At Kayli's celebration of life service, this testimony was given during the sharing time
"When I think of Kayli, I always think of Mary Poppins. Which may seem like a weird association, but if you know anything about Mary Poppins, she was practically perfect in every way. And if Kayli heard me say that she would gag!" This brought many chuckles from the full auditorium of friends and family. I know that would indeed have been Kayli's response. She knew better than anyone that she wasn't perfect. Kayli was who she was because of the great work the LORD JESUS CHRIST had done in her life.
Kayli accepted what the Lord had done for her on the cross at a young age. But the huge change in Kayli's life happened about a year after her fourth relapse.
To quote Kayli's own words from her "Live Like You're Dying" video, "Two years ago when I relapsed for the fourth time. My doctor told me that I had less than a year to live. Okay, I was like 18 and I was like 'that's crazy! Eighteen year olds don't die…that's like for people that are 70 or 80... I was freaking out about all the stuff that was going on. I was very me focused. Like, what can everyone do for me? Boohoo, I'm the one going through this, I'm the one that is going to die. Let me just curl up in my bed and cry for myself. That year in February, which wasn't long after the doctor told me that I had a few weeks to a few months to live, on my 19th birthday, which should have been a joyous occasion…I cried most of the day because I thought this is the last birthday I will ever have here on earth. And I did not enjoy it all. I was crying for myself; having a pity party. Now 2 years later, by God's will I'm still here and I recently celebrated my 21st birthday and I had a great time! I didn't think about it like there was finality to it, that this is my last birthday. Although it might be, none of us really know when we are going to die. People say you should "live like you're dying" and for awhile I did the whole feel sorry thing... But I decided I really did want to live like I was dying, because I am and I was. For the last two years I have been able to live that way. I've been able to live in God's will..." (Testimony video recorded on 2.27.15)
It is the natural response to always think good of those who have passed away. And there is nothing wrong with that...if we keep it in perspective. The risk is that we will start thinking that "if Kayli was good enough to go to Heaven, than I can achieve that same goodness." And that is not the case. Kayli would want us all to know that she wasn't perfect and she was a sinner in need of God's grace just like the rest of us.
Take some time to look at your own life. Are you living like you're dying? The most important thing for us each to think about is, "Where will I spend eternity when my time on this earth is over?" Will I spend it in Heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ and see Kayli again? Or will I spend it in the eternal prison for sinners…hell? If you honestly look at your own life and heart, have you kept God's law? Not sure what God's law included? Let's look at a few of them...Thou shalt not lie, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not make for yourself an idol. Now when you hear the last one you may think, "I'm good on that one. I have never bowed down to a little statue." But have you ever made anything more important than God? That is an idol of the heart. Those are just three of the Ten Commandments (God's law). If you are REALLY honest with yourself...can you say you have never broken one of those? Now you may say, "But I feel bad about what I did and have asked forgiveness." Think about it this way, suppose we go to a court of law here in the USA. Let's say you have committed a crime and are standing in front of the judge. Would the judge just say, "I'm really glad you feel bad for what you have done. Go ahead and walk away without any punishment." Would that ever happen? No way! Not if they are a good judge. Someone has to pay the fine or take the jail time. It is the same with God's law. Someone has to take our punishment for breaking it.
You ready for the good news? Jesus, God's son, came over 2,000 years ago and died an awful death on the cross to cover our sins. Jesus was a sinless man and died to pay the penalty for the sins of the world...but there's a catch. We have to accept it.
Let's go back to the court room for a moment. You are standing before the judge...you have been convicted of the crime. You aren't able to pay the fine, so that means you are headed to prison. Right before you are led off to prison, someone you don't know walks in the court room door and says, "I will pay their fine." Wow! Would that be a shocker or what? Now is the judge going to let that person pay your fine if you don't accept the offer? No way! It is your crime-your punishment- your fine. You have to choose to accept it. It is the same with punishment for breaking God's law. Jesus is ready to pay our fine, but we have to choose to accept His gift.
The Bible says "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
Kayli made goodbye videos and in each one she pleaded with all of you to make this decision!
She wants to see you ALL again!!
"When I think of Kayli, I always think of Mary Poppins. Which may seem like a weird association, but if you know anything about Mary Poppins, she was practically perfect in every way. And if Kayli heard me say that she would gag!" This brought many chuckles from the full auditorium of friends and family. I know that would indeed have been Kayli's response. She knew better than anyone that she wasn't perfect. Kayli was who she was because of the great work the LORD JESUS CHRIST had done in her life.
