K. McNulty

Well I've been back from Toronto for a couple of days now. It truly was a great trip. My doctors appointment went very well and it was nice to have a bit of time to explore the city. Although I've been to Toronto quite a few times over the years, this was my first time actually staying right downtown. Hearing siren after siren (we were in the hospital district) took some getting used to, but it was worth it to be in the middle of the action and in walking distance from pretty much everything we wanted to do during our free time.

One of the highlights for me was seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Royal Ontario Museum. There was something about seeing parts of the Bible in the original language that was thrilling, but then also to know that these scrolls were thousands of years old? It was an experience like no other that's for sure.

Another amazing thing they had at the museum was an actual chunk of stone from the temple in Jerusalem. The stone had stayed in tact even with the destruction of the temple and historians believe that the very stone was something that was overtop a door of the temple. Meaning that Jesus would have walked right under this stone during His time on earth!

For that to still be in tact over two thousand years later is amazing. But that they were able to transport it to Canada where I was able to stand next to it in a museum was just incredible. I have to imagine the feeling I had looking at the stone and the scrolls is a small comparison of what it would feel like to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in the actual Holy Land.

Unfortunately to preserve the artifacts, no cameras were allowed in that part of the museum, so I don't have any pictures. But I do highly recommend checking out the exhibit if you have the chance!

Posted by Kristen at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments

With all of the fear surrounding the H1N1 flu, I think this is a very important verse for us to remember: "Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday." (Psalm 91:6)

With 24/7 news networks blaring and sites like twitter and facebook bringing us real time information and speculation about this illness, it's very easy for us to get caught up in a cycle of obsession and fear. And just when we think we're getting over our fear, we turn on the TV to see another newsflash and we're back to square one.

As believers in Christ, we shouldn't be placing our faith in CNN or the WHO or even a friend on facebook. We should be placing our faith in Christ and trusting in His sovereignty.

The truth of the matter is, not one of us knows exactly how long we're going to be on this earth for. We might live to 100 or we might die unexpectedly tomorrow. But in the meantime, we can't live our lives so caught up in fear that we're not really living at all.

Even with this flu, all we can do is take reasonable precautions such as wash our hands, eat right, get our sleep, and avoid contact with people we know are sick. After that, it's up to us to trust God with the rest. Walking around like the world is about to explode isn't a way to live.

Things change at a very fast pace here on this earth. Illness come and go. Disasters take on many forms. And no one is given any guarantee over what is coming their way tomorrow. But we can know this- we follow a God who is worth trusting. A God who never allows us to walk through life alone. And a God who knows the number of our days. Isn't that alone enough that we can rest in?

"I lift my eyes to the mountains- does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps." (Psalm 121:1-4)

Posted by Kristen at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Kristen at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments

So last week I mentioned a song called "Redemption" that I had written the lyrics to and sent to my best friend, Julie Bouchard, who surprised me by coming up with music to the song.

Well now she has recorded a demo of Redemption and put it online, along with another song called "Someday" that we wrote together.

You can check out the lyrics to both songs below and visit www.myspace.com/juliejbouchard to give both songs a listen!

Posted by Kristen at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments

As one of my tasks for the wedding this weekend, I've been commissioned to put together the dance music for the reception. This has lead to many hours of sifting through songs to find ones that will be perfect for dancing.

I've found lots of good oldies, some beautiful slow songs, and some great fast songs, like the one below. However, I somehow doubt that any of us will be that co-ordinated on the dance floor ;)

Posted by Kristen at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

It's been a couple of pretty incredible days. I had planned for a routine weekend of playing catch-up on things that had been piling up, but when I got a phone call on Friday afternoon asking if I'd rather take off to head out of town instead, I quickly scrapped my previous plans.

We had a great weekend in the midst of God's creation. It's the perfect time of year to be out at the cottage, with all the leaves changing colour and falling off the trees (as you can see to the left). And besides having lots of fun, it was very recharging for me. Just being in the outdoors does something magical for the soul.

On Sunday we came back into town in time so that I could attend my brothers wedding shower. It's crazy to think that in less than two weeks my little brother will be getting married- the wedding has snuck up on us so quickly. But it was a fun evening and was very interesting to hear them answer everyone's questions and see them fair out in the games that tested how well they really know each other.

