People get ready! Jesus is coming!

Well, my first election has come and gone and my candidate didn't win and you know what? I am okay with that.

The United States of America got who we (yes, I said we) deserve and if you think I am crazy, just check out the Old Testament. The nation of Israel got the Kings they deserved whether wicked or not.

The coming of the Lord is near and if people didn't think so before the election, I sure hope they are thinking so now - just saying.

I can't really put into words my feelings about the election because a lot of people don't agree with me on what I look for in a candidate but I am not going to bash Obama or act like he is not the President of these United States because that is not Christ-like. The Bible says in Titus 3:1&2, "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."

I've already heard Christian people say they would not respect Obama nor would they consider him their President but hey guys, we CANNOT be that way. Did you just read Titus 3:1&2?!?!? It's not Biblical for us to be that way. We have to pray blessings on him, not curses.

And to those people who also say he is the anti-christ, get in the word. He is not the anti-christ. The anti-christ will rise to power and he will be from "across the pond" (lol). Now that one I can't remember the exact scripture location of (and if there are any SEBC scholars [lol] out there reading this who know where it might be, leave it in a comment - PLEASE) but if you actually get in the word, you'll find out that Obama is NOT the anti-christ. The Bible is very specific about the anti-christ so...chill out guys!

We got who we deserved and he was God ordained. The man God wanted for the job got it and sure I don't agree with it but hey, I'm not God.

This is totally random but I really love it and I just have to tie it in on this; I love what Damon Thompson says, "The answer for a nation in moral recession is a burning church, and the answer for a church that's not burning is a burning man."

Sara Beth from Chosen added this in her recent blog on the Ramp and Karen Wheaton Ministries blogs; "This simply means IT STARTS WITH YOU AND ME! God is looking for just one…just one seeker who wants Jesus more than anything and burns to know Him more. When He finds the one, He can set a church on fire. And, when He finds the burning church, He can set a nation ablaze. It's time to heed the voice of God. It's time to pray and fast—even if we have to start by praying and fasting to simply care about this nation and the people it represents. It's time to be obedient to anything and everything He's told us to do. No more procrastination. Time is short."

That's about all I have to say...I know it's not really encouraging but there were some people talking some un-Biblical things and I didn't want to call them out by individual, I wanted to talk to the body as a whole.

Just pray guys and pray blessings on our (soon-to-be) President, Obama.

Much love and many blessings,
Amber ;)

Jesus, I plead your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation - end abortion and send revival to America - Amen.

The Anthem of Amber Nicole Smith

I could live life alone and never fill the longings of my heart, the healing warmth of someone's arms. And I could live without dreams and never know the thrill of what could be with every star so far and out of reach. I could live with many things and I could carry on, but...

...I couldn't face my life tomorrow without Your hope in my heart I know, I can't live a day without You. Lord, there's no night and there's no morning without Your loving arms to hold me, You're the heartbeat of all I do...I can't live a day without you!

I could travel the world, see all the wonders beautiful and new, they'd only make me think of You. And I could have all life offers, riches that were far beyond compare to grant my wish without a care. Oh, I could do anything and I could carry on, oh yes, but if you weren't in at all...

...I couldn't face my life tomorrow without Your hope in my heart I know, I can't live a day without You. Lord, there's no night and there's no morning without Your loving arms to hold me, You're the heartbeat of all I do...I can't live a day without you!

Jesus! I live because You live! You're like the air I breathe! Oh Jesus! I have because You give,you're everything to me!

...I couldn't face my life tomorrow without Your hope in my heart I know, I can't live a day without You. Lord, there's no night and there's no morning without Your loving arms to hold me, You're the heartbeat of all I do...I can't live a day without you!


Copyright 1999 - Avalon - Can't Live a Day - from In A Different Light

Last night at UCF, I wish hit hard.

Almost everywhere we have gone to church lately, they have talked about or sang about (or both) how it has to be all about God - even down to chapel at school. Lucke 14:25-35 has been a hot topic among some of us because at the Church at Brookhills a few weeks ago, Dr. David Platt preached on that text and in chapel yesterday, the man spoke about it (I was not there but I heard all about it). Verse 26 says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple."

A lot of people are taking this to the extreme and the biggest is laying down relationships with the opposite sex, rather it be just friends or dating. When I first started hearing about some of the boys doing this (because the girls were so not doing it) it really bothered me because I thought they were going to the extreme but last night, at UCF, I was informed otherwise.

Chuck, the worship leader at UCF, got up to close the service out and told us all to bow our heads and hold our hands out in front of us. Then he told us to lay something there; something big. Not something that we had with us but something that we were holding onto; something that was big in our lives that we just needed to get rid of and that was something that we worried about. He listed off things like getting married, having children, relationships, or something that we did not have a lot of control over right now.

At first, I put my dreams there.

My dreams of touring the country ministering to thousands of people through human video and dance and winning thousands to Christ. But the thought of marriage crossed my mind so I changed it up.

I put my dreams of getting married and adopting (or having) children there. Those are two of my biggest dreams, probably bigger than that of ministering the gospel to thousands. It's true that I have no idea where God is taking me with my ministry but I cannot put my flesh wants in front of my spiritual wants. I have to keep my dreams in order and fulfilling God's purpose for my life is number one.

While we were "laying down" our somethings (LOL) the band did a song and I assume the title is "All I Need is You" because that was all the chorus said and it was a truly amazing song.

Sitting there, giving my biggest dreams over to God, I began to cry and felt an amazing weight lift off of me. Since then, I have been in a amazing mood. I gave one of my biggest burdens over to God and it's a amazing feeling to not have it anymore.

I don't care that I've never had a boyfriend and I don't care that I may never have one. God knows what is best and when the time is right, it will happen. If it never happens, I'll know that either (1) it wasn't God's plan or (2) there is a guy walking the earth who made one of the biggest mistakes of his life by passing me by.

One of my favorite songs over the past few months has been "It's All About You" and it's by a praise band from a church out in California - it says, "It's all about You! It's simply Your name! Your love has found me, and I'll never be the same! In all that I do, in all that I say, let it be about You! All about You! Jesus!" There is another song that is by Misty Edwards, it's called "My Soul Longs for You" and the beginning simply says, "My soul longs for You! My soul longs for You! Nothing else will do! Nothing else will do!" There are so many songs that we hear on the radio on a daily basis that are about Jesus being all we need and Him being everything and it has been going on so much that Dana and I talked about it this morning. I told her I believe it is because there is such a urgency in the Spiritual because Jesus is coming and He is coming soon but there are so many complacent Christians and so many people that it is all about them and not about Him.

It's time for us to realize that it is truly all about God.

Lakewood did a song a few years ago and the chorus is rather simple to remember because all it said was, "It's all about You! It's all about You! It's all about You...Jesus!"

Please make sure that it's all about Jesus in everything you do! Don't let it be about you.

Much love and many blessings,
Amber ;)

P.S. "This world has nothing for me...I will follow You!"

Update on life.

It has been a while since I wrote a blog and so I thought I would just update everybody on my life at SEBC.

I have been here for a month and I love it!!! And as of two weeks ago, both of my parents told me how proud they are of me for doing so well down here...that meant the WORLD to me!!!!!

I have two jobs. One I dislike more than the other. I have babies at the daycare on Mondays from 8-1:30 and Wednesdays 8:30-5:30. I work at the Christian bookstore on the weekends when I do not go home. You can figure out which one I do not like by yourself.

I went to the Alabama/Tulane game which was the first home game for Alabama and it was pretty boring to say the least. It was fun but boring. My first Alabama game was a pretty stinky game but an amazing time with my best bud, Jonathan.

The second weekend in a row that I didn't go home (yeah, dad about had a heart attack) I spent with Dana (Kristyn was gone to see her new niece, Lilly back home in Maryland)!!! We visited the Church at Brook Hills and I loved it!! It's an amazing church - the next weekend I stay, I am going to Chelsea Church of God and eventually I am visiting More Than Conquerors Faith Church. The churches around here are awesome...and big! I miss my little country church at home every now and then. ;)

Classes are going pretty well. Race, Culture and the Church is amazing, I love it! Bible Overview is my favorite class. Music Theory 1 is about to kill me but it's okay. I chose to go into music so it's my fault - LOL! Voice is going well, I am doing a lot better than I was this time last year. General Psychology is interesting and I like it so far. Piano is going...it's been a while since I last played so...yeah.

I sleep in Kristyn and Dana's room but I do everything else in my room. It's fun. The only time I go anywhere by myself is when I am going to work or if I get so tired of being with people, I just go somewhere which has only happened twice.

Dance starts back for me this week and I am excited. I am going to be there two weeks out of the month and I am so thankful that the owner of the studio agreed to work that out with me. I haven't seen my dance girls since July (some since May) and I can't wait!

My dad turns 50 this Friday and I am PUMPED!!!! I got him two great gifts plus I'll be home until Sunday afternoon so he should be happy.

Dana's birthday is Sunday and she is going to be 19 (I turn 19 in three months!!! I can't wait)!!

Things are changing in my life and I can honestly say, I am so much more happier with myself and so much more confident. I knew when I wrote the blog about it at the beginning of the summer, God was going to do something to make me more confident and He did - He shipped me off to college. LOL! It's great. People are still just finding out that I have moved...it's amazing how behind people are. If they had blogs, they'd know.

God has blessed me with amazing friends down here as well. I already had them, but since being here, we've grown closer and it's great. Dana and I are like, joined at the hip. She's so great and I love her to death. She and I are going to be roommates next year and I can't wait! I love my Daner!!! ;) I love my Kristyn too!!! She's mean sometimes but we love her anyway - LOL! :)

And with the help of Dana and Caleb (who is a great friend too...I guess :D), I can get pretty much anywhere without getting lost and it's great! Because of those two, I have also taken up bowling and volleyball. It's a known fact that I am not very good at either but that's okay. We have so much fun when we all go play!

That's pretty much it. All to update on I suppose. If anybody has any questions (which I am hoping I just answered all of them) just ask.

Much love and many blessings,

Amber =)

P.S. I am going to write a Bible blog eventually, I just haven't decided what I am going to write it about. Something out of Bible Overview or the sermon we heard at Brook Hills...I just haven't decided. Sorry so random, I just had to update everybody on everything all in one spot.

