June 2010 - Just Some Beautiful

beyond emotion

Lately I've been waking in the middle of the night filled with anxiety and worry. My body is tired, yet my brain is alert and racing through thoughts. The last couple of nights I've even woke Todd -- only to have him calmly say,

Have you prayed about this?

Have you given it over to Jesus?

Can you let it go?

Let it go? How in the world does one let go of something that wakes them from slumber? Yet, deep down, I know that I am desperately clinging onto my worry. Somehow I've equated a good worry with getting God's attention -- see God? It's really bothering me so please notice -- those were my thoughts. So I wake up. And fret.

And sin.

You see, when I allowed my brain to cycle through worry I wasn't living in faith. I was living in the ideas and emotions of this world. God goes beyond emotions. The world tells me to fear. Or that I'm a failure. Or that it will never work out. And that creates anxiety. And worry. Yet, the Lord, in His Word, says,

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.... (Matthew 6:25a)

The Scripture doesn't say that it's okay to worry 15 minutes and let it go. Or if you worry enough then the Lord will see that you need help. No. It simply says do not worry. So when I wake up and cling to my worry then I am not being obedient to Him, my gracious God. My God who goes way beyond the worldly emotion that so often dictates my attitude and mood. He is solid, unchanging, truth.

But it's hard. It's challenging when all that we currently know is of this world. I would tell my husband that there was no way I could stop worrying---what if things fell apart? Yet, he calmly and confidently told me to give it to Jesus.

So I did.

And the next thing I knew it was 5:30 am and sweet Samuel was softly crying in his crib waiting to nurse.

And Jesus said, Peace be with you. (John 20:20)

Miss Vietnam in Europe and SNG crowned

Nguyen Thu May, a student from the Czech Republic, won Miss Vietnam Europe 2010 while Phung Thi My, a student from Moscow, was crowned as Miss Vietnam SNG 2010.


Nguyen Thu May Phung Thi My.

Thu May or Daniela Nguyen Nova was crowned on June 27 in London.

Over 20 contestants from European countries like France, Switzerland, Denmark, Hungary, England and even Canada took part in three final rounds, including ao dai, swimwear and evening gown. Ten were chosen for the interview and Thu May emerged as the winner.

Thu May, whose mother is Vietnamese and father is Czech, has a western-style beauty, but she can speak Vietnamese very well.

Miss Vietnam Europe 2010 Nguyen Thu May.

The first runner-up is Nguyen Thi My Hanh from England and the second runner-up is Jenny Bui from Sweden. All three finalists are students.

Also on June 27, Phung Thi My, a student from the Moscow Agriculture University, became Miss Vietnam SNG at the finale in Moscow, Russia. My also won the “Best Answer” in the interview round. Being asked “What makes the particular beauty of Vietnamese women?” My used late President Ho Chi Minh’s eight words for Vietnamese women as her answer: “anh hung, bat khuat, trung hau, dam dang” (heroic, undaunted, loyal, capable). The answer won the support of both the jury and the audience.