A New Coat of Paint

Over the course of the last week I briefly re-entered the world of employment. It's been great actually, giving me something to do for once whilst earning a little money at the same time. I was painting a fence for one family in my Church, and as I worked I was also reminded of a fundamental principle of my faith. So let's talk fences...

I'm sure everybody has seen a fence at some point in their life. Maybe you've even painted one yourself! It's also easy enough to remember a worn down, old and battered fence that we've come across in the past. Just imagine a fence - old, discoloured and worn out. It just needs a good lick of paint.
I want to make the metaphor that those old fences are me and you. All of us.

Day to day, we get worn down and eventually worn out completely. All our problems, worries, fears and struggles in our lives leave us broken, faded and discoloured. Whether it's physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, we become exhausted. At these low points we're exactly how an old, broken and faded fence may look. So what to do? Well if we think of a fence, when it gets to a stage where it's completely worn out then the only thing to do is to give it a new coat of paint. It's not any different for us either. We need a new coat of paint, and the only way to get this is from our Father God.

God gives us energy when we're tired and peace when we're unsettled. He takes away our fears and worries, instead giving us reassurance and comfort. Isn't that just like a new coat of paint? We're transformed, not by paint, but by the Holy Spirit's power in us, restoring us to full potential to become more like the men and women of Christ that God has called us to be. This time of restoration, when we are "painted" by God, is vital for every person serious about their faith. We cannot go deeper in our relationships with Jesus without taking time with Him regularly.

'Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.'
- Colossians 3 v10

I'm not a morning person. I'll not lie, and the people that know me can testify that I prefer staying in my bed until lunch time. So the days that I was working, I was getting up around 9am. Not too early you may think. However, it meant that I wasn't fitting in my time with God before I left for work. This wouldn't be a problem in itself as long as I had it later in the day of course. Yet, through my own negligence and laziness, I ended up not reading my Bible or praying and this became a pattern for the few days I was working. Even after a couple of days I noticed a negative change in my own attitude: I was tired, easily angered and more likely to fall into sin.

I've been reminded of the importance this week of spending regular time in the presence of God and being restored by Him. Unlike a fence that gets a new coat of paint not so often, I personally believe we need a new coat of paint every day. If we don't get it then we end up battered and worn down by life - just like an ugly, old fence battered by the elements over time.

Take time with the Lord your Father God, 
and get a new coat of paint.

How to deal with a burning bush

Imagine. You go out into your back garden, possibly to drop some rubbish into the big bin, and to your utter shock you see that one of your bushes in the garden is fully aflame! What would your reaction be? Certainly panic would be my first port of call. But what if you noticed that the plant itself wasn't being consumed, or burnt up, by the fire: It was simply burning away contently. Would that not intrigue you?

'There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn't burn up.' - Exodus 3 v 2

One of my favourite stories from the Old Testament! It's a great lesson about God speaking to us; one that we often forget or struggle to apply. We've all heard the story before, but don't close the browser just quite yet. Read on, possibly see something in a new light and hopefully be challenged.

There are 3 main things that I would like to pull out of this passage in Exodus:
Drawing close / Being willing / Then hearing.


Number one.
'When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses!"' - v4

Reading this passage I noticed how God didn't speak until He saw Moses coming closer. I think this is very true for us today too. Of course God can speak to anyone and at any time, but I feel that a common frustration for Christians today is that they feel like God never speaks to them. I pray and pray, but I get no answer. Right? I find myself in that situation constantly. Remembering this lesson from Moses though is key to understanding perhaps why. Before God even says a word in this passage, Moses had to draw close to the bush first. For us today, I believe that we also need to draw close to God before we will hear His voice. As cliché as it sounds, we need to be taking our time with God every day; reading the Bible, praying and being in His presence. Without this, it's not only unlikely that God will speak to us but also unlikely that we will hear Him if He does. The further we are from someone, the harder it is to hear them speaking, right?


