Life of Risk

Today Ben and I were working in the church office when I looked out my window and saw this elderly lady walking down the street. She had a cane and was hunched almost at a 90 degree angle. My heart went out to her immediatly. And then God spoke to me and said if I wanted to live a life of extreme risk for Him, that I needed to get up out of my seat and go out to the streets and pray for her. I looked over to the other side of the room and Ben was watching her too. I asked Ben if he wanted to pray for her and he said yes. So I got up and got my coat and threw Ben his coat...Ben looked at me and said "NOW??" I gave him "the look" and we both ran down the stairs out to the streets and caught up with the lady. Her name was Ellen and she had some disked replaced in her back and had a bad hip. I explained to her that we were part of a local church and would like to pray for her to be healed. She said yes and then started walking away. We clarified that we would like to pray for her right there on the street right next to the wee shop. So, we did just that. She seemed like she was in a hurry to get somewhere so we couldn't really press into prayer...But she was thankful and even though we did not see immediate healing take place, we know that God was stirring something up in her heart. You tell God to use you and when He speaks and tells you what he would like to do, you have a choice to either listen and obey or turn a deaf ear. It's time to start listening...It's time to start obeying...you can never really see God moving until you get up and actually experience it.

My Mission Statement...

I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!

Coleraine Light Switch On

In Coleraine a week or so ago, we had the Light Switch On. Which is exactly that. Everyone gathers in the town centre and there is a parade of people walking on stilts and marching bands and little boys and girls dressed up in all sorts of costumes. Frosty the snowman and Santa Clause all make an appearance as well. There is a live band and all the shops are open extra late...which is big in Coleraine considering normal closing time for the shops is 5pm. The lights in the town are all switched on and the christmas decorations are lite up and the tree lights all flash on....It's so wonderful. There was even a firework show! The fireworks were great...they had the show right over the river bann and you could see the reflection in the water! oh what fun it was!! Christmas in Coleraine...does it get much better than this?

SNOW!

I just love this time of year! Christmas...Isn't it wonderful. I do have to say that it is completely different from a California Christmas...It's actually cold here in Ireland. I cannot leave the house with out my hat, scarf, jacket, and even gloves. Yes, it's that cold. I don't think I will ever say I am cold when I am in California ever again... I now know what cold means. Actually, its not so bad when you are all layered up and have the mindset that its going to be cold. I have done pretty well, me thinks! It has snowed though!!

Several times already...It's the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The way it falls from the sky in a downward spiral and lands on your eyelashes and nos; It's marvelous! It's a chilling and gorgeous sight!! It truly makes it feel like Christmas though. The thought of having a White Christmas just makes me so happy. They are saying that there is a very likely chance that we will have one. I think it's much more fun to have a cold christmas. you can cuddle up by the fire and drink your tea and watch the snow fall outside your window. Oh....I love Christmas in Ireland!!! Here are some pix of my house and the snow....I even have some of Katja and I decorating our trees. I let Katja decorate the big one, and I settled for the mini tree. I like it though...a mini tree for a mini me. I even strung the popcorn garland myself! It was quite difficult to string the popcorn when it smelled so good...I think I ate most of it! I did find the secret tip to stringing popcorn...wait until the next day after the popcorn is a day old. It is soggy and stale and you're not tempted to eat it anymore and it actually strings better too!

Thanksgiving

I made my first Thanksgiving dinner all by myself! So we had a gorgeous turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, carmelized carrots, creamed corn, green bean casserole, rolls, pumpkin bread, & pumpkin spice cake! I had to get some canned pumpkin sent over because they don't sell it here. Darn american products! Anyway...we had a brilliant time. Ben, Katja and I all invited a guest and we introduced Thanksgiving to out Irish friends. We even went arounnd the table and said what we were thankful for...good times. It was amazing and we had a fab time! here are some pix!!!

Happy Bday Janet!

It was Janet's birthday last month, so naturally I asked if I could make her a birthday cake. She accepted my offer of course and so I started to plan. Janet doesn't like chocolate cake so I had to think of something else to satisfy a woman's tastebuds. So I made a good ole fashion american white cake (victorian sponge cake to the irish) with alternating layers of raspberry and lemon curd filling. I frosted it with a delightful buttercream and added handmade white chocolate roses and fresh, red raspberries. Tori, my neighbor, drove us to Coast which was the restaurant we were having dinner at. Transporting the cake was so nerve racking, but i managed to get it there all in one piece. We got to Coast and sat at the table and poeple where staring at us and coming over to look at the cake...one guy even took a photo of it. You would think that poeple had never seen a cake before! But Janet came in and was awestruck with the monstrosity of a cake and we all had a fabulous dinner. Coast is an incredible place with yummy, yummy food. After dinner and dessert we went back to Janet's where we sat by the fire and drank wine and watched Mama Mia and had a totally relaxing girls night. It was so much fun!!!