Today is my day off. It’s the first day off I’ve had in 15 days…I’m not tired per se, but reflective, re-energizing and remembering.
Another Training Camp is over. My fourth since I’ve worked at AIM, the first of the 4 I will direct this year. Another 34 men and women have been empowered with everything I can possibly think of to journey around the world walking in the power of the Holy Spirit to deliver hope to the nations.
Training Camp is a hopeless bait and switch. I can’t help it. There’s no way to prepare for what God does at camp. Even coming out on the back end, I’m still tongue-tied to answer the inevitable question: “how was camp?” The truth is, camp was awesome. It was hard, had it’s very low lows, had it’s incredible highs and was exactly what God intended. I’m blessed to work alongside some wise, gifted, Spirit-empowered individuals. I’m honored to serve a leader who has a vision far greater than mine and who takes time away to love me as a person not as an employee. I’m blessed that God chose me to be here right now, I don’t deserve it.
If you read the “Last 100 Blogs” on the World Race home page you’ll see littered throughout the blog reports of the 34 individuals who had their lives wrecked this past week. While every camp deals with the emotional baggage, hurt, wounds and scars from the past, no group I’ve trained has engaged in the grieving process the way this group did. God gave me a prophetic word for this squad: “those who have been forgiven little, love little; those who have been forgiven much, love much.” This group is taking it to the next level and they’re doing it through brokenness…
I’m always amazed at how Satan tries to attack the kingdom shaking efforts we engage in. My team who has done several rounds of camp with me now, know that about 2-3 weeks out we have to start preparing ourselves for the onslaught of the enemy. Our minds, hearts, emotions, moods, relationships, families, etc. all seem to come under strain, stress, turmoil or attack as we lead into camp. It’s so blatantly obvious I’ve stopped trying to explain it away as coincidence. As we take the necessary precautions to pray protection over ourselves, our leaders, our community, etc. we start noticing the tactics changing. This time it was vehicles. Don’t ask me why, but cars that have run smoothly for months on end all broke down at the same time (not kidding people at least 6-7 vehicles simultaneously needed repairs the week before camp started).
Even at the conclusion of camp, devastating news from a sister department in AIM hits us and we launch back into action tired or not. It’s worth every struggle to see the lives changed and the kingdom rocked. I understand in a profound way Paul’s confession that he has “poured himself out as a drink offering”. The great thing is, an empty glass sits waiting to be filled and it’s no better time to allow the Spirit to fill again with HIS power, HIS strength, HIS perseverance.
In only 7-8 weeks another camp has to come together, this time with 3 times as many participants. God is faithful. Thanks for your prayers and partnership in the kingdom. It’s the most wonderful thing I can think of doing with my life right now.
