Thailand, i’m already falling in love with it.
After we left Malaysia, we headed to Bangkok for team Debriefs. This is a time when the entire Q Squad (6 teams) come together to process the past two countries, find time to rest, and just enjoy the company of each other. Also, each team has a chance to be bathed in wisdom, encouragement, and callings into greatness by our lovely squad leaders as well as coaches (basically squad parents). They flew all the way in from Wisconsin (coaches) just to come love on us. Simply amazing!
Team Gozo pluse Papa Jay and Tiff and Patrick. Momma D was taking
While there, we visited the Grand Palace which is one large, famous Budhist Temple smack dab in the middle of Bangkok. As I walked through it, all that seemed to run through my mind was how something that looked so beautiful could be used for so much evil. I mean all of these beautiful buildings that took precious time to make built for idols. IDOLS. One thing that I came to realize was how devout Buhdists are. They come in day in and day out to these temples to worship these things-these idols believing that only the Monks can truely bless them. Prayer after prayer, it blows my mind. When entering the highest temple where Budha lies, respect and reverence overtakes them as they believe they are walking on “holy ground”. Shoes are removed. Gifts from food to money are offered to Budha.
It makes me stop and think about how it would look if most Christians were to be this devout. I am not saying Christians need to go to a building everyday in order to be closer to God because no walls, no building can keep the Holy Spirit locked in. Instead, what if respect and a holy reverence for our Almighty God began to take place? What if we woke up earlier to spend time with Him before our days began? What if we were in constant conversation with Him throughout our days? What if we actually gave back to the Lord what He has blessed us with? How would we be changed? More so, what if out of our INTIMACY with our Papa, the Kingdom would lie at the forefront of our minds? THE KINGDOM.
What if our focus, our mindset was more Kingdom centered? What would happen? Eyes would be opened. Action would be taken. People would rise up. Walls would be shattered. Buildings where idols are worshiped would come crashing down. They would cease to exist. People would turn from pagan worship. Pimps would be saved. Sex traffickers would be freed. Hearts would be mended. Lives would be saved. Bitterness, resentment, anger, hurt, would be but a speck from the past. Love would be at the center. L-O-V-E; exactly what Christ was about.
Thailand. Here I am trying to stay Kingdom centered. From Budhism to sex trafficking, love is at the center. Boy am I glad that God has brought me to this place. Please keep praying for us and for the people of Thailand. Much love!
