March Update: Refreshed

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read that in our life there is a time for everything and we will often go through seasons:

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I must admit that these past couple of months has been a bit rough for me, but praise the Lord that He is faithful and pulls us through even when we struggle. I am a human, and just like all of us can get easily distracted from doing God’s will. Satan is so cleaver and so subtle, that often we do not even see what is happening around us until if feels like it is too late. The good news is it’s not too late! Praise the Lord! It’s funny to me because I have been obedient to come here to Ireland, but following God’s will does not stop there. I must be obedient to what He tells me to do here as well. He does not want part of me, but all of me. In order for me to be affective in the ministry He has me in, I must be fully devoted with all my heart to the work that He is doing today. What does God want me to do today?

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”- M@ 6:25-34

It is too easy to get wrapped up in the future. It is too easy to make plans that may or may not happen. It’s hard to say, ok Lord you worry about my future, I’ll worry about what today. However, that is what we are called to do.

I have been reminded, and want to share with all of you, about the importance of spending time with our Lord on a daily basis. We are not to do it out of duty, but need to do it in order to function as a follower of Christ. The Holy Spirit fills us and will continue to fill us, but if we don’t remain in Christ then how do we expect to function?

“4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4

It is impossible to live out our live with Christ if we don’t spend time with him in prayer. If we can learn to strip away the formalities of prayer and learn how to just speak with God how wonderful it would be. How beautiful it would be to be able to sit down and have conversations with our God through His Spirit. But this can never happen if we do not set aside time to meet with Him. If we fail to do this we will quickly become depressed and stagnate in our relationship with Him. But when we remain in Him we are filled with joy unspeakable, and assured with a peace that brings hope for the future!

Things have been rather busy for me this last week, but it has been really good. I have really enjoyed some of the different opportunities that God is providing for me here. Last Tuesday I met with other youth workers from the Dublin Methodist circuit. The purpose for the meeting was to try and start creating some events for the youth to attend. One idea proposed was to have an annual summer camp, along with other smaller weekend events throughout the year. The conclusion of the meeting was to first of all begin with a day event that we are hoping will take place in June. We have a new couple attending the church that I mentioned last month found our church through my blog. They have two children ages 11 and 13 who I hope to be able to bring to this even in June. The youth workers plan on getting together a couple more times in order to plan this event. Please be praying with us as we seek the Lord’s wisdom on how this weekend should happen.

I have mentioned the need for a full time youth worker here at the church and the need just seems to keep growing. I have spoken with Bill about the idea of meeting up with youth from the Lucan church in order to do a joint Tallaght/Lucan youth group. Apparently they have about five or six youth who are around the same age and do not have anything for them other than on a Sunday morning. I would really like to see something develop that is for them.

I have mentioned before that we have many young kids who will soon be old enough to attend a youth group. It would be wonderful to have something stable set up for them to go to when they are old enough. Please pray with me for God to raise up someone who could come and do full time youth work here. It would be easy enough for someone from the States to come and do what I am doing now. The church is more than happy to have somebody from the States to come over and live in this house and work with the church. That is such a huge blessing as it truly cuts how much money is needed to be raised in order to live here. However, God knows what he is doing and will bring the right person here from wherever that person comes from.

I am a bit nervous about our Easter morning choir performance, but am excited about it as well. We have had trouble being able to practice every week because of other things that are happening in the church. We will get to meet once more before we sing at Lucan on Easter morning. Hopefully it will be a blessing for both those involved and those listening.

When I first arrived in Ireland we had a couple at church who ended up moving to a different church. They called me recently and asked if I could help them lead music at a kids camp that they are doing the first weekend in April. I was able to go to a meeting last night and meet with many of the other leaders that will be involved in this camp. It was such a blessed time. I am really looking forward to this camp and seeing God move in these kids lives. I once again had the chance to meet new people who have a passion for following Christ and want to see His will done. I will be meeting with some of them again in order to practice for the weekend, and am really looking forward to the opportunity to serve with them.

Kevin and I are going with some other people at the end of this month to a leadership convention in England. I have been looking forward to this for a long time and we are finally getting close to actually going. Kevin had the opportunity to go to this convention last year and said that it was very good. I don’t really know what to expect, but am anxious to see what the Lord has to teach me.

As always, God is a work here in Ireland. It is a privilege to be called by the Lord and I am thankful for all He does for me. Thank you all for your prayers and your support. You play such a huge role in impacting Ireland for Christ! Hallelujah! May He fill you all with peace, comfort, and joy that is beyond description!