This morning my Bible reading is Ecclesiastes 1-4. It is important for Mrs. Janie Suttles to know that I have read the Bible twice each year of the five years Carmen and I have been in Thailand. Ecclesiastes has always had a strange, mysterious fascination to me. I have wondered why the wisest, richest, most peaceful king who ever lived would say in Ecclesiastes 1:2 that his life was empty, empty, empty, empty, empty. Apparently, Solomon’s life was filled with pleasure and temporal treasures. In this first chapter, he states in Verse 6 that world wind patterns never change, in Verse 7 that rainfall and evaporation never change, in Verse 8 that the eye is never satisfied, and in Verse 9 that nothing ever changes; so there is “nothing new.” How sad to hear Solomon say, “Nothing new!”

It is also sad that Solomon did not have the book of Lamentations. Jeremiah said in Lamentations 3:22-23 that God’s MERCY is new every morning; His COMPASSIONS are new every morning, and His FAITHFULNESS is new every morning. Isn’t it great to get your eyes off yourself daily and focus on God, family, and others and to relish the inspired, infallible, indestructible, indispensable Word of God?! How refreshing and exciting it is when life is focused on the eternal! May we all love, trust, and serve Him; for in the end that’s all that matters. In serving us, Jesus gave His life; may our goal be to give Him our life in service.

Carmen and I, along with our children, have had the joy of serving Jesus in South Carolina, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, and now here in Thailand and several other southeastern countries. Two days ago Carmen, Kuhn Jum, Kuhn Singat, Ajan Sakrapee, Starr, and I prayed with 17 people for salvation. Most, if not all, had never heard the Gospel before. I know that is true of the 4 Burmese people Starr and I prayed with. You have never seen sweeter smiles nor more loving eyes! Yes, the value of one, and yes, His mercies are NEW every day. THANK YOU for loving, caring, and praying for OTHERS.

In Christ,

Randy and Carmen Shook