We enjoy reading Frog and Toad books. This week we got to have a Snake and Toad adventure. One morning I spied a large toad in one of our pots. After checking with our helper that is wasn’t poisonous (it’s only poisonous if you eat its eggs), I caught it and let the kids play with it. They had a blast.

 I was very proud of Isaiah for overcoming his usual caution about touching unfamiliar animals. Anna was interested, but she kept her distance.

Saturday morning our helper asked for assistance when she found a snake in the box for turning the outside hose on and off. Josh used a stick to smash the snake’s head, then beheaded it. Our helper thought the snake was poisonous, but we’re finding that in general, Khmer people are about as good at identifying poisonous snakes as most Americans are — so we’re unsure whether the snake was harmful or not.

In the span of one week we’ve had two different friends pack up their families on very short notice and return to the States for medical reason. Both families lived in different parts of the world. Both families were faithfully ministering where God had directed them and were content to remain where they were until God moved them.

Typically when we talk about families or individuals returning from overseas the following formula is used: they had to return because of (fill in the blank). Though not intentional, there is often a sense of failure involved when speaking of the return. The unspoken: they just couldn’t cope so they had to come back. No one would say this and most wouldn’t even consciously think it, but I wonder what this kind of speech is reflecting to others?

Thinking about this I’ve been challenged to change the way I talk to reflect what I believe about God. I claim to embrace the sovereignty of God, yet when I speak about circumstances, I often leave Him out of my words. The truth is when people return to the States or leave a place of ministry because of illness or repentance from sin, it is GOD who is at work. They have received clear direction from God for what He wants them to do.

What would it teach our hearts, friends, children, and unbelievers, if we changed our speech to reflect what we believe about the sovereignty of God, if we made God the central character: They had to go back to the States. God used an illness in the family to transition them back to the States. They had to step down from their ministry because of personal sin. God used repentance from sin to remove them from their place of ministry and revive their walk with God. They’re still single/don’t have kids. God hasn’t given them a spouse/children yet. The examples could go on.

Our family had been memorizing the hymn: What God Ordains is Always Right. Can I challenge you to take these truths and let them flow into your speech? Will you come along with me and seek to change the way you speak about events to reflect God’s work and not chance or blind forces? Godly responses to what God ordains is not failure or defeat – it is always right, even if it looks like defeat.

What God Ordains Is Always Right

What God ordains is always right; His will is just and holy. He holds us in His perfect might; in Christ our lives are godly. He is our God and all we need, the Father who preserves us still; to Him we bend each heart and will.

What God ordains is always right; and He will not deceive us. He leads us in the way of light and will not ever leave us. In Him we rest, who makes the best of all the stumbling turns we take and loves us for His mercy’s sake.

What God ordains is always right; all that He does is for us. He heals our souls and gives us sight and puts no ill before us. Our God is true; He makes us new; our lives are built upon His rock, our cornerstone and building block.

What God ordains is always right; He guides our joy and sadness. He is our life and blessed light; in Him alone is gladness. We see His face, the way of grace; He holds us in His mighty arm and keeps us safe from ev’ry harm.

Samuel Rodigast, 1649-1708 trans. Gracia Gastorius, b. 1943, alt.

This year we celebrated our second annual Cambodian Coronation Day. It’s a Cambodian holiday that’s not tightly related to the Buddhist religion, so it’s easy to make it our own holiday. Once again, Isaiah and Becca were crowned king and queen of Cambodia. It was an fun event for all.

The entertainment provided was a scarf dance to the Nutcracker’s Waltz of the Snowflakes. (Sorry, no pictures were taken.) Afterwards many important officials from a variety of countries came to give their respects to the newly crowned rulers. (Again, no pictures were taken of these fabulous looking dignitaries.) Happy Cambodian Coronation Day!

The weather has been really nice here.  We’re still sweaty at times, but it’s really quite lovely.