Our Epic Adventure Part II

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Moving On Up

James and I have a tradition that we have started for our family. It is to take a day each year in January and dedicate part of it to looking back on the dreams we had the previous year and how God came through and then write down our dreams for the new year. Well, we did our annual dream date a few days ago, and what was astounding to me at the time was how much more bold and courageous we had become in dreaming because of how much God had given us in 2014. There is just so much less doubt and fear going into 2015 because we have seen God come through, EVERY TIME. We know he's not going to fail us ever.

The verse that God gave me at the beginning of this year that gave me direction for our time here in Ireland in 2015 was John 15:16-17, it says,

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

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We believe we are here in 2015 for a reason and that is to bear fruit through Alive Church that will abide and to love the people of this town and county with a radical love that they just cannot get over. A few things we would love prayer for this year is that,

  • We would be fully fundraised for our 2 years here, right now we are at 94% but we are believing for 100% to come through this year. After living here for 4 months we feel that our budget was pretty on point and that we are going to need every penny we budgeted for to keep our commitment to this mission. If you could just pray about what God may have you give to us this year, we would appreciate it. If you have already given to us, thank you, to get to do what we're doing here because of you is one of the greatest things I've had a chance to experience.
  • That we would work our tail ends off to make Alive Church a vibrant, growing, and vision filled church that reaches out to the surrounding area.
  • That we would be given vision and strategy in all of the ministries we've been given responsibility over including; worship, children's, youth, and lifegroups.
  • Our eyes would be open to the people in our town that need to hear the gospel and see the love of the Father.
  • That we would have favor in this town and in every person we meet and work with here in Ireland and Alive Church.

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One other special prayer request I have is if you could partner with us in praying for my family to be able to come to Ireland together this year to see us. Many of you may not know that I have a beautiful 21 year old sister Mackenzie who has some pretty severe special needs. Our hope as well as my family's hope was to be able to come to Ireland together this Summer but with Kenzie's epilepsy, insomnia, and frequent mood changes we are all concerned that the trip could not go well for her or for my family. Our prayer is that we would see Kenzie healed this year in a way that my family; my mom, dad, youngest sister Marissa, and Kenzie could all come together. If you could partner with us in praying for that, whew, that would mean so much to us!

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 Alive Church: Year of Increase

This year our pastors Enda and Angela Long felt like the Lord laid on their heart that this was going to be a year of increase, and in looking back on all that God has done in our church in 2014 it definitely seems like the direction God is moving our church in. The verse that God had given them was from Isaiah 54:2,

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen you cords, strengthen your stakes."

This verse has a very pragmatic meaning for our church right now in that we are running out of room. This morning every seat was filled except for about 3 chairs in our sanctuary during worship. Usually for a church, that's no problem, they can just add a row. Well our church only has about 70 chairs, we don't have any more to add. Right now we are in faith buying 32 more chairs for this year, believing that we will need every one because there are people that are going to need a place to sit as they worship and hear the good news at Alive Church this year!

For Alive Church if you could just be praying with us,

  • That this year is a year of increase for Alive Church in spiritual depth, freedom, healing, salvation, discipleship, newcomers, community, and vision.
  • For Pastors Enda and Angela Long that they would experience increase in their energy, time, blessing, protection, and anointing as they are set over more as the church continues to expand and grow.
  • That we would be a church that welcomes in EVERYBODY and has a heart to reach out to the people of this town that everyone else ignores or writes off.
  • That our youth group  would catch the vision to love God and love others and put it into action in their homes and schools.

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To everyone of you who has partnered with us in our mission to Ireland and Alive Church in 2014 thank you it has brought about so much fruit already and we are just getting started. Keep walking this journey with us in 2015, keep us and our church in your prayers, and we will keep sharing the testimonies with you. We love you all so very much and are so blessed to be doing this with each of you.

Go Cowboys!!!!!!!