Make disciples that make disciples

In high school biology class, I learned that two types of animals are the same species only if their crossbreeds can reproduce by themselves. For example, donkeys and horses are different species because their offspring mules cannot reproduce anymore. Back then, I got a vague idea that if a species is to flourish, current generation need to not only reproduce the next generation, but also reproduce the next generation that can keep the reproduction going for the future.

As a corollary, recently in Perspectives class, I have been learning that as Jesus’s disciples, we need to make disciples that can make disciples, so that faith in Jesus can grow exponentially and be passed on to the future.

So far this semester, I have not connected much with my university friends and old small group members. But surprisingly, just as I was learning about making disciples that make disciples, two of my old small group members came to visit during Thanksgiving break, and one of them used to be in a discipleship with me. My old disciple found a job from Google, a position that almost all the new students I reach out to this semester eagerly wish to achieve. A typical student this semester would skip Bible studies to study for their courses at OSU. I thought my old disciple would be a good example of both a Christian and a technology expert. So I told my old friends beforehand to share how spending time with God doesn’t interference but improve academics and career, and then I arranged a meeting with my old friends and a new student. We chatted over dinner, and when a new student learned that me and my two old friends met through a Christian fellowship on campus, he had a pensive look on his face, as if living a Christian life could really be fruitful. Of course, faith in Jesus shouldn’t be treated a means to an end. The new student might not yet know how it feels to have a relationship with Jesus. I pray that he will keep getting Godly influence from those whose career he aspires to attain.

The event I just talked about does not sound like something very noteworthy, but to me, it was a vivid experience of seeing my old disciples making their own effort for the generation of Christians. I am deeply thankful for God arranging their visit to me and deeply proud of what they did here. Right now I want keep in touch with the two friends who just visited me and reconnect with some other people. I will update on the next post. 

A Wonderful Reunion

Hello everyone, hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! In this November, my wife and I fly back to Tucson to celebrate the 70^th birthday of our dear spiritual grandfather Jon Heine. There are many memorable moments happening there, and I want to share the most wonderful one with you.

On November 14^th, together with Jon, we go to Scott and Nancy’s home for dinner. Both of them are pastors in our fellowship who have a very deep influence on our way to Christ, and we even got baptized at their home last year. So it’s definitely a wonderful reunion.

Actually, I knew there will be a super moon going at that night several weeks ago, but I could never imagine what an amazing night God has prepared for us. Sadly, there is a forest fire on the mountain happening that day as well, and there is a very long line of smoke in the sky because of that, but God utilizes that in his unique way.

After we finish the dinner, we go to the roof top of their home together to watch the sunset and the super moon. Since their home is located far away from the city, there is almost no light pollution there, and it’s also very quiet and peaceful. Looking at the sky, the long line of the smoke turns into a very beautiful spectrum under the light of the sunset. There are different colors in the spectrum that gradually changes from one color to another, just like a rainbow, but much longer. What an amazing scene! On the other side of the sky, the super moon is rising at the same time. It’s so big and bright that there is no darkness under the sky at all. 

Before such astounding views, what actions can I take except praising the Lord, the creator of all of this? Besides that, I’m also with the people I love the most on this planet, what emotions can I express except joy and gratitude? Besides that, I didn’t plan for this to happen at all but God prepared them all even before I asked, what words can I say except “I’m loved and I love you”?

After I come back to Columbus, I keep thinking of that night. In my life, there are not really many opportunities like that to be with the persons I love the most under the most beautiful background. That night will always be a shiny pearl in my memory no matter how many years have passed, and it will keep reminding me of how much God loves me. Lord, thank you!

