ga thanks for community & freedom

georgia, 

 

you were so good to me.

 

community

living in community with my squad in georgia was such a sweet season. i learned how to pursue not so easy relationships, be vulnerable, bring hard things up to others, serve my brothers and sisters, to love, and to forgive as christ does. when i think about my time in georgia i remember the first time the squad all sat in a circle at our first camp site sharing where we were from, our names and our favorite ice cream flavor, i think about the times kayla would be yelling “help” at the top of her lungs because of the spiders in her tent, hanging out in the enos having sweet conversations with my friends getting to know each other better, running in the woods with kourtney and peeing our pants from laughing so hard, having my first one-on-one with kate sitting on the grass sharing about my life, decorating the table and serving the men of our squad dinner after their hike, the pavilion holds many sweet memories where we ate our meals, played basketball, hung our clothes up on the chairs as we waited three days for the to dry, the dance parties, devotions, worship and one-on-ones. 

 

freedom

 i learned what it means to walk in undefiled freedom. emalani (my sweet team leader) is a woman who walks in so much freedom that is so evident in her daily life. i learned so much about what it means to be free because of her. one night in ga i was feeling overwhelmed by my emotions and i brought it her. she prayed psalm 139 over me, verses 1-6 say

“Lord, you have searched me and know me. you know when i sit down and when i stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. you observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. you have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. this extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. it is lofty; i am unable to reach it. then in 23-24 it says “search me, God and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. see if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.”

after emalani prayed over me she said “tonight when you go to bed i envision you laying in abbas arms as he calls you his child and daughter.” i am his child and that is enough. i have learned to fully rest and abide in him. to come as i am on my knees before him. there’s no striving in his kingdom just abiding.

 

on november 18th i wrote in my journal “abba, you set me free. you took every burden off my shoulders, they are not mine to carry. i was a prisoner locked up in the chains of my past. you broke every chain and set me free. i’m no longer a slave to fear, i am a child of God. you are a God of reconciliation. i now live in your freedom. the old is gone, the new has come. i dance with you in white. i am pure, healed & whole. may the freedom i walk in be an example of your goodness and faithfulness. thank you for sending your son to die on the cross so i can be free.” i learned what it means to give God not just a piece of my heart but my whole heart. i wrote “you restore my heart, you honor my heart, you hold my heart, you respect my heart, you adore my heart, you carry my heart, you heal my heart, you have my heart. by your wounds i am healed.”

 

when we were asked to share about what it is we’ve learned in georgia i didn’t even know where to begin. there has been so much i have learned but freedom and community are two things that i value with all my heart. because of the transformation it’s brought in my life i will continue to walk in healthy community and freedom forever. 

 

lots of love,

lydia