Are you living out God's mission?
.png "Are you living out God's mission?")
We were supposed to pray and sleep early. But as we sat together, stories started flowing. Stories about our childhood. Stories about hardship. Stories about scars.
David laughed the hardest.
He could not believe how different our lives were when we were his age. He and his cousin Pich live in a generation filled with technology, comfort, and convenience. We grew up in a very different world.
We told him how we never said we were bored. There was always something to do. If we did not have toys, we made our own games. We created fun out of nothing. We climbed trees. We ran barefoot. We worked.
My husband shared how, as the only boy among three sisters, he had responsibilities early in life. His job was to fill five large clay jars with water for cooking and washing. He fetched water from the Mekong River in front of their house. Every day.
At eight years old, he learned how to fish and swim. He would catch fresh river fish and bring them home for lunch and dinner. His sisters would cook what he caught.
Life was simple. Hard. But fun, he said.
Then he showed David his scars.
A broken wrist. A deep scar on his foot from a bike accident. Other marks from accidents and near death experiences. He even shared how he almost drowned while fishing at night because the river current was strong. Only by God's grace was he saved.
David stared at the scars with wide eyes. He was amazed. Fascinated.
As I looked at my husband, I knew this conversation was going somewhere deeper.
He was not just telling stories. He was planting truth. He gently reminded us that the purpose of God in our lives is real. His future for us is certain. We can plan and prepare, but God's plan will always prevail. It will happen even without our help.
He reminded us why we do what we do.
In our family.
In our dorm ministries.
In our brownie business.
All of these should point people to Christ.
None of it is ours to boast about. It all belongs to Him. We are only vessels. Without Christ, all of this is nothing.
We are set apart to do His will here in Cambodia. Our family being here is not random. It is part of God's design. His purpose.
And one day, if God takes everything away or calls us home, we should be ready to surrender. Because all of this is temporary.
So we must carry the mission of Jesus wherever we go. In school. At work. With neighbors. With friends.
They need Christ too.
That night, our bedtime prayer became a living reminder of this verse:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."
Acts 20:24
The Mission Is Greater Than Comfort
When we read the life of Paul, especially in the book of Acts, we see a man who met Jesus and was completely changed. After meeting Christ, he gave his entire life to preaching the gospel. For Paul, nothing mattered more than finishing his race well.
He did not live for comfort.
He did not live for fame.
He did not live for wealth.
He lived to testify about the grace of God.
That is what Acts 20:24 teaches us. Paul saw his life as a race. A mission given by Jesus. His goal was not to survive. His goal was to finish strong.
This does not mean that family, career, or business are wrong. God gave those to us. But they are not the final goal. They are platforms for mission.
As married couples, we are not just building homes. We are building testimonies.
As parents of teenagers, we are not just raising children. We are raising future witnesses.
As workers and business owners, we are not just earning income. We are representing Christ.
Everything can serve the mission of God.
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| Dormitory Ministry is changing lives in Cambodia |
Our Family Is Part of the Mission
Last night, as David listened to his father's stories, he was not just entertained. He was learning.
He was learning that life is fragile.
He was learning that God preserves life for a purpose.
He was learning that scars tell stories of grace.
We told him that the reason dad survived those near-death experiences is not luck. It is God's mercy. God had a plan. A calling.
Now, that calling includes ministry, teaching, serving young people, discipling couples, and pointing others to Christ here in Cambodia.
Our family is not here by accident.
To the married couples reading this, especially those raising teenagers, I want to gently ask: what are your children seeing in you?
Do they see parents who live only for comfort?
Or do they see parents who live with purpose?
Teenagers are watching. They may not always listen, but they are observing.
They notice how we respond to hardship.
They notice how we handle money.
They notice how we treat people.
They notice how we speak about God.
Our dinner table conversations matter. Our bedtime prayers matter. Our scars matter.
Finishing the Race as a Couple
Marriage is also a race.
There are seasons of joy and seasons of tension. There are seasons of strength and seasons of weakness. Raising teenagers can test patience. Ministry can bring pressure. Business can bring stress.
But Acts 20:24 reminds us that the goal is not to win arguments. The goal is to finish the mission together.
