Devotionals

Hi guys! 

So I know that most of us have probably forgotten about God and have gone Boxing Day shopping or have started preparing your NYE texts but I urge you all to have a structure with your devotionals. 

We have to grow the Holy Spirit in us by continuing to read God's Word. 

On http://rbc.org/ there are some great devotional websites if you haven't started with any devotionals. 

Just bookmark that website on your browser or download an application on your smartphone. There are plenty of apps out there, whatever works with you but I urge you to find a way to continue reading the Bible over the holidays.

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'
Matthew 4:4

Hope to see everyone pumped for next year! :D

This is a little delayed

Happy birthday jesus!
Hope you are all having a great holiday :)

Dear God, thank you for the holidays and giving us rest! Amen.

Keep Him in your hearts and mind and let not your faith wilter but to strengthen as each day goes by even when we are not in the presence of each others' encouragement but God is everywhere.

Holidays

Last day of 'school' today! (presentation day is not school in my eyes)

I just really pray that through the holidays we do not forget God. Sometimes I feel as though those who don't go to Church or Youth etc., or even those who do, still rely on SIC meetings to remember God in our life (?) when really we should just know that God is always there for us every day. I'd also just like to pray that you keep up with devotions and reading the bible whenever you can! And pray that God continues to dwell in our hearts and we continue to love each other and have peace within ourselves.
Merry Christmas to you all too! As Christians, Christmas Day is a really special day where we should all celebrate, glorify and enjoy! :)

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

xx

You are all loved

Just a reminder :)

jesus doesnt love me

This is really interesting

Gateway of the mind
In 1983, a team of deeply pious scientists conducted a radical experiment in an undisclosed facility. The scientists had theorized that a human without access to any senses or ways to perceive stimuli would be able to perceive the presence of God. They believed that the five senses clouded our awareness of eternity, and without them, a human could actually establish contact with God by thought. An elderly man who claimed to have “nothing left to live for” was the only test subject to volunteer. To purge him of all his senses, the scientists performed a complex operation in which every sensory nerve connection to the brain was surgically severed. Although the test subject retained full muscular function, he could not see, hear, taste, smell, or feel. With no possible way to communicate with or even sense the outside world, he was alone with his thoughts.
Scientists monitored him as he spoke aloud about his state of mind in jumbled, slurred sentences that he couldn’t even hear. After four days, the man claimed to be hearing hushed, unintelligible voices in his head. Assuming it was an onset of psychosis, the scientists paid little attention to the man’s concerns.
Two days later, the man cried that he could hear his dead wife speaking with him, and even more, he could communicate back. The scientists were intrigued, but were not convinced until the subject started naming dead relatives of the scientists. He repeated personal information to the scientists that only their dead spouses and parents would have known. At this point, a sizable portion of scientists left the study.
After a week of conversing with the deceased through his thoughts, the subject became distressed, saying the voices were overwhelming. In every waking moment, his consciousness was bombarded by hundreds of voices that refused to leave him alone. He frequently threw himself against the wall, trying to elicit a pain response. He begged the scientists for sedatives, so he could escape the voices by sleeping. This tactic worked for three days, until he started having severe night terrors. The subject repeatedly said that he could see and hear the deceased in his dreams.
Only a day later, the subject began to scream and claw at his non-functional eyes, hoping to sense something in the physical world. The hysterical subject now said the voices of the dead were deafening and hostile, speaking of hell and the end of the world. At one point, he yelled “No heaven, no forgiveness” for five hours straight. He continually begged to be killed, but the scientists were convinced that he was close to establishing contact with God.
After another day, the subject could no longer form coherent sentences. Seemingly mad, he started to bite off chunks of flesh from his arm. The scientists rushed into the test chamber and restrained him to a table so he could not kill himself. After a few hours of being tied down, the subject halted his struggling and screaming. He stared blankly at the ceiling as teardrops silently streaked across his face. For two weeks, the subject had to be manually rehydrated due to the constant crying. Eventually, he turned his head and, despite his blindness, made focused eye contact with a scientist for the first time in the study. He whispered “I have spoken with God, and he has abandoned us” and his vital signs stopped. There was no apparent cause of death.

Do you get God?

Hello my SICs, I am writing regarding something that has been on my mind. I'm not here to get something off my chest or to express my opinion on something - I am merely here to ask you a question. Do you get God?

I don't mean this literally - that is to say, I am not asking if you physically have a hold of God. I mean mentally and spiritually, do you understand God?
My mum is both a scientist and a Christian (this is going to give me away but #yolo - it is never inappropriate to use #yolo). My mum believes in science and all that is non-spiritual, and at the same time she believes in God and all things spiritual. Every day she uses phrases like "God forbid", "Father forgive them" or "Always thank our Father before you sleep". And I get those phrases, but I don't get God.

All my family is Christian and always has been, but I find it so hard to understand God and understand my world at the same time. The one thing I've always liked about Science (as a subject in school, per say) is that it makes sense. I get it, and through learning Science, I get the world. But as my faith as a Christian grew this year, my grades in Science correspondingly slipped. That could just be a coincidence, but I know that my ideas of Science and God are very conflicting.

For example, I believe in the Big Bang theory, and I (try to) believe that God created the Earth in seven days. Ideas like this keep building up and up - another example is homosexuals. Some Christians often say that homosexuals make the unnatural and un-Christian choice to be gay, but Science (i.e. what my Mum taught me) is that homosexual have no choice in the matter - they are gay due to a hormonal imbalance in their body.
So how do you guys work with these conflicting ideas? How do you guys find the midpoint? I don't understand some of the principal elements of Christianity, but I really, really want to. Am I a bad Christian because I don't always get God? Do you get God?

I asked my Mum this, and she said: "You're worrying about understanding God. You shouldn't. You're not here to understand God; He is here to understand you. Being a Christian isn't about knowledge, it's about belief."

