my date with God

Hello everyone! I just wanted to encourage you guys with something that God has taught me recently. My good friend told me once that she would sometimes have these dates with God, and so I decided to have one with my loving Lord.

(best date ever :) heheh )

1) I was challenged with a verse from John 12 (becky I'm still reading with you) v 43. "For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."

The verse is about the authorities that really did believe in Jesus but they didn't want to confess that he was the Christ because they were scared to be kicked out of the synagogues by the pharisees.

This verse challenged me to reevaluate my heart and to question if I value praise or glory from people rather than the glory that comes from God. Getting kicked out of the synagogue would be the equivalent of being kicked out of my church and losing most of my social life, so the question is do we choose the glory from God or from man.

Here in Thailand I can easily trick myself into believing that I have to "do" or work well in the eyes of the world to be validated or looked at as being hard working or successful. I am learning that the praise from man is worth nothing, however that does not mean I should not work and start slacking.

Here is the reason why God asks me to "do" anything: Jesus's Love

Ch 13 John

v 1"when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the father, Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

- So, he then washed his disciples feet.

Even though I read this countless times, it really hit me again. Jesus loved, he served, he gave when he didn't have to. He really really really loved, enough to wash Judas's feet.

Jesus loved when he cried for Lazarus even before raising him up from the dead. I was always so puzzled about that, why would he cry when moments later he would raise him up? But Jesus cried because he loved Lazarus, Mary, everyone! (I looked up the reasons why he cried online and it gave me some other reasons but I would like to focus on this one)

Point being:

We serve as Christians because we are/were loved to the point of death.

Updates:

Dinner at Ahjan Yawalak's house was amazing. I ate dinner with her mother, brother, sister in law, and her aunt. Before I even ate, she asked me if I would like to pray, so I did out loud. They loved loved dang jang chee geh, it was a big hit! (I'm out of dang jang though).

Please continue to pray for her and her family, so that they may receive Christ.

Also, there will be a trip to the night safari on the 27th with the children from our house church and some other children from around the area. Please pray for safety, and for the planting of many seeds.

Ok I just want to tell everyone that I'm praying for you really really as best as I can (Crossway, the missions team, college group, women's group, family, friends, and those in the east coast). I want to encourage you guys to keep serving and living for God in the ways that he provides. You guys are all encouraging to me and a blessing in my life, although I'm not there with you physically. I love you guys!

Bye!