Consider it pure joy

Consider it joy! 

Choum reap sor!!! 

 

As I enter month 2 of Cambodia, I am learning everyday how to walk in light. 

 

Since living in Siem Reap, James 1:2-4 as been heavily affected my mind and heart.

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

It can be easy to walk in Joy in the happy circumstances, but what about the ones that are more daunting? 

Well, I’ll tell you what that looks like. 

As I go through moments throughout the day that might seem more difficult, I remind myself 

“ consider it pure joy” 

Always. 

Consider it pure joy when I see the Lord working.

Consider it pure joy in being satisfied in waiting in the Harvest. 

Consider it pure joy when I get to celebrate with a team mate, and consider it pure joy when I mourn with them. 

This isn’t always the most easy thing to tell myself, and it’s much much much more simpler said than done, but I truly strive for this, and pray that it will help me to be more like Christ. 

 

I’ve had the amazing opportunity to teach a class of 25ish 8-13 year olds English twice a week since being here ( with the help of a translator) It’s so awesome! It’s  so amazing to get to go to a class and have children excited to see “ teacher Libby” !! 

 

With teaching, and not understanding Khmer, also comes the frustration of just wanting to be able to communicate perfectly with the children. But again, CONSIDER IT PURE JOY!!! 

 

The Lord was very quick with giving me a solution to my discontentment with language barriers. 

I’ve been able to teach them about Jesus by writing songs, Bible verses, and letters that they copy ( as they improve their spelling and handwriting) onto a notebook and we get to memorize it all together. I to encourage them to read it daily. 

 

This past week, we memorized psalms 56:3

 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you”

 

We then shared in the classroom things we were all afraid and frightened of. 

 

As I’ve been able to teach these sweet kids about the character of Jesus, I was able to tell them how we can make our requests made known to Him. 

We then wrote a letter to Jesus asking Him to comfort us in times of fear, and thank Him for being with us.

As I remind them that when they are afraid, they can go back and look at all the things we wrote down. I prayed out To the Lord that they would look to Him for help.

 

The next time I visited the school, I was writing on the white board during recess, and one of my students came in, opened her book, and started reading psalms 56:3 to me, then proceeded to tell me she reads it every night. 

CONSIDER IT PURE JOY!!! 

My heart was ecstatic!!!

 

I thanked the Lord that I was able to share the Good news with this sweet girl. As I’ve been in a season of waiting, I’m VISIBLY seeing the seeds planted, and growing.

 

Galatians 6:9 tells us to not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

 

As I see the harvest being produced, I thank the Lord for the soil of righteousness He’s equipped me to pour into these children. 

 

As I continue to teach, will you pray for me and the lives of these kids?  That I can continue to pour into them and show them just how deep the Fathers love truly is for Them. 

Consider it pure joy.