The Real Nicole.

Recently i've realised just how much i love my brother. I guess i've always kinda seen my brother as someone i've had to support and guide quite a bit. He never was one to take ownership of anything he did. I wanted to see he become an outward person, (which looking back now was probably quite silly as i wanted him to be someone he wasnt really). At the start of this year i looked at the youth of my church and struggled to see a generation passionate about adding their bit to church, a generation that were fired up to live for God. I wondered who would step up to lead their peers in getting excited for Jesus. My brother has become that guy. recently he has taken real ownership of his faith of firing up his mates to bring them along, letting his friends at school know about youth so they can come, hoping that when they do youth kids will be heaps welcoming and will show his friend Jesus. He's a diffeent Guy! Such a maturity has come over him in his fait...

I asked God for to give me suffering so that i could fully take up my cross for Him. God answers prayer, i feel like this semester is going to be a really tough semester with trials and pain but I will PRAISE God for the opportunity to grow and be strengthened. In Romans 5:3-7 it talks about character building. It says that joy in Suffering builds Perseverence and perserevernce builds Character and Character builds Hope. What a great thing to have Hope! I pray that through my suffering this semester and into my future i will build perseverence, Character and Hope. I pray that because of my suffering other my turn to Christ. I will take up my cross in order to serve God!

About a month ago i went to a kids leadership conference. At the conference the speaker said something about adding something to every situation. I didnt really think much about it but the last few weeks in the kids program we did a rotational program and i was following a group but didnt have any responsibility really (just looking after the group). I began to observe attitudes of the year 4,5,6, and 7 girls in my group and how in situations where maybe they werent enjoying what was going on as much as others how they responded. God spoke to me in that moment and reminded me of the conference and how it was said to add something in every situation. I was encouraged by Gods message in my life to add something positive in situtions where you might not what to add to it. But also encouraged that it was a message for my girls too and not just something while i needed to do. God wants us to show his light through situations and If we make the best of all situations by adding one thing i...

I feel like some things are really hard to give over to God. In my mind i often believe i would personally lose something if i gave over some things to God. I know this is just a mindset and that God really would have control but i still worry. However when it comes to worship. I feel so free to worship. I'm fortunate i live in a country without religious persecution. A place where when i'm walking to the bus i can freely listen to worship songs and even sing them out and not get arrested. I love worship because i can completely worship and i have no one else to worship. I have nothing to lose by worshipping with all i have. At church recently ive noticed that a lot of people are afraid of worshipping wholeheartedly. They seem to be worried that people will judge them. Ive been questioned for how i worship and if i realise im the only one doing it and i really don't care because when im singing worship, im totally free. Worship with all you have. God deserves your all.

God has called me...God has called you... In fact God has called everyone. The special thing about it is that our calling is for us alone. I believe God called me to work with people. In a Social Worker kind of way. I dont know what he is gonig to do with my degree when i get it but i know he will use it for good. God has called me to Hope Valley my church. He has called me to the young people there. I many not know if the ministries im in is the way he has called me to these people but i know for the time being me being in these ministries are beneficial. People say i am doing to much or making my life to busy. They may be right. But what do i give up to free myslef up? The Kids ive taught for years now and have such a passion to see grow. The youth which is an area i see a real need for love and care and an area i want to devote my life too. Or do i give up my group? the group devoted to building me up? Do i belong in that group when i also have a group like that at uni im invol...

So ive always thought i was a born leader, a natural at leading, Bossy as many people call it. But i never thought it was a bad thing. I've been to so many leadeship conferences, training days etc and its just something ive generally found myself good at. At easter camp this year, i went under the assumption i was leading my youth small group... ( i would have gone to camp anyway by still was pretty excited about leading) i wasnt leading, they didnt need me to lead as the youth girls only were in one group rather then what they initially thought of 2 groups. I felt a bit like i wasn't appreciated as a leader and that i wasnt really given a chance to show how amazing i was. i was a bit grumpy about it all.. i had a pretty bad attitude the first day and a bit of camp because of it. then i realised i ddint need to be an offical leader on camp to be a leader and a way for me to lead was to just build into the lives of my youth girls through hanging out with them and being a goo...

In my previous blog i talked about the emptiness i felt at camp in the spirit and how i just had so many questions about how God chooses to move and everything. I was talking to one of the guys fro my church who had preached at camp and had prayed for me and i asked about Gods spirit and its workings. We talked about it for a while but it was obvious there was more to this conversation then a facebook chat and maybe we would actualy meet up and discuss at a later date. As he was going away he reminded me that the Scriptures were awesome and a way straight to what God wanted to tell us, and encouraged me to read them. So thats just what i did. Tuesday was a public holiday so i spent the day lazying around i decided to read the bible and thought i would read Acts as i was interested in learning about the Spirits movements and knew Acts was a good book to talk about that. just over 5 hours later i had finished reading Acts and journalling my way through it. So much awesome stuff happene...