Regarding the sandy hooks shooting
I read a comment that said, "it's stupid how people blame guns for this, it's the media that should be blamed, giving this madman so much attention, it's just going to make some other lunatic want to do this as well and then shoot themselves after. The attention this is getting is just going to influence other people to as well. Just don't take away my gun."
Can we please just pray that what this guy says wont come true, that no more of these innocent children will have to suffer. They had so much ahead in their lives, so much more that they could experience. Their funerals came far too early.
Another comment I read was, "the guy committed suicide after killing 20 kids, what a coward, because he couldnt face up to what he did. but I'm glad he did because I don't want to pay taxes so this guy can rot in prison."
I don't know what to think, what about you?

thankful

today was such a wonderful day that we were all blessed with, today was our last sic meeting of the year at school and we handed out encouragement letters and all and they were all really nice, i think we can agree on that.

i remember the first sic meeting we had when cathy came in and she asked us what we wanted to get out of this group. and i think most of us agreed on, building relationships with each other through God and getting to know each other as SICs. Just reading through my encouragement letters, personally I feel that it's safe to say that we have achieved that goal, it's never going to be a goal that we can fully achieve because like having a friend, you can never know everything about them!

it's just really beautiful to see how much we have evolved as a group, going from just a bunch of individual christians meeting up to talk about God to a family. I am in awe of the transformation of our group by the power of God, and it just goes to show how amazing He is.

also wanted to say, this blog doesn't have to be sad all the time. we need to rejoice the good things in life! it's like talking to a friend, i don't think anyone only ever speaks in complaints!

Appreciate what you have lovelies :)

Hi guys

I spoke to the counsellor today and i talked to her about sic. She is really happy for our love for each other and fellowship. She think it might be a good idea for her to come to one of our sessions because she wants to hand out resources everyone so that those who might be having a rough time or wanted to get something of your chest. Would you guys like this? Do you think it's a good idea? Please reply with thoughts :)

Dear God, thank you for the beautiful weather. Amen.

:)

Summer

Hey everyone!

What did we all think of our guest speaker today? Personally i think the things thatvshe said really struck :) For example that story about the wife who kept leaving and God who stayed truthful, loving and was patient...
However when she said that God was jealous of the thibgs... i mean... are we alliwed to love things? e.g. am i allowed to love .. sport so much that sometimes my love for it makes me want to win so much i forget about my love for God??

i think this needs to be made clear

GUYS JUST LOOK AT YOURSELVES! DID GOD NOT TEACH US TO RESPECT OUR SICS? DID GOD NOT TEACH US TO SUPPORT EACHOTHER? DID GOD NOT TEACH US THAT WE GROW ALTOGTHER AS ONE BODY AND THAT IF ONE MEMBER STUMBLES, WE WILL ALL STUMBLE AS WELL? DID GOD NOT TEACH US TO LOVE? LOOK AT US! WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SETTING AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE WHO DON'T YET KNOW GOD BUT WE ARE DOING THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE. HOW CAN WE LOVE GOD IF WE DONT LOVE EACHOTHER? I BEG ALL TO JUST STOP AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING. JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND JUST STOP! DO YOU WANT THE FUTURE OF SIC TO BE IN CONSTANT CONFLICT?

Hi

I strongly agree on 'no title' @ 8:04pm. Instead if all this bitching, can we just move on and do what God wants us to do? Yes. Stop all the stupid stuff and do good things. Lets help those in need and offer help to others not open about it. Lets love one another from the bottom of our hearts. Lets stick together as SICs and look up to God and listen to him and not forget him, not like what we are doing now. Right now i feel like there are two sides. The tumblr msg side and the fb sic posts as the defender. This is not a fight. The msgs on tumblr may be harsh but the things people post on fb are harsh too. Watch what comes out of your mouths or internet mouths. We have to stick together, not be angry with each other. We are all God's children and he doesnt want us to fight like this right? I have certainly learned a lesson from the happenings of this week or so. Lets just focus on doing good and move on.
Ily all xx
Ps. Can we start labelling or numbering our posts on the title area its getting super confusing

I'm really trying not to be mean or harsh about this and I love each and every one of you but when it comes to some problems, I guess it would be best to only tell a few people. Telling a whole group of people such as our group may have more adverse effects than good ones. I feel as though sometimes it is not about sharing, but about trying to get better. I'm not defending the people before who wrote "get over yourself" because I know that it certainly not easy to do that. You simply cannot get better that easily. It's like if you were feeling extremely hungry, you can't just make yourself full by sheer force. You need to reach out to get what you want. I also think that we should express our concerns in a better manner which would not offend anyone as we have no right to diss other people as we are all sinful and there is nothing we can do about it other than push each other up. Maybe it may seem to people that those who are reaching out for help are doing it for attention but what do we know? If someone says they are sick and ill, we will tend to them no matter what. Don't question why they do it but rather find out how to help them. It is not within our power to decide who can feel what.

Also a message to anyone who is not ready to share their troubles yet, you don't necessarily have to share with our whole group and if you feel more comfortable talking one on one with one of your peers than I highly suggest you do that. If you need help you may want to speak to the school counsellor or your parents. God gave you these opportunities and you have to use them. One can't simply get better by themselves, we all require a helping hand.

So yeah, what I'm saying is, if you need help then there may be some better ways to get it other than telling our group because we can't expect perfect reactions from everyone.

Love you guys!
xx

i am honestly so scared with what's been happening recently. it would kill me if something really bad happened, and i stood still knowing about it but not doing anything. It would kill me if i found out that there was SOMETHING ANYTHING i could have done, but didn't.
we can't let it get that far.

please please please, no more stupid stuff.

To that unpublished post previously

THANK YOU. thank you for being one the very few who states the truth. Yes i agree with you. We are dragging each other down, rather than the other way. Get over yourself. If you want to change then do something about it! Don't just complain and expect people to care about you and so that others can say wonderful thing about you you are the only person that can truly affect yourself and your thinking, so learnt to do that for yourselves. Sorry and thank you

Really want to get some encouragement up!!
Verse i really love is Isaiah 40:8

I even added a pic to brighten your day :)

things can change for you too

im smiling so hard right now

because of the power of God...

i thought some people in my family were extreme non-followers of Christ

but im smiling now

because sometime, somehow

they have changed... :) 

there are so many things that Gods power can do for us

Just give Him some time

things can change for u too

A note from Joanna:

Just as I'm going into holiday mode as I'm sure many of you are, I really want to remind you about how amazing God is.

I really encourage you to all look outside and be thankful. Look around and just be amazed by Gods' creation and how perfect everything is. When you think about stuff like that you really can't help but be thankful.

I don't know if this works but every time you want to cut, starve, flick or slowly punish yourself I really beg you to think of one thing your thankful for or think about one of Gods perfect creation.

