I made it...

So here's my first official update:

The house I'm staying at is up outside the city. I share the house with Elizabeth, and Lindsey, and two Haven interns from France(Gayton & Cedric). In mid March I'll have a roommate from America who went through YWAM in northern Ireland.

Last night I met Lindsey and Evanne as they were on their way to a prayer meeting with Pádraic and Elizabeth.

Pádraic and Evanne are married and live on the other side of town. They're from Cork and they are, as far as I can tell, in charge of the Haven. Elizabeth and Lindsey are from the states and they are in charge of the interns and the different volunteers of the Haven.

The Haven is about a twenty minute walk from the house. I definitely took a few wrong turns on my way into town. But I finally made it:) Its a nice walk downhill. Beautiful old houses and a great view of the city as you're coming in.

Once I made it to the Haven Elizabeth & Lindsey showed me around. They have a nice café with a good lunch selection. They also have a coffee bar!!! This excites me:) As most of you know I love making coffee so this will be fun for me. Connected to the café is an area for little ones to play during the day. It is also turned into a hang out area where the youth of the city hang out and sometimes it is a meeting place for different things. They also have a Christine bookstore with quite a lot to choose from.

Elizabeth then introduced me to Pádraic. He's a nice Irish fella(married to Evanne). I think I'm going to like him a lot. He told me a little history of Cork and told me the condition of the church. He believes that God is about to shake His church here and pump some life in its veins. I pray that I would get to be a part of that shaking.

The main city part of Cork is surrounded by the river Lee that forks around it. The Irish for Cork is "Corcaigh" which means marsh. And here I thought it was an actual cork that plugs up a bottle of wine. There goes my thinking they have the best wine in Ireland. But maybe they do. That being said, the city was originally built on this marshland.

It sounds like they're gunna be keeping me busy while I'm here. I'll work in the café and with the youth when they come in. I'll be there on the youth nights. And it sounds like I might help a pastor named William outside of Cork with some youth stuff and teaching little kids as well.

All in all, I'm pretty excited to see what God has in mind while I'm here. It's going to be quit the ride! But I'm ready to be stretched...I think:) That's all for now. I'll post more later.

Be blessed,
Anthony L. McGarity

Ireland Anyone?

My dear friends & family,

Happy New Year! I hope your Christmas was wonderful and that you had plenty to eat.

In 2007 I went to Ireland with my mom for vacation.  We had a blast! We hopped in a car and drove around the whole country.  We saw castles, kissed the Blarney Stone, explored caves, and ate at some pretty good pubs.  I fell in love with the people on that trip.  They are such good-natured and loving people.  When I got back home I had a dream that I was driving in Southern Ireland and I saw a church appear in a field.  When I woke up I knew God had called me to go to Ireland and preach His Good News.  

Since 2007 my vision for Ireland has continued to increase.  Now more than ever I am excited to join in with God in the things He is doing in Ireland.  It’s been a long time coming but this February I’m packing my bags and heading over.  I’ve waited patiently and had time to mature a little.  Now is finally the time.  For the past few months I’ve been saving my pennies and I’m almost ready to go.    

Ireland is a country that has heard the Gospel, but many have forgotten the power and authority that we have as God’s children.  Many have forgotten what it means to have intimate relationship with Jesus.  God wants to restore His people to a place of intimacy with Himself.  When I go to Ireland I want to remind people of these things.  God loves us and He wants to be a part of our lives.  He wants His people to walk unafraid.  He wants us to walk in authority over the kingdom of darkness and speak His light and hope into hopeless situations.

While in Ireland I’ll be working with an interdenominational organization called the “Haven.”  They are located in Cork, Ireland which is in the southern tip of the country.  The Haven has many different ways of outreach into the community.  On Wednesday nights they have a youth group where lots of teens come from the neighborhood to hang out and experience the love of Christ.  They also have a daycare center, counseling, bookstore, and a cafe.  At different times during the week they have outreaches into the city.  I’m excited to get a taste of all of these different ministries and build relationship with the people I’ll be meeting.

