A Persistent Valentine From the Heart of God...I Love You!

A Persistent Valentine Message 

From the Heart of God

I Love You

Kathy is a definite fan of Bible Study!!  Another Community Bible Study International study began in our home last week in the book of Colossians.  What a wonderful morning with sixteen women (+ 2 baby girls) ranging in age from 2 months old to 70 years young.  

Kathy's friend K shared her personal story of having three women in the USA who meet monthly to pray for her family.   One of the women, V, visited K six years ago.  They did all the usual tourist things but as they purchased some scarves from a shopkeeper, V became burdened for the man who owned the shop.  

V returned to the USA and wrote K, "I think you should take your husband and go visit this man, I am praying for him.  V went on to say, "He needs to know the love God has for him."  K thought to herself, “How could I ever explain myself and that truth in Thai?  My language is not nearly good enough yet.”

Knowing how directionally challenged K is and how the shops were in a maze of disorganization K wondered how she would ever find the man again. But V persisted and every few weeks over several months V would ask K if she had gone to find the man yet.  

K finally decided to go and find this shopkeeper.  In order to share this story she asked V, "How many times do you think you asked me to find him?'"  “At least 100 times,”  V said smiling.  So finally K took a friend with her to try to find the man in the place where the shops were located. Unfortunately, she could not find him or the shop.  Later she tried again but to no avail.

K knew God had placed the image of the man's face and the shop entrance in her mind.  This past December K was shopping in an area of a local mall featuring Thai handicrafts  when a man started to walk over to her.  To her amazement, the man matched the image God had given her of the shopkeeper’s face.  

K managed to ask in Thai if the man had owned a shop in Ban Tawai 6 years ago.   He replied he did.  He told K it wasn't doing well so he moved to the mall.  K then told him about her friend V who had been praying for him for 6 years.  She also told him how her friend had told her to tell him how much God loved him.  

K asked if he had a Bible.  He said yes and pulled one from his shop but said he could not understand it and that he was a Buddhist.  Then they decided his English was better than K's Thai so they switched to English and K's husband came up and started talking to him too.  They exchanged numbers and names and promised to meet again.  

K brought us a photo of Suphat, pronounced Sue pot.  K asked the women gathered last week for Bible study to pray for him and for her and her husband as they share with the shopkeeper.  

K wrote V and told her they had found the shopkeeper that she was so burdened for and that his name is Suphat.  V said I am now saving my money to visit again when he is baptized.  We are all praying for that great day!

K went on to say to the women gathered for Bible study how Paul, like her friend V, was so burdened for people that he had not met.  Like V, Paul wanted these people he had not met yet, to know the love of Christ.  The women in our study are excited to be studying the book of Colossians in God’s Word and to see how we will apply these same truths in our lives.

Teacher Appreciation Student Speech

Grace International School

I came to Grace International School in 9th grade. Throughout my years here, I have gotten to know many teachers on a deeper level and have been amazed by their dedication, generosity, and love for others. We can not express our gratitude enough for the blessing you have been in our lives.

We all experience bad days. I remember one day in particular,where I just felt like a basket of laundry; mixed up, dirty, and tired. You know those days where nothing seems to go right? Well, it was one of those. I was angry with the world... I didn’t feel like I could go on. But, I remember, one of our teachers asked me if I was ok…that teacher encouraged me and told me that I could make it. That teacher helped me believe that I would make it through and come out like a conqueror. My spirit was suddenly lifted and I felt such a peace and assurance that someone did notice that I existed.

I think that is what is so special about this school, it is the thing that people comment about; that the teachers really do care about their students. You care about our lives, and that is something so precious and valuable, a beautiful thing to be cherished. So we just want to say thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you for your dedication; for your inspiration to learn and care about the world around us. Thank you that you care about our future and you believe in us. You believe we can do it; that wecan learn and overcome, even if it means enduring our questions and comments. Thank you for loving us and supporting us even when we are unlovable, moody, and irritable.

And thank you for asking about our lives. For your prayers and the countless hours you have spent away from family and rest, guiding us and helping us when we are stuck.

