Embrace the pace, space, & place

The graduation of YWAM POIPET’s BCC class of 2019 as pictured above, ushered in a shift, including one of my teammates (pictured below) being blessed and released from our team to officially join a local Poipet private school to teach English full time. Further, in two weeks, I will be saying goodbye to Cambodia and hello to an undisclosed nation for a month. There a team of us from Poipet will partner with a local pastor and bring encouragement and bible teachings/ distribution to locals before returning stateside in December. With all of the changes, here’s a look into what God’s processing with me right now.

Embrace the pace, space, and place

I want to talk to you about what I’ve learned about transition over the years: how and why I’ve learned to wait, stay, and “move on” and how I’m having to practice it right now.

God has always wanted His kids to embrace the places He plants us and to bloom there.

Think garden of Eden-He intended humans to work, eat, rest, enjoy relationships, co-create all in one spot.

God gives us our space. We have choices inside of our space, like how will we wait or what will we do with our time limits.

Think the garden again, God didn’t micromanage His image bearers but allowed them to choose. He walked with them at a set time, “the cool of the day”, but beyond that, He allowed Adam to go do what He created him to do.

God sets the pace and speed. We think we can outrun Him or run from Him but we cannot. His highway, His way.

Back to the garden, when God wanted to create woman, ready or not, Adam was put to sleep and underwent surgery. When he awoke, God had given him another gift and responsibility. God had equipped him to shift.

Time stands still when you are waiting for change or for God. It’s seemingly impossible to move without Him or before Him. You might as well move with His rhythm since He is the lead.

If you try to get out of step with the assigned season or rhythm you’ll find your self out of grace and out of energy to move in any direction. You’ll be stopped at a stand still.

However, if you try to sit back and wait it out when He wants you to move, He’ll force His/ your hand. You’ll be pushed to birth it out, or be birthed out (think on Adam again, having “Eve surgery”).

Why does He do this?

In His sovereignty and all knowing wisdom, He does it because He loves us and is not a task master but a father.

A good father knows just when to set the training wheels on a bicycle and then when to secretly take them off and give you a good push. It’s not that you might not crash and hurt your ankle but if you don’t do things under His initiative, what’s worse is, you’ll die.

Another example, let’s liken it to our bodies: if you hurt yourself or get a surgery, after the fact, the nurses must move you while you recover in order to not get bed sores or the physical therapist must get you to move your muscles again so as not to lose them (trying to save you from a “death”).

We were created to create, just like our Father, Creator God. If we don’t create, we’ll die.

That’s what happened to the Cambodians years ago.

Worse than the indoctrination and murders of the Khmer Rouge in my opinion was the death of their own God-given ability to create. Namely, to write and sing their own songs about life and all that it entails.

The Khmer Rouge regime killed musicians and forced any surviving ones to write songs for labor camps to sing to and so be reminded of their plot in life, a life of work, cycling to eat, sleep and cycling to die.

Now there are religions present in our world that hope to end such cycles and reach Nirvana, a state of ceasing to exist.

I don’t want to cycle out and cease to exist, I want the eternal life with Jesus that God has promised to His children. I want to die to live not live to die.

The only truth I see inside of cycles is that God does have His children living through seasons and there are deaths we are to undergo (pride, etc.) but there are also deaths we were never intended to experience, like the death of co-creating

In each season, we are to embrace the place, space, and pace. Why? Because our creative God is teaching us and training us to live a life of grace as we embrace co-creating.

It’s a life lived that is a glimpse of what’s to come.

It is the greatest life to live, that of co-creating with God.

He writes the story, we live it out; we go in step with our director but also allow Him to be the main character throughout the story.

Life can seem so mundane, cooking, cleaning, working, paying bills, social events, church, etc.

If we don’t embrace the place, space, or pace God has us in, that is, if we aren’t content here with Him wherever that is, we will never learn the art of life God wants us to in joy, enjoy, the mundane or the mountain tops.