However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

God answers my prayer

Hi everyone, this is Cindy. If you read my post before, you may notice I am a new believer. I am still learning how to pray. Most time, I feel my pray is very raw, so I do not want to pray in front of other Christian. I always think their prayers are much better than mine. They use a lot of biblical words and ideas. Their prayers are always very beautiful and motivating. I think my prayer is more like a child has a talk with her father. I was struggling with this for a long time. Now I feel much better, because I know God is always listening to me. And God cares about how I trust him and rely on him. God does not care the format. As long as I pray in faith, God will take care of me. No matter how I pray and where I pray, I just need to trust God and love God.
I guess some of you may have the same question as I did before. Will God respond me if my prayer sounds simple and plain? The answer is Yes as long as you pray in faith. I pray everyday before sleeping. It is a conversation between me and God. It is simple and straightforward. I alway tell God what happened to me and ask God for help. God is mercy and loving, he always answers my prayers.
About two month ago, my husband bought a new iphone7 from a person. And that person promised my husband that phone is an unlocked phone. But later my husband figured out that phone was a locked phone. So my husband tried to contact the seller and ask his money back. The seller disappeared. Then my husband went to the apple store and tried to get help. However, they refused to help my husband. They even threaten my husband. They said if my husband kept staying in the store, they will call the security. My husband was very angry and upset. I was very worried about him. I could not help him. The only thing I could do is pray. My husband is a non-believer, but I know God loves him. God loves everyone. My husband had two choice at that moment: One is using the locked phone with paying service fee every month. The other one is trying to sell the phone to another person. But if my husband tell the truth about the phone, people will not pay what he paid for the phone. That means he had to lose money no matter either way he chose. I was anxious, because I was afraid my husband would be tempted by Satan. Satan could make people filled with anger and hate. Satan could tell my husband to cheat another person. I was hoping my husband could make a right choice. I did not push him to make any decision. I talked with God and asked God for help. I know our God is almighty. God is taking care of us all the time. I prayed that God could show his mercy and love to my husband. Finally, my husband wrote a post in craigslist honestly. At the same time, my husband went to the police office to report this scam. I did not expect people would buy that phone at the price my husband paid. I also did not expect the police would finder that scammer.But again, God is loving us and taking care of us. God gave me a surprise. The next day, someone would like to buy the phone with the same amount my husband paid. And two days later, the police office called us, and told us that they found that scammer. I was so thankful and so joyful.
This is the short version of my long story. This is not the first time God answer my prayer. I will share more of my story with you in my future post. I just want to say, please be faithful and patient. God will answer your prayer. Below are some verses I want to share:

John15:7  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Matthew 21:22  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hello Readers,

Time really flies by! This is my last week working as an ISEED intern. It is shocking that I almost ready to leave the program to go back home in Thailand in January 2017. My awkward feelings is like I just got into the program few weeks ago then I’m done this week? Although it’s kind of sad to leave many friends, host families, churches here in Ohio but my joy to meet my family overwhelms me. Moreover, God made promises through His Word in Jeremiah 29:11 to me and all of his followers so I feel secure that His “plans to prosper (me) and not to harm (me), plans to give (me) hope and a future”. I will be exciting to see His plan for me back in Thailand.

Submit to God and praying with faith is one of the important lesson to me that I learned during ISEED program. To me our God is a just in time God. He never fails to provide and respond to my needs (that are according to His will) in perfect timing. For many instances what happened to me this year taught me how to pray and wait and submit all of my concerns to Him. Also I learned that even when someone mistreated me I can leave it to my Heavenly father and learn to forgive and move on. I feel like I’m not worrying and stressful as before. Isn’t it good that God is on my side? (If I do the right thing and according to his will)

Although I leave IFI and the U.S. soon but good friendships from IFI staffs and students will still remain and I’m sure they will keep in touch with me and I with them.  

I’m asking for you prayers for me for:

u  Pray for my trip back to Thailand

u  Pray for my long journey with Christ

u  Pray for my career direction back in Thailand

u Pray for wisdom to use or adapt our DBS and Master Life into Thailand’s small groups effectively

u  Pray for my families’ and Thai people’s salvation

Thanks for all of your support and love during my 10-month internship. May God bless all of you and keep in touch J

Tony

(Tanit Kriengsantikul)

What to post for blog post?

As an IFI intern, I am supposed to make a blog post every month about my relationship with the Lord. But since it’s a blog post-everyone could come read it-I was overly concerned with the quality of the post. I was overwhelmed by the efforts to come up with the most engaging story, perfect writing and grammar, and beautiful photos to company the story.  In my heart and mind, the blog post has become not so much a reflection and memoir of God’s blessings as a personal showcase of spiritual growth. For more than 15 days-the blog post was due on Nov 1^st-I have been procrastinating on making the blog post with the excuse that I have not had anything “good” enough to write about. God gave me many blessing and intimate moments last month, but surely, none of these Godly experiences was “good” enough to satiate an inflated ego posting to prove himself to others. 

