Thankful

I am simply amazed and humbled by how You work God!

This week hasn't been the easiest in my life but it hasn't been the hardest either...

I found myself feeling selfishly hopeless and in despair one night...

It amazes me how You knew BEFORE that would happen to give me a word from Beth Moore's Daniel study that very morning that would strengthen me and get me through...You put people in place at exactly the right moments to encourage me to press on and people to pray for me...

The body of Christ was engaged in the battle, when a soldier was down others stepped up in her defense...

Thank you Jesus for putting these fabulous people in my life...people I know and love as well as one I have never met and one I hadn't talked to in over a year...

You amaze me beyond ANYTHING Father and I love YOU above all...help me to always look to You...in EVERY circumstance...let me be aware of Your will for me in each moment and allow me to encourage others in their walk as I have been encouraged!

In Jesus' name,

Amen

Philippians

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Philippians 3:7-21
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God is SOOOO good! I praise Him for the life He extended through His son!!! Not just life here, but ETERNAL life! And my prayer is that everyone I have ever come into contact with could know the same peace and press on toward the goal alongside me and the body of Christ! The more we have pressing, the faster the work gets done and we can join Him in all His glory! And did you see??? WE GET NEW BODIES!!! AWESOME! I bet we can still zumba though, since it is fun! They aren't JUST new bodies...they are "glorious bodies like His own!" I am so excited! Anyhow, please take to heart the words of Paul here and press on, forget what is behind...nothing you can do about it now anyways, it's over!

Jesus, hard work and coffee

Friends...I tell ya there is nothing like Jesus hard work and coffee...mix in some Christian fellowship and hard working kids and it makes up an almost perfect day! The almost is because it was 14 degrees!!! BRRRR!!!

Today, I got up, had some fabulous Jesus time, decided to make Cinnamon melts for the boys, which I botched, but they ended up being good...not my fault that I am not used to propane ovens!!! BUT it ended up being the perfect day because the Lucas, friends of Ryan's came to visit and we had 2 left and iced tea to serve them!

We didn't expect the Lucas and had planned on going to work on the house Ryan is building (Rophe House). Well, by the time the Lucas left, like 5 of Romi and Armando's friends had come to the apartment to hang out, play wii, etc. It is a big hit, I must say! Praise the Lord!!! So, we got out the door to go work around 5pm...

Needless to say, two of the boys, Arnold and Armando came to help us and boy am I glad they did! We had tons of stuff to move and they were very diligent and hardworking today! It filled my heart to see!

So then we went to McDonalds, had some big macs, fish sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, coffees, hot chocolates, and laughter and conversation...it was GREAT! So then we returned and I got an email from one of my fabulous friends whom I love (she sells Longaberger) and it warmed my heart even more to hear from her and I just had to blog and tell everyone I am more blessed than I deserve...GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!!!

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7

Love you all!

In Christ,

Amber

Another New Word!

On the way to Venice, I learned a new word!!! Ryan taught me...

The air was really thick and cold and was forming layers of ice and crystals on everything...Ryan told me that is called Hore frost...

Go ahead, laugh, I did...HARD! The comments that were made! Oh my! Anyhow...this Hore frost is fabulously gorgeous and did things to spread jollification to my heart!

I wanted to share and show a couple of pics I took...both were while we were on the road...BUT if you google it, there are some prettier ones!

Jollification

Jollification dates back to 1809 and is derived from the anglo-french word "jolif".

Just a little history of the new word I learned today!

I looked up jolly because that is the word I wanted to use to describe how I have been and I learned JOLLIFICATION!!! How fun of a word is that! Anyhow the meaning...MERRYMAKING!

JOLLIFICATION would be the word I would use to describe Christmas here in Romania so far...People walk the streets and dress up in cheap Santa costumes that they can buy at the store...even taxi drivers get in on the jollification by dressing up as Santa Clause!!!

Today 12-26 is a holiday as well as the 25th! I personally like that they lengthen the time that Christmas lasts!

