Work In Progess...

As I said today in my interview with Stacy Harp, the President of Active Christian Media, this blog is still very much a work-in-progress! :) I promise to try to do a better job with it, though! For now, you may only find my ministry newsletter updates on it (at least for the most part)...but this will get better in time, as my website is re-done and re-launched shortly!!

Please feel free to ask me anything you want while you're here. You're not stalking me. This is a public blog, and even if you just 'stumbled' upon it, I'm consciously putting myself out there so fire away. I look forward to hearing from you, the reader.

If there's any particular subject you'd like me to cover, please shoot me an email (amber@ambermetz.com) and let me know!

I'm on a journey. This blog's on a journey. We're all on a journey. One thing is for certain, though, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and His Gospel of grace through faith still applies today. The Word never changes, life does...and I'm so excited to see what's around the corner for Breathtaking Ministries. A proper theology of suffering will go forward, with or without me...but I'm so thankful that, at least for now, I get to watch the Lord glorify Himself through my crazy pipe dream!

Amber

More Ways to Help!

Some of you have asked more ways you can contribute to Breathtaking Ministries’ cause:

Here are two!

1) Cystic fibrosis

As all of you know, because of having numerous complications due to having cystic fibrosis (CF, I had to endure a double lung transplant. My heart is for seeing people come to know Christ as Savior and for them to understand God’s sovereignty even amidst human suffering, but I cannot help but also be drawn toward raising awareness for CF as well. Approximately 30,000 people in the United States currently have CF. The life expectancy has raised dramatically since I was born in 1986, but still to this day, the median life expectancy is still only 37 years of age. Hundreds (if not thousands) of people die each year, some because of lack of health care and others simply because no cure has been found for CF at this time.

On May 17, 2008 there will be a Great Strides Walk to raise money for cystic fibrosis here in Lima, OH. If you would like to be a walker and join ‘Team Breathless’ at the Ottawa Metro Park at 9:00am that day, please go to Amber's G.S. Walk homepage and click on ‘join my team’ to become walker! If you cannot attend but would still like to give a tax-deductible monetary donation toward cystic fibrosis research, please click on ‘click to donate’. Your monetary donation will go directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the leader in raising money for CF research.

I am also in touch with several different chapters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and am praying that Breathtaking will be able to be used in the lives of thousands of people with the life-threatening illness! We can pray for a cure for CF and also that God would continue to use Breathtaking’s message to further His Kingdom.

2) Organ/Tissue donation awareness

April is national organ and tissue donation month! J I am currently in the process of getting a hold of every single newspaper here in Ohio, asking if they’d consider covering my story during the month of April to raise awareness for CF and organ donation, while also giving me the opportunity to spread the renown of Jesus Christ! J Please pray for me, as I try to get all of this accomplished in the next week or so!

As far as how you can help, please consider becoming an organ/tissue donor if you have not already done so. Donate Life America is a great website to use to learn all the facts regarding donation and also has the info you need to sign up in your particular state! If you just click on ‘commit to donation’ a page will pop up with every state in the country. Please click on your state and go from there! I can’t – and don’t want to – co hearse people into becoming donors, but I would ask that you know the facts about donation before you make your decision!!

If at any time this month (or any other time) you do decide to become an organ and tissue donor, and feel comfortable disclosing your decision, please email me and let me know!

Again, I know that organ/tissue donation awareness may not seem like a route that one can promote the Gospel through, but rest-assured, it is! The Lord has given me this tremendous testimony for a reason, and I’m trying to use it to the upmost for His glory!!

Thank you for taking time to check in on what’s happening. I hate bombarding all of your email inboxes with a bunch of emails, but I find these two matters far from frivolous! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!! J

As always, I covet your PRAYERS the most! JThank you for partnering with me!

Where Have I Been?

..Where have I been?

In the past few months, I have/ have been:

• Learning once more than this certainly is NOT about me
  
• Dealing with the fact I can't have my own children, may never be married
  
• Being a nanny to 4 children, whom I adore, while also adding two more
• Spending a lot of time at work, thanking the Lord I get to work alongside my inner circle every single day
• Spending some time away from work, so I can clear my head and continue to remember MY vision
  
• Moving out of my parents' home, something I've wanted to do again for years
  
• Spending a lot of time with the Lord, the only Constant in my life
• Dreaming new dreams again, standing in awe of Him when I see them come true for HIS glory
  
• Cherishing my time with my mentors, Buck Sutton & Heather Hall
  
• On the road a lot, feeling lonely but realizing this is the life to which I am called
  
• Hearing "I love you" from people who choose to love me for who I am
  
• Watched a close friend walk away and suddenly slowly make her way back into my life
  
• Watched another close friend leave for England, praying the answers come for him in HIS timing - not mine
  
• Cried a lot of tears, for a lot of reasons
  
• Prepared myself for the day I watch another close friend walk out of my life to enter a wonderful, Godly marriage...as well as the day I watch someone else walk out of my life to enter a marriage I pray every day doesn't happen for her sake
• Wished I had more time to spend with a friend whom I love dearly but don't see enough
  
• Watched a close friend have to walk away from a job she loved and enter a time of loneliness and refinement, while also not finding the time - again - to see her as much as I want, either
• Wondered how I ever got to where I am when I am so stupid, so needy and so small
  
• Wondered if my life will abruptly come to an end this year for His glory
• Wondered if I'll beat all the previous records and live 50 yrs.
• Experienced trying health problems and watched those close to me rally around me during them
  
• Had to be fed, carried and comforted for the first time in over two years
• Wanted to see His face more than anything else this world has to offer
• Wanted what my flesh wants more times than I'd like to admit
• Believed with all my heart that God called me for such a time as this to do something HUGE
  
• Questioned when I'm supposed to let go of something I love being involved in
  
• At the same time believed that my role has - and will continue - to change in a particular ministry
• Refined the vision of the ministry with which God has entrusted me
• Cried - again - a lot
  
• Have fought wanting to not be vulnerable with Him and others
  
• Have sought His will and then not believed He would perform it
  
• Have repented of said sin multiple times
  
• Have listen to Shane and Shane's In The Secret probably 500 times (including right now)
• Have not read a page of Breathtaking since its release
  
• Have fasted and prayed for souls to come to know Him through this book HE created
  
• Have watched Him provide for my finances in the toughest of times
• Have questioned if He would provide and then had to repent in the same breath
  
• Haven't made much sense at times, if you couldn't tell already
• Been extremely critical of what I put on paper
• Wondered if I'll always be this way
  
• Decided that I'm only publishing this because He wants me to....

Oh Father, I'm so broken once more...please make beauty from ashes once more. Make me lie down in green pastures, so that I am still and know that YOU and YOU alone are God, my Abba Father. I don't need man's praise...I just need You. Lord, be Master of my life and continue to empty me of everything I desire, everything that keeps me from You. Lord, kill me and burn within me a desire to be fueled by a passion that only comes from YOUR consuming fire. I need You, oh I need You.

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."

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.