40 Days With The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is an aspect of the trinity that is not spoken enough about at all! RT Kendall has released a multitude of books and resources on the Holy Spirit, and all of it is worth reading into, but one that is incredibly valuable for discipleship purposes is his forty day devotional: 40 Days with the Holy Spirit.

I read this devotional personally earlier this year and can say with entire honesty that it has shifted my perspective and redefined the way I approach the Holy Spirit and how I talk about the Holy Spirit to young people. The Holy Spirit was not sent to earth to be distant or for only the elite Christians, the Holy Spirit was sent as a guide and a friend for people at all works of faith. This can be an uncomfortable, or perhaps just unusual, thought for new Christians and young people as the Holy Spirit can not be seen, but His presence is undeniable. It is crucial, for this generation now, to see who the Holy Spirit and to be passionate about not offending Him, to talk to Him, to walk life with His guidance by their side.

The benefit of a 40 day devotional is that it offers structure and guidance. It offers an opportunity to talk about the small, one to two page thoughts that RT Kendall discusses, and it breaks the ice for unfamiliar conversations. I highly recommend all youth leaders read this book, if not for discipleship, literally changed my life for good.

(MIN220 - Blog Post #5 - a130047)

Brave New World

Amanda Cook; Brave New World album artwork.

This year there have been many good Christian album releases, but not many are as soulful and touching as Amanda Cook's brand new album, "Brave New World", which can be bought here. Released on the 25th of September, the 13-Track album contains many verses and hooks that young people will be able to relate to. Notably, the bridge of track 13, "Pieces", delves deep into what true love looks like. The lyrics declaring God's love for His people,

"Your love's not fractured, it's not a troubled mind. It isn't anxious, it's not the restless kind. Your love's not passive, it's never disengaged. It's always present, it hangs on every word we say. Love keeps its promises, it keeps it's Word, it honours what's sacred, 'cause its vow are good. Your love's not broken, it's not insecure, Your love's not selfish, Your love is pure."

Something that I have learned through youth ministry, and life in general, is that there is a severe lack in the understanding of true love, 1 Corinthians 13 love. This song not only speaks life and love into the hearts of those who are listening, but it also presents an opportunity for youth pastors and youth leaders to open up a discipleship conversation with their young people about what love really looks like. If we, as leaders, can replicate the love described in the above words, we can be sure that we will be raising a generation of people that know Who love is, and know how to show love themselves. After the weekend's tragedies around the world, in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad, it is crucial to be teaching and showing the love of Jesus and the truth of the gospel at every opportunity we get.

My prayer for this generation is that would know a love that is not fractured, a love that is engaged, a love that is present, a love that is true to its word, and a love that is selfless and pure. Thank you Amanda Cook, for this beautifully written song that reminds us of what love really is, and what it should look like.

(MIN220 - Blog Post #4 - a130047) 

PLAZA PARTY

In February 2014, Edge Church stopped doing a Friday night youth ministry program to make way for what God wanted to do in the young people, youth leaders and congregation as a whole. Originally, the program was canned for a month, but after the first month, it wasn't yet time to create a new program, for "programs sake" so after one year and four months, in July 2015, we re-launched GenYth with Project 52 on a Sunday night. This was such an exciting time for the youth team as we finally had one place at one time where all the youth would gather and we could do what we felt called to. That was, of course, until we realised that 3pm on a Sunday afternoon wasn't an ideal time for what we wanted to achieve, so we dreamed, prayed and started again. On November 6th, we launched our "Plaza Party". Youth is back to a Friday night, from 6pm-7pm before the main service at 7:30pm. We are opening up the Word of God, firing up young people, and then creating an atmosphere of praise and worship to lead the whole church at 7:30pm! It has been amazing to see young people so engaged, so on fire for Jesus, and truly setting an example for what passionate praise and worship looks like. These young people are setting a fire in the hearts of the generations that have been before them, and are creating a true and authentic atmosphere of worship. This ministry is exploding, and is has nothing to do with the practical elements or the people involved (okay, their prayer, spiritual preparation and diligence is being sincerely rewarded by God), it's literally Jesus! God is showing up, people are encountering Him and youth are being changed for the better. It may have begun with a plaza party, but now, every week, it's a heaven party! And how did it all start? With a season of silence and obedience. Thank You Jesus for your favour, thank You Jesus for carrying us through.

