I want to begin this new year by telling you all a story. Something amazing happened to me at Spirit Radio (where I work twice a week here in Dublin) a short while ago. December 14th, to be exact. Actually, a couple of good things happened. The day started off well...we had a staff prayer time in the morning and I got to play guitar for it. The theme for that day's prayer time was the "abounding grace of God." Rob, our CEO, was trying to think of a song to go along with that theme, and I suggested "Your Grace is Enough". Rob didn't know how to play it, so I stepped in. We had been praying a lot during that time for our listeners and that our support team for the station would continue to grow. Just after this prayer time, one of the radio presenters told us some cool news: we had received a text message from someone DURING our prayer time (probably during the song) and they requested us to play "Your Grace is Enough" on the radio! We all thought that was pretty sweet. :) Then, later that afternoon, I got a phone call. I picked up the phone and answered with my usual, "Good afternoon, Spirit Radio," and I was hit immediately by this guy's fire for the Lord. He asked "Who am I speaking to?". When I told him my name, he said, "Oh Rachel! Do you believe that God is good? Are you on fire? Can I get a 'hallelujah'?" I couldn't believe it. This was by far the most unusual phone call I'd ever gotten...but I can't say I didn't like it. I answered his questions with a smile on my face because, well, I do believe that God is good. I even shouted "Hallelujah!" into the phone. :) He then told me he wanted to pray with me. He got real quiet for a moment, but I could hear him softly praying. He said, "Come Lord Jesus, Come Lord...", and then he told me he had a word for me from the Lord. My mind automatically went to "Okay, this guy's going to come out with some crazy story that he probably tells everyone...'Jesus loves you'...blah blah blah." I didn't think he actually had a WORD from the LORD! He brought up something that I had been storing away for a long time...something I didn't know was in my heart still. Something I rarely talk about. Someone I rarely mention. My first boyfriend. Nothing seriously bad happened, I just don't like to talk about that relationship. I was immature, and the 'relationship' was merely based on the excitement of having a boyfriend. It only lasted about two months, but it moved quickly in those two months. I just feel like I could have spent that time a bit more wisely. I don't have regrets in my life, but this is the one thing I look back on and think, "I really could have spent those two months more wisely." At first I couldn't believe this guy was bringing it up, so I tried to deny it. But he said it again, "Your ex-boyfriend. The one back in the States." It hit me then like a slap in the face, and I quietly said, "Oh, yeah." He told me, "You need to forgive him. You need to let it go and stop letting it affect your future. It's affecting your outlook on life and will affect your future relationships." Wow. Talk about deep. I hadn't realized that I was still holding on to this. I replied, "Okay." And then the man on the phone said he wanted to say a prayer for me. He prayed that God would release me from this burden and help me to let go of it. He also prayed that I would be able to grow here and live my life in freedom, doing what God called me to do. I thanked him for his prayers and hung up the phone. I felt so strange then...like someone had just punched me in the gut, but also like someone had just lifted a bunch of weight off my shoulders. It was then that I started laughing...and I couldn't stop. Laughter is one of the signs of the Holy Spirit, and I knew that as soon as I started giggling. A minute later, my favorite Spirit Radio song, "Glory Glory", started playing. It's a real 'get-up-and-dance', 'snap-your-fingers' kind of song, and hearing it at such a perfect moment made me laugh more and feel even more uplifted. I thank God for sending this man to me to remind me of this burden I'd been carrying. I would have hated to have gone into the new year with that burden still in my heart.
Such a long story, I know. But I tell it to you all to encourage you to bring any burdens that you have to the Lord today. Let Him heal you and free you from them. I have already experienced so much joy and peace from letting go of just this one thing. You may not get a phone call like I did, but God has other ways of reaching us. It could be a song, a book, or a conversation with a friend. It could be a TV show, a movie, or a billboard on the highway/motorway. Be open and ready for what God may be trying to speak to you!
I had a very nice New Year's Eve celebration last night with Ciara (my "host mother")'s family. We all got together and had some munchies, played Dance Central on the Xbox, and enjoyed some piano, guitar, and violin performances, as well as some Irish folk songs and a couple of poetry recitations. We brought in the new year with some Christmas carols and a prayer, and then tried (and failed) to send 12 Chinese lanterns up into the sky. It was too windy for them to fly properly, and we got much too close to lighting one of the kids on fire. We settled for sparklers instead...a bit safer. Overall it was a great evening and I'm delighted to have had the opportunity to spend it here in Dublin.
I'm looking forward to this new year. I'm expecting great blessings and I know the Lord has a lot in store for this next part of my GAP year. I leave for London, England on the 15th of January and I will be there until the 25th. I will be attending a "mission week" from January 16-20th, where I will take part in training and service with the GAPpers in London, followed by a Life in the Spirit seminar from the 20-22nd. I will conclude my time in London with a regional GAPper retreat from the 22-24th of January. Please keep me in your prayers for this next month as I prepare to go to London, and of course while I am there.
To my wonderful supporters---if you have not yet received a Christmas newsletter from me, be on the lookout for a New Year's newsletter some time this month with a summary of these past 4 months of my GAP year. I love you all and truly appreciate your support.
I'll leave you with a few pictures from our post-Christmas walk up Killiney Hill.
Love these girls...
(Leanne, Ciara, me)
Leanne was teaching me her ways...
I love my Dublin family, I love my GAP year, and I love you all.
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