Solemn Silence

"Solemn”- formal and dignified, serious, or characterized by deep sincerity

 "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust." -Proverbs 11:6

 “Lust”- (can be) a passionate desire for something

 "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." -Luke 16:10

I have been in Whitefish, Montana for three weeks now in quite the uncomfortable situation.

 “Uncomfortable”- causing or feeling unease or awkwardness

 I am the new girl in a sense. I am working in an office. I am cleaning a church. I am growing up in a sense ("but I want to stay in Neverland," says my flesh). As I am living with these wonderful girls, it is taking time for me to open up and I feel like there is nowhere to turn. {Alone.} As I work in a quiet office, there is a lot of silence and working on my own. {Alone.} As I clean the church, I am by myself for eight hours. {Alone.} I eat most of my meals by myself. {Alone.} I am in solitude and I am discovering that I need it, it's a gift.

A little reminder as I mop the church.

One sunny day, working in the office, I was putting send stickers on 1,000 letters and sealing them, alone. The process did take me the eight hour day. I found myself going through the motions of the task at hand, but my thoughts were wandering. I was longing for Colorado, my family, my friends, and the ministry I was doing there. I was longing for Cambodia, the people there, and the work going on there. I found myself lusting after different seasons. I was being faithful in the work, but not faithful in my mind and heart. And that's when God kind of shook me. In that moment, I asked for forgiveness and I moved forward in praying for the people and ministry back "home", praying for the people and ministry here, and praying for Cambodia and the ministry there. I listened to several sermons and worship songs. And I thanked God for the now and what He had me doing in that moment. I really do need to be more thankful for such a time as this. The past has come and gone, the future isn't even guaranteed, but the present is where I'm at now, it's a gift.



Folding, sticking, and sealing thousands of letters to be
sent to PFM sponsors.

From that moment, I've been noticing how much the Lord wants me to just seek Him and rely on Him. He has given me these moments of solitude so I can pray, confide in Him, hear from Him, and make Him my comfort. “Tarry not for an opportunity to have more time alone with Me. … Our time together is like a garden full of flowers, whereas the time you give to things is as a field full of stubble.” (“Come Away My Beloved…And Rest” Frances J. Roberts) I can't miss out on these opportunities to be able to seek Him more by myself, not everyone gets that luxury. I get to use my hands and feet physically and I get to spend time with the Lord at the same time, for hours on end! I am also thankful for the small, but divine moments the Lord has given me with some people here. But I know as of now I get to clean and sit in an office in solemn silence, but grow in the Lord and hear from Him. {Alone. Yet not at all.}

Every Friday morning I get to look forward to assisting with the
children at Selah Fellowship in something called "Tiny Tots".
Parents can come and fellowship, while the kids get to
play, have a snack, and sing songs.

For He Cares For You

Home Sweet Home

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” -1 Peter 5:6-7

I sit here looking out three small windows in the corner of this beautiful house I get to live in for the next three months. Cars drive by, kids are walking to school, and Selah Fellowship and the Potter’s Field office is across the street. It’s day six, I bought groceries for the first time for myself on day one, and I’m working in an office (I’m not about that office life, it’s not something I enjoy or feel is my calling). All things I knew before I came, but I still don’t like it. I don’t like drastic change, unless it’s to my hair (and that’s only sometimes). I’m selfish. I’m wicked. I’m prideful. And right now I’m not so happy. I will say I am happy to see my family up here and I’m happy to serve, actually I’m beyond happy, I’m ecstatic to be able to help where the need is and learn about PFM, but I miss Colorado, the people there, and my life there…in other words comfort. Guess what, Britt, you’re not called to be comfortable! Funny…I knew that before I left, yet in the midst of it, it’s hard…I’m letting my flesh win.

Missing the comforts of “home” and being anxious for the new is not trusting in the Lord and His purposes. There is a season for everything. Yes, I’m sad, I miss people, but I have nothing to fear. All these people here are like family, they care and are right here with me. And the best part is, God cares and knows exactly what I need to grow in. He is and should always be my comfort. Everything I’ve heard and read in God’s word these past few days have been exactly what I needed to hear. And God’s past faithfulness requires my present trust. I will rejoice in the shadow of His wings. I also know that I need to be humbled. A lot of us tend to forget verse six in 1 Peter chapter five and just look at verse seven (me being one of them), when both are one sentence, it is a continued thought. I must humble myself before the Lord, surrendering my burdens and well, everything to Him, and in turn He will exalt me in due time. This, now, is the humbling stage, the trying stage, am I going to lay myself down, submit to the Lord, and remember and trust in Him and His ways? I desire and see the Lord guiding me in being in a leadership position in Cambodia, but that can’t happen until I learn and am humbled. He will exalt me in due time.

I am reminded of my last ROOTS (young adults) meeting at Calvary Castle Rock going over Romans 5. Verses three and four read, “And not only that, but we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” It is so incredible when the Lord gives you something, right when you need it, because He is always on time. This season is going to be and already is trying. Am I going to humble myself, persevere, rejoice, and remember Christ through all of it? Despite the hardship, I’m thankful I’m not called to be comfortable.

Praying over Christa with Izzy, who was in Cambodia with me, Pastor Michael Rozell, Pastor Steve
Venable, and Pastor Steve Miller. Christa is overseeing the end time of the interns in Cambodia,
while Anna is on furlough for a few weeks. The fact that I was here for this, is incredible.
Photo Credit: Potter's Field Ministries

Thankful for Such a Time as This

I sit here in my living room, sipping on a cream soda, reflecting on all that the Lord has done. When I returned to Colorado in May, my emotions were on a high. I was happy to see my family and friends, but I was sadder because I had just left my Khmer family and my IGNITE class. I honestly didn’t want to be back. Besides the fact of my family and friends and completing the IGNITE program, my thoughts were, “I have nothing keeping me here.” Yet, I knew the Lord was going to have me here for a season. And what a wonderful, blessed season it has been!

It started off really difficult, I was just kind of on my own and in another waiting period. I was frustrated and I felt like I didn’t have a place here. As time went on, I was given more and more tasks and I was getting plugged in at church again. The Lord was changing my heart, teaching me lessons, and using me in ways that I still don’t understand.

Photo Credit: Natalie Garrett

As what I was tasked with began to unfold for the summer, I fell in love with the ministry and the people I have had the honor of serving alongside (putting aside the fact that they were already my friends). The Lord put me through situations, testing my trust in Him with my family (again).

It’s beautiful that the Lord reminds me time and time again, that it isn’t me, but all Him, and I must trust Him! God surrounded me with friends and mentors, old and new; brothers and sisters in Christ, that encouraged and blessed me this whole season. And I pray, despite new seasons beginning for all of us, that we can stay connected in such a way as this, although I know it will be different. I am just blessed to know that it’s Christ that connects us.

We ended our summer with cliff jumping at Paradise Cove and a bonfire. As we were seated around the fire, snacking on pizza and watermelon, guitars strummed, voices sang to our Creator, and I couldn’t help but bask in the moment. Mesmerized by the flames, I thought, “I am thankful for such a time as this.” A time that I am never going to get back. It may be manifested in a different way in the future, but it will never be the same. And I was taken back to the closing season in Cambodia, when I realized that same thing. As I continue on this journey the Lord has for me, each season has its gifts.  I see now, in those moments when time slows down and you’re surrounded by those you call family, you can’t take it back, you can’t recreate it, you can just seek the Lord and rejoice in it. Eucharisteo.