Jesus is my Rock!

Well friends it has been a little while since my last blog, and I am very sorry! Especially to Linda, who seems to be a dedicated reader of this blog!

God is doing Awesome things at the moment, and in others lives around me! I find it Amazing how aware I have become of this lately when something good (or bad depending on how WE [emphasis on the we :)] look at it) happens I am able to say/think 'That's God's doing!". I have always been a big believer, and it's probaby something to do with Faith being my spiritual gift, that no matter what happens to us God is there working his magic. It may seem horrible at the time but in almost all cases Ive come across, something good has come out of something bad; and if it hasnt there's always something to learn from them!

Ok so that was just something random that kind of just came out! But who knows someone may get something out of it!

Anyway, this weekend has been a fantastic weekend! Starting Friday, I didnt work Friday night! I have been rostered on to do Friday nights for way over a year now, but now I have it off every week! Im very very excited if you cant tell. I instead went to our 'Pure' Youth Pre-Meeting, Meeting. The meetings we are having to prepare and get ready for our Big Launch of our Friday Night Church. Called 'Pure' Youth. Its a Church for youth, run by youth! We are launching it 25th April (ANZAC Day) So for all or any youth reading this, keep that night free and be there! Itll be awesome!

Saturday was our 'Girls Day Out'! It was very unorganised and unplanned but thats what made it fun! Well I had fun at least. We started the day by heading to Ocean Grove and having lunch, we then went to Williamstown and had an Ice Cream after which we went to the beach! Yes, to all Melbournians reading this, it was very cold!!

My Day today started with the Cadets Welcoming Meeting! It was a fantastic Meeting. God has great plans for all of those taking on the call to Officership! I then went to Werribees meeting and came to realise that the main topic of the day was about remembering that Jesus is our Rock and we need to stand firm on the rock! We all know what happened to the house that was built on Sand rather than Rock dont we?! (if you dont, then open your Bibles and read Luke 6:46-49) The house didn't last one day of bad weather, it fell apart! And we too will fall apart without Jesus! So Be like the wise man and build your house on a Rock. (by the way, in saying house I mean Faith :) ) Come on, Do it! Jesus Loves you no matter what! There is so much more I could say on this topic but that will have to be said another day. Im tired and so will just end up rambling. Which I kind of am! haha!

Bless you all!
Amy
xox

P.S There you go Linda, Written just for you! :)

Happy New Year!

Good Evening Fellow Blog Readers!

Well it is the 16th Day of the First Month of 2008, How has the year treated you all so far??

So far for me its been a pretty good year. Worked lots, so have a good amount of money now to get my car its much needed new muffler :D YAY!

I've also been home alone for these past couple of weeks, been good to be 'free' and do as I please.

Today I had a meeting with Sandra and Mim about the Gap Year, AKA Mark*d Foundations (http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/markd). It sounds fantastic!! I can't wait to start. For those of you who havent heard of it, its a year that gives recent Yr 12's a year to focus on Ministry (in particular Youth and Childrens Ministry) before they head in to other areas of study. We do 4 subjects at the college over the year and 7 hours prac work at a Corp (most likely I will be atWyndham City AKA Werribee). We also get to help organise and go on all the Youth and Kids Camps DHQ run. To me it sounds like lots of fun!!

Thats pretty much it so far for this year, I have been kinda slack on my New Years Resolutions its quite hard to get into a new habit, but I know that once holidays are over and I have more of a routine it will become easier.

Hope the year has treated you well so far and that you are all sticking to any New Years Resolutions you made.

Love and GodBless you all!!

Amy

xoxox

Almost the end of the year!

Its almost 2008, and this time last year I was nowhere near the person I am now. This year has seen me grow from a "Once a month head to Church to socialise Christian" into a fully committed Christian who is now exploring the Calling of Officership!

This past year has brought me many challenges. I was quite sick the first half and I think it was then that I really began to realise the Awesomeness of God; Every prayer we prayed was answered. I am now "cured" and back to my healthy self!

In my journey with God this year, I also realised that I've grown apart from some of my Closet friends. But the positive, I have also made many new friends and grown closer to other people which have been much healthier relationships than I've probably ever had!

I have decided that I'm going to defer/leave my course at Uni. I want to take a year to spend time focusing and working on what God wants me to do. I'm planning to expand my studies at the College and possibly do the Gap year that is being introduced there. If that doesn't come about I plan to take on other Subjects at the College (most definitely Old Testament B :P) and see where God takes me.

Its this time of year that many people begin to think of their New Years Resolutions. I have always thought of this as being a waste of time. But a short conversation with a friend last week, made me realise that New Years Resolutions when done properly are done with God. We can use the new year to recommit ourselves to him. This coming year I've decided I need to bring myself closer to God (There is always room for improvement) I want to read more of my bible, I am very slack when it comes to that. I also need to Pray more often than I do. So my main priority for this coming year is to read the entire bible over 2008 (already downloaded a great plan!), and to make Praying a daily ritual. These are things I think God has been challenging me about recently. So with God's help I hope I achieve my goals.

