Amy 's PhuseBox

Hold Me Fast

Amy — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 19:56:11 -0500

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139: 9-10

I first read these verses 3 & 1/2 yrs ago when a friend showed me them as we rose into the air, into God's glorious dawn, after a life-changing experience.

Now, 3 & 1/2 yrs later...I'm brought back to these verses again...trusting God to hold me fast in the times to come...because I know that only more life-changing experiences will come with each new dawn...and trusting that same friend as we both trust in Him.

><> Amy

Waymaker

Amy — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 20:48:51 -0500

"When our desires seem overwhelmingly big, and we don't see the way to accomplish them, we should remember that even though we don't know the way, we know the Waymaker. God has a way for us to do everything He places in our heart."

~ the quote on my daily calender for today...exactly what I needed today

><> Amy

His Perfect Time

Amy — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 19:33:51 -0500

There is a time to be born in You and die to You,
That time is the same.
There is a time to plant beginnings and uproot endings,
That time is never-ending.
There is a time to tear down my walls and build with Your support,
That time is now.
There is a time to weep over my unworthiness and laugh for not seeing Yours,
That time is constant.
There is a time to mourn over my loss and dance because of Your joy,
That time is coming and here.
There is a time to embrace the gift of love and refrain from receiving it,
That time is trusting.
There is a time to search for him and to give the search to Him,
That time will remain pure.
There is a time to keep memories and throw them away; forget,
That time is pondering.
There is a time to tear heartstrings and mend others'; or ours,
That time is consistent.
There is a time to love yourself and hate your mistakes,
that time is forever.
There is a time for war between you and me and peace through You,
That time is past, present, future.

^ I wrote that yrs ago based off of Ecc. 3:1-8, and I found it today. It's been a long time since I've seen it, and it was exactly what I needed. :o)

><> Amy

Selfishness

Amy — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:17:51 -0500

"To fulfill God's design means entire abandonment to Him. Whenever I want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. It will be a big humiliation to realize that I have not been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ, but only about realizing what He has done for me." - Oswald Chambers

A desire to know Him...His Word...and His Love! I pray that those will become the desires of my soul...and not just what His Plan for me is and how He can bless me. Selfishness is one horrible thing that's for sure, but when it comes to Jesus Christ...wow I just want to throw up when I think about how selfish I've been.

><> Amy

His

Amy — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 19:11:18 -0500

"Glory, halleluhah.
Glory, glory, hallelujah.
So here I am, all of me.
Finally, everything.
Wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly...Yours.
I am full of earth and dirt and You."
~ "Wholly Yours" DCB

"May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke."
Psalm 104:31-32

Life

Amy — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 22:30:05 -0500

"You cannot be the person God meant you to be, and you cannot live the life he meant you to live, unless you live from the heart."
~ Waking the Dead

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle, which any human being can fight. Never stop fighting."
~ E.E. Cummings

Sometimes life surprises you. It's in those surprises that I see the grandness of God.

><> Amy

The Random Road Trip...Truly the Best Kind to Have

Amy — Tue, 23 May 2006 19:52:08 -0500

So 2 weeks ago as of tomorrow (yeah I know...I'm slow @ writing and posting the pics) Patrick, Lauren, and I packed up and headed to the fabulous state of Florida for a few days!

Well we made pit stops in Ashford, Alabama to sleep each night...but the great beaches of Panama City were definitely calling our names...

Oh...where is Ashford, Alabama you ask? Well it's this tiny lil town outside of Dothan, Alabama...about an hr and a 1/2 from Panama City. Here's an example of the tininess of this place:

^ This is the Broadway Cafe. :o) The most happening stop in town where everyone knows everyone except the 3 college students from TN. We all got the special for breakfast...aka...2 eggs, bacon or sausage, grits or hashbrowns, toast, and sweet tea or water...all for a grand total of $3.78! woohoo! Now to broke college students it was a dream come true!

To add to the randomness of this trip...we stayed with Patrick's brother John! Yay! Well how was this random you ask? Here is John's house:

Yes this is the living room ^. In the other corner of the room is a big screen tv...however...that was the only thing...in the entire house when we arrived Wed night. :o)

^Lauren pondering the emptiness of our home away from home. Luckily we had sleeping bags and air mattresses. :o) Definitely lifesavers...and luckily a few other items were delivered to the house during our stay. :o) And with the rest...we improvised.

We made a few friends along the way...

