Back at training camp, if you would’ve told me I would be serving on an all women team – I would’ve laughed and probably been disappointed. That’s the truth – and I can’t do much to change that thought…but there’s something amazing about choosing in to what the Lord sets before you. It’s oftentimes fairly messy – and downright uncomfortable, but I’m finding with each new day – it’s definitely worth it!
This morning I awoke to a gentle knock at my door and the satisfying aroma of cornmeal pancakes n’ eggs…one of my teammates Megan had cooked us all breakfast in bed. As she left the room, I heard this whisper move through my heart, “The Lord is doing something in team Abundant Life…He is redeeming sisterhood.” I laid in my sleeping bag for a few moments pondering this thought — doing life with these women each day is teaching me what it looks like to nurture, to love, to cherish, to appreciate, to serve, to LOVE my sisters.
About a week ago – I had to suck up my pride and habit of “pushing through” to stay home for a ‘sick day’. I guess sometimes the Lord has to get you to STOP so He can show you where and how you need to be GOING. This is where He met me…icky cold and all…this is where He caught my heart and I finally said, “I’m all in…whatever that looks like Lord…I’m all in.” This statement is complex – yet simple – and I’m not even certain of all its dimensions — but I know this one thing…I’m all in…and these women are all in…so now I sit, stand, run, walk, move each day in a place of mystery. Did you know that in the book of Daniel, it speaks of God as “the revealer of mysteries”? I loved this discovery and for several weeks have quoted it and had it on my heart – only now, being in this place of mystery…I was a little reluctant to be excited in saying “I’m all in…” and to have no immediate understanding.
That’s when my teammate Megan had be read a few pages from a book by Bill Johnson. One thing that stuck out to me said this: “We cannot afford to live only in what we understand because then we don’t grow or progress anymore; we just travel the same familiar roads we have traveled all of our Christian life. It is important that we expose ourselves to the impossibilities that force us to have questions that we cannot answer.” My favorite part came after this…(the Lord’s been speaking to me lately in phrases He’s spoken over my life or had me journaling, so naturally, seeing some of these concepts repeated in regards to mystery blessed me and cracked me up) “The Christian life is poised between what we presently understand and the unfolding revelation that comes to us from the realm of mystery — there are vast resources of revelation in heaven yet to be tapped into – there are melodies that have never been played or considered. There is lyrical content that would minister deeply to the Church and stir the world to conversion. Our job is to tap the revelation of the Lord in our area of talent/gifting so we can accurately and powerfully reflect the King and His Kingdom.”
With all this said…we had a ceremony last night in “Liberty House” – the place we are staying to commemorate and mark the unity we are walking in and to establish our sisterhood! Each of us were instructed to bring an activity/contribution. (Below is a photo of a piece of artwork Shawndell put together for our ceremony – 6 individual pieces…nice, but not great on their own…but when put together – form a unified picture — still a little rough around the edges (showing there’s work to be done/room to grow), but connected uniquely together – with Christ at the center.)
With JOY, I introduce to you, team ABUNDANT LIFE…
Together we are SISTERS, FIERY WOMEN OF GOD, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING…
learning to love one another each day – and letting the Lord restore SISTERHOOD.
learning to love one another each day – and letting the Lord restore SISTERHOOD.
We are team ABUNDANT L.I.F.E (Light, Intimacy, Fire, Eyes).
We have faith that moves mountains + the Word of God is FIRE in our bones…
We’re ready to see the KINGDOM here on earth as is it in heaven!
We will see breakthrough – we already are.
We have faith that moves mountains + the Word of God is FIRE in our bones…
We’re ready to see the KINGDOM here on earth as is it in heaven!
We will see breakthrough – we already are.
We will see blind eyes healed, deaf ears opened.
Lame people will walk + dead people will be raised.
People who have sat trapped in darkness will be brought into the LIGHT!
People who have sat trapped in darkness will be brought into the LIGHT!
Why? The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon us –
He has anointed us to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus throughout these nations…
We are His feet. We are His hands. We are His voice. We are His heart overflowing in LOVE, HOPE + HEALING.
We are His feet. We are His hands. We are His voice. We are His heart overflowing in LOVE, HOPE + HEALING.
He has called us, for such a time as this!
love, love from Romania!!!