God has quite a bit planned for me in the coming years, I'm very excited to see where he takes me!

I hope your Christmas was great, and that your New Year is a happy and healthy one!

Love and God Bless!
Amy
xox

Time Flies

Apparently I have been a slacker when it comes to writing blogs, I say I have been extremely busy. With what? Some may ask.

Well November was about the busiest month I have had this year...

The 2nd Of November was my brother James' Birthday, He was 18! I celebrated by going to Luna Park for the MCD Youth event! Haha yes I am a great sister spending my Brothers 18th away from him but it was awesome fun! Went on many rides, many times. Saw people I hadn't seen in awhile.

On the 3rd Of November, I travelled to Hamilton for James Party. It was a good night, Hamilton received the largest downpour of rain they'd had in quite a few months. Drinks were drunk, maybe a few to many by my brother, there was much laughing and a great time was had by all!

Melbourne Cup day, 6th Of November, was spent with the Altona Corp. They had a Picnic day in Lara at Serendipity Park. I got to catch up with my beautiful 'sister' (long story there) Christine. God is doing some amazing stuff in her life, it really is exciting!

The weekend of the 10th Of November, my family were invited to Broughton to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Broughton Hall. It was a great weekend! Lots of People, Lots of food (fit for kings). It was good seeing people we hadn't seen in quite a few years. Also made me feel quite old, seeing all the babies, that are now big children!

The 19th Of November, was my Biology exam! I did splendidly well! Surprised myself and others and got a Credit! Pretty good I must say, I'm very proud of myself!

The following weekend, the 23rd to the 25th was Connections '07. The weekend was just fantastic, I got to see loads of people. I went to a few of the electives and got to listen to some awesome speakers! It was great hearing different views on the Salvos from people outside the Army. We heard the plans The Salvation Army has for the future, and I'm very excited and looking forward to seeing these plans carried out! The Sunday saw the Commissioning of the Heralds of the Good News. Spending quite a bit of time at the College this year, I got to know quite a few of them and it was great seeing them be Commissioned as Officers and find out where God is taking them next. God has lots in store for all of them, and I pray and know God is going to keep them safe throughout their Journeys.

The end of November and the first week of December, I was lucky enough to spend the week in Queensland! I flew up there with my bestest friend Amanda, and we stayed in Jimboomba with Her Auntie and Uncle. It was a great week. We spent lots of time shopping, relaxing by the pool. Went to Sea World and Dreamworld, had lots of fun going on the rides. The weather was good! Cloudy, but it was a constant warmth averaging about 25+ degrees all day everyday. Unlike Melbourne it was safe to go out without a jumper and not worry about it getting cold!

News in the family...

Grandpa has and is quite sick with the flu, Hes getting better now but Pray that he continues to heal!

Mum and Dad moved to Portland on Thursday 7th December. Dad started his Job at Portland Hospital as Hospitality Manager on the 26th of November, and seeing as mum has been working at the Hospital for the past couple of months. Of course the next obvious step was for them to move there. This time, they left James behind in Hamilton (we decided they are starting to make a habit of moving as soon as us kids turn 18). Pray for the family as Dad settles into his new job, my younger brothers Daniel and Michael settle into a new town, and a new school, and Pray for James who will now be living out of home for the first time! :S

News with Amy...

WELL Amy had a meeting with Marney Turner today, for those of you who don't know, she and her Husband are the Territorial Candidate Secretaries. Now this does not mean that I'm going to College next year, We just had a chat about what God was calling me to do, and exploring the possibility of College. Which now to me seems like its definitely on the agenda for the future, when is up to God. At the moment I feel that God wants me at Werribee, helping lead the Youth closer to him.

Also! I got my results back for Old Testament, High Distinction for my Essay, Credits for my Tutorial, Reflection and Book Review. Good Effort I must say!

That's all for now folks, I will try to blog more often from now on. Apparently if I don't I'll be taken off peoples blog lists. To help keep me safe for a little while... Check out Aaron's New blog! http://www.stormtheforts.blogspot.com/ He's making me look bad and now blogging most nights.

Love and God Bless You All!

Amy

xox

P.S. 14 Sleeps till Christmas!! YAY!!

Two Months Today!! Sorry Guys!

Sorry its been so long everyone! Been busy doing Im not exactly sure what.. But Ive been pretty flat out! Thats my excuse anyway :P

So What has been happening?? Well...