Anyhow, just wanted to drop a line and didn't really know what I was going to write...that's that! I leave you with a photo of some jollification that Ryan, Armando, Romi, and I all participated in yesterday!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Praise the Lord for new experiences and people to share them with...I can't say this is the most traditional Christmas I have ever had...

God has most certainly blessed me with the company I am surrounded with and the opportunities I have had here...

I met a girl on my last trip named Noemi...She is now 21 and she was an orphan and doesn't really have a family or anyone to care for her. I had the opportunity to hang out with her yesterday! We went on a train and a bus to the shopping center. Quite frankly I think it would have been quicker to walk! Oh well...

I bought her a new coat because she needed one and a dress for a New Years party as well as some accessories...I am so blessed to have had the ability to do that for her and my prayer is that she would know the depth of God's love for her! Please join me in praying for her!



Also...the boys are fabulous! I have loved getting to know them as 18 year olds! We have had lots of fun PLUS challenges as they ARE teenagers...Takes me back to me being one! HAHA! Anyhow I am so thankful for Romi and Mando and the new relationships I am building with them!

Romi is very techy and loves his muscles! He is also more serious and toned down...but has a good sense of humor as well!



Armando is more playful yet VERY helpful around the house! He likes to do his hair and is into taking time to get ready!


Ryan and I are having a great time spending time together, in the kitchen mostly, and preparing for Christmas! We have been taking turns baking while the other wraps presents and tonight we all four had a fabulous dinner and then went walking in downtown Arad with a couple from one of the children's homes here! Christmas here is such a cool thing! They go caroling until all hours of the night and everybody is out and about just spending time together rather than in. Very interesting and FUN!





I need to retire but wanted to send out an update after this fabulous festive occasion! Can't wait till they open their presents in the morning!!! And I am not gonna lie...can't wait to open mine either!

God bless you ALL this Christmas!

Lovins,

Amber

Romania update 1

God is so good...

He has certainly prepared the way for me to get here these past months and even in the past days!

I was to leave on Tuesday December 16th from Pittsburgh airport...They were putting out a bunch of winter storm warnings and the such and I had to get to Ryan's parents so that they could take me to the airport. Well, when I got there his mom was upset that she couldn't accompany us because she works as an occupational therapist in the schools and had school the next day. Because of the winter storm warnings she thought she MIGHT be off the next day but we didn't want the roads to be bad either for the treck to Pittsburgh, which was about a 45 minute drive. We packed up all the goods that they had for me to bring to Ryan and the boys and went to bed.

The next morning I woke up and looked out the window...NO SNOW!!! YAY! I walked to the kitchen and there was Ryan's mom and dad. I was like are you off school??? She said yes. She worked in a different school district than the one they live in and the winter storm came ALL THE WAY UP TO THE LINE. The route we needed to take to Pittsburgh wasn't touched by the winter storm at all! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

So then I got to the airport, we ate, and bid farewell and I boarded the plane. Low and behold, I looked out the window and it started snowing...I think God was just assuring me of His control! Thanks God!



Since being here I haven't done too terribly much, I have been getting through jet lag and a cold and getting gifts ready for Ryan and the boys and that is about it. Arad has changed quite a bit since I was here last. I don't really know how to describe the changes but it is good. It is being built up more and more commercial but not in a bad way...It is nice to see the little mall that they have compared to the mall before that reminded me of a bad flea market...the mall now is an actual mall!

We went 2 churches yesterday and enjoyed fabulous worship at one, where I recognized the tunes to songs and follow along...The other church is non-instrumental Church of Christ and Ryan is more of a leader there. He led prayer a couple of times and served communion. Sometimes he preaches as well. So, the first church is more of a way for him to be fed and the 2nd is where he serves...plus we like instruments! :)

After church we went to McDonalds and I had a headache and went to a cafe...that is where I took the pic at the top...I had lapte calde cu mierte...hot milk with honey...not exactly what I wanted but it WAS good...I didn't know what I ordered...I thought lapte was latte! I wanted coffee but OH WELL!

During my time here the Scripture of 1 John 4:7-20 has been a great reminder...http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20john%204&version=31