The Real Nicole.

Early last year i wrote a blog about a passage that spoke about family and being a leader in the church.  I seriously questioned if i was good enough to lead or if i was disqualified from leading in the church because of the broken relationships in my life.  You can read about it here....     http://nicole7992.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/am-i-qualified.html When i wrote that blog i didn't really think i could do much with these relationships and it felt like a weight on me, i was reminded however by friends that I could used my story to help young people going through the same to find a way out. Even though i knew this i didn't feel that freedom as a leader with it all. This term i have been on Uni placement and i have been looking at the role of a school chaplain.  This placed me in a school context.  i was at Kings Baptist Grammar School which is a private school in the northern suburbs, it is such a beautiful school with such a lovely community.  Th...

In the April holidays i travelled by bus to the country, to visit some friends but also to explore what ministry looked like in the country particularly for young people.  As i sat on the bus for 5 hours i was getting really nervous, i knew God had called me to explore this but i didn't know how to explain this feeling and i didn't know what others would say about it.   I listened to a few podcasts as i sat alone on the bus and this podcasts were all about following God's plan for our life and stepping out in faith.  I didnt't know thats what it was about when i chose them so that was really reassuring.   I also had a bible verse that i had written on a piece of paper that i happened to find as i was packing, it said,  " You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance." It's the NKJV of Psalm 65:11 This verse helps me now as i look back on the trip i made, how scared i was and how i was following God's call to ex...

In the last 6 months 3 people i knew well for a period of my life have passed away.  Each and everyone of these lives were precious and its such a tragedy. On reflection of these lives which were lost so young i think about what our culture is saying and why this is happening. People being told who they are isn't good enough, people investing so much into individuals/success and losing it all when something falls apart and not knowing how to cope or people living life with the idea of #yolo (you only live once) .  Of course this is just a generalisation but i dont know what to do about this.  Its bothering me that people are losing their lives, and their loved ones for things that shouldnt happen. How can we change culture so that we don't lose our young people?  how can we raise a generation of young people to learn to value the realities of life and help them better face the challenges that come?  I dont think culture is just killing our young people ph...