I can, still, vividly remember our first two weeks in Guatemala. I can still remember the newness and the uncertainty of it all. I remember brash reality of our ministry: “Just follow the Lord in what He asks you to do, and where He asks you to go.” in Antigua- an extremely developed, tourist-based city. I remember thinking, “What does that even look like?” I remember standing in the square, in the heart of Antigua at an absolute loss- looking around, without a clue. I can still feel the unsettling in my stomach that I, first, felt upon the realization that: This is the field. We were not in an orphanage, a church, or the halls of a non- profit. No, we were standing in the center of a bustling city. This was the ever-so-aloof “field” that missionaries are sent to. I remember often drawing comparisons between Antigua and home, and thinking, “If this is the field- then, so is home. So, is everywhere.” I think that was one of the first seeds that the Lord planted in my heart for His Kingdom- though I didn’t have a clue at that point how I fit into the Kingdom or what seeking it looked like, or even meant. There were people all around who’s hearts silently thirsted for a fulfillment not of this world, desperately crying out for a Savior. And, I realized, once more that: this was the field.
Since then, the Lord has stirred in my heart a deep passion and desire to seek His Kingdom. He’s taught me more about His Kingdom, and walked me into more of the richness and fullness of it than I could have anticipated. He still is. He’s given me His heart to see His Kingdom come. Here, and now.
In Exodus 19, the Lord says to His people: “… and you will be my Kingdom.” We are His Kingdom. Because we are followers of Christ, we get to dwell freely in the Kingdom of the Living God. Here, and now. “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:27] Through Jesus, and through abiding in Him, we are able to experience love, grace, peace, and deep joy that are not of this earth. Through Jesus, we are able to dwell in the presence of the Creator of the universe. Over and over, He walks us into freedom from our chains so that we may know more of Him. He laid down His life so that we could know joy, know love, know peace, know grace, know freedom, and enter into His presence while we are here on this broken earth. The Kingdom of God is, simply, anywhere where we are able to meet with more of our Father while we are undeserving, in a broken world. We are His Kingdom because we choose to be open to receive from Him. His Kingdom comes when we receive His light- when we receive His love, His grace, His joy, and His goodness. His Kingdom comes when we allow Him to give those things away through us. We are His Kingdom and the way that we live should, simply, be an extension of it- outwards in all directions. Our lives should be a living, breathing invitation into the Kingdom of God- into the fullness, and richness that we have found in Christ. We should consistently be a voice shouting from mountaintops of our Father’s goodness, inviting others into greater things and deeper joy. We get the beautiful privilege of partnering with Him in building and expanding His Kingdom. He furthers it through our obedience, through our surrender, and through our hearts that are open to the ways He desires to move.
Slowly, I began to realize that the Kingdom of God is not a place or a time. The Kingdom of God is not static. The Kingdom is an act of obedience, an act of love, and outpouring of our Father’s joy- and expression of His light, praise lifted up to Him. The Kingdom is furthered through our obedience- through our willingness to freely receive, and freely give away. Each day, the Kingdom is built upon small acts of kindness, love, and laughter. The Kingdom is an unwavering pair of open arms- meeting each person who runs to them with an eternal embrace and deep celebration.
You won’t be able to say, “Here it is!” or “It’s over there!” For the Kingdom of God is already among you. [Luke 17:21]
The Kingdom is all around us. As we seek it, we experience more of it. And, friends, it is sweet. In the past nine months, I have experienced so much of it. The Lord has revealed more of it to me in so many places and so many things. He has furthered it through my obedience- through a life laid down. He has given me so many sweet tastes of Heaven, of His Kingdom, here on Earth. It’s all around us. We carry it with us.
His Kingdom came in Guatemala when a drunk man stumbled over to the spot where I was having quiet time, only to stumble off a few seconds later. I believe my exact words were, “Okay God, if you want me to pray over him or something, bring him back here, because I’m really not chasing a drunk Guatemalan man down the street.” And, sure enough, about fifteen minutes later, the same man came stumbling back up to my little spot and, yes, straight up asked me to pray over him. “Alright God, I see you.” All God asks of us is that we be open and available to, simply, being a vessel for His love, grace, and power- even if that looks like sitting with someone in their mess, and nodding along to their slurred words, and jumbled thoughts for a little while. If we ask God to display His love through us, into the lives of others- we must be willing to be obedient and to love those that He brings our way- even when it’s uncomfortable, messy, or inconvenient. If the Lord needs to move in someone’s life through a drunk conversation and a prayer from an utter stranger, then so be it. Amen.