(MIN220 - Blog Post #3 - a130047)

OPEN HEAVEN / River Wild

It's that time of year again where Hillsong Worship, the worship band from Hillsong Church, release their live album. This year's album is titled OPEN HEAVEN / River Wild and features a variety of new worship songs as well as appearances from the Hillsong United team and Hillsong Young & Free. The album can be purchased, along with other resources relating to the album, from the Hillsong online store here.

The opening track, O Praise The Name (Anastasis) is an excellent resource for a worship team to lead young people in worship. Anastasis translated to English means, "a rising up from the dead". It is a song of reverence and worship, giving all of the glory back to God. The song preaches the truth of the gospel, which is advantageous for youth ministry - if youth aren't listening during the preaching, they are still having the message of God's love for them poured over them during worship. You can find the lyrics for this song here.

The theme of the album is to open hearts to the presence of God, the expression "Open Heaven" meaning to allow for a sense of God's presence to be so overwhelming it's as if heaven has opened it's gates and is being experienced on earth. This open heaven creates a place where God's glory can work in its restorative nature, bringing the lost back to Him and the broken into His loving arms. River wild is used in context in the title track to be meant as an invitation for Jesus, the Living Water (John 4:14) to overflow in the lives of those who invite Him.

This album is a great resource for youth pastors, youth leaders and worship teams, not only to lead young people in worship but to open up a conversation around what the songs they are singing mean. There is nothing more important than connecting young people to Jesus, and a great way to do that is through an open conversation about what they are singing and who they are singing it to.

(MIN220 - Blog Post #2 - a130047)

Project 52

Project 52 is a fifty-two day devotional for the youth and young adults of Edge Church. After a significant message in the life of the two ministries based on Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Wall, Project 52 was designed to rebuild the walls of God’s word in the lives of these young people. The first forty days followed the devotional written by Rick Warren called, “The Purpose Driven Life”, which can be purchased here. The final twelve days were written by leaders within the church and encouraged a continued discipleship journey for young people beyond the fifty-two days. Project 52 could really be utilized by any age group, but it was especially created for youth and young adults. The devotional can be accessed here.

Personally, I found that getting into a routine and doing a reading plan with my friends motivated me, and also gave me a talking point with the youth I have been mentoring. I’d encourage all youth leaders to engage in a reading plan such as this, as it gives you the time to build a sustainable habit and fills you with the Word of God so you are able to lead to your best ability, you’re personally filled with the Gospel you believe in, and you are deepening your understanding of who God is to you.

 

For young people, getting deeper into the Word of God is something that will never leave you. You will find that you will learn to trust God more, from seeing stories in the bible of others who have had to, to simply knowing that God is always true to His word. God’s Word is truth, so in a world full of mixed responses to the questions of the times, you will be able to stand firm in who you are, as well as who God is in you.

(MIN220 - Blog Post #1 - a130047)

Religion isn't for me.

I can honestly say that I don't follow a religion. I don't follow a distant deity who couldn't care less about me. I don't follow a mindless tradition that has no relevance to today's society. I'm not into the whole, go to church because that's just "what you do" mindset. And I certainly don't believe in force-feeding people things they don't want to hear. That's why I have a blog, it's your choice to be reading this, and you do so at your own will. I'm gonna get personal.

I want to tell you a little bit about me, I know I've done that in the past but this is something a little different, something I don't really talk about. That something, is the reason why I love Jesus and have served in a church for the majority of the last ten years. 

I love Jesus because He loves me despite everything I've done wrong, and am yet to do wrong.

I love Jesus because He lived a human life and knows every emotion I've ever felt.

I love Jesus because He doesn't force His way into my life.

I love Jesus because He was the Son of The King, yet He didn't strut around like He owned the show, He lived a humble life.

I love Jesus because He brings me comfort when my heart is burdened.

I love Jesus because He is the most selfless human being to have walked the planet.

I love Jesus because He knows what I need when I need it. (Beyond any wants)

I love Jesus because He's the author of everything good.

I love Jesus because He loved me first.

God loves unconditionally. And when you think about it, every human (Christian or not) wants to be loved unconditionally. If you screw up, you want those you hold dear to forgive you and still love you. So, if I talk to you about God - it's because I love you. It's because I want you to know what it's like to be loved by someone who never fails. Who never lets you down. Who never shows up late, and Who never turns away when you want to come near.

