And the fruit of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Against these things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
One breezy morning in Cambodia, I laid on our “tree-house” floor, and asked God if He had any images for me to share with Kampot, specifically, Light of Hope Church, and the people here. And He filled my mind with the image of a tree, ripe with the fruits of the spirit. He also gave me the word “hope.” He spoke to me of how Cambodia is a key to the nations, and that He wants to fill them with His hope.
So from that point, I had two images spinning off of my imagination. The first was that tree. White, full of leaves, and an apple for each fruit of the spirit. Around the tree would be the fruits of the spirit written out in English. And, I felt God challenging me to copy Galatians 5:22-23 in Khmer, and paint it on the wall. Now, the language of Cambodia, Khmer, not only sounds different, but has completely different characters as well. Lots of squiggles, circles, lines. Basically completely foreign to me. But I knew that God was whispering to me to take on that challenge, and show how I cared for the people of that community by writing out the verses God gave me in their own language. In characters that they can understand, so that it is a witness to His love for them.
I set to work, and with the Lord's help, and Emily's help painting my design upon the wall, the tree with the fruits of the spirit sprouted into life. I copied the Khmer onto the wall. And after a few days work, the mural was finished. I found out later that Vuthy, our contact in Cambodia, his name means “strong tree.” I know that the fruits of the spirit are growing and ripe in that place. They give off such a sweet fragrance of Christ's love to their surrounding neighbors and the area. I know that God is so pleased with their hearts, and how they are declaring His love to Cambodia. I was blessed by sharing this image in a lasting way with Light of Hope Church.
The second image God laid on my heart was simple, but full of His messages and encouragement to cling to hope in Him. To tell them how Cambodia is a key to the nations. From this, I began to sketch out a basic outline of the world, laid on the word “hope,” and drew a simple key above. To the side I drew out the words “Cambodia, Key to the Nations.”
Around the image of the world, I picked three verses that God laid on my heart that spoke to that hope.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Find rest O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6
Once I painted on the world, the key, and the words, I set to work on drawing out these three verses in English, and copying them in Khmer as well. It took me up until the morning we left for Phnom Penh, but with the strength of God, I was able to finish this mural and leave Light of Hope Church a reminder of the hope that they have in Christ in their language, and encourage them to continue to reach out with that hope to their village, and all of Cambodia, and the world.
Stay tuned for the art that God lays on my heart to leave in Malaysia this month!
