Power of Prayer

Today's post will be about my final mission debrief meeting. It was great to see familiar faces and it was awesome to share with others about my husband's desire to serve in Cambodia next summer.  I am ecstatic with the power of prayer and am thoroughly humbled by God's grace and blessing.

Earlier this afternoon, I was once again filled with negative thoughts and energy regarding work, but God, you spared me and shone through me.  I felt your power and energy fill me up and you helped me work through it and turn it into a positive experience.  So Father, thank you.

You made me recollect my pre and post feelings about Cambodia.  I came back with renewed patience and learned to ask for your help and give up my burdens to you.  So Father, here am I, please take all that I cannot bare, and use me for your glory.

When I sit back and hear others describe me, I sometimes can't believe they're talking about me... actually, I know it's you they're talking about. It's your qualities that are shining through me... it's your love eminating out of me.  You have brought me great joy - people hear my laugh and see my smile.  It is seemingly contagious.  That is a good thing.  You give me ways with words and wisdom so that I can impact lives.  You are my blessing.

My 50th Post - My Transformation from being a diluted Christian

Today's posting is a different one.  I am going to share how God has been working to change me.  I'm going to include my reflection.

I first thought about joining Tenth Cambodia mission team nearly 5 years ago.  God had planted a seed in my heart. As the years pressed on I knew I had slowly distanced myself away from him and hearing his voice.  I would say about year ago, I hear God – loud and clear – that it was time… time for a change. At first I thought God would use me to touch someone and make a difference in someone’s life in Cambodia. So much as I enjoyed seeing Cambodia and saw God work  through me to help the people through our medical ministry, I realized God didn’t send me to Cambodia for the Cambodian people, but rather He sent me to heal me and strengthen his bond to me.

In Cambodia, I was reintroduced to the power of prayer.  I witnessed people of faith… for years, my faith was like a dwindling flame. By being around members of our medical team, especially Linda, Patrick and meeting Chom No, I realized that I was prayer deprived. It was in my moments of reflection that I knew I was a “diluted” Christian, meaning that I have been so “washed down” by working with and being around non-Christians. I was filled with negativity… I forgot what it felt like to turn to God for everything. I carried worries and tried to find solutions, when all I needed to do was call on God.

I had been journaling every day in Cambodia and I decided at the end of the trip, I would continue my journaling because I really enjoyed being connected to God. Prior to this trip I committed myself to Practicing the Presence, but I found it difficult… but since coming back I have been spending 15 – 30 minutes every morning reading scripture and blogging about my thoughts and prayers.  I have never felt closer to God and as a result I am better able to hear and see that He has been giving me glimpses of his bigger picture and I am witnessing him answering my prayers... prayers to things I have been praying on and off about for many years.

My greatest fear in coming back from Cambodia was that I would forget the things and lessons God showed me there. I was scared that I would revert back to being a diluted Christian, suckered into our selfish, consumer society. But in our meetings with David Collins, he reminded that changes don’t need to be drastic, changes can be simple.  Changes are internal and meant for God’s eyes. Eventually, others will notice the change because we will naturally through God become more gracious, forgiving and merciful… just like our Father in Heaven.

 So I can say with confidence that I will continue in my morning devotions and my walk with Christ so that Cambodia won’t be a memory but a trip that has changed my Christian practice. 

How has God answered my prayers... through my loving husband.  It is so apparent that this year is a year of change, just as God foretold me.  This is the first time and likely the only time we will ever not  vacation together.  But it was through these 2 separate vacations that God spoke to each of us, so that we could each hear His voice in the ways we needed. So Father I thank you for not only ensuring our safety in these trips, but also our growth in faith through you.  I trust you. Thank you, Lord.

