"I Want to Hold the Hand that Holds the World."

Ohio was a great trip. The Kratz wedding was beautiful & I met some incredible people. The Ohio people knew me before I even met them, which was awesome. That made my day to hear "Oh You're Jamie King?! We've heard all about you, so nice to finally meet you." I was able to reconnect with Blevins and meet his beautiful wife, meet my new "best friend" JD, see Andrew, Mary, Alyssa, Ang, etc. It was a beautiful reunion. The wedding was a blast, and I was honored to be a bridesmaid & sing for them during the reading of their vows. The reception was so fun. The dancing, music messing up, meeting of new people, and joking on everyone was just what I needed to end my trip. Thank you to all the Ohio Christian kids, you guys really made my "visit" a memorable one.

Moving on...
I've decided not to claim "stress" or the "feeling of being overwhelmed" on myself, knowing my schedule. If I claim it, then I'll allow it to happen, right?

Phew, classes are going to be intense this semester. I have 2.5 years left until I have my Master's in Elementary Education & I begin my journey to teach little ones.

Right now, I've been taking on many different projects, and I'm only 22. I'm proud of myself though.
I am rarely able to sit down and breathe, but it's the best thing. Honestly, I'm blessed to have the ability to work as much, study as much, lead worship, help with musical projects, and even start one of my own. I'm able to play flag football with some awesome people, stay deeply involved with the youth, young adults, and church in general. I am blessed to have these opportunities.

This leaves verrryyyy little room for thinking about relationships. Yep, I went there. It's a blessing and a hinderance, all in one. I know God's got me & the whole "dating" thing will be taken care of when He's ready for me to face that, so I take my schedule as a blessing. But as of right now, until I get confirmation from God that He knows I'm ready to face that next chapter in my life, I am keeping busy with a servant's heart to serve Him as much as I possibly can. Thank you Lord, for patience.

Speaking of God....
He's incredible. I say that alot, yes, but He really is.
Worship has been opening doors for me, spiritually.
& right when I feel as if something is going to hurt me, God turns it around and blesses me with an immeasurable amount of things. He's so good.

Thank you Lord, for endurance, patience, and for just loving on me always.



Until next time,
J. King

Braids, Broken hearts, and Beauty; You-Taw [Utah]

An excerpt from my personal journal about my Mission's trip to Utah, or You-Taw, as I'm told that is how I pronounce it with my new country accent. Warning: this is a long post, but well worth the read. I couldn't begin to write down ALL the things I experienced there, or else my hand would've fallen off. So here we go:


"Woke up in Utah this morning & literally felt the most refreshed ever. I woke up with a feeling that God has some significant plans for me (& the team) today and He definitely followed through. After two flights, a 4 hour drive, and much needed sleep in the cabin, we drove to the tent where the reservation and church is on Wednesday morning. The moment we got to the tent, we met the Georgia "Miller" family that's in charge of VBS & the most memorable thing about that family is their southern accent--talk about country! I immediately connected with a couple of them because of their outgoing spirits. 


The kids would be dropped off over a coarse of an hour, so Paula, Issy, & I would teach them some dance moves to "Lord You Are Good" (Israel Houghton style baby!). Oh where to begin with Ms. Paula. She has spunk for an older woman & she can get down with the get-down. So all the kids arrived, we divided them into two groups, by age. Immediately, two girls, Alisia and Katelynn attached to me and more kids did as the day went on. We went into our Bible study and the kids surprised me. I was previously warned that these kids would be reserved and closed off but these kids immediately remembered my name and loved on me while allowing me to love on them. What a warm feeling that was.


There were kids all ages there so we divided them into groups. One group would be in the Bible study while the other is doing crafts. Lunch time was an experience too. Each child was given two sandwiches, chips, fruit snacks, and a drink. I quickly observed that the majority of the kids would eat one sandwich and a few of the chips, then fold up the bag to take the other sandwich and food home. I, later, found out that these kids have nothing, barely any food. This very well may be the only meal that they eat. 


So we get to say our goodbyes and I was asked to drive some kids home. Imagine me, in a mini van. Talk about future soccer mom! Anyways, seeing these "homes" just completely blew my mind. Of course, it was about a 30 minute drive down a dirt road full of bumps but all around us was sand, rocks, stray dogs, prairie dogs, cows, and beautiful wild horses. I heard one kid mumble, "I don't want to go home." I later found out he lives with a stepfather indulging in incest with the family. Broke my heart.


The next few days of VBS were good. Our teams clicked well together. More kids came (a total of 55 by Friday, I believe) and they grew to be more & more open to me as well as open to learning about God. One boy, named Delaney, had been picked on by the other boys which immediately turned his behavior from controllable to aggressive with the other kids. Well, Friday, the last day of Bible study at VBS, Delaney sat next to me, did the motions to the songs (sitting down) & answered (mumbled) the questions correctly. I was astonished, to be honest. I asked him how he knew about these stories about Jesus and he said "My grandpa reads the Holy Bible to us and tells us stories about the cross. We have a Jesus movie too." WOW. Thank you God for helping me realize that investing our time in these kids is worth it, because even when they seem to not be  listening, they are.