Think about Gods love and think about how with God everything's possible. Everyone has struggles but God loves and he cares and he listens.

http://wisdom-god.tumblr.com/

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

~ 1 Peter 5: 6-10

I agree so strongly with the last post. I know a lot of us have problems but they don't necessarily need to be shared with everyone. If we want to ask for prayer for them we could just ask others to pray for security, faith, trust, peace, self-confidence, or any number of other things, but we don't always have to share our problems with others. I get that you get a sense of closure in not having to bear a big burden by yourself, but what's the significance of telling a lot of people? Do you want people to look at you differently? Because most people will, once they find out things like this. And when you share such big secrets with us at SIC, some of the time it makes us feel like our lives are nothing and that we're so small and petty compared to you.

To quote some of the last few posts, I feel like this is getting into a competition. Eating disorders, self harm etc are not contests and are life ruining. Some people have learned the art of suffering silently. They know only God can help them, so they don't bother telling everyone they meet what they are going through.

I feel like everyone is triggering each other to do these things. For starters I wouldn't have started cutting again if I didn't find out that someone else in my grade was openly doing it. I felt like it was ok for me to do it and more normal so I started again. And reading this blog makes me so depressed. I really suggest that you talk to a counsellor or someone about anything that's bothering you because it could get a lot worse and out of control. Sometimes I just want to say fuck this and just get out of this mess but then I think about how God put me here for a reason and that all you wonderful sisters will always be here.
Also, I feel like this is getting into a competition. Eating disorders, self harm etc are not contests and are life ruining. Once you start it's so hard to get out. Please fight this battle hard for God. Love you all xxx

Regarding the post below...

It is important to remember that there are people here who don't wish to share their troubles at SIC
Just something I found helpful regarding this area-

We may look at other people and think they never have to go through anything difficult, but we all go through different things. Some people have gone through devastating things that nobody knows anything about. Some people have learned the art of suffering silently. They know only God can help them, so they don't bother telling everyone they meet what they are going through.
It is not wrong to share our troubles with a friend or counselor, but the point is that we cannot assume others are not having challenges in life just because they don't look depressed or don't talk about their problems. We all get hut at times, and we all have the same opportunity either to let it make us bitter or let it make us better. How can injsutices make us better? For one thing, they help us develop character. Doing what is right when we don't have feelings supporting us builds strong character in us. Intelligence and talents are God's gifts, but character is developed. We need to move beyond hurt and be willing to give ourselves away and lay down our lives for others (John 15:13)



Do not forget your letters are to be written and handed into Joanna ASAP! (Tash by this week, Anita by next)

Happy holidays !

hello guys and girls but mainly girls,
Christmas is coming up!
but before that we have encouragement letters to give
i know that i'm writing mines right now :)
i just have to say one thing, and that's during the holiday season its always to hardest to keep with God, especially if you don't go to church or your family isn't Christian. Doing something by yourself is always harder than doing it without friends, especially something like Christianity because it takes so much commitment and effort.
My point is, that although there are some people who have voiced their problems in SIC, that we shouldn't forget that there are also girls who would rather keep these problems to themselves. Although they may not have said anything to anyone, an encouragement letter to them could really make a difference for them during the holidays. It could stop them from feeling lonely or unloved during Christmas. Imagine having to struggle through the holiday with your problems with things like Christianity and family or whatever it is, and not have a letter to give you hope and encouragement, just because you thought it was too private to speak up about. You could really change their holiday with just one letter. So please, send a letter to someone who you might not think has problems because a little bit of encouragement can go a long way.

Elastics

I thought I was fine.

I’ve really never thought about selfharm. Well, I’ve thought about selfharm before, but definitely not to myself.

I’m too much of a coward to harm myself.

But then I heard about using an elastic band.

It’s meant to be a recovery solution for those who cut.

But for me, it’s an introduction.

It’s lulling me into it.

No. I’m not depressed.

At least I don’t think I am.

At first, I did it because I simply felt like it and I wanted to see if it made a noise. I also wanted to see if anyone on the train would notice. I wanted to see if people noticed.

It felt quite nice.

And then I looked at the red welts on my wrist and I smiled. It was like relief.

But then I was thinking about it more and more last night. I just felt the urge to do it again. But this time, there was nobody there to notice. I did it just because I felt the itching urge to.

And so I did.

I only snapped the band twice. And then I forced myself to pull away.

I did it today again. So many times. I snapped the elastic a few times on the train but I did it more during school whenever I felt that sadness and it felt nice. I forgot what the sadness felt like. Its like that feeling when your friend insults you or belittles you, that feeling when you notice that you're not worth the attention, that feeling you get when you want someone to notice you but noone does.

I noticed that I didn’t notice the elastic sitting on my wrist when I was happy.

I guess that’s obvious seeing as self harm doesn’t happen when your happy.

But I did it more today.

I’m scared.

What if I do it more?

What if I get addicted?

I did feel nice. It was almost like satisfaction.

Probably a fraction of what those who cut feel.

I don’t want to spiral into depression.

Please let it not be so.

I still have a few red welts from last period at school. Its barely visible but I can tell the difference between my left wrist and my right one.

I guess I didn’t know I was in pain until I felt relief.

ideas for friday

hey guys,
ive been thinking about our sic meetings and i think a lot of us joined in the first place to have a better relationship with god and to grow with our fellow sisters. but god is the ultimate focus right? in order to have a better relationship with anyone, you have to first get to know them and i think its really important to understand who god is first. throughout this term i think we just have been discussing i. small groups and a lot of the time i have realised that we often get stuck on what to talk about. i think it would be nicer to have a topic to discuss and to get to know god better. and focus our fellowship to him. it is still important that we share our problems but i think ultimately god is the only one that can solve them. so what do you think about topics for every week? :)

Hey guys

God is always watching so don't forget to smile and be positive!!! Love you lovely sisters xxxxx

loooool

the post below made me smile

this blog makes me sad

click this if you need some more happy

thank me later
and don't forget to smile!
because He's always watching over you.

Continuing on

I dont know how to say this but i feel like I really need to tell you all about how well being a Christian isnt something easy. It isnt something where once you decide to become Christian you will just be perfect at it. There will always be ups and downs and it wont be easy. I really encourage you all when you feel like your straying off the path or when you just feel like your drifting from God to talk to someone, to pray and most importantly to continue reading. I can honestly say there are days where I just dont feel like reading. Like i open my bible and i see all these words and I just go I HATE READING and one day wont kill me but this all builds up. Being a Christian is a lifestyle change and isnt something you can do half heartedly so I really really encouarge you all, if you are finding yourself straying to seek God, to really look to him no matter how much you dont want. Being a Christian is a fight and it isnt easy so dont give up hope. 

Psalm 119:176 

I have strayed like a lost sheep.
    Seek your servant,
    for I have not forgotten your commands.

