Exploring Bangkok

I finally had the opportunity to travel and explore some of the sights in Bangkok.  This is my fifth time to the city but my first time "playing tourist."  I traveled around via the water taxi and then spent the afternoon exploring Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace.  Wat Phra Kaew is one of the most holy sites in all of Thailand, the temple where the royal family worships.  It is connected to the Grand Palace where the new king is crowned and visiting heads of state are housed. I enjoyed spending the day visiting such an important historical site and learning more about Thai culture.  Spending a lovely afternoon outside, under a blue sky, and seeing these colorful buildings didn't hurt either.

Boot Camp

This week I am attending my organization’s annual conference.  It has been a great time of learning, fellowship, and growth.  I have heard so many wise words from people I truly respect.  I know that I will be chewing on the meaty content they provided for many weeks to come.  Right now I want to take a moment to process one of the lesson that was shared at the beginning of the week.  

One of our speakers, Charlene, taught about growth through the concept of boot camp.  Growing up in Dad is like attending military boot camp. You cannot attend boot camp and not expect to be pushed to your limits, expanded, challenged, and ultimately rewarded. Blood, sweat, pain and tears are expected when you enlist.  However, there is this misconception in the church that when we follow Him we are exempt from pain.  There is a pervasive lie that if you are following Him and being obedient, believers will be spared pain. That is just untrue and not found in Scripture. Because of this lie we have unintentionally turned the natural process of growing up in Him to be a sign of failure.  Instead of coming beside our fellow boot camp comrades and encouraging them as they grow to become more like Him, we silently (or worse outwardly) judge people for being processed into His image. 

Like in basic training, maturing in Dad is also a bonding experience.  When you have hardships and rely on Sisters and Brothers, your relationship is deepened.  There is a critical piece of community that is missing when we do not support those around us who are growing.  When we judge those who are currently learning a lesson that we have “mastered”, we are harming the imago dei in them and ourselves.  We cannot forget the pain that comes during the growth process or we judge those who are still learning lessons we have learned and are not supporting them like we are called to do.

Charlene took the boot camp analogy one step further.  After basic training, each of us are then enrolled into Navy Seal training for specialized training in different areas.  All SEAL’s go through a few weeks of training together and then they have training in their specialty.  Likewise, each person receives highly specialized training in a specific area that the Father really needs them to become a world-class specialist at. Charlene runs multiple businesses and has had many years learning money management principles.  Everyone needs to learn to manage their money wisely, but since not everyone is called to be a professional businessperson the lesson is not as extensive as was for Charlene.  She reiterated that we need to support whatever lesson our sisters and brothers are learning.  Support people learning a lesson you might have already learned and celebrate the fact that their lessons seems harder than mine because that means that Dad is raising them up to be a powerful influence in that area.  

This word has been very challenging and freeing for me.  I cannot compare my growth journey to those around me.  I am in an individualized booth camp and SEAL training that will turn me into the person that He created me to be.  My lessons will look different from those around me because He is calling me to something unique.  As a leader this word was also very convicting.  If I judge those I am leading for “being stuck” or wish they would “just get over this” particular lesson, I am not being supportive of the work that Dad is doing in their life.  I need to celebrate each lesson that people are going through.  It is my job to encourage them to press into the lesson, to remind them that they are uniquely called and that this lessons is desperately needed for them to bring change and light to the world.  

It seems so simple but yet is incredibly profound.  I pray that I will be able to celebrate lessons and boot camp in a new way this year.

Facing the Giant

Last Sunday at fellowship my friend Shi shared about David and Goliath.  I have heard this story hundreds of times but the message came alive in a new way that day.  Shi examined the classic story through the lens of identity.  Israel was held captive to fear and terror of the Philistines, forgetting that the Creator of the Universe was on their side. David, a small teenager with no experience, was the only one in the land who was not focused on the power of the Philistines but on the power of God.  He was calling Saul and Israel to remember their identity as His Chosen People and the power that came with it.

David was able to defeat Goliath not because of His physical prowess or vast experience, but because he knew that the All-Powerful had called Him and equipped Him for this battle.  David’s eyes were not focused on the improbability of a teenager beating a 7 foot, highly trained warrior. David was focused on His identity as an enabled and called child of the King.  Because he knew who he was and whose he was, He gained victory over the enemy.  David’s actions remind Israel to focus on their identity and not the enemy in front of them.

I was really challenged by Shi’s message.  Like Israel in 1 Samuel 17, I am easily overwhelmed by the problem in front of me.  I focus on the details and the things that I need to “do” to solve the problem.  It is not my natural inclination to focus on my created identity in Him.  I do not immediately focus on the fact I am empowered, equipped and called for a purpose.  Instead I set my sights low and let the fear of the problem consume me.

I want to live every day knowing who I am and whose I am.  I do not want to be consumed by the giant problem in front of me.  I want to be overwhelming secure in my identity.  My prayer for 2015 is that when I am facing a decision or problem I respond out of my identity, not fear. 

Skiing Adentures

I celebrated the arrival of 2105 by heading a few hours outside of Beijing to go skiing with friends.  I was thankful to be able to spend the time with friends, a sunny day and the ability to spend time outside and enjoy the winter weather.  My friend Kerry even brought a picnic dinner! Thankful for the ability to have adventures and enjoy the snow (even if it was made just for the slopes).

 

 

 

 

Looking Back

As 2014 draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the lessons I have learned this year. This year I began leading a small group, have visited women in situations of exploitation, become more involved in my Sunday fellowship, have been volunteering my time to help refugees living in my area, made new friends, deepened friendships, continued studying Chinese, and traveled to four different countries.  I have learned many lessons (big and small) through each of these experiences.  One overarching principle/lessons has been evident in all of these areas: FAITHFULNESS.

2014 gave me a deeper understanding of His faithfulness.  He is faithful to fulfill everything He promised us in Scripture.  He was faithful to provide financial resources in situations where there seemed like no way out.  I saw Him work on people’s hearts and help them better understand their worth in His eyes.  I can’t even count the number of times He provided me wisdom and guidance as I was facing a challenge.  He faithfully pursued me and showed me the depths of His love.  He faithfully forgave me when I fell short.  He intervened in difficult situations and has helped people reconcile.

He also, lovingly, showed me that I am human and I will make mistakes.  I am not called to be perfect.  I am called to be faithful to do what He has asked me to do.  Success is not defined by the outcomes that I can see.  I need to remember that He is always working behind the scenes.  He is ultimately in control so I do not need to worry about all of the details outside of my control; He will take care of that.  I am responsible for showing up, engaging the situation, asking for His guidance. 

2014 was a great year.  Can’t wait to see what lessons I will learn in 2015 and how next year will teach me more about His character.

A Holy Night

I spent last night having a bonfire with a great group of friends.  After finishing our hot coco and roasting marshmallows, we began singing our favorite Christmas carols.  There was something so magical about proclaiming the truth of His birth.  It was such a powerful worship experience of all of us.  We were blessed to sing these powerful songs while seeing the starts bright in the sky (a rarity here).  It was a Christmas Eve miracle. 

This month I have been reflecting on the powerful lyrics of Oh Holy Night, particularly the third verse.

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Though injustice is all around us, love and peace are stronger.  Because of His birth love, peace and love will overcome all evil.  He came to overcome sin and its consequences.  His incarnation will break chains and will restore us to correct relationship.  He came to reconcile us to Himself.  He also allows us to be reconciled (restored to correct relationship) with each other. Though there are problems now, they will not exist forever.  He is more powerful than any divisions we can create. So powerful.

When it is easy to become overwhelmed with all the darkness, I can proclaim the truth that in His name all oppression will cease!