Watering Life

All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him. 2 Samuel 14:14 NLT

Yesterday, you and I can’t have back. No do-overs.

We don’t live in the movie set of “Groundhog Day”….we can’t work at it until we get it right—treating people as if they don’t exist. Just because we don’t see people everyday who live on the other side of the world, certainly does not mean they don’t exist.

Ly Mak (pronounced, Lee Maah), an incredible man with a heart for Jesus Christ and his people, has shared something of their culture with me everyday. “The greatest thing you can do for another is “show them how”.

Ly’s words strike at the heart of all cultures. As we constantly “give” to our own children, they constantly “expect”. And many times, they turn from what we give, to what the world gives—but the world gives death. Nothing. Only Christ Jesus gives life everlasting…water from the purist Source.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13-14 NLT

These children were washing their pots. This was something they had been taught to do—by demonstration. They learned how to pump the water from someone who was familiar with the water pump, teaching them.

Ampil School in Cambodia is a school sponsored by Mission of Mercy, but operated by the government. Mission of Mercy is able to have chapel with the children once a week…it’s a way of watering once a week.

Let me ask you…are you watering? As your life is daily spilling out like water, are you watering anyone with the Word? With a heart of love for others—as Jesus’ example and very words instructed…

Matthew 18:14 says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish”.

Question: Are you a follower of Christ? Do you live your life seeking to do HIS will everyday? This verse is our reason for doing what we do….it is our Father’s will do teach them—“show” them as Ly reminded me. Not only how to live and function daily, but how to know Christ. Mission of Mercy takes this responsibility to heart—they show—they teach. If we do not teach—they perish. They perish of lack of knowledge. The water is spilled out on the ground daily and never comes back—and never nourishes anyone. When this happens, we have failed to do the will of the Father. Obedience doesn’t happen by accident.

There are faces you pass everyday in Walmart—on the street—in restaurants—maybe in your own home—they need love. They need teaching. They need showing and teaching by example.

Where are you watering? Is your life spilling out uncontrollably before you in days never to be regained? My heart breaks at the sight of all these children— knowing what they come from and what kind of existence they go back into when they leave this school—with it’s nice buildings.

I’ve heard horror stories of parents who sell their children to a stranger—at the “promise” of an education or better life, for as little as $50, only to have their child sold into sex slavery. It happens to children everyday. All over the world.

The seeds must be sown into their lives now—watered daily by the Word. LOVE must be poured out—it will not happen by accident. It will be our own sacrifice and determination that sees the job done. You know, when we get to heaven, we won’t be asked, “How much did you make?” But rather— “What did you do with what I gave you”…(remember the parable of the talents?)

What are you doing with what you have?

This post probably seemed hard to read. I won’t apologize. Let me just tell you—seeing what I’ve seen has been HARD to see. If I were in front of you, I’d probably lean forward and say that with a passion that made my eyes brim with tears as they’ve done everyday since arriving. Once you’ve seen you are responsible (reading is seeing). I am responsible to the child we sponsor. She doesn’t live here—but she does live. And I must water.

Some of you, since reading that last statement, may never come back to this blog—because you are not sure you want to be responsible…or, maybe you know you don’t want to be responsible. But—since God’s Word “says” it already—YOU ALREADY WERE RESPONSIBLE. I simply showed you the pictures to make it alive in your part of the world.

If you’ve been following this blog, some of the pictures are smaller than others for fitting in the paragraphs. Go back and click on each picture. It will enlarge it and “bring it to life”.

Thank you for praying…today (it’s Thursday here), we will go back to The Dream Center to finish the painting, hang the curtains (THANK YOU ladies of the West Florida District A/G!), play with the kids, share tons of love, shed many tears and feel the Holy Spirit—Rain Down. (That’s another blog—as are my home visit’s from yesterday. There is only so much Kleenex in Walmart-and I encourage you—get a few boxes.)

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures. Remember to click on the words “view slide show”. You don’t have to download them all to your computer—unless you want to print a reminder…