ICRS 2008

ICRS 2008: Before I go…
I wanted to give you all a short update before I head off to ICRS! If you remember, this is the conference I first mentioned at the beginning of the year. I am very thankful to those gracious individuals who have partnered with me in praying for and ultimately financing this trip!!! One of my best friends, Annie, and I fly out of Detroit in route to Orlando early Saturday morning; the conference itself begins Sunday, July 13^th, and runs through Thursday, July 17^th. I am amazed at the opportunities the Lord has afforded me while I am there. If you would have told me three years ago that I would be in this position, I would have told you that you were crazy.

Because I know many of you like to know more specific ways you can pray for me, I have attached media confirmations for T.V. interviews, and on radio interview, while I am away.
You will notice that one of them is with Life Today. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have been praying for 3 years for an opportunity to meet with someone from that particular ministry. I will not be meeting with James & Betty Robison, at least not at this point, but will have an interview with one of their producers, Sharon Elmore. If they “like” me, I will be invited onto the program at a later date. Please pray that the Lord is glorified through the interview, no matter what the outcome of it.

Other things to pray for while I am away:

• ABOVE ALL FOR GOD TO GET ALL THE GLORY FOR EVERYTHING THAT OCCURS @ ICRS!!!!
• WISDOM - I could use it in every area of my life, as could we all!
• My health – it’s going to be a long, stressful week; please pray for physical, mental and emotional strength to run the Race the Lord has set before me the next 5 days.
• Ministry odds & ends - please pray for me, as I work things out with accountants regarding getting that IRS tax emption! It’s a slow, tedious process!
• Saturday – Please pray that the flight goes well, that we get from the airport to our hotel and settled in for the long week ahead!
• Sunday – Please pray for me as I attend the ‘International Vision Celebration’ to pitch my message/book to international publishers
• Sunday – PRAISE: I get to finally meet the crew from Winepress after years of just email/phone correspondence!
• Monday - Please be in prayer for my interview with Meri Crouley @ 8:40am.
• Monday – Please be in prayer for my interview with “Body Builders” @ 10:30am
• Tuesday – PLEASE PRAY for that interview with Life Today @ 10:30am
• Tuesday – Please pray for my book signing @ 1:30pm
• Wednesday – Please pray for Annie and I as we spend our time NETWORKING!
• Thursday – Please pray for me as I interview with Moody Radio @ 8:30am
• Thursday – Please pray for me as I interview with “The Good Life” @ 10:00am
• Friday – Please pray for Annie and I as we travel back to the airport in Detroit, MI. and then home!

Before I forget: those wondering about my WBCL INTERVIEW

Click here and then go to the Thursday, July 3^rd show. If you’d like to get to my portion of the interview, you’ll have to fast-forward around 35 minutes or so. If you have any questions/problems, please email me!!

Above all, Thank YOU for your prayers and support!! We certainly can’t do this without you!!! J

Haley Palmer and Tim Russert

Haley Palmer, a twelve-year old, beautiful young girl with CF who was awaiting a transplant, passed away today. You can visit her family's website here.

Tim Russert, the standard for serious journalism, died today, as well. I've always followed Mr. Russert's career and deeply admired his abilities. I actually had a dream a few months that Tim Russert passed away, so one can imagine my shock when I learned about 3:00pm that my dream had come true. All of this has me thinking about a lot of things...and in the midst of it all, I all know is that no matter what I'm doing, I want to it well, as unto the Lord...and maybe, just maybe, the journalist within me isn't done yet. I may never be a Katie Couric, but I do have a lot left within me, that if properly harnessed, can impact the world for Christ. I've already seen it happen in the past; we all know it's happening now through Breathtaking, and I think there's even more to it all than I knew before today.

Father,
Show me your wisdom....all I want is YOU.

Amber

P.S. Vacation is going well...lots to think about.

Non-profit coming!!

Important update:

Greetings, my friends! I wanted to let you know that as of yesterday, April 28, 2008, the Articles of Incorporation for Breathtaking Ministries, Inc. have been turned in and are now being processed by the state of Ohio! Breathtaking Ministries, Inc. should have 501©3 status by the end of May!

PRAISE THE LORD!