Confused.

Sometimes I don't understand how those of us who are supposed to be setting an example, end up sometimes being like those in the world. I guess when I moved to college a couple of weeks ago, I assumed some things would be different. Was I naive to think that being at a Christian College some things would be different? I guess we have all these expectations of how we "think" people are suppose to act, male and female, and when we come to see they are only human, it can be devasting. I'm not saying I am perfect, but why do so many people worry about dating like they do? Some of us get caught up in "the dating scene" or having a "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" and loose our focus of what we are suppose to be doing. I am seeing this happens everywhere, college, church, youth camp, the list goes on. I know some of my friends, have wasted so much time dating, breaking up, dating, breaking up and so the cycle goes. Many end up broken hearted and feel they can't go on and during this cycle, it seems their true friends are put on the shelf until the next break up. I now that I have a lot of growing and maturing to do myself, but I know that God can send the one to us, when we need them. We dont' have to be in a hurry. The "One" will be worth waiting for!

A word most people are scared of.

Change!

Oh but how I have been enjoying the change in my life this year! Most of it anyway.

At the beginning of this year, I posted a blog about how some things were going to change. Boy did I sooo not know what actually was going to change.

I've said goodbye to friends and I've said goodbye to family. I lost my great-aunt Gloria back in April/May and that was extremely hard because it all happened in under a week. She went into the hospital on like, Tuesday or Wednesday and was gone on Thursday. Aunt Glo always supported me and my drama ministry. A lot of the time she would say, "I only came to church tonight to see you do drama so it better be good." And everytime, she'd say, "That was amazing." I miss her. Seeing uncle Buddy is weird without her but he still supports me.

In March, I left mom and dads at Harmony and went to The Sanctuary in Albertville, Alabama as the Children's Pastor. I never planned to work with kids but God sent me there and I loved my five months there (I turned in my notice at the beginning of July and my last service was the last Wednesday night of July) and cannot wait to get back one Sunday to visit and see my kids. I changed a lot while I was there. If not through turns of events there, through things at my parents church or just personal experiences.

In April, I lost one of the bestest friends I ever had. Well, maybe they weren't as 'best' as I thought because of the things they were doing behind my back but it was a hard time in my life. I still can't believe what this person did. Losing this friend is still something I am getting used to. Sometimes when something happens with a certain person or two, I want to call 'em up and tell 'em all about it but I can't. And that's still hard. It was such a habit I guess. With their departure, God sent my old friend Holli back into my life and I must say that I love her more today than I did two years ago.

In May, I re-discovered the Gaither Vocal Band and haven't stopped listening to them since. Since I turned twelve or thirteen I had been dead set against Southern Gospel music (with the exception of The Martin's of course) and wouldn't touch it. Well, God has totally changed my heart about it and since I saw "Back Home in Indiana" on APT, I haven't been the same music addict. I assume it reminds me of my childhood days and the awesome 90s! You can learn harmonies so easily by listening to Southern Gospel music especially GVB and The Martin's. I know, I am crazy and people are so amazed when I tell them what I listen to here lately but I can't help it. I've always been very eclectic with my music and this proves it.

Because my favorite GVB comes from the 90s (Bill Gaither, Mark Lowry, Jonathan Pierce and Guy Penrod [1995-1997]) that helped me re-discover my favorite male artist from my childhood as well...Jonathan Pierce. Yeah, he was my favorite - still is.

Re-discovering GVB and Jonathan Pierce led me to find my new favorite author - Denise Hildreth. She has written five books and I have completed two of them. I am in the middle of one and I must say, they are the best books I have ever read. Her first book was the beginning of a series (in which I hope she writes more of) "Savannah from Savannah". That was followed by "Savannah Comes Undone" (which I am currently reading) and "Savannah By the Sea". "Flies on the Butter" was the first book I read by her and it's an amazing book. I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately, the last two books of hers I have read, I haven't had the pleasure of just sitting around reading so I am still working on one of them. The Will of Wisteria came out last October and I cannot wait to read it! Oh, you must be wondering how GVB and Jonathan Pierce led to Denise Hildreth. Check out past blogs. I am not sure which entry exactly but I think it's the blog entitled "Denise Hildreth". Anyway, she's an amazing woman of God and speaking with her the few times I have has been a true priviledge. Not many authors would reply to your emails let alone remember you when speak with them again. I advise you check out her books. Go check out her blog as well; it's amazing! www.denisehildreth.blogspot.com

In July, I changed a lot about myself. I changed the way I care about what people think of me and I changed the way I dress (somewhat). I have a blog about this as well, if you would like to read it.

I decided that when I get ready to go somewhere, I am going to wear what I want. If I don't feel like dressing up, I won't. If I feel like dressing up, I will. If people make comments I am going to say, "Only I would, right?" and keep on going. On Friday of tax free weekend, I was at American Eagle stocking up and then right after that, I was in Finish Line buying a pair of Chuck Taylors. Only I would go from polos to Chuck Taylors. Right? LOL! I wore my Chuck Taylors with a skirt the other day and it was cute. If Miley Cyrus can do it, so can I.

Yesterday, something major changed in my life.

I moved out.

Yup. I moved out of Bill and Cindy's crib and am in the dorms at (the wonderful) Southeastern Bible College!!!! That's got to be the biggest change in my life so far this year. Dad is an emotional wreck (naturally) and mom is just a wreck. LOL! I'll be home some on the weekends (especially when dance starts up the second week of September) and dad is going to come take me to lunch every Tuesday when he is down for school. It's not like I have just vanished into thin air - I guess.

I know God is going to change a lot more in me, about me and around me before this year is over and I am fine with it. I want everything He wants for my life. I may not know what all that is (which is scary) but I have come to the point that it's all about Him and really, it doesn't matter about me. He knows what I want and if He thinks I need it, He'll give it to me. It's all about Him!
I love you guys, thanks for reading! Please comment. I would love to hear about some things God is changing in your lives!

Much love and many blessings,
Amber =)

P.S. Something else that has changed about me this year...my obsession with Zac Efron. Everybody should be proud of me. I currently don't have an obsession. I do love those Jonas Brothers though!!! But I'm not obessed.

SEBC here I come!!!

At the beginning of this year I said some things were going to change but I had no idea what one of those things would be.

A couple of months ago, one of my friends had the "discussion" with me.

If you don't know me well enough to know what the "discussion" is, that's where we talk about me moving out of my mom and dad's house.

After that conversation, I contacted the Dean of Students at SEBC and we talked about it for a day then, the subject was closed.

Well, last week, I had three different people who didn't know each other, talk to me about moving into the dorms at the school. I had been praying that God would do something and then here we go with people bugging me about moving into the dorms at school.

I ignored it all until Tuesday and I knew I had to talk to my mom about moving. I couldn't sleep and all I could do was think about talking to mom about it because I knew I would have to talk to her about it before dad.

Wednesday afternoon, I finally worked up the nerve and she said I'd have to talk to dad. So I did and it became (almost) official that I would be moving Friday the 15th! I talked with the Dean of Students and single rooms were still available. Eventually, it became official and Friday the 15th I am moving into my own dorm room at SEBC!!! I am really excited and have bought almost everything I need.

Wal-Mart experienced Amber Smith in a way like never before yesterday!!!

But here is how awesome God is!!!

The Financial Aid lady, Anne, called today and I am getting a $2000 scholarship!!! Plus my grant money is way more than usual!!! The school gave me a $2000 scholarship!!! I had no idea I was eligible but GOD MOVED AND I AM GETTING $2000 bucks that I had no idea I could get!!!

I told mom and dad when they said, "there is no way we can afford this" that God would make a way. If He can feed the birds everyday, he can pay my way through school!!! When mom told me about the scholarship I went running through the house screaming because God is so awesome!!!

My room is going to be pink and black with dance and music stuff and my bathroom is going to be lime green and black. It will match my luggage!!! I move in Friday and won't be home until the following Friday. Next weekend I am going to try and go to church with my dad's cousin who lives down on 280 somewhere (which is down from the school).

I have added 6 hours to the 6 hour schedule I already had, so I will now have 12. I am totally excited and can't wait to see what God is going to do!!! Mom and dad are not too excited, especially dad. We made all these plans and have done more than half of my shopping and dad has never seen our dorms.

Everyone please pray for me. I am totally excited. My girlfriends Kristin and Dana have been a huge help already and I can't wait to get there!! I can't wait for God to do whatever He is planning on doing!

Much love and many blessings,
Amber

I recieved this via email yesterday.

This is an e-mail message from Beth Moore about hearing Kay Arthur speak and reveal prophecy. A worrisome message for sure. We should consider it carefully and prayerfully. This was re-published July 7, 2008, in the church newsletter of Valley View Church, Louisville, KY, and distributed.

Dear Ones,On June 27th and 28th I attended a conference in Atlanta called Deeper Still. I was one of three speakers the others being Kay Arthur and Priscilla Shirer. I looked forward to a special time of worship and having God convict me of my sins and lead me to areas in my life where I need to change. I have been to similar conferences for years, although none this large and with so many well-known speakers. There were over 20,000 women in attendance at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta - they said it was the largest crowd ever. I had an idea of what to expect from the conference, but nothing prepared me for what actually happened. I feel led to share my experience with family and friends. This is important, so stay with me!

When Kay Arthur took the stage you could just tell that her spirit was heavy and there was a certain 'heaviness' in the atmosphere even before she started to speak. She said that she had been literally physically sick to have to bring us this message and right out the gate she said, 'We are in grave danger.' She said that God had revealed to her that a literal famine is coming to America.. Physical, not spiritual. She said that God is moving in judgment against our nation. I know I can't describe this well enough, but the atmosphere was ominous. Kay is a seasoned speaker and she had to BATTLE to get through her message. She stumbled over scriptures and had an extremely difficult time. At times I was almost expecting her to collapse. At one point she just had to stop and pray. There was no person, myself included, that I could see who did not have tears streaming down their faces. As you may know, Kay Arthur is normally a very confident, composed speaker, but she was literally in a spiritual battle and it was taking place right before my eyes. I have never seen anything like it. She went on to give 7 things that Christians must do during this time and I am going to give those to you now:

1. Return to God. Jeremiah 4:3 - Break up the fallow ground - return to Me. Repent. Get on your face before God and ask him to break your heart with the things that break His heart.