Thank you for preparing us for the future and guiding us in the ways of God.

You are not only self-less givers, but you have been mentors inour lives. You have opened up our minds to new perspectives of the world and have been examples of how we should live.

But most of all I want to thank you for your love for God, andfor the many many sacrifices you have made to reach us. For laying down your time to serve us. Thank you for the lives that you modelin Christ… Thank you for teaching us what is most important in life.You have blessed each one of us in more ways than you could imagine. Thank you for encouraging us to pursue God and seek him with all our hearts. Thank you for helping us see him as a Father, friend, and the greatest King.

For me, you have helped me know that I matter. You have helped me know from the bottom of my heart that God REALLY does have a plan for my life. For me, you have been much more than just teachers. You have been mentors, guides, friends, and acomfort when life seems to be crashing in.

Thank you for guiding us, inspiring us, and shaping us in God’s ways.

Today we want to respect you, support you, and let you know that YOU ARE so valued and loved.

A vision for a middle school building with one of the former middle school teachers who hopes to return to teach at Grace International School again some day.

The area where we are digging up dirt on our property to use for fill in other areas. This is what costs $8.00 a truck load to dump. Thanks to all those who have given. We have enough to move 1/3 of the dirt needed.

Don meeting the the contractor who is managing the dirt project. He happens to be the parent of students who attend GIS.

Faculty, staff, students, and parents attending the prayer walk gather for the opening ceremony.

Don standing in front of the sign on the property.

Don and Mike Wood, the Spiritual Life Director getting ready for the opening ceremony.

Don and a couple students checking out the future site of the cafeteria.

Matt Coe, the Advancement Director and Don talking about the Prayer Walk.

Mike and Don during the opening.

Future site of the high school building.

The bald headed Don presenting during the opening ceremony. Where's his hat?

What we've all come to do...a prayer walk. Thanks again for joining us in prayer last week.

Thanks for "sitting a spell" longer with us. We look forward to reading your reflections.

As mentioned in our weekly newsletter, one of the questions in the prayer tent asks, "What does the grace of God mean to you?" Your reflections on our blog this week could be a response to this question or some other impression the Spirit of God gives you as you pray for and give thanks with, the Grace community.

We'll post your responses, to the question mentioned above, in the prayer tent on your behalf as you share them with us. If you'd rather we not post them just let us know and we'll honor your request.

Below is an example of what the some students have written in answer to the question.

Honor - A Wholesome Tradition Worth Cultivating

Honor – A Wholesome Tradition Worth Cultivating

“Among all in his era, Noah was the godliest. He alone was considered by the Almighty, blameless. In a time when terrible wrath was about to unfurl, Noah alone found favor with the Lord. Consider this man Noah and what he experienced: Aware that the end of his world was at hand, he faithfully preached repentance for over one hundred years, yet his words converted no one. His eyes beheld the terrible descent of the wrath of God; his ears heard the terrifying cries, the final cries, of an entire civilization. His mind experienced the horrifying destruction of every man, woman and child outside the ark.”

“What burden does such an experience create upon the human soul? What nightmares? We don't know how Noah processed the catastrophic end of the world, but here's what we do know: After the flood, Noah began mankind's journey anew. He farmed and planted a vineyard. From the harvest he produced juice, which fermented into wine. We don't know if this was the first time he, or any man, tasted the effects of wine, but we do know that he drank it and it made him so drunk that he collapsed in his tent. The great man of God lay unconscious and naked, in a drunken stupor.”

“Here was a righteous preacher who, for whatever reason, had fallen short of his own high standards. Into this scene comes Ham, one of his three sons. Ham entered Noah's tent and saw the shameful state his father was in. Then, Ham reported the scene to his two brothers. Instead of silently, discreetly covering his father's shame, he sought to expose it. His brothers, Shem and Japheth, the Scriptures tell us, took raiment and, walking backward with the sheet on their shoulders, they covered Noah with it. Keep this point in mind: Ham dishonored his father by seeking to expose his shame; Shem and Japheth honored their father by covering his weakness. Your future and the future of your children is attached to how well you understand the value of honor and the curse that follows a dishonoring spirit.” I would suggest that Grace’s future and the future of our students is likewise attached to how well we as the adults in the community understand the value of honor and the curse that follows a dishonoring spirit.