               A Christian musician Matt Redman has a song called The Heart of Worship,in which he sings that “For a song in itself is not what You have required. I'm coming back to the heart of worship. And it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.” Identically, a blog post is not what Jesus has required, and when I write, my writings should be all about Jesus. Lord, I confess I didn’t treat your blessings seriously enough and had thoughts about using the blog post to impress others with our relationship. Would you forgive me and humble me to write blog posts out of thanksgiving and awe of your goodness? 

               A verse from Psalm 84 recently sticks in my mind: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Yes, Lord, your presence is more fulfilling than anything else. It’s all about you. Please ingrain this in my heart. 

How do I become an ISEEDer?

About five and half years ago, I came to Columbus from China. I had never thought I would become a Christian some day. But my journey indeed started since then. Before coming to the United States, I only heard about “Christian” once in my whole life. So when I came to Columbus, I did not apply for a Christian host family. Most of my friends had a Christian host family at that time. Or at least a Christian picked them up from the airport. And then when school began, I met my two roommates. One is a boy; he had a very nice Christian host family. And the other one is a girl who had been a Christian for five years. Both of them kept inviting me to the bible study or church. I always said: no, I had other things to do, I don’t wanna go. But they did not give up asking. Sometimes, they said: you can go to eat or make friends. Finally, I went to a bible study a couple of times. Not because I was interested, but because I did not want to disappoint my friends. But I remember, after eating, when they had bible study, I hid my face behind the bible so no one could tell I was asleep. To be honest, at that time, I thought I would never ever be a Christian. I was super confident that nothing they said or did for almost three years would change my mind. So after graduating from school, I still did not believe in God. But I had a feeling that Christian people are different, they are warm-hearted, nice, and peaceful. Then I went to Los Angeles for work, but before I left Columbus, I got to know a girl who had been a Christian for a long time through my old Chinese classmate. She gave me a Christian bookmark. When I got back home, I put the bookmark somewhere. Life in Los Angeles was quite different as in Columbus. While living in Los Angeles, I had not heard anything about God and Christianity. Instead, there were so many temptations. I still maintained I would have nothing to do with Christianity. After working half of a year there, I lost the only chance to get my working visa. I decided to come back to Columbus, to be with my boyfriend (Bill). When I moved back to Columbus, I stayed home while Bill was still studying in school. I thought the reunion with Bill could bring me a happier life. But we started fighting with each other. After half a year, we got married. I thought marriage could bring me a happier life. But we kept fighting with each other more and more. We used to be a happy and sweet couple. We have lots of good memories. I did not know why everything changed. I tried many things to fix our problem. I talked a lot with my family and friends. I read some emotion control books. None of them helped. So I fell into a deep despair and agony. I had A lot of anger, hate and regret. I wanted to save my life, to save my marriage, but I didn’t know how. One day, when I was organizing my home, I saw that Christian bookmark my friend had given me. Instead of rejecting Christianity as before, at that moment, I really had a strong feeling that I should try to know more about Christianity. Maybe this is the last thing I should try for life. So I called my friend (who gave me the bookmark) and told her I was interested in knowing more about God. She was very surprised. And then she started reading bible with me. But I still did not believe God yet. I just wanted to have some Christian characteristics like Peace, patience and kindness. Then I went to a Christian activity with my friend and that is where I met a girl whose name was Sunny. Sunny introduced me to the IFI wives group bible study. In wives group, we share our life and read bible together every week. I learned more and more, and I also got lots of support from other wives. Their behaviors influenced me, and their stories inspired me. Our wives group leader Rebecca shared with me a lot of things about love and Christian marriage. She encouraged me to pray and ask God for help. Then I learned that love is patient, love is kind. Instead of fighting with my husband, I should fight with myself. And I started praying to God, especially when I was controlled by anger, impatience, selfishness and all the things from Satan’s world. 