Joshua 23:8

But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful 

 

No one can ever be a perfect Christian

Do not beat yourself up if you have stumbled in your faith and trust to God. No one can ever be the perfect Christian, we all have our own faults.

You are not alone in your struggles. Simon Peter disobeyed Jesus in Matthew 26 three times even when Jesus predicted this future actions to him.

Can you imagine it? The great Peter, the man that is said to have been the greatest saint in history, Jesus' right hand man, one of the loyalist disciples disobeyed him.

I know many of us may find it hard to fit Him into our lives. There are times when we fall asleep like the three disciples at Gethsemane but remember that everybody sins, everyday we sin. That is the very reason we ask for His forgiveness.

I know sometimes we look at our fellow sisters and think 'She has so much faith in God, why can't I be like that? I'm not a good Christian because I can't put the same amount of trust in Him'

I urge you to not look at the growth of other sisters as a comparison, each person is different. God doesn't have favourites, he loves everyone and everything. No matter how many times you have sinned He will be waiting there patiently to catch you when you fall.

If you feel like you're slipping, talk to a church/ISCF leader, maybe even a fellow SIC member. There are always people there for you.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 

I thought...

If God loves us, then why would he protect us from knowledge. Knowledge is such a beautiful thing, its how we know to gather together and pray. If it was such a good thing why would he keep it away from us. I used to think that God was selfish because he hid this from us. I thought I could live a life with knowledge, without God. Why would God hold this fruit up in front of us, knowing it was our nature to chase after what we can’t have, and thats why eve bit the apple.

But now I know. Knowledge is power. That is the most efficient statement I have ever heard. And some of us can’t hand power. None of us can handle power. Power is what drives us insane, and makes us sick. Sick in the head. If I didn’t know that shoving my fingers down my throat would make me throw up then I wouldn’t be doing it. If I didn’t know that people are cruel and judgemental, then I wouldn’t isolate myself so much. If I didn’t know that she did this, or he did that, then maybe I wouldn’t cringe when i see them. If I didn’t know what the latest fashion trends were, I wouldn’t be blowing my parents’ hard-earned money everywhere. If i didn’t know that buying things made me so happy, then i wouldn’t be so fucking matierialistic. If I didn’t know that my goal in life was to find happiness, then i wouldn’t be looking for it in superficial things.

I wish i didn’t know. If i didn’t know i would be pure and i would be innocent and perfect in God’s eyes. I wish there was a possibility that i could refrain from knowing, but it’s impossible, no matter how much my parents hide me from this stuff, my nature is always going to look for that apple. And there’s going to be more and more apples, and every single time i get one of these apple’s, im going to feel encouraged to change my life and move away from God.

Sin is the reason i hate.

And you know what, its because we know things, that God has to satisfy us. We know that we need food to live, so he provides it. And the more we know, the harder God has to work. I don’t know about the rest of you, but God really is my father. I see him in exactly the same light as my real dad. And I love him just as much as he loves me. I think, the reason I’m saying all of this is that God really does love you. If he tries to protect you from things that he knows will corrupt you, he would do everything a real dad would do for you. And I think that it really hurts him when someone suicides. You forget God loves you, you forget that he created you, you forget that you are empty without him, constantly chasing apples. But most importantly, if God can feel love, he can also feel pain. never forget that the things you do and say affect God as well. 

I think God hates to hear about someone suiciding just as much as the next person. 

But you know what?

Some people have that verse from the Bible that really hits home to them, you know? That really strikes them - that relates so much to their life. Well for me, that would be Psalm 27:1. I don't know how I came across it - I think I just stumbled upon it one day. Maybe I'm faltering as a Christian, or maybe life has considerably improved in such a manner that I no longer need that verse for support? Whatever it is, I've recently felt that that particular verse no longer resounds within me quite so much. But life has been pretty bad in the past few weeks. I tried to turn to God - I've always known this was coming, but no amount of prayer or hope or friendship has made it any the better.

I know I've cried so much over the past week, and it doesn't feel like I'll ever stop crying. Isn't it weird - I bet loads of people think my life is easy. They must think the only hardships in my life are how to get good marks in that one test or how to make that boy fall for me. Isn't it funny that my life is so much more?



But you know what? I'm not even scared anymore.



 Psalm 27:1 - The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

If you are reading this, know that you are loved by someone, somewhere, by your fellow sisters and by God himself

The Lord is my LIGHT and SALVATION- whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the STRONGHOLD in my life- of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

an open letter

hi guys so this isn't really specific for anybody but just something general that i wanted to share.

i know we all know how it feels to be at rock bottom and we feel like everything we do doesn't even matter in life anymore because nothing is going to get better and everything is just going to go down hill and we begin to doubt God and his love; if God's love is real, why do I feel this way?

well, there's this book, called the Bible, and basically the whole book, is about God's love for us. The entire book is about how much he loves each and everyone of us, nobody just writes a whole book about nothing. 

I personally, would really hate if anything happened to any of you. As I am writing this, I am shaking in fear that one day I will turn up to school and one of us will be gone, everyone of us will cry out of love. We never have to go through things alone, God has graciously given us fellow brothers and sisters so that we may share the burden. It's like a pulley, for every cog that is put in place, the amount of energy needed to lift a weight will be reduced, we are those cogs that are part of the same great big contraption and we are there to help you go through this so never feel like any of us are alone.

Lord, thank you for always being there for us to talk to and to share our burdens, and that you've given us the gift of sisters and brothers of Christ whom we can share our burdens with so that we are never crushed by the weight of our pain. There is no one like you who understands all our troubles. Father, I pray that through all our times of troubles and turmoil that you will light up the dark and lead us away from temptation and you will give us strength and love and comfort. 

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

negative thoughts

Hey guys, I just wanted to write up something here that I'm not ready to share during our meetings or on our facebook group.

So I've been thinking of taking my life for quite a while now and I'm not sure how much strength I have left to keep up this happy attitude at school and at home before I really break down. I've been cutting myself as well and I just feel like I might as well kill myself. Sometimes I feel like God's love won't be enough to keep me going but sometimes I also feel like there's too much of God's love and I don't feel like I deserve any of this. My life is a mess and so am I. 

ysic x

spotto prayer :)

father god i thank you for never getting bored of me and i thank you that you havent given up on me and that you are always right beside me even though the people around me might have, you are always there!

father, thank you that through you alone i can seek love, thank you for being enough for me. that i dont have to seek love, success and happiness in anyone or anything else.

father god, thank you for looking past my imperfections and loving me for who i am. thank you that through you i can find true satisfaction that will last forever.

father god, in times of doubt, remind me that you are always there, and let me not forget that you love me still the same, no matter what others think of me.

father god, in times of hardship and suffering, please strengthen me and help me persevere and guide me to your love.

father god, in times of anger, calm me father and do not let my anger provoke others. give me peace father in everything that i do, and i pray that you will keep me calm in everything that i do, so that i can show those you dont yet know you, the peace you have shown me.

father god, help me show those around me who you really are; powerful, almighty, peaceful, and loving.

