...is a day I will never forget. It was that day I experienced my first real sense of loss, at the age of eleven.
My mom's sister who had been struggling with cancer since I was nine-years-old, died.
I remember the phone call, I remember my mom's face; her voice; her reaction to the news. My heart literally stopped beating for a second...I couldn't cry. My aunt Linda was like, everything to my mom and I. Since she had received Christ that year, she and my mom were closer than ever. I am so glad she gave her life to Christ because I know, I'll see her again one day!
I didn't cry until we got to the funeral home for her visitation...when I saw her in the casket and I saw my cousin, David (her son) crying, I lost it and I literally did not stop until after the funeral the next day. When they closed the casket there was no holding it in. My cousin, Sali and I cried and sobbed through the entire funeral. I had never experienced such loss.
I got a keepsake at aunt Linda's funeral that I still have to this day! His name is Arney and he's a stuffed lion. My children's Pastor at that time, Sis. Brenda, gave him to me for "strength and faith" and yes, ten years later at the age of twenty-one I still look to the little lion when I need a reminder of those things.
I just think about what life would've been like had God not called my dear aunt home. But I know God had a plan in that...and I know I'll see her one day!!!
I just wanted to write about her...dear aunt Linda was an amazing woman and is greatly missed!
Much love and many blessings,
Amber :)
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Fall in Tennesee :)
I took this picture last October in Gatlinburg, Tennessee! I had the honor of serving on the Student Council leadership team my last full year at Southeastern Bible College (I was the Vice-President in the Fall semester and President in the Spring semester) and during our Fall semester, we had the opportunity to go on a Leadership retreat and I must say, it was one of the most fun experiences I've had so far in my 21 years! Three days in Gatlinburg was fun and just the time with my friends was amazing but what made it so awesome was that it was my first trip with my new camera :)
This is one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken and it was taken in the backseat of our Dean of Students' SUV on our way back to Alabama! Tennessee is beautiful and I advise ANY PHOTOGRAPHER (whether a amateur or a professional) to go there and play with their fall colors and just, the beauty God put in that state!
Even now, traveling on the road with EJM, Tennessee is where I always wish I had my camera...thank God for an iPhone, right? :)
Much love and many blessings,
Amber :)
P.S. I took these in Johnson City, TN with the team this a couple of weekends ago.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
"It's How I Worship!"
I've decided to start posting some of my favorite pictures I've taken and write about them. Whatever the Lord leads, I'll write and so, I decided I'll just go through the album (on my desktop - BLOG PHOTOS) in order and, this was the first one :)
This picture was taken on my iPhone and I remember taking it one Saturday night at The Well, not long after Krislyn started painting during services. I didn't have my camera that night but there was something about her hands, covered in paint that sparked my Spirit. That night, instead of painting with her brushes, she painted with her hands and there was something so powerful to me about that.
I remember when she was posing for the picture, or possibly after I snapped it, Krislyn said, "It's how I worship," and it stirred my Spirit even more. When I sat down to edit the picture (because it was a no brainer that it would be edited) those words kept stirring over, and over in my heart. Editing it was easy as pie, the Lord led me the whole way and editing this picture changed my photography in every way...I looked at it as a way to worship, not just a way of earning a living. There where the "Uncommon Photography" watermark is, I put a fire flame...The Well and their "fire" infected my life. I used it on all The Well pictures after that, until Photoshop came along...but that fire flame changed my life forever (due to the fire that changed me at The Well).
"It's how I worship," was a powerful statement, and really got me thinking. How many times we go through our days, doing the same old, same old and not seeing it as a blessing from God in a new way to worship. I was enjoying photography, doing my regular gig at The Well, taking portraits, learning all about my DSLR and here comes "worship" in to the picture. Krislyn jolted something awake in my Spirit...I couldn't continue to look at photography as an art, or a way of life in the future...it's a way to worship! I began taking pictures (at events/services) that would uplift believers (just like one of Krislyn's paintings would)...you'll see them later on in this blog series ;)
So I challenge you to see what you're doing as a way to worship...drawing, skating, dancing...whatever! Do it for the glory of the Father! Do it to worship Him!
What do you do to worship Him?
This picture was taken on my iPhone and I remember taking it one Saturday night at The Well, not long after Krislyn started painting during services. I didn't have my camera that night but there was something about her hands, covered in paint that sparked my Spirit. That night, instead of painting with her brushes, she painted with her hands and there was something so powerful to me about that.
