How do I even begin to describe the week I had at training camp. Some words that come to mind are supernatural, amazing, exhausting, challenging, love, tenderness, family, hilarious with a little bit of crazy, wrecked for the ordinary, and all GOD.
I can't write down every detail that happened that week, especially since it felt like a month. So I'm just going to tell you what God did in my life and how He changed my heart.
Before training camp, I didn't want any expectations which meant that I did not intentionally ask God for anything specific. But God in His mighty awesome power, knew exactly what I desired and needed. The first thing He knew I desired was a close knit community and squad mates that I could relate to and fall in love with. Yes I intentionally said fall in love with, because that is what happened. I love these people like they are my brothers and sisters. In some crazy and awesome way God knit our hearts together instantaneously. Friendship and community came without having to force it or work on it. I can honestly say I am so honored and excited to serve with these people for a year if not longer.
The next thing that God did in me was a greater understanding of His love. Once again this was not something that I directly asked God for but He still knew the desires of my heart. Through an encounter that I can't quite wrap my head around God showed me the tenderness of the Father. He spoke words of affirmation into my heart about being an adored daughter that He loves and is proud of. God spoke directly to me and showed me the way He loves to hold me and speak blessings over me. Before this experience I can honestly say that I would not have described God the Father as a tender Father. I knew that He was strong, mighty, righteous, and all these things are good and true but they are not the whole picture of the Father. The Father is tender and wants to lavish love on us and hold us in the most intimate ways. I can honestly say I know the Father's love in a whole new way and most definitely have a greater understanding of it. This experience would have been enough, but God affirmed so much more in my life.
I had several people speak over me about the joy the Lord has given me, how my Father is proud of me, adores me, loves me, and how He loves the way I worship and how it will bring freedom in worship to others. God is so crazy because it would be enough just to be in His presence. But He never just stops at enough, He always fills us to over flowing, He always exceeds our expectations, and only stops here because it is all we can handle.
