Growth is huge. It’s happening in the hearts of my squad mates and my heart and it’s so so evident. I’ve began diving into God’s word daily which I would try to do before but it would only sometimes be consistent. (Usually not consistent)
Now I wake up every morning, listening to worship music on my walk to morning devos, then at morning devos I get to sink in the Lord’s presence. That can look like prayer, journaling, studying a chapter in the Bible and more. Although whatever it is, I include scripture always. This is helping me to become 1- more scripturally sound and 2- closer to the Father.
Now here are some things that the Lord has revealed to me through my squad mates prayers for me.
God opened my teammate Kylah’s eyes to my heart and told me I was like a butterfly the way I live my life. “You flutter around from place to place bringing light, kindness, and joy wherever you land. The Lord’s beauty is in you. When people look at you, they see transformation and life. You make people feel welcomed, and you also are welcomed wherever you go.” – Kylah U
My team leader Aidyn woke up one night with the words “Val” and “Amber” on her mind. She knew it was from the Holy Spirit so the next morning she looked up what amber is and what it’s purpose was in order to see how it pertained to me. Here’s what she wrote to me in a letter. “Amber is formed from fossilized tree resin. Tree resin is produced as a protective mechanism when a tree is wounded, so it represents healing. It can also pour out of mature trees due to tension produced by rapid growth. Healing + Christ’s life + power are pouring out as you grow into him. It’s already there. Healing pain + revealing growth. It’s beautiful to behold.” wow. I’m healing and rapidly growing into the person that the Lord wants me to be. That’s cool. Thank you aidyn for those words and thank you Jesus for giving them to her.
Based off of what Kylah and Aidyn spoke to me, I put them together and got a monarch butterfly. (It’s a butterfly w the color of amber on it, get it?) Then, the other night I was painting and wrote the word strength cause the Lord kept bringing it to my mind. I didn’t know what that meant for me but I also decided to paint a monarch butterfly. Because of this, I decided to do some research on monarch butterflies cause why not ?? (I love researching animals in my free time btw *fun fact*) Come to find out, monarch butterflies typically only live a couple weeks, but the “last”/youngest generation will go through delayed sexual maturity and live around 8/9 months. WOW. That’s a hugeeee difference. Within this long period, they migrate quite incredible distances. Monarch butterflies aren’t just beautiful, delicate, creatures, but they also have a lot of strength and grit. Pretty cool. Through all this, I think Jesus was trying to tell me that I’m more than I think I am. I’ve known and have been told many times that I’m a kind, joyful, childlike, spirit to be around which I do really like about myself, but Jesus didn’t want me to discount the strength that I hold. Thanks for that reminder Jesus, you’re sweet 🙂
I’ve been raised up into a worship leader position along with Nathan Mullis and Abi Dolihite. (I’m extremely excited about it) People have seen my heart for worship and have seen my growth the most when I’m leading worship. The first time I was thrown into leading worship was at month one debrief. That week, during one of the sessions, I spoke up despite the fear I had always had of “not making sense” or being a “hindrance” to the conversation. People reassured me when I spoke that my words made perfect sense AND added substance. From that day forward, my confidence to speak up in a discussion has grown although whenever I helped lead worship at debrief, I didn’t speak up. I can’t really remember if I even had words to say or not, but every other worship session after that, I’ve been able to speak out the words that the Lord puts on my heart with little hesitation. It’s been cool. The Lord has almost always given me words for the squad prior to the worship sessions that always seem to fit the work he does in our hearts that night.
A little after one of the worship sessions, I was in the kitchen with Kori Moon (one of the team leaders/worship leaders). She looked at me and said “you’re growing so much, you’re like a chia pet.” I thought that was silly and cute.
Now, I didn’t say all of these things in chronological order but I hope that’s okay. I had been wanting to write a blog about how I’m growing and it’s cool but didn’t know where to start so I just started writing and now here we are. We leave Romania in 15 days. It’s crazy how fast time has flown by like…. I’m almost a third way done with the race… what?!!!?! I can’t fathom it, but I mean I guess time flies when you’re growing and having fun serving Jesus. I have some more blogs coming up that I need to post before I leave Romania so stay tuned and thank you for reading. Jesus loves you so much <3
now here’s a verse that’s been on my mind lately – For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. – Galatians 1:10 ESV (woah that’s good)
