Some folks
started saying the phrase “I love my life” while they were in Africa and needed
motivation to make it through the hard days. The phrase stuck with me. I say it
with all seriousness now…I really do love my life. This year has been the most
amazing gift from God. It seems a little funny to call it a gift because this
year was not easy all the time. Sometimes I wanted to run away from the pain
and hard conversations. Sometimes I wanted to close my ears to the lessons God
wanted to teach me. The overwhelming truth is that it was all worth it. Every
lesson, hard conversation, every tear was worth it.
I haven’t
blogged about team 5 Alive in awhile, so here is the truth. We fell apart in
the end. Things got hard, feelings were hurt, and we did not know how to move
past the pain. So for over the last two months we have not operated as a team.
Sometimes we were there for each other individually; but it wasn’t the same.
This year we lived in community the way Christ intended His children to. We
went deep with one another from day one, so the more you invest the more you
have to lose. When one person was struggling we rebuked satan’s schemes and
declared God’s truth over them. We loved through the hard times and prophesied
of those to come. We were Christ to one another.
The kicker I
have learned about community is that it does not happen naturally. Every single
person must chose individually to live in true community or opt-out. When we
came back together at final debrief things were still rocky. It did not sit
well with me that my family was not going to end the year on good or God’s
terms. For months I and many others prayed for reconciliation. We tried to make
it happen on our time and of course, that did not happen. Freedom fell on 5
Alive the night of our final worship. The Spirit fell on all our hearts as a
team and individually. The chains were broken, arrows were removed, and no
scars remained. Christ healed what was broken and restoration occurred.
again!
5 Alive, to the ladies who have changed me, I honor you. I started the trip in
tears because you didn’t understand me; while now a year later I am in tears
because you will no longer be with me every day. You ladies have inspired and
challenged me more than I thought possible.
To Ali: You aremy NEW sister in Christ. You are a different woman now than you were 11 months
ago. You are a bold, fierce woman of God who is going to bring Kingdom to the
world and especially Colorado!
walking in such freedom with Christ that it is contagious. Your exceptional
resume lists your gift of healing, capturing others with the spirit of
laughter, and bringing joy and truth into the Kingdom.
To Melanie: Theold is gone and the new is alive. You are God’s beautiful daughter who has the
responsibility to tell others of your transformation. You will change the world
through your gift of joy, comforting, and wise counsel. This is just the start
of your new life.
To Natalie: Your
gentle spirit has touched my soul this year. I see a warrior ready to go to
battle. You are armed with the gift of prophecy and speaking bold truths that
pierce souls. Yet a soft prayer that humbles others to life change.
God I have spent the year with is now entwined into the story of my life. I now
have a new testimony to tell and it is because of God’s direction and your love
that has brought this story to life.
Rise up women of God!
