believe that staffing the Dts's is the reason God called me to Thailand.
As we learnt during the workshop at the conference, staffing Dts isn't just something you do until God shows you where he wants you to be, it is a calling in itself. Since being here I've become much more open to the idea that God might call me to be a dts staff for a longer time than what I had first expected.
I am open to whatever God calls me to, another area that doors have been opening in are the areas of multimedia and missions.
We have staff training from August 9, then the Dts will start in September,
we have a few experienced guys coming over from the Philipines to staff with us this year. After that Dts finishes I some of us will probably goto the Philipines for some more training... I wasn't expecting this, but am quite excited about it if it is what God leads :)
At the moment I will be putting my all into being the staff that God wants me to be. this may mean not doing some of the things I thought I might do at first, but instead do training, and just focusing on staffing. And I like that idea, because I really believe that staffing the Dts's is the reason God called me to Thailand.
As we learnt during the workshop at the conference, staffing Dts isn't just something you do until God shows you where he wants you to be, it is a calling in itself. Since being here I've become much more open to the idea that God might call me to be a dts staff for a longer time than what I had first expected.
I am open to whatever God calls me to, another area that doors have been opening in are the areas of multimedia and missions.
The bride of Christ
Well this week has been awesome. It was definitely worth coming early for the YWAM conference and worth the money too. There was just so much that happened and that God spoke to me that I can't put everything into words. So here are some key points of what God taught me during the week
1) We are the bride of Christ, A bride doesn't wait until after married to get to know the groom. Christ desire intimacy now with us
2) We in the Western World are ignorant to the ways in which God is moving in Asia and the Pacific. We think that we are the be all and end all when it comes to Christianity. But I was severely humbled this week. We all need to get out and learn a few things from our brothers. I once had the idea that it would be the missionaries from Australia, America, and Canada that would be reaching the last unreached areas of the Earth, but the reality is that the Koreans, Chinese, Indians, and Filipinos are reaping the biggest harvest in history.
1) We are the bride of Christ, A bride doesn't wait until after married to get to know the groom. Christ desire intimacy now with us
2) We in the Western World are ignorant to the ways in which God is moving in Asia and the Pacific. We think that we are the be all and end all when it comes to Christianity. But I was severely humbled this week. We all need to get out and learn a few things from our brothers. I once had the idea that it would be the missionaries from Australia, America, and Canada that would be reaching the last unreached areas of the Earth, but the reality is that the Koreans, Chinese, Indians, and Filipinos are reaping the biggest harvest in history.
June 02, 2004
24 hours
Well its not too long now, been really busy the past few days getting ready to go away, saying goodbyes, had a send-off party on Sunday, with a great turn-out family and friends.
God provided me with a decent amount of money, which will really help during the first few months, I'm still trusting God for the rest, which is quite alot, but nothing for God, and over 2 years I'm sure I'll be amazed how God provides, and how much he will stretch me.
Right now feeling a little bit sad about leaving, and a little anxious about going, but most of all I'm excited for the journey ahead.
Its hard not to be excited, because I know that God's purpose and plan for me is awesome, and during this time I'm going to see God move so powerfully in my life. God is going to refine me and take me through those fires to make me who He wants to be. All glory goes to God for where he has taken me, and where He is taking me.
I will try to update this blog whenever I can, but incase I don't get to post soon, thankyou all for your prayers and support ... they mean so much to me.
God provided me with a decent amount of money, which will really help during the first few months, I'm still trusting God for the rest, which is quite alot, but nothing for God, and over 2 years I'm sure I'll be amazed how God provides, and how much he will stretch me.
Right now feeling a little bit sad about leaving, and a little anxious about going, but most of all I'm excited for the journey ahead.
Its hard not to be excited, because I know that God's purpose and plan for me is awesome, and during this time I'm going to see God move so powerfully in my life. God is going to refine me and take me through those fires to make me who He wants to be. All glory goes to God for where he has taken me, and where He is taking me.
I will try to update this blog whenever I can, but incase I don't get to post soon, thankyou all for your prayers and support ... they mean so much to me.
May 28, 2004
Who we are || What we are to do
I love this verse - Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, prepared in advance for us to do.
The message puts it like this
He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, prepared in advance for us to do.
The message puts it like this
He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
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