If life is like art, I want you to picture an empty Bob Ross canvas. The painter Bob Ross on a YouTube video could be an example of how Jesus came to earth. As we read scripture we learn how to follow along with Jesus (aka Bob Ross) and paint a similar picture like him.

Now of course, we are not experts at life but if we follow our teacher, we can learn a ton and have fun along the way.

Life is given meaning from learning and living with our Rabbi Jesus and sharing this relationship of learning and living with others too.

Now, will our paintings look exactly like Bob’s if we were to follow along? Probably not, how do I know, because some of my friends here tried it and were disappointed when comparing their canvas with Bob’s.

Who cares if the painting isn’t perfect! The bigger thing is that in the miracle of being creative like Father God, they had joy spending time with one another and so glorified God with their gifts and shared love.

It’s not about perfection with painting as much as it is the wonder that is creating as we go.

God loves this. Creativity. Who knows what creative perspective and twist we may “add” to life and the canvases God’s given us?

God isn’t scared that we’ll mess up the canvas.

He’s so good that He loves to co-create with us and can make our best efforts become masterpieces.

We add value to our “canvases” because Jesus bought us at Calvary and so proved our worth.

We enjoy our “canvases” all the more when we decide to share space and time with others not so that we can brag or compare but so that we can simply enjoy the art of creating art together.

Art is God’s gift to us and we glorify Him by letting art come through us!

In giving us dominion over the earth, God’s already given His stamp of approval or invitation for us to create as we live. Is it messy? Yes of course. But we can’t miss it if we show up.

The place is the canvas.

The space is the actual paint colors we are given as tools to freely and actually make contact with to begin creating.

The pace is the video and our hands with paint brushes in them, and those around us we are doing life with. More specifically, the video is the instructions to follow along with Bob (or for my example’s sake, Jesus-our master artist).

In the blink of an eye we could all be in Heaven with Jesus but instead, Jesus came to us to co-create. He allowed “characters” like Peter, James, John, and Mary to be, not “scene stealers” but co-creators.

Christianity is the only “religion” (it’s less of a religion and more of a relationship), where God comes to us (Emmanuel-God with us). Every other one is about man going or getting to ‘God’ somehow if “God” is even indeed their goal-for some “the goal” is eternal bliss or ending of cycles.

Jesus wants us to enjoy a life lived as if heaven came down to earth...because it did.

Since Jesus did come down to earth, He taught us the “new” way to be human. A life lived in relationship. A life embracing seasons. A life embracing suffering. A life embracing friendships. A life embracing language. A life embracing feasting and festivals. A life embracing the systems even of the world-not hiding from it but running into it (government, religion, education). A life of creating, colors, and art. A life of waiting, staying, and moving, all in step with our master class teacher Jesus.

Wait (the place)

Many times I’ve had a “word of the Lord”, a thought or impression that God wanted me to do something. For example, I knew God wanted me to be a youth pastor-it was an internal decision made with God and I learned with Him as I went. He had given me the place, South Louisiana, and wanted me to embrace it. I did. I attended cross country meets, drama plays, movie nights, bible studies, workouts, and much more all with the students I was learning to lead. In my current season, learning to embrace the place for me has looked like learning love languages, the enneagram, Justin Bieber songs, Generation Z quotes, Khmer, traditional Khmer dances, attending school graduations all because my now “students” are a mix of young Americans, Canadians and Cambodians.

Jesus embraced His place. He was a carpenter doing what most people in Nazareth did, some sort of trade. He also was a temple attendee; reading the scroll of Isaiah to His peers in the temple. It goes to show that He was a regular and even well respected member in His temple community, so much so to be given authority to speak to His peers from up front.

The favor and open doors are up to God to release, but the resolution to learn to love where we are at, and all that it entails, those in it now with us, is up to us. That is one of our create mandates.

Stay (the space)

Inside of my seasons, youth pastoring or now as a missionary in Cambodia, “the space” or “the stay” has looked like what I do with either the tools allotted me for the season or what has been in my hands all along.

