The end of the world as we know it....

It's the last day of 2012. I guess I should do the obligatory 'reflection'.
It has been a year of: travelling, learning, disappointments,
long chats, deep conversation, God revelations, rants, venting, tears, joy, questions, questioning, doubt pain, giggles, fights, family, adventure, new friends, old friends...

I sure that there are countless things that could be said about this year. I like to think it has been a year of growth.
Twenty-twelve may not have been my best year to date but I have a feeling/am hoping twenty-thirteen will be awesome! (after all 13 is my favourite number (; )

Merry, happy Jesusmas!

Another year, another Christmas has come and gone. I had Christmas with the Morrisons the Saturday before Christmas say. Then had Christmas with Mum's family Christmas eve, took lunch up to the nursing home and ate and ate and ate... Lol. And church at St Marks Christmas day then Christmas lunch with Dad's side of the family.
I was going to post photos of my Christmas presents but I decided against it, all you need to know is that I was pretty spoilt and extremly blessed.
Christmas is not about the gifts we send or recive but The Gift that was given. 2000 years ago God sent his son into the world to save humanity! That is pretty awesome!!

This year's Christmas tree decorated by yours truely.

Eye update....
So I was suppost to be leaving for mission this morning. However, my eye looked like this when I woke up this morning. So we tredged off to Sydney Eye Hospital. Got a whole lot of new eye drops. Potentially have conjunctivitis, though they're not sure if it's contagious so we'll see if it heals in a few days and then hopefully will head down to Gerringong.

I trust that you had a very merry Christmas and I wish you all the best for the new year!

Waiting for God to open a window.....

What do you do when the one thing that you had your heart set on, that was the direction that you thought that God wanted for your life, comes back as a BIG FAT (but eloquently worded) NO?
You cry, chuck a fit at God, run your fingers through your hair (a lot), rip up the envelope and chuck it all over the kitchen floor, then sit down to write a blog about it... of course.

(I should explain. About a month ago I applied for a for a summit fellowship position at Crusaders and I got the rejection letter in the mail today.)

My question is: What now? I've been pursuing this avenue for two years now, passionately believing that it was how God wanted me to serve him. It now is BLINDINGLY clear to me that God wants me to do something else. The question is what? I had many dreams upon leaving high school which I abandoned because I thought God wanted me to do this, but now it is clear he has other plans.

I know that God will never leave me and that I have to keep trusting in him. But the not knowing is the hardest thing.

God's got it all under control.

I do not know what will happen in the future but I know the guy who holds my future in his hands.

100 things

Awhile ago (for some reason, I can't remember what) I typed '100 things' into google. Apparently there is a challenge to live with only 100 things. I think the point is to really think about the things that you own and to fight consumerism. It got me thinking if I could only have 100 of my possesions what would have to go? what would be easy and what would be hard would i choose sentimatality over praticality.
Let's give this a try.
1. Bible
2. Journal
3. Pen
4. bed
5. Bottom sheet
6. quilt
7. Pillow
8. undies
9. Undies
10. Socks
11. Socks
12. T-shirt
13. T-shirt
14. Bra
15. Bra
16. Jumper
17. Jacket
18. Jeans
19. Hair tie
20. soap
21. Towel
22. shorts
23. shirt
24. dress
25. ring
26. ring
27. necklace
28. chap stick
29. laptop

30. Car
31. Phone
32. BF boots
33. BF jacket
34. BF gloves
35. BF helmet
36. BF pants
37. BF goggles
38. Bf socks
39. leotard
40. tights
41. black dance pants
42. ballet shoes
43. point shoes
44. bobby pins
45. Ballet flats
46. wallet
47. driver's licence
48. converse
49. ballet flats
50. glass rose
52. pair earrings
53. pair earrings
54. pair earrings
55. necklace
56. necklace
57. necklace
58. Pandora bracelet
59. swimmers
60. covertable dress
61. Watch
62. Crocheted blanket
63. mexican poncho
64. camp blanket
65. skinny jeans
66. belt
67. dress
68. shorts
69. alarm
70. lamp
71. photo frame
72 .photo frame
73. photo frame
74. scrapbook
75. camera
76. camera charger
77. camera cable
78. ATM card
79. cutlery set
80. phone charger
81. book
82. book
83. book
84. book
85. book
86. book
87. book
88. book
89. book
90. book
91. hand bag
92. head phones
93. mouse
94. USB
95. TV
96. DVD player
97. HSC Art project
98. melted crayon art
99. Thongs
100. tooth brush

OK so I started off practically, but got a little sentimental. I probably forgot many things, but this was an interesting exercise.