My Humble Prayer to God

John 4: 31-42
Jesus and the Samaritian Woman (cont'd)
Jesus said, 'My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.' (34)

This passage screams out that we will also be nourished by doing what is righteous in God's eyes. We are His body and have been asked to do His work. God has given each of us spiritual gifts to support each other. I need to make use of mine. From my trip, I have learned I am compassionate and sensitive. My heart cries out when someone is in distress and I weep when someone else is in pain. I am a great storyteller. So I know God has uses for my heart and my mouth to share and to spread his love, joy and words with others. I ask God to give me strength, wisdom and courage to bring glory to His name.

1 Timothy 2:1-8
Instructions about Worship
We must pray for all people, not just the ones we love. We must plead for God's mercy and give thanks. God wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth. We are to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

'There is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. (5,6)

God is reminding me the importance of prayer and the need to pray for everyone, including our enemies. We must be thankful for all we have is from God. He owes us nothing. I don't believe in reincarnation of karma. Rather I believe that God will provide justice for those who cause distruction and pain. So Father, I thank you for the life I have and the gifts you have bestowed upon me. I thank you for my loving and faithful husband and a very obedient and affectionate dog. I am grateful for my caring sister, mother and father. I pray that you will continue to light my path so I fulfill and carry out whatever you have planned for me. I don't know what lies ahead, but I do know that you have planned out my life before I was even born. Whatever pain I will endure, you will be right there to hold and comfort me and you will not take me where you cannot sustain me. You will not forsake me. I pray for all my brothers and sisters in Christ that they will continue to hunger for you and be on fire to do your will. For my friends who have yet to know you, I pray that they will come to seek your face through servants like me.

I recall a Morman telling me that all religions are "good", but there is only one way to Salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. All religions teach us how to be good people, most religions anyways, but to live an eternity in the presence of God can be attained through Jesus. Knowing Jesus as our personal saviour is our invitation to this glorious party in Heaven. Amen.

Paul's Great Advice - Words to Live By

Luke 24:1-12
The Resurrection
'Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn't here. He has risen from the dead! Don't you remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?' (5-7)
The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James and several others. They told the apostles what happened, but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn't believe it. (10,11)

This passage reminds me that we are naturally 'doubters'. We must take the Lord's words and promises to heart. If this passage were alive in me, I must continue to read and familiarize myself with God's word. I ask God for continued strength in discipline and diligence to 'practicing the presence' my personal committment to spend time in the Word every day.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
Paul's Final Advice

• Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love.


• Remember to live peaceable with each other.


• We urge you to warn those who are lazy.


• Encourage those who are timid.


• Take tender care of those who are weak.


• Be patient with everyone.


• See that no one pays back evil for evil but always try to do good to each other.


• Always be joyful.


• Keep on praying.


• No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (12 -17)

Wow! These are great words to live by. Things that I can work on: 'warn those who are lazy, keep on praying and always be thankful...' I must admit that there are times when I am not particularly thankful, but everything I have is truly a blessing. I never thought to warn those who are lazy, mostly because it is "confrontational" and I don't like being that way. But there is truth in telling them if it will elicit change. I humbly thank God for all the good he has filled my life with and I ask that He continue to work in me to be an even better and faithful follower.

Discipline and Strength in Faith

Luke 22:39-53
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives & Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
"Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation." (40)
"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will, not mine." (42)
"Get up and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you." (46)

It is evident that prayer is where we can draw upon God's strength. I need to spend more time in prayer. If I were a strong prayer warrior, I would be better able and equipped to hear God calling me and better able to resist temptation. I ask that God give me a stronger sense of discipline.

1 Thessalonians 3:5-8
Timothy's Report about the Church
"It gives us new life, knowing you remain strong in your faith." (8)

This passage of scripture is about faith and about joy in knowing that our faith in God is strong. This seems so fitting as my loved one has recently told me about his renewed desire to seek the Lord's help in his suffering. God is showing me that he desires us to have faith in Him. I feel this sense of "new life" because I have greater joy knowing that my loved one is seeking God. I am to continue to pray, as God has faithful in answering my prayers. I ask God to forgive me for the times a shadow of doubt crosses my path.