In their shoes.

In their shoes.

To walk where they go,

Nike, flip-flops, high-heels or low.

Broken in or blister tight,

Some walk as they are never in sight.

These shoes tell a story and want to express,

A need a desire to avoid or depress.

Some walk slow and some walk fast,

To avoid being known and hiding their mask.

In her shoes is where I am,

Clinging to my Savior, my Love, my Lamb.

I am wanting to know where she has stepped,

And to show her the reason why He wept.

For in their shoes He walks indeed,

To show them their purpose, significance and need.

In her shoes.

FOOTBALL RIVALS RUN DEEP

RED AND WHITE

YELL OUT YOUR COLOURS LOUDON

RED AND WHITE

YELL OUT YOUR COLOURS LOUDON

RED AND WHIITE!!!

I have been sitting and watching the Loudon Cheerleading squad for the past week 1/2. I haven't been in this (out of my comfort zone) situation in quite sometime. Unknown. Learning names as they are called out by Ms. Melissa Haun (cheer coach) or their friends. Feeling awkward. Being seen. Contact work. Waiting for the opportunity to introduce myself and answer their question as to why I am here. Praying as the Lord leads and waiting as the Spirit leads an open door for conversation. Willing. My desire to "know" these girls names and stories becomes stronger and stronger. I love the way that their country twang comes out in the cheer. It is a beautiful sound. I was sitting in Brown Cup Coffee in the middle of the day with Andy (during school hours) and in walks Whitney and Jessica, two senior cheerleaders. There is no reason that they should of been here during school or even on the other side of town. Divine Appointment. I lighted up and said, "I know them!! Well, not really know them, but I have seen them at cheerleading practice." I laughed and then as they were walking out asked them about tumbling practice the day before. Their face said all I needed them to. I remember you. As they walked away, I know that soon enough these girls will know my name. Know my story, so I can introduce them to His!

ROCKY TOP...goats, horses and cows on my way to my driveway!

Rocky Top, You'll always be, home sweet home to me. Good ole' Rocky Top. ROCKY TOP TENNESSEE!

It has been a whirlwind of emotion of saying goodbye to Charleston, friends and high school friends. It wouldn't be complete without a pink-hair dying party with one of my high school girls, Emily and her mom! As I packed everything I own into a trailer, truck and my car (a miracle it all fit!) Thanks to Ben, John and my dad!!! (Ya'll are the best!) I left Charleston and made the trip to Tennessee.

A goat, horses and cows. All on my way to my driveway! What an adventure! The house I am living in is beautiful. New. Split 3 ways: garage, my apartment and wood shop. When you step into my place...its a new world. Comfortable. Decorated. And of course all finished within 2 days. I am incredibly OCD about boxes and things in order. I stayed up late and it is all finished! I live on 10 acres of land. Out in the country, but 4 mins to the interstate/city and 7 mins to the Young Life office. I really love it! I can't wait to have new friends over!!

Within the first week I met the principal of Loudon High School, LC YL leaders, a state representative, the mayor, county commissioners and my new best friend Tucker, my landlord's Lab! Such a great start! I am incredibly blessed and can't wait to see how the Lord moves in the coming weeks as I meet leaders, kids and people in the community.

Praise! My grandmother gave me a grocery bag full of vegetables from their garden! I am loaded down with squash, okra, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, watermelon and cucumbers!! What a joy to be able to spend time with them and benefit from their labor! :)

My sister met me at a coffee shop, The Brown Cup Coffee Co. What a treat. Not only is the coffee shop really cool inside (can't wait to meet leaders here!), but also to have my sister so close. She actually works just down the street and we will be together often! What a gift!!

Upcoming events (for you to look forward to hearing about):

Leadership Weekend (Pigeon Forge-floating the rivers in the Mt's!)

Battle of the Bridge (Rival Football game between Loudon High School and Lenoir City High School...it's a big deal!!!)

Mudfest 2009- (field flooded for our high school friends to go nuts and be kids again!!)

Charleston, I miss you. But despite the goats- this place is beginning to become home!

Surrounded by love.

Two Worlds Combined

Two worlds combined. As I sat in the barn and then moved upstairs in the Upper Room to avoid the humidity and mosquitos, I sensed a peace of two worlds seldom combined. My friends. My Young Life high school friends. Because of the intentionality of the two groups, I find it rare for the two to be in the same room. Faces of people who I have loved well. Deeply. Intentionally. Broken over their hearts and dying to know them intimately. I am incredibly blessed. Last night to have spent time with my Bible Study girls, where I have seen the Lord continue to bless Linds and my efforts, as we have almost outgrown our meeting place. To be surrounded in a giant hug by those you love...what an incredible blessing. Tonight, again to be in a place surrounded by those who you have loved deeply.

To be known. To know. What a gift! The peace of the two worlds comes from a place when one day we will all together stand in the awe of the Almighty. Known. Knowing. Loved. Loving. I can't wait for that moment. Heaven. Holy Spirit in the mean time, give my friends a sense of your presence. That they might understand your Great love for them and know them. Walk alongside each of them in the way that I have experienced and greater. Thank you for these moments of reflection and recognition of your omnipresence and omnipotence.

Starting to say goodbye.

Hold out the "Living Water"

" To be indwelled by the Spirit of God is the doorway into the forth dimension, the realm of the spirit, and the kingdom of God. It is an awesome, joyful, liberating experience that has no adequate earthly explanation. When the marvelous revelation of God's reality and goodness is experienced by a mortal, he will agonize to share that experience with those he loves. To hold the "living water" in your hand and see your brother(sister) dying of thirst because he refuses to drink, is to share in heavenly sorrow. Christ wept over it, and those who really know him do the same."

