Plus, this week I had lunch with a friend returning from the US, and it dawned on me that she is the first friend of the many traveling this summer to return to town. Definitely makes me feel that we are on the home stretch of summer furlough season here. As I have learned after 2 summer school breaks living in Chiang Mai is there is a mass exodus in the 1st 2 weeks of June, and then a mass entrance in the end of July and beginning of August.
Still going strong doing the summer bible study with Good Morning Girls. If you are looking for a good book to read or looking for a bible study to start in the fall, I would definitely recommend the book we are reading. It is titled "Anything" by the author Jennie Allen. God is doing a great work in my heart and stirring up a fire in me this summer.
I just want to share some highlights from my chapters this week that are challenging and impact-full.
"I don't want to make decisions based on my adequacy and capacity. I don't want to miss what God has for us because I am afraid. Just because we are willing didn't mean it was easy. I still wanted God to be more clear, so we could be more sure." (Chapter 15)
"In parenting...you have two or maybe three babies who turn into toddlers. At some point you either live perpetually anxious or give in and embrace the fact that your life is now completely out of control. Once you embrace that, parenting shifts from an agenda to an experience." (Chapter 16)
"Our reality is a cross, a heaven, and a God who sees us and gives us his Spirit so we can do something while we are here. And that's not building a cute, easy life for ourselves where the pros outweigh the cons." (Chapter 16)
"We doubt because of the risk, the cost, the abandonment of rights and comforts, the disapproval of people you really love, and then on top of it all, because you have now officially picked a fight with the devil.
The devil is real, and nothing ticks him off more than people waking up from the numb stupor he has crafted to keep us harmless."
(Chapter 17)
"To accept that life is supposed to be hard is the beginning of joy. There is freedom in understanding that heaven is coming and we are not there yet. We're called to live, instead, aware that we are at war with a ruthless enemy who is trying to destroy us if we are living surrendered to Jesus." (Chapter 17)
"God has bigger purposes in allowing us to suffer, bigger than just winning. He allows us to suffer because we change through suffering. We hurt with others better. We become humble. We want him more." (Chapter 17)
Even as I read them out of context of the book here, they challenge and inspire me to know God more. This really is a great book to read, and study scripture along with it. (She has lots of scripture references that go along the way with the above quotes).
Today I will end with God's Word:
"Now I am coming to You,
and I speak these things in the world
so that they may have My joy completed in them.
I have given them Your word.
The world hated them because they are not of the world,
as I am not of the world.
I am not praying that You take them out of the world
but that You protect them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
As You sent Me into the world,
I also have sent them into the world."
John 17 v.13-18
WE ARE THEM.
This is my blessed & non-traveling life,
Jennifer
