I actually wrote this as a note on my Facebook profile on Christmas Day, 2011 but then ended up deciding on posting this on here too Every year, during the Christmas/New Year season, I would write up something that summarises what the past year has been for me & this is what my 2011 went.

At the start of the year, I was faced with quite possibly one of the most challenging circumstances I have ever encountered in my life thus far... Family problems, church problems, stress from school work & all sorts of other things. All in all though, these trials have done nothing but let me experience a greater revelation of God's amazingness, incomprehensible mercy & unconditional love. No matter how much I cried through them all, no matter how weak I am or how much I wanted to just give up all hope, I thank God that right now, I am here, writing this note with the strength that He has given me to overcome all of these things. I thank God every day that He is here to wipe away all of my tears, to help me get through every single day with a smile on my face, with such love, joy & peace embedded in my heart. (HAHAH, I just unconsciously wrote the first 3 fruits of the Holy Spirit ! ~)


Perhaps the greatest of these trials for me personally is my Higher School Certificate - the scary HSC *makes ghost sounds* :L My fellow classmates have always commented that I work too much for school - I ALWAYS start my assignments early, I do school work on the holidays & I've studied so much for my exams even I'm surprised that I was actually able to motivate myself to do so ! Through all these things, I really couldn't have made it through them all without God's help. Every success, praise & victory that I've received, I give back to Him every single one of them all Tee-Hee ! ^______^ So now I'm currently here, waiting for the 4th of January 2012 to receive my confirmation into UNSW's Bachelor of Digital Media ! Thank You God again for everything !


Speaking of transitioning into uni, which I am extremely anticipated for, I will definitely never forget every single moment I've spent in my beloved high school - Doonside Technology High School. All of my friends there, all the teachers I've become so close to during the 6 whole years I've been there, I will forever cherish you all. As I've said in my school captain speech in Graduation Day, as much as I'd love to, I know that I won't be communicating with around 90% of you once our new lives start next year but, from the bottom of my heart, I love you all to bits & thank God every day for blessing me with such wonderful people. Thanks for the memories Doonside; until fate brings us to meet again ~


Lastly, during the past month, after finishing my HSC exams, I've made it a neccessity for me to read "Destined To Reign" by Pastor Joseph Prince & I've succesfully been able to do so - I just finished reading it a few days ago ^___^ Took me almost a month to get through the entire book but it was such an amazing read. It radically changed & transformed my perspective on Christianity. Best of all, I was able to personally experience what God's GRACE really is. I started this encounter last year but it wasn't until just now that I've finally been able to fully understand what it is - it's all about Jesus & His finished work on the cross ! Every thing in the bible, from start to finish, all points toward Jesus on the cross at Calvary. Through this book, I've been enlightened & liberated from sooooooo many things & right now, I'm here, victorious, joyful, peaceful & deeply in love with my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ once again. I can't fully explain what I've really learned from this book but to sum it all up is this passage:

Hebrews 8: 8-12
8 But God found fault with the people and said:
   "The days are coming, declares the Lord,
   when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
   and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
   I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
   to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
   and I turned away from them,
            declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
   after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
   and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
   and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
   or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,'
because they will all know me,
   from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
   and will remember their sins no more."

Another translation of verse 12 is "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness & their sins & their lawless deeds I will remember no more". This is the GRACE of God - our unmerited, undeserved & unearned favour and gift from Him. Because of Jesus, we are made God's righteousness - completely clean, flawless & perfect in His eyes. It is through Jesus' death that we can be set free from guilt, condemnation, 'incurable' sicknesses, addictions, depression & other things. Best of all, it's a priceless gift & all we have to do is receive it. Receive God's Grace, Jesus Christ, NOW & be overwhelmed by how radically your whole world will turn for the better right before your eyes !


Yeahh, that's basically it, something short & sweet I'm really looking forward to what God has in store for me this coming year of 2012 & I certainly hope that you are too ^___^ Expect great things because we are God's heirs, His precious children & in the same way a parent wants the best for their child so does God want the BEST for us God bless you all & keep smiling because JESUS LOVES YOU !!!