Semester 2. Go!

4 months since my last blog post. Whoops!

The Hillsong College pace is so crazy.  Full stop.

Since May I have started, and continue to be on, a journey of God completely ripping me apart. As my flatmate so perfectly articulated it, "God is taking all your junk out and laying it on the table for all to see.  You can't hide behind 'put togetherness' anymore Jess.  God's working."  And goodness He is working.

I keep coming back to Paul's letter to the Corinthians: "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV)

It is purely by God's grace that I've gotten here.  I'm able to be broken and lead at the same time.  I can be flawed and flourish.  I'm imperfect but God's grace and forgiveness, by the power of the cross, allows me to be holy and in His presence.  Grace.

I could go on forever about the revelation of grace! Pray for it!  Because the more you understand and "get" His grace the more you can live in all that He's called you to.

At the end of June my little sister Tiffany came to visit me here in Sydney! Best. Time. Ever.

Bondi Beach

Bondi Babes

Hitting the Town

Coffee Date

1st Arrival

July was Hillsong Conference. God rocked it. As He does. :)

Powerful worship

Over 25,000 with volunteers!

This August I got a job and now I'm working part-time along with school. I'm busy!  I also moved in with the BEST girls who love Jesus and serve their hearts out.  Some of the most Godly ladies I know. And crazy. ;)

Gillian, Alli, Hanna and Me

Hanna from Sweeden

Alli and Tia

Laura B! 

So excited and expectant for this second semester of college. God has big things!

Wisdom Teeth

It's been a couple of crazy weeks since I've been able to update.  Lots of things happening here at Hillsong Church and in Hillsong College.

Colour Conference! (Yes, with a "u"! As the Aussies do) What an amazing time to be here at Hillsong Church.  Taken from the Colour Conference webpage, "Our passion and labour is to place value upon womanhood, so that we in turn can arise from a place of strength and cohesion and place value upon fellow humanity."  What an awesome thing to be a part of!  Placing value and wort hon women so that they can go back home to their communities and families and place value on all those around them. When women can grasp how beautiful and powerful they are, God uses them in mighty ways for His cause.  What so inspired me was the way the entire church gathered around this cause of Colour.  Men and women, young and old, paid pastors and volunteers! They all labored to help Bobbie Houston achieve the vision that God gave her. 

Some of the 10,000 women in attendance! 

There is something powerful in unity.  When a church body joins together for a single vision breathed by the Holy Spirit, lives are changed forever.  And in the case of this conference, over 10,000 women!! God has been teaching me so much about following the God given visions of the pastors and/or leaders in authority over me.  Rather than doing my own thing and fighting for just my own dreams; when God has placed someone over me it is important that I labour for their vision too.  Someday, when He opens all the right doors, I will be able to pursue the deep, God-given dreams. But until then, I must steward where He's placed me.  


At Colour I got to serve with kids! Three and four year olds to be exact! Goodness it was fun! And tiring... 3 days of 7am to 10:30pm! Most of the time watching over 40 - 60 kids! The Lord so blessed and humbled me in the those three days.  I wish I could explain!! It was incredible seeing these children experience God through simple worship and story time.  Wow!! 

Before with Beautiful Allie

After...chipmunk cheeks.

And the culmination to these crazy weeks!!! I got my wisdom teeth taken from me...ouch.  They came in quick and fast and painful and the dentist decided it was best to take them here in Sydney.  So a couple days later...and wah lah! 

Unfortunately the healing process is taking way longer than I had hoped.  Day 4 and I'm still chubby chipmunk! In quite of bit of pain but I guess that's to be expected. Been on bed rest and haven't left the flat since surgery.  Thank you for all your wonderful prayers!! They mean so much to me.  God's been working hard and fast and it seems the enemy is fighting back too.  But victory is already the Lord's! I love you all! And miss home tons but love being here at the same time.  God is good. 

Sydney Skyline

My "Average" Week

Wow.  I've noticed almost every blog entry starts with "Wow."  I guess it is because I do not have any other words to express what I am thinking.  God continues to show up, continues to work in my life, and is continually faithful.  Thank you for your continued prayer and support!! I so need it and I definitely feel it.

I wanted to share with you what my average (as if you could even call it "average") scheduled week looks like.

Monday: Class for most of the day.  Evening meet/hang with fellow students.
Tuesday: Class for most of the day. College Chapel workshops. Connect Group every fortnight.
Wednesday: Day off!  Assessment/homework time. Naps. Recover. Naps.
Thursday: Class for most of the day.  Creative Team nights.
Friday: Class for most of the day. Evening meet/hang with fellow students.
Saturday: Street Teams ministry all morning.  Church for most of the evening.
Sunday: Church all morning and most of the evening. Assessments/homework in between church.

