Wow hard to believe we are already into December!! Time is rushing by so fast! Been so busy I completely forgot to write! So much has happened in this past week! Extreme highs - Extreme lows. . . Hmmm where to even begin???
Well I guess I should probably pick up where I left off. . .
Sunday went to church in the morning - incredible service with the Tharp family. For lunch the Tharp's, Sue, and myself, went over to Cecil and Evelyn's. Oh my word - what a GORGEOUS home. Straight from a Jane Austen book. Had church in the evening and then back to Alan and Rachel's. The three of us had some Veda and cheese and stayed up until 2am visiting. . . haha probably not the best idea.
Monday was a really good day. Hung out at the house until about noon and then went into Ballymena to get some gifts and just walk around town taking in all the Christmas decorations :)
Rebecca came and joined me after school and we had such a lovely time. That night Rach and I went grocery shopping and then had a TV girls night which was a perfect ending to the day.
And then Tuesday happened. One of my lowest days to date. One thing after another the enemy was really getting me down. At one point I had pretty much decided on not coming back in January. I even told the Lord; "I know you have called me here but regardless of that, unless you do something massive, I don't think I can come back - please don't force me to come back." No joke - that's word for word. But then He told me to read Psalms 119:1-8 in the message. And that one silenced me. That night I was completely overwhelmed and remember saying to myself; "This is too much for me." And then I heard him say; "Is it too much for me?" So even through it all He was right their to encourage me and gently remind me that He is with me and NOTHING is impossible with Him.
Wednesday was a little better. Work, Bible Study, Prayer. . .
Yesterday was the extreme high. God really showed off His magnificent power and left me in awe once again. Woke up with a bad head cold and sore throat so I opted not to go into town but take the morning and afternoon slow. Stayed home and did some minor work for Junior Youth that night and watched TV. I even got an hour nap in there before youth! Watched a cheesy yet entertaining Christmas film w/ Sue and then headed off for the church. Junior Youth went better than I had anticipated with a couple first timers and tons of regulars showing up! Then The Loft Youth followed with even more first timers and about 35 regulars. That night Zippy, one of our youth leaders, gave a message about destiny and purpose. . . Alan closed it up - both were really anointed by the Holy Spirit ... Then we put on some good worship music and the teens really got into it. . . (you can see for yourself in the video)
Then Alan spoke a wee bit more and closed with a call for salvation - 5 accepted Christ for the first time and 2 rededicated!! PRAISE THE LORD! One of them that got saved was the girl I had mentioned in "Oh Christmas Tree". I can't even begin to express how excited I am!!! There is such a new level of passion on Thursday nights from the leaders to the teens - and an expectancy that something is going to happen. Can't wait to see what next week holds! Please be believing with us for a mini bus as we have more teens we reach on Friday nights that want to come but don't have a way to the church!!
Today, aside from being sick, was another really good day. I got a ton done in the office and touched up painting on the youth game room with Alan. Had Street Reach tonight in Belfast which was amazing. Last two weeks the Christmas Market has been up outside City Hall as well so the crowds of people, the smells of food, the energy, lights, everything is just bustling with the holiday spirit. Even the rain held off for us :)
Tomorrow I have adopt-a-block in the morning which I can't wait for since I missed last weeks. Then, Sue and I will be putting up our Christmas decorations - including the tree! Christmas music and movies galore!! Gonna be spectacular!
Well that's about it. Will try my best in the future not to let a week go by without writing. . . though my next two will be pretty busy! Haven't decided yet if I'm going to write while I'm home in the States. . . hmmmmm.
Hope you are having a WONDERFUL evening wherever in the world you might be :)
And remember that no matter what you face tonight - He's bigger than it.
xoxo
-J
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