The
Irish need Jesus too…
So
here I am …sharing my heart with the good people of Ireland and all I ask is
for some detailed information on the whereabouts of a short man dressed in
green with a “funny” accent and some red hair with a pot of gold –
and still no cooperation. Maybe I should walk around with a box of lucky charms
(displaying patriotism to it’s fullest) and a pint of Guinness. They’d probably
still get the last laugh. I mean really..have you ever seen a black man dressed
in all green sporting the leprechaun guild…? Exactly…! Ok, all kidding aside, I don’t believe
in the luck nor the charm that a box full of sugary colored oats could have on
my digestive system so I think I’ll pass. Nevertheless, I press on, not giving
up on that pot of gold. Instead, I’ll focus on the hearts of these loving
people who smile with a twinkle in their eye while bearing heavy hearts healing
from the past sufferings of war and the agonizing loss of family members and
friends in the endless battle of faith that has separated man since the
beginning of time.
Coleraine,
Ireland has a tremendous history of revolution, revelation and reconciliation.
From the mid 1800’s, and before, it’s been an roller coaster of amazing
spiritual and social surprises from school yard revivals to court yard
reckonings. This trip to Ireland has proved to be more than just the beginning
of a spiritual journey in a foreign land, but a place that has the familiarity
of home (wherever that is…) friendly faces (with funny accents) and warm pots
of Irish stew and endless buckets of fish and chips. Ireland has proved that no
matter where you are in the world a couple things are always present. 1.)
Christ is everywhere and there are those who need to hear the Truth and develop
a personal relationship with Him. He showed up at healing sessions, all-night
prayer watches and food-drives over the last 3 weeks and met us all. 2.) No
matter whether your in the city streets of New York or the deeper slums of
Bangalore, God is raising up young leaders to advance the kingdom and Ireland
is no exception. The ministry we’ve been working with is a Vineyard church
(Causeway Coast Vineyard Church) and it’s been amazing. Some of the forms of
ministry we participated in was the kids ministry, prophetic street ministry
and evangelism and healing on the streets. It’s been amazing! We even scrubbed
toilets and washed windows for local businesses and residences. What a way to
show the heart of God. Serving someone else out of love before yourself is
truly humbling for everyone involved. It’s inspiring to see people in awe of
the servant attitudes of U.S. foreigners who’ve come to wash toilets for those
who in some cases are less fortunate and others who are full of fortune. All
have a right to experience the love of God. And this trip has proved that
whether your looking for gold at the end of a rainbow or God at the end of a
lifetime, “if you seek you will find” , but remember “where your
heart is there your treasure will be also.”
As
for me, I found my treasure (pot of gold). Maybe not the kind of gold your used
to seeing, but it’s the gold that captures my heart and expands my soul to not
only give love abundantly, but receive love graciously.