2. Mourn. Jeremiah 9:17-18 and Ezekiel 9 - It is time to weep because our nation's sin is incredible.

3. Pray. Jeremiah 36:7 - Pray fervently, passionately for America.

4. Love God's Word. Jeremiah 20 - You MUST love the Word of God and be in the Word of God. I was particularly convicted here because I know I have not been as deeply in His Word as I need to be. She said we must get serious about this.

5. Love others as Jesus loved them. Jeremiah 31:3 and John 13:34.

6. Introduce people to Jesus Christ. It's time to get serious about this. This is no time for timidity. Jeremiah 31:31; Jeremiah 33:1-9, 15, 17.

7. Rest. If you will do these things, then rest in the fact that you have done God's will. She said that it is going to be vitally important for us to get enough physical rest. She went on to say that God has not given us a spirit of fear and that if we are obedient to Him, we will be protected. She said to read Ezekiel 14 over and over until you understand it. This is what God will do if a country turns against Him. She said that this is going to be a calamity (she used the word calamity in such a way that you knew this is going to be no small thing for our country), and gave many more scripture references, but what I have given you are the main points that she made.

I hope you know that I would not have sent this to you if I had not been profoundly affected by it and feel it is of great importance to share it. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you will do with this information what you feel led by God to do.

Love in Christ Jesus, Beth

My heart [updated].

So the last four blogs I posted were written by someone else. This one, is written by me from my heart.

I have been going through some things here recently within myself as well as my spiritual self and due to that, this has been my last week as Children's Pastor at The Sanctuary. I have stepped off in faith leaving The Sanctuary because really, I didn't want to. I just know, I have no idea what I am going to do (start working harder on my Mary Kay business I assume) but I know I am on the brink of something from God.

Two weeks ago, the Lord led me to fast. I am still awaiting the benefits of that fast but I have realized somethings have got to change (within me) and I have got to get rid of some junk before God will ever fulfill what He told me.

One of the things I have a problem with is my mouth (like you didn't already know that). I back talk my parents and can be very hateful at times. I don't mean to be hateful, it just comes out that way. And I am a big procrastinator. I get in trouble for those two things the most; my mouth and my procrastination skills. I need you guys to really pray for me. I have had "mouth" issues and "procrastination" issues since I became a teenager. I think that comes with the domain, seriously. But other than that, I am a perfectly good kid. I don't cause my parents problems and I love God more than anything.

Another thing I have a problem with is self-confidence. Now I will admit, I am vain. I get that from one of my mom's brothers; he is extremely vain! And he admits it which is the best part. All I have been through as a preacher's kid has really hurt not only my trust levels but my self-confidence. When things happen with church people or in the church, it really brings the self-confidence levels down. In one of the "divine pause" blogs, Denise Hildreth quotes T.D. Jakes (and adds her own words at the end) as once saying, "For people with exceptional callings, everything in their lives will be exceptional. Including their storms and their victories (and their divine pauses)."

Just to get off subject (of self-confidence) right here, I feel like I have truly been in a "pause" in my life. I just resigned from a totally cool job; being a Childrens Pastor. I got to teach the kids dramas and dances whenever I wanted. Total dream come true. Just teaching drama and dances but no, God was telling me I was through there and so, I listened and resigned but now, I have no where to go. I plan to keep attending dads church on Sunday nights with the occasional Sunday morning here and there just to help them out but the state I am in (spiritually) right now, I need to go somewhere that I can be fed (not saying I cannot be fed at Harmony...it's just complicated. It's a 'PK' thing that my PK friends should understand). When referring to "divine pauses", Denise Hildreth says, "Heaven ordains 'divine pauses' in our life to rid us of our arrogance. To remind us our real calling. Greatness is found in serving. Because heaven knows that pride destroys..." In this pause, I have been having to rejoice in victory with my friends (while awaiting my victory). Friends getting engaged, friends finding out they are pregnant, friends living their dreams. The "divine pause" blogs even talk about that but I am not going to continue quoting those blogs (even though I will continue talking about them because they have changed me). Where was I before I got off on "divine pause"?

Self-confidence! God allows us to go through storms (and/or pauses) to knock us down but it seems like some people never go through anything and they are so annoyingly (is that a word?) arrogant and prideful but one day, they will get the jack-down from God himself. Or even people who seem to go through stuff all the time and are still so arrogant. God is going to get across one day. Then you have people like me. We are going through something all the time and it seems like God is never going to let His glory shine through but oh how wrong we are when we think that! God and His amazing self are going to get all the glory one day! We may sit in a "pause" for years...just like Joseph...but when that pause is over and we are living our dreams, what a day that will be! Okay, that had NOTHING to do with the self-confidence but I really felt the Lord leading me to write that. I don't even know how to get back to self-confidence. Oh how I hate to be like my dad when he preaches and gets off the subject. LOL!

Self-confidence. Okay, let's try this again. I finally realized to make it where God wants me to make it, I need some self-confidence about myself. My friend Nicole (who I wrote about a few blogs back) needed some book help and I helped her out which meant reading her book. I read it in about two hours (grand total) and I was totally blown away. The last couple of chapters hit me upside the head with this whole self-confidence thing. As I was getting ready for bed that night, I was talking to God about how I wanted help with self-confidence in every area of my life. The way I present myself, when I talk to people, when I minister, EVERY area. I also wanted the confidence to be who I wanted to be; the person I know I am supposed to be. When I got all comfy in bed, I got a text message (from Tuesdai) that said, "You can't go wrong by being true to yourself. The real you, not the you everyone else wants you to be. That's where the good stuff begins." I was dumbfounded. I could not believe I had just recieved that text message. It kinda told me something, you know? It wasn't the first time Tuesdai had done that either. A couple of weeks ago I was going through some stuff and she sent me a text about Jesus being my Jehovah Nissi. I love when God does that. Just a while ago she sent me a text that told me to check out Proverbs 16:9 so I pulled out my Bible and checked it out. "In their hearts human beings plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."

Is there anybody out there that gets tired of other men and women of God telling you how great the things are that God has for you and Him not actually showing/telling you?

I think once people get these sorts of things taken care of in their lives (mouth, procrasination, pride, ect.) God will begin showing you the stuff you need to know. Until then, enjoy the words God sends you in the other ways. Just remember, He is always there and He is always talking to you but sometimes, you don't hear Him.

I don't know...this is just some things that have been on my heart over the past couple of weeks. This blog may only help me but that's okay.

Much love and many blessings!!! Amber =)

Divine Pause - Part 4

This is the last post on "Divine Pause". I hope it has touched you the way it did me the first time I read it all. Be sure to check out Denise Hildreth's blogspot often. She posts new blogs every week and they are all amazing!!!

"In our final moments with Joseph we left him in his seemingly "forgotten" place. Yet no one is ever truly forgotten. God's eyes are always upon us. But yet for two years, the butler didn't remember Joseph. Not until Pharoah had a dream. It was then that Joseph was remembered. And Joseph is released to interpret Pharoah's dream. Isn't it interesting how Joseph's life revolves around dreams. It was a dream that got him in this predicament in the first place. It was a dream that had him hoping to be released. And it is a dream that finally frees him. My, how powerful are our dreams.

So in he goes to Pharaoh to interpret his dream. I can't help but wonder if this isn't often the final and hardest test. Interpreting Pharoah's dream, all the while still having one he has yet to see fulfilled. Ever had to rejoice in someones victory when you're still waiting for your own? Ever watched someone else get a miracle in their marriage, while you're desperately holding on to the belief of your own. Ever watched someone get an advancement when you were the one that should have been advanced years ago.

What would have happened if Joseph would have walked into Pharoah's throne room and said, "You've got to be kidding me. I'm not interpreting squat! I've been waiting on my own dreams to be fulfilled. I've been meeting other people's needs for years when it's suppose to be other people serving me and I ain't interpreting anything else for anybody! (Let's pretend he's from southern Egypt.) The last time I did that I sat in a cell for two more years! Interpret your own dream Mr. Fancy Pants!"

Well, because we started with the end of the story we know what would have happened. If Joseph had not humbly gone before Pharaoh, interpreted that dream with no knowledge of whether it would have had any consequence to him or not, but simply because he was asked to, then he would have had his butt sent right back to the jail cell, his family would have all died, and he would have probably had his head on a platter by evening.

How many dreams have been thwarted in that final place of obedience? How many dreams have died because we simply weren't willing to obey heaven's final request. Instead we thought it was our time and we didn't want any part in being a part of someone else's dream? Because it was about our dream. I can only imagine what the refuse piles look like. Trust me, I know my own.

But Joseph doesn't do this. And in this act of obedience it ends up becoming the catalyst to the fulfillment of the dream God had given him. The pause button on Joseph's life was released. And in releasing that button, not only was Egypt delivered from a famine, but Joseph's father and his brothers, the very ones whose act seemingly got him here are delivered as well.

God knows what needs to be accomplished in us for the releasing of our pause button. How do I know? Because remember where we started? This was God's plan. God had brought Joseph to this place, not his brother's. Their act may have accomplished it but God was the designer. Why? Because God knows what produces greatness. He knows what is ultimately needed in us to bring greatness from us. And I believe that very often the greatness of the dream will coincide with the length of the pause. If Joseph had been called to be Pharoah himself, I have a good idea the pause button might have stayed pressed a little longer. I heard T.D. Jakes say once, "For people with exceptional callings, everything in their lives will be exceptional. Including their storms as well as their victories." May I add, "and their divine pauses."

May I share one final thing? Years later when Joseph's sons were born he named one of them Ephraim. Names were very important back then. Each one had a clear meaning. And Ephraim meant, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." Joseph got it. He got the fact that in his "divine pause" heaven was growing something in him. That this pause had been about something more than just a dream. It had been about the making of a man. A man who was fruitful. A man who could look in the face of his affliction and see something of value, something worth learning, something worth becoming and then become it. Every lesson in the pause Joseph got. Every place he was called to walk he walked, with obedience and grace. And in the end God knew Joseph could be trusted with the dream.

