Content to wait upon God

"God give us his light in an instant, allowing us to know all the we need to know. No more is given to us than is necessary in his plan to lead us to perfection. We cannot seek this light; it is given to us from God only as he chooses. Neither do we know how it comes, or how we even know that it is! If we try to know more than we have been made to know, we will accomplish nothing. We simply wait like a stone, with no capacity until he brings us life.

Therefore I will not weary myself with seeking beyond what God wants me to know. Instead I will abide in peace with the understanding God has given me, and I will let this occupy my mind...When God finds a soul that rests in him and is not easily moved, he operates within it in his own manner. That soul allows God to do great things within it. He gives to such a soul the key to the treasures he has prepared for it so that it might enjoy them. And to this same soul he gives the joy of his presence which entirely absorbs such a soul."

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

What I know to be true:

My soul yearns for Him.

I am loved with an everlasting love.

I am here for a reason.

I can't give without Him.

I was there for a reason.

After cheerleading practice, Chely wanted to hang out. She and I sat at basketball practice from 4:30-6 talking. Practicing the ministry of presence!! She wanted her heart to be heard. She is worth something. She is beautiful. She is loved with a greater love than that senior boy texting her across the gym. We weren't alone. He was there! Beckoning me recognize Him!

FALL...things are dying and others are just beginning to grow!

Got Milk.

Who would of thought...me on the cover of a "Got Milk" advertisement? Well this won't be put in the pages of Vogue magazine...or in Sport's Illustrated...but it will be in the classroom and hall's of Loudon High School. Chely, a freshman, in her Graphic Art Class took the photo and used photoshop to create this amazing work! She is on the cheerleading team and we are building this unique friendship. She tells me everything. I tell her about Jesus. This was a really cool picture of how the Lord is allowing me into the lives of my high school friends.

Creating more than a legend. It's called leaving a legacy!!!

Empty to Full

Exausted. Poured out. Giving. Loving. Empty.

Yesterday was one of those days were I needed some time with Jesus. Good time in the word. Allow myself to just sit still. I feel emptied. Emptied from planning YL programs, pouring myself into the details, and missing the time of just sweet moments with my YL girls. With every night last week filled with YL...and being completely worn out. I missed time with my Lord. I try to find some point during my day to rest. Rest in his arms. But I have failed to give him the time, the moments, my mind, MYSELF!

My mind has been running on full drive.

I have been running on empty.

I was driving to Loudon High School to go to cheerleading practice yesterday. I put the phone on silent, rolled the windows down and observed the simple beauty of fall. The leaves changing color. The Lord changing me. Reminding me of His significant love. Reminding me of His beautiful creation. Reminding me that He is the one that works. He is the giver of life. To slow down. Appreciate the goodness of the Lord!

Cheerleading practice was amazing. I was able to smile, laugh, help out, encourage, be seen, allow the girls to see how much I care by just my presence alone. I drove home the same way I got there. Rolled the windows down and let the Lord speak to my soul.

Empty. To full.

Pumpkin carving

Chely and Sabryna came over on Sunday afternoon for pumpkin carving! It was a lot of fun! Cold! Chely's pumpkin kept vommiting pumpkin guts (ha!)! Hot Chocolate! Hocus Pocus! It was amazing to spend time with them!!! They are both freshmen at Loudon and I can't wait to watch them grow!!!

CRAZY NIGHT!!

SLEEP OVER; Fall break!

This night was incredible!!! The six of us had so much fun playing games, laughing, girl talk, and me getting to know them!!

(from top left) Taylor, Courtney, Chely, Emily, Cali, *Sabryna next to me!!! 5 out of 6 are cheerleaders! It has been so much fun getting to know them! Really know them! I am doing a "Got Milk" Campaign for Chely's Graphic Art class. What a privildge: I am the poster subject! Some great times to love on these girls to come!!!

PRAY:

*That I can earn the right to be heard in their lives.

*I can continue to build relationships with other girls at Loudon.

*We can get real and honest through starting campaigners (bible study) soon.

*That they feel they can trust me and know that they can come to me with anything.

*Cliques- not allowing girl drama to break up the group, friendships and inviting new girls.

* My consistency with encouraging Lynsi (the other leader at Loudon) to invite girls into her life. For her relationship with the Lord and her dependency on Him during a really hard time in her life!

* That the fragrance of the Lord exudes from my JOY and loving these girls!!!

Excerpt from Journal Oct. 5!

I just got back from Windy Gap with 2 cheerleaders and two more girls! It was a weekend of great moments, much laughter, tears, shared pain, openness and honesty, broken down walls, and a deeper connection between us all! I loved watching Aaron, a first year leader and the guys that came from Loudon High School. He began to earn the right to be heard. I loved seeing those guys choose to sit with Aaron in the dining hall rather than their girlfriends they came with. He began a friendship. He was learning to be intentional with those guys. I can’t wait to watch him continue to chase after those guys back home!

This month has been filled with starting club, cheerleading practices, substituting twice, hanging out with leaders, starting QUEST(QUality Encounters and Sometimes Training: for college students), spending time with my sister and coming back from our weekend fall camp at Windy Gap. Everything in between has been intentionally relational. Appreciating the unexpected moments of great conversations and quiet times with the Lord.

Thank you JESUS for the incredible time with these girls!!! Thank you for beginning to pour into me!!! and me willing to let you!

transformation:new self

"The contrast between God's way of doing things and our way is never more acute than in this area of human change and transformation. We focus on specific actions; God focuses on us. We work from the outside in; God works from the inside out. We try; God transforms."

-Richard J. Foster

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:21

I resolve to live each day consciously listening to the voice of Christ and letting the new self- the one that Christ gives me-come to life.

C.S. Lewis

"Give me ALL. I don't wait so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked- the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours."

How would you feel if Jesus came to you and spoke these words?

He does. Luke 14:25-33

HOMECOMING and WINDY GAP!!

a bite of death

Sitting reading outside the coffee shop...and I look down to see my little friend with a bite of death. A black widow. Scary. Watch out. I hope that there isn't any babies hiding around.