Craft

MORE craft.
I'm going to the beach tomorrow to collect more sea glass. To try some new craft ideas.
:D

Questions, Questions, Questions!

I'm feeling a little reminiscent of the days of MySpace quizzes.

A - Accidents

01. Have you ever been in a car accident?
Yes once. When I was in year 5, my mum and I were waiting to turn right into our driveway and some one (a p plater on their phone!) ran up the back of us, wrote the car off, but thankfully no one was hurt.

02. Do you have a lot of scars?
A couple but not "a lot"
03. Have you ever been in a fist fight with someone?
No.

04. Have you ever seriously hurt anyone by mistake?
Emotionally yes. I still feel awful about it.
05. Have you ever had stitches? Where?
No

B - Beauty
06. Do you consider yourself beautiful?
I guess.

07. Are you self conscious of how you look?
No

08. Do you put on a lot of makeup?
No.

09. Would you ever consider getting plastic surgery?
No.
10. What do you think makes a person beautiful?
Their heart, their motivations etc




C - Consequences

11. What was the longest amount of time you’ve been grounded for?
Don't remember. How ever long it took me to clean my room. When I was growing up every holiday my parents would ground me until my room was clean.
12. What would you do if you got pregnant, keep it or have an abortion?
Keep it!

13. Do you ever think about how your actions affect other people?
Not as often as I should, I can be pretty selfish sometime... :(

14. What do you think is the worst punishment someone could give you?
hmmm not sure, cutting me out of their life..

15. What is one thing you wish you didn’t do, just because it wasn’t worth it in the end?

Youthworks

D - Dealing
16. When you are mad at someone, how do you show them?
Cold shoulder, Snap, Just generally be a bitch

17. Name a time when you had to be strong.
Hmm IDK

18. Have you ever dealt with a divorce or parents fighting? Any kind of abuse at home?
No generally my home life has been very happy I'm very blessed in that way.

19. When people at school don’t accept you, or have problems with you, how do you react?
IDK
20. Have you ever lost someone to death? Explain how you got through it.
My aunt and grandfather and I was too young I guess to have it really hit me as to what was  happening.

E - Experience
21. Have you ever had a job? Any volunteer jobs?
Several

22. Do you think that you are sexually experienced, or not at all?
No

23. Have you gone through a lot emotionally, or has life been easy thus far?
Yes

24. Do you think you are ready to be on your own (have your own home, job, etc.)?
Defiantly not.

25. How old do you act?
Depends on whom I'm around

F - Family
26. Is there anyone in your family you don’t talk to? Why?
Not that I intentionally don't speak to there are a couple I avoid though.

27. If you had to choose, family or friends?
I don't like this question

28. Can you tell your parents or one of your parents anything?
No

29. Do you have any siblings? If so, do you ever get jealous of them?
Yes a sister, no.

30. How often do you spend ‘quality time’ with family members?
Not that often once in a while

G - Growing
31. How tall are you? How tall do you wish you were?
Short , very and a little taller

32. Do you think that you have grown more in the past year than any year before that?
Physically no hahaha I stopped getting taller about 6 years ago. Spiritually and emotionally hell yes.
33. As a person, do you think you are mature for your age or still act childish?
The former (though sometimes I can get a little childish with certain people.)

34. Are you scared to think that one day you will turn 30, then 40, then 50?
Yes very.
35. Do you believe you still have a lot to learn?
Always!

H - Hope

36. Love - real or not?
REAL
37. Are you a pessimist of an optimist?
Mostly an optimist

38. Do you believe in fate, that everything happens for a reason, or do you think that our actions lead the way?
Everything happens for a reason, because God has a plan.

