Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Discontent & Unthankful

With Thanksgiving approaching, I wanted to share this recent Grace Mail, a daily devotional by Pastor Mark Martin of Calvary Community Church in Phoenix. What a perfect reminder of why we should be happy & grateful for what the Lord has (or has not) given us! As my dear friend, Kelly Ryan, frequently says, "Get happy,". Blessings, Jamie

 "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." 1 Timothy 6:6

Somewhere before the year 1646, Jeremiah Burroughs wrote a message entitled, "The Folly of Discontent." I've updated the language some and adapted his thoughts; I know you'll see that he shares good insights into the sin of discontentment.

  1. Discontent takes away the present comfort of what you have, because you don't have something you want. The basis of this is unthankfulness.

     

  2. All of your discontent doesn't help you; you don't get anything by it. If you had a mind to give something to your child, yet if you see him in a discontented, fretting mood you will not give it to him. And this is the very reason why many mercies are denied you, because of your discontent.

     

  3. Discontent and murmuring eats out the good and sweetness of a mercy before it comes.

     

  4. Discontent is like a worm that eats the meat out of the nut, and then when the meat is eaten out of it, you have the shell.

    There are many things which you desire as you live, and think that you would be happy if you had them, yet when they come you do not find such happiness in them, but they prove to be the greatest crosses and afflictions that you ever had.

     

  5. Discontent makes our affliction a great deal worse than it would be otherwise.

    If a sailor doesn't like a storm and for this reason refuses to pull down the ship's sails, will this help him? So it is with a discontented heart. If we're discontented with what we're going through and won't bow to what God has brought into our lives, will it make the situation go away? Will that make anything better? Of course not, it will be even worse, and actually it may overwhelm us. (adapted from, The Folly of Discontent, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment)

The Apostle Paul could say, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." (Philippians 4:11b, NASB). The word rendered contentment in our English Bible has the meaning of sufficiency. Paul used the same word in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where he records Jesus' words to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." The secret of contentment was leaning on God's grace. 

Make a Move: The First (and Easiest) Way to Be a Part of The Come Together Compound

Many of you have seen pictures & videos of me at the Gateway School in India. Do YOU want to be involved in this wonderful school? My first suggestion is simple...LETTERS! Write or email letters to the school. It's a great way to help the children practice English, reading, & writing skills, but most importantly it's an opportunity for you to show Christ's love & share the Gospel. You may send pictures, have your own children write letters, etc. There are endless ways to be creative!

If you would like to help foster the children's growth, please mail letters to:
Gateway School
c/o V.S.C. Prasad
82-16-34
Burma Colony
Rajahmundry
AP-533 106
India

or email letters to:

To learn more about the school, visit:

If you have not seen videos of the school, visit:

*Please note--This is not a sponsorship program. It is a free, informal way of furthering God's Kingdom in India.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 NIV

fun on the playground

If you're happy & you know it then your face will surely show it...

If you're happy & you know it shout "AMEN!"

The "big kids" are happy too!

Geography lesson with older kids

Our team with Pastor Prasad & his wife Sunee, headmistress. Do you recognize the guys in the picture hanging in the school office? ;)

the teachers

Our team got to ride the Third Day bus! Well, it's the school bus funded by Third Day & fans. :)

India--Halfway through the Journey

Well, I’m halfway through my journey in India.  To say it has been an amazing experience is an understatement.  I want to share with you just a bit of my thoughts so far.

I began this trip knowing only Nigel.  Now, I have new brothers & sisters in Christ in the U.K.  Every person on the City Temple Cardiff team welcomed me with open arms.  Not once did I feel like an outsider.

When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was the kindness of the Indian people.  They are very hospitable.  Prasad’s family is a prime example of what it means to truly have a servant’s heart.  What I consider a sacrifice, they consider a pleasure.