Number two.
'"Here I am!" Moses replied' - v4

Be willing! When God calls your name, and speaks to you, will you be ready? I think the first thing that many of us do, including myself, is that when we feel close to God and are in a good place with Him, then we pull out our long list of questions and prayer requests. It's not wrong in itself of course not! Praying and asking for God's help is good. But sometimes we don't find a good balance. We need just as much listening as we do talking in our time with our Father. That's a relationship; talking and listening, not just one way communication. I learnt a lot from those three simple words from Moses - Here I Am. So overlooked, yet so vital. We need to be saying to God on a daily basis "Here I am". For you God; your plans and your glory, use me however you want.

Number three.
'Then the Lord told him...'

Then! The most important word in the whole passage for me personally! Not first, or immediately, but then. Moses drew close, Moses presented himself willing, and THEN God told him what to do! I know for me, and for many of us, we simply expect God to direct every step of our lives. Showing us clear signs for what path to take, and speaking in a booming voice to tell us what to do. How often do we actually draw close to God first, tell Him we're willing to be used for His will and not our own. It's important to know also that this needs to be a lifestyle, an everyday ritual. It's unlikely, and a little selfish, if I wake up tomorrow doing this and then expecting God to speak. Becoming close with someone takes time. Showing faith and patience by being close with God every day is needed usually before God will THEN tell you what to do.


Thank you for reading as always. Like it and share it, and tell others about it. If you feel challenged or encouraged then that's great, please let me know too so I can rejoice with you in that or even chat further! People have told me how God has spoke to them already in previous blogs and that's what it's all about. It's a channel for God to speak through. Hopefully He has spoken again through this one. Be blessed until next time.

"Our failure to hear His voice when we want to is due to the fact that we do not in general want to hear it, that we want it only when we think we need it." - Dallas Willard. Hearing God.

More Than a Multi-Coloured Coat

"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start."

A great quote. One that I believe, rings very true with the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. Many people will know Joseph simply because of his multi-coloured dream coat, or from the famous musical made about his life. However, Joseph was much more than just his fancy coat. He was a man who, despite his awful circumstances, found himself in a position of much power and favour where he was used by God to make an impact.

As I've been reading through Genesis, and recently specifically about the life of Joseph, I more and more see how WHERE we are doesn't really matter. Rather what is important is our attitude. Are we open to let God use us in this place? How can we make the best of this situation for God's glory? Where can I go from here? It's about having vision, and the determination to persevere in the tough places. Although it's important to remember, that just having these things is simply not enough. We must have reliance on and faith in our mighty Father: for Him to give us opportunities and use us in ways that we can't comprehend.

Joseph had it bad. A lot worse than many of us can imagine. He was thrown in a well by his brothers! Only to be hoisted back out and sold into slavery, then falsely accused of rape and then finally put in prison. I don't think that in any of these situations, Joseph wanted to be in those places. He probably had his own plans for life, which certainly wouldn't have included being at the bottom of a well or stuck in prison. Let's take a look at his time as a slave at Potiphar's house. Potiphar, who was an Egyptian officer, purchased Joseph as his slave and set him to work in his household. The key verse to pick out here is:

"The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master." Genesis 39 v 2

Potiphar noticed the success that Joseph was bringing to him and ended up trusting his slave with many more responsibilities. After a while, Joseph was in charge of the whole household and property of Potiphar.

Second scenario - Joseph gets put in the clink. Poor Joseph was set up by Potiphar's wife and ends up in prison. But even in the worse place possible:

"But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favourite with the prison warden." - Genesis 39 v 21

In no time, the prison warden has Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. Crazy!? Well wait there's more. After his time in prison, Joseph is taken out by the Pharaoh of Egypt who soon also takes a shining to him. Soon Joseph is second in charge of all Egypt, and the most powerful man besides Pharaoh himself.

What can we take from this adventure?!

One thing to remember is that no matter where we are, God can and will give us great opportunities. Just like Joseph, if we keep our eyes on God and trust in Him then He will continue to be faithful to us. Thinking about everyone that got exam results today that will determine where they are for the next few years of their lives, possibly people are disappointed with not getting to their first choice university or even getting in at all. Remember Joseph, he didn't want to be in a well, or to be a slave, or to be in prison. But in all these situations, he trusted God and God helped him. God gave him favour with people in power, and gave Joseph opportunities to use his skills and gifts for success.