39. Do you think that after we die our spirit is still alive?
Yes if you believe in God you go to heaven.

40. What gives you hope when you just feel like dying?

God, Scottie, Sofia, friends, family, Fridge girls

I - Issues

41. Do you suffer from depression or constant sadness/loneliness?
Sometimes, but not constantly.
42. Do you have any type of disease or disability?
No
43. Are you currently in a hard relationship or have bad luck with the opposite sex?
Every relationship is hard but they are worth it.
44. Do you think that you are alone in this world?
No

45. How often do you think about death, suicide or running away?
Every once and a while, when I'm feeling down.

J - Jokes

46. Say a word or phrase that would not be funny to anyone but you & one of your friends (an inside joke)
The moving red star.
47. Are you usually the one who makes people laugh,Or the other way around?
A bit of both.
48. Do you cry when you laugh hard?
Really hard, yes.
49. Write down a hilarious moment you had with someone that makes you laugh to this day!
That's gold.
50. Do you ever get in trouble for laughing or talking a lot during class?
Nah not really I was pretty sneaky about it, I kind of flew under the radar.

K - Knowledge

51. The purpose of school: to learn, to cause trouble or to hang out with friends?
Is this a trick question?
52. Do people refer to you as smart, dumb, or average?
I think I'm reasonably smart. Not super smart but above average.
53. What was the highest grade you have received (full course mark) ever?
I don't know, I got all seventys in my HSC.
54. What was your last average?
We don't do that in Australia.
 55. What was your favorite Subject in school?
Art

L – Love
56. Are you currently in love? If not, have you been before?
I don't really like the term "in love" but there is a very special boy in my life and I love him very much.
57. Do people around you show you a lot of love (tell you they love you, hug you, kiss you, etc.)?
Yeah I'm very blessed.
58. Is love worth it?
Always
59. Do you hate it when girls in their young teenage years say they ‘love’ someone that they’ve been dating for a few months?
Yes! It's one of my pet peeves.
60. Does it take a lot for you to say you love someone, or is it just a word?
Neither extreme, I think it give love its due weight.

M – Money
61. Do you believe that money makes the world go round?
No, God makes the world go around. But I guess in secular society money takes a huge role/focus in people's lives.
62. Is your family on the poor side, average, or above average when it comes to money?
IDK
63. Are you saving up for college/university, or planning to?
No
64. Would you rather win millions of dollars & be set for life, or find the perfect person to marry & start a family with?
Can I have both? haha Defs the perfect person.
65. On a scale of 1-10, how important is money to you?
Ahh maybey a 4?

N – Naughty
66. Are you a virgin?
Yes
67. What do you think about doing sexual things with someone you’re not going out with?
Not ok.
68. I didn't like this question
69. If you could, would you erase some things you did in the past or make it so you did more?
Erase
70. Do you consider yourself more nice or more naughty? You can’t say both!
Nice


O – Openness
71. How long does it take for you to open up to someone?
Hahahaha a long time.
72. What does it take for you to fully trust someone?
Time
73. Are you generally untrusting towards people because of past experiences, or any other reason?
No
74. When are you comfortable with someone sexually?
When I'm married to them....
75. When it comes to parents and close friends, what’s the limit of what you can tell them?
Depends on whom.

P – Positive
76. Have you ever had an experience with someone that didn’t necessarily end positively? If so, would you rather erase the memory of that person because of the sad times or keep the memory of that person because of the good times?
Yes twice, I think I'd probably want to erase it because of the way that is ended, so badly kind of erased all memories of the good times....
77. Do you agree with the saying: better to have loved and lost than not have loved at all?
Idealistically yes, realistically no.
78. Are you more optimistic or pessimistic? What do you try to be?
Optimistic
79. Do you agree that something good can come out of everything?
Yes, it is sometimes really hard to find,
80. Have you ever had a time where something really bad happened, but something really good happened because of it? If so, please exlain what it was:
Possibly but I can't recall.

Q – Questions
81. When faced with a problem, do you ask for help or try to figure it out yourself?
Figure it out myself...
82. Do you often question the world and how we came about? What are some things you would like to know about creation?
Yes, too many to list
83. Do you think the government is truthful? If you could ask the president* one question, what would it be?
Yes
Prime Minister* I can't really think of anything super important. But "Did you really think that kicking out the previous prime minister would win you popular opinion? The only reason you're still IN office is that you're the LESSER of two evils!" (IMHO)
84. When someone does something wrong to you, do you confront them and ask them why they did it or just let it go?
I guess it depends of what they did.
85. What is one unsolved mystery about the world that you want answers to?
Who killed JFK?

