Dave Barnes and Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors!! AND ELLIE!!

Noticing the smallness of His entrance

"For quite sometime I have been living with the suspicion that God has a preference for the small, the hidden, the quiet, and the lowly. I see it clearly all over the pages of Scripture, but maybe nowhere more clearly than in the Christmas narrative. To imagine that God, the Creator of all that is, chose to enter into that creation in the way that he did is simply astounding. To come into this world as a tiny, helpless baby; born to a couple of poor teenagers who could afford nothing more than a lowly stable for a room is beyond my imagination. It is almost as if God wanted to slip into our world without being noticed at all; except by those that were watching and waiting, by those paying extra careful attention.

So, during this season, would it not be wise of us to try and take notice of the small, the hidden, the quiet, and the ordinary? Would it not be wise to ask ourselves, "If God chose to become smaller (in some amazingly mysterious way that I cannot fully comprehend), then how might he be asking me to become smaller as well?"

Jim Branch

my first TN real Christmas tree

Finding the perfect little Christmas tree for my house! We walked out in the back yard and found this little cedar tree! It was the perfect size and fit incredibly! It reminded me of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree!

Next year, we promised to try to find a pine! The cedar branches hurt!

The Event

The Event was the ONLY night to sign up for camp this summer! We are going to Sharp Top Cove May 28 to June 5! We have limited spots and were celebrating with our last club of the year: Our Christmas Club! We got 3/4 of our spots filled; including leaders we are going to have to request more spots! This was the first time we have had camp filled before Christmas and even before the New Year!!!

Please pray that we are able to follow up and get the momentum moving to get more kids on our trip!!! We really want The Event to be an annual event to sign up for summer camp!!

late FALL

Late fall was filled with the end of football season, the beginning of basketball games, hunting and fishing, preparing for time with family and the great Turkey dinners! Jesse and I made a trip to Nashville to stay with his childhood best friend Michael and his wife Paige, the boys went hunting and then Jesse and I went to the Tennessee Titans game.

Thanksgiving was spent with Jesse's family for lunch and Nana and Grandad's for dinner. It was so fun being around each other's families. I loved getting to know Jesse's family! Loved watching the boys/kids play football in the backyard and me getting to talk with the girls and play Candyland in the backyard! My family's tradition is always celebrated with a sweet prayer around the dining room table with my Nana sensitive emotion. I am so grateful for the incredible week spent with our families!

Here the girls get together for a shot at the Basketball Jamboree. Kaity and I have a sweet friendship. We always give each other the heart sign to show how much we love each other.

ARE YOU CONVINCED?

As the semester comes to a close and another year begins, it is worth asking why do all of this? The overwhelming task of reaching lost, uninterested kids, "winning the right to be heard," running a successful club, getting kids to camps and club and on and on. There is ample reason to quit...to throw in the towel. But to persevere, to succeed, you must be convinced that you have been personally selected by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to involved in this craziness.

Are you convinced?

that Christ is worth it?

that lost people are eternally separated from God?

that Christ was resurrected in time, space and history?

that this isn't really our ministry- it's His?

that God answers prayers?

that you could have no greater privilege than to stand in front of kids and tell them about Christ?

that God goes with you and precedes you, in contact work?

that because of Christ, kids will respond to your friendship?

that underneath it all kids want to hear the Good News?

that praying by name for kids adds a great dimension of power in our ministry?

that there is power in God's Word?

that the Bible is God's Word?

that God continues to make a way when there appears to be none?

that when "trials and temptations crowd into our lives," we should welcome them as "friends?"

that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness?

that you are a part of God's holy, salvation history?

that there are divine appointments waiting at the school?

that there is no more critical group to reach in the world than adolescents?

that you are a missionary?

that the "coincidences" increase as we and others pray?

that it is OK if people don't understand you or your ministry- Jesus was always misunderstood?

that it must have been fun to follow Jesus around?

that the Pharisees probably didn't laugh a lot?

that it's fun to talk about Jesus?

that kids generally have all the wrong impressions of Christ?

that there is no more important time daily than yours with Christ?

that Christ actually enjoys meeting with you?

that ministry will drive you up the wall without a thriving personal devotional life?

that prayer warriors make all the difference in the real fruit being born?

that Christ's ministry was to the masses but He poured His live into the 12 and particularly, His 3 main disciples?

that your needs have been and will be well taken care of by your Father in Heaven?

that God loves you like He does the kids we're trying to reach-that you are precious, beloved?

Are you convinced? If not, there are easier, less stressful things to do. If so, then you can't wait for the next chance to stand in front of kids and with fun, enthusiasm and boldness, tell the "old, old story of Jesus and His love."

Bless you as you go!

Carol Lee

Young Life Loudon County

Carol Lee Weaver, Loudon High School

carolLee@LC.younglife.org

PO Box 735

Lenoir City, TN 37771

(865) 988. 7794 (office/fax)

(731) 225. 3980 (cell)

For ministry updates : http://carolleelocoyounglife.blogspot.com/

Want to be a part of email updates? carolleeyltn@gmail.com

Young Life brings the good news of Jesus Christ into the lives of adolescents with an approach that is respectful of who kids are and hopeful about who they can be.

It's basketball time!!!