After 2,000 miles and seeing and experiencing the South I have arrived safely in Nashville, TN to my new home at Thunder School. Surrounded by students from all over the country and many on the younger side I began to compare myself thinking what am I doing here. The housing and food pretty much remind me of well.....a shelter, But once the worship, teachings and learning of the history began, the reality of why I was here started to sink in. To be Christ like is to serve one another in love and we are to align ourselves to that which our Father in heaven is doing - preparing to reap the harvest that is awaiting to be reaped through encounters with God is what it's all about. My lesson learned..... an attitude change was much needed in me. Releasing everything of my comfort and desires and hearing of the many stories of all those who come to know and encounter God b/c of sacrafices is of a far greater value and the way God can truly work through me.
We are on a 10 day fast from all music - no instruments,singing, listening to music so that we can learn to value one another and be real with ourselves before using our gifts from God so that we truly use them for God. In our morning excersize time another reality hit me that I couldn't get away from and that is we are only as strong as our weakest link....which for running we are not that strong and during that run all I could think about is how this apply's to our church body. Through much encouragement the girls are determined to see improvement in the next few weeks but again I think back to our church....what are we doing and how can we be strengthening our weakest link (and I am thinking nationwide not just individual churches)
I am encouraged to know that The Foundry - the main meeting hall is actually the original marathon car foundry from early 1900's where the 1st car parts were made - they melted the metal down into it's purest form so that the best/strongest part left standing would remain to build the cars and function correctly. So symbolic of what the Lord has done and will do in many lives that encounter God in that building. With an attitude change and pressing in, I believe I am in for a life transofrming experience but in ways i cannot predict.
Thank you all for your support!!!!!!