8.13.2008
7.30.2008
Faith
God is faithful. He has proven this to me over and over and over.
There are times when it is easy to trust and other times that rock my little Amber world and the very core of who I am, yet He can always be trusted.
We all know Amber wants to hit the mission field right? Well, I am sure God will keep His promise and allow me to eventually. Things have been working together for that goal to be reached recently. I have struggled with bits and pieces of the puzzle, however, HE is working it and making it come together!
So, all of that being said my Amber world was thrown a little off kilter yesterday. God has been leading me so clearly toward selling my house. Scripture and circumstances as well as friend's have all been confirming that. When I was worried about the reaction of my family to me selling my house, He "assured" me with this:.
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given
up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property,
for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred
times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—
along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have
eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important
then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
--Mark 10:29-31
So yesterday I received a message from my realtor stating that the girl who made the offer on my house isn't positive she wants my house yet because she might be getting a job on the north side of Cincy...
So of course Amber was immediately worried...but I went immediately into the Word and opened up my summer Bible study, which is phenomenal...seriously, best study for me in quite a while...it was about trusting God as God. So, I did the study, prayed and went to work. And I have had peace since then...peace that passes all understanding...
It may not work the way I think it will, but as I have said, and believe...as long as I love Him and bring Him glory, "All things will work together."
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a
gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. "
--John 14:27
There are times when it is easy to trust and other times that rock my little Amber world and the very core of who I am, yet He can always be trusted.
We all know Amber wants to hit the mission field right? Well, I am sure God will keep His promise and allow me to eventually. Things have been working together for that goal to be reached recently. I have struggled with bits and pieces of the puzzle, however, HE is working it and making it come together!
So, all of that being said my Amber world was thrown a little off kilter yesterday. God has been leading me so clearly toward selling my house. Scripture and circumstances as well as friend's have all been confirming that. When I was worried about the reaction of my family to me selling my house, He "assured" me with this:.
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given
up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property,
for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred
times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—
along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have
eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important
then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
--Mark 10:29-31
So yesterday I received a message from my realtor stating that the girl who made the offer on my house isn't positive she wants my house yet because she might be getting a job on the north side of Cincy...
So of course Amber was immediately worried...but I went immediately into the Word and opened up my summer Bible study, which is phenomenal...seriously, best study for me in quite a while...it was about trusting God as God. So, I did the study, prayed and went to work. And I have had peace since then...peace that passes all understanding...
It may not work the way I think it will, but as I have said, and believe...as long as I love Him and bring Him glory, "All things will work together."
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a
gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. "
--John 14:27
7.24.2008
7.17.2008
Simply blessed
I just wanted to take a moment and give God some glory! He is just so good...Better than anything as a matter of fact and I am so blessed...There are so many things going on in my life and I am so busy but I have been blessed enough to have some time this week and last week to just breathe and when I look at how busy I am and even though I sometimes complain about the current situation, I am blessed!
I am blessed by...
My most fabulous friends! Seriously the best ever!
The people I work with.
The customers I see everytime I work at Starbucks.
The fabulous child I nanny for! Everyday when she wakes up she is singing...
The beauty of God's creation around me!
The ability to take up some new hobbies...running and biking!
And the more I work, the more I appreciate my time doing all of these things!
So, that is all I have to say...Glory to God in the Highest...Truly!!!
I am blessed by...
My most fabulous friends! Seriously the best ever!
The people I work with.
The customers I see everytime I work at Starbucks.
The fabulous child I nanny for! Everyday when she wakes up she is singing...
The beauty of God's creation around me!
The ability to take up some new hobbies...running and biking!
And the more I work, the more I appreciate my time doing all of these things!
So, that is all I have to say...Glory to God in the Highest...Truly!!!
6.03.2008
Lesson learned....the hard way.
God has a way of allowing us to make decisions and allowing us to learn through experience and a lot of times learning comes through hardship and heartbreak. A little about me...
In college I began dating a guy who I had become good friends with in 2000/2001. We broke things off after three years of a long distance relationship...by long distance I mean Romania. Soooo...We were able to maintain a normal friendship and would talk to each other about everything and when I dated someone else we talked about it and it was cool...then when he met someone I encouraged him to ask her out. And we always got along and neither experienced jealousy, at least that I am aware.
