Thursday December 18th, 2014
Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples,
‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
The Salt
and Light School is Monday through Friday from 5pm until 6pm. Anna, Izzy,
Kaylee, and myself rotate between classes to help the teachers conduct their
class and teach English to the children. On Monday I helped with Linda in her
class. Afterwards, I talked to her and asked her questions about her day and if
she read her Bible that day. She is one who doesn’t know as much English, but
she has improved immensely! We teach her and the other teachers, the youth,
English at 6pm after the Salt and Light School. While trying my best to
communicate with her, she asked me to write my questions on the white board.
Each time I would finish writing I would turn to her and ask, “yoll?” which is
the Khmer word for “understand”. She would nod her head and try her best to
answer. When I came to asking her about reading her Bible she said yes, but
then asked, “Can you teach me Bible in English?” I was just filled with joy and
of course my answer was yes! We spent a good 10 minutes trying to communicate
when would work best. Finally we came to the conclusion that Monday through
Wednesday at 12:30pm would work! I invited the other youth girls too.
So
aware that they would be coming the next day, I began praying as to what the Lord
wanted me to talk about with them. Knowing the fact of daily surrender and dying
to self has spoken to me, and that we need to encourage them to daily read
their Bible and pray, I thought of Matthew 16:24 that morning. But one
problem…I couldn’t remember the reference, I only remembered the verse itself.
So I just prayed and knew the Lord would make it clear and show me the
reference for that verse if He wanted me to talk on that. Remembering I needed
to underline something in Matthew 18, I turned there. After underlining the
verses, I decided to read Matthew 16 since that day was the 16th.
Reading through, God was just speaking. I got further and further and finally
verse 24 says, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come
after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” I nearly
jumped out of the hammock I was swinging in, I got so excited!
12:30
rolled around and they showed up; Linda, Srey Nich, and Seakly. I prayed in
English and I asked one of them to pray in Khmer and we began. It was a short
and to the point study, but seriously all the Holy Spirit. I encouraged them in
daily surrender and giving their hearts to the Lord so we could be walking in
the Spirit and not in the flesh. The girls said they had the desire to read
their Bible and grow in their relationships with the Lord. They kept asking us
questions and for advice. It was such a beautiful thing. After two and a half months
of observing and praying and taking slow steps in the Lord faithfully, He has
brought forth an incredible opportunity for discipleship! Kaylee taught
yesterday and we’re praying about going through a whole book of the Bible with
them. The Lord is working and His hand is all over this situation!
Something
started from the board talk I had with Linda that day, and I’m excited to see
how it flourishes and what work the Lord is going to do! I must stay faithful,
stay in prayer, and stay humble.
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