The end is near. This year has been such a paradox; it has gone by so slow yet in a blink of an eye. The end is near but it is not over. Month 11 has arrived and it became evident as we entered the 11th country that the Lord had much in store. The country of Cambodia is beautiful and so are the people here. We are living at a school this month, teaching English,and the only things that surround us are rice fields, rice fields, and more rice fields. Most days I just stand in awe of Gods creation, the creation that He made in ONE week. If I stand still long enough I become convinced that I am trapped in a National Geographic Magazine.

The Lord knows what our hearts need. After living in the busy cities of Vietnam my heart needed rice fields. As I enter each country I would always ask God, what do you want this month to look like? I would surrender all expectations as I prayed, “You design this month Lord. I will follow in your plan.” This month the Lords voice washed over me and said, “Seek me first Katie. Above all I want you to seek me. Give me your all so I can become your all. Give me your thoughts and time. Start and end each day at my feet. Enter my presence with a devoted heart, one that will return to me each day”.

This month my heart cried out, “Lord I want to know your voice as you know mine”. The Lord knows His children’s voices. He does not question whose voice he is hearing when we cry out to Him. I hear His voice and before I can confidently walk in it I am being knocked over with the waves of doubt, disbelief, and fear. I want to enter the states with an unshakable faith, one that stands firm no matter what others say. I want to know His voice as He knows mine. This month I want to go deeper into the character of God. I am hungry for more of Him.

I wanted to honor the things the Lord spoke over my heart, so I did. We have to choose God, daily. I was up an at em at 6:00 a.m. every day as I tried to become a sponge at his feet. I tell you this not to receive a pat on the back for having a good devotional time. I tell you because I am a passionate lover of Jesus, and 11 years later I am still learning to choose God.

Each morning the Lord would say ,” Just come and listen”. He pushed my spirit to enter the quiet time with pure silence. He then spoke James 1:19-21 over my heart, ” My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…” I read this verse a lot as I remind myself when I am quick to speak and slow to listen it never produces life. Today the Lord turned that around and said. “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen to the one and only true God and slow to speak to Him…” My world was rocked as I let those words plant deeply in my heart. I am very quick to talk to God. In fact, my entire day is one on-going conversation. But wait; is it really a conversation when I am doing all the talking? God loves my voice. He truly does but my voice has become an ongoing ramble. How often do I STOP and LISTEN for the voice of God. This month I want the Lord to transform my heart to become one that is quick to listen to Him.

A very wise woman, 11 years ago, told me that I would always have time for what I put first. I use to spend an hour, at least, getting myself ready for the day. I never walked out the door without being perfectly put together. I put myself first, everyday. My lifestyle has radically changed on the race. I am now doing well if I get to take a bucket shower once a week. Putting on makeup no longer takes up any of my time but other things have quickly filled it such as sleep or going for a run. My point is, no matter where you are in life you have to choose God. And no matter what your lifestyle looks like you will always have time for what you put first.

” I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me”. John 10:14, 27

In the quiet rice fields I met Nia. She was a beautiful woman of God one who trusted the voice of God when all others spoke against it. She got bit by something 4 years ago and has been in pain ever since. Her ankle continues to grow in size and in pain. The village she lives in wants to just cut her leg off but she fights for the voice of God that says she will be healed. If the Lord has spoken something to your heart stand by it even if the world speaks against it. The world can not see the unseen but we serve a God of the unseen. Every word that our God speaks is fulfilled.