Rivers Flowing Inside, 
​
What is flowing inside you? Is it bringing you life or death? We all have things stored up inside and out of what is inside, we live life. So, is the inside of you flowing with rivers of peace, of love, of joy and of hope? Of forgiveness and gratefulness and patience and of self-control or is your life flowing with something else? Is your life instead flowing with hate and anger, pain and revenge? Is it flowing with resentment and greed? I am not saying that we cannot experience some of these things at times, but what we do with them will make a difference and if the river is flowing with joy and peace and forgiveness, then if anger comes, it will flow on down that river and peace and joy will be what wins in the end, but if the rivers are flowing with anger all day long, then there is a major problem. Sometimes it can be so easy to hold onto the hurts of the past and not let go of them, but maybe it is time to look at letting go and making a new normal for yourself. If you need help working through some past hurts, then feel free to contact us.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.

I am Coming Home, 

Way off in the distance, it may seem to be, but its only a stones throw away. There is a story in the bible that tells us, while he was a long way off, the father came running. Maybe it is time to come home, time to let go of the pride and the will to do only what we want and to realise what we really need is to be home, home safe in the Father’s arms. Some of you may be like, that’s all well and good, but I don’t have a father who won’t let me down again. It’s okay, none of us do, there is only one Father who will never let us down and he is waiting with arms wide open to welcome his children home. Will you make a decision to take a step towards him and watch him run towards you.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.

Reflections and Reality, 
When we look at this picture, we see reflections and the reality, both looking the same, although one is a bit fuzzy and the other much clearer. However, the thing is they do not serve the same purpose. One the reality, is a place that can be lived in, it can have a home made in it and it will keep the inhabitants dry. The other, the reflection is just that, a distorted version of the reality and step into it and you will sink into the water, you will be soaked from head to toe and will not be able to see even where the reflection ends and the ocean begins, or is it all the ocean? Sometimes life can be a bit like that, we get so caught up in a false version of the reality, or a poor reflection of it that someone else shows us through their words and then we get sucked into the never-ending search to make our home in a place that we were never meant to live. Water is home for a fish, not for us. So it is time to stop focusing on the reflection and live in the reality and make your home in the place of safety, where you can let go of the words that others have said over you and listen to the truth of the one who made you. The reality is, you are loved, special and beautifully made. You have a future, no matter your past.
mage credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited. 

What Is It You Ask? 

You stare off into the distance, gazing at the beauty of the sunset and ponder the fact that there is such beauty in front of you, but you can’t help but focus on the bit of wood in the corner of your vision and all of a sudden you are lost not in the beauty and possibility and hope of the future, but in the pain of the past and how awful life is and then all of a sudden it is the biggest thing you can see. Then for a moment you stop, catch your breath and say to yourself, I acknowledge the pain of my past, but I am going to take a step forward. One stop forward and all of a sudden, the wood is not as big as it was, still it is there, but it is not so overwhelming. You dwell on it a moment longer, before saying I choose to let go of that pain and take one more brave step forward, and now you can see just the tip of the timber. You take one more bold step, and now all you can see is beauty ahead. You know the past is still there, but it is no longer blocking your vision of the future, instead it is the push to go forward, to discover all the hope that is ahead.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited. 

Undercover, By Indi Leigh
​
I am undercover, something that could have many meanings, one to be hidden, one to be safe and protected. Maybe it is time, you stopped being hidden and allowed yourself to be covered and safe. Sometimes it can be so easy to get caught up in the hurts, get caught up in the anger and the pain and live like we have to hide something. We hide the pain, hide the anger, hide it all so deep down, that eventually we hide ourselves, we find we cannot even open ourselves up to the ones we love and no longer feel safe, even in our own skin. But the one who made us offers to be our shelter, to be our safe place and so maybe it is time to come out of hiding and allow yourself to be covered. Covered in safety, covered in peace, covered in joy, covered in hope.
 
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.

The One That Seemed Different,
Sometimes we can be so intent on pointing out the one difference when, the boat that doesn’t have any sales, instead of pointing out that it has something else instead, it has a motor. And why should we even point it out at all, it is still first and foremost a boat and a boat that gets someone from A to B. It floats on the water, just like any other boat and it is able to carry people just the same. So maybe it is time you stopped comparing yourself to someone else and started looking at you for who you are, not at you for what you are not, compared to your friends. You are special and without you, there would be something missing in this world, because each of us were made with a unique design and for a purpose, so this year make a choice to be happy with and celebrate you, just because you are you. We need you in this world.
 
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.  

Though It Feels We Stand Alone, 
Sometimes it may feel as though we are standing alone, as though we are out in the open, that we are exposed and people will see us and notice the flaws in us. But have you ever stopped to realise that we all have flaws, we are all different and so my flaw, may be your strength and your strength my flaw. But instead of seeing it as a flaw, why not see it as something that makes the bark on your tree unique. You are beautiful and wonderfully made. And you are not standing alone, take another look, there are other trees around you. So why not take a moment to celebrate who is around you and the fact that you are not alone, but instead you are uniquely you, wonderfully made and you have other people who are also uniquely them and wonderfully made around you. Together we are what makes this world wonderful. One of you, one of me and two of us.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited. 

On the Summer Shores, 
Oh, the days, that are longer, the days when we can sit and dream, when we can walk even late into the night and see the lights reflecting off the shores. Maybe in our life, we need to get a summer perspective sometimes, so that we can focus on the light that is there, not the darkness that we feel is encompassing us all around. Because we know that the darkness of night will end not only will there be the light in the night, but the whole sky will be filled with light. So too in our life, there is a light shining bright, that is to light our way, and we can know that where the light is, there can be no darkness. So, live in His light, in the light of Jesus Christ.
 
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited. 

Don’t Let Bitterness Set In, 
We can so easily get caught up in the bitterness and hurt of life, that we become a bent over tree, but we don’t have to stay that way, because just like these palm trees, can spring back after a storm, so can we. We can change our thinking, let go of hurt, acknowledge the truth, deal with the pain, replace lies with the truth and move forward. We were never meant to stay bent over in hurt, but to rise up. Because the storms were not made to break us. We are more than conquerors and so maybe it is a time to stand up, shake off the past, move forward and live life to the full. This year is almost over and we have a chance to make it a memory that will last forever and forever define us for his glory or to let our life be forever defined by circumstances and situations that would hold us back. It’s our choice. Will you dream, will you take a step, will you run, will you make a change for the rest of history?
 
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.  

Upside Down, 
When life feels like it is all upside down and you don’t know which way is up, where you came from or where you are heading, that is a good time to stop and reflect on the goodness of God and how he is always with us. No matter what we face, where we go, what we do, we will always have him by our sides. We can know that the anchor is firm beneath the waves. So, no matter if we see life right side up or upside down, we can be sure that with him as our anchor, we will not be moved. We will be held firm. So why don’t you let go, and learn to love where you are right not, learn to love the season you are going through, doesn’t mean you stay there, but means that we can always grow in every season and even if it means you have to stand on your head to see it right side up, so you can see even just one blessing in your day, then it's worth it. Count every blessing and name them all.
 
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.