wow!
ive had quite an eventful weekend... : )
my heart was broken...more...and i dont think i can ever get over what i saw..in short, we were in belfast helping the homeless. saw lots, hurt lots, cried lots, prayed lots. Decided to speak in church about it...so i did and well, got great response from the congregation. a wee old lady gave me the money she would have spent on the church christmas dinner...she decided not to go because she thought it was a disgrace how much it cost when there are people living on the streets who have nothing. so, she gave me her money (£27) and told me to buy food for the homeless next time i was out. but i think the next bit is...well its someting else. as i was thanking her and telling her that God loves her worship, she interrupted me...last year her husband died..she told me that she still has all of his old clothes and underwear and stuff. with tears in her eyes this lady (who i think is still completely broken over her husbands death) told me that she wanted to give me the clothes. every single last garment so i could give the homeless some new clothes to wear. she actually cried and as i hugged her i realised the depth of her giving...this is what worship is all about. sacrificial giving.
that wee lady is truly amazing and she doesnt realise how amazing her gift is!
As i prayed over the congregation on sunday morning begging God to break the hearts of the people sitting in their pews, it hit me. this is what its all about. raising awareness, telling the Church to go just as JC himself commanded. i reckon the Church needs alot of motivation. alot. so i encourage you, if theres ever anything on your heart and it just feels like youre gonna explode, tell your church. seriously. that explosion is a sign from the Holy Spirit that God wants to use what youve gotta say. Even if people ridicule you afterwards, even if no one seems to care, just remember this: God has worked in you, he has planted a seed in the hearts of those people and someday they will see something and it will hit them like a ton of bricks. the flower will blossom and God will begin something in them!
It says this in Jeremiah 20:7...
"The words are fire in my belly, a burning in my bones. I'm worn out trying to hold it in. I can't do it any longer!"
So thats one story : P
Monday, 22 October 2007
Monday, 15 October 2007
yeoooooo
well, i went to see the rev...
told him the story from the beginning...even printed out the verses from amos that have been on my heart and playing over and over in my mind...he said that the idea has obviously been birthed from prayer and reading the bible and God time, and that he will support it 100%
so that means "ALL SYSTEMS GO!"
Colin says i can do all of my ideas! every single one!!
Plus, hes gonna try and get a tearfund guy in to speak on the last sunday of it : D like seriously though, how flippin AWESOME is that?! so looks like ive gotta do everything for it, which is absolutely fantastic! wouldnt have it any other way. cant wait to see thomas street praying for the world...God is gonna move!!
told him the story from the beginning...even printed out the verses from amos that have been on my heart and playing over and over in my mind...he said that the idea has obviously been birthed from prayer and reading the bible and God time, and that he will support it 100%
so that means "ALL SYSTEMS GO!"
Colin says i can do all of my ideas! every single one!!
Plus, hes gonna try and get a tearfund guy in to speak on the last sunday of it : D like seriously though, how flippin AWESOME is that?! so looks like ive gotta do everything for it, which is absolutely fantastic! wouldnt have it any other way. cant wait to see thomas street praying for the world...God is gonna move!!
various happenings
School is a funny sort of place...its both good and bad. I guess though, im struggling to see the good.
Like, i know God wants me there to study and get good grades so that doors will be opened and stuff..but school is so lonely. Its lonely in a friends sort of way (well, that might be a God thing but yeah, just dont ask lol) and i dont know whether to be happy or sad about that tbh. I mean, perhaps God wants me to make new mates and get them involved with Him..but thats hard for me : ( im a kinda shy person...well not shy, just quite quiet thats all. Maybe God wants me to help lonely people in school, or maybe He wants me to spend the time i would have spent with my mates with Him instead...hmm its all a bit confusing. Still, ill ask Him whats going on lol. Im pretty sure He will fill me in.
Im going to see colin tonight! cant wait to see what hes gonna say about the prayer week. ive got loads of ideas for it...getting the church involved in the bigger issues is so great. and it aint just an optional extra with being a christian. its part of our duty! a huge part!
oh heres the link btw, just incase you want to see it...but sure, no one ever reads this anyway lol
http://www.bepartofamiracle.org.uk/Prayer+week
so yeah, ill do another post when i get home from the wee meeting : ) yeooooo
Like, i know God wants me there to study and get good grades so that doors will be opened and stuff..but school is so lonely. Its lonely in a friends sort of way (well, that might be a God thing but yeah, just dont ask lol) and i dont know whether to be happy or sad about that tbh. I mean, perhaps God wants me to make new mates and get them involved with Him..but thats hard for me : ( im a kinda shy person...well not shy, just quite quiet thats all. Maybe God wants me to help lonely people in school, or maybe He wants me to spend the time i would have spent with my mates with Him instead...hmm its all a bit confusing. Still, ill ask Him whats going on lol. Im pretty sure He will fill me in.