^Our parrot friend (did anyone else know that Lauren is a tad bit frightened by parrots?? lol)

^Meet Mo, Larry, and Curly who we met at a fruit stand.

^ and our lil lizard friend who was guarding the watermelon that we purchased at another fruit stand and that we sadly never got to eat :o(

Unfortunately, we failed to obtain pictures of the black lady (please don't take that to sound racist) that Patrick almost ran off the road in Birmingham on the way down...and of the white trash girl (seriously and please forgive me if that sounds bad) that almost hit us and then decided to cuss us out on the way home while going through Birmingham. (Patrick made the official decision that we do not like Birmingham anymore.)

Well I guess that's enough about our amazingly awesome and random road trip. For more fun photos, please visit my photo box located to the right of the words you are reading. Thank you and have a terrific Tuesday!

><> Amy :o)

P.S.~ The Jericho team was due to be back tonight...however, they had some trouble and missed a flight. Pray for them as they're trying to get home as quickly as possible. Thanks!

My Twin Sis in Jericho

Amy — Mon, 15 May 2006 21:07:36 -0500

Woohoo!!!!

After a week of being gone...I finally got to talk to my twin sis again! Rach just called from Jericho! They're doing great and it's going awesome!

Being a twin is seriously an amazing wonder of God...but wierd all at the same time...hmm...

"Take Away"

Amy — Sat, 06 May 2006 13:31:13 -0500

By: Mainstay

Rid me of the notion that I ever had any rights
Cleanse me of the motives that come in such a clever disguise
Ruin my agenda, holy as it never was

It's all from Your hand
and there's nothing that's mine
and all that You give
You're free to take away

I'm just trying to hold on, clinging to the dream inside
I was only selfish, and you were only part of my life

Every breath, every word
There isn't one thing I deserve
And all that I am is Yours

Growing Up

Amy — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:22:07 -0500

"At a certain point it's not about what might have been but what might be."

So this growing up business is definitely hard...but I know that I definitely wouldn't go backwards. It's wierd to look back and think that it was almost a yr ago when I graduated high school. When did I get here? It's almost like it snuck up on me. And sometimes I wonder when I began to stare the rest of my life in the face...

><> Amy

The Hard Way

Amy — Sun, 16 Apr 2006 12:16:42 -0500

"Don't cave in because you have been baffled once, get at it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by you own act. Never revise your decisions, but see that you make your decisions in the light of the high hour." ~ Oswald Chambers

"Life's like a novel with the end ripped out." ~Rascal Flatts

...So learning things the hard way is definitely hard and I don't recommend it...but I guess it's better than not learning them at all.

><> Amy

Messages from God...

Amy — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 18:59:26 -0600

"As you strive to love me more and more, do you realize that the key to loving me more is to let me love you more?"

"I alone know the plan for how this turns out well. I alone know how to prosper you through this."

Risk

Amy — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 12:34:39 -0600

"Most of our life is a series of images. They pass us by like towns on the highway. But sometimes a moment stuns us as it happens, and we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment, every part of it, will live on forever."

"A lot of people can walk through a door. It takes security and fortitude to take down a wall...Your faith is in someone bigger than you, in a God who's calling you there despite the walls and questions and fears!"

You...

Amy — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 19:00:48 -0600

"Consuming fire, fan into flames, a passion for Your name"

"To be brought into the zone of the call of God is to be profoundly altered."
~ Oswald Chambers

><> Amy

Standing Outside The Fire...

Amy — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 22:38:45 -0600

"There's this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly hiher and higher
I can't abide standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire"
~Garth Brooks

Yeah...take that ^...apply it to your Christian walk....and that's what's in my heart right now...

><> Amy

Meet my friend Ryan...

Amy — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 23:42:25 -0600

^ That's my friend Ryan...riding a wave in Hawaii when he was 17...

:o) I just thought that that was way too awesome to not share w/ y'all...

><> Amy

P.S.~ Oh and read Sarah and Amy P. 's entries to hear about an awesome adventure w/ a squirrel named Woody!

My family for a week...

Amy — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 17:39:22 -0600

This is my amazing family group @ Passion 06 from all over the US!

Ryan from San Diego, me, Matt from Indianapolis (goes to school @ Vanderbilt), Amy from Memphis, Katie from North Carolina, Dani from Memphis, & Annie from Texas (goes to school @ Milligan in Johnson City)! Unfortunately, the other Matt (from Orlando) isn't in the picture bc he had to get home to coach a lil boys bball game!

