new year

well, it doesnt actually feel like it, but its finally 2008. Kinda hard to believe to be honest... this year has totally flown for me! so much stuff has happened. especially within thomas street. i dunno...2008...its gonna be a new start for our church. for sure. yesterday was so good. we had a prayer and fasting thing in church from 8am to 8pm (eddie decided to call it "82880"...ill be very impressed if you can work that one out lol) and God totally moved in that place. ive never really fasted before, and to be honest, i didnt think it would have much of an effect, but it was so amazing. it was unlike anything ive ever experienced before. we were crying out to God to come and unite the church, to send revival...we were pleading the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in the church, to move in the hearts of the people of thomas street and portadown...we cried out to Jesus, begging Him to heal, begging Him to help us to love, begging Him for forgiveness. theres something about praying when you havent eaten...its like...the brokenness i have for thomas street, it was made into a physical thing if you get me. it made the praying more intense, more real. it made me pray harder. it made me pray like i have never prayed before. yesterday, my eyes were opened to the potential that every single person on this planet holds. we had a non christian lady come in and ask to be prayed for...we had a non christian guy who doesnt have any time for church or God come in and give us a jar of coffee...we prayed for more people to come into church to volunteer to do stuff, then eddie gets a phone call from a lady who wants to come and help at youth club...he hadnt talked to that lady in ages. she just came. People belonging to Thomas street and other churches just turned up and we all prayed with them...there were tears of gratefulness, and tears of assurance that God was with them and would get them through certain situations.there were so many mini miracles yesterday. God blessed us again and again and again. His presence in that church was so tangible. it was such an aazing way to round off 2007 and to bring in 2008. i have this really excited feeling about 2008. i get shivers everytime i think about what God could do. i really think my church needs to pray more though. without prayer, nothing will be accomplished. we need Gods strength. thomas street is in dire need of the Holy Spirit. we need a mighty move of the Spirit. cause thats the only way things are gonna change. thats the only way that the church can lose their pride in worship and become totally undignified. one thing is for sure though...revival is coming. God is gonna explode into peoples lives...and the church is gonna be revived, towns are gonna be revived, cities are gonna be revived....and the next thing we know it, the whole of ireland will be revived. thats my dream for 2008. its a pretty big dream, but God is bigger :) how could i live for anyone else?! how could i go through this life without Jesus? what would i have to live for?...nothing. thats what. at the start of "82880" yesterday, eddie asked us two questions. 1. what are your top 3 dreams for 2008? and 2. what were your top 3 highlights of 2007? well ive basically typed out my dreams...so ill give you my highlights of 2007 1. mum and tom getting engaged - self explanitory 2. summer madness - because God started really really breaking me for the poor and the hurting and the lost. He spoke to me about my money, and how i should give more of it away. summer madness changed my outlook on life, and on how i choose to live my life...and how my choices can have a great impact on the worlds poorest. 3. becoming closer to God - this was a more general highlight. i didnt wake up one day and just suddenly feel closer to God than ever before lol. it took time, and it took prayer, it took uncomfortable questions, it took addressing issues that i had shoved to the back of my mind and allowing God to heal the hurt, it took patience. but oh man, it was totally worth it. every set of tears, every sick feeling in my stomach, every doubt, every struggle...it was all worth it. im hungry for more. im more hungry than i have ever ever been before...and God has totally transformed me in one year. but it took severe perserverence. if you feel like you cant keep going with the God thing, dont give up. never ever ever give up. keep at it! God is working in you, even in your struggles.

God i thankyou for 2007. What an amazing year! Keep filling us with dreams...and if we think they are too big to be accomplished, or too small to be even considered, then tell us to wise up...cause you are bigger than anything. YOU and You alone can accomplish anything. i thankyou for that! Keep pouring on the blessings in 2008. Lord, make this the year of change. make this the year of growth...come Holy Spirit, revive us again. empower us for the plans God has for us. God reveal those plans to us. let us not be distracted by things in this world, but keep our eyes focused on You. help us to distinguish between Your voice and our voice. let us hear Your voice in 2008! in Jesus holy and mighty name, Amen (let it be.) xo