Extravagance !!!!
This past week of debrief has taught me about extravagance.
I’m learning how God views me,
and how in turn I view and impact the world.
I love the hard work of ministry,
but it’s essential to learn the importance of R E S T.
God loves to relax, and He renews us through spiritual rest.
When we let go of having to do more,
He gives us unexpected gifts.
While Mozambique was a wonderful place to serve,
there was a lack of beautiful landscapes, and no lack of mosquitos.
We were all thrilled to see such beauty in South Africa and have a breezy,
bug-free place to stay !
After a gorgeous drive through a lush mountain landscape we got to the hostel in Nelspruit.
A fresh, warm rain was falling hard so the electricity was out,
which made the hostel cozy and warm with candles lit everywhere.
Hot tea and coffee, real beds,
warm showers and bright colored rooms welcomed us in.
There were pathways, benches,
porches and decks over-looking mountains,
rivers and forests.
The next day we went to the mall to get some food and new clothes.
(Most of my old ones were un-wearable by now!)
Three girls and I were eating at Mug & Bean and a family next to us asked about the race.
They were interested in our travels and told us how their son wanted to do mission work.
When our check arrived, they offered to pay it for us!
We were all about to cry.
We’ve been living on $4 dollars a day, and extra spending money is scarce!
We got the opportunity to pray with them, and when we left they gave us each 100 rand!
It was so amazing, such a special treat from God. He loves doing that stuff.
Then, one of our teammates Rachel has been in the hospital for a while with malaria, keeping her from being at the hostel with us.
( Click on the links ahead to read her 4 part story of healing. The first two are about her conversations with God, and she is finishing up the last two blogs about her radical healing, so check back soon for those!! )
Her malaria got bad.
Really bad.
She was in so much pain.
A few of the team stayed with her each night praying for her.
She was prayed over that the malaria would not only leave her now, but leave her body forever.
Once you have malaria, it stays in your body for the rest of your life.
When she was tested a second time, the malaria was gone!
No trace of it.
As if she never had it.
God doesn’t only want to heal us now; He wants to heal us wholly, completely and forever.
Last but not least, one of the best stories yet is whats happening in my heart.
I've been praying to know more fully who I am in Christ He’s been teaching me what it means to
live in His castle and walk through the kindom.
The castle is God’s amazing love,
and no bad thing lives inside.
I am His daughter, so rightfully I live there in His protection.
But I so often leave the castle and try to make it on my own.
I have to stop leaving.
So in my mind, I am now entering the castle.
God is so glad I’m there and wants me to explore the castle, all He has for me, the rooms and chambers and kitchens and closets. It’s all mine, it’s all ours! But for some reason I can’t get past the door. I know there are things I’m still holding on to in my heart that hurt me I must let go.
It’s like I can’t take off my jacket and shoes and actually move into the castle.
I know only good things await me inside…
"But God !!…..my coat is warm, my shoes tied tightly on, and I have important things in my pockets !"
God said that he has new clothes and royal dresses waiting.
He is so patient to wait for me and keep blessing me as I begin to take off the lies.
That night we were all asked to write and draw an encouraging thing for a teammate near us.
When I got my drawing back from Morgan, she had written:
“You are running quickly and there are things falling off you, He wants you to leave them behind. It’s like clothes are coming off that were so binding.”
She had no idea the picture that I had in my mind all morning!
I was never one to share images or visions I had in my mind,
but more and more God’s teaching me to voice those things so He can bless them and help me let go.
Gosh, it’s crazy seeing Him open my heart up! I highly recommend the book “The Supernatural Ways of Royalty”. I haven’t finished it yet, but it’s helping re-learn who I am in the kingdom.
We have to start walking as royalty.
Can you believe the following statements that you are:
valued,
cared for,
respected,
confided in,
enough,
immortal,
and loved by someone who will never let you go?
Do you think your words have royal power?
Go spend time with Him and believe it !!
I went to buy a new bible because I lost my old one.
It started off as a joke when my friend picked out a bible written for little girls called
“My Beautiful Princess”
….but as I flipped through the pink colored pages full of scripture and notes written from God to his daughter, I knew He was telling me to get it.
It’s a fresh start for this race and my new mindset living in the castle.
More to come soon! I’m stoked that we are spending next month in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
I love that it is actually a Kingdom, symbolic of God teaching me of His heavenly kingdom this month!!
Love,
Rach
*The Growing Freely girls headed to the African Cup of Nations Semi Finals game !*
*Ghana vs. Burkina Faso !*
