Wow. I can't believe it's taken this long for me to write both my Arkansas and Camp Utopia updates. I had every intention of writing the Arkansas update the Sunday I returned so that at this moment, I'd be writing my Camp Utopia update. But sadly, as you see, it didn't happen the way I intended. So I am going to do my best to write my Arkansas update and later on in the week, send my Camp Utopia update.
Friday night was the last night of Alabama State Church of God Campmeeting at Metropolitan Church of God in Birmingham and that's where the Arkansas adventure begins! I met up with Katie Marie (the only other girl along for the adventure) and we stayed the morning (we didn't get into bed until 2am) at my cousin's house. We had to be up by 5:15am to be at Southeastern by 6am. Meeting up with the band was an adventure just to say the least...KM and I were ready to go back to sleep but it was just really too bad...the boys wouldn't allow it. I was glad to get a 20 minute nap on the almost 12 hour drive. It wasn't long before KM and I knew the boys pretty well...good thing we were used to guys and their madness! And yes...my nap was only 20 minutes because Tyler and Eli thought it'd be smart to wake me up with the Black Eyed Peas. It was prophetical..."tonight's gonna be a goodnight" - haha!
We finally arrived to Farmington and we met some great people! Pastor Lance, Luke, Mitch, Foshe, the whole crew there was just amazing. We had our sound check then they fed us a great BBQ dinner. After that, they took us about 10 minutes down the road to Fayetteville so we could tour the University of Arkansas campus. Pastor Lance and Luke were great tour guides in our vehicle...entertaining I might add. The stadium at UofA was pretty cool but the coolest thing was the outdoor Greek Amphitheater. We had a mini photoshoot of sorts while there...it was great. We also found our new (joke) band name...Humphrey's Hall. There was a sign and of course, Tyler (our lead singer) found it and we kinda took it on as our name! It's pretty funny...and I'm pretty sure he kept the sign. LOL!
Once our tour was over, we were sent to our host homes! KM and I stayed with the Foshe's and they were super nice! They had a little 11 month old baby if I recall correctly who was just adorable! It was a late night and early morning on Sunday morning because we were doing 2 services. KM and I have never in our lives...LOL! Services were amazing...we heard a great word (twice) from Pastor Lance! You can actually watch the 10:45am service here -http://www.ustream.tv/user/alcnwa
(Just so you know...the video is in the archives and it's form a few weeks back so you'll have to find the date more than likely...6/13/10) 8am rehearsal, 9am service, 10:45am service then lunch! Pastor Lance and the crew took us to Damgoode Pies...a pizza place on the UofA campus. It was honestly the best pizza I have ever had. If I'm not mistaken, Damgoode is the last name of the founder...but I might have heard that wrong...LOL! After lunch we went back to the church and left around 2:30pm with the Abundant Life Church youth group and staff. Mine and KM's host home dad, Jason was among the youth staff to make the 3 hour trek to Hot Springs or Benton...I can't remember...anyway...youth pastor Luke made a lasting impression on our crew. And became an instant friend to me! But anyway...I'll talk about the people later.
Once we arrived we went in the minstry center only to meet the State Youth Director, Rob Maggard. We also met the house band for the week, Leyden who I later discovered were AMAZING! And we met other people who were important to the week...such as Rec Coordinator Lindsay who is...AMAZING! But anyway...we made 2 Wal-Mart runs that night after having dinner with some great peeps! Our Wal-Mart trips were great...just gotta say =D
Monday morning started off right with a staff meeting!!! I was put in the camp Cafe (which is right inside the Ministry Center) under the management of Michelle Maggard, the State Youth Director's wife! She's one of the sweetest people I've ever met...she reminds me a lot of my mom! I was originally placed in the Cafe with band mate Nathan, but Michelle moved him to rec. It was tough the first day or so because I was the only Alabama person who wasn't on rec...but in the end it was probably for the best because I met more people by being by myself. I probably never would have made some of the friends I made if a 'Bama boy had been with me. Not only were we guest band (we ministered both services on Friday) and not only did I work in the Cafe but I also led a Small Group! On Tuesday morning, Pastor Lance (the pastor at Abundant Life Church) asked me if I'd be willing and of course I was! That was truly God ordained because I made some great girlfriends in my Small Groups! I learned a lot not only about the 14-18-year-olds in our culture today but I learned a lot about myself. We talked about a different topic everyday and I had a different group everyday so...it was interesting. We talked about fear, intimidation...and some other things. It was GREAT! I love leading small group!!! =D
The services every night were amazing and God really taught me some stuff...as He always does! I was really ministered to by Leyden...they have a song called "You Remain" which is amazing. You can check them out on iTunes - they're a great group of guys! If you wanna check out some other songs, their songs "Search Me" and "Attention" are life changing just as "You Remain" is.
