I have decided to follow Jesus.

Haha. Obvious title? Possibly. Though this one stems from a song that has just been released by the incredible team at Hillsong Church... Although, the words aren't quite original.

My dad, a marvellous man, challenged me on when the words were written as they were a popular hymn from "50 years back" or so he claimed... (I said they were only forty years old). But we were both wrong. The words come from a man in the 19th century. He lived with his family in India and they all converted to Christianity after the Welsh missionaries came and taught the word of God. The man was threatened with death if he didn't take back his faith in Christ, and instead the man proclaimed, "I have decided to follow Jesus! Though no one joins me, I still will follow!" He was murdered whilst he sang, "the cross before me, the world behind me!" The faith the man showed during his last living moments led to the salvation of the village he lived in, and even the man that killed him and his family. There was no turning back for this courageous man.

Today in church we taught the song Christ is Enough to the congregation - I love this song. It's an absolute declaration of our love for Christ. It's so great. I'll post the lyrics below. 

[VERSE]

Christ is my reward

And all of my devotion

Now there's nothing in this world

That could ever satisfy

Through every trial

My soul will sing

No turning back

I've been set free

[CHORUS]

Christ is enough for me

Christ is enough for me

Everything I need is in You

Everything I need

[VERSE]

Christ my all in all

The joy of my salvation

And this hope will never fail

Heaven is our home

Through every storm

My soul will sing

Jesus is here

To God be the glory

[BRIDGE]

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back

No turning back

The cross before me

The world behind me

No turning back

No turning back

There's something so freeing about declaring that Christ is enough and that we've decided to follow Him. The message that was spoken today touched my heart and taught me that God wants to come down to my weakness, he doesn't expect me to strive for perfection. All He asks is that I love Him, and I do what I can, He'll do the rest. The message taught about the fact that God sees you, he hears you and he is attached to you. The brokenness that I hold onto, can become a thing of the past if I'll only give up my praise to Him!

But you don't need a recap of the preach - it's best if you're just there haha.

My joy is found in the hope of Christ and my greatest desire for you is that you would feel loved in the same why I do. God's love is irreplaceable, and so are you. I seriously pray that you know that. And if you don't, let me tell you: You hold far more worth than you see. 

Also!! I want to say a massive thank you to all of the thoughtful and beautiful people who have taken the time to encourage me over the last few weeks. A lot of lovely people have given me scripture, or a text, or something and it's meant so much. I'm so unbelievably blessed by the people in my life, no amount of words can really explain how much it all means to me. Every word of encouragement means something, I promise. So thank you.

Sorry my blogging has been sporadic xx

(No turning back.)

Community.

I have been thinking of what I could post on this silly little thing for a couple weeks now. It's been a while since I've posted. I've come to the realisation that although I always feel like I have too much to say, it never really makes as much sense as I want it too. And writing titles is the hardes thing ever.

I suppose what I could say here is that tonight we had community. Generations Youth Community. It's where the youth ministry splits into 9 different groups and we all hang out in people's homes and eat food and have heaps of fun. Tonight mine had a bonfire - and it was awesome. We play board games too. I love my church. It's a privilege to be able to serve in a place with vision. I think I love it because I myself have a lot of vision. I have passion, and I have vision.

I just thought of what I can talk about. I am absolutely and entirely over seeing posts like the following:

"This generation sucks"

"Teenagers are grumpy, rude and awful."

"There's no hope for the future."

It stirs something in me. I know for a fact that in this city alone there are thousands of young people connected into youth ministries that put them on a purposed track for life and they are respectful, diligent and they desire better for the world. Three churches in the Australian Christian Churches movement within Adelaide have had camps recently and if you would only look at the genuine transformation of the young people that go on these camps you would see a generation of HOPE, of LOVE, of PURPOSE.

I refuse to accept that we are a useless generation and I refuse to accept that we're "the worst one yet". I believe in the future of today's young people and I will work every day for as long as it takes to serve God in proving that there is hope for the future.

Change starts with me.

It continues with partnership in Godly vision.

(I'm stopping this here for fear that passion will takeover.)

You are alive in us!

"Nothing can take Your place - You are all we need, Your love has set us free!"

I'm a wordsy kinda person. If you follow my blog, you probably already know that. And if you haven't been following my blog, at least you're here now... haha.