Something else I realized quickly is that the Navajos are a giving group of people. I can't begin to list the amount of bracelets, pictures, keychains, and necklaces I brought home. These people, who met me once or twice, put their time, money, and effort into something so precious just for me. God is good.


Friday morning, before we took the kids home, we offered them the gift of salvation. An awesome praise report for me would be at least one kid opening his/her heart to God and ask Him into his//her heart. but no, twelve kids gave their hearts to the "Almighty God"! And a teenager that next night. What a humbling experience to be a part of that process, in someway.


God loves me just like He loves little Delaney, Codi, Sandralyn, Savannah (a little miracle born from alcoholic parents), Cobe, Kayla, Katelynn/Alisia, major disciples of the world, and everyone else in the world. We are all heirs of His kingdom.


I got the chance to really bond with Katelynn and Alisia, granddaughters of Lilly Maryboy. Lilly blessed me too, by braiding my hair one night and I felt God lay on my heart to bless her with my favorite turquoise cross bracelet made my someone in my church. The entire week I selflessly gave away all of my bracelets and jewelry to the kids, but avoided giving this away, and now I knew why. So I gave it to her, and saw her face light up with joy. Katelynn & Alisia had a lot of fun with Brooke & I. All week, we would color, draw, listen to music together, be goofy, take pictures and videos, etc. They were a handful at first, but once we gained each other's respect, they were so loving towards me. They want me to send them a necklace with Jesus on it. I can't wait to receive a letter from them and reply. Alisia has already called me a few times & that warms my heart.


I'm so glad I went to Utah. It impacted me way more than I expected, that's for sure. It was an emotional journey for me and it humbled & broke my heart all at once. It made me appreciate all the things I take for granted that I'm truly blessed with. I will no longer let the small inconveniences hurt me anymore or even slightly affect me. I will forever hold the people in Utah in my heart forever.


Random things God laid on my heart:
*God sees every person, event, thing significant in His eyes, even if we don't.
*God's broken my heart with this trip but all I felt Him lay on my heart was to love on those who cross my path.
*God gives each of us gifts and I immediately saw mine with the kids and loving on them.


Memorable moments:
*Brooke and I were driving to pick up the kids on the "long road" which is 20 minutes long, and we got stuck in a huge pile of sand. hahaha, we had to get her dad to get it out. Hilarious.
*The outhouse? Failure.
*Loved roadtripping with my new second family, the Waldroups.

Psalm 40:8 "I desire to do Your will, Oh My God, Your law is within my heart."

Until next time,

J.King

Utah? Ohio?

Wow, where did time go?
In just 6 days, I'm leaving to my mission's trip to Bluff, Utah.
What's in Utah?! Well, other than beautiful landscaping, an entire Navajo nation is in Utah. My responsibility, on this trip, is to lead worship for VBS for kids, teens, and adults, as well as throw a Friday night Youth Revival with music, skits, and preach.

Wait, I'm preaching. For the first time. Ever.

I'm just as surprised, but I'm confident that my Yahweh will speak through me, it's just a matter of how, what of, and am I able to hear Him clearly? Yes, I'm nervous, but God is sovereign, and so good.

Okay, straight from Utah, is OHIO!
I get to see my friends I call family, as well as be a part of a beautiful wedding for two of my friends, Kelly and Billy. Being a bridesmaid for the first time ever is a journey, but I'm SO stoked about it. It's going to be a great time. I'm prayerfully seeking God to be there during that week, as my heart is challenged, especially for when I get back home and I'm faced with a few decisions. God is good though. So good.


So where to, after Ohio? I guess we will see.

Until then,
-J. King

....to my future husband.

To my future husband,

I've been trusting in God and faithfully spending time with Him and today I realized that you are totally worth the wait.

Love, your future wife.

[The Lifestyle of] Worship.

"If leading worship is just about bringing a group of people into a room so we can get goosebumps & sing songs together,there's not much value in that. But if leading worship is a means to an end, that we leave this place as a different kind of people, as part of a new humanity that God wants to create,the people that are caring for the widows & orphans, that aren't bound by the systems of this world but becoming free, becoming fully engaged in our world, then that matters."

 -Michael Gungor

Unfailing, Undeserving, Understanding.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the LORD’s praise,
   for he has been good to me.
                         -Psalm 13:5&6

This was my "Psalm of the Day" that I've recently started, obviously since it's only Chapter 13. And as I was reading verse 5, which I've read plenty of times before, that word 'unfailing' caught my attention...

So many times when I pray I thank God that He is so understanding and that He gives 'unfailing love to the undeserving'. But am I really understanding exactly what that word 'unfailing' really means?!

