Its funny how God works, and how Satan tries to meddle!

Many weeks ago now, was a Thursday night if I recall correctly, being sick had gotten the better of me. I had just found out that I had to redo my entire semester 2 Biology (and some you guys just don't realise how much I HATE biology!! ERGH!). so ANYWAYS I was in a rather grumpy kinda mood, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to go back to Uni (and at this stage I didn't know I wouldn't be). I wasn't sure what I wanted to do at all! I was talking to Aaron on MSN and he gave me these four verses to look up.

• Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed”
• John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
• Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”
• 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”

After reading them I was talking to my dad, and I was saying how maybe me being sick a week before Uni was Gods way of telling me not to go back! Funnily enough my dad disagreed with me! He said that maybe it was Satan making me sick, Dad explained how it seemed I had become more involved with God, and been going to church a lot more lately and how its more Satin trying to put a stop to all that and trying to make me loose my faith by making my Crohns flare up!

I thought this was a pretty good explanation and I still do! It seems that me being sick lately has given the opposite consequence to what Satan had planned. While I was sick Brad and I were talking and he asked if I'd be interested in joining a bible study he wanted to start up with our age group at church (because there isn't really anything for us older youth). Of course I agreed, and so we started that Tuesday night! It was pretty good for our first bible study, none of us in the group have ever really been to a bible study so we don't really know what we are doing but it is good to be able to hang out and just chat about god; which I think is most important!

On Monday I bought myself a new bible, I have many of course being an ex officers kid and all, but the ones I have were given to me on special occasions and being the person I am, I don't like writing in them, no matter what people say about it being a bible and that's what its for! haha!

So I bought myself a bible, one that I can use to write in and highlight passages etc. It's a NIV and its black (imitation leather) with a white stripe around the middle. Its really NICE! hehe! So Tuesday I used my bible in the bible study (as you do) and then Wednesday I actually read it out of my own accord! This is something I'm pretty happy about, I've never really done that before. I flicked through the bible just reading bits and pieces that caught my eye.

One passage that caught my eye was Psalm 116 I thought this passage relates to me at this time! well kind of anyway, I think the part at the end about becoming the Lords servant in every way possible is what I want to do! (and no Aaron that does not mean I see myself being an officer!! =P) I must admit, I don't fully understand the entire passage. I think the first part of the passage is quite the extreme, I haven't had any of the feelings expressed in the first half of it. But I have felt that God has somewhat recalled me as a christian and that is where I think the second half of the passage relates to me! I would love to know what you guys think! Maybe I have it completely wrong, haha! Either way tell me so I can try and get the full understanding of what it means.

Well I think that's it for now! To finish I'll leave you with Psalm 116.

PSALM 116

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came upon me;

I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the LORD:

"O LORD, save me!"

The LORD is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

The LORD protects the simple hearted;

when I was in great need, he saved me.
Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the LORD has been good to you.
For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the LORD

in the land of the living.
I believed; therefore I said,

"I am greatly afflicted."
And in my dismay I said,

"All men are liars."
How can I repay the LORD

for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD

is the death of his saints.
O LORD, truly I am your servant;

I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;

you have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you

and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD—

in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD.

LOVE AND GOD BLESS!
Amy
XXOO

love this song! hehehe

Potters Hands

Beautiful Lord, wonderful saviour

I know for sure, all of my days are held in Your hands

Created into Your perfect plan

You gently call me, into Your presence

Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit

Teach me dear Lord

To live all of my life through Your eyes

I'm captured by, Your Holy calling

Set me apart

I know You're drawing me to Yourself

Lead me Lord I pray

Take me, Mould me

Use me, Fill me

I give my life to the Potter's hands

Hold me, Guide meLead me, Walk beside me

I give my life to the Potter's hand

Just a random blog

I'm in a blogging mood, but have nothing really to blog about.. so I figured I'd just start writing and see where it takes me!! so here goes..

This week is my last week in Hamilton with mum and dad. I'm both excited!! and kinda sad... On Friday I'm driving back to Melbourne which means I get to see all my friends again it also means I can go back to work again! Can't believe I'm excited about going back I actually MISS work... (bet you I wont be saying that after I been back awhile!) Going back to Melbourne also means I'll be leaving my mummy and daddy back in Hamilton and although I managed last year just fine, I kinda started to get used to living with them again ='(

On Monday coming, I'll be having my doctors appointment. Hopefully we'll start organising things so that I can have my operation in the very near future =D but (there's always a but isn't there) the real test will be when I come off the steroids because they're reducing the inflammation in my bowel (sounds lovely I know) and when I stop taking them there's a chance it might flare up again.

Before I was sick, I was dreading going back to Uni.. I failed my bio subject last year and only really just passed chemistry which is pretty much what the entire course is! but now I can't go back I have realised how much I wanted to go back. Whats worse, is everyone else my age is either studying or working full time, and when I go back to Melbourne I'll only be working casual at Coles and bumming around which may sound good to some of you right now.. but when that's the only thing you have been doing for the past 4 months it you quickly get over it!!

