Hello dear friends, loved ones and strangers!!! As I wrap up on my
final full day at training camp, I cannot help but reflect on the
things that have happened here. I could tell you about the location of
our camp, or the people I have met, or the amazing worship, or declaring things over the nations, or the time I
got spit on, but I think I much rather share with you something that
God has been teaching me. While here, I have been learning acceptance
with joy. Acceptance is not the hard part- it’s the ‘with joy’ part that I sometimes find difficult to put into practice. It always sounds so much easier than it really is. But, you know- it’s been getting easier. Praise
God! While at training camp, I learned a new and a favorite game, best
known as “the thank you game.” Whenever I am feeling discouraged, I make
myself say out loud ten things that I am thankful for. My teammates are
also really good at holding one another accountable to this. It seems
like something so simple, but when you sit down and you compare all of
the things that you have to be thankful for to the things that are
bothering you, the number of things we have to be thankful for is always
greater. I have grown here and I can
feel it. I have been challenged here to enter the presence of God with
an open heart, to really be still before him, and to listen to His
voice. God has wrecked areas of my heart here, challenging me to take
certain steps to become a better me. God is teaching me what it looks like to choose what is right versus what is easy. He is teaching me what it is like to speak life into others when I am tired. He is teaching me what it is like to serve with a willing heart, even when all I want to do is sit down and eat my dinner in peace. He is teaching me to wake up early and spend time in solitude with Him, even if it means getting five hours of rest instead of six. He is showing me what it is like to recognize my flaws and faults, and to actually reconcile with people that I love. The point is that while at training camp, I have learned that God is filling my cup daily, not too much, or not too less and whether it is hard, or humiliating,
or
frustrating, or painful…. God gives what He gives to me for a reason and I get to receive it
with a smile and “in everything give thanks” (1 Thes. 5:18).
final full day at training camp, I cannot help but reflect on the
things that have happened here. I could tell you about the location of
our camp, or the people I have met, or the amazing worship, or declaring things over the nations, or the time I
got spit on, but I think I much rather share with you something that
God has been teaching me. While here, I have been learning acceptance
with joy. Acceptance is not the hard part- it’s the ‘with joy’ part that I sometimes find difficult to put into practice. It always sounds so much easier than it really is. But, you know- it’s been getting easier. Praise
God! While at training camp, I learned a new and a favorite game, best
known as “the thank you game.” Whenever I am feeling discouraged, I make
myself say out loud ten things that I am thankful for. My teammates are
also really good at holding one another accountable to this. It seems
like something so simple, but when you sit down and you compare all of
the things that you have to be thankful for to the things that are
bothering you, the number of things we have to be thankful for is always
greater. I have grown here and I can
feel it. I have been challenged here to enter the presence of God with
an open heart, to really be still before him, and to listen to His
voice. God has wrecked areas of my heart here, challenging me to take
certain steps to become a better me. God is teaching me what it looks like to choose what is right versus what is easy. He is teaching me what it is like to speak life into others when I am tired. He is teaching me what it is like to serve with a willing heart, even when all I want to do is sit down and eat my dinner in peace. He is teaching me to wake up early and spend time in solitude with Him, even if it means getting five hours of rest instead of six. He is showing me what it is like to recognize my flaws and faults, and to actually reconcile with people that I love. The point is that while at training camp, I have learned that God is filling my cup daily, not too much, or not too less and whether it is hard, or humiliating,
or
frustrating, or painful…. God gives what He gives to me for a reason and I get to receive it
with a smile and “in everything give thanks” (1 Thes. 5:18).
Thankful for these lovely sisters in Christ!!! We leave for Africa tomorrow!!!!
