At the end of month three we were all told to brace ourselves for team changes. Two team leaders were being raised up to become squad leaders which meant team shifts were about to happen. I was a little nervous because I felt like we had a lot of stuff to work on as a team still, but I also felt at peace with whatever happened because I knew it was totally in God’s hands. Fortunately, we stayed the same and gained a new team member, Ginger Larson, and a confirmation that we were called to more together as a team. All of that being said, I realized I never did a blog about my old team name, Rooted 19:30 which is now Team Raised. I also wanted to introduce yall to my team…my family members for this year! Our original team name, Rooted 19:30, comes from 2 Kings 19:30 “Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above.” We all like this verse because we know that in order for us to bring glory to God we need to be rooted in Him; rooted in the Word, in His love, and in true community with each other. A tree can’t bear fruit without roots, much like we can’t be used by God if we aren’t rooted in Him. With another month under our belts in the Philippines, we prayed into a new team name for the new chapter of the race as a team. Soooo introducing: Team Raised…yay! We chose this name because we want to raise each other up to be the men and women that Christ calls us to be. We desire our lives to be raised up to be closer to God and stronger in our faith. Ezekiel 37 was a verse that inspired us and talks about the valley of dry bones when God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to a pile of dry bones to come to life. Ezekiel saw the dry lifeless bones, but trusted in God that He could raise them up to be a living and breathing army…and God came through (once again) to Him be the glory. We also talked a lot about self fulfilling prophesy–whatever you speak over someone, that is what they will become. Our calling this year to raise each other up to our full potential and raise each other up to the life in Christ that He calls us to live. Here’s just a quick little summary of my awesome teammates since I blog about them a lot. Each one of them truly brings something unique to the team. We are daily learning what real community is and how to love each other like Christ loves us. It’s hard to try and sum each one up in just a few sentences but here they are 🙂 And also a verse that each one of us picked to inspire our new team name/aspire to live up to throughout the next seven months. Amanda surprises me everyday…still. She was a nurse at Johns Hopkins and is the oldest one in our little family. I thought she was a conservative, sheltered home-schooled little lady but this girl has a wild side. She drives a jacked-up jeep wrangler (my dream car), wants a shooting range and cowboy boots at her wedding (but is still kind of a hippie), talks to herself on the reg, is hilarious and has a love for the LORD that is beautiful. I love her boldness, her honesty and her willingness to follow God in everything she does. Cassie and I had an instant bond from the moment when saw each other (yes that’s cheesy, but so true). We are a lot alike in our passion for ministry and share the same gift of mercy. We also both left our hearts in Honduras and we are praying into what that looks like in going back when the race is over. I love how she totally pours her heart into each month and the people that we have met along the way. She dreams big, has amazing faith and loves recklessly. Christy is a fireball from Mississippi. She has the thick accent, but that’s about the only southern thing about her. Christy has a true servant’s heart and is always looking out for others before herself. I can (and have) told Christy more than I’ve ever shared with anyone and am always encouraged and loved by her. I have absolutely loved serving beside her because of her amazing heart and we honestly just have so much fun together! She has taught me to look at other’s perspectives from every angle and she always see the best in people. This girl is so great and truly beautiful inside and out. Ginger is our newest addition, but it seems like she’s been with us the entire time. She fit right in with the craziness of our team. I absolutely love how excited she gets when she tells stories or talks about Jesus…and how she smiles with her beautiful blue eyes! This girl is the total package: from the south, grew up on a cattle farm, has her masters degree, is a world traveler, she’s even herded sheep in New Zealand! Basically, this girl can do it all…her only downfall is that she’s a Gators fan (Roll Tide). Jake is the baby on the team but when I think of him the word PASSION comes to mind. He is so on fire for the Lord and he pours his whole heart into people. Jake is outgoing, fun, loud, and hard to miss in a crowd at 6 foot 7. He loves pouring Christ’s love into gang members, prisoners, teenagers and dreams to be a youth pastor someday. Jake is definitely the protector over us and I wouldn’t want anyone else to have my back over this year! ME I’m not going to write about much here because I’m not a fan of talking about myself. But, I have learned so much in the past four months and can’t wait to see the transformation God is going to work through me over the next seven (and afterwards)! I have never felt more confirmed in my life that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m loving life, this adventure, and my team!
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Allan (team leader) is a complete goofball. He seriously has us laughing all the time. He’s 6 foot 5 and super hairy (I mean that out of love, Allan). The men on our team are not shaving their faces or cutting their hair all year…whoa. But seriously, Allan is a man after God’s heart and is truly a humble follower of Christ. Each day he lives in the moment and serving the Lord. He is a great listener, a deep thinker and is wise beyond his years. He challenges my walk with his knowledge of the Bible and deep questions…although sometimes completely random like, “If it was your last day on earth, would you brush your teeth?” haha. I would be super overwhelmed if I spent a day in the mind of Allan. I really am so blessed to have him as a leader and wouldn’t have it any other way!
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3
“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6-7
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain from the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace you have given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” Romans 12:2-3
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:9-11