R – Respect
86. How do you show respect?
IDK?   
87. What can someone do for you to lose all respect for them?
Lie, cheat, steal, their behavior, etc
88. Do you respect your teachers, parents, and other authority figures?
Yes
89. When you are disrespectful to your parents, what is the punishment?
Depends on what I do...
90. If someone is mean to you, are you mean back or do you kill them with kindness?
I try to kill them with kindness, but I guess it would depends on what they did.

S – School
91. If you are still in school, what grade will you be going into?
I finished school two year ago.
92. When will you graduate high school/college?
High school: 2010
93. After high school, what did you do/are you planning to do?
I wanted to do Photography at Raffles but that went out the window.. I know well IDK...
94. Do you like or hate school? What do you like/hate about it?
I liked it
95. Have you ever been suspended, expelled, or dropped out of school?
No, but I was seriously considering dropping out in year ten.

T – Temptation
96. Have you ever done something wrong, knowing it was wrong, because something inside of you said it was okay?
Yeah..
97. Has anyone ever pressured you to smoke or drink? Did you do it?
Yes, Yes.
98. Did you ever cheat on someone? Why did you do it?
No and I never would
99. Did you ever want to do something sexual with someone you didn’t really know or love? What did you end up doing?
No
100. Do you give in to temptation easily, or are you more independent and strong willed?
 I try to stand up to temptation, but sometimes it get the better of me.

U – Unique
102. Do you do a lot of things because your friends are doing it?
No
103. Do you follow trends, wear whatever you want, or wear really unique pieces?
I'm an op shopper, so most of my clothes are unique, and I wearwhat ever I want, I dress for comfort not style.
104. Do you give in easily to peer pressure? Do you do things such as smoke, drink, or have casual sex?
No
105. What makes you different from people your age?
I'm a christian, I don't smoke or have casual sex... I like shooting quad biking and camping, I drive a ute, I want to live in the country, I can go lengths of time without technology.

V – Value
106. What’s the most expensive thing in your room?
I have no idea
107. What’s more valuable: your life or the lives of your loved ones? Would you sacrifice your life for other people?
Others',  Yes
108. What is something you value not because it cost a lot, but because it means a lot to you?
My bible. :)
109. If there was a fire in your house/apartment, what is the first thing you would grab?
Hard drive (because it has all my photos)
110. Do you think past memories and experiences are more valuable than what could possibly happen in the future?
Um I don't know...?

W – Wishes
111. If you had three wishes, what would they be?
For all people to come to Christ.
To have a never ending supply of money.
To have a secure job and heading for the future.
112. Would you rather wish yourself to be happy, or your loved ones?
Loved ones
113. Do you believe that wishes come true if you really believe in them?
No.
114. Have you ever had a wish come true? If so, what was that wish? I don't believe in wishes...
115. Do you find wishing for things a waste of time because everything that’s meant to happen, will happen? Yes wishing is a waste of time because God is in control. Prayer however, is not. :)

Y – You
121. Are you more independent or social?
Independent.
122. What is something that makes you very mad when you see it?
Cruelty
123. Do you think that you have potential to do great things?
Yes, if I tried.
124. Do you think people are born a certain way, or develop their personalities based on what they go through in life?
I think that it's a balance.
125. Do you think people are generally good?
No.

Z – Zest
126. Are you currently happy with your life? Why or why not?
Depends on the day.
127. Do you go on FacebookCraze.com to get facebook survey’s and quizzes like this one?
No
128. When change occurs, do you get scared or are you excited for it?
Depends on what the change is...
129. Do you like to try new things, meet new people?
Yes
130. What is the most motivational thing in the world?
God

Euthanasia - animals and people.