Im going to see colin tonight! cant wait to see what hes gonna say about the prayer week. ive got loads of ideas for it...getting the church involved in the bigger issues is so great. and it aint just an optional extra with being a christian. its part of our duty! a huge part!
oh heres the link btw, just incase you want to see it...but sure, no one ever reads this anyway lol
http://www.bepartofamiracle.org.uk/Prayer+week
so yeah, ill do another post when i get home from the wee meeting : ) yeooooo
Sunday, 14 October 2007
greater things are yet to come
Well, its officially official : )
God wants me to bring it up at the meeting, and He wants me to run the prayer week. How awesome is that?!
Megan was round at mine and we were having a wee God time, and i went upstairs to get us some bibles and i found "The Vision and The Vow" book sitting beside my mums bed. Hadnt read it in a while so i just flicked through and opened up at a random page. And i started reading in the middle of this paragraph and it talked about how worship involves caring for the poor and being active in that care. So that was conformation number one : )
Number two came this morning. Harvest in Thomas Street is a pretty cool time : ) and there was this minister dude from lisburn preaching. And the whole sermon was based on caring for the poor and injustice and stuff...so i spoke to nigel about stuff and he said "emma, thats your conformation. you have to do it now"
So i dont really know whether to be happy or to be scared...i mean, now, theres no turning back. and if i do turn back, i might just get swallowed by a big whale and lets face it, no one wants that!
So, all i have left to do is talk to the rev colin about it..and see if i can get his permission : ) ive got a slot with him tomorrow. And i know since God wants it, colin will say yes. that guy is so tuned in with the Holy Spirit its unreal.
Praise this morning and tonight was amazing. a wee lady told nigel she was so blessed by the music and gave us some money so we can have a day out sometime. I felt that today was the start of something really REALLY amazing for our church..maybe revival? maybe awakening? maybe fire? only God knows...and i cant wait to see whats gonna happen! Its just so bloomin exciting : )
Keep praying!!
God wants me to bring it up at the meeting, and He wants me to run the prayer week. How awesome is that?!
Megan was round at mine and we were having a wee God time, and i went upstairs to get us some bibles and i found "The Vision and The Vow" book sitting beside my mums bed. Hadnt read it in a while so i just flicked through and opened up at a random page. And i started reading in the middle of this paragraph and it talked about how worship involves caring for the poor and being active in that care. So that was conformation number one : )
Number two came this morning. Harvest in Thomas Street is a pretty cool time : ) and there was this minister dude from lisburn preaching. And the whole sermon was based on caring for the poor and injustice and stuff...so i spoke to nigel about stuff and he said "emma, thats your conformation. you have to do it now"
So i dont really know whether to be happy or to be scared...i mean, now, theres no turning back. and if i do turn back, i might just get swallowed by a big whale and lets face it, no one wants that!
So, all i have left to do is talk to the rev colin about it..and see if i can get his permission : ) ive got a slot with him tomorrow. And i know since God wants it, colin will say yes. that guy is so tuned in with the Holy Spirit its unreal.
Praise this morning and tonight was amazing. a wee lady told nigel she was so blessed by the music and gave us some money so we can have a day out sometime. I felt that today was the start of something really REALLY amazing for our church..maybe revival? maybe awakening? maybe fire? only God knows...and i cant wait to see whats gonna happen! Its just so bloomin exciting : )
Keep praying!!
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
breaking...
God is answering my prayers for my heart to be broken...
tho, its harder than i thought it would be. Way harder.
Injustice, poverty, murders, suicides, AIDS, homelessness, addiction, rejection, trafficking, abuse, domestic violence, rape, the unsaved...i find my heart crying out for the church to help, but no one seems to care. They're all too busy worrying about powerpoint or sound equipment or the building or the church leaders.
In my church, ive recently been asked to represent the youth board on the worship committee...that is totally fantastic, i have this real passion for intimate and meaningful worship and being on the committee will allow me to voice my opinion on the subject...but what if God is fed up with our songs? What if He is telling us to stop singing and we ignore Him, for comforts sake. What if our call to worship is more than songs/art/drama/whatever your gift is...
What if our call to worship has to be out there, outside our warm, comfortable, familiar churches...and out there giving and giving and giving instead of getting...
Thats what im gonna bring up at the next meeting. I seriously believe that God is fed up with nice wee songs and that He just wants us to go out and fulfill our roles as Christians ('little Christs').
