Tuesday 25 August 2009

All I Want is You...


I love the song 'All I Want is You' by Bellefire (yes I know, before anyone says it is an original U2 song I just happen to prefer the other version!!)

Anyway I was listening to it tonight as i was walking round Hillsborough and one of the verses just totally caught me off guard, as if I was listening to it for the first time...or with fresh ears maybe!!

You say you'll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night

You say you'll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

Not being a huge U2 fan I don't know it there's any kind of story behind the song. But it just really struck me that this could be a song, sung by a child of God to their Heavenly Father and reminded me of a conversation I had with a very wise and Godly man when I was in Sri Lanka this summer. God wants to give us so so much, He wants to provide for us, heal us, love us and fill our lives with the goodness and great abundance of heaven.

We can complicate that and make it so difficult sometimes. We make so many promises right through life...at baptism, marriage vows, at acceptance into membership, dedication services and for Methodists in our annual covenant service and Im sure there are many others...but what do those words and promises mean if we dont seek that abundance that God wants to bless us with, if we don't seek the glory of Christ...ALL we should want is Him and His glory but yet we will receive so much more if that is all we seek.

Monday 24 August 2009

Retreat...

Last week I took out time once more to go and 'chill' up in Newcastle. Time alone with me, my thoughts and I...and of course my God. Once more I loved driving through the Mournes...I even took a wee walk up Butter Mountain...not quite reaching the top, even though it was just within reach!! Surveying the beautiful mountain scenery around me. I definitely think this is where God does some of His thinking and planning. Walking in the cool of the evening through the Mournes :)


I also did some more star gazing...when it wasnt raining...lying out in the garden staring up at the bright, clear night sky. I could do that for hours and never lose the awe and majesty of it all. And my time there was rewarded with lots of shooting stars. The first being the most spectacular, it just burst across the sky seeming like it was on fire just above me...awesome =]

Then there was the tree I spoke about the last time, as I watched the leaves appear in front of me in the warm Spring sunshine. It was now fully covered in thick green leaves and 'helicopters' ready to fall in the fast approaching Autumn. Makes you wonder why they go to all that bother...all that ef
fort for the leaves to come out...then in a couple of short months they will be strewn across the ground withered and brown. But that's the cycle that tree's go through...blossoming life and then what can so often look like a barren death in the cold hard winter...but no...deep down in the heart of the tree that blossoming life is waiting and preparing to burst forth once more. So often our lives can feel like that...a barren wasteland, a desert but deep down if we search for it in our hearts and in our souls that blossoming life and spirit that God has placed within us is waiting to burst forth, with lots of help from Him...no matter what season it is!!

Sunday 23 August 2009

Has anyone contacted 'Hello'???

I haven't written anything in a while and I have so much I want to catch up on...So im going to start with the biggest day of the summer!!! :)

Friday 07-08-09

The day of the wedding...it was such a beautiful day in all ways, the weather, the ceremony, the reception and above all the people.

It all started with early hairdressing appointments and a visit to the chemist as the bride called for some 'rescue remedy'...which i felt it was my duty as one of the bridesmaids, to look after for her!! :)

Then it was back to the house for make up and final preparations. We thought we had so much time but that last hour and a half just disappeared and suddenly we were 'fashionably' late as we got Janet into her car and Karen, Jill, Roberta and I climbed into the Limo!

The beautiful Bride ready to go and not a sign of nerves!!

When arrived at the church shortly before Janet with a little time to get some photos taken and then it was time to end the poor Groom's long wait!



The ceremony was led beautifully by Brian and was wonderfully relaxed and enjoyable as a wedding ceremony and as an act of worship.

Then it was on to Belfast Castle a beautiful setting overlooking Belfast Lough. Lots of pictures, smiling and mingling in the sunny afternoon.


Then it was time for speeches, dinner and dancing...even some monkeying around!! :)




The very cute monkey, Janet and Gareth made by Karen!!




And we managed to last right through to the very end!!


A fantastic, relaxed and fun day for a lovely couple, now may God pour out His many Blessings upon them as they start out in married life together.

Thursday 6 August 2009

im truly back home...

I had quite a surreal moment this morning...

Tomorrow is Janet's wedding so I have been doing some last minute preparation type things. This morning that involved getting a spray tan...to fill in the white bits!!!...and a french manicure on my nails. As most of you will know i'm not exactly the girly girly type so this was an interesting experience. I quite enjoyed getting my nails done, it was very relaxing and i was nearly asleep, especially with the calming music in the back ground.

Then at one point it just hit me...hold on a minute...whats going on here??!!

This is such a complete and utter world away from where i was last week...and for the past month. Who would have even thought of getting a fake tan or getting their nails done in Eppawella?? There are so many different priorities in life! Like feeding your children, making sure they have clothes to wear and putting them through school. And yet this is the culture I live in where fake tans and getting your nails done is an ever day occurrence for some people, so its about finding your own priorities...what are the really important things. What are you going to spend your time doing and spend your money on buying?