When my husband spoke about surrendering everything if God takes it away, I felt peace. Because our security is not in what we build. It is in who we serve.
If our marriage points people to Christ, then we are running well.
If our home is filled with grace, forgiveness, and prayer, then we are running well.
If our children see us repent when we are wrong, then we are running well.
We do not need to sound preachy to be witnesses. We need to live what we believe.
People are drawn to genuine goodness. When coworkers see honesty. When neighbors see kindness. When friends see humility. They will ask questions.
And when they ask, we can speak about the grace of God.
Five Reflections for Our Family to Finish Strong
Here are five simple reflections with questions and practical applications for families who want to live on mission and finish the race well.
1. Remember That Life Is a Gift
Reflection: Every breath we take is grace. My husband's scars remind us that life can end quickly. But God preserved him for a reason.
Question: Are we using our time wisely for eternal purpose?
Practical application:
Set aside one evening each week for family sharing and prayer. Talk about how you saw God work during the week. Thank Him for protection and provision. Teach your children to see life as a gift.
2. See Your Home as a Mission Field
Reflection: The mission of God starts at home. Before we reach neighbors, we must disciple our children.
Question: Are we intentionally teaching our teenagers about Jesus through both words and actions?
Practical application:
Read one short Bible passage together weekly. Ask simple questions. Pray for one friend of your child who does not know Christ. Encourage your teenager to invite that friend to church or youth fellowship.
3. Let Your Work Point to Christ
Reflection: Paul used every place he went to testify about grace. We can do the same in our workplaces.
Question: Does my attitude at work reflect the character of Christ?
Practical application:
Choose one coworker to pray for daily. Look for a natural opportunity to share your testimony. It does not need to be long. Just share how God has helped you in a difficult season.
4. Hold Everything with Open Hands
Reflection: All we have belongs to God. Family, ministry, business. They are temporary gifts.
Question: If God asked me to surrender something today, would I trust Him?
Practical application:
As a couple, pray together once a week and verbally surrender your plans to God. Say out loud, Lord, Your will be done in our family. Teach your teenagers to pray the same.
5. Finish With Faithfulness, Not Fame
Reflection: Paul did not aim for applause. He aimed for obedience.
Question: When I reach the end of my life, what story will my children tell about me?
Practical application:
Write a short family mission statement. Keep it simple. For example, Our family exists to love God, love people, and share His grace. Place it somewhere visible at home.
For Those Who Feel Tired
Maybe you are reading this and you feel tired.
Tired in marriage.
Tired in parenting.
Tired in ministry.
Tired in work.
Finishing strong does not mean living a perfect life. It means living a faithful life.
It means getting up again after failure.
It means asking forgiveness.
It means choosing obedience even when it costs.
For non believers who may be reading this, the mission of God begins with receiving His grace. Paul could only testify about grace because he first experienced it.
Jesus offers forgiveness and new life. When we receive Him, our race begins with hope.
Living on Mission in Cambodia
Here in Cambodia, we see daily how much people need hope. Students searching for identity. Young couples struggling in marriage. Workers stressed about finances.
Our presence here is not just for work or business. It is for witness.
Our kindness in the marketplace.
Our patience in traffic.
Our honesty in business.
Our love in church.
These are all sermons without microphones.
When people see peace in us during hardship, they will wonder why.
And then we can say, It is the grace of God.
Finishing Strong Together
That night, as we ended our prayer, I looked at my husband and my son. I realized that finishing the race is not an individual journey. It is a family journey.
We want David to grow up not just successful, but faithful.
We want our marriage not just stable, but purposeful.
We want our ministry not just active, but fruitful.
Acts 20:24 reminds us that our only aim is to finish the race and complete the task Jesus gave us.
So let us ask ourselves:
Are we running toward comfort or calling?
Are we building for today or for eternity?
Are we living for ourselves or for the good news of God's grace?
May our scars tell stories of grace.
May our homes become places of mission.
May our children see faith lived out daily.
May our marriages reflect Christ.
May our lives point to Him until the very end.
Let us finish strong.
Not for our name.
But for His.
Our Mission field in Kratie province 👈
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