:: laughing : dreaming : watching : waiting ::

i’m too busy when i don’t get a chance to hang out with my mates. i think i cram my diary so full sometimes that i don’t get a chance to do the spontaneous things of life. or be able to respond to the needs of others when they arise.

but this week has been refreshingly different from this perspective. i’ve been able to grab coffee with a couple of folks, give others a phone, play a spot of pool

this weekend i’ve been given the gift of time. i was meant to be speaking at an SU weekend but it got postponed at the last minute so suddenly i have a chance to rest and hang out with some folks. last night a few of us went to the circus (if you add this to my last post you’ll think i’m losing it!!) which was great craic. then i slept in this morning, hitting a football match with a mate shortly and then playing in a pool competition tonight with a few guys.

Jesus always knows what is best for us. it says somewhere in the Bible that man plans his steps but the Lord determines his course…and i reckon that’s been fairly true this week. i’m so thankful that God is determining my course. these things are good for me after a busy week in schools. and hopefully they are good for the people i’m with.

i know nothing that i’m doing this weekend sounds too spiritual but i think the whole model of friendship that Jesus modelled out in His time on earth is really significant. spending much time with the 3, sharing life with the 12, seeing the 70 regularly, and then there were the crowds.

think its good to stop every now and again and ask myself if i’m really sharing my life with others? being honest. talking openly. always available. reclining at tables. eating breakfast together. journeying from town to town. teaching. praying. ministering. laughing.

i’ve only cried twice in the cinema before. in sadness when mufassa died in the lion king and out of fear when the big T-rex in Jurassic Park lept out from nowhere i wet my knickers and hid in the arms of my mother.

15 years on from these horrific experiences i found myself in tears while watching a film once more. feel like a girl so i think i owe an explanation!

went to see a film called “Once”. phenomenal story set on the streets of Dublin about a guy following his dream of making music. busking. songwriting. recording.

i’m not sure why it caught me so much but i feel that perhaps God was using it to stir my heart in a couple of ways. it sounds weird but through the film i think i fell in love with this nation once again. i mean without sounding too spiritual, a few years ago i felt God really birth in my heart a passion and desire to be part of building His church in Ireland. that this island was where i was called to minister.

but recently i guess i’ve lost sight of this abit. disappointments have quenched my passion abit. busyness has drained my energy. self-centredness has grabbed my love.

and the film also reminded me of the unique Irish way. relaxed. easy going. unique. creative. and that struck me as something that the church in ireland needs to be like. not so rigid or uniform that we don’t share our faith or our lives naturally with others. or trying to copy or recreate other models of churches that we aren’t true to our context.

but innovative and culturally aware. based more around community than congregations. unique and organic.

so last night i fell more in love with this island and the people in it. and perhaps God was re-birthing in me that pioneering spirit that i’ve lost sight of and been desperately lacking these last few months.

all through a few simple songs. and an even simpler film. here’s a wee clip for you to enjoy…

this is quality. just tapped into a new wireless network that has been set up in next door’s student accommodation so this post is coming from my bed!

anyway…was leading worship at a youth event on sunday night in Ballymena and we wanted to take the focus off the band. we knew the young people coming would be ready and willing to engage with God and wouldn’t need so much front led direction. our prayer is always that we would do our role of leading people in worship effectively, but that He would also quickly help to lift peoples eyes off us at the front. think i’m paranoid sometimes about getting in the way sometimes…but also aware that its not as big an issue in reality as my head sometimes!

but we decided to take the leap on sunday night and setup the band at the back of the hall. so chairs pointing one way with screen and speakers pointing back at them from the front. and just behind the back row of worshippers was the band playing away!

we were worried about doing because maybe people wouldn’t engage as well, or be distracted, or be less focused, or turn their heads all night, or find it all a bit too bizarre.

as if. it was amazing. a truly liberating experience as we were all freed to focus on Jesus. it was freeing for me as i didn’t have to worry about people looking at me or how i was looking when i was singing or anything like that.

