Almost over...

[This picture was taken when I was standing on a walkway in between buildings, if you look closely you can see the Harbour Bridge at the back.]

One more day! This week has been a fairly long week. It's ALMOST over! Although it's the same amount of time as every other week, I think I've packed a whole lot more in the hours given to me on this particular week. I'm exhausted.

I was laying on my bed, looking at the roof, just thinking about all the things I've been through over the past years. All the things I've got to experience. When I start thinking about my life, I literally go back to my earliest memory, and try to go through the days that I can remember, whether taking the bus to school, or pretending to fly off my swing set, getting lost, riding my bike, going to the zoo. Cool things like that. Anyways, my mind was just drifting and a thought came into my head...

You are living in a blessing.

Wow, think about those words. What do they entail? Freedom? Prosperity? Vehicles? Cell phones? Apartments? A house? Your life is a blessing. Your alive, count that as a blessing. That fact that you have a food to eat, a roof to sleep under, and clothes to wear is a blessing. So when you feel like you have nothing, when your overwhelmed, think of the blessings God has given you. The action seems so small, but the impact is huge. So when your praying for a blessing, make sure to thank God for the blessings he's already given you, life included. So be blessed and remember the blessings that God has given you.

Weeks Into Months

Hello!

So whether or not you've read my previous post, I just want to encourage you to, the whole thing. If it feels like I'm shoving something down your throat, it's exactly the opposite, it's opening up your heart. I just wanted to address that because there may be some people who might not understand, if you don't, please feel free to e-mail me, for anything.


This week has been pretty awesome. I'm getting that feeling of time quickly moving. I've been here for almost three months. I know that soon enough my time will be done here. It helps me to enjoy the time here even more. Even if I've scrapped my poor toe against the pavement from my flip-flops more times than I can count. It's still a good day! I can just head over to the sauna for a little bit and then maybe relax in the hot tub, or go for a swim. Then usually, walk outside in my boardies as the wind gushes by. Maybe step on a cockroach or two on my way home. It's a good day. The night air is so beautiful here, it's cold and crisp, reminds me of home.


On Easter Sunday my connect group leaders Dan and Jaz get engaged! It was awesome, it started off by Jaz was walking from one person another collecting roses, 23 in all. At each person we each gave her a compliment, after all she's an amazing person. As she got to the last person, her parents took Dan and Jaz to a secret location, and the rest is history. Yah, She said YES! The engagement party is next Saturday so it should be fun!


We had Easter dinner on Monday with ham, potatoes, peas, corn, bread, and an awesome chocolate cake. What a great way to celebrate, with food!


I got a couple of assignments due tomorrow. Two in Psalms and one in Contemporary Church. I'm halfway done both and I have the rest of the night to finish them. I just finished up Biblical Counselling yesterday with an exam which went well.

There's another picture I took of Hilton. It's HUGE! Since the service was at the convention centre at Darling Harbour, in between the morning and evening services a group of us walked around the city. Yah, work is going well, I didn't have to work at all this week. I talked to the guy who was doing the scheduling and they had my times from when I first started and they haven't changed so that means I missed out on work this week. Not to worry, I work next week, Monday at 4:30 AM and Thursday at 6:00 AM! Woohoo. It's a great job and I love it. Still can't believe I work there.

So life is going to continue and I'm going to go meet up with it and enjoy its company! Love you and miss you all!

These are pictures of Easter Sunday!
Exciting!

The Good Test

It is Easter weekend, let us remember what Jesus has done for us, as we should daily. As this is a long post, please spare yourself some time to read the whole thing.

When questioned, nearly every person proclaims themselves as a good person.

Proverbs 21:2
All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart.

Most people when asked whether or not they will go to heaven answer yes. But what is heaven’s standard for just, honorable, and good. Who is honorable to enter Heaven?
God has not left us in the dark; He has given us His Law, the Ten Commandments. This reveals the standard we must meet. We are told that the Law of the Lord is perfect. God has exposed His Law to every human heart.

