It started out as a wonderfully ordinary Friday. Ministry started at 8. We taught the kids in the morning class, and I think I was working on pronunciation. (“No, No. THu-rrr-sssdayy. Not Suh-sday.”) After the morning class, we worshiped as a team for a while. It was a really awesome time of rest and just sitting with the Lord. Everyone singing, journaling, praying, dancing…Just doing their thing.
During our free time in the afternoon I decided to take some more time to rest, read, and pray. Basically I was blessed with some time to just hang out with the Lord. I was hunkering down into some of the Psalms.
“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.”
“Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.”
I took my laptop out to listen to some music. (Misty Edwards- Stir Up The Flame. YouTube it!!) Before I knew it 1:40 rolled around, and it was time to head back to ministry.
The afternoon class went well. By the time 4 o’clock rolled around it was pouring down rain. I’m talking Cambodian rainy season downpour. But, a few of us were hungry and feeling adventurous, so we braved the walk back to our motel. I made a stop at the convenient store next door to get some ramen noodle soup for dinner.
I came in to the room in an unusually good mood, considering I was soaked to the bone. I changed in to dry clothes, excited to dig in to my dinner and get warmed up. Meanwhile I was talking to God about His persistent care and provision for me. (Bear with me, I know this part is little cheesy!) I was starting to eat my food, saying to the Lord, “You are so good to me! You provide food for me before I’m even super hungry!”
I decided to listen to some music while I ate. I looked down at my sleeping pad…”Hmmm, there are my headphones. But, where is my computer?” I looked in my backpack, and all through my stuff, trying to remember if I had moved it before I went to ministry. I sat back down and picked up my ramen again, accepting the fact that the laptop was gone.
How quickly the tone of my attitude and conversation with the Lord changed!
My exact words:
“Lord. I’m sitting in a dirty motel room. In Cambodia. Eating ramen noodles for dinner. On my sleeping pad for a bed. And, my computer is stolen.”
Then, it hit me that just 5 minutes earlier I had been blissfully pondering the Lord’s ultimate provision. It wasn’t his fault that someone had come into my room and taken the computer. He was still the same God of provision and care.
The truth is that God had been providing me extra grace all day. I believe he was refocusing me on what is really important all day so that I wouldn’t be thrown off by the frustration of losing a laptop. He was cushioning me with His presence. Even in this minor loss He was proving His provision to me!
So I came away from the day without a computer but with peace. Without a grudge, and with a focus on the things that actually matter. By the grace of God, I am continuing to reign my attitude into a healthy place about this whole situation.
September 9th was a wonderful day of walking with the Lord, and leaning on His strength!
Nice try, Mr. Grinch. Nice try. 😉
“Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more…”