Why show honor? “Showing honor you tell that person that he or she is important to the Almighty. Within the body of Christ we are commanded to honor every member, actually giving to the "unseemly parts" more abundant honor. The word "honor" in the Greek meant to fix valuation, esteem by implication and to revere. Picture a home where the children revere their parents and the husband and wife honor each other. We must esteem and fix value to each other. For honor creates a spiritual buffer against the enemy's attacks, which otherwise erode the quality of our lives.” The same can and should be happening at GIS.


“Honor releases the power of God while dishonor greatly hinders its expression. Jesus taught, "'A prophet is not without honor except in his home town, and in his own household.' And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:57-58). The people of Jesus' hometown did not honor Him, and their lack of honor, Jesus called, "unbelief." In other words, when we dishonor a man or woman of God, we shut down the power…a power God wants to display in our midst…a power we need in our midst.”


“Let's return to the story about Noah. When Ham exposed his father, Noah cursed the son of Ham, Canaan. Why didn't Noah curse Ham instead of Ham's son? Noah knew that, as Ham had been to him, so Canaan would be to Ham. Noah's curse was actually profound. He said Canaan would be "a servant of servants" (see Gen 9:25). Why? Because if you can't honor an imperfect leader, you will never advance in life. You will always be a slave.”


“You see, there are no leaders other than imperfect leaders.” Your administrator, boss, your pastor or department head or father or mother are all imperfect. “When we expose them to humiliation or dishonor by telling others of their weaknesses, it brings their curse upon us. We will never advance in life with such an attitude.”


“To be successful, you need to be able to submit to leaders who are imperfect without dishonoring them. You say, "If I do that, I will feel like a hypocrite, a 'yes' man." If you don't show honor, you are already a hypocrite. For a true Christian esteems and respects people; you don't have to trust them, but you must honor and respect them.”


“Now this doesn't mean you shouldn't have concerns when you see a problem. You may indeed have good advice or even a revelation to share that can help your leader. But don't open the door to dishonoring leaders. If you see a problem, don't follow Ham's example. Don't go telling your brothers; instead, cover the situation in love. Follow the procedure Jesus gives us in Matthew 18, remaining respectful and humble as you seek to bring an end to sin in a person's life.”


“Perhaps you are poor and unable to advance in life. It is possible that you have a curse hindering you due to a dishonoring spirit you received from your parents. Today, that curse can be broken. Ask God to forgive you and your parents for not relating with honor to imperfect authority. Learn to pray for those over you, covering them with the blood of Christ, interceding that they will be protected from the enemy.”


“Remember, cursed is everyone who seeks to expose a leader's flaws. The generations of Ham became slaves. How you relate to the imperfections of your superiors determines not only your future, but also the future of your children and your children's children. Do they hear you complain about your boss? Do they listen when you criticize leadership? Is a curse being passed on to them when they are forced by proximity to hear you bad mouth other leaders? Do you see this? You are actually teaching them how to NOT succeed in life. A dishonoring spirit will cause them to remain poor, frustrated and outside the realm of the blessed and prosperous.” In like manner what are our students hearing? What do we hear from each other when it comes to the imperfections of leaders?


“Right now, your children are patterning their lives after you.” So too are our students here at Grace. “From you they are learning how to deal with the imperfections of life. Will they become bitter and angry at life's structure of authority? Or will they be free to relate to imperfect authorities over them, and do so with honor? Are you breeding generations of slaves or generations of free men and women?”
 Institutionalizing honor – how can we do that or how have you seen it done effectively? Leadership at Grace is brainstorming ways this can be demonstrated in our school context so we’re being intentional in our example with each other and with our students. 

If you have any suggestions or ideas we'd love to hear from you.  Thanks for reading our blog and for sharing with us.

