praying at the football game

I was asked to pray at the Loudon Redskins Football game this past Friday night...what an honor, privilege....wanted to share with you my prayer.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for tonight. Thank you for this Loudon community and for these teenagers that bring us all here. May we continue to be filled with a longing to be know by You and know you. I pray for the athletes safety tonight, for the musical talent in the band, for the energy displayed with our cheerleaders and for the fans both from Loudon and Scott Co. Lord, I lift up our soldiers and their families that have and continue to fight for our freedom. I echo your prayer that "this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

In Jesus Name,

Amen!

Happy Birthday Old Man!

Happy Birthday Andy, my area director...a few close friends, great food, football and sidewalk chalk!

Ps. I do occasionally tease him for being "old"...32. I know I will be there soon enough.

Dear Lord,

Give us the teenagers that we may lead them to Thee. Our hearts ache for the millions of young people who remain untouched by the gospel and for the tragically large portion of those who have dropped by the wayside and find themselves without spiritual guidance. Help us to give them a chance O Father, a chance to become aware of thy Son’s beauty and healing power in the might of the Holy Spirit. O Lord Jesus give us the teenagers each one at least long enough for a meaningful confrontation with thee. We are at best profitable servants, but thy grace is sufficient. O thou Holy Spirit, give us the teenagers for we love them and know them to be awfully lonely. Dear Lord give us the teenagers.

Jim Rayburn, founder of Young Lifeally large portion of those who have dropped by the wayside and find themselves without spiritual guidance. Help us to give them a chance O Father, a chance to become aware of thy Son’s beauty and healing power in the might of the Holy Spirit. O Lord Jesus give us the teenagers each one at least long enough for a meaningful confrontation with thee. We are at best profitable servants, but thy grace is sufficient. O thou Holy Spirit, give us the teenagers for we love them and know them to be awfully lonely. Dear Lord give us the teenagers.

Jim Rayburn, founder of Young Life

new HEARTS!!!

NEW HEARTS

“My dad dealt drugs in front of me.” “My dad’s been in jail since I was little. Every time he gets out, I get my hopes up only to realize that he gets arrested again.” “My parents told me they were getting a divorce on my 13^th birthday.” “My dad had an affair on my mom and now he has a child by the other woman.” Since we arrived late because of the football game (missing the first club) my girls jumped into the talk sequence with sin and our separation from God. (!! Welcome to Windy Gap girls!!!) In answering this question, my girls this weekend were honest with their pain and brokenness. It was heavy on my heart to hear or be reminded of how broken their lives have been. Throughout the day, we spent laughing, talking, enjoying the incredible beauty of this place. Almost hoping that the beauty of this would bring a beacon of hope in the midst of their pain. Sitting with my girls after they heard the redemption story how Christ came to rescue them, be put to death and extended His infinite love for them- was beautiful. A relief. Hope for the hopeless. Acceptance. A response. Micala, a senior at LHS, accepted Christ (her first Young Life anything experience). What a work of God! And guess who brought her?? Cali! She too, was once walking in darkness and now is experiencing Christ within herself, beginning at Sharp Top this summer. I was very excited about coming home and spending more time in conversations and campaigners with these girls!! Chely, (in cardboard testimonies at the banquet) said in Campaigners yesterday, “I have a heart! I used to think I didn’t have one, but a heart of stone that makes sense. I feel Him within me! I have spent three 15-minutes outside at Young Life camp, and this was the first time that I spent praying for other people instead of myself. WOW!” If you want to know more…let’s go to lunch or get coffee!

These girls are truly experiencing the Word of the Lord in Ezekiel 36:25-28. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.”

Thank you Jesus for allowing me to be a part of these girls lives! Thanks for praying and loving me, as I continue to walk into these girl’s lives.

nail polish...

My first night at campaigners. Familiar faces. Unknown names. Sweet interactions. Diving in deep. Ready to be a supporter for this incredible group of leaders. I had no idea how my life would be so enriched by the beauty of this new step in ministry. After diving into 1 John with a small group of Juniors girls...the smell of nail polish began to envelope the room. The girls began to talk and giggle and paint each others nails. I had just polished mine a new great color of purple, otherwise I would of jumped in finding a cool color to adorn my own. However, as I sat there I saw her. TR. As I lingered watching her, I was drawn to her. I wanted to know her story. What was behind the forced smile? What was going on within her? So I asked her if she ever painted her nails. Her response- Never! It doesn't match her "style". Chacos and pink doesn't work. I then continued to explain my love for the colors that makes my grandmother cringe and say, "Why don't you just wear pink or red?" I love purple, turquoise, dark blue, green...etc. I told her that I wear chacos too. Then my greatest feat was accomplished. TR let me paint her nails. She was letting me in a little more into her life. TR found me on facebook that night and this was the message that I received.

"Thanks for making me feel like not such a loser tonight. The nail polish looks great."

-TR

This was only the beginning of what would spark a lasting friendship. Verbal conversations are few, but the girl loves to share the deep things of her heart via a facebook email. I can always count on a few surface words shared that Wednesday night, but when I get home...there is a message from TR. I am truly beginning to anticipate those.

It's these...the heart of a girl...I long to know more of...it's messages like this that remind me that there are many girls where this is going on within them...and I long to dive into the mess of their lives to share the love of Christ with!

"My mind is going crazy. It's like there's a mess of emotions and problems that I have shoved down and out of my mind that are surfacing and they are screaming in my head. So I've been trying to untangle that mess. Although, all that I've figured out so far is that my mind is so messed up.

So I don't really know why I felt the need to tell you all of this. I don't really have anyone else to talk to, I guess. Maybe it's because nobody has ever convinced me to wear nail polish, so accomplishing that feat has made you worthy of knowing all my useless problems.
Thanks for being nice!"

-TR

thanks nail polish!

one blinking light town...Greenback

My drive to Greenback. It's the "redheaded stepchild" according to Barry, a leader in our area. It reminds me of West Ashley High School in Charleston. There is a pulse there. There is ministry happening there. There are kids being loved on there. There are leaders being intentional about building relationships there.

What makes them redheaded? Greenback is located in the far corner of our county...about a 30 minute drive from my house. It's out there. A one blinking light town. A school K-12. But Young Life exists there.

In a plan to reach out to Greenback...I am adding to my schedule to love on Greenback leaders! I have been driving to Greenback to be a part of their campaigners! Wednesday nights 10-15 kids arrive at the home of Barry and Tracy Counts, where food is served, "Ugly" cake gets devoured and guys and girls find a safe place to ask hard questions, open their Bibles and share life with one another! It has been a such a blessing. I have sparked a friendship with a few of the kids as I am going from a visitor, but a part of what is happening there. I drove up the 2nd week, and one of the guys said, "You are back! We didn't think you would be here." Every week friend. Every week. I am here to stay.

I love that I get to be a part of this incredible 'C' of Young Life (Campaigners), Greenback's small group bible study!

Next post...a story of nail polish!

:)

the battle within

‎"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

My mind has a hard time wrapping around the idea of this great battle we are fighting, and maybe because it is far greater a battle than I can truly see. I find myself wanting to fight with my own strength and its impossible. It is a battle that we have to submit to our own will and follow Christ in his triumphant Glory to admit that I can't do it on my own!

Well, I admit my pride in my own self doing. And I admit when that happens...I truly find myself longing and wanting more of Him. The knowledge that I am desperately dependent on Him. Not on my own strength...and that the task at hand, won't be conquered because I was "strong" enough, but because he is strong within me.