I know pauses aren't fun. Downright frustrating at times. But I've also learned that they are one of God's best opportunities to grow greatness inside of us. Here's to the divine pauses of our lives. May we live them well. And when the pause is released, may we be ready.

These final words are taken from an interview with Tony Snow back in July of 07 when he was still Press Secretary at the White House. I felt they summed up our journey perfectly. "We want lives of simple, predictable ease—smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see—but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension—and yet don't. By his love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise.""

Amazing isn't it. How God truly does allow EVERYTHING to happen for a reason.

My favorite thing she says is - "Ever had to rejoice in someones victory when you're still waiting for your own?...Ever watched someone get an advancement when you were the one that should have been advanced years ago." It's true. The beginning there, "Ever had to rejoice in someones victory when you're still waiting for your own?" is where I seem to stay. One day, my victory is going to come, hallelujah (and yes, I have the faith)!! I love God and the way He works (even if I do gripe about it sometimes).

"...in the end God knew Joseph could be trusted with the dream." - somebody told me that the other day, that God trusted me and that's why my life goes the way it does. Wow, to know I could be fourty before the dream actually is fulfilled is downright frustrating but hey, all in His plan! I can't do anything about it.

God bless and much, much love!!!

Amber =)

Divine Pause - Part 3

So, are you liking this? I am loving this! I love this blog series; seriously!

"This week we find Joseph in prison. As if the poor fella hadn't had it bad enough, now "Miss Polly Potiphar's", as I heard Pastor Jentzen Franklin call her one time, accusation has landed Joseph in prison. Apparently, Potiphar had chosen to believe his wife above Joseph. After all, Joseph was still a servant and she was probably still his bed partner. Not a hard choice. And now Joseph finds himself in possibly one of the worst places a life could be. Not just in prison. But in prison and innocent. Is there much worse?

But once again, whether servant or prisoner, Joseph is faithful where he is planted. And once again his faithfulness takes him to the top of the food chain even in the prison. We're told that "the warden of the prison committed to Joseph's care all the prisoners who were in the prison, and whatsoever was done there, he was in charge of it. The prison warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, for the Lord was with him and made whatever he did to prosper."

So here Joseph is directing the prison yard games, settling the disputes over who gets the best cell. And then two powerful prisoners come in. The head honcho, Pharoah's, butler and baker. Not sure what they did to mess their lives up so bad, some burnt toast, some wrinkled sheets. But whatever they did there they were. Prison. And who is in charge of them? Joseph. Remember, not a person came in there that Joseph wasn't in charge of.

One particular night the butler and baker both had dreams. When Joseph came to check on them that next morning he could tell they were both in distress. He asked both of them what was wrong. And they both told him they had dreams. He asked them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams." And they did. And Joseph interpreted them both. The butler got the better end of the stick. His dream confirmed he would be restored to his position in three days. The baker. Well, not so lucky. In three days, well let's just say, he would have made his last bundt cake. (Sorry-Can't say bundt cake without thinking of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding.")

When Joseph had interpreted the butler's dream he asked him, or begged him, "think of me when it shall be well with you, and show kindness...mention me to Pharoah and get me out of this house, for truly I was carried away from the land of the Hebrews by unlawful force; and here too I have done nothing for which they should put me into the dungeon."

The butler gets his job back. Joseph however he forgets. For two more years, Joseph is forgotten...

Man, what truths to ponder here...

The first one that comes at us is the fact that he's there at all. The fact that a lie, finds Joseph in a prison. Ever had a lie stick you in prison? Ever had a lie told to you, told about you, that has brought you to a prison? I see people in prison from lies all the time. Most of their jail cells however are still lived walking around freely, yet there souls sit imprisoned to a lie. The lie that they'd never amount to anything. The lie that they could never be restored. The lie that they could never forgive. The lie that they could never be forgiven. The lie that shame would always be their cloak. The lie that their dream was too big, their talents too limited, their abilities too small.

And with that lie, whether spoken over you when you were a child, believed when you were a teenager, or bought into when you were an adult, it has left your very soul imprisoned. It has claimed you.

What makes Joseph different? What is worked out of him during this pause? Joseph's body is imprisoned but his soul is free. Still free to serve. Still free to notice other's pain even during his own. Still free to speak life. Still free to help others people reach their dreams. Still free. Completely confined and totally free! How beautiful is that picture? It could be ours. See, Joseph had a choice on the very day he arrived. Curse his circumstances or trust his God. He chose the latter. And it made all the difference. The choices we make remember, will determine our destiny.

And because Joseph continued to believe, God blessed him. He showed him mercy and loving kindness and gave him favor.

What else do we see in Joseph? I mentioned it a few moments ago. I'm still amazed at the fact that he noticed the sad state of the butler and the baker. How do you notice the pain of other's when your crushed beneath the weight of your own? How do you even care that someone else is suffering, when you are suffering so much? But Joseph did. He saw it. And then he ministered to it.

Can we? In the middle of our prison moments are we willing to serve another in their's? Are we willing to get our eyes off of ourselves long enough to minister to the needs of someone else's pain? It is amazing how quickly the environment of our circumstances can change when we aren't wallowing in them. It is amazing how beautifully God can move when our eyes are looking upward instead of inward and we can actually watch Him in the process.

And finally, Joseph asks to be remembered. This scene grips me in my deepest place. I can hear the anguish that is still in his voice. He even shares his innocence. And he begs to be remembered. But he isn't. He is instead forgotten. And not just for a couple days, a couple weeks or a couple months. No, Joseph is forgotten for two years.

Ever felt forgotten? Ever thought finally your chance had come and yet nothing happens? No phone call. No text message. No e-mail. Nothing. Forgotten. What do we do in the forgotten place? Even after we've asked to be remembered? What do we do with that?

I would have expected some bar shaking, some foot stomping, some dish throwing. But we get nothing. Between Genesis 40 and 41 we get not one word from Joseph. So, what can we conclude? We can conclude that Joseph had developed one very valuable thing during this season of his pause. He had become a man of exceptional faith.

Faith is refined during pause seasons. Faith is put into action by noticing the details. I believe faith was able to be activated at that seemingly "forgotten" place in Joseph's life, because he was able to see God in every place of His life where God had already moved. He saw Him in the fact that his brother's sold him and didn't kill him. He saw God in the fact that of all the men that could have purchased him, Potiphar was the one who had. He saw Him in the fact that he had found such amazing favor with Potiphar and how God had blessed the man's entire house. And he had even seen God's favor in the prison cell. And because of all the things Joseph had noticed he had the faith to know God was still in this prison cell with him.

The reason most of us have trouble cultivating real faith in God is because our attention is so self-focused that we are paying no attention to what God is doing in our lives. We're focused on the "main" thing and God is focusing on all the things that lead up to the "main" thing. Or our eyes are so focused on our problem we're not even looking for the places where God is moving. We're too focused on where we think He should be moving.

Remember when we started this series together I told you that I thought the pause might be about to be released on my life. Well, not today. In fact, even though this won't post until Tuesday I'm writing it on Sunday. I just received an e-mail stating that I was still on pause. My first reaction, pain in the gut, burning in my chest, sweating of the eyes. My second reaction, I got up and went to my usual God and me meeting place. We meet in a little path I've carved out that runs through my dining room, down the hall and through the foyer. I walk and He and I talk.

I told Him I was frustrated. He listened quietly. I told Him all the reasons why the things that had been suggested might not work, how even if I did all of them, if I jumped through all the hoops it still might not be the right hoop. He was still listening. And that's when I began to remember. "You know, what you did for me Thursday night is still amazing. Once again you've proven to take care of every detail of my life. I'm sure you will take care of this one." See, Thursday night at an early birthday celebration, I received a gift that let me know once more how every detail of my life matters to Him. And I know He will lead this part of my life as well. John's letter to the church of Philadelphia in Revelations tells me that God is "He who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open." All the doors of my life are in his control.

"Be still and know." He whispered. He's been whispering this to me a lot.

"I know...I know...Thank you that I can come to you with everything that touches my life." I told Him. "You are the first place I want to be."

He knows that. This pause season has created that. If it's done nothing else, it has brought me to the knowledge that there is no one I'd rather talk to first than Him. Why? Because I've seen Him in the details and my, my has He been so kind. But I chose to see Him. I chose to see what He was doing. No matter where I found myself, jail cell, ministering to another's need, serving, forgotten, I knew I was never completely forgotten. That "nothing could ever separate me from the love that is in Christ Jesus." He has cultivated my faith in hard ways through these last fifteen years of my life. But it is that faith that today assures me I am not forgotten.

Do you know what I honestly believe? I think Joseph probably had a little talk with God after the next sun rose and there was no key jingling inside the door of his cell. I have a feeling it was probably a pretty candid conversation. And I believe that the Lord whispered to his heart, "Be Still and Know, Joseph. Just be still and know." I also believe that Joseph's faith muscles were so great at that point that he could have ripped those bars open as if he were the Hulk. But do you know what, he showed the greater faith. The greater faith that says, "I'd rather be in a jail cell with you, then a free man without you." Sometimes the best place for any of us is the jail cell, is the "divine pause." Because that is where God is.

'I don't have that kind of faith.' Oh, yes you do. We have each been given a "measure of faith." I honestly believe that measure is the same. Unless we're talking about the "gift of faith". What grows faith however is living a life that chooses to see God. That removes our eyes from ourselves and focus' our eyes on what God is doing in our lives. Trust me, God has been moving in your life. Look for Him. And when you begin to see Him, then trust that if the pause is where He has us for this season, then the pause is the best place in the world we can be..."

Please leave comments and let me know that you guys are actually reading this!!!

Much love and blessings!! Amber =)

Divine Pause - Part 2

Okay. Here is part two of Divine Pause! I hope everyone enjoyed the first one from yesterday. Denise Hildreth and her writings have totally changed the way I think about some things.

"Last weeks lesson taught me a lot and really made me conscious of the places I've been called to serve and the new opportunities that I'm given each day to serve. I'm looking forward to what I get to take away from today too.

