2009.

I cannot believe that I'm in my 2nd semester of college. All I know is I am determined to make not just semester, but this year, count. I am so excited to see where God is going to take me in my walk with Him. When I went back home I think I got kind of discouraged by doctor's reports on my back, but coming back to Hillsong has really helped me to be encouraged by God's might and ability and willingness to heal me. Going back home made me re-evaluate my faith, in that I lost my passion and my feeling of desire toward God. This made me think. It made me mad that I had gone through a whole semester at college here in Hillsong and yet my faith swayed with the wind. Whether I'm in America or Australia should not determine how in love I am and how much I trust my Savior. I found myself blaming God and getting mad at Him instead. Not sure why my first tendency was to do that, but I guess I just have a human nature of not wanting to take responsibility. Anyways, I am now praising God for health and I haven't had alot of back pain since I've been here. The other night someone from the church prayed for my back and when she walked away, I still felt a hand on my back. God told me that he hasn't forgotten about my back, or about me and I'm now resting in that. Since then I've had peace about the situation, but I'm not settling. I'm still battling out in prayer and thanks for my healing.

This is my year. I believe this will be my best year yet. I feel this year I'm going to have a major "growth spurt" in my relationship with God. I just got back from Powerhouse Summer Retreat (Powerhouse is the 18-25 year old ministry) and God just started the process of breaking lots of things off my life that have been holding me back for a long time in running whole-heartedly with God's plan for my life - things that have been stunting my growth such as unconfidence, self-consciousness, etc. These things still come up within me. It's not just some magic prayer and then, POOF, all your problems and insecurities are gone, but I now just realize that it's stupid and Satan is just lying to me in telling me that I can't do something, or that I'll look stupid, etc. This is why I really believe this year is going to be a great one for me - one of massive growth. But it's just one day at a time. That's how it goes. That's how I plan to live.

Check out the "My Links" section I just added to my blog. There is a link to my photography, including family Christmas pictures 2008.