{abba's girl. fearless & fiercely loved.} by kezia lewis
Writing about my walk as Abba's girl. Celebrating and sharing Jesus to others.
Swahili is an African language spoken in Kenya. After I introduced myself to a new Kenyan friend during our recent trip to Kibera in Nairobi, he replied, “You have a beautiful name. Do you know what it means in Swahili?” I shook my head and said, “No, what does it mean?” He said, “Kezia (pronounced … Continue reading Kesha: How God Spoke to Me Through My Name in Africa
Joy. Gratitude. Humility. This smile I have on in this picture was, in actuality, a boisterous, animated laugh coming from a deep well of delight that if you heard, you would most definitely think I have lost my mind. This smile is a summary of the joy God has brought to my heart these last … Continue reading In Our Season of Rest
I left home ten years ago. If you had asked me, then, if I would miss Windsor, NC (where I went), I would have probably given you a resounding “No” for an answer. That took a U-turn—albeit slowly—without warning. I cried flying out of North Carolina on our way to Idaho (eventually to Thailand) realizing … Continue reading What I Learned About Jesus While Living Abroad
It was a balmy night in Krabi. The air was light, and it felt good against my skin. I was sitting alone in the comfort of my room completely immersed in the world of the book I was reading; I was savoring every minute of the moment. I had felt weightless in the confines of … Continue reading Try Jesus
Hungry and talking about what food to eat, Jason and I were oblivious to what was awaiting us just a few minutes later.
Laughing gaily in our car on our way to one of our favorite restaurants from our prayer meeting at church, we were both in a very light mood totally refreshed from the time of prayer we spent together with fellow Christians. We were on a quite familiar road that we’ve passed through more than a hundred times since we came here in Krabi. It is a narrow, utterly dark two-way street that is littered with fast-moving cars, motorcycles with broken taillights, and tuk-tuks (a three-wheeled motorcycle that is commonly used as transportation means by many Thais and tourists alike in the area.) We have become well-acquainted to this labyrinth on the road and have learned to navigate around it. We were not expecting anything more unusual than it already is from what we are used to, not expecting more than blinding headlights coming right at you or motorcycles driving on the wrong side of the road. These are ordinary occurrences here. Continue reading “When Death Seems the Only Option”
Prakhun is Thai for grace.
And I am totally blown away with the beauty of this word.
I personally find languages to be captivating. I perceive them as an intimate expression of God’s inexhaustible creativity. While I may feel God’s embrace as displayed in nature, I see and hear God in the languages of different cultures. God’s presence is palpable as people of diverse origins uniquely use their languages in their interactions.
To me, the pulse of a culture is felt in the way its people communicate with words. I believe that for each culture to develop its own system of reading, writing, and speaking is unquestionably God’s doing. The art of words, written or spoken, growing and unfolding in different dimensions with the people who use them exudes so much power and life. It is, most definitely, an illustration of the existence of a big Creator.
Continue reading “Prakhun: You Are Royalty”
The Lie
Somewhere out there is my Mr. Right. When I find him, I will be whole and happy.
I know I bought this lie.
We have been inundated with movies and books brandishing fairytale-like love stories and insanely romantic love affairs filled with characters so in love and so “right” for each other; or preached at, by some of our churches and well-meaning Christian friends, that finding the “right Christian guy (or girl)” equals perfect happiness plus the assurance of a struggle-free marriage implying that Christians ought to have it all together. It is almost impossible not to think that we deserve the kind of love story portrayed in our modern-day media — that story with the right one — as we are skillfully bombarded with it daily. Our vision of marriage is that of a couple whose story opens with a great line and ends with an exceptional closing scene in which the length in between can be measured by the number of pages or hours. Continue reading “The Illusion of the Right One: How I Found Freedom from the Lie”
The gentle wind blowing on my body and slightly brushing my hair off my face, the calm sound of the waves on my ears, and the grandiose beauty before my eyes while lying on Ao Nang beach have led me to think of God and to see His glory as magnificently orchestrated in this idyllic moment.
I am in paradise; and I am highly favored to be living here.
Continue reading “I am in Paradise”
My God is persistent. He is persistent on loving me, persistent on burning in me, persistent on keeping me wholly for Him.
This is what He revealed to me about Himself in the last few weeks.
October 19, 2012 was the expiration date of my Thai non-immigrant visa. This visa is the hinge of all our documents here — my work permit, Jason’s visa — thus allowing us to legally stay in Krabi. In February of this year, I acquired my U.S. citizenship in Hawaii where I was granted my US passport. This event marked the end of a long process of making sure that it’s okay for me to stay out of the States for a very long time. Continue reading “On Persistence”
Not everyone is called to teach. Not everyone is given the key to shape our children’s minds. Not everyone. To teach is a privilege only a few are blessed with to love. I am blessed to be called to teach and to love doing it, and I don’t take it lightly or for granted. My … Continue reading A Privilege to Teach in Krabi
{abba's girl. fearless & fiercely loved.} by kezia lewis 