Walking with God legitimately isn't just a whole bunch of rules and regulations. It is certainly not "do this or you're going to hell." And if that's what it's been for you, it's wrong and you deserve better. I live my life by faith. I have a joy that lasts beyond a mood, and I have hope for a better tomorrow no matter what. God isn't restricted to a building. He's a life bringing, situation changing, relentlessly loving Father who actually just wants to know you, protect you, love you and be around you. He doesn't expect perfection. No one, bar Jesus, has ever been, or ever will be, perfect. You need to know that.

Everyone needs love. We are created for it, so why not let it be the greatest love of all time?

Jesus is love. That's why I love Him.

P.S, to clarify the first paragraph:

I don't follow a religion - I know a God.

I don't follow a distant deity who doesn't care about me - I follow a Father who loves me

I don't follow an irrelevant and mindless tradition - I seek out the truth and it finds me. It's always relevant.

I don't go to church for going to church's sake - I go to church because I can't get enough of God's presence and the people who I call family.

I don't believe in force-feeding people things they don't want to hear... (AT ALL) But I also don't believe in shutting up about my personal beliefs just because they're not the majority opinion.

Happy New Year.

All I want is to live free and have fun.

Just before I start, a quick reminder that I'm not forcing anyone to read this and all views are my own and blah blah blah. If I offend anyone you can take it up with my boss (Jesus).

I want to talk about freedom.

I live a life that is free. It has nothing to do with what I eat, how much I exercise, how nice I am to people or how often I get things right. It has everything to do with Who I know. Before you get bored, I just want to say this: Freedom is so much more than just doing what you want... It's doing what you love, and having happiness by doing it. Even then, it's more than that. When you're living in true freedom, what releases you into your utmost happiness will usually release others into theirs too. As members of society, we're all called to live harmoniously and as one whether we're Christian, Atheist or any other form of faith system. I posted a blog a few weeks ago about falling into a career that you love and doing what makes you happy, and this is sort of following that mindset but I think I'm going to expand a little more.

When I think of freedom I think of joy. To me, when I'm picturing in my mind what it looks like to be free I see a sunny day, driving along the coast with the windows down, hair blowing everywhere and the people I love. Free because there are no restraints. Free because there are no distractions. Free just because. But realistically, there are very few of us who get to drive down the coast with no cares in the world every day of our lives. Most of us have jobs, or any other number of commitments.

Quickly back tracking to what I said DOESN'T bring freedom, I feel like I wouldn't really be doing justice if I didn't mention that eating right and exercising does play a massive part in how a person feels about themselves. So if you're eating lots of junk food and never exercising (that was me 2 months ago) don't expect to have the best mindset you possibly could. Exercising brings out natural endorphins and it makes you feel good about yourself, so if you're feeling sad, do some sit ups, go for a run or just do some star jumps... You'll feel better! Also, eating right also effects the way your body processes things, so do yourself a massive favour and don't eat McDonalds or hungry jacks! It might taste good for five minutes, but in the long run it's killing you. Your body would love you so much more if you ate the things it was designed to eat (boys, eat a steak instead of a big mac... You don't get much manlier than that!!)

And also, being nice to people is SUPER important! I don't need to expand on that, just remember your manners and swallow your pride when you need to! (preaching to myself here)

OKAY. So I got all that out... NOW I wanna talk about freedom.

My belief is that freedom comes from God. I'm not refraining at all from saying that because I know it as truth. I know that on days/weeks/months when I neglect to spend time with my King and Saviour, things just don't work as well. BUT the split second I turn back and spend time with God, everything is better. I didn't say easier. But it's better. God isn't a God of making things easy, He's a God of making things worth it. Things don't suddenly become all flowers, rainbows and pretty songs... God just provides you a way out when the storms come rolling in and the lightning and rain are threatening every aspect of your life.

2 Corinthians 3:16-17 says this, "but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Some key points:

1. but whenever a person turns to the Lord. So, every single time. Whether the first time, the 5th time or the 900th time, the veil that separates us from the freedom of Christ is actually taken away.. Physically taken away. The only way it's brought back is if we do it ourselves. 

2. where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Believing in God isn't about rules and regulations, the scripture here says plain and simply: there is freedom. Nothing binding, not restraining, not hard work, effort and striving. Just freedom.

I know all to well the pain of striving and being put right back in my place. I know how it feels to search everywhere for friends only to be shut down. I know how it feels to be dreaming dreams but not knowing how to activate them or reach goals. But what I know even more is the feeling of freedom that comes when I hand it all over to God and just let Him help me out. He's actually a top guy, hey. He knows what He's doing and believe it or not, He knows what's best. I'm quite an independent person and I hate being told what to do, yet I feel so comforted when I know the creator of the universe has a plan for me and all I have to do is say, "yeah, I'm ready for that." and I'll be able to walk in more than my wildest dreams could ever have imagined.

