It was just another ordinary Sunday afternoon here in the Cambodian providence of Takeo at Joy Community Center. Most of my team was resting with the exception of one teammate and I. We had just finished listening to a podcast series on Angels, Demons and Spiritual Warfare by David Platt (highly recommended) and had decided to take the time to finish hanging the remaining Christmas decorations from the ceiling in the main room. As we were doing so, the youth started entering into the center one-by-one for youth group. As the last few decorations were being hung, the youth began worshiping.
The first song they sang in khmer (Cambodian language) was rather upbeat and was actually one that I used to sing back in the days of summer camp. I didn’t think anything of it, but joined in singing with them in English. As they continued to sing, the speed of the songs became slower, BUT the genuineness and authenticity of their worship left me with goose bumps from my head to my toes and tears of joy started welling up in my eyes.
These were emotions that I wasn’t expecting and I don’t know how to fully explain it, but in this moment God gave me a glimpse of what it might look like worshiping in Heaven someday with Him. Seeing these youth worship the One True God was incredible! Nobody was focused on what the person next to them was doing. They weren’t ashamed of how good or bad their singing abilities were. Nobody was concerned about the wind blowing or the barking dogs outside. All that mattered was the intimacy that these youth were experiencing with our awesome creator, God.
These children and youth are filled with so much joy and passion for the Lord wherever they go and in whatever they are doing. In even the smallest situations they are able to see how God is working and bring glory to His name. In the moments of discouragement and frustrations this month, these children and youth have encouraged me helped me to refocus my thoughts back on Christ. They have brought so much joy and have reminded me to be thankful in all circumstances even when I don’t understand what God is teaching me through the challenges.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” –Psalm 95:1-2