Romans 2:14-16
When outsiders who have never heard of God's law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.

Even so, the law cannot save us:
Romans 3:20
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Have you lied?
Have you cheated?
Have you stole anything?
Used God's name as a curse word?

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Can you see your dilemma? You are guilty of sinning against God Himself, and, because you have a conscience, ["con"=with, "science"=knowledge] you have sinned "with knowledge." Does the fact that you have sinned against God scare you? It should. You have actually angered Him by your sin. The Bible says His wrath abides on you, that you are an "enemy of God in your mind through wicked works."

Perhaps you think God is good and because of his goodness He will overlook your sins?
But if you knew of a human judge who turned a blind eye to the crimes of a guilty rapist...would you describe him as a "good" judge?
No.
That would be a "corrupt" judge.
God could never be a corrupt judge!
He will punish all the rapists, murderers, and thieves... But He won't stop there. He will also punish all liars, the lustful, adulterers, idolaters, and blasphemers.
The place of eternal punishment is Hell.

God does not want you to perish. He is rich in mercy and compassion, and has provided a way for you to be forgiven. He has invited you to come to Him for a full pardon and receive the free gift of Eternal Life. You cannot earn it, and you do not deserve it, but God is offering it to you as proof of His love for you.

Imagine you are standing in front of a judge, guilty of multiple serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. Your apologies and good works cannot erase your crimes; therefore you must be punished. The fine for your crime is $250,000 or imprisonment, but you don’t have two pennies to rub together. The judge is about to pass sentence when someone you don't even know steps in and pays your fine for you! The court accepts the money and declares that you are free to go. The law has been satisfied, your debt has been paid in full, and the stranger’s sacrifice was a demonstration of his love for you. That’s what God did for you 2000 years ago.

The Bible says that the God of the Universe became a man, Jesus Christ, and suffered and died on the cross for your sins and mine so that we could be set free. Then he rose again from the dead and defeated death!

It's as simple as this—we broke the Law, and Jesus paid our fine.

Romans 5:8
God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us.

Do you see God’s great love for you? Do you see your need for His forgiveness? Do what He commands and

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

You must turn away from sin and turn to God. Desire to have NOTHING to do with sin, and surrender your life to the One who can save you. Jesus died to set you free, and then he rose from death to be your Lord.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If you will confess and forsake your sins [repent] and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, God will forgive you and you’ll pass from death to life.
If you are not sure how to pray, read Psalm 51 and make it your prayer.

What does it mean to "put your faith in Jesus Christ?" It means to personally trust in Jesus the same way you’d trust in a parachute if you had to jump 25,000 feet out of an airplane. You wouldn’t just "believe" in the parachute; you would put it on! In the same way, the Bible says, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ..." and you will be saved. There are millions of people who "believe" Jesus exists . . . but they have not put on the Savior—there’s a BIG difference. And the difference will be obvious when you “jump” through the door of death.
Today, with all your heart—turn away from sin, and surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Please don’t put it off till later. You may die today and then it will be too late. You may not yet have all the answers to your questions, but better to put on the parachute first and then ask questions, then to pass through the door unprepared, grasping for the parachute when it’s too late.

All you need to do is pray something like this—

"Dear God, today I turn away from all my sin [Confess them to God] and I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life, I give it to you. Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. Please forgive me, and grant me your gift of everlasting life. Amen."

There is nothing magic about these words—it is the attitude of your heart that God cares about. God will transform you from the inside out. You will think and feel differently as you learn to trust and obey Him. God will give you new strength to live right and love Him above all else. Read your Bible daily and obey His Word. You can trust God—He loves you and will always be faithful.

If you've decided to reject the gift of forgiveness and you die in your sins, there is no hope for you. There is no purgatory. The wrath of God abides on you and you will spend eternity in Hell, plain and simple.

If you've made it through, congratulations! Nothing can really convince you to take on a true relationship with God besides a divine revelation from Him about the power of His love and grace. I pray that your heart will be stirred to receive the forgiveness that comes through Christ Jesus.