I don’t know how I’m going to fit this into a tiny blog- but I will try…
Training camp. First of all, I thought my world was going to be rocked on the race, but God had other plans of starting this process before I even left. (thank goodness!) How is it that God can put together a group of perfect strangers and turn them into family in just 10 days? I don’t know, that’s just who He is. He is the God of the impossible, the amazing, and the miraculous. And I am SO overwhelmed by how much He loves us. Jesus showed me things about myself and about Him that literally knocked me off my seat. He sweetly wrecked me, in more ways than one, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
One thing He has continually been revealing to me is heart over mind. With His help I have been able to surrender my head, heart, hands, and pride to Him…and still have to remember to do so. Having grown up in the church has made an easy pillar to hide behind- now that I’ve realized that’s what I’ve done, I want none of it. It seems as though I have gained a lot of routine knowledge in my head- but where were the fruits of these truths? I would ask myself. I don’t want to know everything about God-but not God. The idea of knowing something in your head doesn’t necessarily make it real to you. I want the real thing. I want to really believe what I’m saying, I don’t want it to be routine. I don’t want to have the form or motion without power. I don’t want to pretend I understand and pretend to be a know it all. I don’t know anything, except how much Christ loves us. That’s it, and that is enough… instead of talking from our head to someone else’s head why don’t we try talking from God’s heart to someone elses heart? Our priority should be people and any opportunity God gives me to be a part of what He’s doing on this Earth, I’d like to think I’d take it. I think God is always calling us to something bigger than ourselves. Jesus is calling us beyond our comfort zone to step in obedience and watch him do mighty things. The devil is a sneaky little guy and tries to tell me, us, that we aren’t good enough. BUT God’s power lives inside of us! How rad is that? Jesus simply spoke and life happened, and if Jesus lives inside of us why can’t we do the same??
One of the last days at camp we were asked to listen to the voice of God and let him lead. We were sent out in a neighborhood and God broke my heart with love for a man I had never even met. I realized what it meant to be the hands and feet of Jesus, God revealed a little piece of His heart to me and it was absolutely breathtaking. Jesus would have died just for this one young man in Georgia and He would have sent me- some 22 year old girl- all the way there to speak life, hope and freedom over one person. And THAT is beautiful. I am honored and so humbled that the Savior of the Universe would use me. God’s love is so incredible. I can’t wrap my mind around it and don’t think I ever will.
On another note, I am privileged to say that I am on an all girls, I mean WOMEN’S, team. (yeah team Radiance) And just a little background- I used to work for the womens ministry at my church, been to a ton of women’s conferences and really, haven’t been too excited about women bringing the kingdom…until about 10 days ago. I can’t even tell the story because a. it’s too long and b. it might not even make sense to some people. But I am SO pumped about the women on this squad. ahh.
Now, don’t let our team name fool you, Radiance. Yes, you may say, “what a cute girl name”, and yes we had a hard time choosing a name BUT let me tell you- there is nothing girly or prissy about radiating hope, courage, life, peace, love and freedom. There is something beautiful and powerful about a company of women bringing the kingdom full force to this earth, shaking the gates of hell, displacing darkness, being kind to His children, and bringing life with every step. We are a RADIANT force to be reckoned with and no amount of darkness can dispel this light. Thank you men for believing in us, celebrating us, and inspiring us so that we can rise to our potential and do what we were made to do.
So,
let’s RISE UP, MEN OF GOD! RISE UP, WOMEN OF GOD! We are agents of righteousness and change, here to bring value, worth, and dignity to the hurting, forgotten, and dying. The time is now. We have a responsibility. We unite because we have a mandate, there are orphans to rescue, people to love. It’s not just a whisper guys, it’s a shout; you can’t ignore it- we NEED to tell people that there is a God who loves them and a company of people who believe in them. You are believed in… “follow the sound.”
I’m serious guys, I’m SO pumped… can you tell?
