Snowy Kansas City.

 

 

Do you ever experience something a little unexpected? 

In the weeks coming up to us leaving Northern Ireland and moving to Kansas City for three months training, every time I looked at the weather, it said it was warm, nearly Northern Irish summer temperatures (like 15C!).

You can therefore image my shock on being informed in Chicago Airport that our connecting flight to Kansas City was cancelled due to an impending snow storm!

After a bit of re-routing we finally made it (with our bags following a few days later), and there has been snow on the ground ever since, with two massive storms passing through and it snowing at least a foot of snow over the time we’ve been here.

 

Delayed Benefit.

There is currently a drought in this area of the US (I should have brought some of the rain from the emerald Isle with me), and so this snow is something that is needed. However it’s not much use at the moment as it’s just sitting as a white blanket covering the ground. Once it melts however, well, that will be a different story.

As Bec and I settle (for the next three months) in our new home, into a new rhythm of community living, study and preparation, I get the feeling that this whole time is going to be like the start of this journey;

one of those things that we didn’t expect watering our souls, but that watering being delayed until we really need it.

Heres to a good time of learning and preparation!

A Christmas poem from the desk of David S Pinkerton

As we remember the Christmas story,

A Babe born of the Holy Ghost.

A time filled with heavenly glory:

Angels filled the place to boast

 

The Kingdom of Heaven came to the earth:

“Do not fear” the Angels would say.

As the company of heaven where filled with great mirth,

The King of Kings came to save the day.

 

This is a season where the Angels await

For that babe would cause a curtain to rip.

The sons of men must step through to their fate

to realise all they have in their sonship

 

This next year as we come to our senses

“Do not fear” the Angels will say

As the Lord and King removes all our fences

And we grasp that the Kingdom is but a breath away.

Kingdom come/ Kingdom going.

here is a link to an article on the 24-7Ireland website that we wrote, and an educational video we produced as well.

http://24-7prayerireland.com/2012/11/kingdom-come-kingdom-going/

mustard seed steps

A few weeks ago a dear man, Ian Nicholson, came to speak at our church – he came to encourage us in our steps towards overseas missions and also to let our church family know a little more about 24-7prayer – this crazy, wild, wonderful movement we find ourselves a part of.

Ian spent the weekend with us, conversing and eating – he also spoke to us about ‘mustard seed steps.’ The small, sometimes inconsequential steps we take in our lives – that often affect and shift {like the story of the man in Mark 5, who was freed and then instructed by Jesus to stay in that area and tell others about the mercy he had experienced – probably a frustrating step for him, to stay at home rather than follow Jesus, but a step that meant others heard of his amazing experience}.

I liked the term ‘mustard seed steps,’ I have been mulling it over a little as we have been spending the last few weeks living full lives: meeting friends, catching up with 24-7 in Frankfurt, organising fundraisers and making sure we still have time to get our work done! I appreciate the mustard seed analogy because I know that Jesus referred to the kingdom of God as a mustard seed – something small, seemingly insignificant, yet with the design and purpose to grow, spread, produce and provide.

As we plot and plan to head out to Asia I know the many mustard seed steps we have taken in the past have led to this point – of one holy moly giant step!

I have recently been reading “Where Underpants Come From” by Joe Bennett, amidst Bennett’s witty anecdotes about China’s culture I was struck by his remark in relation to the one child policy that has been in affect for the past three decades in China -

“…300 million Chinese citizens have simply not been born. The population of the United States has been wiped out before it even existed.”

Sheesh.

I was similarly impacted by Chai Ling’s story in “A Heart for Freedom” and to be honest as I consider this and other aspects of Chinese policy mixed with all the differences in culture, the language barrier and even just getting there I feel a little overwhelmed.

It is then that I have to remind myself of mustard seed steps. Unless we trust that our lives can still take the form of small steps, I know it will be too overwhelming to function, to function within the love I have for this nation and continent and to find a way of functioning that means that love comes out in practical and accessible ways for others.

So. We keep on stepping, each day making small decisions that affect our bigger picture and hopefully encouraging the kingdom to grow and produce.

At the moment we are focusing on raising finances to be able to undertake training with 24-7prayer and then move out to Hong Kong next year to focus our time on serving there. We currently have a few wonderful friends who have agreed to support us financially a little per month. However we need £2000+ a month to be able to undertake this step. Maybe you could consider being a part of this journey and partner with us to serve Asia. Have a look at our partnering page for more information or send us a wee email.

vocational holiness

[Jesus said,] “This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.”

Matthew 10:42

Aufstehen: sitting down to stand up.

Aufstehen (Stand Up): The vision is Jesus.

This weekend Bec and I had the awesome privilege of being at another 24-7 Prayer Euro Gathering. This is where people from all across Europe come together to worship pray and hear stories of what is going on, of what God is doing in Europe.

Like every other year we have been, we come home excited about what God is doing.

That He is on the move.

That people are standing up for the Gospel where they are.

That peoples’ lives are being transformed!

As we shared a weekend with a diverse group of people; from German Nuns to Swedish Punks, from British people working with Government to people serving in Japan (which is not technically in Europe), we again come to realise that this movement, and actually the Gospel itself is all about family.

God wants a great big family, we are Sons and Daughters of God (Romans 8:15) adopted into His house, we wear a ring and a robe that shows our sonship, and all we have to do is introduce others to our Father in heaven.

Simple really…

It was through the conversations we had, often over a meal that we where empowered. The encouraging words we received, the dreams we dreamt together, the what ifs, the stories of God moving:

This is how we “Aufstehen”, how we ‘stand up’; by sitting with our peers and mentors, our family, for in the midst of that God shows up, moves, encourages, provides.

Why pray

Here is a cool video: