I learned more in the last seven days at The World Race Training Camp than I think I could have in a year of "day in and day out" living. All areas of my life (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) were challenged in deep ways. So to give you a bird's eye view into what God taught me at training camp, I have constructed a list of ten things, some humorous ans some serious, that God taught me.
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Spending the night on a school bus with 40 people and 22 seats makes for creative sleeping solutions
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I am unworthy of God's love, which qualifies me for it
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When I step out of my false identity and into who I am in Christ, He is there to receive me and guide me
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I don't always have to be the "Alpha leader"
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Eating with your hands can be fun
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People are more important than tasks
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Bucket showers aren't as bad as you think
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It is possible (and even enjoyable!) to live life without your smart phone
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I pack like a 15 year-old girl going to Disney World
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Relationships are best built through open and honest communication
I wish I could tell you the back story of each individual lesson learned on this list, but that would take a long, long time. So if you would like the non-abriged story, please call/email me and we can go for a cup of coffee (please take me up on this offer!). But for right now, I want to focus on lesson #2 on the list.
For most of my life, I have felt the need to gain worth. I mean who doesn't want to be valued? To be wanted? Well, during the last night of worship, I sensed God communicating that I was unworthy of His love. It wasn't in a mean way, though. It was actually freeing. I realized I was unworthy of God's love, which actually qualifies me for His love. This realization works on two fronts: 1) It silences the long-heard voice that says I haven't done enough to earn a relationship with God. 2) It places the source of my worth within God, not within myself or my ability to earn it. Jesus says “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast."(Eph. 2:8-9)
As you might be getting the idea, training camp was a hurricane of highs and lows, of surrendering and solidifying, of laughing and crying, and of struggles and victories. Through the experiences to which I was exposed and through the encounters I had with God, I know I am more equipped, supported and free to serve God and others on the mission field. I am excited to do life with the people of my squad. But one thing is for sure, God used training camp to open my heart to Him and to close the gap of space between us.
