The Church in Cambodia- Interesting Facts and Figures

• The Christian population of Cambodia can be said to be between 1.30% and 2.82%. 
• Compared to other religions such as Buddhism and Islam, there is a large percentage of women in leadership roles in Cambodia
• The average age of Cambodian church leaders is 34 years old; the average age in the US is 49
• Only 81.94% of church leaders have been baptized
• The most common occupation in Cambodia is rice farming, which requires the person to stay close to tend to the field. This makes it more difficult for the person to be involved in evangelism and church planting. 

Photo by Ben Tillotson

Gratitude

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter every day epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

I remember one Thanksgiving, not too long ago, when all my siblings and I were home to celebrate. For some reason we were sitting at the dinner table ready to eat and were quite annoyed with each other. We were bickering and making quite a ruckus, and my mom yelled, “That’s enough! I want everyone to say one thing you are thankful for!” No one was particularly in a mood of thankfulness, but having to shift our focus helped change the attitude at the table.

I have been pondering gratitude a lot lately and have been struck at the power it has to change our lives. There are plenty of things that are rotten about our world right now- evil is alive and well. There are plenty of daily frustrations that can get us down- things like being stuck in traffic which drives me CRAZY! There are plenty of places in the Bible, though, where we are encouraged to be thankful. For example: Psalm 106:1 “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever”. Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”.

It is easy to say that we need to be grateful, but what are we supposed to be grateful for? Here are several things I have been struck with lately:

• Our gratitude needs to go to God. If we don’t see that He is the source of the goodness in our lives, then I think we have missed the mark.
• We should name specific things. We can all say, “God, thank you for your provision”, and that is a wonderful thing. But we should be specific in what we are grateful for. When I start making a list of these things, my focus really shifts and my eyes are opened to even more things I can thank God for.

I am adding to a list each day of at least three specific things I'm grateful for. It might be something really simple- like yesterday the clouds were splendidly poofy and they were beautiful! The fellowship at the Cambodian church I attend was particularly sweet. My pesto pasta at supper was especially delicious. These are everyday things but because I am looking with eyes of gratitude, perhaps my senses are enhanced and I'm enjoying them even more.

If you started a “gratefulness list” today, what would be on it?

Spiritual Descendants

Have you ever thought about your spiritual descendants? Not just your spiritual children- those people you are leading through a mentoring or discipleship process or who you have led to the Lord. But what about those disciples’ spiritual children, continuing on generation after generation? That is what we are to be about: making disciples who make disciples who make disciples who make disciples… You get the idea.

I have found so many gems in Isaiah lately, and read several verses today that applied to this idea of spiritual descendants.

Isaiah 44:3-5 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s’ and will take the name of Israel.

Who are your spiritual descendants?

Giving Up...Gaining More

I love fall. Although we haven’t had a particularly scorching summer (95 most days instead of 105 like last summer), the thought of cool breezes and fleece jackets sounds quite appealing. I have been doing lots and lots of thinking about Cambodia lately, and I have visited the land of the things I will miss. Fall weather is one of them. I will be in 90 degree year-round temps, 6 months of rain and 6 months of dry. No more crunchy leaves, scarves, apple cinnamon candles, or pumpkin pie. 

Someone once told me that it is okay to grieve the things we will miss, the things we are leaving behind when we enter into something new.  We grieve and acknowledge those things…but then we need to move on. I’m sure there will be plenty of things that will be hard to give up, things I love about the US or events in my family’s life I'm not there for or things that make me comfortable. The awesome thing is that God gives grace in those moments, and He often gives something very special and unique in place of the things we are giving up. But for now… I’m grieving giving up fall. 

My Prayer for Cambodia

Sometimes the Lord gives me a specific Scripture to pray for a person or situation. This last week as Kristin and I were together, she brought up Isaiah 61 and how God wanted her to pray that for Cambodia. As I read it, I realized that it is so perfect. I continued on reading in Isaiah 62 and found a couple more verses that I am also praying for Cambodia.

Isaiah 62:2-4 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or your name Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. 

Cambodia is a little country and has been ruled by other powers for much of its history. Yet it could be a place where God's glory shines, and other surrounding nations can see God's power and might in the lives of Cambodians. May God's name be lifted high as a banner over Cambodia!

All About His Glory

This week my Cambodia teammate Kristin and I joined forty others at a training on Disciple Making Movements. This wasn’t an ordinary conference where you sit and listen to speakers, but rather at our tables and as a group we studied God’s Word to discover His truth on the unreached, Jesus’ example for reaching them and what we are supposed to do. It was an intense week and I still have lots of pondering to do, but it was a really incredible time. 

We started out the week focused on God’s glory. It is an amazing place to start because it is really not about us. All that we do must be for His glory. We need to pray that God will accomplish His work in a way that will bring glory to Him and never attempt to gain credit for ourselves. It is easy to slip into this mode if we think we are coming up with some amazing strategy for winning the lost. Rather, God is the one who draws people to Himself and the end result is that He gets the glory. 