So...we lost contact about 2 years ago for about a year. Then for some reason contacted each other again a little less than a year ago. I was in a relationship at the time and while he was a great guy things were just dwindling and not really what I had hoped it would become. My friend had contacted me and during our phone call informed me that he had become engaged to the girl I originally encouraged him to date. My stomach immediately dropped, which I did NOT expect at ALL! He continued to inform me that things were not well in their relationship but he was hoping and praying they would work out. So, We finished our conversation which was mostly just catching up on lost time and hung up.
The feelings I had for him persisted. I did not want to EVER regret not saying anything or wonder "what if?" later in life, so I e-mailed him and let him know how I was feeling. In the mean time I ended my relationship. He replied and let me know he had the same feelings when I told him about my relationship. I was flabbergasted and we decided to discontinue communication until he had time to pray and talk to God about what HE wanted.
I ABSOLUTELY respected that more than anything else he could have done...so...we discontinued communication and wouldn't speak again until several months later when we would actually get to see each other face to face in Cincinnati for the National Missionary Convention. THings were soo good and it was like I found my best friend again and things were like we were never apart. It was painful though because his heart was still committed to his fiance in Romania.
We parted and I cried all the way home. We had the promise of several months that he would be in the country and saw each other several times. Each time was better than the last and I just know that God has a purpose for us.
So, when he returned to Romania I expected that he would do what he should to break things off with her and take time to heal and eventually pursue a relationship with me. My heart had fallen for him once, been broken through the mutual breaking off of our relationship and then fallen again with the promise of how I felt and how I could see God working in my life and his to work things out to HIS glory.
Here is the lesson I have learned...
God loves us unconditionally. EVen though I want to love HIM back unconditionally, I allow things to get in the way. I even put them there sometimes and allow them to stay in the way, even when I know they are in the way. Many times it is fear of dealing with the pain it might take to get those things out of my life even though I know life on the other side is much better and gratifying!
In my situation, I absolutely am in love with that man. I love God first and will follow Him above ALL else, but I love that man and would do anything within God's will and power for him. I say that to tell you that, he doesn't love me back right now...He might want to, and there is a very big thing called a fiance standing between us, which he has the power to get out of the way, but for whatever reason does not want to.
I have decided that I, like God will move on with life. I will not allow one person not loving me to stop the plans that God has for me. Imagine if God allowed us not loving Him to get in the way...HIS love is sufficient and I will follow the ONE who loves me unconditionally and unlike anybody on this earth can.
I pray that HE finds me beautiful and that I glorify HIM in EVERYTHING that I do...so many things have happened and I have allowed myself to settle for a life of mediocrity but I am done...I am preparing for the adventure God has set out for me, no matter how rocky the road may get! MAY GOD RECEIVE ALL THE GLORY!!!
In college I began dating a guy who I had become good friends with in 2000/2001. We broke things off after three years of a long distance relationship...by long distance I mean Romania. Soooo...We were able to maintain a normal friendship and would talk to each other about everything and when I dated someone else we talked about it and it was cool...then when he met someone I encouraged him to ask her out. And we always got along and neither experienced jealousy, at least that I am aware.
So...we lost contact about 2 years ago for about a year. Then for some reason contacted each other again a little less than a year ago. I was in a relationship at the time and while he was a great guy things were just dwindling and not really what I had hoped it would become. My friend had contacted me and during our phone call informed me that he had become engaged to the girl I originally encouraged him to date. My stomach immediately dropped, which I did NOT expect at ALL! He continued to inform me that things were not well in their relationship but he was hoping and praying they would work out. So, We finished our conversation which was mostly just catching up on lost time and hung up.
The feelings I had for him persisted. I did not want to EVER regret not saying anything or wonder "what if?" later in life, so I e-mailed him and let him know how I was feeling. In the mean time I ended my relationship. He replied and let me know he had the same feelings when I told him about my relationship. I was flabbergasted and we decided to discontinue communication until he had time to pray and talk to God about what HE wanted.
I ABSOLUTELY respected that more than anything else he could have done...so...we discontinued communication and wouldn't speak again until several months later when we would actually get to see each other face to face in Cincinnati for the National Missionary Convention. THings were soo good and it was like I found my best friend again and things were like we were never apart. It was painful though because his heart was still committed to his fiance in Romania.
We parted and I cried all the way home. We had the promise of several months that he would be in the country and saw each other several times. Each time was better than the last and I just know that God has a purpose for us.
So, when he returned to Romania I expected that he would do what he should to break things off with her and take time to heal and eventually pursue a relationship with me. My heart had fallen for him once, been broken through the mutual breaking off of our relationship and then fallen again with the promise of how I felt and how I could see God working in my life and his to work things out to HIS glory.
