Woman Camp

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Recently, my church held a camping weekend woman’s retreat, they called it “Woman Camp”.

Ten years ago, if you had told me I would be signing up for a camping trip for 500 women only – voluntarily – I would have thought you were crazy. Sure I had attended plenty of women-only events… out of sheer obligation, but not excitedly. And I didn’t really feel like I fit in when I was there, I just didn’t relate.

In case you don’t know me, I am exactly equal parts fashionista and tomboy; which means you’re just as likely to catch me barefoot as you are in AWESOME stilettos. My best friends had almost exclusively always been guys and that’s who I spent time with.
If you were a female, you had to be not “chick-like”, but love shoes as much as me, to be invited into my circle. Chicks were crazy, high-maintenance and drama, I said.

And then, after a few years of experiencing hurt and neglect and verbal abuse and rejection, I became one of the crazy chicks. I suddenly understood all their feelings and irrational behaviors for the first time. I found myself acting out, just as irrationally.
I experienced the “why” behind their “what”, the root behind their fruit (as Jennifer Beckham would say), firsthand.

And that’s when it happened: My heart broke for them. All of them. From the most meek and timid and insecure, to the most angry and bitter and malicious, because under the surface they were all dealing with the same root(s), and so was I. I got it.

My heart softened toward them. I started listening to them instead of talking about them. Many of their stories were so similar to mine.

And then, I got mad. I saw how easily the enemy manipulates and abuses this gender – my gender. And in my heart, an agape love for these people was cultivated.

And then a handful of beautiful girls stepped alongside me and showed me what a sisterhood looks like. They loved me relentlessly and graciously accepted all my parts – the good, the bad, the tomboy and the ugly. 😉 And I wanted to do the same for them.

It didn’t take long before all the pieces fit together, and a PASSION for leading women out of bondage and shame, fear and isolation and into freedom, healing, wholeness and restoration was born in my soul.

That’s what this Woman Camp weekend was about for me – getting to be a part of that movement in Cincinnati, inside my church community. I got a glimpse of what that passion looks like coming to fruition. I wanted a front row seat to watch God do incredible, miraculous things in and through women. And I was excited to be a part of or help facilitate lives changing in any way I could.

This weekend was also a time of refreshing and worship away with my Father. It was Him showing me his plans and visions for me, once again. Him reminding me that He is handling everything, from every angle, and I’m just along for the ride – Safe. Protected. Provisioned. Called. Chosen. Anointed. Unqualified, but made qualified for this task through Him.

Let the veils stay lifted away and burned for each of us, and a clear picture of who God says we are and is calling us to be be branded in our mind’s eye. Our God has so much more for us. We are free women. No longer slaves to fear. We are children of God.

Hosanna in the Highest

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time over the last month thinking about the upcoming holiday. Easter Sunday. Resurrection Day. I wanted to spend time really meditating on it, about the significance of it, and not just let it pass me by like any other Sunday, any other weekend, any other holiday.

Mostly, I’ve been thinking about the week leading up to that day – this week– what some people call Holy Week, and others have aptly named Passion Week.

I’ve been trying to imagine what would have been going through Jesus’ mind each day leading up to his betrayal, trial, and execution.

Today, the first day of Passion Week, is called Palm Sunday.

Let’s set the scene:

Sunday, April 2nd, AD 30
Only six days before crowds cried for his blood, “Crucify him!” those same people cried, “Hosanna!” (which is the Jewish plea for deliverance; in Hebrew it’s literally translated, “Please save”) “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” They shouted. They waved palm branches (hence the name Palm Sunday) and sang praises as Jesus triumphantly rode into Jerusalem for the week-long Passover festival.

For hundreds of years, Jews everywhere had longed for the coming of a Messiah. When that moment arrived, Rome would be defeated and their lives would be free of taxation and want. No longer would soldiers of Rome be able to corral Jews like cattle, then stab and beat them…. For these people, this hope is like a lifeline, giving them courage in the face of Rome’s unrelenting cruelty.[1]

By this time, word had spread through the whole region about Jesus’ ministry; the miracles He had performed and the powerful parables he taught. Many believed He was this Messiah. This King who would overthrow the government and set them free.

There was one group of Jews however, the religious leaders, The Pharisees, who were not celebrating Jesus’ arrival into town, but plotting how to arrest and eliminate him before he could incite a rebellion and topple their power.

Jesus knew ALL of this.

He knew the Pharisees were conspiring against Him.

He knew the same people praising Him would betray Him in just a few days.

He knew He would be beaten and mocked and murdered.

Yet His love for us was so great, He went through every hour of every day of that week anyway.

My devotion today beautifully describes this day:

“Have you ever found yourself traveling down the road on your way to something you know will be a significant moment in your life? Perhaps you were on your way to your first day of college or to interview for your dream job. Or maybe you were driving to your wedding or speeding to the hospital for the birth of your child. Undoubtedly, this ride is different from your usual trip to the grocery store! Your heart is racing as your mind plays out every possible scenario.

Imagine how Jesus must’ve felt as He traveled down the road to enter Jerusalem, knowing that this road would ultimately end in his death. Jesus knew that he’d be betrayed, imprisoned, tortured and killed, but he also knew that ‘the hour has come so that the Son of Man should be glorified’ (John 12:23). You see, Jesus was on a mission to tear down the great divide between God and man, render sin powerless, to defeat death, and to set us free. Nothing was going to stop him from fulfilling his mission to rescue mankind.”[2]

Hebrews 12:2 says, “for the joy that was set before Him [He] endured the cross.”

You and I, we are that joy. Being in an unhindered relationship with us is what Jesus was focused on when He was going through all of this.  Yes, He loves us that much.

The word Hosanna has sort of been redefined after this moment in time as an expression of adoration, praise, or joy. Today, as I reflect on what Jesus willingly went through on this day for me I find myself in tears as I sing along to this song on repeat: “Hosanna”, Hillsong.

hosanna

[1] Excerpt from “Killing Jesus”, Bill O’Reilley and Martin Dugard

[2] “’It Is Finished’ Was Just the Beginning” devotional, Calvary Chapel Ft Lauderdale www.calvaryftl.org/itisfinished