Euthanasia/putting animals down.
Let me say before I start this post that I haven't decided what my opinion on euthanasia is. It's not something that I have put a lot of thought into. But I will post about is sometime soon (I hope).
Anyway so this thought occured to me in bible study this week that I'd thought I'd put out there. So when animals are really sick/dying we put them down to put them out of their missary (sorry to put that so coldly). They have no idea what's going on but we make the best decition for them, because we care about and love them and want what's best for them etc. So when it comes to dr assissted suicide when the person does know what is going on and is in full control of their circumstances why is that frowned upon? I know that there a lot of other contributing factors and obvioulsy there is a lot I don't know about this and need to look up. Just a thought I had that I wanted to share. Espeically implications there are as a Christian when forming my views about these things.

More craft

More of my recent crafts :)

Quiet Time Notes

Genesis 16
- Sarai  can't have kids, give maid Hagar to Abram, Hagar bore Ishmeal.
- Angel "I will increase your descendants so they are too numerous to count."
Genesis 17
- "I am God almighty; walk before me and be blameless."
- God makes a covenant with Abram & changes name to 'Abraham'.
- Circumcision he sign of the covenant.
- Nothing is impossible with God, (Sarah bore at 90 years old).
Genesis 18
- Lord appered in three men?
- Is anything too hard for the LORD?
- We should give the best of ourselves to God
- All nations on earth to be blessed through Abraham.
- "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord though I am nothing but dust and ashes."
- Sodom will be saved if 10 righteous people are found.
Genesis 19
- Lot fled to Zoar.
- Sodom and Gamorra destroyed.
- Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt, obey the Lord completely.
- Obey God fully.
- God is fair and just but mighty and powerful.
- Lot's daughters slept with him (EW!)
- Oldest had a son 'Moab' became the father of the Moabites.
- Younger daughter son 'Ben-Ammi' he became the father of the Ammorites.

Memory

I cleaned out almy old school books today.

Secular Moral Compass

Last night while doing my quite time I asked God to stretch my brain in the reading of his word. I was reading Luke 6:27-36. It talks about loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you and how loving those who love you is easy and of no credit to you. 
there was one part that stood out to me though "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you". Now I'm fairly certain that this does not need to be explained, it's 'The Golden Rule' the one that has been ingrained in us since childhood, simple and effective. What I think is interesting thought, is, that society has forgotten that this verse has it's root in the bible, it's directly quoted from Christ himself.  Why do we accept some parts of the bible as fact and incorporate them as part of of our societal values but will not accept the whole thing? If you accept the bible's teaching on how we should treat each other, why not accept the whole thing?

As a Christian, I believe, that it is wrong to lie, steal, cheat, murder etc (Please do not assume that I am implying that Christians are 'morally  superior' or that non-Christians can't hold these views.)
The reason I believe these things, is that God created all things and created us for relationships; both between us and God and each other. These things; lying, cheating, stealing, murder etc break and ruin these relationships and it wrecks how we were created to be. (I am not questioning where or not these things are wrong, but what moral basis does or should this be tied to?)

For a largely secular society to adhere to the Christian standards of 'morality' seem a little bit backwards when it often rejects Christian teaching as a whole. And if the bible support for these things is rejected what then is the basis of thinking that these things are wrong? 

I guess what I am trying to say is: What does society as a whole, base it's moral compass on, if it is not the bible?
Why do non-Christians believe that murder is wrong, that lying is wrong, that stealing, that cheating is wrong? What substantiates that?

Where does society base the concept that murder and lying and cheating is wrong? It is our laws or governments, where do they get the authority to make these things fact?

Let's just make the assumption that our society's moral values are based on christian principles. However, today the traditional christian opinions that helped shape our society are being questioned. Views on homosexuality, marriage and abortion have changed and the traditional christian view point on these things is being challenged. What is to stop the traditional views on murder and lying and cheating being changed? What is to stop them from becoming socially acceptable, because the majority of society has rejected christian teaching. If they have no solid grounding in some form of morality what is to stop these things from happening?

I am of the opinion that we as a society think that murder is wrong because the bible says it's wrong. What about atheists and agnostics that reject all of the Christian teaching, shouldn't they then also reject what the bible says about lying and stealing and cheating, would there not be totally anarchy? I am curious then, what do they base their moral compass on?

I'm concerned that if the basis of society's views on what is right and what is wrong, and what is acceptable and what is not acceptable are not grounded on something bigger than just this human consciousness, of what is good and what is bad, we are just going to lose grip.  Where's the line?

