Good Monday Morning Friends! Glad to be back in the USA this Monday Morning! How are you all doing?
Before we dive into our usual Monday Morning Devotionals, grab your coffee (or tea, if you’re fancy like our Scottish friends), because I’ve got a story for you. A story of, grace, and the kind of divine comedy that only God could script. And yes, it involves overweight luggage, very plump sheep, and a porcelain chicken pot. I Truly Pray You Take The Time To Read This!
First, I am sending out a HUGE thank you to those of you who donated towards our trip to make this possible. You know who you are. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we didn’t have to because of your generosity.
This was a big year for me, working my full-time job, planning for the biggest trip ever for HJT, writing my first book, teaching every Tuesday and recording for GTN 4 times per month. Boy, did I learn a lot over the past year. Trips with 20 people to 3 countries is huge, writing a book is way more expensive than I thought. (I was obviously more naïve than I should have been, while keeping up with the expenses of Monday Morning Ministry day to day!
Now, let’s talk about my brilliant idea to bring 70 POUNDS OF BOOKS on an international trip. Rookie mistake. Denver Airport: “Ma’am, that’s an extra $200, and also, your bag is heavier than my emotional baggage.”, ha,ha,ha. Now the team comes to the rescue and heroically stuffing books into their already bulging suitcases like spiritual smuggling ninjas. We then get to Heathrow London, and we have to pay again for that stupid bag, then David’s passport wouldn’t work on the digital screen, so he had to go through an extremely looooong line to get through customs. Once he did, we were off and running, and I do mean running.
Our first stop – Scotland
Scotland is stunning. Lush green hills, cows the size of SUVs, and sheep so well-fed they probably have their own butter churners. (Side note: If you eat meat or dairy from Scotland, rest assured—it’s definitely grass-fed. I don’t think I saw any dirt.)
Our first church, Victory Christian Centre in Glasgow with Pastors Alex and Charlotte Gillies. What amazing people. We ministered there 2 times and the miracles and healings that took place were astounding. I will be talking amore about what happened at these churches on Tuesday night, but just a couple things I want to share. I had the privilege of leading a drug addicted woman to the Lord, who heard that we would be there and wanted someone to pray for her to get her children back, sad, but at the same time, her life has now changed, and the church will help her to grow in her new relationship to Jesus. I was asked to pray for 2 men at the beginning of the service for back pain, and the first man, was visibly healed and all pain left. PTL.
Second church – Glen Aros with Pastors Phil and Mags McGroggan and the former Pastors, John & Susan Donnelly . I don’t have the right words to say about how we felt like we were “home” there. there was so much freedom experienced. Demonic oppression? Gone. Depression? Obliterated. Bodies healed? Absolutely. The joy on their faces when we left. Priceless., I don’t know if we were able to write it all down. Most of all, we saw the Joy of the Lord in there faces when we left. They will never be the same!
Second Stop – Belfast, Northern Ireland
First Church – St. Finnian’s church well over 100 years old and so Beautiful! Minister Allan Bruce who is one of the sweetest men I’ve met. We could not believe how many people showed up in the pouring rain and I do mean pouring down. It rained almost every single day were there! We kept hearing things “we’ve never heard such words”, “we didn’t know that it was this simple, that we were so loved”. Once again, so many people set free in their emotions, freedom from depression, bodies being healed and minds being set free!
Second Church – Abundant Grace Fellowship with Allan Bruce and the new Pastor Warren,(can’t remember his last name). Literally, the same thing over and even more people coming out. It was as if “Freedom” was ringing out all over that city and that church.
Third Stop – Carlow, Republic of Ireland
We did not have a church to host us, so we rented a conference room at the Talbot Hotel. Craig and Maude Jamison who hosted us and promoted our being there said “ we have opened up ancient wells in that land again”. The expectation was actually pretty low for the turnout due to not many connections, BUT GOD! It was getting very close to the time, and we only had a handful of people, but within minutes, over 155 people tried to cram into this small room. We had to put people in the hallways, and they put their phones inside the room to record every word! I can’t remember the last time I saw such hunger for the Truth!
Second Church – River Church Limerick, Pastor Antonio and Craig & Maude. I personally prayed for a young man who just got save 3 weeks earlier and was so bound up in fear, anxiety, depression, drugs and physical issues, that within a few short minutes afterwards was dancing and praising God, like I’d never seen before. He said “it lifted”, and he was free (he is the very first person in a light blue sweat outfit on the Ireland recap). Before we left, he asked if he could hug me, and I got the biggest bear hug and he whispered in my ear “I love you, thank you”! My heart was overwhelmed with the Love of God!
Fourth Stop – Swansea, Wales
King’s Church, Pastor’s Dave & Emma. The most joy-filled, giving and kind people ever. They have such a God humor that it blessed us every day. I will never forget they took up an offering for us and they used a porcelain Chicken Pot, yes, I said Chicken pot with a lid. The most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen. That people of King’s church are HAPPY givers, and you can see it. We saw a stroke victim come in using a cane to walk, and he walked out without it and was talking so good. People healed of stomach issues, shoulder pain, depression, oppression, it was Holy Spirit electric in that church both days!
No matter where we were, they begged us to stay, but we had to keep moving forward. What I have said here, isn’t even scratching the surface of what God did in these countries, and you were right here alongside of us sharing in the precious fruit of the earth, God’s people being set free by His loving power!
God moved in ways we couldn’t have scripted. And YOU were part of it. Whether you prayed, gave, or just laughed at our luggage fiasco—thank you.
I pray this has blessed you and I will be sharing more about this on Tuesday night!
Remember, you are Loved, you are Righteous, and you are His!