While I already believed God, my faith was unstable. And then I met more friends through IFI. We get together to share our life and talk about bible verse. I remember my friend explained the meaning of “asking Christ into your heart” to me. Then I asked Christ into my heart. And I confessed I am a sinner and asked forgiveness for my sins. I also asked God to work on me and my marriage. I was expecting fewer fights and more peace. But sometimes, after I had a big fight with my husband, I started doubting God. But with the encouragement of all my Christian friends, I did not give up. I continued reading the bible and having conversations with Christian friends. I always feel very thankful and peaceful after I meet friends. I have learned that my acceptance, security and significance can only come from God. I have learned that God does not always make my circumstances easy, but he will give me love to live. I am so thankful God is talking with me through all my Christian friends. One of my friends also shared with me about how God helped their marriage getting better and better. It really inspired me. I realized I should rely on my Lord; I should place my life in his hand. I should fully trust him and let him be my master. So with the help of all my brothers and sisters, I am growing a lot. And my life is changing through God’s Grace. Sometimes, I still have arguments with my husband, but I am willing to apologize to my husband and come to God asking his help. Sometimes, when I have negative opinions, I also ask God to help me to get rid of them. I clearly remember, about one year ago, I did not like praying. Especially when I was mad, I always forgot God. I even said “ go away God, don’t talk to me, leave me alone”. But God is with me and loving me all the time. He keeps talking with me and helping me. He is always showing me his grace and forgiving me. I always talk with God, and I always pray that I can be more committed to God. Then in this August, I finally got baptized after my long and hard journey. 

So when I look back, I always feel very amazing. I even cannot believe this miracle happened to me. Then I realize God can make anything impossible to possible. God is seeking me all the time. I want to tell my story to more and more people. I want to abide in God's words. And I have a strong feeling I should help other non-believers as my friends helped me. So one day when the leader of our wives group introduced ISEED program to me, I was very excited. Through this program, I will learn what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, how to apply biblical principle in all areas of my life and how to tell others about Jesus. I applied this program and I became an ISEEDer. I am growing in this program and learning more about God. And my life becomes better and better. I really want to share with you about my exciting life. But I will tell you next time.:) 

I wanna be found in You

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts"

 

One thing that I've found extremely blessed of my time in Columbus so far is the extended season of fall this year. With daily commute gradually becoming my favorite part of the day since I learned how to drive back in September (thanks to the awesome IFI driving instruction crew), I couldn't help but notice the change of the trees each day, as the leaves gleaming in the beautiful red, orange and gold, and quietly covering the ground.

It was simply beautiful, and a daily reminder of what a majestic and marvelous creator God we have of this world.

Fall is a season full of change, as the weather gets crisper and cooler, and the dark nights gets longer. And this fall has definitely been a season of change for me as well, transitioning from life as a college student into the real world in a city where everything is new to me.

I'm not unfamiliar with change, and in fact, change has been a constant theme of my life, since different seasons have rarely overlapped with each other. As time goes by and I grow older, I've learned to embrace the joys and surprises that come with changes, knowing that they a natural occurrences in the journey of life; but still, it doesn't get easier.

I remember feeling overwhelmed by all the blessings God have poured over me in the first two months I got here. I was so joyful every day that I recall telling a friend one day, "I feel like being spoiled by Him. He's fulfilling all my needs!"

But as the initial stage of excitement passed and I explored to establish a routine, reality started kicking in. When October hit with various unexpected circumstances and new directions in both ministry and life, I was not at all prepared for it, and was deeply unsettled.

------------------------------------------------------------

That was until I heard this song.

All I know is I'm not home yet

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me Jesus

This is not where I belong

When the earth shakes I wanna be found in You

When the lights fade I wanna be found in You

        This is not where I belong – Building 429

Something I've really enjoyed in the ISEED program is the opportunity to explore ourselves as who God created each one of us uniquely to be. And it didn't take long nor come with surprises for me to find out that I'm someone who's bound more by emotions, comparing with rationality. That means even I'm slightly leaning towards extroversion and I'm energized by people, I still need quality time to wind down every once in a while, so I can really dig down and sort out my feelings.

And that's why I love my 20-minute daily commute to work so much, when I'm alone with God in my car surrounded only by worship music in the background. All that's left to do is to pour out my heart to Him and being fully in His presence. In moments of distress, I’ve always been able to find refuge in this song.

While everything on earth is ever-changing, His love has stayed the same through the ages.

