". . . I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."- Habakkuk 1:5b

So it's been a while since i've updated my blog and for that i apologize.  It's been a little hectic and life sometimes throws ya curve balls, even when you don't realize you're on the field, let alone in the game.  For this reason, i thought it would be best for me to share some pictures with a few captions then write a bit of my thoughts on something i journaled about the other night.

First time seeing the Red Arrows!!!!

Switching Places

Giant's Causeway

Fused 2011 Team

Some of my faves!!!!!!!

BIBLE STUDY!!!!

Rabbits on a friend's farm

On a wee dander up the mountain (not all the way to the top...THIS TIME lol)

Trampoline fun with the girls!

A true beauty from South Africa

Fused: Drop-in 2011

Chippy Crawl results: Best Chippy in Newcastle

Yay for socials!

Getting loco at the Mexican Party!!!!

A beautiful girl who is near and dear to my heart

Baby chicks are the cutest (also at a friend's farm)

Inside jokes

Partners in crime

You're seeing right, we're making up our own moves to Just Dance 3 while in our onesies lol

Gotta love fancy dress parties!

Fun times playing games at the Mexican Party

Being part of a panel at Newcastle Baptist Church

So the Bible study i am blessed to be a part of in Northern Ireland (pictured somewhere up above) is going through Habakkuk at the moment.  Even though i haven't been able to be there i figured i'd read through a bit of it.  Now, i'm taking this out of context, i know, but Habakkuk 1:5 is something i think we, as believers, must always keep in mind.  "Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.  For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."

How true is that statement for us here in the western culture of the twenty-first century?  So many times i think we underestimate God.  Then, because we underestimate Him, we don't talk to our Father, we don't tell Him our desires, hopes, and dreams, and we definitely don't ASK for anything (of real importance that is).  But if we truly took hold of what He's capable of, if we simply grasp what's capable if we ASK we surely would "pray without ceasing".

i also feel that this snip-it of Scripture is something our generation needs to take hold of as encouragement.  Anyone who works/volunteers/serves in ministry will shout out an "AMEN!" when i say ministry can be discouraging.

You see, an American friend and i were chatting together about the respective ministries we have the blessing of serving in.  Hers is in urban Cincinnati while mine is in Northern Ireland.  However, while she was sharing stories and we were sharing life updates, i couldn't help, but be comforted.  Even though we serve in two very different types of ministry, we still had so many overlaps including discoragement, growth, heartache, and hope.

What i've come to find is that where the Holy Spirit is present and at work, satan tries to screw things up.  And that's where discouragement comes through.  However, the Holy Spirit uses this as a time of growth either within an individual or a community.  Because of this growth, a desire for others to venture in the blessing of life redeemed by Christ emerges resulting in heartache many a time because of those we minister to choosing to reject Christ time and time again.  Yet, still, there are those people, those stories, which when told, make the hairs on your arm stick up and make you tingle all over.  You know the ones.  They get even the manliest of men to wipe at a tear or two.  These are the stories of hope, reminding us we're not serving in vain.  Not all will choose life with Christ, but what we see may not be the end of their story either.  We don't know where we are in a person's story.  We may plant the seed, water it, or reap the harvest.  But one thing remains: we are only responsible for our part.  i feel like a broken record because i've been reminding myself and many others this throughout the past year;  There's three parts to ministry: our part, God's part, and the part of the person we're ministering to.

God doesn't expect us to do more than our part.  Let Him intervene and don't hold yourself responsible for others' choices.  They're not under your control, only under your influence.  And remember, God's doing more than you're aware of so "keep on keepin' on."