D.L.

Café la Casa is open, and I am here, this time sitting at the window, watching passing cars, cycling men, and people drifting in and out of the coffee shop to get some great coffee.

I ordered the same as last time, black coffee and a swirled cinnamon pastry.

So, I have a few minutes to write something down and then head to the church here in Danfanaghy at 10:00; the service starts at 10:30. 

This week, I brought some of the furniture that I left behind in Ballynahinch, and I also got all my books. My eldest son accompanied me on the journey, and he is helping me to set the place in order, making it practical and functional.

Those three words—order, practical, and functional — are significant and sometimes overwhelming. Today, I will teach the importance of the Church and the Kingdom of God. Essentially, I am asking questions like: What is the church, and what is its place in the Kingdom? I have been reflecting a lot on this, primarily through the Gospel of Matthew 16, where Jesus tells Peter, “You are Peter and I will build my church through you and give you the keys of the kingdom.” So, now you know; come and join us sometime! The reality for me is that ministry is seldom orderly; it should be practical, and it must be a functional community comprised of redeemed people who love to see God at work.

This week, two people whom I respect greatly and know me well, and for some overwhelming divine plan, they came to Dunfanaghy, and I am so pleased they did. These two men have become significant influences in my life; one of them is my mentor, and the other I still consider my pastor. He pastored me when I was in charge of the Living Room Church Plant in North Belfast, and since then, I have respected and honoured him as such; even though he has now retired, I still do.

I am blessed to have these two men listening to me and also being able to benefit from their wisdom, depth, and the knowledge that I will not be judged but gently corrected by them—it’s just priceless. 

Of all the places I have been, it is here where, in the space of a week, I got to listen and pray. Thank you both, thank you for letting me into your lives and for listening to my heart! 

Having a few people in your life who can speak the truth in love, build you up, strengthen you, and encourage you is a wonderful gift. We were never meant to be alone, and ministry can be a lonely place. I have experienced that loneliness, and even though you are aware that the Lord is with you, you still need to know that you are loved and cared for. There are times when you are meant to walk alone, and in those moments, you get to see the revealing of God, who shows us who He is and what He will do. It can be a painful place because you know you are being examined through a spiritual X-ray machine, and it’s a place where you can not hide. This is much needed, and you should not avoid it. 

This morning, Sunday, marks my first whole month serving as a Minister in Carrigart and Dunfanaghy, as well as the Project Leader for the Bewglas Centre in Carrigart. It has been and will continue to be, for several months, a journey of learning, listening to what the Lord is saying and moving forward guided by His Spirit. Therefore, we need the church to become a place where the Holy Spirit is welcomed and where we listen to His guidance.  

Time is passing by, along with the cars, cyclists, and motorbikes; sometimes, someone is running, which makes me think that I need to exercise.

But this morning is going to be good.

“And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.”
(1 John 5,20 NLT-SE)