We had a blast getting to know each other and lifting each other up in prayer!

><> Amy

A Blog From Louie...

Amy — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 23:05:25 -0600

"Friday, January 06, 2006

I'm Sorry I Didn't Tell You Before You Came

For all you people new to Passion, I'm so, so sorry we didn't inform you before arriving about the post Passion dilemma of trying to tell people who were not there about what happened. I mean, honestly, have you ever felt more frustrated trying to search for mere words? So you say a lot of things that are sort of discombobulated and exasperating, hoping that the exploding radiance in your somewhat droopy eyes translates more effectively the surging truth and emotion that are about to blow your heart wide open.
If you're still searching for an answer to the "How was Passion" question, I like what one blogger wrote: "when asked by a friend, "how was it" all i could do is hug them with everything i had and tell them, that's just the first 30 seconds of the conference. imagine 4 days of that, but with God's intensity."
Oh, and I also forgot to tell you that your brain would hurt for a few days.
And that songs would thunder in your head.
And that you would find yourself drifting back into that massive crowd.
And that you would feel like you had known your Family Group forever.
And that you would wake up wanting to head to your Community Group.
And, most of all, in the midst of all that was running through my head Thursday morning, I forgot to say on behalf of Passion, thank you for the amazingly generous way you worshipped in the offering to help us reach more Bostons, NYCs and Torontos. It was stunning, to say the least, as you gave $216,542... and that number is growing as others continue to respond. Speechless, again. We will follow God, and serve Him through your provision to touch the lives of students around the globe.
Reading every comment on the Blog just now has made me smile at God. I don't have a lot of words to describe how I feel about Passion either, so let me just give each of you a huge hug and say, more to come as I can gather enough tiny words to do this glorious God justice.
Spent and happy, Louie"

~ Louie Giglio

^There's the answer to the question, "How was Passion!?"

><> Amy

Prayer for Passion 06

Amy — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:19:27 -0600

"26 Eight

As in 26:8.

Well, the Passion House is getting emptier by the day, as most of our team is already in Nashville making plans for you to arrive. And as you make your way, carry with you today's simple prayer: "Yes."

That's it. The whole prayer. Everything.

Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls." Isaiah 26:8.

Since Passion's birth this has been our theme, and will always anchor everything we do. While we usually focus more on the last phrase of this confession, the most powerful part of the declaration may be that simple little three-letter word at the beginning. Yes means I trust You... trust You enough to say yes before I even know all You are going to say. Yes means I must say no to something else, or someone else, I've looked to to satisfy my soul. Yes is daring. All in. Anticipating. Calculated. Weighty. Waiting.

Yes without a blueprint, only You. Yes to whatever, as long as it's for Your fame. Yes alone or with others, as long as You are there. Yes to You, Jesus, the one who said yes to the Father and purchased me forever.

Father, Your cross beckons me to say nothing less than yes today.

Through the day: Trust."
~Louie Giglio

"A reason to fight
Against the undertow, we face the night
My God I need You by my side
All my secrets, trust in You"
~"Miracle" by Storyside:B

Next Monday - Thursday 18,000 students will converge on Nashville to seek God & His perfect glory & plan! Please be in prayer as I and MANY MANY others from all over the world unite for His renown!

><> Amy

my life is back!

Amy — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 16:03:22 -0600

hey y'all! so today officially marks my last day of my 1st semester of college! :o) yay! which means i can have my life back bc all my exams are over w/ and now i can relax for a month! sorry i've slacked on comments and such! love y'all!

><> Amy

Mark 10:21

Amy — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 14:29:32 -0600

"I must reduce myself until I am a mere conscious man. I must fundamentally renounce possesions of all kinds, not to save my soul...but in order to follow Jesus. "Come, and follow Me." And the road is the way He went."
~Oswald Chambers

><> Amy

P.S.~ To go along w/ my last entry...I definitely didn't mean that I don't have friendships and enjoy them now...and you couldn't pay me a million bucks to go back to high school...just that things change...

Changing friendships...

Amy — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 22:19:07 -0600

"A friend is someone who knows the song of your heart and can sing it back to you when you forget the words."
~Anonymous

"...there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."
~Proverbs 18:24

Friendship is definitely the thing God's taught me the most about since graduation. Through leaving high school and starting college, I have been through so much, and it seems like I have to deal with it either with just God or with a few select friends because of losing the closeness I once had with so many friends. God's taught me and shown me the importance my friendship with Him and of quality over quantity when it comes my friendships, and it's a hard lesson to learn.