Secondly, remember that being somewhere you don't want to be doesn't determine your future. Joseph wasn't in the well forever. He wasn't a slave forever. He wasn't in prison forever either. In fact, he ended up ruling over Egypt - in a place of power and responsibility, and of influence. Don't let your current situation get you down, but look past that to where you can go with trusting in God and being faithful to Him.#

Finally, remember that this comes with a commitment and a responsibility. God doesn't just shower His blessings on us and expect nothing in return. He is a faithful and loving Father, who never turns His back on us even if we are somewhere that He didn't even want us to be either. God expects us to live for Him, and give Him the glory in our lives. If we do this with little responsibility, then He will entrust us with more. The more we get, the more glory we give to Him. God will take us places, give us power and influence, but only if we use it for His Kingdom.

Bruce Lee once said, "To heck with circumstances; I create opportunities." 

Look past bad circumstances, trust God and let Him create opportunities for you; opportunities to shine like a light for His glory in our presently dark world.

Bitter or Sweet

'We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.' - Psalm 78 v 4

A powerful verse. A challenging verse. Hopefully an inspiring one as well. For anyone that knows me well, will know that I'm very passionate about working with children and young people. I've spent the last 3 years of my life doing it full time, and even before that I was heavily involved in working with youth. There is many different scriptures that I could pull out of the Bible highlighting the importance of working with young people. Yet, this one really spoke to me and is a real inspiration for me to be in youth ministry: to have vision, to dream and to be passionate.

A big part of my life and ministry is summer camps. Everyone loves camps; the kids, the leaders, absolutely everyone. I really get into the swing of camps very easily - the routines, building new relationships, even the early mornings start to seem normal! I usually get very close to the young people that I meet at camps; we share laughs, sometimes tears and always good conversation. I am really thankful that God has blessed me with what I can only assume is 'favour' with the young people, and this makes my job a lot easier in getting to know them. Last week, from the 3rd - 10th August, I had the pleasure of serving our Father in yet another camp for young people. It took place in Ballycastle, up the North Coast, and we got 25 special and talented individuals aged 9-11. As usual my time at this camp was so good that I can't really justify it with words. It was special for me personally, as it was my first camp back in Northern Ireland for a long time. I wasn't really looking forward to coming home from Latvia in all honesty, but after doing this camp God has really changed my heart and welcomed me back to Northern Ireland; home.

We all see talents and gifts that children are good at. We can see that whilst one will be good at football, another may be good at dancing. Maybe, one is kind hearted and serving. This week was no different, but I also experienced something that I didn't before. I saw potential. Not potential for sports or success financially. I saw potential for great men and women of God. Especially spending some time with the lads in dorm groups, God really let me see them through His eyes and witness the potential they have in them to become great ambassadors for Christ's Kingdom. Through praying with them, reading the Bible with them and even just being around them seeing who they truly were for one week led me to be greatly encouraged and inspired. 

Problem. It's a one week camp. After camp, everyone went back to their own families, towns and Churches. As much as I love camps, I get really down after them. I experience what me and my friends joke about as 'The camp hangover'. It's not just because I have great fun at the camps, or miss the children with whom I've made good friendships. It's more than that. It's knowing that I won't be able to disciple and have an influence in these individuals' lives or faiths any more. After my stages of sadness and even annoyance following camp, I left writing about camp for a few days purposely hoping that God would reveal something to me. God is faithful, and He did. Although, it's not an easy lesson for me to learn and tough to appreciate. Check it out:

'It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.' - 1 Corinthians 3 v 7 + 8

Planting seeds / Watering potential / Harvesting fruit

I realise that I love telling people, especially young people, about Jesus. I love to plant seeds.

But actually, I love watering the plants. I love to be part of the person's life: inspiring and challenging growth.

Who doesn't love seeing results? I also love witnessing the results, harvesting the fruit of labour: seeing a young person grow into a great witness for Jesus.