Wintercamp A L W A Y S shakes my life up. So one post simply wasn't enough to cover it all. Just before camp, we introduced a song to the youth called Alive, written by the youth of Hillsong. They call themselves Hillsong Young and Free... Amazing in itself. But this praise song has something incredible about it. The words are so phenomenal... Here, I'll copy and paste them for you:

Verse 1:
I was lost with a broken heart,
You picked me up now I'm set apart.
From the ash I'm born again,
Forever safe in the Saviour’s hands
Verse 2:
You are more than my words could say
I'll follow you Lord for all my days
Fix my eyes follow in your ways
Forever free in unending grace
Pre-Chorus:
Cause’ You are, You are, You are my freedom
We lift You higher, we lift You higher
Your love, Your love, Your love never ending
Oh oh oh
Chorus:
You are alive in us
Nothing can take your place
You are all we need
Your love has set us free
Verse 3:
In the midst of the darkest night
Let your love be the shining light
Breaking chains that were holding me
You sent your Son down and set me free
Verse 4:
Everything of this world will fade
I’m pressing on till I see your face
I will live that your will be done
I won’t stop till your kingdom come

This just blows my mind! These words are so incredible, and from the hearts of youth! My prayer is that the youth of today would realise these words to be reality... His love sets us free, so He is all we need! Nothing else can take the spot in our hearts that was created for us. If we don't acknowledge Him, and love Him, there will forever be something missing that can never quite be filled. My heart is that everyone will live with whole hearts, filled with love and free from sorrow. That doesn't mean free from adversity - it means free from solitude and loneliness. God will always provide a way out from adversity, He will always be stronger and greater than a situation. Christianity doesn't promise a free ride, it provides a stronghold when things go wrong. It provides comfort and safety when things are at their hardest. Nothing can replace the love of Christ - and I take comfort in the fact that I know He has my best interest at heart and He knows me.

Psalm 139:1-6 tells of how well He knows. I know I wrote on this topic just a couple weeks ago and focused it around my singleness, but it stretches further than that. It stretches from the beginning to the end. My whole journey of life revolves around the fact that He knows me. And not only does He know me, He protects, He loves, He cares, He provides for me. He is all knowing, but in His knowledge He doesn't stand back idly. He gave and continues to give His all. My saviour is not dead. He is ALIVE in me. In the midst of the darkest night. His love shines. He breaks chains. Each day is not promised to be easy, but I hold my head high knowing that He will guide me with the gentleness of His love.

I hope, and I pray that you find strength in your own lives. Life without God, for me, never worked. My strength is found in Him, because I am actually small and not so significant, but He is massively big and the most significant being ever. And He loves me. So tonight, my prayer is for those who don't feel fulfilled, or loved. My prayer is for the ones who desire greater meaning but don't know where to find it. My prayer is for those that are sick of the day to day routine and are beyond ready for life to begin. God can do far beyond your greatest expectations (Ephesians 3:20) and He has the ability to complete everything that He begins (Philippians 1:6).

And that is that. He's good. He loves you.

The download.

Where the heck do I even start? I got home about an hour and a half ago from Wintercamp 2013 where Jesus was unbelievably present. There's something so incredible when a room of 400+ youth and young adults come together for one purpose... Glorifying God's name, with expectant hearts for fresh revelation and growth.

I had the privilege and honour of serving at camp and I can't even begin to explain what that did for me personally. I've been feeling a bit run down lately, as if I were simply going through the motions of life, but God totally shook up everything on camp. I say this, but it was so gentle. It was purely as if it were a lightbulb moment... God made it clear where I was going wrong and why I was feeling the way I was feeling and has now given me the opportunity to move forward in freedom.

Obviously God is the centrefold of camp, but I couldn't write a post without mentioning Winter Warfare!! It was my absolute honour to be the team leader of the Cowboys - a team with courage, strength and dignity. We fought a battle that was hard, and the odds were stacked against us. We didn't come out with the victory, but we came second and to me, that was enough. The team spirit was incredible, without stopping until the very end. They gave it everything they had, there was nothing they didn't give. I'm so proud of this team and everything they gave. So thank you Cowboys!! (2014 will be our year - we've proved that we're tough enough!)

God moved through camp, He touched lives for the first time, and He refreshed those who have been walking this journey for a while. There's literally nothing quite like Wintercamp and I'm so expectant for the next 12 months in the lives of our youth and youth ministry as a whole - it's going to be incredible and I really believe that they are ready for revival to begin.

Big God, little me.

Read and take in the lyrics of this song, their weight is unbelievable.

"Friend of sinners, God's own son. God in flesh, among men. You walked my road - You understand."

He knows me. All I want is to be like Him... More of Him, less of me.

Lord, it's Yours.

What are you expectant for?

W I N T E R C A M P 2013 is literally hours away. As it's past midnight, it actually begins today. I legitimately can't put into words my excitement for the next few days for the lives of 450 youth and young adults, and then a further 180 children that follow on with kids wintercamp.