As a Christian I believe that society's views on morality should be grounded in the bible. 

Peter Jensen on Q&A

 Peter Jensen on Q&A
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s3581623.htm

Kiama

A couple of weeks ago The Fridge leadership team went to Kiama for a retreat type thing and I am yet to post to photos so here you are:

In other news I have a new job! :) I went for the interview today and I got the call this evening. It's at a new cafe that's opening in Parramatta. Starts in October sometime.

What is love? But a promise captured in diamonds forever.

What is love? But a promise captured in diamonds forever.

This is without a doubt the stupidest statement I've heard in an advertising commercial of late. A couple's love is not ultimatly symbolised by the size or style of the rock on her (or his) finger. That a ring is the ultimate symbol of love is stupid. The idea that people think the bigger the ring the more he loves her is stupid. Love is not an inanimate lump of compressed carbon. Love is living, breathing.
God is love. Period.

Why is marriage a comparable selling point?

Why is marriage so often used as an advertising  gimmick , in bed wetting commercials on the radio, in foxtel and NAB  ads on TV. I don't understand why such a sacred institute is the focus of ridicule and the comparable selling point in advertising campaigns. One of the things that help our society to function properly, is being used in a negative fashion to promote sale-able items. I don't see you making fun of the police or justice to sell tampons or juice. Why is marriage the point of ridicule?

My dress

I posted in early August about those awesome convertable dresses I found online. Well guess what? Mine came in the mail yesterday! I got it for my birthday from Mum, Dad and Kaz.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

Life is a constant experiment. Every hour, every minute a constant opportunity to learn, to experience something new. Never knowing what will happen, what is in the creator's plan is exhilarating.
I have no certain plans for the immediate future, and I'm totally OK with that. Everyone around me are the ones that are worried and pitying. I am completely calm, resting sure in the knowledge that God has a plan for me and a purpose for my life.
Please, concerned family and friends be patient with me as I discover what God's plans for me are. (In other words, BUT, THE HELL OUT, me and God, we got this.)

The Olympics.

A lot of things come to mind when that is said. Right? Sport, speed, strength, skill. When I think of the Olympics I think 'waste of money'.(Let me clarify: I am not anti the Olympics per sea, just the amount of money that is wasted on it.)
I think there is a lot to be said about the people who actually enter Olympics; their dedication and commitment etc. I admire them for their time and effort to get to the top of their particular field. Honestly though, I think that the Olympics is a waste of time and money. Every four years a different city have the 'privilege' of hosting the Olympic games, costing their country and their tax payers millions. (Although I understand that they can often make money off the Olympics as well, and it can provide many jobs and such, I think the difference is phenomenal.)

The whole opening ceremony  was a self glorifying waste of 27 million pounds! There's paying tribute to your country's success and then there's just ridiculousness. Surely that money could have been put elsewhere, eliminating world hunger, education, resources etc. Also the land for the stadiums could have been put to better use.

I understand that there are great things that come out of the Olympics. Unity, multiculturalism, cross cultural bariors are broken down, the world has witnessed countless displays of amazing sportsmanship and that in itself is a great thing.  However there must be a more cost effective way of doing this.

 It makes me put on my big cranky pants and stomp my feet that so much money is being wasted on glorifing sport.

Writting again.

I want to write a book, well anything really; an article, an essay. I am in a writing mood. I loved writing factual essays at school and I want to get back into it. I love the written word, language sentance structure, getting my point across, making my argument, I liked the reading, the reseach. I feel that I need to exercise my brain.
I want to start writing one essay/short story/ article a week.

I need ideas:
Bubbles The lost art of letter writing - Does how you were raised effect what kind of parent you will be?
- Free speech? Freedom of opinion?
- The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.
- Censorship
- Imagine that you have the opportunity to travel back through time. At what point in history would you like to stop and why?