I've decide I spend WAY to much time on MSN!! I need to find something other than sit online all day. I know that when I am back in Melbourne I'll have work and friends to see, but during the week while everyone else is working/studying I am going to need something new to occupy my time. I want to learn something new, something that will keep my brain active while I'm not at Uni. I have thought about reteaching myself piano but I don't have a piano or keyboard. Then I thought about learning a language. I used to learn German at school and enjoyed it, but all the course are held on the other side of the city. So I'm stuck.. what can I do?? I need ideas so if you have any LET ME KNOW!

Think I'll stop my ramblings here. I don't think this blog makes any sense, but that's what you get when you write down the same way you think. NO ORDER! hehe

Love

Amy
XXOO

Where I am now.. and Where i want to go..

Last night I couldn't sleep, as much as I wanted to I just couldn't.. it was one of those situations where your body is soo tired but your brain is more active than its been all day. I'm not sure if it was because it was raining (which you all know doesn't happen that often anymore) or the medication I'm on at the moment (ill explain why later if I remember) anyway it seemed instead of falling into the nice slumber I wanted so desperately I was laying awake thinking...

I should probably start by explaining where I'm at now and telling you all a bit about myself..

I'm 19 years old and have grown up in a christian family all my life, but it hasn't been till recently that I have been open about it. Ive always told people I'm a christian if they ask but Ive not been one to go out and say 'hey! I'm a christian! WOO!'

I live with my grandpa in Altona, my parents moved to Hamilton, Vic, when I finished year 12 and I stayed behind so I could start uni. I'm studying Medical, Forensic Analytical Chemistry (yes it sounds smart doesn't it?) at Victoria University in Werribee and when I finish I hope to become a Forensic Chemist with the police!

I have Crohns Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, and in some regards I have probably been in 'denial' about it. I'm the type of person who hates admitting I'm sick because I know it means I'll have mum going 'are you alright?' every 5 minutes. I was diagnosed with Crohns in 2004, and until recently haven't had any problems with it. I am now getting over what they call 'flare up' a few weeks ago I spent a week in hospital being pumped with drugs! (yep! I know it was great! haha!) Because of this flare up I have had to make the unfortunate decision of post-poning my studies, so I can have an operation to 'cut out the bad bit' and this will HOPEFULLY be taking place in the next few months. My brother has Crohns as well, and he had the operation quite awhile back and he is now 'cured' so god willing I to will be 'cured'

I work at Coles, I'm a checkout chick! I was a supervisor, but I think that will unfortunately change because of me being away so long, and seeing as I'll be having a bit of time off in the next few months...

So last night I was thinking about my life and how its changed since I finished high school in 2005 (feels like a lifetime ago). I was also thinking about how I have changed as a person because of the people I have met and become close to since finishing year 12.

My friends have changed. In high school I was apart of a great group of girls, Megan, Stacey, Kylie, Kelly, and Lauren. There was also Christine, Cat, Amanda, and Tash who I hung out with quite a bit! Then when we all finished school, seeing each other became less and less. But that's when I met a great group of guys! My bestest bud Manda from Hamilton (where my parents live) asked me to Ocean Grove for what some would call 'schoolies' but wasn't. We met the guys there and have been mates since. Of course things have changed in our 'group' because of differences we all have but all in all we still good friends! Me and Megan became absolute best friends after school finished, we were inseparable, we did everything together. But again things changed, towards the end of last year.. we had our differences, and we both became busy with both of us working, and me studying. I also I became closer to my mates at church! Especially Aaron, he's a great guy who's at college training to be an officer and hes going to be an awesome officer when hes finished!

Living away from mum n dad meant that I had to make the choice to go to church, mum n dad had never forced me into going of course, but me getting my licence meant I could go when I want if I wanted. This is when I think I really started to become closer to God. I started to enjoy going to church, I no longer saw it as I HAD to be there, I actually WANTED to be there.

Me being sick has also brought me closer to God. I know many people say that when they're sick because they need God only when times are desperate, and I must admit that I can be one of those people. BUT last night, while I was doing all of this thinking I honestly felt that I wanted to become more and more closer to God.

Now that I have told you where I am now, I will now as my title states tell you where I want to go..

It seems god is giving me the confidence to tell people I am a christian. For the past few months now I have had the same song come randomly into my head. I'm sure all those who went to Sunday school will remember it.. it goes 'I am a C, I am a C.H, I am a C.H.R.I.S.T.I.A.N, and I have C.H.R.I.S.T in my H.E.A.R.T and I will L.I.V.E E.T.E.R.N.A.L.L.Y!!

I want to become even closer to God, and to do this I'm going to use this blog to write down my thoughts on things that are happening in my life. I'm going to ask all those that read this blog to give me their thoughts on what I write.. I'm not sure how often ill make a post but be patient because I'm sure it will be worth the wait! =P

Love and God bless!

Amy
XXOO