I want all of you to know that it’s not about ‘becoming a non-profit’, me (certainly not me!) or even the name ‘Breathtaking Ministries, Inc.’. As the Scriptures say, we are to die to self daily and continue to be conformed to our Savior, Jesus Christ. This whole ministry is about proclaiming the Lord’s glory by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (us being saved from eternity apart from our Creator by grace through faith alone for the glory of God) and a proper theology of suffering. If I’m dead and gone tomorrow, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of God’s sovereignty and goodness amidst human suffering must go forward. Breathtaking and Breathtaking Ministries, Inc. are just two ways – of thousands – the Lord has ordained for this to occur.

I am just a mere vessel that is daily falling facedown before Him. I’m by no means perfect or even close. I can be the worst of Pharisees, the prodigal and/or the older brother in one day, and always very unworthy of the calling He has placed on my life. That’s why I need Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit working inside of me every single moment of every single day.

Your prayers sustain me!! THANK YOU for being willing to partner with me, as I proclaim who Jesus is and His desire to set us free (Is. 61:1-3) and not Amber Metz, Breathtaking, or Breathtaking Ministries, Inc. Again, if you still have questions regarding what we’re all about, please check out ‘The Mission’ on Breathtaking Ministries’ website. Also: I unfortunately didn’t receive any testimonials regarding how Breathtaking or Breathtaking Ministries, Inc. has encouraged or impacted lives. I know that we’re all on this together, and that you guys do believe that God is using this ‘proper theology of suffering’, so please just tell me how! J I don’t want endorsements for my self-esteem or even really ‘endorsements’ for Breathtaking. I’m looking for how the Lord has shown you what a proper theology of suffering looks like through the reading of the Word and the concepts brought up by the ministry. I hope that helps.

Please email me if you have any questions!!

*Please let me know how all of you are doing so I can pray for you efficiently!!

Back!

I'm back after spending a wonderful weekend at Liberty University with my friends, Leanna, Amber and Heather. Our mutual friend Jessica Baughman was kind enough to take us in! Here's a picture of all of us with Mark Hall, the lead singer of Casting Crowns. Mark is an incredibly humble man of God; that is what I admire about him and why I'm including this picture.

Me, Leanna, Mark, Jessica and Amber

While I was in Lynchburg, I was also able to catch up with my former youth pastor, John Harney, and his wife Angel. They both had a tremendous influence on me my freshman and sophomore year of high school, and it was a BLAST seeing them and their adorable children, Spencer (6) and Zach (4). I wish we had taken a picture! Ooops!

On a more important matter, I had a really refreshing time with the Lord while I was gone and feel more focused in a lot of areas in my life. Prioritizing is my #1 priority this week. I'm going to be looking at my daily schedule and seeing what needs A)eliminated B)moved to once-a-week and C)enhanced/re-focused. It may not make much sense to anyone but myself for now, but hey, that's ok! Please pray that I am open to the Lord's wisdom, as I seek HIS FACE above all else, even with the day-to-day grind. I didn't realize how much "stuff" was taking over my life until I really started analyzing what I do every day. Sure, most of it seems like very real, pressing matters, but is it? Does every email have to be answered right now? Does every phone call and voicemail have to be returned right away? I don't think so. Hitting closer to home, should checking my Facebook 3 or so times a day really be in my list of priorities? Absolutely not.

So, yeah, I'll be reading the Word, meditating upon it and praying a lot this week when it comes to how I organize my life. So many people want a piece of me right now, and there's just not enough 'Amber' to go around for everyone, I'm afraid. My Lord comes first. My family should come second, which doesn't happen often - at all. My inner circle comes third, which I put ahead of my family all too often. Of course the ministry the Lord has entrusted to me is right up there, too...but if I'm not completely in-tune with the Lord as my Lord (meaning 'Master'), I have no idea what to do or how to fulfill the calling He has placed upon my life.

I'm called first and foremost to be a daughter of the King, not just the 'Founder of Breathtaking Ministries'. If tomorrow the ministry has no partners, everyone forgets about my vision and stops praying, I'll be okay. You know why? Because I listened to the Lord 3 1/2 years ago and have been on a wild ride ever since. I know the Lord's voice. I heard my God and have been walking by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7) ever since. If you think I know what I'm doing, you're wrong. At the same time, if you think I don't know who my God is and who I am in Him, you're wrong again. I know Whose I am and I'm very sure He'll complete the work He started in me, whatever that may look like. As long as I continue to be obedient, I'm destined to do His will for His glory and His alone.

Tomorrow is web-site work. Lord-willing, that'll be done soon; it's just another thing I'd like to see crossed off of my list of 20,000 things to do. Before all that, though, I'll be spending my morning with Jesus, my best friend and One who doesn't contact me by just email or phone. He's the only One who knows my every thought, my every action past, present and future and still loves me more than I could ever imagine.