I'm going to post this video of Hillsong Young + Free's story below... It's significant for this generation... This generation needs to learn that freedom comes from sober thoughts, not clouded judgement. This generation needs to know how loved they are... This generation needs to rediscover what it means to be young and free.. And I believe we can.

What is acceptance? Is it weird to love people?

Forever posting strange titles, somewhat in the hopes it might get an ear to listen. (At least I'm honest)

Acceptance. This concept has been going over and over in my mind for a few weeks and I can't shake it. Australia, as a free country, claims to be accepting. Accepting of religion, accepting of gender, accepting of lifestyle. But how exactly do we accept what other people do? Is it classified as acceptance if someones lifestyle choices really bug me, but I keep my mouth shut and smile? Or is that just tolerance? The answer is obvious, it's tolerance.

I hate tolerance.

Yes, it's a very general statement and you're never going to be able to accept everyone so sometimes you need to suck it up and just tolerate them... But what I do hate is the thought that tolerance is good enough. It really isn't. Society most definitely has its issues and as a Christian, sometimes it's assumed that I'm going to instantly not want to be friends with someone just because their lifestyle choices are a bit different to mine. But that's not how it is. Honestly, I just love people. Full stop.  There's no fine print. I just love people.

I'm so tired of it being common practice to slander people and call people names, but it's suddenly "weird" or "soft" to go around genuinely complimenting people and trying to build them up. Seriously, what's with that? Ha, sitting here now I can recall times where friends have told me that I need to stop being such a "flirt" because I was "overcomplimenting" another friend. I'm sorry, but what? How is there such a thing as overcomplementing? The red lines underneath the word as I type tell me that it's not even a true word. (So don't hold back with the compliments, you don't know who might actually really need it.)

So back to the topic of acceptance....

I believe there are two principles that have worked for me in accepting people and not just "tolerating" them.

1. Listen to what they have to say and don't just judge on face value (or what others have said)

2. Accurately self-assess self so one doesn't just think they're better than other people (I'm not - you're not either)

Acceptance is important. It's vital. Australia needs a generation of young people who actually care about each other, not just about themselves. We need young people who are willing to love unrelentingly. We need young people who want to actually make a change and aren't just concerned about the latest iPhone or Android or debating which is better. I'm passionate about seeing people realise who they can truly be given the opportunity to shine.

There's no harm in trying to love on people.

P.S,

This blog has come out a lot messier than I intended. What I really want to say is that I'm over seeing people hurting over feeling left out, unloved or unwanted. I desire to see people feel loved, included and valued and it breaks my heart that it's just not happening. If you take anything from this, please just take this: do your best to be kind. You could make someones day.

Are you doing what you love?

Yesterday I returned home from a family holiday to The Whitsunday's. The week away was one of the best mini-holidays I've ever had and it made me really step back and evaluate life and where I am, where I'm headed and am I doing myself justice by following a path that truly makes me happy? They're pretty big questions, but I've been pondering over them for a few days and felt that I needed to write another blog post - especially seeing as it's been so long since the last one!

I met so many people on my trip, we did a couple day trip cruises around the islands and on those we met some of the crew, my family consisted of myself, my parents, my brother and his wonderful girlfriend, my grandparents and two of my aunties. It didn't matter where we went, people were drawn to us. On one of the day trips one of the crew said to me, "It's really wonderful what you have here, it's so special to see such a happy family here... Your happiness brings something special to this cruise." She was a single mum of three, migrated from China on her own, became an Australian citizen, and had made a way for her children to have the best. Another of the crew on this specific cruise sat down with us and started opening up about his life and how he had come to be in Australia (he was English) and on board this boat as a crew member... it really is humbling hearing about the struggle some people go through to find themselves. Personally, I think the best customer service is when the customer walks away feeling like they were treated like a real human being. But it got me thinking about the remark made it the movie Fight Club, where on the plane a comment is made about "single serve friendships"... Everything on a plane comes single serve, including the friendship with the person you sit next to. I guess the same thing applies to the cruises. But I can't help but feel extraordinarily blessed by the people I met, I might only meet them once, but their stories will stick with me forever. And what will stick even more is that they loved their jobs. The crew for the cruise ship worked 12-13 hour days, sometimes 7 days straight and yet because of what they were doing (taking people snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming, and just seeing awesome sights in general) and how happy they could make people they loved it.