I've also realized how amazingly important true friendships are. The kind that build ya and up and are there for you even in the middle of the night no matter what. And sadly, through experiences I've also learned how much it hurts when a friend hurts you...

><> Amy

P.S. ~ I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was great! Half of mine was...so I guess it's better than nothing.

Join With The Angels Singing "Holy Holy!"

Amy — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 21:19:08 -0600

The angels were definitely dancing and singing today! :o) And even more importantly...our Father was absolutely radiant with pleasure! :o)

Yay! Ahhhhh Jason was baptized this morning! & I wouldn't have missed it for the world! I'm soooo proud of the man that Christ is forming him into!

It was also the 1st time in 3 months I've seen my best friend! You better believe I was ecstatic to go to Knoxville to see him!! :o)
Me and Jason

Jason & his mom :o)

Love you Jason! (haha even if your video did make me cry!)

Definitely the best weekend I've had in awhile!

><> Amy

P.S.~ God's doing some crazy awesome stuff in my life...update soon to come...

Through the storm...

Amy — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:16:56 -0600

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all"
~Psalm 34:18-19

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
~Psalm 147:3

""The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy."
~Psalm 145:20

To those who have helped me literally survive the past few days...thanks. I love y'all, and I have no clue what I would've done without each and every one of you. His healing strength is getting me through this storm...but it definitely helps to have a shoulder to cry on, a couple of listening ears many miles away, many prayers, and one amazing mix cd!

><> Amy

P.S.~ sorry about the lack of updates and remarks...i've had a rough week...but i haven't forgotten about y'all!

So answer this question & you may be the reason I get an A on my Eng paper!

Amy — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 15:33:24 -0600

What makes a photograph art????

let me know your personal opinion of what makes a photograph art...

Breaking Heart

Amy — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 15:32:49 -0600

"Let Him have His way; if you do not, instead of being of the slightest use to God in His Redemptive work in the world, you will be a hindrance and a clog. The first thing God does with us is to get us based on rugged Reality until we do not care what becomes of us individually as long as He gets His way for the purpose of His Redemption. Why shouldn't we go through heartbreaks? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us fall and collapse at the first grip of pain; we sit down on the threshold of God's purpose and die away of self-pity, and all the so-called Christian sympathy will aid us to our death bed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, and says—"Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine." If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart."

~ Oswald Chambers

That quote describes perfectly what I'm going through. My heart feels broken. And it's my prayer right now that I can come to the point where I am thankful for Him breaking my heart so that I may see Him. I'd love it if y'all could pray for me in that too. I'm struggling...and it hurts.

><> Amy

P.S.~ To all my PTT buddies...I finished the picture cds! So I'll get them to y'all soon!

P.P.S.~ Praise Jesus I have a job!!!!!!!! And it's an amazing one too! On campus & with Christian women! Yesss!!!

:o) fun times...

Amy — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:46:27 -0500

"Guys are idiots and girls are evil"
~ Graham

"...and Oprah is their ringleader."
~Nathan

"You look like a drunk cowgirl dipped in white out"
~Robert (referring to my costume for the Halloween party sat. night...thanks a lot Robert!)

><> Amy

Short & Sweet

Amy — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 11:27:14 -0500

Short & sweet quote I found on Leah's facebook:

"Don't put a period where God has a comma"

><> Amy

Delight

Amy — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 15:51:57 -0500

"Delight yourself in the Lord
and He will give you the desires of
your heart."
~Psalm 37:4

Soooo found out something new last night...delight translated in Hebrew means "to dance"...

Check this out and truly think about it...

I close my eyes and throw back my head with laughter
As I step up to dance with You.
My tiny hand in Your infinite one,
And my steps so clumsy compared to Your grace.
The music begins and we step on to the floor,
my grip tightens,
Knowing I will fall but
Knowing that You will guide me.
And the music swells roaring in my ears until
I am so enraptured
That I can't look at anyone but You.
My hands and feet are poised for the next step,
my head up,
A smile of love on my face,
And my eyes locked with
Yours…
And then maybe, maybe then I will not even notice
When You turn
to one of Your sons
And invite him to dance with me.

><> Amy

At the feet of You...