Thank you, Jesus, for setting me free. I am Yours. I am Yours.

Amber

Stepping out into the unknown

Luke 9:62 - But Jesus said to him,"No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."

"There will come a day when Love will lift you out of here. There will come a day when Love will bring its Truth.
There will come a day when Love will free you from your fear, and you'll remember I believe in you.
I believe, even when I see you crying. I believe, let me dream for you. When nothing comes from trying, oh remember, I believe in you."
-- Bethany Dillon

This post won't resemble most. In fact, I'm not even really sure where it's going, but hey, that's ok. I remember the last time I started something like this. I had no idea what I was doing, or even why, but I just felt led to write...look where that got me. :)

So here I am, once again, in this place of utter brokenness and confusion, in a place I don't want to be but down a path He has beckoned me to travel. I can't really go into details, but in case you weren't aware the last time, there was a lot more back story to my musings than I let on. I'm not trying to tease you or make you analyze every word looking for cryptic messages. You won't find the answers. In fact, if you do, please let me know them.

Just know that even though I've been told in the past twenty-four hours that I'm 'tougher than nails', I feel like I'm a puddle of emotion, someone that has been in a symbiotic relationship for a very long time and is now realizing that commensalism is what is needed most.

As this month of prayer and fasting continues, please remember me and Breathtaking Ministries in your prayers. As I've told a few already, I feel like I can't describe where I am in my life right now. I just know it's a turning point, much like my time at Cedarville over three years ago. I can't turn back now. I'll never see what is on the other side, if I do...no matter what, I can't turn back now.

Amber

'Breathtaking' Update - January 30, 2008

PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK ON NATE, TRICIA AND BABY GWEN: http://cfhusband.blogspot.com

Recap of the FIRST BOOK

SIGNING:

I am proud to report that GOD SHOWED UP on Saturday, January 26th! My publicist thought I'd be doing well to sell 4-5 books in the four hours I was there. I am proud to report that the Lord saw it fit to get books into the hands of 52 different people! Please continue to pray that He OPENS DOORS throughout the month of February! Let us praise HIM for His continuing faithfulness in all of our lives; this is all about Him being glorified through my weaknesses then and now!

THANK YOU to those that came out!
I know a lot of you wanted to be there but couldn't because of scheduling conflicts; watch for more information regarding more signings! :)

IMPORTANT NEWS:
Starting this Friday, February 1st, ongoing prayer and fasting on behalf of the future of Breathtaking Ministries begins!

Breathtaking is obviously moving forward, and I am in need of CLEAR DIRECTION regarding where to take the ministry God has entrusted me with because of it. If you've been following the prayer requests, you have seen that I am desiring for God to reveal to me a CONCISE way to implement the vision He has given me. I know that most of you are aware that I firmly believe God is asking me to take the message of God's sovereignty, even amidst suffering, to the MASSES. I oftentimes call this a proper theology of suffering. I hope that term has not confused anyone!

It's not about selling books, but by getting 'Breathtaking' to a NATIONAL AUDIENCE, the Lord can continue to reveal Himself and a PROPER VIEW of His sovereignty to thousands of people!!

On that note, I need YOUR HELP! You by no means have to let me know, but if you could please devote 1-2 days (if you feel called to do so longer - GREAT) to praying and/or fasting on behalf of Breathtaking, I'd most certainly appreciate it!!

My ministry RUNS ON PRAYER! I have a lot of opportunities before me right now, and I don't want to walk through ANY DOORS without knowing it is from HIM and NO ONE ELSE!

PRAISES & PRAYER REQUESTS:
In the next week, I will be putting together more specific prayer requests for you to lift up on my behalf!

PRAISES:

• My personal vision is being solidified (a proper theology of suffering i.e.proclaiming God's sovereignty and goodness even amidst suffering).
• Teens For Christ has graciously given me office space!
• I'm able to take this semester off of school and still have insurance!
• Breathtaking is being sent forth and touching lives for HIS glory!
• This week's book signing went VERY well; the response has been overwhelming!
• My website (www.ambermetz.com) is currently being updated; plans for further development are in the works!
  