Just before I went away, I did an assignment all between the link of what is put inside of you from birth that you are passionate about and the career that you take up when you finish school. The question I found difficult to answer is whether or not there really is a link. I believe there is. I believe everyone is called to do something with themselves that will not only satisfy their own person, but it will contribute to the greater picture in making the world a better place. A career can be a calling, but not everyone is called to it. The pressure of this generation is to go through school - and do it with excellence. Once that's done, go to uni - and do it with excellence. Finally, after Uni, fight your way into a job, trying to prove why YOU are a better uni graduate than anyone else. And who knows if by that time you're going to enjoy what you've spent years studying? But isn't it too late? You've got student debts, you probably haven't been earning much whilst you were studying, so it's just too late.

But it's not. From seeing the people love their work so passionately and not really care about how much they were earning, it spoke to me. It's never too late to get into what you love. And when you work somewhere you love, people will notice it. You'll do your work better, you'll put heart and soul into it because it's what actually matters to you. And you'll flourish.

Life can be challenging, and it can take a lot to get us on the right path... But once you're there, you'll grow and succeed and you'll see why you went through what you did. Going back to the crew member I mentioned earlier, he literally went through hell and back before he got into a job he loved. He told of how he served in the army for 6 years, and learnt a trade. He couldn't stand it anymore, he was miserable at his posting and miserable when he came back home... But because of that time in the army and learning a trade, it made it possible for him to move to Australia. Sometimes we need to do things out of obligation, or do things we hate, in order to find what we truly love doing.

It's not too late to do what you love. (And it's not too impractical or too big a dream either)

This is not for the easily offended.

The purpose of creating a blog, as I've probably said many a time, is to convey what I think and where I stand when it comes to certain topics. I decided to do it in blog format so as not to fill Facebook feeds, and so that if people don't like it, they really don't have to look at it.

Spoiler alert: I'm going to talk about my own personal Christian viewpoints ahead. Stop now if you're prone to taking things the wrong way.

I've been "feasting", so to speak, on a couple of scriptures of late.

Firstly, 2 Timothy 2:22.  "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Evil desires of youth? What does that even mean? I guess, when I read it, I take it as things that come as part of growing up that are optional extras. e.g, underage (and of age) partying/drinking/smoking/drug taking, etc., unprotected and pre-marital sex (oops, did I just drop the s word?!), swearing, gossip, hopefully you know what I'm getting at. They're things that as a society are seen as being acceptable or written off as "part of the norm". I'm going to try very hard to make it clear that I am not judging or pointing the finger at any lifestyle decisions, I'm simply trying to convey the reasoning behind my own. 

When I was 14 years old, I cemented a decision that had been on my mind since I was old enough to think for myself. (I was an independent child - just ask my mum, I apparently came out of the womb giving orders, ha!) I decided that I wanted to fight for my purity, and I wanted to make this a well-rounded decision. In my speech, in my thoughts, in my actions and most importantly in sexual purity. I made a conscious decision that I wasn't going put any substance in my body that wasn't intended for it, and I wasn't going to break any laws. This meant refraining from partying and drinking, and in turn actually made it easier for me to remain pure in my sexuality too. Another factor making it a tad easier was that I wasn't popular in high school so I didn't have the temptation of going to parties every single weekend, there were still some invites and temptations that I had to overcome, but I was in a place where by 15/16 I knew so strongly what I believed that I didn't think twice on them.

You might be sitting there thinking, "good on ya mate, you did that for yourself, who cares." or you might be in the same position as me, either way, you're great. The beautiful outcome of protecting my purity in all senses of the word is that I have a whole heart, I've felt pain and suffered rejection and the like, but I know who I am, I know who I belong to and I can face each day with a confidence in myself and what I believe because of Who I believe in. It's not something I take for granted at all.

I haven't done this on my own though. My incredibly supportive parents have nurtured me and grown me in a way that has always steered me down the path of things that build up, bring happiness and grow. As a teenager I was given some leeway to do the things I wanted to do, but sometimes a firm "no" was the answer, and that was that - no matter how much I argued or got upset. That was protection. Not restriction.

Because of this, I'm working every day to continue to flee the things that are temptations and a potential thief of the purity I've fought so long to keep. I'm working at it so that I can pursue righteousness, I can truly love, I can know what it is to be at true peace, but most importantly I can have genuine faith in God and the people in my life. I'm so free because I walk in God's love. The best part? That's knowing that even if I fall short and make a mistake, God's got me covered. I love Him so dearly, and I am His child, His princess. When I stuff up, He's calling me back. He wants to know me and He wants to forgive me, no mistake is too great that it's not covered by Him. All I have to do is realise the things I do that aren't beneficial to me, or the people around me, turn from them and say "I'm sorry." I live in absolute freedom. 