I’m leaving for Ireland this February and I need the support of my friends and family.  The first way you can help me is, of course, by donating financially.  Checks can be written out to “Living Waters,” which is my home church.  Just attach a note indicating it’s for me.  You can also write them out to me and send them to my mom’s house.  

The second way you can help me is through prayer.  Here are some prayer points that you can use:

• That I wouldn’t hold anything back and that I would pour out all that God is giving me.  
• That I would show the love of God to all those who I will come in contact with.
• That I would move in the power and authority that God has given me.
• That I would walk as one of God’s anointed children.
• That I would have favor with the people that I minister to.
• That I would be unafraid and walk in boldness and courage.
• That the things that I do would be fruitful.
• That I would trust in God all the way.
• That I would be refreshed and refueled by God daily.
• That everything I do would be for the glory of God.
• That I would make connections for when I plan a future trip.
• That I would come home on fire for God and ready to do more for His kingdom.
• That I would walk in intimacy with Jesus.
• That I would carry His word in my heart.
• That I would enjoy my work and be full of joy.

I thank you all very much for your support.  You are a tremendous blessing to me and I will hold all of you in my heart as I go over seas to share the Good News which is this, God loves you and wants to have a deep, meaningful, personal relationship with you.  May God bless every one of you who reads this letter.  I pray that God would shine His love in your life.

Be blessed, 

Anthony L. McGarity

 

Facebook: Anthony L. McGarity
Email: amcgarity60@gmail.com
Blog: downloadsfromthefather.blogspot.com

Living Waters Foursquare Church
2200 Roberts Rd.
Medford, OR 97504

For Roger

Tonight I went to get coffee with my buddy Nathaniel, as is usual for a Wednesday night after church.  We sat and talked about nothing important and left just before the store was closing.  We continued talking outside his car and out of the corner of my eye I saw a homeless man and knew instantly that he was going to come over to us.  So I said to God as the man was walking over, "Ok God, use me."  Simple.  He asked us if we had any money and I did so I gave him a couple bucks.  I asked him what he needed it for because I don't like to just give money away, and sure he could lie to me and say anything, but that's not so important.  We talked to him for a little while and found his name was Roger.  He camps out in Central Point, he's got a bad knee from surgery, and he has a few screws in there he said.

After talking with him for a bit I asked if we could prayer for him.  He said, "Sure.  A tall fella with blond hair just prayed for me."  The "tall fella" was my buddy Tory who was at the Dairy Queen just down the block. So we prayed.  We started declaring the goodness of God over his life.  That he would feel the love of God all around him and he would experience the blessings that God had for him.  We prayed that he would feel the Father's embrace and that his finances would be blessed.  We also prayed for healing over his leg.  Then I asked him if he believed in God and in Jesus, His son? And he said he did.  He even had one of those classic pictures of Jesus in his wallet.  Then we blessed him and me and Nathaniel went our separate ways home.

On my way home I found out that Tory had prayed many of the same things that we had prayed over Roger.  As I continued home I began to worship over Roger's life and did more praying and prophesying and contending for this man.

What's important about this story is not that I gave this man a few bucks and did a "good deed", it's that he heard the kingdom of God spoken over his life.  Giving to the poor is great, and we should do it, but it's not the only thing they need.  What they need is the truth of Jesus and the destiny He has for them.  They need to know the worth they have in God's kingdom.  Roger heard the heart of God tonight, what he chooses to do with it is his business.  But I believe that God was trying to get a hold of him tonight.  The fact that he ran into me and Tory is no coincidence.  Roger could of walked off in any which way but he ran into me and Nathaniel.  It's also no coincidence that our prayers were very much the same.  We're a couple of guys who hear God's heart and and speak it.

In the busyness of life, and sometimes self-centerness, it's easy to pass by the Roger's of the world and pay no attention to them.  But God is looking for people who are willing to lay down their lives and simply say, "Use me God."  What happened tonight was simple, but powerful!  Sometimes we're looking for the big things when all God wants us to do is pause and take a moment to value a life that the world would say doesn't have much value at all.  The glory of God is spread with the simple act of obedience and the willingness to lay down our lives.