His Kingdom came in Guatemala in a night club. There was a church we went to in Guatemala that met each Sunday morning in a night club, that had been bustling the Saturday night before. There were murals of snoop dog on the walls, and the floors were often sticky. But, it was beautiful because the church is wherever two or more gather, whether that be in a church, in a home, on a street, or in this case- the dance floor of a night club. God’s presence and Kingdom abounds wherever we are. And every Sunday, His Kingdom fell on The Lucky Rabbit Night Club in Antigua, Guatemala as we scream-sang praises to our Savior from the rafters.
His Kingdom came in a small village, in Africa. We sat in the small home of a family whose daughter was severely sick. She laid in the bed, and we all sat with one another- being the church, being the body, uplifting, and encouraging one another through faith. We sang, and we sang, and we sang. We danced. Because, to sing and to rejoice is an act of rebellion in treacherous times. We praised our Father, because He is good, and He remains good through all things. All of the village kids came and sat amidst us (and on us) at one point, driven in by the rain, seeking warmth. She wasn’t healed that day, but my God- we sang and we stomped because He was good and sovereign over all of it. I wholeheartedly believe that spirits, and hearts were healed that day- hallelujah, I believe He came down, and touched that home, and filled it with light and peace that was not of this earth.
His Kingdom came in Africa, under a sky full of stars. Malealea Valley, Lesotho had some of the most breathtaking night skies I’ve ever sat under. Our creators’ finger prints were all over them. Many nights, our community of fourteen women would sit under that vast, star-filled sky in awe- singing breathy praises to our Father, and rejoicing in His goodness. Rising our praises up with those of a thousand generations. We praised Him, in absolute awe of His glory- allowing Him to flood our hearts with more of it. And, there, in that Valley, under those skies, Heaven swept low.
His Kingdom came during all- girls sleepovers, in Africa. On Thursday nights in Malealea, we held sleepovers with the older girls that we built relationships with in the valley- very official, organized gatherings, of course 😉 Although, it turned into a gathering of teenage girls, little children, and babies. (Thankfully, we had lots of arms willing to snuggle babies) Each Thursday night, we were able to pour into about twenty-three young women- encouraging them to walk in the fullness of the identity our Father has given them and uplifting their spirits. We sang songs, snuggled, watched banana felas (what they call a “girls only” movie in Sesotho), laughed, and I was often tickled until I cried. We are simply with one another- loving and sharing our Father’s joy.
His Kingdom came on a small bridge in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In Siem Reap, we found ourselves, again, in a developed tourist based city- and again, we were told that our ministry was to “Seek the Lord in what He wanted to do, and where He wanted us to go.” And, almost eight months later, our hearts burned with excitement and passion at the prospect of walking in obedience to how our Father desired to further His Kingdom through us. Each morning, we prayed before hopping on bikes and riding into the city. The Lord moved, abundantly, in more ways I can count that month- but one morning, in particular, I and a few teammates really felt the Lord impressing the word “Joy” upon our hearts.
We grabbed a ukulele and a few egg shakers (nothin says joy like a ukulele and some egg shakers, friends), hopped on our bikes, and headed into town- not knowing the ways that the Lord was going to work that day, only trusting that He would. We felt led to a small foot bridge, and so we sat and we sang. Abby played her ukulele, and Leigh Anne and I laughed our way through broken egg-shaker rhythms. It wasn’t very professional, but we were dwelling in the joy of the Lord and rejoicing in Him for all that He was doing. As time passed, people joined us- sitting down in our small pow-wow. People who walked by would smile, and chuckle. We made friends with, others’, sitting on the bridge. And, the Lord was there. Whether people knew it or not, they were dwelling in the presence of the Living God. He was pouring His joy out fresh on them. He was refreshing their souls, and renewing their spirits. The Lord was planting small seeds in people’s hearts that we will likely never see the fruit of. He was working in unseen ways- through our willingness to freely give away the rich joy that we have been freely given.
The Kingdom came in a church, with a congregation of five people, in Cambodia. One morning, we drove two hours outside of town with our friends Solky and Chor Vin to attend their church. When we arrived, the church was a small, one-room building with five people sitting around a table. And, around the table we sat- singing praises to one God, encouraged by one another’s faith. Hallelujah, because the spirit of the Living God was abundant in that room and the Kingdom of God was alive and moving in the heart of each person seated at the table. And, as each person left- they carried the Kingdom with them. It extended from that small table, outwards in all directions. The Kingdom of God was encouraged and uplifted in that church and, from there- it extended far and wide. Hallelujah, it was taken far beyond those four walls.