I was able to worship lead and train others as well as teach piano, guitar, and voice in my space, Louisiana. I am essentially doing it again here in my space Cambodia because God has gifted me in music and has taught me how to teach what I’ve learned over the years.

Also, God has given me tools like creative outlets such as songwriting, blogging, and T-shirt designing to encourage others in my current community to do likewise in order to fundraise or gift their feelings into songs, or tap into co-creating with God.

Jesus used what tools He had to create catalyst moments in the lives of others and we should too.

He had a voice and wasn’t scared to use it; think: His famous “sermon on the mount” or the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

Essentially, these moments happened at the expense of nothing or no one. It was a free gift in Jesus’ hands, His voice, which He used to glorify God and encouraged others with. Further, it was His faith in God and practical down to earth approach of living His relationship with God out-loud, that enabled Him to use what was in front of Him to give to others. The fish and bread and sermons were gifts God gave to Him that Jesus decided to give away.

The results are up to God but the resolution to do something with what we have has to be up to us. That is also one of our create mandates.

Move (the pace)

Finally, let’s talk about the actually moving on part of life.

Jesus told His disciples that it was better if He left because He would send the comforter.

It didn’t make sense, Jesus just conquered death and now He, alive again, was going to just peace out at the top of His game?

Why would He do that?

He knew He was limited as a human, to place and time but knew if He stayed in step with Father God, He would be eternal and make an eternal impact, namely, having His Spirit then released to all the world.

Now, when we move, we as believers just partner with the Holy Spirit and so our “work” or impact automatically becomes eternal and outlives us-another create mandate being lived out.

Also, people don’t feel a void with our absence if/ when we point others to Christ and not ourself through our lives.

If and when we move, people will still have the greatest and most fulfilling relationship ever, a relationship with their Creator more so than with us if we in fact lead them to Christ with our lives.

When the going gets rough, we all want to move on quickly and get that season over with. However, that’s probably when God wants us to stay and “endure our cross” for the joy (resurrection of life, legacy, dreams, purpose; strength of character trials produce) set before us.

When we have done all God has asked us to do, what then do we do? Do we stay because we want to enjoy harvest or do we let others harvest and go on to our next garden?

God wants us to subdue the earth.

Some plant, some water, others harvest the crop but it is about subduing for God’s glory, fame, and dominion.

I think it’s best if we find out with God what our lane or puzzle piece in life is. How did He best equip and raise us up to thus live and lead?

Are you a planter, waterer, or harvester?

In me, I see an apostolic call or a prophetic planter anointing. It’s fun work because it’s doing things unlike others or before others.

I do get tripped up at times because once I’ve done what God has asked, it’s sad to leave and “die” to the part of me that wants to see what the work of my hands have produced.

Harvest, for me then, is secret between me and God as an apostolic person.

Similarly to how Mary just had to hold things in her heart, that’s where I am most of the time-holding it in my heart.

The whole reason I even venture out is because I can see harvest on the horizon. So I run to pursue it and plant before it’s even something in existence. It’s a gift of faith God’s given me, a “go for it” attitude.

I do; however, find it difficult to water things, but God normally gives me time limits in order to keep me on track so as not to jump from plant to plant or planting to planting but to actually cultivate and pastor into what I’ve planted (I.e. the reason I youth pastored for 4-5 years and the same reason I was here in Cambodia for 2 years and will be with YWAM for 4-5 years, though I’m unsure if I’ll do this back to back or if I’ll do it as I go forward in life naturally).

Saying all that, I hope you hear what I’m actually saying, it’s that I’m fine with being fine wired to pursue the unknown, the harvest before the seeds are in, and going after things I have no clue how God will actually come through on; but I do struggle with letting go to let God.

Holding in my heart little victories and testimonies are difficult to me because I want to brag-thinking I’ll bring glory to God in my story telling.

What I’ve learned though is that there are seasons for speaking and sharing and seasons for keeping things secret-just between you/ me and Jesus.

Why?