• I now have another 2nd cousin! Alliesha Margaret Nugent. Born about a month ago bright and early on a Saturday morning. So now that is 2 gorgeous editions to the family. Makes family gatherings even more exciting having two babies to play with!
• Im now 20! Thats scary. Well it was the first day or so, but now its cool! Im over being Old.
• Breaky Club is going great!! Im sure it was before I started but since Ive been there its been awesome, had about 75 kids come through Wednesday just gone, thats our estimation its hard to count when the kids are taller than you and are coming and going farely quick.
• Had some great youth gatherings over the past couple months! As well as our normal gatherings Pete organised a dicipleship conference for us 'regulars' That was great! I think the youth got quite a bit out of it. I know I did!! Would of been even better if we could have spent more time on it.
• Been studying quite a bit lately. End of year brings many assignments, and things to do.. well it does if you leave to the last minute like I do
• I finished all my classes this week, for both Old Testament and Biology, Biology I'm excited about finishing, but Old T I loved that so its a bit sad.. Still have my Bio exam to complete on the 19Th Nov. Pray I pass it, I really need it out the way!!
• I decided this week also, that I'm gonna do what I want next year :D haha that makes me sound kinda self centered, but its not really. I have had many people asking me what I'm planning to do next year, am I staying at Uni? If not what else am I going to study? I had no idea. I myself would rather spend the year working at Coles, doing a couple more subjects at the College and becoming more involved with the youth.. So that's what I'm gonna do!! I decided I'm gonna do what I want and see how it goes and where God takes me. Most of you reading this may guess where it is heading, but I'm not so sure so I'm taking things slow.
• Also in news, Ill be getting enrolled as a Soldier sometime over the summer holidays, Got to start the classes yet but hopefully get enrolled sometime in January!! Aaron may be doing the service. See what happens, but should be great either way. Ill keep you all posted, be awesome to have you all there!

Anyway, was a short and sweet post today. Got many things planned for the next month so may be another wait for the next one, but I promise it will be awesome!

I'll Leave you all with the verse I've had stuck in my head for the last day or so..

"The Lord is my Shepherd." Psalm 23:1

God is the only one who knows what our futures hold. Have faith and let him take the lead.

God bless.

Gods Been A Challanging!!

Wow its been ages!! I hope you're all doing Fabulously well!! I have been flat out these past few weeks! So much has happened! Its been great!!

God has been challenging me a lot. HEAPS in fact! I've come to the realisation (well decided really) that the course I'm doing at Uni (Medical, Forensic and Analytical Chemistry) is not what I want to do anymore. I'm really enjoying Old Testament!! I LOVE IT! I love going to College prayers in the morning before class.. Love hanging out and talking to everyone in the college.. Thursday arvo just gone, Aaron left me with his keys while he had a meeting and I decided I would get some bio work done (because there was more chance of me getting it done there than at home where I'm easily distracted) I felt at home! Crazy really, but its true! I'm thinking that maybe this is where God is pointing me too. Yes there you all go, I admitted it.. Maybe Officership... But NOT YET!

God has also been challenging me about the youth at church, well in Werribee area really! I was asked by Pete Stamp to help him with the Kids that go to Breaky Club Wednesday mornings. They needed a Younger female that the girls that came along could easily relate to. I went the Wednesday before last and LOVED that too! I figured its my favourite meal of the day.. FREE and I get to talk!! Eating and Talking! My favourite Hobbies! That day after Breaky Club I went to hang out at the church before Uni started, I had a great talk to Judy and Gaylene about the girls in the church needing a younger female leader type person. This is something that had been in the back of my mind for a very long time. I told them that, and they said that it is definitely something I should pray about and seriously consider. I have and I believe this is something that God wants me to get into! WooHOO!

I also decided that week that I want to start working towards becoming a soldier. I think that is is something I want to do, so that I can be a better Role Model to the youth. I don't think it would be right for me to be helping the young people in the church become closer to God, when I haven't made that public statement. Yes I do know its not a compulsory thing to be a soldier. I'm just saying I wouldn't feel right ministering to the young people in Werribee without becoming one. Make sense? mm It has also been on the back of my mind for a little while now.

Today I participated in a leadership type conference 'Blood and Fire' at our church. It was great!! I got so much out of it! The Holy Spirit was moving MASSIVELY! Was Fantastic!! I did the electives 'small groups' That was great! Got quite a bit out of it!! Some stuff I plan to take to my mall group and talk to them about, and also quite a bit for when I start my own. I also did 'body language' that was cool! learnt so much stuff about what different gestures mean etc and how to use them to make other people feel comfortable while talking to you. That kind of thing. Then I was in mentoring. I learnt quite a bit. Really enjoyed the one on one practical with Jo. :) I realised I need to find someone who can mentor me. Someone who can listen to me think out loud, and hold me accountable to my decisions and goals! Any suggestions on who, are very welcome :P The worship part of the day was also great!! The holy spirit touched many people today! Very exciting! Praise God!!