but it was also immensely humbling realising that 300 or so young people were caught up in praise and worship, without the need for anyone stepping out in front of them. and it was absolutely nothing to do with us. i mean, it never really is, but this time it was obvious and noticeable!

i don’t recommend this in every worship context but certainly something to perhaps model out again and stress the point that the Holy Spirit leads worship, and we just assist by playing our small little tiny roles. maybe something to think about in your church, youth group or school SU…

…to sweden! happy days!

 come on the green and white army!

also, check out this post by a fellow green and white army member. really like what dave’s saying here in the post below. made me think and a timely reminder for me about the need for repentance…

http://davewiggins79.blogspot.com/2007/10/sin-and-repentance.html

i’m really excited about a youth gathering coming up next sunday night. i’m involved a wee bit in it but that’s not why i’m excited about it!

a few years ago i got together with a couple of friends and we discovered we had a similar heart and passion to see God do a work in the midst of a youth/student/young adult generation in our area. we decided to meet up once every week for the next year to just pray for this. pretty simple really, just taking time to pray, to worship together and to seek God’s face. the cry of our hearts was that God would raise up a bunch of people who mirrored the call of Psalm 24:

___

“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.”

____

towards the end of this period, we decided to launch an event called “Mission’s Flame”. The idea was to gather folks together from the local area who had been involved in loads of different things over the summer. teams. trips. outreach projects. camps. on that night we shared stories, prayed together, worshipped together and reminded everyone of the call of God to serve Him in every moment of our lives, and not just the summer!

it was an incredible night where God moved in many ways. folks came to know Jesus for the first time. others were reminded of His greatness. loads of people reaffirmed their commitment to live their lives for the fame of Jesus. i loved it.

loads of water has passed under the bridge as well as another Mission’s Flame event last year and a few other similar minded gatherings and projects. and on the back of the amazing week of Spark 07, Mission’s Flame is happening again on Sunday night. and i can’t wait!

the heart remains exactly the same. to challenge a bunch of young people to be part of a generation seeking God’s face and living for Him through their whole lives. simple really, but why should it be any different??

please pray that God would move once again on this night…but also in the bigger picture that He would cause hundreds of young people to seek His face. and if your free on sunday night please do pop along to wellington street halls in ballymena from 8.15 – 9.45pm.

heading off on a wee 3 day break early next week with a few mates. we’re going to sweden to see northern ireland play a vital qualifying match, but more than that, its going to be so good to get away for a brief moment, relax, have the mobile switched off and chill out with some of my best mates. these trips are always full of banter and laughs and this one should be no different!!

i hear stockholm is a beautiful city. i love how i’ve been able to visit some fascinating european cities over the past year…copenhagen, munich, vaduz…should be fun!

before all that i’m heading up north for the weekend to speak at Ballynahinch Baptist’s youth weekend. i’m looking forward to this and have a few thoughts on my heart to share with these guys…

probably won’t be blogging for a week but that’s okay cos i never wanna feel pressure to write stuff here just for the sake of it anyway.

enjoy your weeks…

after a month preparing in the office, i’m now tearing away into schools full time. one part of my role is to do some training with different SU committees all over the country. i love this. it almost feels strategic to be helping pupils step out into the role of leadership in their schools, and listen to them as they try and shape the year ahead, dreaming of how they can make a difference.

i love my job. it’s amazing to get to do something every single day that you enjoy and makes you feel alive. and i count it a privilege to be able to get to meet and share with young people every day.

but i think i went into this job with the perception that i could maybe teach these young people something. however, i’m learning more and more every day from the young people that i’m meeting, speaking with and hearing insights from. i love that about God.

too often in my mind i’ve dismissed certain places and certain people. written them off. had a negative view of them. chosen to focus on the flaws rather than recognise the beauty of God pervading through them.

but i’m learning more and more that the Divine speaks through the mundane. the Extraordinary is seen through the ordinary. and so today i’m reminded to listen for and look for God in every person i meet and every place i go.

God, tune my ears and eyes to see your beauty in everything You have made. inspire me daily in the things i do and in the people i meet.

right, i’m off to the footie…