Wednesday was a fun day...well...every day was a fun day. By Wednesday, we were all attached to kids and staff of course...and no matter how much we didn't want to admit it...we were attached to each other. By our Thursday night sound check/practice...we were all itching to play. We had been talking about it all week but went swimming every night instead...lol! Our sound check went well but it was noticeable that we were all semi-exhausted. It had been a long week of 3, 4, maybe 5 hours of sleep and mine and Tyler's voices were almost gone. By Friday morning, Tyler's voice was close to gone but the Lord really strengthened him. Friday night was the same thing...if not for the Lord we couldn't have done it! If you have a Twitter...there are some TwitVids there of some of our Friday morning stuff...30 seconds of each of the 3 songs we did. You can follow me at www.twitter.com/uncommongrl ;)
The kids there were so legit in their worship...it really touched my heart all week but standing on that stage watching was seriously life changing. I want to be able to stand on stage and see that for the rest of my life!
By Saturday morning, we wanted to stay in Arkansas. We had made such amazing friends and were having such an amazing time...we didn't want it to end. Our church on Sunday in Memphis canceled so Saturday was it for us. We had to make the best of it. I think KM and I shed a little tear when we left but lunch in Little Rock with Leyden helped. Our little pit stop turned into 2 hours and our planned trip to Graceland was canceled because we didn't make it until after close. It was sad for Nathan and I but not really for anyone else...lol! With a stop in Tupelo at the mall there for some dinner and Father's Day shopping we were on our way. I got about an hour nap and by the time I woke up, we were almost back to Southeastern. KM and I left there around 1:15am after waiting for one of the guys' rides to make it...we made it home and you know what's funny? I was the only one to go to church on Father's Day morning! I was up and at 'em and led worship at my parents church on Sunday morning! That night was another late night getting ready for Camp Utopia the next morning but that's another message for another day...
Much love & many blessings,
Amber ;)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Saturday, July 18, 2009
So I had a wreck in March - here's the info.
It was about 12:45 or so and I had been to the bank to make a deposit. I had a meeting with our Dean of Students at 1:30 so my goal was to get back to the school and work on homework while I waited for 1:30 to roll around. I had left the bank and was heading down Valleydale. A little down past Jefferson State Community College (Shelby-Hoover campus) I had glanced down at my radio to see what track was playing on my CD and in that micro-second, the cars in front of me had stopped for a left hand turn. It was too late and as I slammed on my breaks, I rammed into the back of a Lexus (I think it was a Lexus) SUV. It happened all in the matter of about, five seconds but those were the worst five seconds of my life. My entire body had tensed up so that maybe I wouldn't get too, too injured when I hit but it didn't help. My head slung forehead and apparently hit the steering wheel (I didn't feel my head hit the wheel, or remember hitting the wheel so when the cops and paramedics came asking, and when I got to the hospital I told them I didn't know what had happened but I found out for sure and tell you about that later) then it was over.