Here is the lesson I have learned...
God loves us unconditionally. EVen though I want to love HIM back unconditionally, I allow things to get in the way. I even put them there sometimes and allow them to stay in the way, even when I know they are in the way. Many times it is fear of dealing with the pain it might take to get those things out of my life even though I know life on the other side is much better and gratifying!
In my situation, I absolutely am in love with that man. I love God first and will follow Him above ALL else, but I love that man and would do anything within God's will and power for him. I say that to tell you that, he doesn't love me back right now...He might want to, and there is a very big thing called a fiance standing between us, which he has the power to get out of the way, but for whatever reason does not want to.
I have decided that I, like God will move on with life. I will not allow one person not loving me to stop the plans that God has for me. Imagine if God allowed us not loving Him to get in the way...HIS love is sufficient and I will follow the ONE who loves me unconditionally and unlike anybody on this earth can.
I pray that HE finds me beautiful and that I glorify HIM in EVERYTHING that I do...so many things have happened and I have allowed myself to settle for a life of mediocrity but I am done...I am preparing for the adventure God has set out for me, no matter how rocky the road may get! MAY GOD RECEIVE ALL THE GLORY!!!
3.15.2008
Most precious moment of my life...
I am sooo blessed by the events that took place at church tonight!
It all began when I returned home from work to find my mom and nephew there, getting ready to leave for church. Tonight was the Easter program and after having watched his "Aunt Mer" participate in the Christmas program five year old Little Ron was full of questions. Are you singing? Why not? and Are your friends singing? were just a few of his inquiries.
We arrived at church, 5 minutes late as is customary for me and my mom on Saturday night...and Sunday mornings for me! So, we found a seat quickly and Little Ron settled into my lap where he could see better...right away the questions started as he began making comparisons from the Christmas program...Where is the star? The world isn't over there anymore...(I still have no idea what "world" he is talking about).
Anyhow, I tried to hush him as others around us were most likely not interested in where the "world" was and wanted to hear the beautiful singing taking place on stage. So, they got to the point in the program during which they passed out communion. On the screen was an image of bread and a cup and my nephew of course wanted to know what it was...I began explaining in my best 5 year old language the concept of communion. They passed it out and when I passed the tray on without giving him crackers or juice he asked why he couldn't take it. I explained he needed to know what it meant and in his mind he did understand and repeated exactly the things I had told him and he tried it...He didn't mind the cracker but then only drank HALF of the cup of juice...if you can imagine that being possible with as little as they give you!
Anyhow, they proceeded to show a video I have seen many times of Jesus and the crucifixion. He watched intently as they removed his clothes, placed the crown on his head, nailed his hands and feet to the cross, and lifted it up. It then showed them lowering him to the ground and you see Mary rocking him back and forth in her arms and crying. He asked and I told him "that is his mommy." He looked at me with the big blue eyes of his and asked, what is wrong with him? It was then that I got to share the story of Easter with my nephew. I told him that Jesus died when he was on that cross. I told him it was because he loved all of us very much and that he wants us to be "safe." He got this upset look in his eyes and lowered his head and said, "I didn't want to see that movie."
My heart soared as I got to tell Him that Jesus came back to life...that He was right now up in Heaven waiting for us. He then proceeded to tell me he didn't want to go up there. I told him that I hoped it would be a long time but one day we will ALL want to be in Heaven. He asked if he could take his "freaky" the name he has for his blankey, and I told him I didn't think Jesus would mind that. I told him Jesus was right now building a big house for when he gets to move there and that we get to live forever if we love Jesus.
During this time there was dialogue I didn't get into about the "bad man" (the devil) and many other things that just astounded me and gae me so much insight as to how that little guy thinks and I was soo blessed beyond words to get to be there to answer those questions, see the look in his eyes as he was angry, sad, and defeated over Jesus' death and then filled with hope as I told him about Easter!
It reminded me just what Easter is ALL about and I am more thankful than ever that Jesus did what He did...so that me and my nephew can hope together with you for that glorious day when we will meet Jesus!
It all began when I returned home from work to find my mom and nephew there, getting ready to leave for church. Tonight was the Easter program and after having watched his "Aunt Mer" participate in the Christmas program five year old Little Ron was full of questions. Are you singing? Why not? and Are your friends singing? were just a few of his inquiries.
We arrived at church, 5 minutes late as is customary for me and my mom on Saturday night...and Sunday mornings for me! So, we found a seat quickly and Little Ron settled into my lap where he could see better...right away the questions started as he began making comparisons from the Christmas program...Where is the star? The world isn't over there anymore...(I still have no idea what "world" he is talking about).
Anyhow, I tried to hush him as others around us were most likely not interested in where the "world" was and wanted to hear the beautiful singing taking place on stage. So, they got to the point in the program during which they passed out communion. On the screen was an image of bread and a cup and my nephew of course wanted to know what it was...I began explaining in my best 5 year old language the concept of communion. They passed it out and when I passed the tray on without giving him crackers or juice he asked why he couldn't take it. I explained he needed to know what it meant and in his mind he did understand and repeated exactly the things I had told him and he tried it...He didn't mind the cracker but then only drank HALF of the cup of juice...if you can imagine that being possible with as little as they give you!
Anyhow, they proceeded to show a video I have seen many times of Jesus and the crucifixion. He watched intently as they removed his clothes, placed the crown on his head, nailed his hands and feet to the cross, and lifted it up. It then showed them lowering him to the ground and you see Mary rocking him back and forth in her arms and crying. He asked and I told him "that is his mommy." He looked at me with the big blue eyes of his and asked, what is wrong with him? It was then that I got to share the story of Easter with my nephew. I told him that Jesus died when he was on that cross. I told him it was because he loved all of us very much and that he wants us to be "safe." He got this upset look in his eyes and lowered his head and said, "I didn't want to see that movie."
My heart soared as I got to tell Him that Jesus came back to life...that He was right now up in Heaven waiting for us. He then proceeded to tell me he didn't want to go up there. I told him that I hoped it would be a long time but one day we will ALL want to be in Heaven. He asked if he could take his "freaky" the name he has for his blankey, and I told him I didn't think Jesus would mind that. I told him Jesus was right now building a big house for when he gets to move there and that we get to live forever if we love Jesus.
During this time there was dialogue I didn't get into about the "bad man" (the devil) and many other things that just astounded me and gae me so much insight as to how that little guy thinks and I was soo blessed beyond words to get to be there to answer those questions, see the look in his eyes as he was angry, sad, and defeated over Jesus' death and then filled with hope as I told him about Easter!
It reminded me just what Easter is ALL about and I am more thankful than ever that Jesus did what He did...so that me and my nephew can hope together with you for that glorious day when we will meet Jesus!
2.18.2008
God is love...
I just wanted to share...
I am so blessed by sooo many things! God has been wonderful and I love how He pursues me and delights in me. I love delighting in Him and the peace He blesses me with when I trust Him.
I have a friend...several friends if you really want to know! HA! OK, sorry, I have a friend who is in the throws...throes...whatever...she is getting married. I am so happy for her and her prince...but it has really gotten me to thinking.
I think of how blessed I am as a single woman to be able to put ALL of my energy into what God wants. Rarely do I put ALL of my energy into that, we all struggle with that...I really just feel blessed to be able to focus on Him right now and what He wants. I am filled beyond measure with peace when I truly put my trust in Him.
I DO desire to be married one day but one thing that God has shown me is that if I am looking for a perfect love it is ONLY in Him that I will find it. The man that God has for me will not fulfill that place that God does. For the first time I am sooo glad that God has that place that nothing or nobody else can fill...I don't want anything else to distract me from Him...
I want the man God has for me to work with me to continually get closer to God and to encourage others to get closer to God. I want God to use our love as an example for others to see and know WHO the Creator and encourager of that love is.
God is love...
I am so blessed by sooo many things! God has been wonderful and I love how He pursues me and delights in me. I love delighting in Him and the peace He blesses me with when I trust Him.
I have a friend...several friends if you really want to know! HA! OK, sorry, I have a friend who is in the throws...throes...whatever...she is getting married. I am so happy for her and her prince...but it has really gotten me to thinking.
I think of how blessed I am as a single woman to be able to put ALL of my energy into what God wants. Rarely do I put ALL of my energy into that, we all struggle with that...I really just feel blessed to be able to focus on Him right now and what He wants. I am filled beyond measure with peace when I truly put my trust in Him.
I DO desire to be married one day but one thing that God has shown me is that if I am looking for a perfect love it is ONLY in Him that I will find it. The man that God has for me will not fulfill that place that God does. For the first time I am sooo glad that God has that place that nothing or nobody else can fill...I don't want anything else to distract me from Him...
I want the man God has for me to work with me to continually get closer to God and to encourage others to get closer to God. I want God to use our love as an example for others to see and know WHO the Creator and encourager of that love is.
God is love...
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