I remember when she was posing for the picture, or possibly after I snapped it, Krislyn said, "It's how I worship," and it stirred my Spirit even more. When I sat down to edit the picture (because it was a no brainer that it would be edited) those words kept stirring over, and over in my heart. Editing it was easy as pie, the Lord led me the whole way and editing this picture changed my photography in every way...I looked at it as a way to worship, not just a way of earning a living. There where the "Uncommon Photography" watermark is, I put a fire flame...The Well and their "fire" infected my life. I used it on all The Well pictures after that, until Photoshop came along...but that fire flame changed my life forever (due to the fire that changed me at The Well).
"It's how I worship," was a powerful statement, and really got me thinking. How many times we go through our days, doing the same old, same old and not seeing it as a blessing from God in a new way to worship. I was enjoying photography, doing my regular gig at The Well, taking portraits, learning all about my DSLR and here comes "worship" in to the picture. Krislyn jolted something awake in my Spirit...I couldn't continue to look at photography as an art, or a way of life in the future...it's a way to worship! I began taking pictures (at events/services) that would uplift believers (just like one of Krislyn's paintings would)...you'll see them later on in this blog series ;)
So I challenge you to see what you're doing as a way to worship...drawing, skating, dancing...whatever! Do it for the glory of the Father! Do it to worship Him!
What do you do to worship Him?
Monday, September 26, 2011
Skype.
Hey guys! If you want to keep up with me, come on over to Skype :)
Not only will I be posting regularly on here but occasionally I'll be on Skype! I've taught the parentals how to use it and I talk to my best friends on it so...add me :)
Crimsntidegrl is my screen name :)
Much love and many blessings.
Amber :)
Not only will I be posting regularly on here but occasionally I'll be on Skype! I've taught the parentals how to use it and I talk to my best friends on it so...add me :)
Crimsntidegrl is my screen name :)
Much love and many blessings.
Amber :)
Friday, September 23, 2011
Content.
I've learned in my life that God really doesn't like contentment.
When I was 12, my dad decided to pastor and to be honest, I was perfectly content with my life at that time. It took me a while to become content with my life for the next two years but by the time I had become content with it, it was time for another change. When contentment finally came with my college situation, it was time to move to Birmingham...driving back and forth from Gadsden wasn't going to cut it anymore. By the time the first boyfriend rolled around, 9 months in I was so content I couldn't stand myself but that fall, everything changed!
Fall 2009 was when EJM came to visit (after their 2007 visit [an entirely new team]), I moved from Birmingham back home to Gadsden, my boyfriend broke up with me and I realized I was called to The Well with my spiritual leaders Blake & Stacey Sitz. Over the next four and a half months, my life drastically changed and by January 2010, I was back at SEBC...
The summer of 2010 I went back to The Well and by then, boyfriend number two had come into the picture. Before I knew it, he had walked out on me and I was letting people take advantage of my bitterness and hurt, which led me to leave The Well again. In the midst of all this, my dream of traveling the world, ministering the Gospel never died out. Prophecies over my life from people such as Blake, his brother Lane, and other people I've known who walk in the gift of the prophetic had all confirmed that was the Lord's plan for me - I just had to be patient and wait on His timing.
In February 2011, I went back to The Well part-time and by May I was full-time. I went back just to sing and ended up dancing again...which put joy back into my life that I thought I had lost. I finally began making deep friendships and really becoming content and things started to change. People started disliking my involvement at The Well, people were trying to pull me away and I started making some not so Amber-like decisions. Because of that, I got into some trouble with my parents but, things were made right and my life went back to semi-normal! Within days, I had a text from Eddie James, a dear family friend, inviting me to join EJM. I always told God, no matter what, when that door was opened that I'd walk through it...so I did.
Within 24 hours I had packed up everything I would need for 3 months and left for Hamilton, Alabama. I only had enough time to say goodbye to my parents, Blake, Austin, Mandy, Krislyn and Cayson (all dear friends and fellow leaders at The Well) and the people at Family Christian (I still had to work that day - lol). It was a very emotional time for me and here, a week and a half later, I still miss home. Listening to people who have been here 6 months, even a year, I don't think that sentiment ever goes away. You always miss home.
