It's been a rough morning. The enemy has most definitely been at work! I didn't sleep well last night – I tossed and turned and could not cool off, so I moved to the hard tile floor under the ceiling fan, which was about as comfortable as it sounds. When I awoke, I had heaviness and cramping in my belly, the result of being constipated for a little over a week now. After doing chores around the base, I proceeded to cook breakfast, and while serving it, I dripped some scalding hot oatmeal on my wrist, my hand, and in between two fingers. Ouch! This girl was about to lose it. As I sat down to eat breakfast, my calves, ankles, and feet became itchy. Tiny mosquitoes were biting me! I pushed back my chair abruptly, jumping up from the table and shouting loud enough for all of Siem Reap to hear (I might be exaggerating, but my TEAM definitely got the point), "I AM NOT IN A GOOD MOOD TODAY!" I sprayed myself with bug spray and returned to my seat, half laughing because of the ridiculous reality of my morning, and half ready to cry. No time, though, base worship was in 10 minutes…
As I entered the worship room, tush cushion and coffee cup in hand, I plopped down on the floor and begged the Lord to change my attitude, to turn this day around for me, that I would be able to delight in Him even if I didn't feel like it at the moment. We stood up to sing Him praise and not more than 5 minutes in, I had to run upstairs for a potty break. This is when the magic happened.
Not THAT kind of magic. Well, yes, I suppose that kind of magic too, but I'm talking about the power of Jesus coming to life in me and my spirit. The bathroom has always been a place where I could think, ponder, pray. Before you say "Ew, gross," be honest, you know you've probably come to a revelation or two while sitting on the pot. Well, as I was in the bathroom, praying for some "movement," and reading scripture, I could hear the people two floors beneath me worshipping. It. was. BEAUTIFUL. "You are Holy. You are Holy. You are holy, Oh Lord." I worshipped along as our new Khamer (pronounced Ka-mai, and referring to the people group here in Cambodia) friends and my teammates joined together as one voice, and Modesta, our enthusiastic Nigerian friend, fearlessly rocked the bass and sang out in her rich and warm tone, uninhibited. Amazing.
God knew what it would take to change my heart posture, and He knew where I needed to be when He did so. I would never have guessed that bathroom worship would do the trick, but as I've come to find on the Race, sometimes, bathroom time is the only time I have to myself. I look forward to future magic moments in that place of solitude, and am thankful for the Lord's mercifulness, that He would find me in such a place and move me to praise Him there, not forsaking me in my frustration and irritation.
May you seek Him and find Him wherever your heart best rests. Find that place and go there. He will gladly meet you, even if it's in the bathroom.
Love,
Mandy