Some other things that have happened recently:

Some of you may know.. Mum and Dad were planning to move back to Melbourne! Dad went for TWO jobs in Melbourne, one as a teacher of Community Service type stuff, and another as a nurse at the Children's Hospital. He got offered both! He accepted the nursing Job, and so it was decided that he would move down to start the Job end of August and Mum would follow with the rest of the clan next year. BUT! They were very undecided for quite awhile about the whole moving thing and decided last week, that it was God's will to stay in Hamilton. Mum got offered a job as a midwife on the Portland Hospital team. This is something Mum had been wanting to do when she finished her midwifery course. So they have decided to accept the offer and stay in Hamilton. I'm not exactly over the moon about it. But God's Will is God's Will, not mine.

My beautiful Cousin Margaret had her Baby boy on Thursday 23rd August. Jaxson Murray Marchett 9.5 pounds. Big boy! Hes a darl. The most gorgeous boy born in quite awhile!! hehe! One down one to go. Her sister Marnee is also due a baby in the coming weeks! A baby girl apparently, so that will be exciting! One of each kind to play with! haha! YAY!

Love and God Bless to you ALL!

xoxox

I'M EXCITED! woooohooooo! I don't know why really... but I am!

These are a few things that have happened this week:

• Sunday: I went to 614 Salvos in the morning with Bec. That was a great experience :D Marnee Turner spoke. Shes a great speaker! We decided to stay for lunch. Now THAT was an experience. Bec and I went last in line, and so when we had finally got our food we found there were no more tables left. Being the smart thinkers we are we decided to set up another table. We put our food down and went and got a table. We then went to get the chairs, and turned around to realise our table was no longer ours. It was now full! So we put our chairs down and got another table. We then wen to get our food. Only to find someone had taken mine! Someone had STOLEN my food! Hahahahaha! It was hilarious. Any of you that have been to 614 will understand why, but for everyone who hasn't. 614 is a church where a lot of people off the street go. At least God used my plate of food to feed someone who was hungry and needed it more than me :)
• Sunday night: I went to Werribee again! I been 4 weeks in a row! :D I'm excited. hehe. Gaylene spoke, shes also a great speaker!! Both her and Marnee spoke on the same topic. Difference being that Gaylene was mostly preaching to the already converted, but Marnee wasn't! I got a lot out of both their sermons. GOD IS GOOD! :D
• Monday: wasn't too exciting. I worked 12-7 long day went slow. But that night was very interesting/exciting! I had a good conversation with my daddy. :D I then had a few thoughts! yep! They were exciting! But then it got better!, I had a good friend of mine (who ive only recently started being in contact with again) he asked me to pray for him! I was pretty excited. No one has really asked me to do that and hes not a Christian! GOD IS FANTASTIC!
• Tuesday: I spent the afternoon with my friend Ben! Hadn't seen him in over a year! so that was exciting. We saw the Simpson's movie. Funny movie! Then, I had another person I was talking to on MSN ask me to pray for her friend! This girl is already a very dedicated Christian but it was still great! GOD IS WONDERFUL!
• Wednesday: I still couldn't get rid of my excited mood for some reason. Not that I wanted to of course. Its Great being happy excited all the time! :D I worked again. that was quite good! Been very quiet lately :) I then caught up with my friend Sarah for dinner! Shes been in Japan so it was great seeing her again :D Later, (again being on MSN as most my nights end up), I had one of our youth at church tell me she had just admitted, to our Officer, that she did want God in her life! GOD IS AWESOME!
• Thursday: Yesterday. I had a nice and early start. OLD TESTAMENT! WooHOoo! I'm really really enjoying it. Its such a challenge, and I Love challenges! That's not the only reason I'm enjoying it. I'm learning A lot. So far Ive left each class going whoa! I also enjoy spending the time at the college! haha Many great people there. Don't think I could live there tho.. :P Not yet anyway.. I LOVE GOD! (just had to put that somewhere)
• TODAY I FINALLY RECEIVED MY OLD T BOOK! I WAS/AM EXTREMELY EXCITED!! woooohooooo! Tomorrow, my parents come down for a couple of nights! One of my cousins baby shower is this weekend :D

OH and just now. I had a visit from the Mormons! I actually think they came through my work yesterday shopping haha! They came today to spread the word. They wanted to come in and share there beliefs with me. Nice boys they were although I still didnt let them in. I told them I was a Salvo, and am studying Old Testament, and then just took a pamphlet to read :) Next time Ill be ready.. Maybe challange them a bit.

This visit has made me think now tho, How come we as Salvos don't go 'door knocking' to spread the word? Many people only hear or know about us being a charity, and only ever come into contact with us when we are collecting, just a thought...

Think that's enough for now. Hope you are all doing well, and God continues to keep you all safe. Many blessings :)
xoxox