Kayli accepted what the Lord had done for her on the cross at a young age. But the huge change in Kayli's life happened about a year after her fourth relapse.
To quote Kayli's own words from her "Live Like You're Dying" video, "Two years ago when I relapsed for the fourth time. My doctor told me that I had less than a year to live. Okay, I was like 18 and I was like 'that's crazy! Eighteen year olds don't die…that's like for people that are 70 or 80... I was freaking out about all the stuff that was going on. I was very me focused. Like, what can everyone do for me? Boohoo, I'm the one going through this, I'm the one that is going to die. Let me just curl up in my bed and cry for myself. That year in February, which wasn't long after the doctor told me that I had a few weeks to a few months to live, on my 19th birthday, which should have been a joyous occasion…I cried most of the day because I thought this is the last birthday I will ever have here on earth. And I did not enjoy it all. I was crying for myself; having a pity party. Now 2 years later, by God's will I'm still here and I recently celebrated my 21st birthday and I had a great time! I didn't think about it like there was finality to it, that this is my last birthday. Although it might be, none of us really know when we are going to die. People say you should "live like you're dying" and for awhile I did the whole feel sorry thing... But I decided I really did want to live like I was dying, because I am and I was. For the last two years I have been able to live that way. I've been able to live in God's will..." (Testimony video recorded on 2.27.15)
It is the natural response to always think good of those who have passed away. And there is nothing wrong with that...if we keep it in perspective. The risk is that we will start thinking that "if Kayli was good enough to go to Heaven, than I can achieve that same goodness." And that is not the case. Kayli would want us all to know that she wasn't perfect and she was a sinner in need of God's grace just like the rest of us.
Take some time to look at your own life. Are you living like you're dying? The most important thing for us each to think about is, "Where will I spend eternity when my time on this earth is over?" Will I spend it in Heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ and see Kayli again? Or will I spend it in the eternal prison for sinners…hell? If you honestly look at your own life and heart, have you kept God's law? Not sure what God's law included? Let's look at a few of them...Thou shalt not lie, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not make for yourself an idol. Now when you hear the last one you may think, "I'm good on that one. I have never bowed down to a little statue." But have you ever made anything more important than God? That is an idol of the heart. Those are just three of the Ten Commandments (God's law). If you are REALLY honest with yourself...can you say you have never broken one of those? Now you may say, "But I feel bad about what I did and have asked forgiveness." Think about it this way, suppose we go to a court of law here in the USA. Let's say you have committed a crime and are standing in front of the judge. Would the judge just say, "I'm really glad you feel bad for what you have done. Go ahead and walk away without any punishment." Would that ever happen? No way! Not if they are a good judge. Someone has to pay the fine or take the jail time. It is the same with God's law. Someone has to take our punishment for breaking it.
You ready for the good news? Jesus, God's son, came over 2,000 years ago and died an awful death on the cross to cover our sins. Jesus was a sinless man and died to pay the penalty for the sins of the world...but there's a catch. We have to accept it.
Let's go back to the court room for a moment. You are standing before the judge...you have been convicted of the crime. You aren't able to pay the fine, so that means you are headed to prison. Right before you are led off to prison, someone you don't know walks in the court room door and says, "I will pay their fine." Wow! Would that be a shocker or what? Now is the judge going to let that person pay your fine if you don't accept the offer? No way! It is your crime-your punishment- your fine. You have to choose to accept it. It is the same with punishment for breaking God's law. Jesus is ready to pay our fine, but we have to choose to accept His gift.
The Bible says "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
Kayli made goodbye videos and in each one she pleaded with all of you to make this decision!
She wants to see you ALL again!!
The Bible says in Luke 15:10 that the angels rejoice when one sinner repents. I can just picture this scene in heaven...the angels are having a party and Kayli walks over and asks what they are celebrating? And they tell her that one of her friends or family has gotten their life right with the Lord. I know one thing...she is going to be ECSTATIC!!! Break out the ice cream cake!!! Because of course there has to be ice cream cake in Heaven. :) I loved that girl like she was my own sister and have tears streaming down my face as I type this, but I don't want any of us to get such a high view of Kayli that we think she made it to Heaven on her own. The only way that she or any of us can have assurance of an eternity in Heaven is by the blood of Jesus. Kayli's Sis at Heart, Joy |
If you would like to watch the full version of Kayli's Live Like You're Dying Video click on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yqaPZc4Yj0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yqaPZc4Yj0