Once I realized what I had done I started to freak out. The first thing that popped into my mind was that my parents were going to kill me. Of course, I knew that wasn't true but that's why I thought. Then I thought about how my car was dead and I couldn't afford another one. The next thing that popped into my head was that I needed to find my phone to call my mom and my glasses so I could see but there was a problem. I couldn't find my glasses and I could only find the face of the phone and the back. My mind went into overdrive and I had no idea what I was going to do without my glasses and without my phone...I couldn't get in touch with my mom, Caleb or ANYBODY. It felt like my nose was bleeding so I reached up and wiped across but when I pulled my finger away there was no blood. Right after that, I wiped my brow and BAM! There it was - blood. I looked in my rearview mirror and there was a deep cut (we have been calling it a gash - lol) right beside my right eyebrow and blood was pouring out (yeah, gross, I know). About the time I started to hyperventilating (I seriously thought I was going to) over the fact that I was bleeding and I couldn't find my glasses or my phone, I glanced into my rearview mirror and I noticed a red dot on the front of the car behind me. Three or four cars had passed by now so an SUV had pulled up behind me. I kept squinting in my rearview because that red dot looked EXTREMELY familiar.
'AUSTIN!' I thought. I hung my head out the window (because my windows were rolled down) and started screaming, "AUSTIN!" And for those of you who do not go to school with me, Austin is Caleb's (my boyfriend) roommate. I saw him jump out and start heading toward me. I was so grateful and thankful to God that he ended up behind me because if he hadn't, I have NO IDEA what I would've done. Actually, I do know what I would've done...I would've lost it. I was already on the brink but I glanced into my rearview for no apparent reason to me but God knew there was a reason (if none of that made sense, the reason was because Austin was behind me in his SUV - lol). Austin said he had tried to call me once he noticed that the car in front of him looked like mine but of course, it wasn't in one piece so it went straight to my voicemail.
Someone for the Vet down the hill came up and said that 911 was on the way and checked on me and the lady in the SUV (in whom I still have no idea how she is - they said her neck was hurt [duh] and her face was cut up a little worse than mine). Everything after that flew by (the paramedics checked me out and I had seat belt burn across my chest [where the seat belt goes across you know], I had a bad scab on my left knee and a semi-bad scab on my right knee and later we found that my left ring toe [since it's the ring finger is it the ring toe?] was missing skin because I had flip flops on and we assume I scraped it against my break pedal) and the next thing I knew it was almost two o'clock and I was headed to the hospital with Caleb (in whom left class once Austin got a hold of him and skipped work to sit with me at the hospital - sweet man) and I had, of course, missed my meeting with Kristie (Dean of Students) and was missing class (Minor Prophets) at that moment (just for those who are wondering, because I had a meeting with Kristie, I had to dress business casual [it was a RA interview] so I had a skirt on. As soon as I hit the SUV, my knees went straight into the dash under my steering wheel and yeah...my left knee has been black, purple and blue since yesterday).
To save money (and it wasn't really necessary for me to ride on a ambulance), Caleb drove me to Brookwood and we were there from about 2:20 or so until 6:15. I sat for what seemed like forever but my pastor at Chelsea COG (Mike Kiker) came and sat with us until my mom and dad got there...OH!!! I haven't told you about my poor parents. Because Austin couldn't get in touch with Caleb, I had him call my mom. My mom said as soon as he said, "This is Austin," she knew something was wrong. My mom called my dad and he was totally tore up but once he heard my voice (when they finally found all three pieces of my phone and I could call him) he was okay. I scared them both to death but trust me, I had scared myself to death. I was shaking like a crazy woman from the time it happened until the time we got to Brookwood. I could barely walk because my legs were like jello. I couldn't sign my name the correct way on the police report because I was shaking so hard - it looked pitiful. LOL! So anyway...the Doctor glued my "gash" together because he found out I have allergic reactions to lydacane (or however you spell it) and he didn't want to make me anymore sick so he glued me up.
Okay. I think that is it, I've been doped up on Motrin all day and I've been working on this blog all day so I don't know how much sense it really makes...I haven't been making much sense. OH!! I'm supposed to tell you how I know that I hit my head on the steering wheel - when mom, dad and I went to check my car out, we found a makeup stain on my steering wheel. Yup - makeup does come in handy for some stuff.
