The Real Nicole.

So recently i was chatting with the Young Adults pastor at church about random stuff as we were hanging out nad he was showing me the posters he was making for his office wall with his top five bible verses of that time. He asked me if i had some and all i could think of was those verses which everyone kinda of knows. I mentioned that i thought all mine were the cliche verses and his response was asimple but heaps clear message. "the well known verses still have meaning, imagine if everyone had those verses on their heart." Its so true if everyone held tight to verses which are well known how much change would we see in the world, in confiedence, in God and in Life. Therefore i pick the cliche! Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his pu...

On the October long weekend i coordinated my church group for SAYCO which is the South Australian Youth Camp Out. I'll be honest it was a lot of work and quite stressful, but it is something that was so rewarding, successful, encouraging and challenging. Saturday i found really hard as a leader, everything seemed so obvious to me and achievable but when it was actually happening everything seemed so difficult. I struggled with my own leadership skills, i wasnt confiedent that i would actually be listened too. Youth kids didnt listen to me, youth leaders were frustrated and telling me they hated me coz i was making them put tents up. i didnt make it to the first session till half way through which wasnt the best option since i was leading a small group and only had a junior as my other leader. Dinner on saturday night was stressful, the BBQ didnt work until much later so we were so behind in sorting dinner, this meant we were late getting places. that was the second session i had ...

so these last few weeks ive been really struggling with what control the Devil has in this world and where God stands in it all... i know it seems pretty obvious but a sermon at church the other week didnt sit well with me about this and now im wreseling with Satans power in this world. Also im struggling to see how God has control of my Uni and where he is leading me with it all. Although i seem to be pretty confused about this. God is really showing me the people to talk to about this and our conversations are producing a greater understanding on christianity. I dont claim to know all or understand even half of the stuff im taught but this is what i learnt from this trial... God gave us (Adam and Eve) a choice because God wanted us to choose to love him. Because we decided to go against God's will we handed over power to the devil (in serpent form). Ultimately God is in control but because He gave us the choice but because we let sin into the world we gave power to satan. When ...

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway. - Mother Teresa What a poem! What a statement! Its between you and God! Often we do things to get noticed, to be able to add it to your resume, to feel worth somethin more. Whatever the sistuation, what eve...

If you know the lord's been good to you If you know the lord's been good to you If you know the lord's been good to you come on and dance dance dance dance Aint no party like a holy ghost party coz a holy ghost party dont stop! What a song. I've been listening to IHOPU music on youtube and this song called Holy Ghost Party came on. It reminded me of the freedom i have in Christ and the freedom i feel when worshiping Him. Our Lord has been so good to us and because of that we can dance in this freedom we can freely worship him! True dedication to worship doesnt stop. God is greater then all things and His party goes on forever! In all you do worship in this freedom!

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!