We are all equal

In regards to our discussion today about homosexuality, like I know God created man to be with woman and vice versa but like didn't he also create us all equal?

Idk I think it's slack when people talk about how being homosexual is a sin I mean yeah it's like implied in the Bible but I'm pretty sure they changed something in the new testament. Anyway it's not like homosexuality is a lifestyle choice so why should they be blamed and discriminated against. Like so many Christian groups and stuff protest against gays like why must you do this.

Some people actually do think that gay people choose to be gay but do straight people choose to be straight; last time I checked they did not. And look at all the shit they are put through; all that bullying and stuff like I doubt anyone would actually want to go through that.

Idk I just find it really really slack when people talk about gays like that I mean we're all human and God made all of us just how he wanted us to be.

And okay I was thinking about this. What if a young girl had been born and raised in a Christian family and had really strong morals and values and was just an all round good person, but then she realised that she was homosexual. What if she's done all that she could to love and honour God but then she's been called a 'sinner' because of something she has no control over. 

parents.

today my mum told me that she sees no future for me and that one day i'll kill myself.
i don't think that parents realise how much their words scar their kids.

Little Things

I was listening to little things by one direction a while ago and first, I was incredibly happy, incredibly just fangirl I guess.

And now suddenly, after 2 hours, I just listened to it again, and I realised, how much of an impact that these lyrics alone have on everyone who listens to it who is going thorugh something tough. And then I thought of all the people I know who are suffering through depression, bulimia, anorexia and the list goes on and on and i just finally understood the absolute magnitude that these lyrics alone had.

And it just suddenly hit me, that all these little things about us, about you, me, about the boy next door, the girl you see on the train, every little thing, makes it who you are. And that it's nothing to be ashamed of.

I know it's hard to not think of your imperfections, not to think of the pressure on you to live up to the standards set by your peers, your parents or whatnot, but each and everything that maybe you hate, is what someone else will grow to love.

Who cares if you don't have a thighgap? I certainly don't. Who cares if you weigh more than you would wish? Who cares if your grades aren't good enough? Just as long as you try.

My mom used to tell me this before tests, "It doesn't matter what you get, as long as you did your best."

Well I'm getting off track now, but I just wanted to share this. I was just listening to the song and I suddenly started realising, noticing, understanding.  And then I started crying, but you guys didn't need to know that.

I love you all, and I hope that to all of you who are feeling down, will feel better when you listen to this song. Even if it is just for 3 minutes and 37 seconds.

xoxo

my mind is a mess

there has been so much on my mind recently. so many questions, thoughts, revelations that i don't understand. there are so many things i need to get off my chest right now; my heart feels so heavy and burdened. i want to talk to someone, i want someone to help me but i think a part of me doesn't want it. i want to stay in this dark place and carry these burdens alone and i know, it will slowly eat me up but who can help me? i feel like i've gone too far down into the rabbit hole that i won't be able to see light anymore. i've completely given up on everything .. i don't have the will or motivation to do anything and i could care less about what is really important. i have drifted from God too but i don't think i ever had a relationship with him. i know when I chose to walk with Him life wasn't going to be easy and it isn't, but i can't take it. i hate it, i hate myself, i hate the position i have put myself in. if this is all part of God's plan, what is he doing? where is he leading me? i have completely lost faith in him, i don't understand why he's letting me hurt like this.. i feel like i have no direction or purpose at all; i am helpless and i hate it.

Standing up for Jesus.

I read the blogpost below titled "TRUTH".
I just liked to say that I totally understand where you're coming from.

The other day or so, I was texting this guy who is slightly atheist and he said something along the lines of, "In all honesty I don't think you should let religion be such a big influence in your life, because like, and I don't mean this in an offending way, just like if you really want something, nothing should really get in your way."

Being the pushover I am, I just put it aside and kind of just replied to the other stuff he wrote in the text.

I know I didn't AGREE with him, but I felt so bad as afterwards because I didn't stand up for what I believe in. I didn't stand up for Jesus.

This guy totally just told me that I shouldn't let God influence my life. I had so many things I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him that God GAVE ME LIFE, HE CONTROLS MY LIFE. There were so many things in my head that raced around when I read what he had sent me.

And all I did was ignore it. And you know what the worst part is? I didn't say anything because I didn't want him to stop talking to me, I didn't want him to think I was weird, I didn't want him to push me away because we only just started talking. In that moment, like many others in my life, I pushed Jesus aside and I didn't stand up for Christ. I became a chameleon. 

So I gave this guy this "safe reply".

It's been 4 days.
And he hasn't replied.

Shows you a little something right?

I wish I stood up for Jesus.

truth

hello fellow sisters!

somebody asked me something today...well actually, its been a question that i've been asked quite a few times since i began following God (which was only when SIC was created!)

"Do you believe in God?"

I've actually never really payed attention to my answer before this year. I would say 'nup, i don't believe in anything' - ...happy that i didn't have to commit myself to any religion

but ever since SIC i've realised God in my life. I've realised how he affects us all us so greatly, and I know i want to learn more and become a Christian who can help others realise God...

but sometimes... well the people in my family aren't Christian or anything, so when that person asked me that question... my family was around so i said 'No, i don't believe in God' because i felt like i would be judged

and i know that's a horrible thing for me to do. right? it's like im betraying God's trust. He shows his love for me without worrying about judgement. So why do i have to worry about judgement?

but it's also not just about judgement that i was scared to say that i believed in God. When people ask me to answer Why i believe in God - i don't know what to say. I feel like if i said that the reason why i believed in God was because I found somebody who believes in me, well... i just don't knwo how they'd react?