His Kingdom came in a small Cambodian coffee shop. There is a coffee shop, here in town, that we go to most days. And, we have found unexpected, beautiful community in the people that work here. (One of the employees, my sweet friend, Soleng, is hugging my neck while I write this. Shout out.) It began with laughter, and small conversations- and the Lord deemed it good, and worthy. As we continued to go, we continued to pursue their hearts with intent. And, in this small Cambodian coffee shop, we have found some of the sweetest friends. We have found some of the dearest community. The Lord has richly blessed this sweet community- consistently opening up doors for us to encourage, uplift, celebrate, and pray over His precious daughters, here. And through, hearts open to outpouring His heart, His Kingdom came. Soleng’s birthday was a couple weeks ago. We brought her cake, and celebrated her deeply- laughter was abundant and no face was left unmarked by pink icing. Heaven came down, it celebrated along with us- He poured His love and His joy out. He gives us sweet tastes of His Kingdom, and His unfailing love each time we enter this place. Hallelujah, once the Kingdom enters a place it can’t and won’t be the same. Where the Lord is invited- He will come, sweet friends, He will always come.
His Kingdom came through snuggles, laughter, and piggy back rides. At Crossing Cambodia, the Lord has taught me so much about pursuing His Kingdom through these children. We are here, nourishing and loving on, the seeds that the Lord has already planted here. We have been given the sweet privilege of lavishing them with our Father’s love. We love, because we have first been loved. And with each bath, each lice check, each time a child falls asleep in our arms- when we scratch bites and bumps, and clean open wounds, our Father pours His love out fresh on us. He pours His love out, fresh on His children. There’s worship to be found in loving the one in front of you. And, He’s been teaching me more of the sweet simplicity of seeking after His kingdom through that. So often, recently, He has spoken to me, “There will come a day where I walk each of my children into perfect peace, into a space utterly free of suffering and brokenness. And, child, how sweet it will be. But, for now, I am still working here and now. I’m not done yet. And daughter, I died so that you and all of my children can know of and experience joy, peace, love, and grace while you are on Earth.” He sacrificed His life so that we can know joy. So, that we can know love. And, grace. I don’t know that we allow ourselves to sit in that truth often enough. We can find Him in laughter, in a smile from a stranger, in hugs n kisses, in apologies, and forgiveness, and twirling, and dancing. We’ve been freely given all of it, through Him, though this world isn’t worthy of any of it. His hand is moving. Here, and now. I see it in the sunshine and in a child’s breathless laughter, and in the faces of people who know suffering, but choose joy.
His Kingdom came. His Kingdom came in small alleys. His Kingdom came around tables. His Kingdom came in nightclubs, and bars, and on city streets. His Kingdom came on mountain tops, and in African valleys. His Kingdom came in small, unexpected spaces all over this beautiful Earth. And, it’s still coming.
His Kingdom will come. It’s still being built, through our hearts that are obedient, and through our hearts that are abundantly open to Him. His Kingdom will be furthered by our lives in full surrender, laid down at His feet. His Kingdom will come as we walk alongside of Him, wherever He carries us. He’s still moving- still building His Kingdom. Here, and now. He isn’t finished yet.
I, often, think back on Guatemala- everything was new, but I was not yet. The Kingdom was all around me, while I was still unaware.
I remember standing on the cusp of all that the Lord was asking me to step into- the fullness of the Kingdom that He was inviting me into. There’s a certain amount of unsettling that comes with saying “yes” to all that the Lord wants to do in you and through you. A certain unsettling in saying yes to blind obedience, surrender, and sacrifice. A certain unsettling in giving Him the space to shape you, and make you new. But with saying “yes”, day after day, He has walked me into more wholeness, more fullness, and more richness than I could have anticipated. I have been taken deeper into His heart, infinitely more than I ever hoped, and He’s continuously and faithfully calling me deeper, still. My God, He has walked me through surrender and sacrifice- He’s walked me through more refinement than I asked for, and at times I haven’t understood why, until later. He’s brought me to places of surrender, and dying to myself a thousand different times, and He’s still calling me higher- into more fullness, and more wholeness, so that I might share in more of His holiness and goodness. But, through shaping me- through walking me further into my identity as a daughter in Christ He has taught me so much about a pursuit of Him and His Kingdom. He has taught my heart to rejoice in the seeking- to rejoice deeply in the pursuit.
“Thy Kingdom come.” He has taught my heart to sing.
“Thy Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven.”
