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“For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. …
Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other.  Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?  Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?  Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. 

From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth He showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 

 
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. “                                         
                                                                                              -Deuteronomy 4:24, 32-37, 39, NIV

I think in a lot of ways, my team had a “Moses” experience during training camp. 

The day had arrived. We’d been curious all week. Who we would be partnered with for the next 11 months of our lives?? Our small teams were about to be announced. When the leaders began declaring teams, we all sat in anticipation, eagerly waiting for our names to be called.  The whole squad sat in a giant circle under the big tent outside. 

Team one….Team two…. Team three….Team four…. Team five….Team six……

My team was Team seven.  The last seven people announced.  
Like the last kids waiting to be chosen for the kickball team.   (WAH WAH WAAAAAAAH)

Everyone else was jumping up and down, joyously screaming and embracing each other. When we were called… I felt like I had to force the excitement out of me.  Maybe it was just because all of a sudden we were the last one’s sitting, so it kind of gave the surprise away.  I mean, it wasn’t like I didn’t already love each one of my new teammates or anything.  I’d actually already had some great bonding times with each of them one on one.  I guess by the time we dug between the other groups bursting with joy and physically got to each other, our excitement had brushed off on everyone else…. and the moment had passed.
 
I faintly reminded myself of the first night of Ignition Training, when the whole squad put our fingerprints on this lovely canvas.  We agreed to lay down our expectations of who our teammates would be.  We agreed to let the Lord lead the World Race Staff in putting our teams together.   I honestly didn’t think I had any expectations!

                                                                                    …………………………….. Really, God?  This will be interesting.
 
 
We attempted to redeem our misfortunate union a little later during our team bonding time. We were given 4 hours to make a memory.  So, we headed into town, grabbed some appetizers at Applebee’s and shared our stories to get to know each other. We also went to Wal-Mart and bought $5 gift exchange, which was actually the first sign that the Lord had great things planned for our team. 

Still, while the Lord blessed that time of fellowship, there were still little things that were eating at us.  We could feel the discord, but we didn’t really voice it.

So, on Friday of Training Camp, when the other six teams were hitting the streets of Gainesville to minister, it was finally voiced within our group that we weren’t ready to minister yet.  We all agreed we needed to have a heart to heart.  So, our team stayed back to discuss the heaviness that was over us. We didn’t feel like we were united in purpose or spirit to even attempt to minister to any one else.  Just that feeling alone made us feel inadequate. What the heck was God thinking putting us together???

To make a long story short, Satan had attacked our team in a physical and spiritual way. We had stayed back to duke it out with one another to try and figure out what was wrong with us…. But God had OTHER plans. J

Satan physically attacked one of our team members. She felt lightheaded, sick, and like a huge weight was pressing on her.  She was literally lying on the floor in pain. Once we realized what was going on, the Holy Spirit confirmed that this was more than her getting a little overheated… Satan had come after our team.

                         *** UNITY ***

We instantly surrounded her and began praying against the spirits of discord, inadequacy, anxiety, fear, mistrust, hurts, and a billion other things I can’t even recall. The fire of the Lord came bursting forth from our hearts and mouths like I’ve never experienced in my life. Scripture that I hadn’t read in years came flying out of my mouth.  I claimed things in Jesus’ name I’d never thought to claim before. After about 10 minutes, we all felt the heaviness lift off of us. 

(These are pictures of our team presentation…. when we made a musical drama and reinacted our unifying moment…)
 
In that moment, the Lord showed us exactly how our team fit together, and why He destined for us to serve together for the next 11 months.   Just like Moses, He showed us His Great fire, and we heard His words from out of the fire. 

We know we are a mess.   Individually…. and collectively as a group.  🙂  Each one of us has our issues and it’s going to take a lot of grace for our strong personalities to work together this year.   We’ve learned how to laugh at each other in the process of working together. 🙂

We also know that God has put a fire in each of our hearts.  

We have a choice: we can consume ourselves, or we can unite and set this world on fire for Christ. 

 We choose to unite. We chose to die to ourselves and life for the Glory of God. 

 Introducing….

Team Hot Mess!

 

Oh ya, and in case you were wondering how we feel now…. we know we have the most AMAZING team ever.   We know God has great things in store for us this year, and we’re trusting Him to lead us! 
I love you more than you know, my brothas and sistas!!!!   I can’t wait to do life with you these next 11 months!!
 
“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.  Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.  May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”  
                                                                                                            1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” ”    – Hebrews 12:28-29