When we left Joseph he was serving Potiphar. He had been so faithful in that place of serving that he was promoted to the head of all Potiphar had. And everything Potiphar had was blessed because of Joseph. I mean everything, his house, and everything that was in his field. We're then told that he was an attractive person and fine looking. My generation would just say Joseph was "fine."

And that's where the next challenge for Joseph arrives. It comes packaged in a dress, high heels and oh, did I forget to mention, she's the bosses wife. Not a real good scenario. We're told that she doesn't just approach him a couple times tossing her womanly wiles at him. No, we're told that she comes to him day after day asking him to go to bed with her. The first time he comes he refuses her but also tells her "See here, with me in the house my master has concern about nothing, he has put all that he has in my care. He is not greater in this house than I am; nor has he kept anything from me except you, for you are his wife. How then can I do this great evil and sin against God?"

But that refusal wasn't enough for the shameless and persistent hussy. She daily was a perpetual attack on his purity. And then she finally saw an even greater opportunity. The house was completely empty. I'm sure with the amount of servants they had that was a rare moment. So, she seized it. When she thought no one was looking and Joseph came into the house to serve her husband the way he always had, she grabbed his coat. And asked him again, adamantly, "Sleep with me." This time he didn't even offer her words, he ran leaving his coat and everything. He didn't pat her hand and say, "Be a nice girl and go back to your husband." He didn't take her in his arms and say, "We really shouldn't be doing this." No, smart boy high-tailed it and took off!

My, my...what lessons to learn...what an example he has given us to follow.

God's "holy pause" will test our integrity. Sometimes in the area of purity, sometimes in the area of finances, sometimes in the area of honesty. But it will be tested. Why? Because how many casualties have we seen of Christian leaders who get to the top of their callings and their integrity destroys them when they get there. Heaven doesn't want casualties on the battlefield of integrity. So, he pauses us. He pauses us in the place between dream and fulfillment and tests our integrity.

Now God doesn't tempt us. We're told in the Bible that "He Himself tempts no one." But, right before that passage of scripture we're told, "Blessed, happy, to be envied is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him." We're also told "be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience." He wasn't the spirit behind the bosses wife seduction. But He does allow the trying and testing of our faith. King David said in the psalms, "For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us as silver is tried, refined and purified."

Some of us today might be standing in the place of real temptation. Maybe it's a physical temptation. Maybe a tempting of our purity. Maybe the man in the cubicle next door, or the woman in the house down the street pays far more attention to your needs then the spouse at home. Maybe what you do in secret when no one is looking you think doesn't matter, because well no one is looking.

Maybe your tempted in an area of integrity, integrity with your money, integrity at your job, integrity with your honesty. And each time we give into that temptation, thinking it's no big deal, the government doesn't know, our spouse won't ever find out, our employer won't ever know what we're doing, we're missing what Joseph got. Joseph didn't look at Ms. Floozy Potiphar and say "I can't do this to your husband." He saw something much bigger. He said, "I can't sin this way against God." Granted our failings in our area of purity leave a wake and hurt people who love and trusted us and have consequences of their own. Sometimes heartbreaking, life altering, family destroying, job losing, jail making, friend losing consequences. But deeper consequence than all of that is the chasm it places between us and heaven. Because the last place we want to be when impurity has been allowed to live actively in our lives and hearts is in the presence of a Holy God. And that is what the tempter of our soul is truly after. The devil of this world, and yes there is a real one, could care less if our family is torn apart. He could care less if our children have to be shuffled between one home and another. He could care less if you lose your job, land in jail or lose every friend you have in this world, what he is ultimately after is the chasm between our heart and God's.

The testing of our purity, of our integrity, is a place where God is desiring to create the character in us needed to fulfill the calling in us. If you've failed in that area, stop. Run. Flee. If you have to move to another department at work, quit your job, move to a new neighborhood, if you have to come clean in order to be free, do what you need to do. But stop. Did you know that there is not one temptation that you and I face that "is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience. But God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but He will always provide a way out-that means of escape to a landing place-that you may be capable and strong and powerful patiently to bear up under it."

I wish I could tell us one day there will be no more temptation. Resist it enough and we'll never be tempted with anything again. But this side of heaven that just isn't true. Because the enemy of our soul won't quit tempting us even when we get to the place where the dream we've been given is fulfilled. But if we fail when we get to that place the casualty count is much greater. That is why God allows the temptation during the pause. Because when we get to the place where the dream we've been given is fulfilled, God wants our integrity to be able to keep us there."

I love this passage from the Bible that she uses, "Blessed, happy, to be envied is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him." - I SOOOO LOVE ITTT!!!!!

Much love and God bless!!! Amber =)

P.S. I have a family reunion tomorrow (oh joy!) so if I don't get part 3 posted tomorrow, it will be Sunday or Monday.

Divine Pause - Part 1

Denise Hildreth (one of my new favorite authors) has a blogspot (www.denisehildreth.blogspot.com - check it out) and over the past month she has been posting a blog series entitled "The Divine Pause" and it has totally touched me and in some ways, hit me upside the head so I just had to post it. I am going to post it over the next couple of days because it was a month long series so enjoy and please keep coming back to read it!!

Please remember, this is coming from Denise Hildreth, not Amber Smith and when it gets to it, NO! Donny Osmond was NOT my childhood sweetheart. That is all - enjoy!

"I almost posted this post this past week, but felt like I needed to "pause". I thought it was too long. More like a message I would teach instead of a blog. In fact, through some interesting and divinely appointed circumstances I did end up teaching it this past Sunday, but as I reflected on it, I still thought it was something to share here. However, since it's so long, I'm thinking we'll make it the blog for the month of June. Kind of like walking a journey together this month.

The thought came the week before last when I was talking with my dad. I had just gotten off the phone with a conversation that could possibly open up a door I've waited for years to open. As we were talking I began recounting quite a few things through my life I've been required to wait on. I said, "It's like I've spent years with the pause button pressed on my life." I wish I could tell you that those years of waiting have been peaceful little siestas by the seashore. But if I'm being honest they felt more like maniacal monsoons. Some of these years of pause have been filled with frustration, tears, questions and quiet a few doubts. But they've also been filled with a lot of opportunity for growth.

Pauses do that you know. If we allow them too. When I think of a "divine pause" I can't help but think of the life of Joseph in the Bible. Don't know if you know him or not. He was a daddy's boy. His brother's couldn't stand him because his dad didn't have enough wisdom to not show his favoritism. His father even had a multi-color coat made for him. Can't say that didn't attract a little bit of attention in a time period where I'm sure neutrals were much more of the fashion statement. If any of you have ever seen Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that starred my childhood sweetheart Donny Osmond, even though he didn't know he was my sweetheart, then you know what kind of coat I'm talking about.

As if the coat wasn't bad enough to make his brothers despise him, Joseph then has a dream. A dream that has his brother's bowing down to him. Want to know how well that went over? They sold his behind. Yep. But he was lucky. Their first plan was to kill him. Fortunately for him they were more greedy than they were angry.

Now, knowing those two things can we look at the end of the story first. And trust me, as a writer, I never read the ending first. I honestly didn't even know people did that. Until one day a friend of mine told me how she always flipped to the back of the book and read the last page. I was mortified! I said, "You what! Please don't do that when you're reading Flies on the Butter." She promised me she wouldn't, but I'll have to take her word for it.

So, breaking my own rule, can we look at the end of Joseph's story first? At the end we find Joseph, standing as the right hand man to the biggest guy in Egypt. You could say he is now like the Vice President. And what's happening? He's living out his dream. His brothers are bowing down to him. Except they don't have a clue this here boy is their brother. But when they do....Oh, my word...when they do can you imagine the fear? These boys were shaking in their sandals. And Joseph says something very powerful to them. He says, "Don't be afraid. Don't be disheartened or lose your hope. Don't be angry either, because you sold me here. Because what has actually happened is God sent me ahead of you to save your very lives.

"What?! Where is Joseph's rage? Where is Joseph's getting even? Where is his moment of just dessert?

I think I know. It's in the last line. He knew this was a God pause. He knew something they didn't and had been through things they'd never understand. And because he had lived all of these years in a "divine pause" all of the things that would have created that kind of reaction no longer dwelt inside of him.

What had really happened? Joseph had come to realize that sometimes in life heaven presses the pause button. Why? Because the pause button is God's way of saying, "Okay now, I've got to make you the man or woman you need to be in order to handle where I'm taking you."

Ever had a dream? Ever had something you felt you were called to do, and no matter how desperately you try to reach for it, life just seemed to move on with no sign of what you thought you were called to do coming to fruition? Maybe you wanted to be a husband or a wife, and yet you find yourself in the land of perpetual singleness. Maybe you've had the dream of becoming a parent and yet the little magic stick with its single pink dash screams "Not now!" Maybe you have a dream for a marriage that is more magic than mess. Maybe you have a song in your heart, or a book in your head, or a mission in your soul. And you know it's something divine that heaven placed inside of you, yet instead of doors swinging open, it seems instead that storm after storm keeps blowing through, feeling as if you're getting father away from the dream instead of closer to it.

I know. Trust me, I know. Joseph knows too. A lot happened from the moment that his brothers sold him to the moment they bowed down to him. He is sold by his brothers to a band of Ishmaelites who in turn sale him to a man named Potiphar. Potiphar is an officer of Pharoah. And it is there that Joseph becomes a servant. I mean, here is a boy who was the cream of his daddy's crop. Here is a fella with a dream that his brothers are going to be bowing down to him and instead he's the one doing the bowing. He's taking care of someone else's life. Getting their coffee. Scheduling their appointments.

The boy who trotted around in his multi-colored coat and arrogantly told his brothers of his dream is now being dealt with in a "divine pause". And heaven is telling him in order to be great, you must learn to serve. Because serving is a prerequisite of greatness. "The one who is the chief and leader is the one who serves." Jesus himself said "I came not to be served but to serve." Serving rids us of our pride. And "pride cometh before a fall."

Heaven ordains "divine pauses" in our life to rid us of our arrogance. To remind us of our real calling. Greatness is found in serving. Because heaven knows that pride destroys many a great leader. And in return kills many a dream.