Once I realized what I had done I started to freak out. The first thing that popped into my mind was that my parents were going to kill me. Of course, I knew that wasn't true but that's why I thought. Then I thought about how my car was dead and I couldn't afford another one. The next thing that popped into my head was that I needed to find my phone to call my mom and my glasses so I could see but there was a problem. I couldn't find my glasses and I could only find the face of the phone and the back. My mind went into overdrive and I had no idea what I was going to do without my glasses and without my phone...I couldn't get in touch with my mom, Caleb or ANYBODY. It felt like my nose was bleeding so I reached up and wiped across but when I pulled my finger away there was no blood. Right after that, I wiped my brow and BAM! There it was - blood. I looked in my rearview mirror and there was a deep cut (we have been calling it a gash - lol) right beside my right eyebrow and blood was pouring out (yeah, gross, I know). About the time I started to hyperventilating (I seriously thought I was going to) over the fact that I was bleeding and I couldn't find my glasses or my phone, I glanced into my rearview mirror and I noticed a red dot on the front of the car behind me. Three or four cars had passed by now so an SUV had pulled up behind me. I kept squinting in my rearview because that red dot looked EXTREMELY familiar.
'AUSTIN!' I thought. I hung my head out the window (because my windows were rolled down) and started screaming, "AUSTIN!" And for those of you who do not go to school with me, Austin is Caleb's (my boyfriend) roommate. I saw him jump out and start heading toward me. I was so grateful and thankful to God that he ended up behind me because if he hadn't, I have NO IDEA what I would've done. Actually, I do know what I would've done...I would've lost it. I was already on the brink but I glanced into my rearview for no apparent reason to me but God knew there was a reason (if none of that made sense, the reason was because Austin was behind me in his SUV - lol). Austin said he had tried to call me once he noticed that the car in front of him looked like mine but of course, it wasn't in one piece so it went straight to my voicemail.
Someone for the Vet down the hill came up and said that 911 was on the way and checked on me and the lady in the SUV (in whom I still have no idea how she is - they said her neck was hurt [duh] and her face was cut up a little worse than mine). Everything after that flew by (the paramedics checked me out and I had seat belt burn across my chest [where the seat belt goes across you know], I had a bad scab on my left knee and a semi-bad scab on my right knee and later we found that my left ring toe [since it's the ring finger is it the ring toe?] was missing skin because I had flip flops on and we assume I scraped it against my break pedal) and the next thing I knew it was almost two o'clock and I was headed to the hospital with Caleb (in whom left class once Austin got a hold of him and skipped work to sit with me at the hospital - sweet man) and I had, of course, missed my meeting with Kristie (Dean of Students) and was missing class (Minor Prophets) at that moment (just for those who are wondering, because I had a meeting with Kristie, I had to dress business casual [it was a RA interview] so I had a skirt on. As soon as I hit the SUV, my knees went straight into the dash under my steering wheel and yeah...my left knee has been black, purple and blue since yesterday).
To save money (and it wasn't really necessary for me to ride on a ambulance), Caleb drove me to Brookwood and we were there from about 2:20 or so until 6:15. I sat for what seemed like forever but my pastor at Chelsea COG (Mike Kiker) came and sat with us until my mom and dad got there...OH!!! I haven't told you about my poor parents. Because Austin couldn't get in touch with Caleb, I had him call my mom. My mom said as soon as he said, "This is Austin," she knew something was wrong. My mom called my dad and he was totally tore up but once he heard my voice (when they finally found all three pieces of my phone and I could call him) he was okay. I scared them both to death but trust me, I had scared myself to death. I was shaking like a crazy woman from the time it happened until the time we got to Brookwood. I could barely walk because my legs were like jello. I couldn't sign my name the correct way on the police report because I was shaking so hard - it looked pitiful. LOL! So anyway...the Doctor glued my "gash" together because he found out I have allergic reactions to lydacane (or however you spell it) and he didn't want to make me anymore sick so he glued me up.
Okay. I think that is it, I've been doped up on Motrin all day and I've been working on this blog all day so I don't know how much sense it really makes...I haven't been making much sense. OH!! I'm supposed to tell you how I know that I hit my head on the steering wheel - when mom, dad and I went to check my car out, we found a makeup stain on my steering wheel. Yup - makeup does come in handy for some stuff.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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 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.
Friday, October 17, 2008
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
...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
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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!"
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!"
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