It's On!

Today I had an audition. Nothing big, the school just wanted to see where everyone was at in their giftings. I felt like it went well. I was really nervous, because my group was the first to go up. I sang backup on "The Time Has Come" and then partially led (by partially, I mean that I led the 2nd verse and chorus) "Hosanna". (Both Hillsong songs).

Church last night was awesome. Brooke Fraser led worship. We as a church prayed for her and her husband (they are newlyweds). For those of you who don't know who Brooke Fraser is, you are missing out! She is one of the main worship leaders here at Hillsong. Here voice is beautiful, and her heart for God is contagious. She has written alot of awesome songs within the church and for her own albums. God definitely blessed her with an awesome voice and a gifted hand at writing. Brooke was on keys, and we did all old school songs, such as "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord".

Lately at church, worship has consisted of the new album, which I LOVE!! When it comes out in the states, PLEASE buy it, because it is awesome and you will be blessed. The album is called "This is Our God". Get the DVD too. I am in the middle of watching it now, and it's so powerful! It's really weird though when you start seeing people onstage in the video that you know, or teach your class, or just passed you by the other day. Haha. For instance, the drummer on the album (in the live performance) was the drummer today for my audition. Craziness.

So those were a few updates. Now I want to share my thoughts with y'all on what is happening right now in life:

Since I have arrived here in Australia, satan has thrown one thing after another at us. Challenges have not stopped arrising. At first, it was not too bad. Other than the fact that we didn't have a furnished apartment, everything was okay. Now things are getting worse. Satan is now hurling challenges, issues, and problems at us. Everyday, something new happens. You just never know what to expect. Our heat/AC does not work, the outlets upstairs just blew last night and won't turn back on, I don't have enough time to get things done that need to get done (because everything closes at 5pm here, and I have school til 5pm every day this week but Friday, and I'm constricted to my housemates' schedules for a ride), we don't have a mailbox key still, April is having trouble working full time because of visa issues, our house makes creepy noises, and now the car that Robert and April bought is a dud. Wow, satan just really really wants to vex (cool word) me. It's been pretty challenging, but I have gotten to the point where I just laugh at the next upcoming problem. Sometimes its just the little things that happen that just seem so big. And then there are the big problems.

Last night I was reminded of Job. He was plagued with so many problems, but he never gave up on God. He never cursed God. But that's not really the main thing I got out of the story. I was telling God how I was so confused and worried and frustrated, and then I was reminded how satan approached God, and what God's response was:

One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

"Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

-Job 1:6-12

I just see this happening in my life. I'm not saying God went bragging to satan about me or anything, but I do think sometimes we get so comfortable. Sometimes God wants to give us the opportunity to walk by faith. If we never get that opportunity, how can we ever prove our faithfulness and trustworthiness to God? How can we ever really know that we truly love God, enough to die for Him, if we can't even hold His hand in the trials, trusting that He won't let go? How can a man and woman's love prove to be true and lasting if they never face any trials?

Satan makes a point. He basically says "Well of course Job loves you and is so righteous. He has it made." I love how God just has complete faith that Job will have complete faith in Him. Sometimes when we are being tested, it means God is allowing the test, not because He believes you should be punished, but because He believes in you. This has to be true, because the Bible says He will not give you more than you can handle. Any loving father would not challenge their children in an area or ask them to do something unless they believed that their children could do it. God is the ultimate Father, and he wants to see us become stronger in Him: to trust and love Him stronger.

It's funny...I informed satan today that he can do whatever he wanted, but he's only giving me the capability to grow stronger.