Pride's a hard one. It's behind most of the emotions we feel. Anger-"Who do they think they are treating me this way?" Bitterness-"I deserve to hold this grudge." Self-pity- "Doesn't anyone know what is happening to me?" It rears its ugly head at drive-thru windows and checkout lines. It roars to life behind the wheel of the car and often in our deepest moment of crisis and betrayal. And so the pause presses us. Sometimes heaven even pushes on the very button of our pride in order to make us aware of all the places it hides and resides. Because heaven knows better than anyone else how destructive pride is. Think about it, had there been no pride then you and I would not live today in a world filled with both good and evil. It was pride that created its very existence.

I've discovered in the season of my pause that there is a great relief in knowing that sometimes God loves us enough to pause us. And when I know that heaven is the source of my pause, it makes its stay a privilege. I'm not saying pauses aren't difficult. What I'm saying is that when you know there is a divine purpose behind it, we can appreciate, even embrace the changes it will grow in us.

In this our first post on the "divine pause", may we reflect at length on the area of our pride and the depths of our service. There are different kinds of serving. Sometimes we serve in the areas of our calling, in our home as a spouse or parent, in our jobs and ministries. But there are also other kinds of servings, the mission trips, the orphanage visits, the medical relief. And sometimes we serve in other ways. We buy groceries for a friend. We take a meal to someone with a new baby, or to a friend who is too sick to make dinner for themselves. We bring a couple neighborhood girls into our home and teach them about being young ladies and making right choices. We mow someone's lawn when we notice they're not able to get it done.

Serving has many different faces. The one face it doesn't own is pride. Unless of course, we're serving to be seen. But true service spits in the face of pride. If this is a pause season of your life, like it is mine, may we learn to be true servants. Seeing the need and then meeting it. May we realize that there are some pauses in life that God himself ordains. And when he pauses us it is for reasons bigger than ourselves. Greatness begins with serving. Who knows, maybe when we learn this one well, heaven will release its pause."

I hope everyone enjoyed this first post here as much as I did. I cannot wait to get the others posted on here. "Heaven ordains "divine pauses" in our life to rid us of our arrogance. To remind us of our real calling. Greatness is found in serving. Because heaven knows that pride destroys many a great leader. And in return kills many a dream." That has to be my favorite part of the whole blog. Well, everybody knows I love the whole blog or else I wouldn't have posted it but that is the part that really caught me.

Until next time, many blessings and much love!!! Amber =)

Independence Day

I never really sat down and actually put thought into what Independence Day was all about. Of course I am a History nerd and know the history of Independence Day but still, I never really thought about it. I also never really thought about the real meaning behind war. The war on terror. The war we are in right now.

Sunday morning, Pastor Lonnie told me to let the kids stay out in service because we were having our special Independence Day service. Brandon and I went out and sat towards the middle of the church - the first time ever we haven't sat on the front row - and I am so glad we did. It would've been a lot more emotional for me if I had been closer but anyway, there is no point to that.

Brother Mike Powell is a Sargent in the army and he brought the word to us Sunday morning and it was a great word. It was kind of like a History lesson therefore, I loved it! He told about all the wars the United States has ever been involved in and gave the number of deaths in each war. I can't remember all of those numbers, even though I am sure I could go find my 9th grade History book somewhere and tell everyone but, I don't want to!!! LoL! Anyway...

...Brother Mike showed a slideshow of pictures he had taken while he was on duty over in Iraq back in 2004. It was very emotional for me, to see those pictures of all of those guys over there. When Jeremy told that Brother Mike (who is his father-in-law) might be having to go back over seas soon, it really hit me. Bam! I am going to know someone over there, fighting. Fighting for my freedom here.

Then that's when reality hit me upside the head. There are thousands of men and women over in Iraq, Afganistan, Iran and other countries that are fighting for MY freedom all the way across the pond here in the States. WOW! Thousands and thousands of men and women, who have NO IDEA who Amber Smith is are fighting for her (my) freedom. They are risking their lives, they could be killed, because they want to keep our freedom here. Do people really realize that? I mean, come on, I am eightteen-years-old and it took me seven years to realize what all of those people are actually doing over there. Wow.

They are some brave people, I know I could never do that. I know, that sounds bad, me being a Christian and all but I could never fight for millions of people I did not know, and possibly loosing my life for them.

Now giving my life for the people I love, the people I am closest to is different but MILLIONS of people I do not know...I know for a FACT I could not do that.

It really blows my mind how our soldiers can do it. They are fighting for me to be able to get in my car and drive to church (25 minutes away) every Sunday morning and every Wednesday night. They are fighting for me to be able to buy my Denise Hildreth books and Jonathan Pierce CDs on eBay or Amazon or wherever I buy them. They are fighting for me to be able to pray and read my Bible every day. I mean, wow! Have you really thought about it?

I think I am done rambling about this, I was going to write about it yesterday but Brandon's grandmother passed away (cancer) and we a lot going on trying to get stuff ready for the church to fix food and all. Her memorial service is tomorrow, here at the church and I can tell you, it's going to be tough. Maw-Maw was just like a real grandmother to me. I loved her with all of my heart and her family too. Everybody knows that Brandon is just like my brother and I love their entire family. Sometimes, I love them more than my own - ha! Ha! But anyway, loosing Maw-Maw has been hard. She was convinced that God was going to heal her - she had more faith than anybody I have ever known. But in a way, he did heal her. She is dancing down streets of gold, singing "HOLY! HOLY! HOLY" (Revelation Song was her favorite praise and worship song) and she has already got to meet Jesus face to face. Wow! She has seen Jesus face to face!!! And yes, she was ready. She and Brandon are, well, were, the only two saved on that side of the family. Out of about fifty people, those two were the only ones.

Anyway, tomorrow is the memorial service (they creamated her) and I am dreading it. Not only because that reminds us all that she is gone but I have to sing and do a drama. Like I said earlier, her favorite praise and worship song was "Revelation Song" so, I am singing that. Her favorite hymn was "I Have Somebody with Me" (313 in the red back, ha! Ha!) so we are singing it congregation style I believe. I am not really sure. The family wanted Brandon and I to do "Now Behold the Lamb" because that was her favorite drama but Brandon said there was no way he could do it, and really, I don't know if I could have done it with him or not. The last service she was in (which was last Sunday night) I did my newest drama and Denise (Brandon's mom) said she loved it. "I Bowed On My Knees" by the Gaither Vocal Band is one of my all time favorite songs and from what they said, she loved it so I am doing it. It's going to be hard...I didn't want to sing but oh well. Mom has to do worse than that, she has to talk!!!! Ha!

So keep us in your prayers and Brandon's family as well. Cheryl (Maw-Maw) was the bomb and we are all going to miss her! Maybe this will lead her children to the Lord. Much love and many blessings!!!! Amber =)

it goes to show you never know when everything’s about to change

I am so proud of my girlfriend, Nicole Pomarico right now. Her dreams are coming true and here is the blog that told the world (not that, thanks to bulletins, we didn't already know). This is her blog...

It happened in the space of about 48 hours. Night one: Stacey comes up with a brilliant idea to start a campaign to get me on a talk show so that I get noticed by a publisher. Following afternoon: I post a bulletin about said campaign and Brooke texts me telling me her dad is a producer for Good Morning America. Next afternoon: I receive the news that I'm going to be on the show... and oh yeah, by the way, they found me a publisher.One dream come true on a silver platter coming right up.I'm not sure if I'm more shocked or maybe not at all surprised; if I'm more excited or more scared. When you truly believe in yourself and you want something with all your heart, in a way you know if you keep wanting it so intensely, someday, it'll come to you when combined with a little luck and a little bit more hard work. And that's how it happened to me. I've expected this; I've known that one day I would be a real writer with a published book, speaking about it and changing lives on national television. It's never been a question, I've never needed a back up plan.But still, imagine wanting something so badly it hurts since the very first time you picked up a pencil. Since three years old, when you started making up stories to give to your mom. Through fourth grade, when you completed your very first book (although not quite suitable for the public). Since seventh grade, the first time you ever picked up the Princess Diaries and the want to affect people the way you've been affected through writing became a need. Since you were sixteen and took your first creative writing class and received a 100 on everything you turned in. Since your eighteenth birthday, the day you finished writing the book that you've believed in so much that it's the one you're sending off into the world to speak for you to all those girls you desperately want to prevent from spending their teenage years feeling alone the way you did.And then it happens. In the blink of an eye you've got it.It's just like, "wait a minute. Is this actually happening to me?"But in a few months I'm going to be sitting in that studio, hair and make up professionally done, presenting myself and my ideas and, essentially, my heart and soul to the entire country for the first time. And then I'm going to walk out of that studio, and do you know who I'll be faced with? Nearly every single person I've been friends with for as long as two or three years ago whose friendship with me has survived the thousands of miles long distance will be out there waiting for me and FINALLY I get to meet the people responsible for keeping my heart beating, keeping me going, cheering me on.My best friend will be there. My little sister. My favorite person in the whole world. FINALLY I get to meet Stacey. I know most of you know how close we are and how we talk constantly. We don't just say we're sisters. I truly believe it was some cosmic error to blame for us not being born to the same family. I think seeing her might top GMA.Oh, and I get to be in New York City. You know, I've got a giant poster of New York hanging in my bedroom. "To keep your dreams alive," my mom told me when she bought it for me. It's the place I've always wanted to live. The home of publishing houses and magazine offices. Designer shoes and bright lights and fabulous Chinese food. My first time in the city, my first time on national television, my first time being with the people to whom my heart belongs.It's going to be a BIG trip.And that's just the beginning.The fact that my book's getting published? COMPLETELY blows my mind. ENTIRELY. Holy cow. It hasn't even registered with me yet.I'm completely overwhelmed with all the changes that are going to be taking place in my life so quickly. I don't feel completely ready for them, but I know that's the nerves and the fear and the uncertainty talking; I've been ready for this my whole life. This is my last year and possibly last semester of college before I'll have to start traveling to promote my book, depending on how long the publishing process ends up taking. Fortunately Morgan's going to home school and travel with me so I'll have some company when my mom can't go with me.Because I'm not letting my mom go everywhere with me. I'm somewhat attached to my mommy, despite how much I complain about her, and I'd love it if she could go everywhere with me, but she can't. It'd disrupt my sister, Jessie's, life way too much not to have my mom around. Plus, I'm a big girl. And Morgan has a lot of travel experience. We can make it on our own. =)Anyway, I'm going to update this regularly so everyone can follow my dream from Atlanta to New York and everywhere in between.I hope you guys enjoy, and one more time thank you so much for standing by me and supporting me and for telling me that this would happen for me one day on the days I felt discouraged. YOU WERE RIGHT and I can't thank you enough. I love love love love all of you. xoxoxoxoxo

I am sitting here, talking to Sali (my cousin), we have been talking for almost three hours straight on AIM. For the last, fourty minutes or so, I have been listening to my new (old) Jonathan Pierce CD that I got in the mail today that I bought off eBay. It's his first solo project - "Two Hearts" and so far I love it. It's from 1995 - yeah - the music sounds old school. LOL! I hated reading his thank yous to Denise. I almost lost it...again.