Because Jesus is more concerned about being intimate and in a relationship with us than our duty and doings for Him.

Also, not every art work piece we make has to be for everyone. Exclusive art and originals for individuals have more value, and sometimes, God just wants us to paint the picture, give it back to Him, so He can hang it wherever He pleases, hidden or seen, it’s up to Him.

I believe God treasures things we give to Him that are only for His eyes.

These gifts we “hide in our hearts” and give back to God, namely, those things God has done through our lives, helps us get rid of a super-hero complex.

This complex is something I’ve struggled with often.

I used to think God made me to simply serve those around me. Though that is part of how He’s designed me, being a “helper”, that is not of most importance nor is the main reason I was made.

I hear Jesus’s words to Martha often about how “Mary has chosen what cannot be taken from her”.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus doesn’t look like we are doing much or being valuable to our garden work, does it?

Painting a picture meant for no eyes but ours and God’s doesn’t seem worthwhile to paint, does it?

Sitting at Jesus’ feet and painting for Jesus only is worth it and does requires a knowing (confidence) of what season you are in.

I can say with confidence that it feels like I’m in a sitting season and will be headed to a “secret” season this fall and winter and I don’t necessarily want to be.

I like getting my hands dirty and working into the wee-hours just to make sure everything on my end is ready for whatever project I am involved in.

I take pride in my work and my doing.

Ironically, I write these words to you while indeed sitting/ as I am “bed-ridden” once again. It seems as though my body is doing what I couldn’t follow or trust my spirit to do...that is to “slow down”.

I am sick with a “new” cold. (We’ve had recent guests from the states who came with a cold and it seems I picked it up.)

My body was already vulnerable because I had just gotten over a “Cambodian” air borne cold a few weeks ago.

When I think about sitting or the pace I find myself in, I can’t help but say to God right now:

It sucks to slow down.

It also sucks to not be around when harvest comes.

It sucks to miss out on the latest adventure.

It sucks to be stuck in one place at one time.

It sucks to chose between family near or far for cultivating relationships.

It sucks to say bye and get rid of clothes and other material things I’ve picked up along the way.

It sucks to not be or feel needed anymore.

It sucks when my body stops and I legit can do nothing.

But it also sucks to stay when the “grace” in the place, space, and pace is off of you.

These are my little deaths I must die so I can live.

And you know what’s wild? The more I wrote down my “it sucks” emotions the more alive and thankful I am to be seemingly “stuck”.

This “stuck” season, proves the sovereignty of God and makes me wonder if in embracing life with the Lord, I’m any different from a stroke of paint on a brush: Sticky and stuck onto His canvas, though I can’t really see what He’s creating clearly, I am happy to be in the masterpiece.

What I know: God’s got me and so you can believe that He’s got you too.

There are cycles and seasons inevitable for believers no matter if you are a planter, waterer, or harvester.

Since this world is not our own nor do we live for our own kingdoms, sometimes God requires us to sit it out, remain benched, take a breather, or hand it over.

My faults and weaknesses rest in wanting to be loved for being valuable, useful, and helpful (namely being needed).

The reason you and I must die to these again with each season and shift God ushers in, is because of the joy set before us.

I know that my time in Cambodia is finishing up, but the joy set before me is that more paint is making its way to the canvas, more painters are beginning to hone in to their craft, and this divine dance of co-creating is continuing on in Cambodia.

My body isn’t letting me commit to any new things but to rather finish what I began, release it to the next gen, and rest as things take on a new life on their own with or even without me.

The grace is lifted and that is how I know it’s time to move.

I’ve given 18 months to Cambodia, 2 years to living as a missionary with YWAM thus far, and forever to God.

It has been a wild ride since I prophetically prayed that I’d be part of some 9 month something, I’d be headed to a place near Indonesia, and more. Though it wasn’t all clear at the time, I did expect everything in my life as I had known it at the end of 2017 was going to change, and it has. Somehow I have lived out a prophetic season of my life over the span of the past two years.