I'm normally up between 5:15-6:30am and go to sleep around 11pm-12am.  Twice a week I have to be at church by 6:30am.  Twice a week I'm normally at church until 9:00-9:30pm.  I hear sermons 5x/week (not including class lectures which are pretty much sermons in themselves) and participate in praise and worship (on and off platform) 5x/week.  Add in the disciplines of daily devotionals, practices, working out, cooking, cleaning, and hygiene with the need to socialize and have fun time and I am one busy girl.

God is teaching me the necessity of discipline and seeking Him first.  Without Him and His Word I would not have enough energy!! Also, by realizing my cause and my purpose are founded in His love and in His Being, the things that seemingly would tire me out actually energize me.

But please continue praying for me!! I'm also learning the art of saying "no."  I have to prioritize what I value and what God is calling me to first.  Unfortunately, I can not do everything.  Wish I could!

 I'm always praying that those who read this are encouraged to follow harder after God.  Love you!

Street Team Maroubra 

Beach day with Hanna from Sweden

What I do at Hillsong

Here's a little insight for all you curious as to what Hillsong College is like:

His Kingdom

Wow! I can't believe it's been over a month already.  Feels like I just got here yesterday! God has been doing some awesome things in such a short period and I know that His faithfulness will only show up bigger as time goes on.

One virtue God has been wrestling with me is humility.  The leadership of Hillsong, especially in Hillsong College, constantly emphasizes the principle and practice of humility.  Being humble is hard! It seems like a life long process and experience that will take forever to get! It's easy to say, "I'm humble.  Lord use me however you see fit." But when it comes down to it, when you see a peer elevated to a leadership position...and you're not; or you see another student being edified by a leader of the church...and you're not; or you see God moving through another person in profound ways...and you feel like you're not...well all of a sudden that humble attitude turns into a "Why not me Lord?!" attitude.

I know I personally start to justify my bitter, ungrateful and hurt attitude.  "Lord, I pray everyday! I read your Word.  I spend personal time with you.  I've been praying for opportunity.  Don't you see me and my oh-so-humble heart? ..."  You get the point.

But as many Hillsong instructors and many Godly men and women before them have put it, it's not about you.

When did the Lord's plan become all about me and my story? Hasn't it always been His story that He has placed me in?  Since when were they "my dreams"?  Hadn't they been put there by the Lord and won't He carry them out in His perfect timing?

Side of Hillsong Church City Campus

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (TNIV)

"What's the condition of your heart?  And how are you looking at what God has placed in your hand?" -Mary Capper

Christ's Cause > my dream.

And His Cause will achieve so much more than anything I can dream.  He called me here and has purpose for me: Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." (TNIV) But I can't let my agenda rule over His.  So even if I don't get to serve directly where I would hope to, God is so good and faithful.  I want to give wherever He has placed me my whole passion for His Kingdom.

My prayer for this season is that I would be Kingdom-minded rather than self-minded.  While my goals and aspirations are good, they can never compare to where God wants to take me! No matter the ministry: street teams, greeter, host, media, worship, choir, venue, call center, next steps, hospitality, sound, front desk, kids, nursery, embrace, set-up, tear-down, janitorial, whatever the church needs!  I will give God my all and truly worship Him through my actions and my attitude.

Thank you for all your prayers and support!! I can feel and see them working.  I'm praying for you too. Love you all!!

Lightening Storm

Intense

Wow! Just finished my first week of real classes after a full week of "intensives." Intensives being almost 8 hours of lectures each day for three days!  I'll tell you, it's been a busy and intense two weeks.  God has already revealed so much to me and it's only going to get bigger and better and harder.

Here are some quotes from amazing men and women of God who taught and preached the Word here at Hillsong:

"Kingdoms are extended, destroyed, and maintained through language." -Robert Furgeson

"Your tongue describes the position of your heart." -Robert Furgeson

Hillsong College Chapel

"Here at Hillsong, we're not looking for clones or cookie cutouts..." -Tracy Barrell

"If you're not glad...you're serving something else [not God]." (pertaining to serving in your local church) -Catrina Henderson

"When Christians do church together they ought to see God." -Duncan Corby

"Your value cannot be determined by your gifting, your value is established in Christ." -Duncan Corby

"It's far better to finish things when people still want more than to finish 10 minutes later than they had hoped." -Duncan Corby

"What if we looked at people like they were just one step away from Jesus?"-Lee Burn

"If you're not gripped by the cause, nothing will change." -Lee Burn

"Jesus didn't do away with the law.  He fulfilled it." -Catrina Henderson

"Live your life in a way that favor loves you." -Brian Houston

"Favor is not the absence of challenges." -Brian Houston

"A family. A body. A house."