Dance, Children, Dance by Jim Rayburn III

"For just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus Christ] the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:11

Thank you, Jesus that you have the capacity to redeem us! Not by our actions or what we do...but by what You did on the cross!

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6

Obituary: Esther Weaver Nov 23, 1925-Aug 8, 2009

Weaver, Esther Lantz, 83, of Pembroke Pines passed away Aug. 8. She graduated in 1943 from Miami Edison H.S. and retired from the V.A. Hospital in 1984. Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Amos B. Weaver. She is survived by her children; John (Beverly) Leaming, Dr. Terry (Kay) Weaver, and Barbara Machado; grandchildren, Tammie (Steven) Clary, Carol Lee, Patricia, and Andrew Weaver, Craig Leaming, Vickie Machado; great-grandchild, Craig Patrick; and her brother, Raymond (Deanna) Lantz.

Grandma goes to Jesus. Reflections Week 3.

As I was driving out of Windy Gap, being disconnected from life, my parents had called and told me that my grandmother had a stroke week 2. She passed away on Saturday. My grandfather, Amos, died when I was 16, when I was at Windy Gap as a camper. My grandmother, Esther, died when I was 26, when I was at Windy Gap on assignment. Mixed emotions. I wrote my grandmother a letter explaining my feelings of our estranged relationship due to a family fallout, not involving my immediate family. The lack of communication really burdened my heart. The Lord prompted communication on my part without any expectation of a response. A letter received. Through tears I shared this letter with my dad without knowing that this would be my last communication with my grandmother before her death. I am so thankful that I followed God's calling to write my grandmother. Reconciliation. The Lord knew the devastation and regret that I would of experienced had I not been prompted and obedient in time. A life lived. Lived well? I pray that I will see Grandma at the heavenly gates and we will get to experience a great RECONCILIATION far greater than our relationship- our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, my Savior.

"Our heart's desire is to glorify your name. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you." Isaiah 26:8-9

I have been doing a lot of reflection over the past few days. As I transition from being at Windy Gap on assignment into starting the goodbye's in Charleston to moving on Saturday to Lenoir City, I am overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord. I have been awaken in the middle of the night in prayer. I have cried out to the Lord, as my soul yearns for Him. In the mornings I have been seeking sweet time with the Lord. Leaving Windy Gap with the experience that I had was soul filling. I experienced the Lord in a new way as I embraced Christ indwelling within my high school friends, watching them love well, overwhelmed by their innocence and child-like faith, embracing challenges, relationships, laughter and worship, repetitive jobs, packed schedule, intentional conversations, spontaneous and random moments turned really sweet, for the first time becoming a part of behind the scenes, and being a part of something bigger than myself!

I yearn for moments that remind me of time spent at Windy Gap, but more than that I yearn for more of Him!

Windy Gap Assigned Team

Reflections: Week 2... Stuck in Isolation

Flu.
Cleaning. Packing. Sending work crew kids home. Cleaning some of our own assigned team who were down for the count. Sick.

I am sitting in isolation with a case of flu-like symptoms. No fever, thankfully. I ache. My throat kills. I am frustrated with myself. I probably slept more in the last 24 hours than I was actually awake. I was sent into the isolation room for rest. Trust me...I am going to be sleeping. Luckily, they have Internet accessibility-in this room. I am praying that I will get enough rest to bounce back soon.

As we worked hard to eliminate the germs. I created the "germ-free committee" in our room. Despite the sicknesses, this 2nd week at camp I have seen the Lord reveal himself in incredible ways. One of our work crew girls, Kelli, at the beginning admitted that she wasn't a Christian. Kelli worked in the Pitts (Washing Dishes) with one of our girls, Kristen. Kelli didn't own a Bible. Kristen surprised Kelli with a Bible on her bed. I remember early last week, I interrupted Kelli reading that very same Bible late one night. Kelli would say after the love of her work crew friends and reading her very own Bible for the first time, she now is a believer. Unfortunately, Kelli and Kristen both got the flu and had to be sent home. But we will see them again- His Kingdom above. I must say it is uncommon for kids to be sent on Work Crew who don't know Jesus. But God is sovereign and used this to bring Kelli into His Kingdom!!!

I have loved watching the Work Crew serve the Lord with such passion. I love hearing them pray!! I love the fire in their hearts that is evident in the way that they have built friendships with each other, combat the difficult times, working at their jobs without any complaints, and spend time with the Father each morning. I love how they have loved me. I pray this for my own high school friends. That they would get to experience community in such a way that you know it is only from the Lord.

I have been wrestling with the Lord in my questioning His goodness. It has been a hard last half of the week. But I know that God is speaking to me. I am GOOD. Even when you doubt, or question, or think I don't care. Even when it is hard. I am still GOOD. I relate to the disciples in the boat when the storm has come and Jesus is in the back sleeping on a mat. The disciples get exasperated and ask Jesus, "Do you not care!" He replies, "Do you still not get it? You of little faith." I have spoken those words, "Do you not care!" And over this past week, he is reminding me that he does care. He calms the storm in my heart. I am beginning to trust him, relinquishing the control and my frustrations within myself as I know He does care. I should get it. Jesus, I cry out to you with such boldness. I want to have faith. Trusting faith.

I want to love irrationally, as you love irrationally.
I want you to not only heal me outside, but inside too!