---------------------------------------------------------------

“The Lord put dirt on me not to bury me, but to grow me.” I once heard this from a homeless guy I met in DC. And it has struck me ever since.

Growing is hard. It brings great outcomes, but often comes with pain and conflicts. It’s never easy to deal with changes, but they have to happen in order for the new to come. As Christians, we rejected our worldly self the moment we chose to accept Him into our heart. But before we get to heaven, we are bound by flesh that is easily tempted by the world. So He is changing our characters from within.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Romans 8:28

I remembered myself praying for discomfort and challenges when I first got here. I was so eager to grow spiritually this year that I wouldn’t want to settle for anything less.

So just maybe, this is the discomfort that I was praying about. Through everything, He is examining and revealing my heart, and growing me into His true disciple.

If anything, this season of change is only bringing me closer to Him and holding onto His promises even more. I’ve learned that in time of turbulence and uncertainty, He is the anchor of my soul. I couldn't wait to share more of this journey with you as He continues to reveal His good purposes and abundance of His grace to me this year! I know it would all make sense to me one day, as long as I continue to trust in Him.

I'm just not home yet. But it will be beautiful when I am.

"There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning."

Spirit Lead Me

Hello guys, remember the story I wrote last month about my puppy Gaby? God brought an amazing ending to the story in October.

Gaby passed away on 10/2, and the following week was a disaster for me. Since I was broken inside, and I felt that my sadness and anger were driving myself far away from God. Although I tried to use Bible verses to encourage myself at first, I failed eventually. I began to question God and blamed him for letting this happen. After hearing no response from him, I became more and more angry, and I just couldn’t calm myself down to focus on other things in my life. That was really a terrible week when I look back. I thought my faith is strong, but this experience really taught me a lesson.

On 10/8, I asked the breeder again if there is any further news about why Gaby died. She answered that there are no obvious signs of damages to any part of Gaby’s vital organs. So one highly possible explanation is that Gaby’s immune system was not strong enough to survive the debug process which every puppy needs to go through, and it’s really a very rare instance yet it still happened. After reading her message, I just want to go to the park with my wife Alex to look at the scenes and not sinking in my own thoughts and emotions.

After we sat down on a chair and enjoyed the great afternoon sunshine, I began to think and understand what the breeder’s message really means. Originally, we planned to pick up the dog on 10/1. But many girls in Alex’s wife group tell her to wait for one more week, so that the puppy can have a better chance to survive after leaving mom. So we pushed our picking date to 10/8. But Gaby passed away on 10/2. What this really means is that, God foresees what’s coming to us, and he uses other people to tell us to delay our pickup. Because he knows that things will get much worse if we pick Gaby up on 10/1 and he passed away the very next day in our home. It will be a huge strike to both of our emotions and financials. To avoid that, God is working behind all of this, yet I have kept questioning his existence and intention through the past whole week.

Once thinking through that, I suddenly felt a deep joy in my heart which I haven’t experienced in the past whole week. And my heart is crystal clear that this true happiness doesn’t come from anything in this world, but is directly from God himself. Because I’m just so grateful and happy that this Almighty God who creates the universe really cares for me. I can clearly feel his love and care. He makes all the wonderful plans, but he chooses to take my emotions and concerns into account while making his plan. God, I thank you so much for doing this, because you could choose not to do so. At the same time, I felt how little faith I am in the past week. When the situation didn’t line up with my plan and expectation, instead of fixing my eyes on him and trusting him, I chose to let and sadness and anger fill my heart. God, I’m sorry for what I did, please forgive me.

You know what, God does things in a very creative way. After we got home from the park, we saw the second message from our breeder, which tells us that since another person has moved his deposit to the next year, there is now a new puppy available for us. Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t that amazing? We pick up our second puppy Raphael on the very next day, which is 10/9, only one day later than our original plan. If I could see what happens now, I would never act the same as I had done in the past week. But the thing is, we can’t see the future. So it takes faith to fix our eyes on God no matter what’s coming. It takes faith to believe although the situation is tough now, God is with us and he has a wonderful plan for us. It takes faith to believe once we go through the tunnel, there will be the everlasting light there.

Spirit Lead Me

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders,

let me walk upon the waters,

wherever You would call me;

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander,

and my faith will be made stronger

in the presence of my Savior.