Do you guys remember how it felt to share your beliefs of God for the first time?

from the heart

it just came to my realisation that i haven't truly smiled from within for a while
ive only ever been smiling on the outside, or smiling like :) through fb and online
and i kinda wonder why, because there are so many reasons for me to smile for real
only i dont.

the closest i got was looking at the year 9/10 fellowship photo that jasleen took on friday, and when someone asked how fellowship went, i was close to smiling for real.
after rice rally i was smiling, after our first sic meeting, after our sic picnic. all for real.
but recently it seems like its just not there. maybe its the work, or because im neglecting God.
i think i laugh for real though, when people make jokes or when something happens, i laugh.
i laugh and i laugh and i guess thats the only time i actually smile at the same time?

and i just tried to smile to the computer while writing this, and its weird cos smiling seems like a foreign thing for my mouth cos it feels so awkward and fake

and sometimes i feel like im two-faced, cos here i am seeming so depressed and sad and when i talk to others i act all happy and stuff.

i think im smiling inside for real though right now. i cant find a way to show it on my face, but i think im actually smiling with warmth reading this blog and our sic related stuff. if that counts. and i think about God and what He has done and how i've been blessed by all of you and i think i smile inside

maybe one day very soon ill be able to show it on my face for real.

sharing

hi guys, i like all this sharing that's going on, it's really nice

ok that's all i wanted to say.

ciao

lost

so there is something that has been going on for quite a while in my life and i just dont know how to deal with it.
i go to school, church, youth and i feel so connected with god and my sisters and even when im not in a sic meeting or at church, the atmosphere just around sisters is good enough for me. i feel so safe that i can talk to people about anything really.
but then i get home, and from the moment i step into the house i just feel insecure. me and my parents have constant fights and in my mind i am telling myself to be patient and not to be angry and to listen to my parents. and in my house i just feel really lost and alone and a lot of the time i just sit in my bed crying for hours because i try so hard to glorify god but i just keep failing and i try to keep a good relationship with god at home, but i just feel so lost and alone. when im at home i probably feel the most insecurity. i try so hard to listen to my parents but our arguments just get worse. im probably not the only one with this problem but sometimes i just wish god could speak to my parents and fix our relationship.
yeah, just wanted to share whats been going on in my life and talk to someone.

Today, I started contemplating what I'm doing with my life. I don't know where I'm going, but it doesn't feel like it's towards God. I have no direction in my life right now and I'm just going with time and where ever it chooses to take me then I will go. My pastor always talked to me about how being a Christian is like, taking a U-turn in your life, leaving the temptation of sin and finally going somewhere. Ever since I was young I was brought up being told that God loves me that now it doesn't even mean anything anymore. Again, I'm starting to doubt myself as a Christian. When people say "you can feel the presence of God in this room" and yet... I feel nothing.
I'm letting other people take control of my life, but I think that's what I want right now. I feel like God is my safety, my last line of defence. I only run to him when I'm in need. The last time I prayed was a week ago when I was so scared and so terrified I just didn't know what to do and as a last resort I ran to God.
What does that make me? A friend in need is a friend indeed.

(also) on my mind

I think the atmosphere at our SIC meetings has kind of died down.. we're not as into it as we were before and everybody's kinda not taking it seriously anymore. I don't mean to be rude but I think we waste a loooot of time at lunch times when we're coming in and stuff. If you're going to buy your lunch I think you should buy it before you come? Otherwise you have to leave and come back in and everyone's just already so distracted. I know the first few weeks of anything is always more exciting and everyone's more looking forward to it but I don't want it to become a routine thing with you guys where you just come in and talk to each other because we're gathering for Him and not for each other and I think we should just respect that. :)

things on my mind

so there have been times where friends have asked me what i think about gay people and it has been on my mind quite a bit. i never can find a way to answer them. i know that in the bible it says being gay is a sin and everything but i can never seem to find an answer for non-christian friends. a lot of the time all they are trying to do, is try and out prove christianity saying that it is a bad religion cos we discriminate homosexuals and it gets so pressuring when i cant find the right way to give them an answer.
could anyone help?

I agree

to what the person down there posted haha. It just takes so long to get started cos there are people coming in and out of the room, people who aren't a part of sic in the room doing their work, people who have other meetings on and sometimes when we get into small groups, we're not talking about the reason we're coming together, and that's for Jesus right? I'm not saying how we shouldn't talk about other things apart from God but it's sometimes so hard to stay on topic and i dont even know why. That's all I really thought about this week's meeting. So I just pray for all of you to just have the mindset that we all come to worship and praise our Father, that He is in the room with us to help us share our difficulties, struggles and even joy with each other and that we should never lose our focus on Him !

God bless you all xo

friday meetings

hi guys! :D

i'm beginning to feel as if our friday meetings aren't getting through much. We don't really have that much time, but it takes us until like second half to get started :/ I really like sharing with each other, so i think it would be good if we make the most out of the short time we have.

Okay, that's it.
Cherrio. (:

wow okay so I just read the post below and to be honest I was a bit speechless after reading it..... when I was reading it however I started getting so many goosebumps and girl what happened to you today is so amazing that in a way it's a miracle! Remember, God is all-knowing so yes He definitely planned for you to go play basketball today, and to have met those awesome people! Not sure what your mind is going through now, but if it is your day of being born as a Christian then thank you God!! this is truly amazing.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God prepared for those who love him" - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

I think the Holy Spirit has really dawned upon you today. God bless! xx

confronted,

hey guys, i am extremely confused, and scared..i'm not sure in a good way, or just.plain scared.. but first i have a story to tell you...

okay, so today i went to the park to play basketball, and this philipino man (who i had met a week ago) was there with his wife and 2 other ladies. The last time i met him, (weirdly) i thought that he was like a refugee or something, and i was thinking - maybe God wanted us to meet so i could help him... Even though i wasn't so sure how, considering i am like what, 14 years old?

Anyways so he was here again today, this time with his wife and the two other ladies...and his wife came up to me and told me that they were in Australia because they were part of a missionary. And i didn't know what a missionary was until just then ( i searched it up on google) so at the time  i just smiled and nodded. And then she told me to sit down with her - so i did. and she brought out her bible, and asked me : "do you believe in heaven?"

I'm no good with words. and that was a really confronting question, i hadn't really thought about it. so i just looked at her, and said what i thought a Christian person should say, because.. well how do i say this? I only started learning about Christianity this year with you guys, and I honestly am still learning, and i don't know much about everything. So i said Yes.And then she asked me again- Why? Do you believe you will go to heaven?

