reading resolution

In the beginning of this blog, I wrote that I'm not terribly good at New Years resolutions, but I'm not sure that I quite believe myself now.  My other resolution (and I really think there were only two!) was to read more books.  I've always loved reading, since I was very young, but my reading died a lot when I was at uni.  This may be partially due to the busyness of study, but I think also to the philosophy (or guilt factor?) that if I wasn't doing my uni readings, then I shouldn't be reading for fun either!  I have still read since my uni years, but not as much as I used to, so I decided 2013 was the year!  And I tell you what, my friends, it's been great!  Reading is WONDERFUL!  You should all do it!  Read anything and everything!  Learn, laugh, cry, and see the world from the perspective of others!

These are the books I read in January.

 Top down:
Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart.  A hilarious look into the ins and outs and intricacies of life.
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.  Started last year and finished in Jan.  An exciting mystery and hailed as the first detective novel in the English language.
In His Time compiled by Eileen Gordon-Smith.  Biography of an OMF missionary doctor to Thailand who, along with 11 other adults and children from missionary families, was killed in a tragic traffic accident.
Behold, Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer.  A murder mystery
Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne.  Two books people of every age should read.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.  A rather depressing read about a woman's struggle with mental illness.
The House of Memories by Monica McInerney.  Story of a woman dealing with a deep grief, and an interesting insight into different ways people cope with grief.

The three on the side are what I'm currently reading:
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks.  A journey into the world of Islamic women.  Extremely interesting.
Letters From Thailand translated from Thai by Susan Folop.  A series of letters written by a Chinese immigrant to Thailand in 1945.
Letters Never Sent by Ruth van Reken.  Letters written by the author throughout her life to her parents and to God, depicting the journey and struggles of being a third culture kid.

Also there is my favourite bookmark, which a friend had made for me.  Another visible bookmark is a piece of wool, which if you know me much at all you won't be surprised by!

So what are your favourite books?  I would simply love to have suggestions from you for my reading!  Easy or complex reads, deep and meaningful or light and fun, long or short, I'll take all ideas.

I do so encourage you to pick up a book-you might just find yourself enjoying it and getting lost in another world for a while.

oh come, oh come, Emmanuel

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, 
And ransom captive Israel, 
That mourns in lonely exile here 
Until the Son of God appear. 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 
Shall come to you, O Israel!

You might think I'm a little behind the times, posting lyrics to Christmas carols.  You would be right, too.
That's because this is about something that happened before Christmas!

The day before I left Thailand to go back home for Christmas, I was walking through Chiang Mai to meet a friend.  This was the 'old city' of Chiang Mai-full of a wide variety of people; tourists from all over the world, foreigners who live and work in Chiang Mai, and of course Thai people.  Students on their way home from school, young people meeting up with friends or going to work, monks, tuk tuk drivers, shop owners, food sellers peddling their wares from roadside carts.  

If you know me well, you might know that I just love Christmas music.  I was listening to a selection as I walked along, and this instrumental version of O Come, O come Emmanuel by Casting Crowns began to play.  I only really know the first verse of the song, so those were the words running through my head as I walked.  And as I walked, and thought about the words to this song, two thing struck me.

This song asks God to come and redeem Israel, and the world.  We know that God has done this already!  1 Timothy 2:5-6 'For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Jesus Christ who gave himself as a ransom for all people.  This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.'  Jesus came and was that ransom, and has ransomed and freed us from sin!

The second thing struck me as I looked at the people I passed.  Beautiful people, each one known completely by God.  But how few of them know Him!  How few of them are aware that the ransom has been paid for their lives!  

Imagine you had committed a terrible crime, and were locked up forever in prison.  If someone came along and was able to serve your sentence for you, take away all guilt and punishment on your behalf, wouldn't you rejoice!  Yet imagine that nobody happened to tell you.  Imagine if day after day, year after year, you were needlessly squandering your life in captivity, with no hope.  That is what I felt for those around me as I walked the streets of Chiang Mai.  Here I am, with the great truth of the ransom Jesus paid for my life, surrounded by people held captive in sin, with no knowledge of the name of Jesus.  If you are a Christian, you have that knowledge!  We are free, and we must share our freedom with the world.

Pray for Chiang Mai.  Pray for the world.  Live in Jesus victory, and proclaim His gift of life to those who don't know Him

welcome

I decided to start a blog.
I've been thinking about it for a while, but hadn't known where to start, but now I've just decided to do it.

I wonder what this blog will look like?
I wonder if I'll ever write on it, or if I do, how often?
I wonder if anyone will read it?
I wonder what I'll write about?  Things deep, things trivial, things Thailand.

Well, whoever you are, lovely reader, you are very welcome to come along on this journey with me and see where it takes us.  I'm happy to have you.

I suppose this blog was sort of a New Years resolution.  Those are something I've never been very good at, going into the year with plans and promises that quickly fade into memory.  This year felt a little different.  Living, as I do, on an American school year schedule, I felt more like my year started with the school year, back in August.  Not that I really made any resolutions then, either.  My 2013 New Year celebrations consisted of sitting in Melbourne Airport waiting for my flight back to Thailand, and an announcement saying "3..2..1..Merry...Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" with some awkward hesitation, and a lot of laughter from weary travelers.
Don't get me wrong though, I still have high hopes and exciting dreams for what 2013 will hold.  I've committed it to God, and know He has some great things in store!