King's Daughters

Take time to remember what you first loved about each other. It is so easy to get sidetracked with real life & it is so easy to forget all the good things that made you attracted to each other in the first place. Occasionally Eric & I intentionally look back & reminisce. We remember our first meal together, our special walk along the river Thames in London that lead to us dating, we remember our honeymoon. Our memories are so precious to us & we love to remember to good times. From time to time Eric & I also take out the photo albums & flip through them. We treasure our memories & once we have finished looking through the albums we manage to see things back in their proper perspective. Sometimes you forget that your life is really good but looking through the photo album can easily remind you. Take time to remember the good things - don't wait for a memory to come to you, be intentional about it, make yourself remember - it is so worth i t.

We have so much news so thought I would update you a little bit! On 27th December we celebrated Amy's first birthday! She tried to blow out her candle but couldn't quite get the hang of it so we all helped her. I can't believe she is 1 already, the last year has just flown by! Today was so much fun, we had our first snow of the season & it was a really good snow! The best I have seen in England since I have lived here - yikes and that is 9 years now! So of course we had to build a snow man :) What fun have you been up to so far this year?

Eric's message today was fantastic! Over the next 4 weeks he is exploring how we can build a deeper relationship with God through our relationship with Church, The Word, Prayer & Worship. Today he spoke about our relationship with Church & identified 3 groups of people: 1) people who believe in the vision enough to benefit from it , 2) people who believe in the vision enough to contribute comfortably , & 3) people believe in the vision enough to give their lives to it . It was a powerful word that really spoke to me & I am determined more than ever to make sure I remain in the third category of people. If the Church was so important that Jesus died for her then surely we should make Church one of the top priorities in our life. Most of all, why wouldn't I want to be planted in the House of God? He promised that if I am my life will flourish, and who doesn't want a flourishing life :) So here's to a great new year & to a flourishing life... *c

2009 has been a toughie that's for sure! I think whatever could have been thrown at us has been and it has been very challenging. I could write a book on the lessons I have learned and the person I have become through it. I can honestly say that I do wholeheartedly agree with James when he wrote in the Bible that we should count it all joy when falling into various trials . It has been a joy - truly, I am not just saying that. It's almost like saying that labour and child birth is a joy. It's the same sort of thing, you don't deny the pain but the fruit far outweighs the bit of pain that you have to endure. I thank God for working all things together for good in my life and for the lessons he has taught me in 2009. I also want to thank my beautiful family for being on this journey with me. Together we have faced giants, conquered battles and celebrated the victories. Together we have also cried, argued and driven each other quite crazy on some days. Never-th

SUPPOSE JESUS CAME to your church. I don’t mean symbolically. I mean visibly. Physically. Actually. Suppose he came to your church. Would you recognize him? It might be difficult. Jesus didn’t wear religious clothes in his day. Doubtful that he would wear them in ours. If he came today to your church, he’d wear regular clothes. Nothing fancy, just a jacket and shoes and a tie. Maybe a tie … maybe not. He would have a common name. “Jesus” was common. I suppose he might go by Joe or Bob or Terry or Elliot. Elliot … I like that. Suppose Elliot, the Son of God, came to your church. Of course, he wouldn’t be from Nazareth or Israel. He’d hail from some small spot down the road like Hollow Point or Chester City or Mt. Pleasant.And he’d be a laborer. He was a carpenter in his day. No reason to think he’d change, but let’s say he did. Let’s say that this time around he was a plumber. Elliot, the plumber from Mt. Pleasant. Rumor has it that he fed a football field full of people near the lake.

Eric & I had a lovely 2 weeks in the USA to visit my mom & dad! It was a fantastic time of rest & catching up with family. We arrived home last Wednesday morning after 3 aeroplanes & a bus trip from London. It is great to be home but it seems that all that rest has already been used up. Eric & I can't sleep!!! Since we have been home last Wednesday we have been averaging 3 hours sleep a night. All I want for Christmas this year is some sleep ha ha. It's been a week now & we are getting desperate for sleep - any suggestions?

Nevertheless is John Kirkby’s story of the adventure of starting Christians Against Poverty. In 1996 John and Lizzie Kirkby set out on a faith adventure. John felt God call him to give up his successful career in the finance industry to do what he could to help the poor and needy in his home town of Bradford. John did what he was best at and devised simple budgeting systems that allowed people to reduce their debt whilst living a decent life. In doing this John found that he could share the life transforming faith he himself had experienced some four years earlier, and people’s lives were changed before his very eyes. I have read this book & couldn't put it down, it has really changed our life & given us strength to get through many difficult times. Eric at times said he had to put the book down as he couldn't continue reading - he was wondering how anyone can get through what John managed to get through. Eric & I have also had to privilege of meeting John Kirby &