And i. well, i said...I think... if you are good, then you will go to heaven. And she looked at me, and opened her bible and showed me Juan 3:16-

For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life,

and she explained to me, that because God loved us so much - he loved us through our sins, through our wrongdoings and our rightdoings, through everything, that he gave us his son, his only son, Jesus, who died for our sake. And then she said, whoever believes in God,, in God's love for us, his love for his Son that he gave to us, would go to Heaven.

So all this time whilst she was saying this I was trying to comprehend it in my mind, and try to say something back to her. But i didn't know what to say. Because i felt scared, scared to fully believe in God, and to let myself go, to allow the Holy Spirit to come into me.

Anyways. and then she stood up, and said that she wanted me to meet their friends (the other two ladies). So I said okay, (what else could i say? no?!) ...
and this next part. was scary. because, for me, it felt like i had done this before...somehow?

One of the ladies said something to me (Honestly I can't even remember). And then she told me to repeat what she said, and even though they were just words, i should try and say it like i mean it, and try and feel God's presence in my words. So i did what i was told... However I didn't really understand what was happening?

But I remember...somewhere in those words i pledged to follow and believe in Christ, to share with others,  friends, families, and to help others realise God.
And then i opened my eyes, and she asked me if they could pray for me...Once again, i said yes?!

And i closed my eyes, and stood in the centre whilst all four of them had their hands on my shoulders... i could hear them softly praying, first in english, then in another language (im assuming filipino) anyways, i just. tried to feel God's presence, and slowly my body began to give way, first by losing my balance and then i fell. But they caught me, the four of them and placed me on the floor..It was weird cos i also kinda caught myself, I didn't realise i was falling but then i kinda did halfway and tried to catch myself.

anyways i was on the floor and they were still praying, and after a long time, i decided to open my eyes and i guess they kinda stopped praying and they were all smiling nicely and i smiled back and i was like in my head (what just happened) ..........

and the lady that had me pledge to follow Christ said to me, today is your second birthday, the day that you were born as a Christian. The day that you have pledged to believe in God, etc. and then she told me that the Holy Spirit is now inside me, and that i will feel God's presence in the things that I do everyday.

And then, (again) not knowing what to do, i smiled and said thankyou...and walked with the man. And he said to me I don't believe in incidents/accidents. That's why, i think i was meant to meet you.

So yeah that's my story guys. Funny how 1 week ago I was the one thinking: Maybe God wanted me to help this man, that is why I met him, and then today 1 week later, that man is the one who is helping me feel God's presence. And... well. also recently, I've been so sick of basketball, i feel so helpless and i haven't got any motivation. But, because i decided to play basketball today i met this man, and his wife, and their friends. So i feel like i shouldn't give up on it just yet.

Okay thanks for listening to that guys it felt alot better when i wrote it all out i was feeling so confused before i wrote this, i was thinking "what did i just do? did i just pledge to follow something that i am not wholeheartedly guaranteed to follow my whole life?" but after saying my last paragraph i think i can, because i have hope again, and i have realised that this was all planned. a plan from God

and like Jong says:

for i know the plans i have for you
plans to prosper you and not to harm you
plans to give you hope and a future
-Jeremiah 29:11

yes. just one last thing. when i searched up missionaries on wikipedia it said that their purpose was to evangalise. So i can't help but uncomfortably think - am i just one of the many people that the missionary evangalises? Because when i thought of believing in God, i wasn't thinking of being rushed into it (like the pledging and all) i was thinking that i would be given time to realise God and his presence on my own? and really feel it.

but who knows, i guess this is all part of God's plan, perhaps, maybe, who knows...

you probably know who this is by now? haha okay thanks guys if you can tell me more about God i'd appreciate it :) thanks for reading this supperrrrr long thing (im not even sure if anybody did haha)\

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Picnic

Well wasn't that one thrilling first experience as a grade fellowship group!
From what I've seen, some year 10s/Seniors saw our images and posts on FB and I guess it appears they're really proud of us!  One of them said to me that our Year 9 SIC Group Picnic was slightly inspiring because I don't think other grades have had a picnic like us, and especially since our group has only been together for such a short time!
Thanks everyone for such a great day! I was so excited in the upcoming days to Friday and the excitement certainly paid off because it was a wonderful day (despite the ibises).
God has truly blessed us to be able to come together on this outing, and keep the storm weather clear of us :)
For those who weren't able to come, feel free to look through some of those images Joanna and others posted on Facebook or the video Kayley put up and see what we went through together that super hot Friday. For those without Facebook... wait, Elysee got Facebook, so everyone has FB now? :D

Hopefully there is much more to come in this FULLY SIC GROUP! :D

Happy holidays everyone! And since we are Asian, HAPPY MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL (?). aka. HAVE A GOOD DAY WITH MOONCAKES

xxxx

happy birthday steph. may God watch over you like how you watch over us {you're such a mum steph! :D }

HAPPY BIRTHDAY :)

Hey everyone!

Thanks Jo for sharing Jeremiah 29:11- I think it's a really good verse and is just really comforting as you said :)
Anyway, I know I'm early but
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PHIA AND LUCY WEI FOR TOMORROW the 25th!
and...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO STEPH IN TWO DAYS!

I'm really excited for our Sic-Pic-Nic on Friday! Hope to see all (or most) of you there!
:D
xx

haaaayy

im missing you girlies already! even though its the first day of holidays. it doesnt even seem like it.
how is everyone? :)

i cant wait for friday!

spagehti

Hey lovlies,
so sorry i wasnt able to be there today. my bad spelling probs gives me away ahhahah but I just wanted to say as i fully stress about touch that its awesome to rememeber that Gods in control of everything from Sport to maths marks to your holidays. So really just give everything to him cos its just something that we are so lucky to be able to do and it really does help!! Even as I stress I rememebr my all time fav vs Jeremiah 29:11 for i know the plans i have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Really remember that cos its something thats soo comforting
LOTS OF LOVE!! see you next Friday.
xxxxxx

short message

Hi!

So i'm going to stay anonymous, but people may know who I am anyway.
I know i'm not close to alot of people in SIC but I just wanted to say that this SIC group has really made me feel closer to people. Especially after Wednesday and the sharing time afterwards, I feel like with every word we share, the closer we are and the more I feel I can trust people with any problems I may have in the future. When I first came to SIC, I felt like this group was just like a gathering of people to stress about work and stuff and be reminded that we have God on our side. BUT it's now more than that. SIC is now like a family to me, I feel that we are all sisters with one another and children of God.

So thanks to everyone for making this happen (:

OH! and happy holidays (:

weewooopoopahh

today was a beautiful day.

i don't know who posted the verse of Jeremiah 29:11 in the lists, but thankyou so much because it really spoke to me.

