My mind is still not recovered. I can’t seem to wrap my head around what seems to be my life right now. Two Fridays ago I woke up in Panama, Saturday I woke up in Costa Rica, Saturday night I went to bed in the United States and Sunday morning I woke up in Hong Kong, and on Monday I arrived in Thailand. Sure, I wore one outfit the whole time and only got to shower once…but that’s what duty free stores are for right? I may have looked like I had been freshly struck by a massive bolt of lightning, but I smelled like a cupcake shop in the middle of a rose garden. It was glorious.
Anyway, that’s all besides the point. I thank you all for your prayers of safety as we traveled from Panama to Thailand, and mostly the Lord for answering them and getting us here all in one piece! The past week we have been staying at a YWAM base in Bangkok. Tomorrow, my team and I will leave for Chanthaburi to partner in ministry with a local church. More to come on that later!
Now, let me rewind to about a week or so ago. I have no idea the technical day or time, so I will label it as “somewhere in transit”. All 50 of us had just loaded the plane and were working on ‘stowing’ our ‘day packs’ underneath the seat in front of us. It’s one of those square peg/round hole scenarios. I had recently given up and decided that the flight attendant could make it her problem if she so desired. (I had no ill-intention, there was just literally no way that thing was fitting anywhere.) I took a quick look around me. Kristina was on my right, and the person on my left had yet to arrive. Suspension built. This always has potential to be the worst or best part of the flight.
Exhausted, I laid my head back and said a prayer. Then, as if on some sort of holy cue – there she was.
When I first saw her I didn’t think much. She was dressed head to toe in a dark brown velvet jumpsuit. It draped over her frail, aging body loosely; she carried one small bag. Her silver hair contrasted her beautiful, dark, African skin. She gave a warm smile as she took her seat next to me. Before I could even mutter a greeting she turned away and continued her conversation with a member of my team that followed quickly behind her and took a seat on the opposite side of the aisle.
“Yea..so this will be our fourth month. We are headed to Thailand!” Daphnee smiled.
They chatted for a few minutes before the sweet lady turned back to us. Her eyes showed deep intrigue and curiosity as she inquisitively pressed into conversation with us.
“So, how would you say you know when God is speaking to you?” She didn’t hesitate to dive in.
Kristina answered eloquently. She gave a beautiful metaphor about a child learning their parents voice. She said that if someone had taken her away from her mother the minute she was born and not introduced them until later in life, her mother’s voice wouldn’t be familiar to her. She said that she’s learned the Lord’s voice in the same way, by spending more and more time with Him and just being in His presence.
The sweet old lady (who I later learned is Diane) sat back in her seat with an obvious look of satisfaction. We prepared for take off. Lights went out, the cabin fell dark, earplugs went in, and before I knew it most around me had fallen asleep.
Not I said the fly.
I did my best to make it obvious that I was still available for conversation. I think she picked up because she continued on…
“You know, when I walked back here and saw all you young folk I thought, Lord, what do you want me to say to them?! All I have with me is my Bible and notebook and I was just thinking Ohhh my, what are they gonna think of me? But I think the Lord wanted to show me something! I have been praying and praying to Him and asking Him where you guys were. I have been looking for a young generation that is crazy about the Lord – and here you are! My, is the Lord good! Thank you Jesus…Thank you Jesus…”
I hadn’t known that all of her questioning was leading to this. In just an instant all of the fine lines on her face and the age behind her beaming smile turned into radiating wisdom. I knew she had something that I wanted and I had five hours on a plane to figure out what it was. It was my turn to ask questions.
“So…how do you know when you hear the Lord’s voice?” I asked with eager anticipation. Boy, this is gonna be good.
Before I knew it she had pulled out her Bible and journal. You would never know it was a Bible; it was in absolute shambles. I have never seen something so torn apart. She thumbed through the pages and I could barely make out the text as it hid buried in her notes and thoughts that filled any white spot that ever existed on the pages.
The hair on my arms rose and a chill ran down my spine.
I want your bible to look like that.
I think it was the clearest I have ever heard from God. Tears actually welled up in my eyes because in that moment I knew exactly why I was on that plane and why Diane was sitting next to me. I now knew what she had that I wanted. And the still small voice kept repeating in my head.
I want your bible to look like that..this is good…I want your bible to look like that…
Diane and I shared many stories on that five hour plane ride. She gave me wisdom and insight and encouragement. When we got off the plane she stopped me before we parted ways to pray over me and my teammate. It was a divine appointment and one I will never forget.
God wants our Bibles to look like that. Every time we pick it up He has something new to share. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve read the gospel, or the Psalms, or any book or story in the Bible – it’s God’s direct line of communication straight to our hearts, and trust me He wants to speak to us.
I asked Diane how much time she spends reading the word. She said since she’s retired now she spends anywhere from 4-6 hours a day with God. Trust me, it shows.. I wasn’t surprised. In fact, I was greatly encouraged. I could see light shining out of Diane, I could see Jesus in her eyes. She had a contagious hunger for the Lord and was a living testimony of seeking Him and finding Him.
So, what does your Bible look like these days? I know mine could always use a little more wear and tear..
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