How did I know? I didn’t know. I just knew who I could believe-Jesus. He said it, He’ll do it, He’ll see it through to the finish and by His grace I can say confidently, He has!

Now there are new (or should we say familiar) things for me to do on the horizon.

Recently, the Lord has told me, “release” and “don’t be afraid to let go”.

The reason I have courage: I see those He has raised to come up after me can be trusted to take on the canvas; they have gifts and talents that this nation now needs.

I share this blog with you to encourage you, if you are in a similar season:

We move out of the way to make space.

We let others get on our shoulders and go beyond in this place.

We wait and we release the pace.

In this season, I kind of feel like David on bed rest, before he blessed and released Solomon to do what He as a warrior was unable to do: to build a resting place for God.

David had the ark and bought/brought all of the materials to build the temple.

David was a man of war and a worshiper.

Now His son Solomon was to inherit the Kingdom God released David from, to build in peace.

My mission in Cambodia was about “Jesus bringing peace”. I even got a tattoo in Khmer stating those words to remind me.

In doing life with my team last year to raising up my current team as one of their leaders, I can see how they have already gone further than me and will only continue to go further.

There are battles I’ve fought doing that they have inherited victory from just being. They have made commitments to this community and country that I am blown away by. Their courage and grit to believe that anything is possible with God is not only inspiring but challenging. I feel like they have inherited things I just spoke out in faith but barely truly believed myself. The Lord in His faithfulness has helped my unbelief.

They have inherited peace at the expense of “war”, “loss”, “sacrifice” and now God is sending me back to the bayous for a season, but I can’t believe my time here like this is almost finished!

I think I’m going back to the bayous for a few months, to rest and replenish and to celebrate what by God’s grace we’ve finished; I hope to share with many in person how various prophetic words spoken back in 2017 came to pass over the last two years to the T! I do think my sights are set on/ in Louisiana in the future with houses of prayer, Mardi Gras and bar ministries stirring my spirit these days-however, I’ll speak more on this as it unfolds.

For now, I’ll say that the pace God has me finishing the final lap here feels slow and in ways painful because of what I must say goodbye to.

Yet, already in the near future, a few weeks from today, as if God knew what kind of burst of encouragement and purpose I needed for my now and next, He’s sending me on a short term mission for the month of November. It’s like a mission within a mission just before I head to Kona and then Louisiana for December.

Why a short quick trip?

I think it’s because He wants to package this season I’ve lived for the past two years with a solid clear top coat of paint, because this artwork is important and will hang in my heart and the walls of my King’s courts forever.

In closing, I want to say thank you to the place-Cambodia, space-worship and prayer mantle& community here, and pace maker-Jesus:

Thank you God for using Cambodia to slow me down, to get me to paint again with what You gave me, and for releasing me onwards. I may be dying to what I thought I came here to accomplish, to see that harvest, but the life giving joy I feel in knowing it’s going to hands I’ve helped train and raise up makes me one of the most joyful people ever. I am proud to have run alongside my team from last year and to have been able to lead the team this year. They have become my forever friends and if I’ve learned anything about Jesus-centered friends it’s that whoever you release and let go of, You, God, have a way of bringing us all back together again (as evident with Janea coming to Cambodia last year and my dad coming here this year).

It’s not the end Cambodia but the beginning. I’ve heard the original songs some of you have birthed out for Christ especially this year, and I’m thankful to be part of the family and larger story of the Khmer finding their voice and creative outlets again. May you run further than me and never grow weary and may we reunite sometime in the future to celebrate all that God’s done. Remember to create for Christ, “for to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Amen. _______________________________________________

Liked what you read? Consider donating towards my upcoming monthlong Bible distribution trip. The flights and visas are paid but I still need transportation, lodging, and food money. Send any donation to my Paypal: chelseachaisson@gmail.com by simply clicking the GIVE TODAY button at the top of this page. When you send your support, why not guess where I’m heading too? If you guess correct, I’ll send/bring you a souvenir from the nation.

-Chelsea ❤️