"Abandon It All...For The Sake Of The Call"

“We will abandon it all, for the sake of the call!” This is an old-school Steven Curtis Chapman song, but it quite accurately describes the feel I get around Cambodian believers. The people that I have met in the past few weeks have given me a new perspective on what it means to give it all up for the Lord. Many of them have literally zero dollars in their pockets, have left jobs, family, and everything they have ever known to come study about Jesus. And they have abandoned it all when it comes to worship as well—these people have such joy, passion, and love in worship. Sometimes I just stand in the back and laugh because I am so filled with joy that I don’t know what else to do. Other times their passion brings me to tears. Always it is driving me more and more to my knees to beg for more intimacy with the Father. And their love of life, games, play…it is contagious! Cambodians love to play games, and they are abandoned and childlike in that as well. Yes, it has already been sweet.

Each day I have worship and/or intercession, 3 hours of class, Khmer lessons (yep, I’m learning to speak Cambodian!), some sort of ministry in the afternoon and then either more class, evangelism, community night gathering, or a “mystery night!” in the evenings. And I LOVE it! I have already been broken so much, put back together again and again, and am falling more and more deeply in love with my Lord and King! They are all about application in YWAM, so we have done several powerful things that have really brought me into deeper intimacy. I wish I could go into it all, but I don’t even know where to start. Week 1 was all about identity and finding it in Christ and not the box we typically put ourselves in…powerful. We ended the week by breaking our boxes and opening ourselves up to the freedom we have in the cross. Week 2 was on “Hearing God’s Voice!” Again, more powerful stuff…and plenty of time to practice actually hearing God speak to us! It’s been amazing! I have heard God speak to me before, but it wasn’t on a regular basis, I am learning that he wants to speak to me all the time and all I need to do is listen. And he has told me some super sweet things! This week is on the “Cost of Discipleship” and it is all about making Jesus great. Really, bottom line, that is what it is all about. We are learning to fall desperately in love with Jesus and it is the sweetest thing I’ve ever known!

I am also learning to love Cambodian culture and it’s people. They really are some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met…their smiles light up any room! They have a rich history of enduring faith, and a passion that doesn’t end. I’m already amazed at how 45 of us can feel like a family and how I can love each of them so dearly. I am 10-15 years older than most of them, but it doesn’t feel that way—they have embraced me and love me just like one of them. I’m learning that God’s kingdom is no respector of age, education, race, knowledge, or influence. It’s all about a heart surrendered to Jesus. And so, that is where I am at…learning how to more fully surrender my heart to Jesus. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done!