Today threw an interesting curve ball my way when the power went out for a couple hours this evening. I had lost some time this afternoon because of a doctors appointment and I was hoping to use the evening hours to catch up, but alas, it was not so.

However as much as the day today brought its moments of inconvenience, all was redeemed (literally) at around 10:00 when the power went back on. About a month ago I had written some song lyrics and waiting in my inbox when the power went on was said lyrics put to music by my super-talented friend. And while I may be really biased, I think it sounds just incredible! The song is called Redemption and who knows, you might just be hearing it someday soon!

Posted by Kristen at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments

Tonight I had a great time at our College and Careers kick-off. It was an amazing night of worship and sharing what God has done and the things we've been learning lately.

For my part of the "open mic" portion of the evening, I shared something I wrote called "Rising From The Ashes" and since I shared it with them, I thought it would only be fitting to share it with you all as well. So here it is:

Rising From The Ashes

In the summer of 2008 I had the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream I had of visiting the city of Chicago. Chicago was always a place that fascinated me. I'd seen its landscape in movies, read about its attractive qualities in books, and it fueled in me a desire to want to see the city.

While I was there touring the sites the thing that impressed me most about Chicago was something I hadn't know a lot about previously. That is the rebuilding of Chicago. You see in 1871, a great fire spread throughout a good part of the city and burned everything in its path. As a result, many of the landmarks of the city were destroyed and over 100,000 people were left homeless. Instead of moving away or scaling back the city, the people and officials came up with a plan for a bigger and better Chicago. They took the ashes and debris from the fire and dumped it along the waterfront, creating room for wonders like Grant Park and Soldier Field. Architects from around the world flocked to the city in order to help rebuild.

Where Chicago could have turned into a desolate city as a result of the fire, it instead turned into something stronger and something greater. Chicago literally rose out of the ashes with character and purpose.

As I listened to the tour guide tell this story, I couldn't help but think about the refining fires that we face in our lives. Do we, like Chicago, rise from the ashes when the flames flicker out? Or do we let the ashes settle on our lives and remain there, forever buried in darkness?

Much of the answers to those questions depend on the shape of our hearts before the fire starts. If we wait until the smoke starts rising to think about our character, chances are once things heat up we will be found wanting. But if we are already living our lives striving after the good things in life, the flames will only serve to refine and bring out the best of what is already there.

This was the message that God gave the prophet Jeremiah. God said to him:

"Jeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals, that you may determine the quality of my people. Are they the worst of rebels, full of slander? They are as insolent as bronze, as hard and cruel as iron. All of them lead others into corruption. The bellows blow fiercely. The refining fire grows hotter. But it will never purify and cleanse them because there is no purity in them to refine. I will label them 'Rejected Silver because I, the LORD, am discarding them." (Jeremiah 6:27-30)

Just as a rock can only be refined into gold if there was gold in it to begin with, so is it with you and I. If our lives are lacking in purity and character then when the refining fires sweep into our lives, instead of bringing the beauty in us to the surface, they will only leave us feeling burned.

There aren't a lot of guarantees in our lives, but we do know that no one is exempt from facing tough times. Therefore, we shouldn't wait until the smoke starts clouding our vision before we get serious about being a people of character, passion, and purity.

Instead we need to live our lives in such a way that when the fire comes, not only do we have a strong foundation to stand on because of our relationship with Christ, but we have a heart that is ready to come out of the flames stronger and brighter, not burned, or worse, lifeless.

Let’s make it our mission in life to be people who are refined and not defined by the things we go through.

Posted by Kristen at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments

This Thursday brings about the start of College and Careers for another year. The summer must have gone by quicker than usual- I'm having a hard time believing it's already time to start meeting again!

This will be my 7th year with the group and it never ceases to amaze me how God seems to have something different for us up His sleeve every year.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what He has in store for us this year. We'll be starting off with a "Worship & Open Mic Night" on Thursday before transitioning into the "Becoming A Contagious Christian" course, which will take us to our Christmas break.

If you live in the Timmins area and are between the ages of 18-30, please feel free to join us! All the details can be found at collegeandcareers.ca.

Posted by Kristen at 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

This theme of hope has been carrying out throughout the rest of my week. And one thing that has been driving the point home again and again is a song from Sara Groves called "It Might Be Hope" that I recently came across. I love how she portrays hope as something that can be found just when we least expect it (see lyrics below).