Amy — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 08:41:45 -0500

Awed and overwhelmed, I fall to my knees, unable to stand before You…
Amidst a sea of people, I am aware of no one else. You are love, and You consume my every desire, emotion, need, and thought. Filled with an empowering love, I stand to my feet, raise my head towards You, and take the hand extended. Humbly, I slowly and surely walk to the place I need to be. Tears flow down my cheeks and fall with me at the foot of Your cross. At the feet of You...
With Your arms wrapped around me, and with Your warm embrace calming me, You softly whisper into my ear, “Here my child, my love . It was all here. Nothing else matters. Don’t you understand? I love you that much! Sweetheart, I love you so much! Please trust that! Give it up. Gift it all up. Face your fears head on, start running, and don’t look back. I Am one step ahead of you. I always will be. Trust that and trust Me! You have nothing to fear.”
Shaking, I turn. I finally see the smile as wide as the east is from the west stretching across His face and into His eyes. And my heart is finally shattered by His love. I see hope. For the first time ever, I see hope in the midst of this horrible and dark journey called life. I close my eyes and laugh as I realize the irony because only now, from this moment on, is there life found only in You. From Your life comes all hope and light. I finally get it. And as I open my eyes, I realize this quiet sanctuary is empty. Physically alone, yet knowing with all my heart You are with me. And as I turn to head home, I am filled with the peace, patience, joy and confidence that I need to walk this life. To walk this life with You.

><> Amy

For today...and only today...

Amy — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 13:07:17 -0500

"Even a stage is a gift. God may replace it with another gift, but the receiver accepts His gifts with thangsgiving. This gift for this day . The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived --not always looked forward to as though the "real" living were around the next corner. It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow."
~ Elizabeth Elliot

Be with Him...

Amy — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 22:56:18 -0500

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes ."
~ Psalm 118:9

"I have learned to not worry about love,
but to honor its coming with all my heart."

><> Amy

Everything...Wholly Yours

Amy — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 23:12:07 -0500

She’s a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She’s looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in anything
She’s “I want a piece of chocolate”
“Take me to a movie”
She’s “I can’t find a thing to wear”
Now and then she’s moody
She’s a Saturn with a sunroof
With her brown hair a blowin'
She’s a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
She’s a warm conversation that I wouldn’t miss for nothing
She’s a fighter when she’s mad and a lover when she’s loving

She’s everything that I ever wanted
And everything I need
When I talk about her I go on and on and on
Cause she is everything to me

She’s a Saturday out on the town
Church girl on Sunday
A cross around her neck and a cuss word cause it’s Monday
She’s a bubble bath and candle baby come and kiss me
She’s a one glass of wine and she’s feelin kinda tipsy
She’s the giver I wish I could be and the stealer of the covers
She’s the picture in my wallet
She’s the hand that I'm holdin when I’m on my knees and prayin
She’s the answer to my prayers
She’s the song that I’m playin and

She’s everything that I ever wanted
And everything I need
When I talk about her I go on and on and on
Cause she is everything to me

She’s the voice I love to hear
Someday when I’m 90
She's that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes I only love her more
Yea she’s the one that id lay down my own life for

She’s everything that I ever wanted
And everything I need
When I talk about her I go on and on and on
Cause she is everything to me
~ "She's Everything"
~ Brad Paisley

^ That speaks the desires of my heart! I serve and love an all powerful and all knowing Lord and Savior! And praise to Him that He knows those very desires!
But 1st and foremost....
I am called to love Him with every ounce of me! To desperately want and crave Him! Only then will anything I desire be worth it...because they will be His desires!

"So here I am, all of me.
Finally, everything...
I am wholly Yours."
~ "Wholly Yours"
~ David Crowder Band

><> Amy

Human love has a divine spark...

Amy — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 21:41:57 -0500

don't mistake it for the raging forest fire of God's love for you!
~ paraphrase of Beth Moore

"...I see You in the painted halls...
I see You in a ring of gold
I hear You in a voice of love...

And You give me rest...
And lord, You hold me fast
You hold me while I dream
But I'm not alone
Cause You go with me

I see You in the clouded sky
I see You in the blue stars
and in every sound
You're all around me now
I see You in the setting sun
And in each new day
And with every breath
Your grace..."
~ "You Go With Me" ~ Kristian Stanfill

Perfect

Amy — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 17:21:14 -0500

"As I experience God at work around me, no longer do I want a life based on possibilities and visions of chance, a life spent trying to make dreams come true. I want a God-planned and purpose-filled life. And I want others to experience the same. I want others to know that our loving God has something more for us than our own personal wants. He offers the reality of a living relationship with Himself and an abundant life filled with possibilitiees that we cannot begin to imagine."
~ a missionary in central and eastern europe

^ Perfectly said!