Secondly, Galatians 5:24, "Those who belong to Christ have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there."

I want what's best for me. So does God.

Pursuing righteousness, leaving the things of my heart at the foot of the cross provides God with the opportunity to provide me with the best of the best.

This might sound as if all I see is sin, but honestly, all I see is freedom. Leaving sin behind doesn't mean leaving all the fun behind, it actually means leaving all the brokenness and heartache and pain behind. Having said that though, the bible never ever says that drunkenness and parties and the sexual stuff isn't going to be fun, it simply makes a point to prove that when done in the wrong context and with the wrong intentions and behaviours, it won't last and it will only bring pain. Why torment your heart with an hour of fun that leaves hours of discontentment?

I'd rather just try to do what is right and live in the safety net of Christ.

I really hope this doesn't offend anyone. Sorry if it does, :)

Much love xx

Society.. How odd you are!

Have you ever heard someone say something like, "Society is going down the drain." or, "We live in a faceless society." or, "Today's society is selfish, greedy, (insert other negative phrases here)"? I definitely have. And it's funny, because as a person I get quite frustrated at these statements. They're statements that tend to suggest that the person saying it isn't included in the statement. Because, after all, a society is made up of a collective group of people. If I was to say, "I'm so ashamed of the society we live in because they're all terrible drivers." I would be implying that I'm not a terrible driver, but you - and everyone else that lives in this area with me is. It's silly!! We, as people, have an incredible opportunity to be more than just a faceless society that is a disappointment to the generations that have lived before. The thing that restricts us, however, is that we never stop complaining (myself included). Today's society doesn't have to be a disappointment. We don't have to have twelve year olds walking the streets in their underwear thinking that they're fashionable, we don't have to have teenagers believing that they're worthless because they've been hurt by relationships or vacant parents, we don't have to have adults working relentlessly at jobs they hate just to get by. There's a solution, but it rests in you and it rests in me.

Positivity. Telling young girls that they're beautiful so they don't feel like they have to show off their bodies to get attention is vital. It's unbelievably important to encourage the girls in your life of their beauty that they've possessed since birth. We, as people (not just as girls), need to treat others with the respect that everyone deserves. We need to tell men that it's not okay to stare at a girls body, but not with words! We need to pass on that message through how we carry ourselves, and what we wear. (Now just to be clear - if a man attacks a woman and blames it on what she is wearing that is NOT okay. There is no justification for that whatsoever.) Wearing decent amounts of clothing isn't about being ashamed of your body. Covering up is about protecting the men in your life, not exposing them to everything that you've got can actually change the way they think about you. I wear modest clothing and it's not because I think I've got a bad body, but it's because I respect the men in my life as brothers, and I would never, ever want to wear something that would confuse that. I'm proud of the way I look, I'm proud to be a woman - and I'm not a crazy feminist. I just believe that it takes two to tango, and if we respect boys through what we wear, they will respect us through how they treat us. (Reiterating - there is no excuse for an attack from a man to a woman.. and also vice versa. I do not want anyone to think that I favour women just because I am one - I don't.)

Positivity can also change the worth that one feels. Sometimes, people are born into terrible situations with parents that don't love on them enough, or they're bullied in high school, or they just simply don't have many friends. Showing unrelenting positivity to everyone can change the face of society. It can save lives. Never underestimate the power of an encouraging word, or a smile. Everyone longs to feel loved and you have the power to make someone feel that way. Negativity is a natural part of life - but please, it doesn't have to rule over you and you don't have to let it rule over the way you treat other people. There is always a silver lining, it just needs to be observed!! 