Content taken from: http://kingdomwarrior.jlym.com/Articles/Sermons/power_of_honor.htm

Alumni Pictured above
Attending a breakfast gathering
Prior to Christmas Break

Don had the opportunity to share with the alumni. The following text is the body of his message. We trust the message encourages you as you travel to the places and through the experiences God is taking you.

I would like to sit with you for a few minutes and share some thoughts about what the Lord's been teaching me and the leaders of the school. I think they could have some relevance to your lives as GIS alumni. I trust you'll be encouraged as we have been discovering the truth found in this passage of God's Word.

Luke 10:1-4 encourages us to go where He is ...Go where He's working... verse one says go... "where He was about to go."

God is working big time in SE Asia. More and more missionaries are moving into the region. As a result GIS is seeing 6% growth every year in the number of students.

God's working to make possible our new campus....we have been able to buy 86 rai of land and have enough funds to raise 1/3 of the property with dirt 1 - 1 1/2 meters.

God's working in our court case and made possible our appeal to be heard in the court in Bangkok.

God's working to provide 25-30 new faculty and staff every year. This year is no different.

Through all of this, God's making it possible for missionaries to stay on the field because GIS exists.

Where do you see God at work around you? Where do you sense He is at work that you could be called to go or join Him? We encourage you to consider going where He is...where He is working.

Go praying... verse two says, "therefore ask him."

GIS has a great deal to pray about as we go... our new campus, our court case, faculty and staff needs, our students well being, the support the faculty and staff need, and the list goes on...

What's God calling you to be praying about as you go? What are your God-sized challenges that keep you on your knees before the Lord? As your Grace family we'd love to be praying with you if you wanted and chose to share those prayer requests.

Go knowing it's going to be dangerous... verse three says, "I'm sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves."

Our school's dangers are our court case, our move to the new campus, and the tremendous need for faculty and staff in a climate of economic challenges worldwide.

What are your dangers? Are you aware of what could swallow up and devour the work God's calling you to? There are dangers in following His plan. What are your wolves? Your dangerous places?

Go needy... Go watching and expecting what He is going to do for you. All this talk about money isn't necessary because he says leave it behind anyway. Verse four talks about leaving your resources at home.

Not too difficult for GIS. In fact it's as though God has built this neediness right into every circumstance we find ourselves in.

The subtle objective in life... or in higher education - can be the goal of being self-reliant, independent, self-sufficient... not needing help or resource from anyone for anything. Yet here the challenge is to go into your calling - your vocation needy - dependent upon God. Can we encourage you to hold in tension the idea of going out prepared AND totally reliant and dependent upon God?

The last go statement is to...go without distraction - keeping first priorities first. Verse four says, "Do not greet anyone on the road". For me, my distractions were my doctoral studies, my consulting work and a business plan of starting private school franchises across America. The big distractions are what captures our first love.

For GIS our distractions can be both our dangers and our needs. If we're not careful they can actually derail us and keep us from fulfilling God's call if we allow them. We can think the struggle is about the people who brought the lawsuit against the school. That's a distraction if we allow it to occupy more energy and time than it should. Instead we should spend time in prayer for those people.

In the culture of the day when this passage was written, the tendency was that if you hadn't seen someone for a long time, your greetings could take a long time. You'd be invited over to their home, you might end up spending a couple nights. The call here is to go and make up for lost time. We're being reminded we are on His mission, instructed to not get distracted otherwise we may never get to the mission let alone accomplish it.

What distracts you from keeping the important things important? We would encourage you to keep to the path that the Lord has set before you and not let anything or anyone deter you.

Here's all the alumni who attended the Alumni Chapel the first week back from Christmas Break. They did a fantastic job of challenging the students by sharing their stories of the journey's they've been on since leaving Grace.

Just recently the words above were seen on a bumper sticker while driving near Grace International School here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The impressions we leave in life are so important. The bumper sticker has got us thinking about the impact our lives are making as missionaries here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We were wondering if you would think and dialogue with us about how Christians might best communicate the Gospel in ways that don't leave people thinking Christians Suck because of the way we live out our lives sharing something we care about so passionately - our faith and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We'd love to hear how you contextualize your faith at school, work and in homes where everyone might not be Christian.