People who know me, know that I DO NOT cry but for some reason, this week, I have just wanted to cry non-stop from Denise Hildreth and Jonathan Pierce. I don't know, weird. But anyway...pray for Nicole and continue to pray for Denise and Jonathan. I just had to post Nicole's blog because I am so proud of her and can't wait to see what's going to come out of all of this!!!

Much love & blessings!!

Amber =)

Denise Hildreth...

...is now one of my favorite authors. I discovered her not only by one of my other favorite Christian authors, Robin Jones Gunn, but I got to looking at something about Jonathan Pierce and come to find out, that's his wife. Sadly, I found out that Denise and Jonathan divorced last year. It really upset me because they had been married since 1994. I was looking at an old interview with Denise earlier (I think it was from about 2005 or 2006) and it really upset me. I was on the brink of tears and all I could do was pray for the two of them. I have no idea why they divorced and really, it's none of my business and don't care (well I do care but you know what I mean) but when I found this from this interview, it really hurt me on the inside...

Question - "You've said that you wrote Savannah from Savannah during one of the darkest times of your life. Your husband, Jonathan, has also mentioned the storms you two have experienced. Some of our readers may be going through difficult times of their own right now, either personally, or in their marriages. What advice would you give couples trying to stay in love through the dark storms of life?"

Answer - "You know, when Jonathan and I finally faced the elephants in the room, I knew a few things. I knew first that this was the man God made for me. And if I hadn't thought it before I married him, it became true the day I married him. God had also spoken a promise in my heart that I was not to give up on the brink of my miracle. That miracle for me was a whole marriage. I held onto that hope. Even when everything was telling me our marriage wouldn't last, I knew it would. I also made the decision that in light of eternity, the situation in my marriage was a temporal issue. So, I surrounded myself with people that spoke life. And closed out every voice that would try to speak death over my home. And then I held on for the roller coaster ride. And a roller coaster ride it was. But do you know what? Today, a little over two years after we renewed our marriage vows, I have a beautiful marriage. A marriage I fought nine years to have. So my words to those feeling lost or hopeless, or just plain tired…hold on. God isn't out of touch with your situation. He is faithful to perfect all that concerns you. And you are not to throw away your confidence because it will be richly rewarded. If you persevere in doing the will of God then you will receive all that He has promised."

This really upset me and hurt me down deep. After spending thirteen years of your life with somebody, and knowing they are the one and then bam! Divorce. It kills me that my new favorite author and my favorite male singer since I was like, six, are no more. It's really sad.

I just had to write about this situation, and ask you all to pray for Denise and Jonathan. I have no idea where they are right now, or what they are going through, but pray for them.

I just had to obey my heart and God. Much love and blessings! Amber =)

The Jonas Brothers [updated]

I got my Brio & Beyond magazine in the mail today and I had to message the Jonas Brothers because of some of the content. This is the email I sent [and yes, the reason for the message is included].

Why does it seem that all at once, you guys are [maybe] trying to drop the "good boy" image?!?!
Or maybe, this is just a HUGE misunderstanding that you guys [as in Kevin, Joe and Nick - with your parents] need to handle.

I was honestly, not a fan until I found out you guys were PKs [in my Brio & Beyond magazine from November last year, I believe]. Being a PK myself, I love the stand you guys have taken out there in 'the world' you could say.

I got my Brio & Beyond magazine in the mail today and I flipped to the Dear Susie section where a girl wrote in..."I love the Jonas Brothers and can't wait to see a feature on them in Brio & Beyond!" Susie replied with a huge column which reads as follows...
"Don't hold your breath. They said they wanted to do an interview with us, so we planned two features. One would be an inside feature in which they'd answer questions submitted by our readers through e-mail. The second would be a cover story in which I'd interview them personally. I sent 15 questions submitted by our readers - each Jonas would answer 5 - plus a bonus question that all three would answer. Many of the questions our readers asked dealt with faith and purity. I was excited about receiving their responses! We'd heard they were Christians and all wore purity rings. Imagine my disappointment when their publicist wrote me back and said they're finished discussing "purity rings and extremely personal questions and want to focus on the music." I emphasized that because we're a Christian magazine, we naturally want them to discuss their faith and their purity a little before we dove into their music. But it's a no-go. They're refusing..." [Brio & Beyond magazine - July 2008]

The column continues about how disappointed so many teenage and young adult girls are about this.

I certainly am. I am hoping this is a thing with your publicist and not you guys because honestly, I don't know how I could be a fan of people who talked and talked and talked about their faith and purity in magazine, after magazine, after magazine and then all of a sudden, when they have an interview with a Christian magazine, they can't talk about it.

I don't expect a reply, but an explanation would be nice.

Remember where you came from, never forget, you have PKs all over the US [and world, more than likely] watching.

God bless,
Amber <33

So yeah. I don't expect a reply but maybe they'll feel bad enough to send me one.

I am going to be soooooo mad if this is all true. Gah. Who thought people I didn't even know could let me down?!?!

**UPDATE**

I found this quote on ima-fan.net, a Jonas site that has all stuff for your Myspace.

"Even songs we write today, if you really listen to the lyrics, it can be about love songs, but it's also about our relationship with God. We're Christian guys in a rock -n- roll band." - Joe Jonas

Um...makes it interesting doesn't it.

Some things are going to change this year.

Like the way I keep my feelings to myself.

No more. I am not going to continually vent to my parents. I am going to start by having lunch/dinner with a specific person and we are going to go into it ALL. All of it. Every last bit of it. Well, I might keep a couple of conversations between myself and some other people under wraps but other than that...it's all going to be out in the open and I can only pray they are open to it and they tell me the truth.

I am never going to lie to my friends again either. Like, "OH I LOVE YOUR NEW HAIR CUT!" Heck no. That's ending. I never really thought it was lying until my mother informed me that it was. Once I realized it, I felt really bad. It must hurt God when I tell a friend I love their purse when in reality, I hate it. So yes, that's going to end.

I am also going to quit drinking soft drinks - again. Yes, I quit and start back about every four or five months. But I am serious this time!!!

I AM going to do 100 crunches everyday. Even though I am supposed to do it everyday for conditioning, I am going to do it whether I do the rest of my conditioning or not. Speaking of conditioning...

I am going to fulfill at least ONE of my dreams. GOD! YOU SEE THIS! HELLO!?!?!?!? I AM GOING TO!!!!

Anyway. These are my New Years Resolutions. Let's see if I can stick to them. I sure hope so. Much love! Amber =]

P.S. I hope to lose at least fifteen pounds this year. I would love to lose between twenty and thirty but fifteen is the main goal! LOL! Yeah...anyway...LOVE YA*LL!!!

Well...this is cool!

This is my first Blogger blog and I hope I like this place. LoL! I am going to be posting my New Years blog that I have published on my Myspace and Facebook.

It's entitled "My 8 Top 10s of 2007" - enjoy!

--------------------------

Top 10 Funniest Moments of 2007
10 - Going to Wal*Mart with mom, Heather, Carla, Wayne and Crystal. Heather and I had a blast running ALL OVER Wal*Mart. Especially going to the card aisle and singing along with the "sound" cards! =]
9 - Going to McDonalds for Jake's birthday with mom, Aimee, Ryan and Jake while at Summer Ramp in June. We made a bet with Ryan [mom, Aimee, Jake and I] that somebody in McDonalds would recognize him because he sings with Eddie James and Jake said, "I'll go farther and say, nobody will recognize me." Sure enough, we sat down to eat and a guy walked over to our table and started talking to Ryan. Jake was HILARIOUS. We were all like, "He's with Eddie too!" So great!
8 - Jonathan's glasses.
7 - Back in June, when EJM was here, the first day they got here, mom, Aimee and I had to take Ryan to the UPS store in Rainbow City. On the way, Ryan said something and Aimee and I replied at the same time, with the same EXACT words, three times in a row. Ryan literally freaked out and so the rest of the week, anytime it happend, Ryan had to know. We still do that all of the time to this day and call it, "Ryan moments!"
6 - After going to North Gadsden Church of God to minister for a youth service, Austin called his dad while we were eating [at McDonalds none the less] and when he asked him how it went Austin replied, "Great! I fell out!" Yes, the entire table erupted with laughter!
5 - Back before Thanksgiving, when I was getting my hair cut [off], my hair lady [Ashley] asked me what my dad thought about me getting my hair chopped off. I replied, "He doesn't know." She literally went into a nervous breakdown and almost quit cutting my hair. I would've walked out with a totally, crappy 'do!
4 - A while back while mom, Aimee and I were out, we were talking about the upcoming Presidential election and Aimee said, "You know what? I think Pastor Bill should run for President!" Mom and I laughed and Aimee said, "PASTOR BILL FOR PRESIDENT 2008!" And so, to this day, the youth group has a Presidential election button on their space that says, "Pastor Bill for President 2008!"
3 - While at Fall Ramp in October, Brandon saw a girl in whom he says, "looks like a Cavewoman." Therefore, the rest of the trip, we called this girl, CAVEWOMAN. UTurn still does, to this day!
2 - Mom, Aimee and I were headed to Anniston for New Generation Drama Clubs performance of "The Moonstone." We somehow got to talking about Corn on the Cob and it all went off from there! Aimee said something about always getting Corn on the Cob and corndog confused. Hence the nickname, "Corndog." And yes, all of UTurn and EJM refer to Aimee as, "Corndog."
1 - My golf cart wreck, my first day of work at Twin Bridges Golf Club really wasn't funny when it happend, but now, it's the funniest thing of the year according to mom, dad, Brandon, Aimee, Nikki and the rest of my friends. Too bad it's not that funny to me, right?