><> Amy

Knock

Amy — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 14:03:06 -0500

"Knock, and the door will open for you."
~ Matthew 7:7

"To knock is to stand at God's door. To make yourself available. To climb the steps, cross the porch, stand at the doorway, and volunteer. Knocking goes beyond the realm of thinking, and into the realm of acting ."
~ Max Lucado

"Have You Ever?"

Amy — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 11:51:42 -0500

~ Shawn McDonald
"Have you ever wanted to reach up and touch the sky?
Have you ever wanted to pack it up and say goodbye?
Have you ever wanted someone to care?
Have you ever wanted someone to be there?

I have tasted of a love so wide
That it stops all my time
I have tasted of a love so deep
That it blows my mind"

When I want to pack it all up & say goodbye & wanted someone to care & someone to be there...
His love really does stop all my time...
><> Amy

Loved by friends...oh soooo wonderful! :o)

Amy — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 21:28:52 -0500

"Life is fortified by many friendships--To love and be loved is the greatest happiness of existence."
~ Sydney Smith

A risk...

Amy — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 19:14:59 -0500

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one...avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable...The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers...of love is Hell."
~ C.S. Lewis

><> Amy

Beautiful Surrender

Amy — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 16:08:32 -0500

"Not because God is ruthless, but because our hearts are rebellious. Our loving Father will do watever it takes to break that rebellion before that rebellion breaks us."
~ Joanna Weaver

"There is a moment of surrender, and there is the practice of surrender, which is moment-by-moment and lifelong.The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar, so you may have to resurrender your life fifty times a day."
~ Rick Warren

"God's will does not always proceed in a straight line."
~ Joanna Weaver

Amen to those...and to one of the toughest yet, amazingly, best days of my life. Sometimes, when God calls you out on something, it hurts...A LOT! & Satan sitting on your shoulder whispering lies into your ear definitely doesn't help. Praise Jesus though that He is always there, and He carries me through the times when I cannot walk. Surrendering really is beautiful in the end! The grass really is greener on the other side sometimes. And yesterday became a glorious day!

><> Amy

Following in the footprints of her Knight...

Amy — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 23:15:37 -0500

Such a precious young princess. And she knows she is exactly that. A princess! Dearly loved and smiled upon by the one man in her world. Her knight in shining armor! Up she looks into the face of the man she knows will always be there, always catch her when she falls, always dry every tear, and always lead the dance that makes her giggle with joy.

Her father looks down and sees his whole world. Nothing means more to him than this little princess…his little princess! The light of his life, she always brings him a smile and a giggle…drawing him ever closer to the One that loves ten times more! Thanking his Father, he draws his little princess close, picks her up, and asks her to dance.

I watch from a distance down the beach, with the sun glistening on the waves and the roar of the surf echoing in my ears. I watch the father swing his adorable little princess around in his arms. Curly blonde hair and deep blue eyes sparkle in the sun and add to the sense of wonder the morning has brought. Giggles of a beautifully happy little girl float on the wind and in the sound of the waves. I watch as the father carefully puts down his daughter, kisses her curls, and continues their walk down the beach. I laugh as I realize how this beautiful princess likes to follow her knight. Carefully she watches him…and carefully she follows in his steps. Before she lets the small waves wash away the footprints set for her to follow, she steps into them, knowing that her knight will never lead her astray. In confidence she steps from one footprint to the next. Glowing with love, her father carefully watches, ready to scoop her up in a moments notice should she need rescuing, but she has nothing to worry about. Her knight is before her, and this little princess knows that when she needs it…a shoulder to cry on…a pair of strong arms to catch her…a smile to encourage her…and a dance to put the giggles back inside her…He’ll be there, for always and forever.

And as I watch, I realize…I too am a little princess, loved and fought for by my Knight! Thank you Lord! You are my Savior, Lord, Daddy, and Knight! And may I follow your footprints You lay before me…trusting that You are leading! And You will be there, for always and forever!

><> Amy

...wow...how God can speak to ya @ the most random times...
(to answer nate's question...i wrote this last night)

Satisfaction

Amy — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 15:17:06 -0500

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."
~ John Piper

Amen to that......and that's the hardest thing ever right now......being satisfied completely in Him....