Problem. Sometimes you can only do one. Camps like this one are an example. Maybe during this camp I planted seeds, and perhaps I also watered some plants. Is it wrong that I want to continue this work? No of course not, but that's what I want to do. It's not selfish per say, because I'm doing for God's glory. But maybe, I'm being a little short sighted. God can see it all. He has the vision and the knowledge to know that I'm needed for one week in a child's life, and afterwards He will use another person for another reason. It's very easy to want to do it all. Maybe by our logic, or our desires, it seems like the best. But God has His own logic, and He taught me a little bit about that wisdom over the last few days.

I wanted to share my lesson. To encourage you guys who are maybe as confused as I was. I hope this can also be a learning curve for others and that, whilst this shouldn't discourage you in doing as much as you can for Jesus, we should realise that God has a bigger plan in peoples' lives. Sometimes we don't get to see the results. But that doesn't mean there won't be any. If He uses us for a mere week, we need believe that He did it with good reason and to trust God to continue that work in the young peoples' lives when they do return to their everyday lives.

PRAY! Pray for the children that were at my camp please. The potential is overwhelming! So pray for them to stay strong and hold tightly to what they heard at camp last week. Let them cling to the Word of God, and treasure it in their hearts. Let it be their joy, peace and refuge through the tough times. Pray mainly that God continues to grow the seeds that were planted in their hearts, through other people watering it and other people harvesting the fruit. Although, camp is a week long, we do have a longer responsibility to commit to supporting these kids through prayer.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed.

The Next Adventure

“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.”

As many of you know, I have just returned home to Northern Ireland to live and begin studying in Bible College in September. In my head this seems to be the next step in my life, or the next adventure if you want to call it that. The reason that I personally expect it to be an adventure is due to the fact that the last two years of my life have been just that: an adventure. An adventure of faith. Of fun. Of friends.

The last two years of my life were spent living and serving in Latvia, an Eastern European country and one of the Baltic States. I originally moved over to Latvia with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to study in their Discipleship Training School (DTS). After these 6 months, I then moved to another city, called Liepaja, and started volunteering in a Christian Children's Centre ran by the organisation Hope for Children. The Centre was found in the worst area of the city called Karosta, and mostly work with underprivileged children. The Hope For Children's Day Centre also worked in conjunction with another organisation in the area called Karosta Kids, mainly working with teenagers. During the year and a half that I was in Liepaja, I worked with both these organisations in many different ways. It was certainly an experience that has shaped my life, and an adventure that I certainly will remember with fondness.

However, now I am home in Northern Ireland, and will be studying Youth and Community Work with Practical Theology. Despite the rather lengthy title, I expect my course to very fulfilling, educating and interesting. I felt the time was right for me to begin studying at a higher level to balance out my wealth of experience working with young people. Yet lectures will only be one aspect of my course come September, with the majority of my time being spent on placement. I will be serving in Helen's Bay Presbyterian Church as a youth worker, with a vision to develop youth ministry in the Church. Leaving so many friends and young people that I had built relationships over the last 2 years was very difficult, and I expect that making new relationships and friends in this new place will be equally as challenging. But as Ellen J. Barrier said regarding challenges, “I believe challenges are God's way of strengthening us mentally and spiritually, and yes, physically. After having won each challenge that confronted us, we are wiser and stronger.”

I was told by one man in my home Church of Trinity Presbyterian in Bangor to consider writing a blog or a newsletter to keep people back in Trinity informed of my adventures when I moved on to Helen's Bay to work. He said it would be an encouragement to many people, and lots of people were interested and praying for me already. Because I respect George so much, I took this suggestion to heart and started to contemplate it seriously. After much deliberation, I've decided that it would be good for not only me to journal my own thoughts, but to encourage and let everyone know how my ministry is going. This is what this blog for - to encourage, inspire and challenge you readers. Hopefully it will lead you to following my progress regularly and committing to pray for me and my ministries.

Life is a journey with many adventures. I invite you to follow the course of mine in the near future.