Obviously, working is a part of the society we live in. Everyone needs money to survive - and if you have no money, it's likely that your parents are working and providing for you. But that doesn't mean we have to work a job we hate. Not everyone will have the opportunity to be working their dream job their entire life. Heck, my first job was at McDonalds. I didn't plan to stay in that place, and I didn't. But I have good memories of my time there. Why? Again, positivity. There is an upside to everything. Whether it's the people you work with, the customers you can help, the work that you're doing.. There's always some form of goodness in what you do. Some work is seasonal, so enjoy what you do (even when it sucks!) You're in your job because you filled a role that your employer believed you were the best fit for... Remember that! Working and money is a fact of life, but there's no reason why you can't take it and make it the best thing for you. Chances are, you'll spend a lot of time at work and if you don't make the most if it - you'll be miserable. The whole reason I wrote this paragraph is because I've just started a new job in the past couple months and at first I loved it, I thought it was the best thing ever. But then I hit a wall, I started to get frustrated by colleagues and things were taking a turn for the negative. One day this past week I left work so furious at the day that had been that I was sure I wanted to quit my job. However, I went back the next day - I didn't want to - and I pasted a smile on my face and acted like I was loving life. I had four people tell me that they appreciated my joy, and I got six drawings from kids that came in... (I work in finance, not child care!) I was proved wrong. My job matters, and I'm meant to be there. I'm privileged to work there. I left work that day with tears in my eyes - not from anger, but from the realisation that for this season I'm in the right place... And all I had to do was smile.

I haven't even mentioned God yet.

So if you're not a Christian and you've read so far, I really want to thank you. I'm sure you were expecting some form of Christian talk at some point and here it is, feel free to stop reading if you like - but I promise I'll keep it concise.

As cliche as it is - you have the power to bring change to this society. You have the power to make things better. And God has destined every one of us to do the right thing and create positive experiences for everyone that walks this earth. God has a plan for every life, meaning he has a plan for society as a whole. Please don't waste your time here by whinging about the problems of society, please, please, please instead decide to be a contributing factor to why this time in history will hold the best society yet. 

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

Singleness: You know me.

I can't shake this thought. It's 1am and I'm absolutely burdened with this, and so I switched on my lamp and began to write things down in my personal journal. However, a stirring in my soul told me this wasn't something just for me. Some things were meant to be shared.

I turn nineteen on Sunday. It's a reality that hasn't yet hit me, and I don't really know what to do with it. But basically, I'm pretty well nineteen years old and I am single - a relationship status that has been a constant in my life bar one or two fleeting "relationships" in my high school years. This singleness seemed to plague my self esteem with thoughts such as, "If I were good enough - I wouldn't be single." and, "If I was better looking, boys would like me."mand, "If I wasn't so loud, over-confident, and whatever, someone would have taken me by now." I was led on quite a few times. Each time, a belief that I wasn't good enough was confirmed in my heart. Now, I can't honestly that I'm 100% healed from that - it's definitely a journey and it's one that I am happily walking with all the trials and triumphs that come with it. What I can honestly say, is that every day I'm teaching myself that I'm called out by an incredible God who actually cares enough about me to listen to my heart. He knows me. Stefany Rizzell at Bethel Church sings these words so prophetically and profoundly, 

"You know when I rise, and when I fall. When I come or go - You see it all. You hung the stars, and you moved the sea... and still You know me." 

The stars in the sky, the billions, the galaxies... The vastness of it all - yet He knows you, and He knows me. Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of the purpose that God has for us, that He delicately formed us within an expectant mother - a woman designed to nurture and love us in the same way that God nurtures and loves.

How does this tie in to singleness though? I love my rhetorical questions - haha. It does, because it shows that there is purpose for you, and there is purpose for me. Isaiah 43 says that God called us by name - He redeemed us by a grace that surpasses understanding. Psalms is filled with songs of despair where King David cried out to God for help - and help was delivered. See, singleness can be testing. This is one thing I know, being single can challenge the self esteem - and that is exactly why one should stay single. The time we have as a single being is fleeting, and it gives each and every one of us  the opportunity to work on ourselves, to become whole in who we are as people that another person doesn't bring us completion - but instead brings their own wholeness, and together wholeness can be shared and celebrated.

I know quite well that within myself, I'm really and truly not ready for another person to be welcomed into the deepest areas of my heart and soul. I'm working on my self faith, I'm working on my love for God. I'm working to become the woman that the man I will one day marry so deserves. I challenge you to do the same. Instead of expecting Mr Right... work on yourself to become Miss Right! (And vice versa, men) See, you were created beautifully. You were handcrafted by a perfect God - there is no mistake about you, irrespective of how you came into this world, you're the age you're meant to be, the height you're meant to be, every single thing about you that you can't change, is perfect. And I'm learning to accept that as truth about myself too.

God loves me. I am working to love myself. Singleness is an underrated blessing, and I don't want to hurry God, I don't want to get into anything prematurely. Everyday I'm realising more and more that my singleness is a blessing not a curse... A challenge isn't a bad thing. So thank You God for blessing me with the opportunity to become the person I need to be, You're the best.