...haha and that makes 2 posts about being satisfied in Him....

...college is great and awesome...ao is starting tonight and i'm super excited...but my prayer right now is for satisfaction in Him...

><> Amy

"Trusting a God who's bigger than her bad days..."

Amy — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 22:32:36 -0500

Amen to that ^^^...
and to this:...

Be Satisfied With Me
"Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,
To have a deep soul relationship with another,
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively,
But God, to a Christian, says,

'No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone,
With giving yourself totally and reservedly to Me,
With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.
Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,
Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.
You will never be united with another until you are united with Me alone,
Exclusive of anyone or anything else,
Exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning,
Stop wishing,
And allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing,
One that you cannot imagine.
Please allow Me to bring it to you.
You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things.
Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I AM.
Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.
You just wait. That's all.
Don't be anxious. Don't worry.
Don't look at the things you think you want;
You just keep looking off and away up to Me,
Or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then when you are ready,
I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you could dream of.
You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready
Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I prepared for you,
You won't be able to experience the love that exemplified your relationship with Me.
And this is the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love,
I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your Relationship with Me,
And to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty,
Perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.
Know that I love you utterly.
I Am God.
Believe it and be satisfied.'"

~Anonymous

Love Interrupted

Amy — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 13:45:16 -0500

"Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine,
Since You laid down your life,
The greatest sacrifice"
~ "Majesty"

Luke 1: 26 - 38
"'I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her." ~ v. 38

God told Mary through Gabriel. And she said "Ok...I will do this...and I'll trust You."

"God put in her life a voice [Elizabeth] that said, 'Hang in there. God is doing something.' And He puts that voice in your life." ~ Louie Giglio

God had Mary listen through Elizabeth.

Life was interrupted. Mary, a virgin, became the Lord's servant. Love was interrupted.

Life was interrupted. Jesus, the ONE sinless man...the Son of God...became the Lord's servant. Nailed to the cross, He took it ALL. For forever! Love was interrupted.

"We're just gonna trust You. We don't have a Gabriel, but we do have a cross."
~ Louie Giglio

When love is interrupted:
1) life hurts
2) God is still at work
3) Trust God
4) You have to listen
5) You gotta follow Him
6) There is a love that can never be interrupted!

Romans 8: 28-39
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future , nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
~ v. 39

I pray that everyday...I can thank the LOVE OF MY LIFE that His love can NEVER be interrupted! Amen to that!

><> Amy

THE relationship

Amy — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 13:38:54 -0500

"A person's soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him."
~ Oswald Chambers

Trust

Amy — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 12:20:07 -0500

"I will trust while I wait, for my God is never late."
~ Anonymous

No matter what it is I'm waiting for, God's in control. That brings sooo much comfort. :o)

><> Amy

Matthew 6:13

Amy — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 09:16:25 -0500

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

Loved & Hated

Amy — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 09:28:50 -0500

"You are passionately loved by the God of the universe. You are passionately hated by his Enemy."
~ "Captivating" by John & Stasi Eldredge

Everyday is a battle for our hearts and lives. And while God is doing amazing things in our lives every moment of the day whether we see them or not, Satan is doing just as much to stop it. Fight the good fight and keep walking with Him!

><> Amy

blonde moment of the day...

Amy — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 13:50:52 -0500

soo...
i washed, dried, and straightened my hair today....then i realized i hadn't used shampoo...
goodness gracious...
haha i guess it is good to have a laugh at myself every now and then...

><> Amy

ps ~ this may not be an in-depth post...but maybe it'll bring a smile to someone's face... :o)

Life Interrupted

Amy — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 13:45:21 -0500

"The Christian life, by definition, is disruptive. By definition, the Christian life is a revolution. And by definition, the Christian life is the unexpected in every turn!...Have a mindset that says, "Earth has fallen, sin has broken the world. God is working in spite of that to give us a great life and to get glory for Himself, and I would anticipate that over the course of my life, God has stuff for me that I couldn’t even think of if I tried. I also know that because I live in a fallen world that there’s gonna be a lot of difficulty and a lot of left turns in my world, and when they come, I’m going to keep trusting God no matter what”…Nothing can stop God from doing what He is intending to do in your life, in that moment!...Nothing happens that God somehow isn’t superintending in His grand scheme of life to use for our good and His glory!”
~ Louie Giglio