Meet Chanla.
He taught me about living in true identity. He claims to be unemployed because being a Pastor isn’t considered a real job in this country. He lives unashamed in his “unemployment” because he knows the work he is doing is for the Kingdom.
My value was settled at the cross.
Shout out to my dude, Andrew Chambers.
One thing I’ve learned for sure… identity isn’t linked to a title, to a person or an accomplishment. It’s solely based on who we are in Christ. He loves me despite me. There is nothing in this world that will ever make God love me more. There is also nothing in the world that will make Him love me less.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I am Chosen. Ephesians 1:4
I am a daughter of the Most High. Ephesians 1:5
I am redeemed. Ephesians 1:7
I am rooted in Him. Colossians 2:6
I am who I am because of Him. It’s about time I live in the authority that He has given me.
Meet my Cambodian Grandma.
She taught me true sacrifice. She moved her bed out of the house so my team and I would have somewhere to sleep during our stay. Not to mention, she had back surgery 3 months ago. If you ask her, it’s not about her. She took her hard earned money and bought me the most beautiful dress just to tell me thank you for helping her cut vegetables. I certainly didn’t need the dress and her family absolutely needs the money, but once again it’s not about her.
Love is Sacrifice.
I’ve had such a misconstrued idea of what loving sacrificially looked like up until this month. I thought it was so many different things but I’ve seen it lived out in a way that has made the definition so apparent.
It’s missing holidays. It’s having many sets of “parents” and many places to call “home” around the world. It’s Abraham being willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It’s not just giving financially but of yourself and your time. It’s allowing FaceTime calls to take the place of spending quality time with people you care about. It’s Noah building an ark for years holding on to a promise from God. It’s Hosea staying with Gomer though she left him many times. It’s giving up everything that seems good and makes sense in order to pursue the greater.
It’s the God of the universe sending His son, Jesus, so that we may have eternal life. It’s that kind of love. Loving sacrificially glorifies the One who first sacrificially loved.
Meet my Cambodian Grandpa.
He taught me about unwavering faith. This man left his upbringing in Buddhism to live a life that requires radical faith in Jesus Christ. This man was mocked and even physically harmed because of his faith. This man walked with his sick newborn baby in his arms to a hospital many miles away because he couldn’t afford transportation. He trusted that God was going to provide the doctor, the money and the healing.
Faith is Action
“Do something today that requires faith.” This statement was a consistent response I would get from my time with the Lord this month.
One day, I walked 20 minutes across the village with a sick preschooler in my arms. It was nothing compared to what Grandpa did but it taught me a valuable lesson. God wants to pick us up like children and carry us into whatever He has for us. All He asks is that we have the faith to trust that his strength is enough to sustain us on the journey.
My prayer is to expect the unlikely and believe that God does incredible things with ordinary people. We make the contentious effort to step into the unknown. The real faith comes when we trust that God will meet us there. It’s the reason why I am here. It’s the reason I will continue to do the things that seem completely implausible.
Cambodia has changed my perspective. I feel challenged. Encouraged to live established in my identity like Chanla. Compelled to sacrificially love like Grandma. Daring to have faith like Grandpa.
