This really marked the end of our trip. My friend Christian was very sick and that was a rough way to end the trip. Breakfast was normal and I grabbed my water bottle headed to the bus. I wore my slacks and dress shirt again which is always hotter than normal, but nothing could really have been cool in that sanctuary where we met. I was familiar with the sanctuary, it was where we taught the kids.
We pulled up a few minutes after 8am, and church had already started. We filed into the very packed room full of chairs and easily a couple hundred Cambodians. They were singing their hearts out! The disciples that I had been serving, and playing with all week were there and leading the worship. Standing in front of me was the relentless energy I could hardly believe was possible. These kids, in some regards, were so passionate about Jesus I couldn't help but be too! After standing some we also sat down and sang. I realized my pants were grey and they really showed the "sweat" (note to self, grey is not the color for hot situations). I was sweating so much my pants were changing color. None of that distracted me from the experience.
The worship was so good because of the relationships we had developed throughout the week before serving with them. The pastor got up to preach and engaged us with a few english phrases worked into his sermon, even "same same but different" which is a classic Southeast Asian phrase found on t-shirts in the markets. After the first couple minutes of the sermon I realized I was hearing english too! Rattanak and Darie were sitting on either side of me a few people away, translating for me and my teammates. They poured their hearts into the sermon too, it was more than a translation! One of the better sermons I've sat through in a while.
We sang our song, Open the Eyes of My Heart. Phillip LaRue led us in a worship song and sang a song he wrote about human trafficking with his wife, very powerful and beautiful. Pastor Troy also shared a short message with his box illustration about us being hidden with God in Christ. The mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory from Colossians chapter 1. It tied in with the local pastors lesson perfectly, which was titled "Living for the Glory of God".
My reading of the Psalms just went past Psalm 91. This was my grandmothers favorite Psalm. She has passed away. I truly believe she lived for the glory of God! She also shared a lot of the travel memories with me. We were room buddies in Norway, motorhome pals in Australia and New Zealand, and I will still always call 747 jets "grammie planes". I miss her, this Psalm is in KJV as she always quoted it that way.
Psalm 91 KJV
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
I hope you hear the message my grandmother impressed onto me: Trust in God, make Him your refuge and dwelling place!
Be blessed this day by the Almighty.
No comments:
Post a Comment