- Select a creative work -- a novel, a film, a poem, a musical piece, a painting or other work of art -- that has influenced the way you view the world and the way you view yourself. Discuss the work and its effect on you.
- Basic human rights/which are the most important.
- The lost art of letter-writing deserves to be revived.
- Butter Isn't Better (Than Margarine)
- Abortion Should be Banned
- If you could spend a year with any real or fictional person in the past, present, or future, whom would you choose? Why?
- If you had the gift of telepathy, the ability to read other people’s minds, would you use this gift or not? Explain.
- Should people with terminal illnesses have the right to doctor assisted suicides?
- Should stem cell researchers be able to use stem cells from aborted babies to cure diseases?
- Explain how your experiences as a teenager significantly differ from those of your friends. Include comparisons.
-  Name one book you have read in the past year, describe your reason for considering this book significant and what you gained from reading it.
 - Pick a story of local, national, or international importance from the front page of any newspaper. Identify your source and give the date the article appeared. Then use your sense of humor, sense of outrage, sense of justice—or just plain good sense—to explain why the story engages your attention.

Guidance and the Voice of God (my notes)

Chapter 2
* God guides according to a plan.
* God's word is a certain and reliable as the rain that waters the earth.
* There's a sense of historical necessity about what Jesus came to do. It was part of the grand design, it HAD to happen.
* God uses the inconceivable to achieve his purposes.
* God has a plan and he works sovereignly and irresistibly to achieve it.

Chapter 3
* Becoming like Christ is the ultimate good, but that does not mean that it is going to be easy. Becoming like Him means becoming acquainted with grief and suffering, yet remaining obedient until the end.
* To say that God works in everything for our good does not mean that He will remove all suffering from our path. It is through that pain and suffering that God will work his sovereign way to mould us into the shape of Jesus.
* Romans 8 reassures us that nothing in life can thwart God's plan to make us like Christ. The sufferings of this world are nothing compared to the glory that is to come. In the mean time nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
* God works in everything - in pain, in pleasure, in success and in suffering - to achieve the goal of making us like Jesus.
* God works in all things, not just in some things. There is no limit to God's involvement in our lives.
*If God is sovereign in the way we have outlined, then it is impossible to be 'outside the will of God'. Even our bad decisions are used by God to accomplish his ends.
* We are saved wholly and completely by God, so we have nothing we can boast about. IT IS A GIFT.
* God's answer is: you are asking the wrong question. You are coming at it from the wrong angle altogether. You need to see things from my perspective if you want to live my way.
* We have seen that Gos does it all. He sets the destination, and he makes sure that we get there! "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6

Chapter 4
* Repentance is about changing your direction. It mean far more than feeling sorry. (It is possiable to feel very sorry about something but still keep on doing it - that is not repentance. It is equally possible to have a complete change of mind and action about something without feeling very sorry at all.)
* True repentance should alter your whole life. Here is radical repentance - pronounce yourself dead and start living for Christ.
* The bible uses 'faith' simply to mean 'trust'.
* The right way to respond to God - repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. The continuing responce to Gos is the same as the initial one. Repentance is something that we do once - decisively - when we decide to become Christians; and yet is it also something we continue to do throughout our lives.
* We need to continue clothing ourselves in the character and behaviour that benefits our status as God's chosen people.
* Repentance is a continuing response to God.

Chapter 5
* Real repentance will show itself over time in a changed lifestyle. It involves turning away from our former way of life and leaving behind old patterns of sin. Real repentance can be seen in a desire to right the wrongs we have done and make restitution.
* Many people look on faith as a commodity something you had (or hadn't). It is a common mistake. Many people think that faith is an object in itself. Biblical faith is trusting in someone or something. Christians trust that Jesus did rise from the dead and live their lives based on that trust.
* In other words it is not our faith (trust) that is important. It is the object of our faith that matters.
*The object of the Christian faith is God himself. We are to trust Jesus as our saviour and mediator. We are to trust the words of God as true and powerful and active. We are to trust God's character and His attitude towards us. We are to trust his promises.
* This trust is based on knowledge, knowledge of all God is, what He's done and what he plans to do. 

Convertable dress

WANT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O4nFBgElmBc

Awesome wrap thing

WANT!

 http://www.lillap.com/Home/Origami/TWRP

Tie Dying

Dyes.

All tied up and ready to dye!

Colour one.

Colour two.

Colour three.

Before.

Ready to dye

Ready to dye

Ready to dye

All done.

All done.

All done

All done.