This week I ran across an article by Debbie McDaniel called "Remembering Ravi Zacharias: 31 of His Most Powerful Quotes." For many who do not know Ravi, he recently went to be with the Lord but while he was living with us here on this earth, he became what I would call one of the greatest Christian thinkers and apologists of the 21st Century.
As I was looking through some of his quotes, I ran across one
that just moved my heart. He is quoted as saying: “But the greatest dream of
all is to know God and to know what he has intended for your life.” As I read
and reflected on that quote my heart kept affirming the truth of this quote but
just keep sensing that it was missing one final aspect that has rang true for
me over the last 21 years that I have lived my life serving God here in
Thailand. While embracing the truth found in Ravi's quote, I would like to take
the liberty to add something to it and bring it more out of the “knowledge”
realm and more into the “application” realm and modify his quote this way,
"But the greatest dream of all is to know God, to know what He has
intended for your life, and then to embrace and live out your life according to
His intention."
Going to the ends of the earth from where I was born and staying here for as long as God desires that we stay here regardless of the obstacles that have come our way, have taught us to know God experientially, to understand His purpose for our lives more clearly, and the joy that has come into our hearts through embracing God's intention and plan for our lives and living out that intention through daily dependence upon the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit of God has been the greatest dream come true in my life.
It has been our honor these past 21 years to join Him in His great work of redemption among the Thai people and some of the least reached people in our world today. But let me be clear. Yes, hundreds of Thai people have become the first and second persons in their entire family to become followers of Jesus Christ. Yes, they are from some of the least reached people groups in our world today. Yes, God is raising up a new generation of authentic followers of Jesus and Yes, through your prayers, through your partnership, through your giving to NTIM, you have joined God in what He is doing in this part of God’s World. Through your sacrifice, God has given us a piece of Land that is dedicated to raising up this new generation of authentic followers of Jesus. Through your sacrifice, God has allowed us to begin construction on this building that will be used for discipleship, training, and sending others into the field. However, since January and the situation with this Corona Virus that has hit us, our building progress and our donations to this building have been halted for the time being. We believe that it is time to come together and sacrifice again until this building is complete. Will you pray for us that construction teams would begin coming back to help us finish this project. Would you pray that God would provide us with $300,000 US Dollars that we believe would get our construction back on target. It is still within reach that we could be in this building by the end of this year if we all pull together and tell others about this great opportunity to help reach the Nations for Jesus.
To God be the glory and may He continue to be pleased to use ordinary people like you and me for His great purposes. As my Pastor, Danny Woods, at my home church of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills, AL reminds us quite often: "We are to live sent into the world."
May God richly bless you. Thank you for your generosity and for sending us to Thailand. Any gift you are able to make no matter how small of how large, will be greatly appreciated.
Until the People in and around Northern Thailand know Him,
Michael for the team
“For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves
as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
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Financial support can be given through NTIM....
Northern Thailand Impact Ministry (NTIM), P.O. Box 26115, Birmingham, AL 35260 USA Main Website: www.gontim.org
NTIM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in the USA. We are committed to connecting people in need with people who care and are focused in the heart of Southeast Asia where poverty is high, education is low, needs are great, unreached people groups (UPGs) are all around us, and the love and message of Jesus is needed to transform lives.
Reaching, Teaching, Caring, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and
Serving People in God’s world through acts of love and compassionate is what
NTIM and our ministry team is all about.
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