We studied two passages that were really key. The first is Revelation 7:9-12. This passage is about the multitude around God’s throne representing every people group, tribe and language, all focused on praising God. 

The second passage is John 17:1-5. Again, the focus is on glory- the word is repeated multiple times throughout the section. Jesus was sent by God, and by being obedient He was able to bring God glory. 

I’m not sure I can completely wrap my mind around God’s glory. In one sense, it is about how amazing He is, far above anything we could imagine. He is the Creator of all things, He sustains all things, and yet He chooses to use us. Part of glory is thanking and praising God, being obedient to what He tells us to do, and sharing with others in order for them to understand His glory. 

When you think of God’s glory, what comes to mind for you? 

If you want to check out some other verses on God’s glory, here are just a few. I know we didn’t cover all of them this week, and I’m excited about looking through the Bible for God’s glory.

•  2 Samuel 7:23
• Isaiah 43:6-7
• Psalm 106:7-8
• Habakkuk 2:14
• John 5:44
• John 12:27-28
• Romans 9:22-23
• 1 Corinthians 10:31
• 1 Peter 4:11
• Revelation 21:23

My Cousin's Wedding

My cousin Ilene, her new husband Brandon and me at their wedding, June 1, 2012

Thoughts on the Holy Spirit

A friend challenged me with some questions about the Holy Spirit recently. Most of my growing up years the Holy Spirit was mentioned in passing as part of the Trinity, but was not emphasized in Sunday school lessons or sermons that I can remember. As I did some searching, I found the Spirit is very active throughout Scripture! Here are some examples, just from the book of Acts:

Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 8:29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it”.

Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

Acts 11:22-24 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

These are just a few places where the Holy Spirit is mentioned. It is amazing to see how the Spirit is at work! Here are a few summary points from Acts of the Holy Spirit’s:

•         Gives power and boldness for evangelization

•         Enables cross-cultural communication of the gospel

•         Gives the power which brings spiritual awakening

•         Qualifies, equips, and empowers people for Kingdom service

•         Enables to act boldly and endure in persecution

•         Gives guidance for divine appointments

•         Encourages

•         Expands the Kingdom of God

•         Brings conviction and repentance to those not yet following Christ

•         Consecrates and sends out believers

•         Gives prophecies

•         Speaks through believers

•         Helps people understand the gospel

•         Guides in and to the harvest

I think too often we focus on Jesus and forget about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I feel like I am just scratching the surface in understanding how that applies to my life and what it means to allow more of the Holy Spirit to fill my own heart and life, to speak through me and give me boldness and wisdom as was the case with the believers in the book of Acts. There are times when I am reading and I don’t understand the work of the Holy Spirit, like when people spoke in tongues or other things that are a bit out of my comfort zone. But I'm still learning and seeking to understand.

Do you have any thoughts on the Holy Spirit or ways that you have been learning more in this area?

Finally, Be Strong in the Lord

We are in a battle. Does that thought cross your mind very often? I have become more aware of the spiritual battle that is going on as Satan tries to hold on to the darkness in the world. He knows he is losing but that does not prevent him from trying his best to keep out the Light.

I have never been the kind of person to see a devil behind every bush, behind every trial whether big or small. But, I think particularly in the US we are either naïve or choose to ignore the spiritual realm and the battle taking place. Are we ready to do our part in the battle?

Ephesians 6 is our go-to passage for the equipping needed for fighting the darkness. I have been going to this passage over and over lately trying to understand how I can fight for God’s reign more effectively.

^{Ephesians 6:10-20}

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Here are a few thoughts that came to mind as I journaled through this passage:

·         “Be strong in the Lord” and “Put on the full armor of God” are commands to obey, not just suggestions

·         God doesn’t say, “Run away”, but rather “Stand your ground”

·         Belt of truth- God’s truth of who He is and who I am in Him. We should ask, “What is true?”

·         Breastplate of righteousness- Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life

·         Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace- Go! We are to walk in obedience out of love for God and because of the urgency of getting the message out

·         Shield of faith- instead of worrying, pray and step out into the heat of the battle in faith

·         Helmet of salvation- protecting our minds, turning to God and remembering his way of salvation

·         Sword of the spirit- speaking God’s Words aloud, it is powerful!

·         And pray- Keep praying; pray for the battle, pray as the battle, be alert and always on guard, pray for other believers, pray for boldness and for the right words to say. 

What can you do today to join the spiritual battle against the darkness?

Cambodia Facts at a Glance

A few facts about Cambodia to liven up your day! :)

• The median age in Cambodia is 22.9 years
• Life expectancy at birth is 62.67 years
• The country is 96% Buddhist, 2% Muslim and 2% other
• The garment industry employs more than 280,000 people, which is about 5% of the workforce, and contributes to more than 70% of Cambodia’s exports
• The primary agricultural products are rice, rubber, corn, cashews, tapioca and silk
• Cambodia uses US money for big bills and for smaller transactions they use the riel. The exchange rate is approximately 4,000 riel per US dollar