This has absolutely nothing to do with Cambodia. I just thought it was funny. 🙂
Swagger Wagon
This has absolutely nothing to do with Cambodia. I just thought it was funny. 🙂
Author: trotters41
Follow Close
God calls all of us to “Follow Close” behind him, at least that seems to be what Psalm 63 says. We’re trying, and in trying, we’ve come across a lot of folks who feel the same thing.
I heard Leeland perform this song at a youth rally this past year and thought it was amazing. I looked it up on YouTube and thought it was REALLY amazing. They filmed the video in Cambodia, of all places! Check it out…
Why Go? (some thoughts from Elizabeth)
“Break my heart for what breaks Yours, Everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause.” Hillsong’s Hosanna brought me to tears this week (even before Doug Lucas quoted the words). I listened to the song over and over. That’s because I am in a place where I am indeed giving everything for His Kingdom’s cause. Over the last few years I have been reluctantly following along in this whole missionary future. I knew it was probably the right thing, but I didn’t really want to do it. As a result I didn’t hear much from God, and I felt dry.
After Jonathan traveled to Cambodia for our initial survey trip, I was excited. He did awesome recon work and answered my questions about how we could live as a family in a 4th world country. Then, when we set a departure date I got cold feet – so much so that we considered calling off the whole thing. We went to our elders and parents and those at Team Expansion for prayer and counsel and took time off to re-examine our call. I really listened to God’s voice, not just Jonathan’s voice. I came out of that time knowing positively that yes, going to Cambodia is God’s plan for our family, not just Jonathan’s crazy idea to save the world. Before, I had felt pressure to go, but not any longer. I had peace and knew God would be with me when I left America.
Since that time, I no longer feel God is silent. I have been able to enjoy worship music again. And it was in that personal revival that I heard Hosanna. I resonated with the idea that I was giving everything, my whole life here in America, for His Kingdom’s cause. I may not be the primary evangelist for our team in Southeast Asia, but I will be serving God with everything I have and supporting the cause of Christ wholeheartedly.
On Being Safe, by Elizabeth
When Jonathan stepped off the plane from Cambodia I gave him the Phil Wickham CD Heaven and Earth. It is such a treasure. In fact, the 6th song on the album, Safe, helped me say YES to overseas missions. It echoed something Wendy Gibson, one of our Team Expansion coaches, told me: I can trust God to be with me across the ocean. The chorus sings: “You will be safe in His arms, the hands that hold the world are holding your heart. This is the promise He made, He will be with you always, when everything is falling apart you will be safe in His arms.” Those words gave and give me comfort in knowing God is always with me, wherever I am. Somehow I had forgotten. Phil and Wendy reminded me.
Cambodia? For Real?
I know, that’s what I thought too! So, in this little bitty box, I’ll try to explain how I went from mid-western ER nurse & youth minister to a Southeast-Asia missionary wannabe. Buckle up.
Life has always seemed short to me, but working in the ER has made it seem much more vaporish. I’ve watched many people die. They come in as a trauma or a medical resuscitation, everything’s chaotic and crazy for a little bit, and then they either go to the ICU or they’re dead. The ER then returns to normal, and we all go about our business.
I’m stopped cold when I remember that that person went somewhere, and it wasn’t just the morgue. If I’m really going to remember the reality of eternity, not only am I going to celebrate heaven, I’m going to be a fanatic about keeping people out of hell. Jesus died for them and he loves them!
I suppose that’s where God more fully comes onto the scene. While really wrestling with these things and praying about the possibility of spreading the good news to folks who’ve never heard, I came across Psalm 63:8. David writes, “I follow close behind you; your strong right hand holds me securely.” It’s not your typical missionary verse, but I knew then and there that God was calling me and my family to follow him to Cambodia. God is on the move, and I want to follow him.
I look out of my window and I see three churches. They all preach Christ. I drive around the capital city of Cambodia and I see Buddhist temples. Everywhere. I see Buddhist priests in bright orange robes. I smell incense from household shrines all around me, including the one in the foyer of my hotel. I see lost people bound for Hell. I see people without even a faint knowledge of Jesus Christ. I love Jesus Christ, and he loves me. Thing is, he loves them too, and he wants them to know of his amazing kindness and wonderful love.
Jonathan & Elizabeth Trotter 