To my Aunt Carol

To my Aunt Carol

You weren't with us for very long and you were sick for a very long time, so this is almost bitter sweet

Tonight we sat in your house and although you haven't lived there for 11 years, it most definitely had your stylish stamp all over it

As I sat I remember how me Ben and Dan used to torture you running in and out of the house looking for juice or biscuits or even chocolate biscuits because you were the only auntie who gave us them.

I remember how you had these ceramic ornaments of a man and a woman and how I always used to make them dance and get married and you said that's what married people did they danced because they were happy.

I remember how you came to our house every Sunday night with out fail and you always brought us sweeties sometimes even two packs of sweets.

You tucked us into bed and read us a bed time story from time to time.
You always looked amazing, wearing the latest style and making all your sisters jealous
You had the biggest, most beautiful smile
You always smelt amazing, it was the best thing about hugs goodnight.

Then, when I was too young to fully understand, you weren't really my auntie Carol anymore
You were sick
You didn't have your gorgeous clothes or your amazing smell
Your big beautiful smile wasn't there anymore
& I couldn't play with your ornaments anymore because now you lived in hospital

Tomorrow is your funeral & it will be a very hard day for all those who knew you, especially Mum & the rest of your sisters but I know they will do you proud, they have you looking your best and will celebrating all you blessed them with.

Although you were sick for half my life, you will always be my Aunt Carol who came on a Sunday night and gave us hugs and kisses

I will miss you lots

Love

Kirsty  

Desert Soul

I have been captivated by Ezekiel 37 this weekend

It hasn't left my thoughts, head or heart

Because, really with out God all we are in dry bones in a desolate valley

But God because of his grace can make us whole 

so we are not mere bones in a valley 

We... Are ... More

"All that I am is dry bones
Without You Lord, a desert soul
I am broken but running
Towards You God, You make me whole"

                                             Rend Collective

David showed me this video earlier this week and I just love it 
It brings Ezekiel 37 to LIFE

Dry Bones from danDifelice on Vimeo.

Daily bread

There is nothing more restoring, refreshing or enjoyable than spending time reading the word of God.

I could spend my day taking photos, chatting with friends, listening to music or watching tv but non would fill me the same way that spending an hour or half hour in my bible.

It really is our daily bread, so why do we spend so much time starving ourselves and or snacking on junk food that only fills our appetite for shorts periods of time? I know I am often guilty of this myself but when I spend regular time reading my bible or even just in the presence of God I feel full. I question why I avoid spending time with the God who has given everything for me.

Tonight I read in Judges how Israel disobeyed God and broke the covenant he had made with them. This lead to Israel leaving God and remaining in their stubborn ways and practices. God removed his hand and left Israel and left them open to their enemies.
This may sound pretty pointless and you may even see why God removes himself from the situation but like the loving father he is God sends judges to save his people from this who wish to plunder them.

I know God is not just about Love but he is LOVE and forgiveness and faithfulness and we are only gonna know this by spending time with him and making him our daily bread

How come

How come you don't drink?

Why do you never come out clubbing?

You don't sleep with your girlfriend/boyfriend! Why?

. . . . . . Because I'm a Christian 

            WRONG!!!

These things do not make us Christians, they are simply choices we made when we came face to face with God's Grace.

Is it any wonder our non Christian friends have no idea what it is to follow God or who God is!

Ive noticed (and I'm guilty of it too) that we tell our friends the reason that we don't do stuff is because we are Christians but this is a lie. We don't do stuff because we choose too, WE Choose.

That's why we have left soo many different views of God on the world. 

We all have a personal relationships with God and because of the impact he has and continues to have on our hearts and our head we each live life differently.

For some he calls them not to drink 

For others he calls to a life of singleness

But one thing that is TRUE is that God came gave his son to the earth that is filled with sin, that he would die to save us from the righteous wrath of God but more than that he would rise, defeat death, so that we could have relationship with him!  

When it comes to following Christ, accepting God's gift of grace WE have no say. there was no choice or decision to be made. 

When you come face to face with something so beautifully intoxicating you can't say No

There is not even the option of choosing because you know that this is what life is about .

So lets be honest lets not tell people about our choices because most of the time they end up being wrong

BUT 

lets start to tell the truth that we have met a beautiful saviour who flipped everything upside down and gave us the greatest gift of all and because of this we cant help but do thing his way because our way, really, is just plain boring

Life is more than getting wasted, having sex and being cool.

Its......

Well I'm pretty sure he's show exactly what your life is all about no need for me to say another word

LIFE

So I'm driving along tonight ......

then the thought came to me that if God so willed my car could flip, crash and that could be the end of me, quite a morbid thought but an interesting one.

You see when I am driving I feel so in control, like nothing or no one or any great force could impact me because I've got the wheel I know the next couple of moves. I control where I go, what speed I go at and what time I go. 

I look around & I see all the other people in their own little cars feeling exactly the same way I do.

I see pedestrians walking along and they look so weak, like they could be broken by the slightest force but me in my car I am invincible.... or so I think.

I take a drive through town and all of my memories come flooding back to me but in my car I am alone and there are no memories its just me and my car going from place to place and it doesn't seem as exciting.

Then I drive along the coast and before I realise it I've stopped 

I see the sea and the lights reflecting of the water

its dark 

It feels a bit scary but something urges me to get out of my own little box 

and so I do 

STRAIGHT away the I feel the crisp air

the darkness around me is cold but is feeels amazing 

Fresh, Vibrant, New yet so familiar

I feel the light breeze move through my hair 

I have forgotten what it feels like to have something move me other than i myself

I hear the water and I have an urge just to go and touch it 

Then I realise that life is so much better when we get out of our boxes and FEEL

When we get out and do life with people 

When we are not in control 

We get walk, run , jump, dance, move.

We feel cold air, we get warm and feel the sun on out skin

We sing.... badly, we hug, we kiss 

WE Love 

This is LIFE IN THE FULL 

so get out of your box start walking it may make you weaker but life will be uncontrollable 

John 1:16

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace 

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly

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