  Continued prayer requests:
• THAT GOD WOULD BE GET THE GLORY FOR EVERYTHING!!
• WISDOM regarding how to implement my vision!!
• HUMILITY before my Lord/publisher/family & friends/general public
• DISCERNMENT on my part, as I continue to daily make huge decision
• FAITHFULNESS until the bitter end on my part that I would be OPEN to His leading and direction.
• MY HEALTH - my EBV level is on the RISE (referring to my mono-like symptoms). Cat-scans will be performed on Valentine's Day, February 14th, to determine if there is a specific reason for this. Please pray for STRENGTH

**Also: Don't forget about your opportunity to write a review for Breathtaking at either www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com! I'm not looking for '5 star' reviews, just honesty from whomever is willing to help! Thank you in advance!

The Lord will glorify Himself through Breathtaking! Please continue to believe that His story will go forward to thousands of individuals for His glory and His alone!!

Want more ways to help?
Please email me at amber@ambermetz.com

Isaiah 26:8 (Amp)
"Yes, in the path of Your judgments, O Lord, we wait [expectantly] for You; our heartfelt desire is for Your name and the remembrance of You."

Book Signing!

Note: I am still trying to figure out how to configure my letterhead for these emails, so please be patient with me! :)
Also, please expect a detailed update this weekend, after the signing! :) Thanks for your understanding, and more importantly, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS (see praises/requests below)!!!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK ON NATE, TRICIA AND BABY GWEN: http://cfhusband.blogspot.com

BREATHTAKING UPDATE!

May HE receive all glory, honor and praise for EVERYTHING! AMEN!

FIRST BOOK SIGNING:
Gifts of Joy
2423 Allentown Rd., Lima, OH.
TOMORROW, Sat., January 26, 2008 from 2:00-6:00PM
Hard Cover: $25 + tax/Soft Cover: $15 + tax
RSVP NOT REQUIRED BY APPRECIATED!

PRAISES:

• My personal vision is being solidified (a proper theology of suffering i.e.proclaiming God's sovereignty and goodness even amidst suffering).
• Teens For Christ has graciously given me office space!
• I'm able to take this semester off of school and still have insurance!
• Breathtaking is being sent forth and touching lives for HIS glory!
• This week's interviews went VERY well; the response has been overwhelming!
• My website (www.ambermetz.com) is currently being updated; plans for further development are in the works!
  
  Continued prayer requests:
• THAT GOD WOULD BE GET THE GLORY FOR EVERYTHING!!
• WISDOM regarding how to implement my vision!!
• HUMILITY before my Lord/publisher/family & friends/general public
• DISCERNMENT on my part, as I continue to daily make huge decision
• FAITHFULNESS until the bitter end on my part that I would be OPEN to His leading and direction.
• MY HEALTH - my EBV level is on the RISE (referring to my mono-like symptoms). Cat-scans will be performed on Valentine's Day, February 14th, to determine if there is a specific reason for this. Please pray for STRENGTH

Also: Don't forget about your opportunity to write a review for Breathtaking at either www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com! I'm not looking for '5 star' reviews, just honesty from whomever is willing to help! Thank you in advance!

The Lord will glorify Himself through Breathtaking! Please continue to believe that His story will go forward to thousands of individuals for His glory and His alone!!

• Want more ways to help?
  Please email me at amber@ambermetz.com

Isaiah 26:8 (Amp)
"Yes, in the path of Your judgments, O Lord, we wait [expectantly] for You; our heartfelt desire is for Your name and the remembrance of You."

Scattered words

There's so much I want to say, so much I wish I could put into words. The words aren't coming, though, and you're probably already bored to tears with this post. Sorry about that. Ok, maybe I'll try again. I'll just...write..and see where it takes me.

My mind is scattered, my words seem futile and my strength is waning. I remember this place...this place of desperation that the Lord always takes me to before He moves - in a big way.
He knows my heart and that's all that matters for now, I guess. There are so many things I wish I could share with all of you, but now is not the time for all of that. There will come a day, though, of this I'm sure. Until then, I rest in Him and not in my own strength. I wake up every day and say 'not my will but Yours be done' and press on for the Higher Calling in Jesus Christ - wherever that leads me. I don't need to know why or when...I just need to know in Whom I have believed and trust that He is 'I AM'.


Thank you for today, Jesus...doors are opening, if ever so slightly. I believe! I know that 'Breathtaking' is going to reach millions - somehow, some way. Please just help my unbelief...it's all for Your glory and renown. Kill me and replace my selfish want with Your Spirit. Ruin me. Burn within me the desire to know You more..and let that be enough. Amen.

WISDOM, oh God...grant me Your wisdom.