God moved so much during this week of training camp in Copperhill, Tennessee!
I received a new family of 47 other people – my A-squad! These people really, truly became family in a week. Although I do generally adore people, I have never experienced such acceptance, love, commitment, and holy unity as with this group. The whole was truly greater than the sum of its parts – I have never seen that be as true as with this A squad.
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God revealed a lot to me as well. Here are some quotes related to what I learned this week:
1 – What love looks like
So much of our ministry is just going to be truly SEEING people, through the eyes of God. Recognizing their humanity, giving them our heart, our time of day, our cares. So much ministry is just sitting beside people on the street, on looking them in the eye. Everyone is the same as us – God’s creations, loved by Him. I pray that Christ continues to fill my heart so His love abundantly POURS out.
2 – Set free in the Spirit
Our squad spent a lot of time on being real, airing secrets, and past hurts. We grieved them and surrendered them to Jesus. If we are not carrying around the healing of Christ and His Spirit in us, we will be seeking to TAKE something from those we encounter instead of giving them love and blessing. This week tested us to make sure we were not running away from our pasts, but running TOWARDS Jesus and His heart.
3 – Press into the change
We have to be open to change, to press in; to let Jesus push us, and stretch us, and remake us in His image. There have been Racers who returned being relatively unchanged, with little to show for their year of ministry. I want more than that – I want the growth, love, and even brokeness He has for me. We have to COMMIT to this journey, to follow Jesus down the narrow path, to the furthest corner, and the darkest depth. Press in, press in.
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What lessons have you learned during seasons of great change?