Unfailing: adjective; meaning: 1. Without error or fault & 2. Reliable or constant

Other definitions say:
*foolproof
*always able to supply more
*inexhaustible, changeless, unceasing.

Then I began thinking about how large this unfailing love is. Well the love from God is so vast, so deep, and so wide.

"For the Lord's unfailing love is as high as the heavens." -Psalm 57:10 NLT

BAM. There's my answer for that one.  Well, how do I get this unfailing love? How did I even deserve it?

"but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him." -Psalm 32:10

BAM. There's my answer for this one as well. If I trust in God, even just the tiniest bit of trust, then this legit outpouring of unfailing love envelopes me as a Child of God. Whoa, talk about incredible.

Let's dig a little deeper....
Sometimes, we consciously hear things one time and it passes through us like we never really listened. What I mean is, the first time you hear someone ask you a question, and you answer it without thinking about it, then go on with your conversation. Well, if that person was to ask you over and over again, then you will put more thought into your answer, or even think about "why" that person is asking you this question to begin with? It opens your curiousity...

Well, that's what this word has done for me. I've read this phrase "unfailing love" on at least 10 different occasions in the Bible, or heard it in prayers, or even said it to someone, describing God to them.

But today, I'm trying to wrap my mind around "God's Unfailing Love for Me".
He loves me without ceasing, without failing, without giving up, with definite, infinite, legitimate love. AND the good news?! He loves you too. And he continues to love you and I with unfailing love. We can no longer hear about His unfailing love and let it slip our mind.

The word fail is so negative. You think of disappointment, shame, or even regret, almost.
If you are failing, you are continuously disappointing and not able to supply anything more than that.
The word unfailing is so optimistic/positive. You think of success, contentment, inspiration, hope, joy.
If you are unfailing, you are continuously succeeding and able to supply more than enough.

God is unfailing. God is love. So therefore, His love is unfailing.

We are undeserving of His son's death on the cross.
We are undeserving of His grasp on our lives and guidance.
We are the undeserving to His unfailing love.

BUT He gives it to us anyways.

What a blessing. I had to share that with you guys.
You are loved. You are loved. You.Are.Loved. [forever.]

-J. King

Want more information about this unfailing love?

"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

 -Psalm 6:4

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 32:10

...the earth is full of his unfailing love.

-Psalm 33:18b

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

-Psalm 44:26

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

-Psalm 52:8

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

-Psalm 107:8

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

-Psalm 130:7

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you."

 -Isaiah 54:10

Camp Wakefield; The Week of Transformation

"Holy are You God, Holy is Your name
With everything I've got, my heart will sing how I love You."

That's the sound that resonates in my mind this week.
The sound of the campers, counselors, leaders, worship team just pronouncing
a battlecry of those words to God.
The sound of people, one by one, nailing a piece of paper to the wooden cross.
The sound of no instruments, just their voices, singing of "how He loves us".
The sound of surrender.
The sound of peace.

I'll tell you what. I'm struggling putting into words the impact Camp Wakefield 2011 had on me, personally.

A few times during the week, I felt down, stressed, or even just frustrated at everything. Alyssa told me one day, "Jamie, don't you know that those thoughts are from the enemy because he knows something amazing is about to happen by your almighty God tonight and this week?"....she was so right.

God moved, and although He is always there, the kids allowed Him to make moves in their lives. It was incredible. The cross was there symbolically for everyone to nail a sheet of paper with something they want to 'give to God' written on it, to the cross. At any point of day. Well, that thing was full by Day 3.

I, myself, even wrote a few things on that cross:
1. My brother.
2. That feeling of not being worthy enough to worship, or lead worship.
3.  Unforgiveness of myself.
4. "I surrender ALL" which is what I challenged my girls to do.

During the "Cardboard testimony" night, I was quickly challenged wth honesty.
Do I write on the cardboard everything I went through before Christ encountered me, or just a few things?
Well, I wrote the majority of it down. And oh how God lined up the girls right in front of me. Prayer was strong and so powerful that night. I felt God speaking through me like I have never felt.

As the week went on, 4 teenagers received God into their life. Praiiiise God. I am so stoked for them. SO stoked. Then some of the girls requested to hear my testimony....full throttle testimony....

I gave it. All of it. Before and after. Every detail.
I've never done that before. It's not because of shame, but just nervousness that it will bring back the feelings I had, like unforgiving feelings. But no, God had other plans.
Those girls opened up so quickly after that. Then I felt clarity that I was exactly where I needed to be at that exact moment.

Friendships at camp....where to begin with that. I've inherited some great family members in my life. All the campers plus counselors have a very large part in my heart. They always will.

God is good. Seriously. And even as I am home now, I feel the joy of God just filling me. No more stress, no more thoughts of unforgiveness, but rather, I am new again.

Lord, search my heart and soul, because You rest there. Thank you for an incredible week.



<3 J. King