Top 10 God Moments of 2007!
10 - See You at the Pole pre-rally in Gadsden with The A*Team!
9 - Prayer Conference in January. The first time any of us in the Church of God heard of Tommy Bates!!!!
8 - Establishing UTurn Drama Team back in April! They've all come a long way. True we have lost three members but God is blessing those who are sticking it out and want to minister for his Glory! They rock, I must say. Sometimes, I am proud to say I instruct those crazy kids! LOL!
7 - The Free to Worship Praise Explosion that we helped out with back in January! So great! I got to minister in drama in front of Eddie James and his entire ministry! Because of that I was friends with half of the kids before they got here in June! I was so nervous but once I was done, I was so proud of myself and I know God did some stuff through that. Heck! If not for the Free to Worship Praise Explosion, our week in June never would have happend. =(
6 - Founding The A*Team out of UTurn Youth Ministry/Drama Team. The A*Team has been a great experience. I love ministering side by side with Aimee, Mandy and Austin! The A's have it! Now if Brandon's name only started with an A. LOL!
5 - Summer Ramp in June was a great spiritual experience not only for me but for Aimee as well. And plus, we got to hang out with our new found friends in EJM.
4 - Campmeeting. Wow! It was so awesome. Perry Stone and Tommy Bates knocked my socks off!
3 - Fall Ramp in October. It was UTurn's first trip out, all of us together. We had a great time. I had to come to terms with a certain situation that I never thought in a MILLION years would ever happen, but it did and I had to deal with it. I lost it while there, totally not understanding what God was doing and why my time with my ministry had not come yet but you know, God knows. I still don't understand why what happend that weekend happend, but that's a spiritual mistake someone else made, not me. I can't help what other people do. I have to take care of myself and make sure everything on my drama team is under control. LOL!
2 - Ramp Workshops in July. I went with EJM. That was a blast and I can't wait to see Bryce again! He left while we were there and he'll be back in the summer. He was supposed to be at the Ramp this past weekend but I didn't get to go so...yeah. LOL! Knowing him totally changed my life and talking to him is just, so, wow! LOL!
1 - EJM coming to Harmony COG in June. Wow! That's the BIGGEST thing that has ever happend in my life! LOL! Being friends with Eddie and his kids has TOTALLY changed my life. Being in bible study and prayer with them that week, TOTALLY changed my life. I'll never pray the same again. Wow!

Top 10 Best Moments [period] of 2007!
10 - Getting my hair cut off and Ashley having a nervous breakdown right in the middle of the cut.
9 - Finding out who I am going to spend the rest of my life with and having to keep the faith and trust it God to know it'll happen. That's a hard one. Thanks to Lauren, Jonathan and my mother, I keep the faith and the love that I have for that person.
8 - DARTMINKFS at Fall Ramp. Yes, T9 is an adventure and this is the BEST adventure with T9 I have ever had. It's a UTurn girl word - just to let you know! =]
7 - IHOP with Lauren and Meghan at Campmeeting was GREAT! So much fun. Since then, Lauren has become one of my best friends. She is the BEST person to talk to. =]
6 - Getting my acceptance letter from Southeastern Bible College. =]
5 - Having my first wreck [ever] - Golf Cart style.
4 - Getting to spend a weekend at the Ramp with EJM! Ramp Workshops were great. Christian taught me some new moves - anybody want to see 'em? =]
3 - Ministering through drama with "Can't Live A Day" by Avalon at the Free to Worship Praise Explosion in front of Eddie James and his ministry teams!!! Wow. That was SOOO big for me. Too bad UTurn hadn't come along yet. LOL!
2 - Graduating a year early. 2007 instead of 2008!!
1 - EJM spending a week at Harmony in June. With us. Here. At Harmony. WOW! The kids left that week not even knocking on the door to the parsonage. It's just like, okay. This is the house the crazy fans live in. HAHAHAHA!!! =]

Top 10 Most Shocking Moments of 2007!
10 - Britney Spears losing her mind and going CRAZY.
9 - Eddie James so totally knowing me and getting hugs everytime I see him. He thinks I am cool, just to let everybody know. HAHAHAHAHAHA!
8 - Falling in love. Yes, I know. I am single. I still hold more love for "him" than anybody other than God and my parents. It's a great feeling...now if he felt the same way. Ha!
7 - Zac Efron dating Vanessa Hudgens. She is such a hoochie, right? How can he date her when he could so have me? Ha! Ha! Oh em gee [and if you didn't already know it, I don't like Vanessa Hudgens. LoL!].
6 - Starting to actually like Vanessa Hudgens and then the whole "picture scandal" thing coming out. Yes, I don't like her anymore.
5 - Finding out who I am going to marry. Yes, I know. A lot of people think it's crazy. Not only did it come in a prophesy but God has confirmed it to me twice since then but I knew before the word came in the prophesy. When you find "the one" you just know it. It doesn't take God telling you especially when you love them. Wow. It's a great feeling. I just have to believe the whole, "Love Is Patient" thing and keep my trust and faith in God and one day, he'll feel the same way about me. =]
4 - EJM coming here. Yes, it still shocks me and I stil have no idea why God did that. LOL!
3 - Jamie Lynn Spears getting pregnant by her boyfriend that she met AT CHURCH who is the pastor's nephew. Wow. None of my PK friends do that kinda stuff...I don't think. Ha!
2 - John Craik going to jail. Totally shocked me and I cried and prayed and worried about him and his family for days. Still do. Wow. Total shock.
1 - The situation that went down while at Fall Ramp. I'm not going into it but my dad and I still can't believe it. Total shock. Totally.


Top 10 New Friends of 2007!
10 - Kristyn Ramsey. Friend from school. She was crazy enough to go to the Ramp with my youth group. LOL! She went to Fall Ramp with us. Yes, she did. She has seen and heard it all now! LOL! Love you Kristyn!
9 - Lauren Chrisman. We were already friends but this year we have become so close and without her, I don't know where I would be. She's been there for me through a lot and I just love her for it. Thanks Lauren!
8 - Dana Bradley. She is one of my few friends at school! LOL! Working on our Personal Fitness project was so much fun. Her computer, ROCKS! LoL. You rock Dana!
7 - KATiE! LOL! She travels with EJM in the summer time and I just love this girl. She has met Corbin Bleu for crying out loud and yes, they will be getting married one day! =] I just love KATiE! And yes, that is her trademark name. She totally owns KATiE! =] Love you KATiE!
6 - Marlon Robertson. He is the keyboard player for Eddie. He had to leave on Wednesday when they were here in June because a family member died and so we didn't get to spend much time together but after a day in Montgomery together and then two weekends at the Ramp - a grand total of 9 days together - you'd think we were BEST FRIENDS when we are together. He's the greatest. Surprising him, Heather, Jake and Anthony at the Scottsboro Campmeeting was priceless. I just love Marlon! And he knows it! =]
5 - Mandy Blackadar. My bestie from school. She totally rocks! Love you Mandy!
4 - Amber Stewart. Because of Justin Whittington we have talked almost EVERY DAY since last October! Thanks Justin and Amber, I LOVE YOU! I love Zac more though! LOL! =] Just kidding.
3 - Amy Gomez and Melissa Stewart. My two homies from dance class. They rock and I know we'll be friends for a LONG time. At least our entire dancing careers. LOL! Love you girls!
2 - Nicole Pomarico. We have known OF each other and been friends on Myspace for ages but in the last couple of months we have started talking and text at least like, three or four days a week. She rocks. She IS going to be famous one day. She has already had some stories/interviews in Teen Magazine and she has been like A HUNDRED MILLION famous people! LOL! She and I share the same love for Joe Jonas with the exception she has met him and I haven't. Thanks to Whitney for being friends with Nicole so we can now be friends. Love you Nicole!
1 - Pat and Heather Naomi Craik. Pat is Heather's mother. Pat is one of my best adult friends. We don't get to talk a lot but I love her and know she is here if I need her. Heather and I talked some online every now and then but once Eddie and the crew came here, we were like joined at the hip [that's what Crystal said anyway]. Heather is a great person and I love her so much. We always have fun times when we are together and her mom is just THE BOMB!!!!! I LOVE YOU PAT AND HEATHER!!!! =]

Top 10 Movies of 2007!
10 - Pirates of the Caribbean 3.
9 - Surf's Up!
8 - Spiderman 3.
7 - Amazing Grace.
6 - High School Musical 2.
5 - Enchanted.
4 - Alvin and the Chipmunks.
3 - The Ultimate Gift.
2 - National Treasure 2.
1 - Hairspray.

Top 10 Albums of 2007!
10 - Free to Worship remix by Eddie James and Ultimate Call.
9 - Hello and Goodbye by Jump5.
8 - Alvin and the Chipmunks - the soundtrack.
7 - High School Musical 2 - the soundtrack.
6 - Hymns of Faith by Avalon.
5 - 33 Miles by 33 Miles. =]
4 - Believe by Karen Wheaton.
3 - Hairspray - the soundtrack.
2 - Fervent Worship by Eddie James and Ultimate Call.
1 - Jonas Brothers [bonus jonas edition] by the Jonas Brothers.

Top 10 Movies I cannot wait to see in 2008!
10 - Cheetah Girls 3.
9 - Veggie Tales : Pirates Movie.
8 - The Christmas Cottage.
7 - 27 Dresses.
6 - Hannah Montana Concert Movie!!!
5 - Footloose.
4 - Seventeen.
3 - High School Musical 3.
2 - The Great Debaters [yes, it came out '07 but I won't see it until '08].
1 - CHRONICLES OF NARNIA - PRINCE CASPIAN!!! AHHH!!!!

Okay. Hope everybody enjoyed this. And if you actually read it all, I LOVE YOU!!! I have been working on these Top 10s for like, a week so yeah! Much love! Amber =]