So when you have time pray for Roger.  If you've never meet him or seen his face it's ok because God knows him.  Lives are changed because of prayer!  Make yourself available to God in your day to day life.  We don't always have to be the headliner.  Sometimes we're just asked to do the simple thing that has a powerful impact for the kingdom of God.

Be blessed!

Peace With The Father

Though the wind may howl and the waves crash down
There is peace in Your love
When the lightning flashes and the thunder roars
I am at peace in the arms of my Yahweh
Though the hail pours down & the earth does shake
I will rest in the presence of our King
When the crowd yells curses and beat my body down
I will not grow weary because of the strength of Jehovah
My body may break my heart stop ticking
But I will dwell in the house of my Father
This world is against me but it cannot beat me
It is not eternal like my soul
My God He loves me
My God He saves me
He sees me when I'm lost on the street
He hears me when I'm stuck in the muck
Like a lion to her babe He protects me and keeps me close
I will not be afraid
I will fear no evil
I will not be subject to sin and death
I will rise above my fear
I will vanquish the evil
Sin is broken and death is beaten
What can I fear? The battle is won!
He has done it. He has done it!
I will bask forever in the glory of our King

The wind may howl and the waves crash down
The lightning may flash but this storm will pass
The hail may pour and the thunder roar
The earth may shake and the earth may break
But I will rest in the presence of Jehovah
I will rest by the throne of our King
I will rest in the arms of my Father

The Watcher Of The Night

When nighttime comes and sun is gone
There is a man who watches over
Those sleeping hours of sunless slumber
He flies hither and thither
With soundless steps he steps
He comes like lightning and is gone in a flash
He is a shadow of the night
A shining star to the lost
And a beacon of hope to the hopeless
Motherless babes he comforts
That watcher of the night
Let all who are lost all who are broken 

Gather to the watcher of the night
He comes in times of need
He answers our desperate calls
So when you are weak call 

When you cannot stand and all strength has left you
Call for that watcher of the night 

O How I Am Wicked... But There Is Hope For Me

When I wanted to use my hands for evil
My Lord held them tight never letting go
When I wanted to use my tongue to curse and destroy
He bound my tongue saying, "This isn't for you son of the light."
He kept me from my fleshly desires
He kept me from acting in anger and deathly judgment
God truly knows what is good for me
If it weren't for Him I would be a wicked man
I can't even speak of the things I would do
For they are truly atrocious and dishonor our God
I've been bought with the blood of the lamb
How sweet my freedom is
No longer am I bound to death
I will never experience it
Though my body will break down and die my spirit will live forever 
with the Father



I cried out to the Lord in my anger yelling, "Let the wicked fall! Let judgment sweep over them! May they feel my wraith! Let me loose Lord! I want this done now! I cannot wait for your judgment! I am apart from it! Least you act now it will be me! Can you not use me as your right hand? Let me cures the wicked and crush them with anger."
But my Lord denied me.
He would not allow it.
For I was a man acting out of hellish rage
This was not righteousness
It was not holiness
He has called me to greater things
My old self longs to live
He fights constantly to consume my new self
He hates all that I am
He is vigorous in his death
And a shadow upon my face
I will never let him loose again
O how the Lord let's me see my evil ways
I do not wish to see my judgment poured out
For it would be ugly lacking all holiness
I now see that God is the only one who can do so with holiness and righteousness
Lord forgive me for my foolishness
Help me be holy as you are holy
Let all that I am praise the Lord
Praise the Lord!

His Great Joy In Us

In my distress I fell down
And who was it who caught me?
It was the Father
His arms so big and comforting
He sang sweet songs over me when I feared evil would overtake me
He stroked my hair and I felt at peace
He laughed with me and the darkness fled
Oh how little the worries of the world are when the Father holds you 
Close
Do you know how joyful God is when you choose to come to Him?
It is worth more than all the treasurers of the world
The choir of heaven sings rejoicing over us
Oh how He loves us
We will never know
But we can find rest in the Fathers arms



When I was angry and wanted to fight
He calmed me and told me it was in His hands
When I wanted to do evil He came and saved me from my wickedness
Oh how God is always right
He knows how to comfort my soul
And how to quite my storm
So I say again
Come rest in the Fathers arms
Let Him show you His love for you and His love for the world