Have you ever tried stretching taffy as far as it will go? The middle starts to fade in color until it's eventually white. A thick chunk gets pulled until the strand is as thin as a spiders web.
These past few days at training camp have stretched me immensely. From ministering to people in downtown Atlanta during the middle of our first night, to letting go of my fears of going to Kenya and not knowing what to expect.
Through different activities and meetings throughout training camp, God has been teaching me how to surrender my want to control, and to instead be willing to change. In order for God to move in His power, I have to open my arms and heart to Him. In order to be shaped and molded by Him, I need to first let go of things that I've held on to for far too long: comparison, jealousy, pride, bitterness, performance and perfection. God wants me to have His abundant life, but I have to be willing to let go and trust Him.
Jesus has been speaking to me over the past few days about being in the secret place, alone with Him. When I turn to Him to give me an identity and tell me who I am, everything else will fall into place. Everything else will flow out. I don't have to worry about being a "savior" to the people in Kenya, or having a "fix it" mentality like I so often do. When our Daddy speaks life into our souls, love and joy and restoration can't help but pour out.
At a worship meeting this morning, one staff member told us about a flash-flood warning that is in place right now in the town we're staying. Just like the rain is physically coming down, God is pouring out his Spirit- enough for a flash-flood warning! He is letting forgiveness and comfort rain down over this entire place to wash away shame and every regret.
Our Abba Daddy is good, and is continuing to challenge me and heal old scars. He is inviting me and my team into a place of intimacy and freedom with Him, knowing that we can't do anything without Him.
God is Love, and I am being loved. I am being challenged. I am being healed. I am being pushed. I am being stretched like taffy. And it is good. <3