We’ve visited many churches--some built with Third Day funds, others built with funds from generous people.  It warms my heart & inspires me to see the Indian people worshipping God with so much passion.  What a privilege to worship God with my Indian brothers & sisters in Christ!  The healing prayers have been the most powerful part of the services for me.  I’m honored to pray for these people, yet humbled & heartbroken at the same time.  I can’t describe the feeling I got when a beautiful, young lady stood before me & told me she had HIV.  I was completely taken aback & fought back tears while I prayed.  As I prayed for another lady, she was holding her sleeping child, who doesn’t speak.  One lady cried the entire time I prayed for her because her husband isn’t a Christian.

Also, we’ve visited a leprosy colony.  I was given the opportunity to deliver an encouraging message to the people with leprosy.  When I return to the U.S., I will be further investigating this disease.  There is a vaccination for it, & there is no reason for these people to be isolated from the rest of society.

On a more positive note, the Gateway School is unbelievable!!!  Shortly after we arrived, I noticed my cheeks were hurting from smiling so much.  Everyone there is filled with joy.  When I saw what the children were learning, I was in awe.  These children are far more advanced than most children in the U.S. & in the U.K., yet they are part of some of the lowest castes.  What an amazing opportunity they’ve been given!

It’s not about the churches.  It’s not about the school.  It’s about the people & the children.  God’s people who’ve escaped a life of idolatry.  God’s children who’ve escaped the vicious cycle of poverty due to lack of education.  Between Pastor Nigel & City Temple Cardiff, Pastor Prasad & his family, & Third Day & their fans, greater things ARE being done in this city.  Please know if you’ve given your time or resources to the Come Together Compound, it is being put to great use.  If you have not witnessed this yourself, I strongly encourage you to visit.  I thought Kevin & I sacrificed a European vacation so I could come here.  These people have helped me realize it’s a pleasure to be here. 

You can view the pictures I've taken so far here...

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0JZuGrZuxZMYs

 

 

 

Opening Doors

Today my doorbell rang while I was home alone.  Usually, I don't answer.  As I was looking through the peephole, I was debating on ignoring the gentleman or asking if I could help him.  After much hesitation, I reluctantly asked if I could help him.  He told me he was with Victory Outreach Recovery Home & offered to paint our address on the curb.  I wasn't interested in the service, so I don't know what possessed me to open the door (actually, I do).  After I opened the door, I noticed the gentleman was wearing a "Jesus Loves Me" bracelet.  I asked him about it.  He told me he recently accepted Christ as his Savior.  Then, he showed me the track marks on his arm.  He is a recovering heroine addict.  I happened to be wearing my Third Day Wired shirt.  I asked him if he was familiar with the band.  He said he wasn't, but he did mention a few bands, including Hillsong.  I told him to check out Third Day & explained that "Revelation" & "Born Again" might speak to him considering where he is on his journey.  As we wrapped up the conversation, he asked me for a $1 donation.  I gave him a donation, we gave each other blessings, & he left.  I was inside for only a few minutes when I realized this gentleman probably has no access to the music considering he lives in a group home.  I pulled my autographed copy of Third Day's Revelation from the bookshelf & walked down our street until I caught up with him.  I gave him the CD, & he graciously accepted it; however, when he realized it was autographed, he said he couldn't accept it.  I insisted.  He said there is only one radio at the group home, so he would play it for everyone to hear.  He asked me if I was sure I didn't want him to paint my curb.  I politely declined, he enthusiastically thanked me for the CD, & we parted ways.
 
As I told my husband what happened, his first reaction was to scold me for opening the door when he wasn't here; however, he was very excited about my exchange with the gentleman.  It's very uncharacteristic of me to open the door for a stranger.  God told me to open that door.  God was with me--talking to me, leading my every move, & protecting me.  Will I open the door for a stranger again?  Only if He tells me to. 
 
As for the loss of the CD autographed by my favorite band, I'm sure I'll get another one eventually.  In the meantime, I hope my original copy touches this gentleman's heart & gives him strength & encouragement on his new walk with Christ.  You know, was the CD really mine?  Doesn't everything we own belong to God?  The CD wasn't mine to keep, & God knew who needed it.  This experience reminds me of so many Bible verses.  Take from it what you will.    

