This past month I got the privilege of working at Actsco Bookstore in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This bookstore has 99,000+ books that are all Christian books! They have Bibles in A LOT of different languages and so many beautiful books it would make your head swim! Another amazing thing is that all the books are FREE, yes free! The books are donated by people and publishers who make too many copies. They encourage you take books and after you read them they encourage that you share them with others!
I got to work there in the afternoons with a group of women on my squad that I haven’t spent too much time with prior to this month, except Tee! It was was a gift to spend the month with them and with our new friends that work/volunteer at the bookstore.
Let me tell you about our new friends. First, there is Patrick, who is a sweet, fun-loving, humble, jokester who loves the Lord. Patrick jokes that he was born in the 1800’s and that he is over 100 years old. He is from Thailand, had a powerful testimony and was such a light in our days. Then there’s Chris. Chris is an intelligent, kind, patient, wise, and selfless man of God from Australia in his 60’s who moved to Thailand three years ago and is letting God guide his steps.
Our afternoons entailed walking to the bookstore and being happily greeted by Chris and Patrick, given refreshing ice cold water and time to catch our breath. Our time there was relaxed, peaceful, and full of good Godly conversation. We would straighten and organize books along with sharing/listening about what God has done in our lives. We also were spoiled and got to eat delicious Thai food and drink homemade chai tea prepared by Patrick.
One afternoon Blaire and I brought our guitars to play. Patrick was so talented but kept joking and telling us he didn’t know how to play. He later shared that when he was younger his brother and him learned how to play guitar and English by listening to Elvis Presley and trying to mimic him!
One moment I will forever cherish is when Patrick was playing guitar while Blaire, Tee, Chris, and I danced around the book store. 🙂 As I write I’m really sad we had to say goodbye. It was so special. There’s something very special about that place. You could feel God’s presence being immersed in a three story building filled with God’s word and people He had inspired to share about what He’s done in their lives.
If you’re reading this Patrick or Chris, I miss you guys and pray I can someday visit again.
I also had the pleasure of being able to read some this month. There’s two books worth sharing about. The first is God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew! OH MY GOODNESS it’s incredible! I don’t want to spoil it but you should read it! I couldn’t stop sharing about it with my teammates! It was written 40-ish years ago but makes me want to do crazy things for the Kingdom after reading about his faith, obedience, and journey with The Lord!
The other book I read was a book about Luke (which i don’t remember the title-yikes-sorry) with the book of Luke! I’d like to share some nuggets of truth I was shown from the book and honestly need a refresher about:
LUKE (ESV)
People are more important than words. (Luke 6)
6:46- Worst hypocrisy: call Christ Lord but don’t do what He says
7:34-35- John was criticized for being unsociable; Jesus was criticized for having a zest for life/enjoying people
8:11-15: The seed is the word of God: verse12-no response verse13 no depth of commitment verse14 no growing room in one’s life for the gospel verse 15 become fully productive for Christ; Be preceptive and Responsive
8:39: Follower of Jesus = responsibility to evangelize
9:21: Jesus was fully committed to the suffering that must come
9:62 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” KEEP LOOKING FORWARD
10:21-22: If you want to know God/the truth then come to know Jesus
11:23- “Whoever is not with me is against me”
11:24-26: Be so filled with the Holy Spirit that there will be no emptiness in your life.
11:52- Tithing needs to be practiced with love
12:2-3 CHRIST IS THE WAY
12:10- cutting the Holy Spirit out of your life is like spiritual suicide
12:16-20 – selfish – in three sentences- “I” is mentioned 6 times and “my” is mentioned 4 times – security should not be had at the deprivation of others
worry=worldly
12:32 “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom
12:34- Don’t let worldly treasure kidnap your heart
13:5- repent or perish
13:17- people remember what they see
The Parable of the Great Banquet 12:12-24- God wants to bless all. Don’t reject His goodness
14:26- His supreme loyalty to Jesus would make his action toward his family seem like hate. Someone becoming a disciple must do it with no turning back.
14:33- “So therefore any one fo you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” It pays to serve Jesus but it also costs.
14-34-35- One’s commitment to Christ should be like good salt. Its quality should be the highest.
15-one thing the book pointed out was that the parables were made about animals because they had more compassion or animals than men- which is something I have been thinking a lot about lately
God’s limit in his search for the lost is His love, He would DIE for you to SAVE you
Love can know the greatest hurt and love can know the greatest joy
The choice: slave of material gain or a steward of God
16:13- One’s use of money can reveal his true character
16:!5- “God knows your hearts”
17:7-10 As a Christian, don’t be proud/arrogant about doing what we’re called to do, it’s our duty
17:17-18-If the silence of the majority is ingratitude then let’s join the minority expressing appreciation to God
18:1-8If an unjust judge will respond favorably to a persistent petitioner might we not count on God to answer His own people who pay earnestly. God is faithful.
18:8- pray and watch for Jesus
PRAYER THAT IS MADE BECAUSE IT IS PROPER ISN’T PROPER PRAYER
18:14- Don’t waste prayer with self-applause
18:15 “whoever does not receive the kingdom God like a child shall no enter it.” Children have an openness to learn, trust, a readiness to love and to obey, and a desire to please and to help
The Rich Ruler 18:18-30 NO ON GIVES UP ANYTHING FOR CHRIST. WE RECEIVE SO MUCH FROM HIM
Fear of one’s own inability may be as ruinous as concern about the criticism of enemies
Jesus would turn from a crowd to help an individual sincerely seeking Him.
19:26-27 Great achievement calls for great risk. Are you willing to attempt great things for God?
19:47-48 We must have the courage to face conflict if it comes from telling people about Christ
20:8 Recognize your responsibility to God and His authority over you
21:1-2 Making a display of religion is in the same class as using religion for personal gain
***A gift that a person can afford to give cannot be called a sacrifice***
The best source of comfort from betrayal is Christ himself. No one has suffered more than He has from a betrayal
21:17: “you will be hated by all for my name’s sake” Trouble and persecution might come from unexpected sources, even from relatives and friends
21:34 Be ALERT, don’t be distracted by evil habits or worries
22:14-23- Lord’s supper: memorial appealing to all five of senses thereby implanting its significance more firmly in the mind
22:31- He is our intercessor!
Whatever you are facing, you can find help remembering how Jesus prepared for the horrible experience that was ahead of Him. Pray “Thy will be done”.
22:51- Christ will take care of His own in the darkest hour
23:4- ” I find no guilt in this man” Jesus was INNOCENT
The Crucifixion: 23:30 When it seems hard to be a Christian remember the price Christ paid for you to have the privilege
23:43 Paradise = where Jesus it
24:12- Believing in the resurrection of Christ and accepting His lordship is not easy to do. It is an act of faith.
A walk with Christ will warm your heart and open your eyes
After reading the book of Luke with book about Luke 🙂 I just was so encouraged and reminded how beautiful is to follow Jesus and how black and white it. We are either worship Him or the world. We either glorify Him by our choices/actions or we glorify Satan. We worship money (Satan) or we worship God.
I was grateful for this book that helped me see the scripture in an easier way and it was captivating, I couldn’t quit.
We are so blessed.
