Even though it was just 10 days long, training camp felt closer to 100. It is hard to look back to what seems like 100 days ago and think of everything that took place. Details and memories flutter around my head- while there is one thing I have found as a constant through them all, that God was moving! Movement of the Lord is something that is nearly impossible to capture all on paper. It is not something that can be fully expressed in words because it is so much bigger than words will ever be able to describe. It may take me months of continued processing, writing, rewriting, reworking sentences, and so on before I am able to even complete a rough draft explaining just a glimpse of the way God moves. But I know people are eager to hear about training camp now sooo… here is just a tiny bit of what my future roommates, friends, former strangers and I learned and discussed.
We learned about being the church and what that will look like within our squad and our teams over the next 9 months.
That because the church is a body, we are free, to be who we are without comparison. An acknowledgment that not being yourself robs the church of a gift only you can give, because the church is a body filled with different members each with its own set of gifts and purposes. So, do not compare what a foot does to what a mouth does!
We also evaluated the cost of discipleship, and found the cost of discipleship is everything but the reward of Jesus and all we gain through Him outweighs the cost every time. God doesn’t ask us to be comfortable He asks us to have faith and to be effective! So, choose to die to yourself daily.
We shed light on how God is not safe but He is good! He is not predictable but his nature is! And here is a nice reminder: DON’T LIVE FOR GOD’S APPROVAL LIVE FROM IT!
We saw how the law always focuses on a person’s actions but grace always focuses on the person’s heart.We learned how the law was not created to fix us but to point us to the one who can, Jesus.
We discussed how we do not have permission to compare ourselves to anyone but Christ. We are all created in his image and comparison always tears down an image that God has created uniquely and wonderfully. On top of that our identity is not in how others see us, our identity is in Christ as sons and daughters of the King of Kings. I mean seriously if that isn’t dope on a rope I don’t know what is! And I’m not even done yet! God loves His children (aka us) so much that He will get undignified running after us! Because like it or not we are all the prodigal son and we are the one sheep that goes astray but he leaves the 99 sheep for that one every time! Because sheep happens 😉 .
Also picked up this great Martin Luther King quote “Our lives begin to end the moment we become silent about the things that matter”. And the last couple quick lessons: it is impossible to evangelize and antagonize at the same time, you can only live as freely as you forgive, and doubt when you bring it to the Lord deepens your faith.
So that was a lot and yet I only lightly touched upon a few things that we learned and discussed. There is so much more and if you would like to hear more please feel free to reach out and ask any questions. You can email me at [email protected] .
Just another BIG thank you to everyone who has supported me so far whether through prayer, financially, encouragement, or even just by reading my blogs. It means so much and has been super encouraging, it really is so amazing to see how God is using all of you as a part of this crazy awesome journey and I am beyond grateful for every single one of you! Through your generosity and support I have reached my first goal of $5,000!!! And now I am working toward my next goal of $10,000 which needs to be in by August 22. So please pray for God to provide and for peace as my trip is fast approaching and I am feeling overwhelmed by my ever growing to do list. If you feel led to give please feel free to do so here on my blog! Or, if you prefer to write a check to adventures in missions with my name (Selina Morgan) in the memo line, then mail it to: Adventures in Missions, PO Box 742570, Atlanta, GA 30374-2570. Thanks again for all of your continued support and for being a part of what God is doing in my life!
