Who I am

The Great "I AM" reminds me of who I am!

I am God's child (John 1:12)

I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )

I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)

I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)

I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)

I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)

I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)

I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)

I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)

I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)

I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)

I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)

I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)

I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)

I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )

I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )

I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)

I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)

I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)

I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected.. (Phil. 1: 5)

I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)

I belong to God.

the baby Jesus

Anticipation of the coming King.

Honesty of the manger scene.

Mary shunned by her pregnancy.

Joseph visited by an angel to make him believe.

A long trip, a full inn.

Where were the rest of the carpenter's family?

A teenage pregnancy.

The smell of the barn.

The labor and delivery of the beautiful baby boy.

Joseph and Mary, the newborn.

A miracle.

Celebrate the miracle.

Celebrate Jesus.

I have been living in the anticipation of the coming King. Releasing my expectations and resting in the beauty of my family. Desiring to just Know Him. My need for Him. My desire to be known by Him. I hope and rest in the coming King. The kingdom of my heavenly Father and my Savior. One. Only. Presence.

Merry Christmas.

Winter Wonderland

WACKY TACKY CHRISTMAS CLUB: Loudon High School, Lenoir City High School, Greenback High School

Holiday Treats!

Thanksgiving...a treat to be with family at my grandparents in Maryville, TN. Great conversations, walks, trip to Dollywood, good food and football.

12 Foods of Christmas: at club Chris, a leader at Lenoir City High School and I ate

1 gulp of Coke

2 oreo cookies

3 sips of hot sauce

4 hands of flour

5 raw eggs

6 jalepeno peppers

7 doritos

8 black olives

9 M & M's

10 hershey syrup

11 gummy worms

12 dill pickles

As the kids sang, we went down the line 12 times. By the end we were covered with food, stuffed sick and refreshingly youthful. ;) It was awesome.

TRIP TO CHARLESTON

Went to visit for a wedding shower and got to connect with my junior Young Life girls from West Ashley. We met at Barnes and Noble on Saturday. We talked. We laughed. They shared what their last 4 months have been by racing to get 2 books in 3 minutes that would illustrate by the cover or title. They explained why they choose those books. It was great to catch up and be with them.

THANK YOU

During this last month, I have appreciated all of your prayers. I have heard it said, that in life you are either coming out of a storm, in the storm or about to enter into another one. My last report was a desperate voice crying out to the Lord, as did the disciples did. “They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped and it became calm. (Luke 8:24) Jesus rules with a word. His rebuke carries not only the will, but also the force that reverses the effect of physical laws. He created. He sustains. He governs. All that exists hangs on his mere will. I was so consumed by the force of the winds and waves that I was emotional as I glanced at Jesus asleep in the boat. Misunderstanding His peace for a lack of involvement. Boy, did He show me, when His rebuke came as a forceful power that carried a sustaining, healing power for my heart.

Thank you for your power prayers. Your words of encouragement were a reminder of the power of the Lord and His intimate involvement in every aspect of life.

The Lord gave us a vision. Loudon leaders split from club (Lenoir City and Loudon have club together) Thursday night to ride together to the Loudon basketball game. We walked through the doors and were received by the student section yelling, “Young Life!” We were recognized. We were known. Some kids asked, why we weren’t at club. We responded by saying, “This is Young Life. We came to be with you!” That basketball game was a springboard to follow-up conversations about Loudon breaking off next semester with our own club. Everyone expressed excitement and commitment in having our own club. Perfect vision. His vision. Ownership.

The Lord gave a new friend. She’s middle-school director at a church, my age and we went on a walk the other day. Talking about life, common interests and passions. A pleasant surprise and answer to prayers.

The Lord gave me a small group. JOCKS (Just Out of College Kind of Sort of) Guys and girls my age sharing food, fellowship and going deep into the word. I am super excited about my Sunday nights with Buddy and Kathy Odom (YL involvement) and the fact that they know where I come from. They get what I do. They understand Young Life and they love the Lord passionately!

Thank you for praying bold prayers. Thank you for reminding me of the power of God’s word. Thank you for partnering alongside me in this journey!

Friday nights

Are You Exhausted Spiritually?

Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," but He gave him nothing with which to feed them (John 21:17). The process of being made broke bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people's souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely-to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We out it to God to our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.

Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I am so exhausted." He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. "All my springs are in you." (Psalm 87:7).

'The everlasting God... neither faints nor is weary." Isaiah 40:28

by Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest

Barn Party, Corn Maze and Baby Camden

Baby Camden Payne Oakley (my cousin's first little boy)

BARN PARTY and QUEST "Corn Mazin' It!"