I am ashamed of the state of the church...at the petty arguments over nothing that really matters, at Christians not showing love to one another...me and grandma were talking about that today actually...about how if Christians cant love one another, then how can they expect to be blessed by God or love effectively?
Im also ashamed at the greed of our society. I am ashamed of myself for wanting more 'stuff' when i already have more than enough material things...poverty is caused by greed.
So, im gonna pray about this. And if JC says i can bring this up at the next meeting then i will. And if JC says that i can get our church to take part in the Global Poverty Prayer Week...then i will.
Im ready for Him to take me anywhere. Bring it on God!
tho, its harder than i thought it would be. Way harder.
Injustice, poverty, murders, suicides, AIDS, homelessness, addiction, rejection, trafficking, abuse, domestic violence, rape, the unsaved...i find my heart crying out for the church to help, but no one seems to care. They're all too busy worrying about powerpoint or sound equipment or the building or the church leaders.
In my church, ive recently been asked to represent the youth board on the worship committee...that is totally fantastic, i have this real passion for intimate and meaningful worship and being on the committee will allow me to voice my opinion on the subject...but what if God is fed up with our songs? What if He is telling us to stop singing and we ignore Him, for comforts sake. What if our call to worship is more than songs/art/drama/whatever your gift is...
What if our call to worship has to be out there, outside our warm, comfortable, familiar churches...and out there giving and giving and giving instead of getting...
Thats what im gonna bring up at the next meeting. I seriously believe that God is fed up with nice wee songs and that He just wants us to go out and fulfill our roles as Christians ('little Christs').
I am ashamed of the state of the church...at the petty arguments over nothing that really matters, at Christians not showing love to one another...me and grandma were talking about that today actually...about how if Christians cant love one another, then how can they expect to be blessed by God or love effectively?
Im also ashamed at the greed of our society. I am ashamed of myself for wanting more 'stuff' when i already have more than enough material things...poverty is caused by greed.
So, im gonna pray about this. And if JC says i can bring this up at the next meeting then i will. And if JC says that i can get our church to take part in the Global Poverty Prayer Week...then i will.
Im ready for Him to take me anywhere. Bring it on God!
Friday, 5 October 2007
summer thoughts..
wow...i havent been on this thing for a while!
Well so much has happened! Despite being really terrified about getting my GCSE results, i passed all of them and am now back in portadown college (joy...) studying all of my 1st choice subjects (for those of you who are interested they are music, RE, ICT and english lit) so i guess in some ways thats good lol. School is great these days, a bit lonely at times, but the classes really inspire me and they are really in depth which is amazing : ) especially with RE cause i really dont like having to regurgitate bible stories in exams...i like to think deeper about things...and half of the course is philosophy stuff so thats brilliant : )
Summer Madness was...mad! It only rained a wee tiny bit and all in all the weather was top notch so a big thankyou to The Big Man up there for answering my prayers : ) i also found the teaching very VERY challenging...it left me thinking about how i live my life and how i need to change alot of it so i can be more in touch with JC and God and the Holy Spirit in my life. Amazing stuff : ) although i think that people who attend the likes of SM expect to come out of the morning and evening main stage worship sessions feeling 'fuzzy' and all nice and 'warm' inside cause they have experienced the love of God. And yes, you could for sure feel God in that place theres no denying it...but God didnt just want us to feel all cozy and then leave on a high. He wanted to see his love manifested in us so we can change the world. God made us hurt for the poor and the broken...and he made me look upon my life with shame...how i spend my money, how i focus on stuff that doesnt matter in the long run, how i walk on past hurting people without looking back. So it was weird walking out on the first night not feeling really good. But it was amazing, and i will never forget it. He taught me so much about everything. I really feel that SM this year was a real turning point for me in my spiritual growth...and yeah, that may be a somewhat cliched thing to say, but like, its just so true. And in one of the previous posts i had commented on how i find it impossible to hear the voice of God...well i heard it in the most clear way ive ever heard it before on one of the nights. God gave me words that i believe werent just for the person i was praying for, but were for me too. So much happened at SM, so much its unreal.
At Castlewellan Holiday Bible Week i learned what it meant to cry out to God...not by what people taught or from the worship or anything like that...it was just me and God...no one else. Just started praying in the middle of worship for ireland, for the lost, for the druggies, for the homeless, for the alcoholics, for the people who surrounded me worshipping in the room. I got the feeling that i had to pray for them to get convicted...so i did...and tbh, i dont know if it had an effect on anyone, i didnt open my eyes to look, but that prayer was one of the most passionate prayers i have ever prayed. And i knew God was listening...i always get this image of God when i pray...i imagine him sitting on this throne with this notepad in his hand...and he writes down my prayers...and when he is writing them down and perhaps forgets what comes next, the angels tell him and he laughs at himself and continues writing...it makes me smile to think of God laughing...i cant wait to go up there and laugh with him!