"Nothing is hidden from Your sight. Wherever I go, You find me. You know every detail of my life, 'cause You are God and You don't miss a thing."

Success V Failure.

I'm a Uni student. I'm an employee. I'm a daughter. I'm a sister. I'm a friend. I'm a member of a church. I'm a youth leader. I'm a worshipper. I'm one of those people who pressures themselves into doing more than what is humanly possible.

So what is success? Is it personal satisfaction? Is it fulfilling the needs of others? Is it wealth? Is it good looks? Is it recognition from others? Is it fame? Is it having it all together? To be honest, I don't know. In my mind, for me to be successful I need to be able to work 40 hours a week, get distinctions on all of my assignments, be committed in all areas at church and complete all these tasks without batting an eyelash. But if we're being honest, that's unrealistic. There's not enough hours in the week to complete all of those tasks, to a high standard, whilst still maintaining a level head and a healthy amount of sleep every night. Currently, I'm meant to be preparing for my exams but I'm taking a few minutes to ease my mind and write down what's flooding my thoughts. I'm freaked out. I don't know if I know the content well enough to pass as I haven't been listening to enough of my lectures, and I have read all of the texts that have been assigned to me. Rookie. Move. Being honest, I don't know what I'm going to do. The idea of failure scares me. Repeating a semester that's costing me more money than I've had in my life is just terrifying.

So, what is success? Ps. Steven Furtick from Elevation Church in North Carolina put it like this: "Just because in your eyes something has failed, doesn't mean it didn't work exactly the way God intended it to." No, I don't want to fail the semester. However, I need to keep my eyes on the prize. I feel called to study what I'm studying, and I have no doubt that if I put in all the effort I possibly can, God will guide me and get me through it. Psalm 23 says He leads me by still waters, it says I'll never be in want. So even though my course is expensive, He's got it covered - whether I pass or fail the semester, He knows exactly where I need to go in life, and He's going to make sure I get there. All I need to do is remember that, and turn it all over to Him and trust Him with my whole heart.

I still haven't answered the question.

What. Is. Success.

Is there really a definition for success? (Yes, there is. Dictionary.com tells us that, in case you were wondering) But at the same time, while yeah there is a definitive answer for what success is, it doesn't actually tell anyone what personal success looks like. The dictionary is never, ever going to tell you what your success is. What I need to remember is that I can't please everyone, all the time. I need to remember what God has put on my heart and called me to. I need to remember that there's a purpose for everything, and all I can do is my best. God has defined my success. He has called me by name (Isaiah 43:1-4), He knows where I'm at.

Success, for me, looks like this:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust. Submit. It'll all be okay.

(Failure isn't the end of the world, it's sometimes a necessary bump in the road to get you to success.)

"What's done is done."

The past is a fact, it's not an excuse.

Sit on that for a second. Because I bet you, like me, read that first line and thought, "that's cool." or you didn't take it in at all. The first time I didn't take it in at all. The second I said, "that's cool." Then the third, I realised exactly what that means. Every time I go through something and I react to it, my first reaction is to say these words, "Yeah, but, in the past...." And I doubt I'm the only one. "Yeah, but in the past, I got bullied." "Yeah, but in the past, I had my trust broken." "Yeah, but in the past, my friends didn't support me." Yeah, but in the future, you're going to wish you had controlled your issues instead of letting them control you. In the future, you'll suffer the consequences of sweeping what hurts you now under the carpet. In the future, you'll look back and see all that time you wasted on something that shouldn't have had time wasted on it at all.

The past has happened. It's done. It's gone. It's over. Whether you like it or not, you can't change that. No amount of what if's or if I just's or whatever will change the past. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, and for those who already figured that out, sorry for being Captain Obvious.

You want to know what you, and you alone have the power to change?
You guessed it;

Your future.

I've heard it preached that if one is to stare too long in the rearview mirror, they'll crash their car. That's why the rearview mirror is small, yet the windscreen large. You're meant to be primarily looking forward, only checking behind you momentarily from time to time. So why spend more time looking back than looking forward? You've got a future, there's hope for you, there's so much that life has to offer and you need to reach for it. Don't wait for that person to apologise, don't wait for everyone else to start getting their act together, just get up and work for yourself. Do what makes you happy, and forget whatever you've done in the past.

Learn from your mistakes, hold your head up high, and stop making excuses. Look positively to the future and enjoy a brighter present.

What's done is done.