Thailand Mission Trip--Behind the Pictures

Hmong_church_1

I've been back from Thailand for a while now, & although I posted pictures, I haven’t written about my trip.  I would love to tell the story behind each picture, but I’ll spare you.  I was in Chiang Rai from July 23-August 6.  The orphanage at which I stayed, Baan Immanuel, is amazing.  It's all about loving each other & Jesus. Through God, the missionary/founder, Ron Miller, has created a wonderful environment for the children.  Without Baan Immanuel many of the children would be victims of human trafficking.  The decision to go to Thailand wasn’t easy, especially since I traveled alone.  I prayed, cried, fasted, and even had visions.  My mission was to teach English, but honestly, I didn’t know why I was going.  I just know that when God tells you to go, you GO!  Also, I learned that on a mission trip, you get back so much more than you give.  I thought I’d come back with awful stories about human trafficking; however, staying at Baan Immanuel I saw the happy ending that many children in The Golden Triangle won’t get.

 

I did get a glimpse of some children who aren’t victims of human trafficking…yet.  One Sunday we worshiped at a Christian Hmong Church.  Only a handful of the children came with their parents.  Most of the children came on their own, & I learned that sometimes the parents of those children take them away from the church.  I remember one little girl in particular.  She sat on my lap in a way I’ve never experienced.  She couldn’t get close enough to me.  She hugged me, she laid on me, she put her hands on my cheeks & stared at me.  She wanted love.  All of the children there wanted love.

 

My story is this--I saw the dark side of Thailand, but not in the form of human trafficking.  It was in the form of demonic worship.  Most of the people in Northern Thailand are Buddhists & practice Animism.  The most disturbing part of my trip took place as we were driving through a hill tribe area.  Two men were building something on the side of the road.  The missionary told me those men were building a sacrifice to appease the spirits. By the time we were heading down the mountain, the sacrifice was built & the men were gone. This is the best way I can describe it--it was like a little shack with colored ribbons hanging from it.  In the middle on a pedestal was a bowl of rice with a pig's foot in it.  In Thailand, Spirit Houses are everywhere, but this was different.  It made me cry.  Before I went to Thailand, I believed that there is evil on Earth, but I didn’t think much about the supernatural.  For example, being from Louisiana, I’m familiar with Voodoo.  I thought of it as nothing more than a silly tourist trap in the French Quarter.  I had to see it for myself to believe, & God opened my eyes in Thailand.  It’s hard to imagine such awful practices taking place in such a beautiful country.

  

So, what can we do with this information?  The obvious—pray.  The people at Baan Immanuel are true prayer warriors, & they taught me a lot about praying.  I can make a long list of other ways to help, but I encourage you to do one thing—Ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”.  To get the answer, dive into the Scriptures.  Many of the children at Baan Immanuel know the Bible better than I do.  Social injustice is everywhere, even in America, where we are rich in so many ways.  Wherever we are, be it Thailand or our own home towns, there is work to be done.

  

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few...”

Matthew 9:37

  

(The tiny girl in the pink shirt & black skirt is the one I'm referring to in this post.)

My Mission Trip to Thailand

From July 23-August 6, 2009, I was in Chiang Rai, Thailand.  I stayed at an orphanage, Baan Immanuel, where I taught English.  Although the children are not with their biological families, they are getting a firmer foundation in loving each other and the Lord than most children I know.  The love at Baan Immanuel is amazing!

You can view my pictures at this link:

My Husband's Baptism As a Believer

Church_pic

Last night my husband, Kevin, was baptized at Calvary Community Church, the church we joined recently here in Phoenix.  He was raised Catholic & baptized as a baby; however, he made the decision to be baptized by submersion as a believer in Jesus Christ.  I was raised Baptist & was baptized as a believer when I was in middle school.  Before moving to Phoenix, Kevin and I were members of Covington Presbyterian Church in Covington, LA.  While Kevin has known Jesus most of his life, he wanted to symbolically acknowledge his relationship with Him.  It was an awesome & powerful (and teary-eyed!) night.
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