The TOM team left Richhill...Eliz, Ruth, Ben + Timmy. They were just so great there. They moved in that place like i dont know what...and they taught me heaps and they listened to me and gave advice and laughed and just loved. All of what i want to say just sounds so cheesy lol...they are such Christ-like people...and i love them!
Pete Ferg left the methodist circuit to train for ministry in the dark side (only joking : P)...that guy taught me more than he will ever know! He is the one responsible for bringing me back to God and for setting my heart on fire for Him. God is gonna work amazingly through pete, and his kid rebekah doesnt have a clue how lucky she is to have a dad like him!
aw flip, im getting all soppy lol. see, told you it was cheesy!
sometimes i wonder if anyone actually reads this...if they dont i dont really mind cause i enjoy typing up my thoughts...its very theraputic or something lol.
I wont leave it for ages before i make another post...promise ; )
Well so much has happened! Despite being really terrified about getting my GCSE results, i passed all of them and am now back in portadown college (joy...) studying all of my 1st choice subjects (for those of you who are interested they are music, RE, ICT and english lit) so i guess in some ways thats good lol. School is great these days, a bit lonely at times, but the classes really inspire me and they are really in depth which is amazing : ) especially with RE cause i really dont like having to regurgitate bible stories in exams...i like to think deeper about things...and half of the course is philosophy stuff so thats brilliant : )
Summer Madness was...mad! It only rained a wee tiny bit and all in all the weather was top notch so a big thankyou to The Big Man up there for answering my prayers : ) i also found the teaching very VERY challenging...it left me thinking about how i live my life and how i need to change alot of it so i can be more in touch with JC and God and the Holy Spirit in my life. Amazing stuff : ) although i think that people who attend the likes of SM expect to come out of the morning and evening main stage worship sessions feeling 'fuzzy' and all nice and 'warm' inside cause they have experienced the love of God. And yes, you could for sure feel God in that place theres no denying it...but God didnt just want us to feel all cozy and then leave on a high. He wanted to see his love manifested in us so we can change the world. God made us hurt for the poor and the broken...and he made me look upon my life with shame...how i spend my money, how i focus on stuff that doesnt matter in the long run, how i walk on past hurting people without looking back. So it was weird walking out on the first night not feeling really good. But it was amazing, and i will never forget it. He taught me so much about everything. I really feel that SM this year was a real turning point for me in my spiritual growth...and yeah, that may be a somewhat cliched thing to say, but like, its just so true. And in one of the previous posts i had commented on how i find it impossible to hear the voice of God...well i heard it in the most clear way ive ever heard it before on one of the nights. God gave me words that i believe werent just for the person i was praying for, but were for me too. So much happened at SM, so much its unreal.
At Castlewellan Holiday Bible Week i learned what it meant to cry out to God...not by what people taught or from the worship or anything like that...it was just me and God...no one else. Just started praying in the middle of worship for ireland, for the lost, for the druggies, for the homeless, for the alcoholics, for the people who surrounded me worshipping in the room. I got the feeling that i had to pray for them to get convicted...so i did...and tbh, i dont know if it had an effect on anyone, i didnt open my eyes to look, but that prayer was one of the most passionate prayers i have ever prayed. And i knew God was listening...i always get this image of God when i pray...i imagine him sitting on this throne with this notepad in his hand...and he writes down my prayers...and when he is writing them down and perhaps forgets what comes next, the angels tell him and he laughs at himself and continues writing...it makes me smile to think of God laughing...i cant wait to go up there and laugh with him!
The TOM team left Richhill...Eliz, Ruth, Ben + Timmy. They were just so great there. They moved in that place like i dont know what...and they taught me heaps and they listened to me and gave advice and laughed and just loved. All of what i want to say just sounds so cheesy lol...they are such Christ-like people...and i love them!
Pete Ferg left the methodist circuit to train for ministry in the dark side (only joking : P)...that guy taught me more than he will ever know! He is the one responsible for bringing me back to God and for setting my heart on fire for Him. God is gonna work amazingly through pete, and his kid rebekah doesnt have a clue how lucky she is to have a dad like him!
aw flip, im getting all soppy lol. see, told you it was cheesy!
sometimes i wonder if anyone actually reads this...if they dont i dont really mind cause i enjoy typing up my thoughts...its very theraputic or something lol.
I wont leave it for ages before i make another post...promise ; )
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