I know that's been my story many times. Life gets dark and it looks like the lights are never going to go on again, but then suddenly a sliver of light comes in the most unexpected places. A phone call. A letter. A verse that shines. Or just a deep down feeling that everything is going to be okay.

It Might Be Hope by Sara Groves
(click here to listen on youtube)

You do your work the best that you can
You put one foot in front of the other
Life comes in waves and makes it's demands
You hold on as well as your able

You've been here for a long long time

Hope has a way of turning it's face to you
Just when you least expect it
You walk in a room
You look out a window
And something there leaves you breathless
You say to yourself
It's been a while since I felt this
But it feels like it might be hope

It's hard to recall what blew out the flame
It's been dark since you can remember
You talk it all through to find it a name
As days go on by without number

You've been here for a long long time

Posted by Kristen at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

I've been thinking a lot about hope lately and what a great thing it is to have in our lives. To know that no matter how dark it gets, we have our hope of glory in Christ.

I thought I'd share a few of my favourite verses on hope:

Psalms 31:24- "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD."

Romans 5:3-5- "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

Romans 15:4- "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

1 Peter 1:3- "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Colossians 1:27- "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Posted by Kristen at 4:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

In the Psalms, we're instructed to ponder the path of our feet. In a practical sense that involves thinking about where it is we're heading. I know that sounds like such an obvious thing to do, but is it really something that we spend enough time doing?

How often is it that we stop and think about where we are heading and what's going to happen if we take another step in that direction?

If you keep stepping in one direction at work, what will your life look like in a year or two down the path?

If you keep walking down a winding road in a relationship, is it going to lead to the destination you had in mind?

If you keep taking one step in the direction of a new beginning, a new job, a new ministry, are you going to wake up one day and regret where the road took you?

Pondering the path of our feet.

I'm convinced that if we truly took the time to think a head of where our steps are leading us to, we'd often make some very different decisions. Saying yes to some things while saying no to others. All while keeping in mind that every step we take leads somewhere. Every choice, every decision, all lead us a step further from one thing and a step closer to something else.

That's why living a complacent life is so dangerous. We can fool ourselves into thinking that if we are complacent we aren't heading in any direction so we can't be heading towards anything difficult or wrong either. That's one of the biggest lies the enemy spins. We all are like bottles tossed in the ocean- we're going to move a little with the current of life even if we are just treading water.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to wake up one day miles away from where I'm supposed to be. So once again I'm making a conscious effort to ponder the path of my feet, knowing that if I do so, I won't just be drifting with the tides in life.

Posted by Kristen at 8:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

Another shot from my trip. This one was taken at Webster Falls and I got the opportunity to play with the shutter speed a bit. If you look closely, you can see what appears to be falls behind the falls. It was quite the site to see!

Posted by Kristen at 9:15 PM | Permalink | Comments

So I've been silent for a bit. That's because I've been on the move. First I spent a couple incredible days in Barrie for work, then I had my week of vacation time which was first spent visiting with my sister down south, traveling in and around the area. Then I came back up north for some good old cottage time.

Posted by Kristen at 7:13 PM | Permalink | Comments

I read a great quote today on the Abercrombie & Kent website:

“How many things have you done in your life that you know, with absolute certainty, you will remember for the rest of your life?” (Geoffrey Kent, Chairman & CEO)

I know in my life I've been blessed to have quite a few experiences that I know I'll never forget:

Standing in the middle of Walt Disney World as an 8 year old, being overwhelmed by the magic of it all.

Playing scrabble until late in the night with my mom, brother, sister, and grandparents and laughing until my sides hurt.

Taking in the Atlantic ocean in Fundy National Park in New Brunswick. Feeling so small next to the vastness of the ocean.

Conquering my fear of heights with a trip up to the observation floor on the John Hancock Center, being in awe of the sprawling and beautiful city of Chicago below.

Walking along a bush road with a friend this summer, the wind blowing around us as the sunset reflected off the lake. Talking about heaven and knowing it would feel something like that.

And while I could add many more memories to that list, I know at the same time that there is room for a whole lot more. I want to live my life in a way that is purposeful, not just allowing time to idly slide by. I want to remember every moment, every experience and live every day to the absolute fullest. Whether I'm standing next to the ocean or walking down the street downtown.

Life is a gift. It is precious. And I'm thankful for each moment I get.

Posted by Kristen at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments