The Real Nicole.

The world is so over sexualised i would say its pretty much impossible for a young person to go through day without seeing an image of someone suggestively selling a product on billboards, in magazines or for people to be involved in or over heard a conversation on the bus, in the school/uni yard, on tv, on the radio etc which exposes them to ideas which they shouldnt be involved in.  It makes me sad that so many young people are settling for the first person they meet and think that its a normal and expected thing for them to sleep with their partner. I've had many conversations with young girls since ive started youth ministry about what they feel like they have to look like and do in relationships etc.  It breaks my heart so much to hear girls say that sex is something that they feel like they need to engage in and be open to if they ever want to be liked by guys and friends.  It makes me sad that people aren't being told why they shouldnt engage in many ...

I had everything sorted for 2013.  It was going to be great, a new job, awesome study opportunities, the list goes on. And March hit, and i didnt have any of it.  didnt get the job, my uni sbjects didnt quite work out the way i wanted them too and i was left feeling heaps alone.  What did i have? i felt like i had a whole lot of closed doors and i was begining to wonder if i was even walking down the right passageway.  As i reflected and talked with some wish people i began to realise that make my closed doors were much more than broken promised and crushed dreams,  maybe they were something i could learn from and something which would guide me.  I now see these closed doors as sign posts because at each opportunity that got closed, who i am and what im passionate about got refined became foundational in my life.  these sign posts are sending me on a new and exciting adventure and right now i dont completely know what it looks like or wi...

When i decided to write this i had no idea what i should title this post, I wanted to talk about taking control of my life, but ultimately i wanted God to be incontrol so it felt wrong to say that, i was going to write about 2013 being my year, but i already declared 2012 my year and having more than one year dedicated to yourself seems a bit vain.  I was going to talk about being the change in your own life, but I probably wouldnt have willingly made the changes in my life.  Things happen in life and sometimes there are awesome and other times they totally suck.  I've had a pretty amazing yet rough start to 2013. It started amazing with leading an awesome bunch of 16y/o's at CE Camp over new years - to talk faith, life and have so much fun was a great start to the year. Its such a privellage to be able to bring in the New Year worshipping God and leading youth, which im so passionate about doing.  Then from camp a had a few days at home before heading off to beach...

My phone broke recently and i was unable to afford a quality phone but desperately needed a phone so i bought a Nokia 101 which cost me $40. Since using this phone i have learnt a lot. it is possible to still be connected but on a more personal level when you dont have the easy option of social media. It is possible to not have your phone on you at all times, eg; when going to the toilet, while waiting in line.  Its possible to leave my phone in another room or in my handbag for long periods of time without a need to use it. technology has changed the way people catch buses, get directions, tell a story about things they saw randomly.  i actually have a fair amount of time in my day i can use for other things. Not having access to internet or having a camera on my photo i was restricted to texting or making phone calls and it was awesome! I read my bible (like a real paper bible) on the bus or as i waited for things, i prayed when waiting in line or going to...

  Last Friday, I was given the opportunity to preach at youth.  This is my message from that evening.   Have you ever built a house or done renos on your house? Turn to the person next to you and share about if you have ever done some building work. Or the building work you want to do if you could do anything to your house.   When Sam and I were little we used to play with our lego. We would build a whole town on Sam’s car mat. It would take us a couple of hours to build the shops and police station and school, and mansion at the end of the street. These houses were amazing they would be mansions not just with an exterior wall but with internal rooms and interior doors, a 2nd storey with staircase, even occasionally a 3rd story, we used to just build more and more on the more people we would find in our lego box or the more we would realised the kinds of rooms they could have, a gym would be added, a craft room, toy room, roof top car park and b...

Im a youth leader and the youth intern at my church, this means I get to do some really exciting things but also some really boring thing. Each week I spend one day in the church office, doing admin tasks such as updating the database with contact details, write letters, make the youth program, call places to book things, organising many of the details for youth camps.   I also have to write studies for our youth group and write devotions.   Part of my role as a youth leader is to have a bunch of fun while looking after, caring and contacting the youth im responsible for.   Each week I hang out with youth in small groups and talk about whats going on in their lives, talk faith and have heaps of fun.   I contact my girls most weeks to remind them of details for events and catch up and there are a few youth who I mentor so I have deeper conversations with about whats going on in their lives and support and encourage them in their faith.      I ...

The last month of so ive been reminded of where i was faith wise in high school.  I was asked about why i started this blog to which i think it was becuase i had so much faith questions, or how God was using me and challenging me and i wanted to share it with others.  I was reminded by a good friend and youth pastor that he remembers being in meetings for schools chaplaincy and my name getting mentioned as they talked about how passionate i was so see God's name prevail in my school, and how he had only just realised i was the same Nicole :) I reflect on the now, how my faith has turned into action now, am i living as passionately and as dangerously as i was in high school? my faith in high school seemed so simple, conversation about faith didnt end in a debate about the history of religion or the validity of the bible, it didnt result in comments and questions about groups of chirstians or churches who had made very public mistakes or had interesting methods or beliefs....