God uprooted me and replanted me for a season, I don't know how long, but I'm going to learn all I can in this season to be able to go on to my next assignment when He's ready. I'm not sure as some others that my time at The Well is completely up...I feel there is going to be an in between stage between EJM and my next step and that The Well will be that resting place. That return home...whether for a month or a year...but for now, I am singing with Eddie James Ministries and ministering to people I only dreamed I would reach. This has been a dream in my heart/Spirit since I was 15/16 years old. To be able to live this out, is just a God thing. Only He could open the door and only He can shut it. So I ask that you pray for me as I am on this EJM journey. I left photography, I left dancing, I left a job I loved, I left my parents, I left a Spiritual family that I love and hold dearer than most of my family...for a short time I've even left singing (no singing until I learn all the music - lol). It's been painful and very uncomfortable but God doesn't like it when we are comfortable! Just remember, when you are comfortable, something is probably fixing to change!!!
"Say goodbye to my father, my mother, turn my back on every other lover but I press on! Yes I, press on! I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU - THERE IS NOT COST! I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU - THERE IS NO LOSS!" - Misty Edwards
When I was 12, my dad decided to pastor and to be honest, I was perfectly content with my life at that time. It took me a while to become content with my life for the next two years but by the time I had become content with it, it was time for another change. When contentment finally came with my college situation, it was time to move to Birmingham...driving back and forth from Gadsden wasn't going to cut it anymore. By the time the first boyfriend rolled around, 9 months in I was so content I couldn't stand myself but that fall, everything changed!
Fall 2009 was when EJM came to visit (after their 2007 visit [an entirely new team]), I moved from Birmingham back home to Gadsden, my boyfriend broke up with me and I realized I was called to The Well with my spiritual leaders Blake & Stacey Sitz. Over the next four and a half months, my life drastically changed and by January 2010, I was back at SEBC...
The summer of 2010 I went back to The Well and by then, boyfriend number two had come into the picture. Before I knew it, he had walked out on me and I was letting people take advantage of my bitterness and hurt, which led me to leave The Well again. In the midst of all this, my dream of traveling the world, ministering the Gospel never died out. Prophecies over my life from people such as Blake, his brother Lane, and other people I've known who walk in the gift of the prophetic had all confirmed that was the Lord's plan for me - I just had to be patient and wait on His timing.
In February 2011, I went back to The Well part-time and by May I was full-time. I went back just to sing and ended up dancing again...which put joy back into my life that I thought I had lost. I finally began making deep friendships and really becoming content and things started to change. People started disliking my involvement at The Well, people were trying to pull me away and I started making some not so Amber-like decisions. Because of that, I got into some trouble with my parents but, things were made right and my life went back to semi-normal! Within days, I had a text from Eddie James, a dear family friend, inviting me to join EJM. I always told God, no matter what, when that door was opened that I'd walk through it...so I did.
Within 24 hours I had packed up everything I would need for 3 months and left for Hamilton, Alabama. I only had enough time to say goodbye to my parents, Blake, Austin, Mandy, Krislyn and Cayson (all dear friends and fellow leaders at The Well) and the people at Family Christian (I still had to work that day - lol). It was a very emotional time for me and here, a week and a half later, I still miss home. Listening to people who have been here 6 months, even a year, I don't think that sentiment ever goes away. You always miss home.
God uprooted me and replanted me for a season, I don't know how long, but I'm going to learn all I can in this season to be able to go on to my next assignment when He's ready. I'm not sure as some others that my time at The Well is completely up...I feel there is going to be an in between stage between EJM and my next step and that The Well will be that resting place. That return home...whether for a month or a year...but for now, I am singing with Eddie James Ministries and ministering to people I only dreamed I would reach. This has been a dream in my heart/Spirit since I was 15/16 years old. To be able to live this out, is just a God thing. Only He could open the door and only He can shut it. So I ask that you pray for me as I am on this EJM journey. I left photography, I left dancing, I left a job I loved, I left my parents, I left a Spiritual family that I love and hold dearer than most of my family...for a short time I've even left singing (no singing until I learn all the music - lol). It's been painful and very uncomfortable but God doesn't like it when we are comfortable! Just remember, when you are comfortable, something is probably fixing to change!!!
"Say goodbye to my father, my mother, turn my back on every other lover but I press on! Yes I, press on! I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU - THERE IS NOT COST! I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU - THERE IS NO LOSS!" - Misty Edwards
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)