:)

DAS ALL.
I'M OUT
LIKE A SPOUT.
PEWPEW
okay lol sorry guys i'll go now
byebye
see you at school tomorrowwww weeeowoowowa;sldk;alsdf :)

-

The atmosphere today was just so so so amazing. Although I didn't end up sharing anything big, I just feel like a giant weight has been lifted off my back (sorry that was cheesy) and I just feel so much closer to each and every one of you, although a lot of you are people I wasn't close to originally. I'm so proud of our grade for being so open with each other, and even if it's only about a classful of us, I get the feeling we'll be growing so much closer over the years. I haven't been a Christian for very long, and even so I haven't been a very "good" Christian compared to some of my other sisters, but today was such a wake up call for me, and I'm so happy that I now have all of these beautiful daughters of God that I can share my pains with so that I no longer have to suffer alone. I hope each and every one of you never lose sight of God.

19.09.12

thank you all for sharing today and i don't know what happened, the minute I started crying, I couldn't stop. And afterwards I felt extremely good and I felt lighter and happier.

And then I took a shower. And I started crying again. Not sad tears, just tears. I don't know why.

- x

how to do this one

do i write here? is this the part that comes out...
lol i don't even know what to write.
oh yeah.
have a great holidays guys, probably won't see all of you until next term, avocados.
keep praying, keep searching and keep believing.

well today while we were all at school my mum and my sister were at court trying to solve an issue with a dodgy builder lol. yeh everything turned out alright but now my mum won't stop telling me about how amazing my sister is = =;

lol ok bye guys have a good holiday yo. FULLY SIC CEEBS GOING TO SCHOOL.

dearest sisters

I just feel so blessed to be given such a beautiful family of beautiful sisters and daughters of God. So this is pretty much what everyone has said or is thinking but God has helped us so much today. Giving all of us just the courage and strength to just speak up and get that one thing that you haven't told many people, that one thing that has been bothering you, off your chest. I just hope that we will grow and bond together even more over time and that we can rely on our sisters for anything. That we can put our trust in God because His love for us is so powerful and great. That we will run into His arms whenever we have struggles to seek guidance and comfort, because when we are hurting, He is hurting. That we won't be afraid to share our burdens because God is taking all that fear away and also carrying our burdens with loving compassion. That we will be able to learn from our friends' experiences with God because we come to praise the Lord. That we will be able to find that inner peace in ourselves because Jesus is with us. You guys are seriously so amazing and I just find it amazing how loving, caring, warm-hearted each and every one of you are!

Praying for you all,
God bless xx

Is this the title area?

okay sorry i'm really a noob on blogger :(
anyway
Today was truly an amazing day for me. I heard so many people share life stories, struggles, ideas and in general, just thoughts on everything. I saw so many of you cry (especially my lovely corner group okay this is totally not anonymous anymore) and yes, I cried myself haha :") happy tears they were.
But it was so great to see that through all these hard times, we recognise God's love and how He has a plan for us all, and has allowed us to share and have the courage to literally speak up to others. Like after today I really think I can share ANYTHING with ANYONE and know that I won't be judged, and that there are so many others who share the same thing, but just haven't found the courage to speak to anyone yet. I really don't know how to describe how I feel right now but I pray that God's love for us continues to grow and I'd like to add that Tina, Jillian and all others who shared something today - you are brave and one of the most beautiful daughters and sisters I've ever met
x kayley  (i gave up on being anon)

hello my lovely sisters

Ok i find it really hard for me to write what i'm thinking and i can't seem to put it into words. I just want to say i love you all so much. I cannot thank God enough for blessing me with such beautiful and wonderful sisters and just a loving family. I think a lot of us found the courage to speak up about issues we've kept to ourselves for a long time and i just want to say that if you're ever hurting or just upset, don't be scared to talk to someone! Don't feel alone because there are so many of us willing to help you and we'll always be there to support and love you. But God will be the only one who is able to comfort and heal you; so seek comfort in the arms of God. He has never turned away from you; His arms are just wide open and He's just waiting for you to run into them. It breaks his heart to see you weep but every time you laugh or smile it warms his heart.  I am really thankful we're able to get together every week and just share and praise God for everything he's done for us. His love is so out of this world and incomprehensible and he's just pouring it into us every single day.  I just pray that we will all continue to grow and become stronger and just reflect the image of God. A life with Jesus is going to be so fruitful and full of joy and just remember that God has a perfect plan for you. Even if some things in your life aren't going the way you want them to, don't question God and just have faith and trust in him that he has your best interest in mind.
I love you all xo

Firstly, Tina I am so proud of you for sharing and I thank God for giving you the courage, I think it really gave the rest of us the courage to speak up as well. When we split up into small groups, I think everyone was more willing to share more, and today I think I speak for everyone when I say God's presence was really  in B6, watching over us and guiding us the whole time.

Quick Sum Up

Hey kids
So i just wanna say that its been amazing how much we have all grown in this term alone and how we really have become closer and stuff. Its always so encouraging for me to be able to see how God transforms people and the peace and joy that can be received from having full faith in Jesus. I promised you all a verse so here it is. Its an amazing reminder of how much God really loves us and how no matter what he will still continue to love us. Romans 8:38-39. 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

And also something else. I really encourage you all to share like i know that sometimes there may be hard stuff etc. but it really does help to let it out and I really pray that you will all feel Gods love and feel his presence.
I pray for you all heaps,
xxxxxxx Jo

Let's share!

Hello lovelies, so as you all know, this is our combined blog. Please treat it with respect :) This blog is for sharing anything, thoughts, struggles, verses, experiences etc. 

When you post you can choose to tell people who you are or not, so don't be afraid to share! 

Also, I didn't make the blog too fancy nancy because I didn't know what everyone would like so I just kept it simple. 

If you want to post all you need to do is this.

-> Go to home page of Blogspot (signed in of course!)

-> Click on the orange button that has a pencil on it.

-> Write away, right away! 

If you want to add something on the lists on the sidebar, all you need to do is this.

-> Go to home page of Blogspot 

-> Next to the orange button is a button with a paper icon that is "Go to post list", click on the drop down menu bar next to it. 

-> Click on layout

-> Click "edit" on whichever list you want to add to.

This blog is restricted to ONLY blog authors, I didn't know if I should put it onto public yet. 

Please don't change any of the settings without consent from the whole group, it's only fair. 

Hope you are all having a lovely day.

God bless.

x TINA