There's something about camps that is so different to a regular Friday night youth meeting. It's not God, because He is immeasurable, He doesn't suddenly become bigger. It's not the location, because that really doesn't make much difference. It's our expectancy. As youth and young adults, we have financially invested as much as we can into this and we're coming prepared with our sleeping bags, mattresses, journals and expectations. We're ready to see change in our worlds and we're just waiting to see what God is going to do. Part of me feels like God waits for wintercamp. Not because He has to, but because when wintercamp comes, we set something aside. For three days the entire focus is on Him, and He has the ability to work things into hearts that are otherwise "far too busy". (I'm guilty of this.) I feel like God waits on the edge of His throne saying, "Come on! Just ask for me to do something for you! I'm ready! When will you ask!?" And at camp, we not only ask - we beg. We declare His name and we beg that He come and fill us afresh with whatever we feel we're lacking. We honour Him. We glorify Him. We give our all over, we become vulnerable and weak beings, encouraged by the vulnerability of our peers. It's a judgement free zone. Everyone is welcome to feel as they please.

So what am I expectant for?

I'm expectant for clarity. I'm expectant to learn more about myself - when to speak, and when to stay silenced. I'm expectant for further understanding of others and a greater opportunity to learn about God and His ways so I can walk in it, and in turn do His will for my life. I'm expectant for growth and for healing within my emotions. I'm not just hoping for it, but I expect these things to come to pass in one way, shape or form. My God is good and He is beyond able.

Psalm 23 sits on the tip of my mind constantly.

"The Lord is my Shepherd - I lack nothing." I don't want to say that because I "have it all". I want to say that because no matter what I do or don't have... I lack nothing.

"My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name."

I want these words to be resounding truth in my life. I want to solely trust in Christ so that I might be free of any disappointment or offence that might come my way.

"Jesus, Jesus all I want is to be like You."

To be in Your presence... I can't wait.

Philippians 4:7, "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

When peace like a river attendeth my way... I trust that this will be made evident to me.

I'm expectant for a lot. But Ephesians 3:20, a scripture spoken on about this camp says that my God is immeasurable and He can do beyond my wildest expectations.

With that said,

BRING ON CAMP!!!

And stay posted to see whether or not Cowboys come out victorious....  WHICH THEY WILL!!

Gonna party like it's ya birthday.

Birthday's are a strange thing. Every day a human being gets progressively older, and once every 365   days (or 366 - if it's a leap year!) we celebrate the year that has passed. Time, a man made creation used to describe what we know as life, is an interesting thing. I'm no scientist or academic genius, but I feel I'm not alone in over-thinking the concept of time. The planet on which we live is old, how old exactly is still up for debate... but the earth existed before me, and more than likely it'll exist when I go. The challenge I face in this thought is how exactly to make the time while I'm existing count. I don't believe I'll ever become an incredible doctor that just knows how to save lives. I don't think I'll become a fireman, pulling helpless people from a burning wreckage. I don't know if I'd have the patience or passion for law to assist in the acquittal of the innocent and incarceration of the guilty. These respected jobs don't suit me. I don't sit behind an instrument practicing for hours on end, I can't create music that changes lives, I simply don't know how - I'm sure I could learn, but it just doesn't seem... "me."

Yesterday I turned nineteen. It was weird even typing that. I've been living in this country for nineteen years, this house for thirteen and I've been out of school for almost two. I'm inevitably growing up, leaving behind childish ways and heading into the mature and grown up world of adulthood. But I don't want to do that because the natural way of human life is to be born, grow up, grow old and die. I refuse to settle for that. I just know that there's purpose in everything. And everyone. I can't shake this feeling of undeniable purpose on the people I know, and even myself. I see so much that can happen and I desire to help make it happen - not for myself but for the greater good of humans and for the glory of my Maker. As a nineteen year old, I don't want to fall into the pattern of working too much, studying too much or simply being too busy. I want to remember why I was created. I was created for people. To love people. To lead them, and be led by others. I'm designed for friendship. I desire that. My heart is to do the right thing by all people, and bring an energy of positivity and light wherever I go. I know that to change the world, it begins by being kind to just one person. I believe kindness has a ripple effect, and I pray that to be true.

There's something that bursts my bubble though. I'm not perfect. I can't always be bubbly and positive. I can't please everyone and no matter how hard I work there's always going to be something in my life that I need to work on - and I'm aware and okay with that. What I'm trying to do though, is improve myself with every day and continue to grow. I'm learning to not have expectation on people, so then I won't be let down by them. And I wish that people would do the same for me. Unfortunately though, as recent events have shown, everyone has an expectation of another person and you can't always come out a winner. But I'm trying. I'm working my best to be as good as I can be and bring as much positive light into my friendships as possible. So to those I have let down, I apologise. To those I am yet to let down, I apologise. Please join with me on my journey to help bring God's light to the world, and try not to hate me too much for the days when I stumble or fall short of your expectations. I'll try to remember to do the same.

"Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10