Training Camp Part II
The last months in my life have been quite a whirlwind. But one of the most calming and humbling parts of going through training camp last week in Georgia was the continuing realization that God had placed people in my life, put books into my hands, and built quiet times with Him into my days that made my heart fertile soil for what he wanted to do in that week. He simply went to work.
One of the biggest revelations for me during this season has been to truly believe that we are royalty in God’s kingdom. We are sons and daughters. Do you know how much that fundamentally changes how you approach each day, and how you approach the creator of the universe? Forget about just a personal relationship; that is relationship that takes on a lot of uncomfortability, that is counter-cultural, that requires dependency. Being royalty requires you going places you don’t want to go, but it also produces an intimacy compounded by a confidence that God wants us to get where we want to go more than we do. And he will get us there.
God got my squad and I a lot farther this past week. Yah, the week prepped us for scenarios we might face in the next year; yah, it involved sleeping outside and elsewhere; yah, it involved some measure of team-building; what it really did, though, was put us on crash course towards brokenness, and therefore, a crash collision on going to the nations with a measure of the fullness of life with which we are meant to live! I knew I was in the right place when one of our squad leaders (who are all studs by the way), KK, introduced herself the first night and just declared that we are royalty. I was like, “Let’s go!”
A few words that I got from the Lord over the course of the week combined into this: “Nathan, memorize my word so that it will be at your lips; speak my word and I will break down walls; look silly for me, and I will give you the kind of anointing you’re hungry for.” The past month, and at training camp especially, my questioning God centered around thoughts like these: why can’t even the things we touch be used to bring healing like Paul in Acts 19? Why can’t the people I see around me have the same kind of Holy Spirit power that meant a man came back to life even after touching the bones of Elisha in 2 Kings 13? I kept feeling like God was asking in return: "how ridiculous are you willing to look for me?"
Let me tell you: this squad that I’m going with is willing to look ridiculous—God transferred head knowledge down to heart restoration and relevation at training camp. This squad is made up of sons and daughters who are ready to bring the Kingdom—God is bringing obedience out of relationship and not out of obligation.
Without further ado: L Squad at Toccoa Falls…
L Squad men on Currahee mountain after a sweat-inducing, bonding experience…
An awesome representation of our squad, and how the Lord brought us together over the course of the week, was our reaction to what happened on the second to last morning of training camp. One of our team leaders, Jackie, slipped down a hill and injured her ankle; all I remember is being somewhat groggy eyed and waiting to figure out what we were going to do for a morning workout, and all of a sudden my boy Noah (see his blog—awesome dude) comes over carrying Jackie. Our team’s reaction: we gathered around Jackie and started our day off by lifting her up in prayer and singing as a squad. These are the kind of people I want to be in fellowship with for the next year; these are some game-changers.