Of course that is the tiniest snap shot into two weeks packed with amazing teachings.  Even more so, not only did we have intensives we also got to be a part of Vision Night at Hillsong! Hearing and seeing Brian and Bobbie's vision for the church that impacts the world was incredible.  Home.  That's the 2012 vision for Hillsong Church across the globe; to be a place where anyone can walk in the doors and feel at home in Jesus Christ.

God is teaching me so much and softening my heart in ways I couldn't have imagined! And it's only 4 weeks into being here! Wow. God is good. Thank you for all your support and love.

I haven't found a job yet...though I've applied to several places and I'm still on the hunt. Please be praying that I find one soon! Learning to trust the Lord in my finances. And learning to stay strict to my budget. What up?!

I've been to the beach once and I'm still making incredible friends! God's doing great things while I'm here.  Be praying for Sean Welch as he's serving a year in Haiti. So proud of that man! Thanks for all the love and support and prayers. I so feel them!!

Love,

Jessica

Myself, Caro, and Allie

Maroubra Beach

Toilets

God is good.

I can't believe it's been a week already! It feels like I've been here in Sydney for weeks and weeks.  God is so good and so faithful.  Here are some sweet praise reports/updates:

My flatmates are amazing women of God who truly pursue the Lord's will.

Carol from Germany

Betsy from Kenya

Alanna from Canada I have yet to meet, but I hear she's amazing!

I've made some incredible, Godly friends here already.

Miss Aly from Georgia

Kate the great! From Canada.

I've been exploring Sydney (all safely in groups!)

Sleep schedule is completely normal!

And I've taken a Barista course for fun...praying for a good job!!

Hillsong Church service was amazing.  The Spirit of the Lord in the room was incredible and brought me to tears.  To know that God has called me to serve at this place, in whatever capacity, is truly humbling and amazing.  As I'm preparing for classes to start, my heart's desire is that I will be open to whatever God has for me in this next season.  Because I know that He's preparing me for great things!   

I miss you all at home! Been thinking and praying for you constantly! Thank you for your prayers and support for I can definitely feel them.  If you see my family, give them a huge hug and squeeze from me! Love you all.

God bless!!

Home at Hillsong

Well I made it!! 

It’s been a crazy adventure and I’ve only been here 2 days! God is so good and faithful and I love it here...but it sure started crazy!! I felt like I was 15 minutes late the whole time.  My adventure began on January 14th as I left my beautiful Island in the early morning.  My flight itinerary, although unbeknownst to me, was a crazy one:

Seattle to Oakland-2 hours, Oakland to Las Angeles-1 hour, waited standby for 2 1/2 hours but didn’t get on.  Overnight in LA at Uncle’s (Thanks Gary!!).  Next day...Dim Sum (Chinese tea time), standby LA to San Fran-1 hour, made it!  Standby San Fran to Sydney-14 hours, made it! But unfortunately my checked baggage did not. 

Our view

Day 1: I arrive to Hillsong Church around 9:30am and it’s already January 17th! I lost a couple days in the mad travels and international date line.  Without my luggage I go to my new apartment and meet my new “flatmates” as we call them here in Australia.  Amazing ladies!!! Unfortunately...because I don’t have my shower stuff I have now gone almost 3 days without a shower.  (No one said anything about me smelling bad...)  Miss Betsy let me borrow her things which was so gracious of her!! 

The balcony of my Flat

The night ended with an amazing worship jam session with a bunch of students at one of the “flats.”  Already, I know this place is special.  The hearts and talent in the room were amazing.  To hear 20 voices blending in several harmonies, each worshiping their Creator with reckless abandon was truly humbling.  God is going to do amazing things this year and I am so blessed.  

Kangaroo burger

Today has been so fun! Got lost in Sydney with my new friends Kate and Corey, ate a kangaroo burger, and met many new faces.  Oh! And got my luggage!! No more smelly Jess.  Jet lag has been funny...I slept at normal time but I have been feeling almost dizzy.  Someone mentioned gravity’s pull is different?? Who knows?

Miss Kate

Thank you so much for your prayers!!  They are so felt.  While I miss home and my family there is such peace here.  I have yet to break down in tears (though I’m sure that time is coming soon) and I’m truly having a wonderful time! Love you all and can’t wait to see you again!!!

Packed and Ready

I have a confession to make...

... I have been putting off writing this post.  I put it off because once I start writing this sucker I know that I must finally admit I'm leaving.  Leaving family, friends, and comfort. BUT! I'm so excited at the same time!! A new adventure is merely two days away...