Hosanna In The Highest...

My life could not be more unpredictable, more different than what I had expected if you would have asked me 3 months ago what my summer would have in store...and you know what?

I love it - all of it.

I don't even know where to begin; most of you know small details but only a few know the intimate, raw details of what has been going on.

So, here's a recap of the past few months in summary:

1) The Lord has been opening many doors lately for His glory, causing me to be on the road almost non-stop at times, but I wouldn't trade it for the world!
2) The Lord is asking me to step out of my comfort zone and actually believe that my dreams could come true, meaning in particular that He has placed a man in my life who could very possibly one day - not too far away - be my husband. Writing those words brings a ton of emotions to the surface, but it feels good to finally write them! We are prayerfully considering the Lord's will in our lives and laying our plans and what we want aside; all we really want individually and corporately is His presence, more than anything. There will be much more on that issue in the future, I'm sure. Just know I haven't ever felt more blessed in my life and cannot believe that He has allowed me to share the past few months with a man who loves Him above all else and treats me with nothing but respect, a man who lets me come home from being on the road and just vent, a man who prays over me and prays that one day - with our without him - I will be able to have a biological child with my husband...it's pretty much all just...for ack of better words...breathtaking. *sigh* For now, just please pray for me and for him!
3)The Lord is teaching me so much about Himself! I cannot begin to share with you the spiritual, emotional journey I have been on the past several months, especially since March or so. There has been so many 'ups and downs', emotionally-speaking, but the Lord knows the cry of my heart has not changed: Just to know Him more, Lord, that's all I ask.

Jesus,
I love you, not because of the blessings You have bestowed upon my life the past few months, but because through You IS life. Oh, Father, take this broken vessel and continue to humble me before You, as You glorify Yourself through my words and actions. Teach me to be a servant. Continue to teach us all to get out of the way and just let You move.


For His glory alone,
Amber Nicole Metz

Crucial Ministry Update!

Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].
1 Thessalonians 5: 24 (AMP)

Prayer Warriors & Friends:
I know it’s been a long time since you heard from me, but rest-assured, I am still alive! Beyond merely being alive, I am very busy with the ministry with which God has entrusted me. I wanted to write all of you weeks ago to give you more updates on I.C.R.S but just could never find the time. My apologies!

I’ll keep this email as short as possible, but there is EXTREMELY EXCITING news to share! I can’t believe I get to share with all of you what I’m about to say, but the time has come!! Our Lord is so faithful, so willing to use us for His glory, if we’ll just lay down our lives and say ‘Not my will, but Yours be done’. I know this to be true now more than ever.

Before I share, though, here are a few other updates. If you just can’t wait, or are too busy to read, at least scroll down and look at what is highlighted in red! : -)

Moody Bible Institute:
As of August 11^th, I have completed my summer semester through M.B.I and am
looking forward to being done with my Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies Lord-willing in
July of 2009. I will once again be signing up for coursework for the fall; please pray that the Lord sustains me, as I seek to finish around 10.0 hours of school, which will leave 15 hours and an internship left!

International Christian Retail Show – the rest of the recap:

I know I promised more of an update other than the Sat-Sunday one I sent out, but obviously with my hectic school schedule when I got home, that unfortunately never happened. However, just know that the Lord filled my week with divine appointments for His glory, and I am still praying through many encounters I was able to have while in Orlando. I won’t bore all of you with the details! Just keep praying!!!

Now…

UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

• Linesville, P.A. – August 16/17^th

Please pray for me, as I travel with my mentor
to Linesville, P.A. to speak this Sunday, August 17^th.

• Dallas, Texas – August 19/20^th

Life Today with James and Betty Robison!!!
Will be taped August 19^th; date of airing TBA!

I’m not making it up! I couldn’t if I even tried!! Yes, friends, the LORD HAS ANSWERED my prayer of 3 YEARS, and He’s done it in extreme fashion!!!! I just found out yesterday (Aug. 12^th) that I am to fly to Dallas on Tuesday, tape the show Tuesday night, and fly home on Wednesday morning. Isn’t it just like God that I just finished my semester through MBI the 11^th, have only a small gap between this and my next speaking engagement, and have actually been praying that I would hear from Life Today (either if they wanted me on or not) much earlier than anticipated. This, my friends, is MUCH earlier than anticipated!! I was told it could be up to 6 months before I heard from them! Not only have I heard from them, I’m going!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!

I will send out a list of prayer requests for the trip by Tuesday for all of you to pray through. I fall facedown before Jesus, thanking Him for this divine opportunity and responsibility and acknowledge that now I am completely out of my comfort zone and so desperately in need of Him!

· Philly area, PA. – Aug. 22-29^th

Please pray for me, as I go visit my dear friend, Sarah Behn, and her parents; I will be speaking 2-3 times while I am away. Pray, as always, that as I speak, it is His words and not my own!

So, that’s my update!! I’m in just as much shock as all of you! Go GOD! : -) Love you all!! KEEP PRAYING, as the amount of spiritual warfare around me is intensifying, as I prepare for these crucial opportunities to minister to HIS children.

Pray For Tricia!

Everyone:

Please pray for Tricia from CF Husband. This is Nate’s latest post, and it sounds like Tricia is not getting any better. Please pray that this new treatment they’re going to start to try to cure Tricia’s Post-Transplant Limphoproliferative Disorder (what I get tested for every couple months) will be successful for His glory. Also, please pray for her husband Nate, their parents and their precious daughter, Gwyneth, who is also still facing a few difficulties of her own. Check out their website anytime. If you need more background of their story, please go here.

Life Just Got Complicated

Yeah...you might be thinking that our life was already complicated. Well, not to us...at least not until now...

Tricia's lymphoma in her lungs did not respond well to the meds over the past five weeks. In fact, some of the growths are bigger, and there are a few new growths. Only two of the growths are smaller, and none have gone away. That alone was pretty disappointing.

Next, they've decided to keep Tricia overnight until they can come up with a new game plan. Another disappointment (Gwyneth and I will be partying at the hotel by ourselves tonight).

This evening, we met with the oncologist (cancer doctor), who explained that the next step is R plus CHOP. I've been explaining to you that the chemo Tricia had been receiving was not the heavy duty stuff...CHOP is. CHOP is the stuff that you hear about that comes with a lot of potential side affects...nausea, severe headaches, risk of leukemia, hair loss, etc.

Tricia will receive her first treatment tomorrow. If all goes well, she should be released on Thursday (we were planning on heading home Thursday anyway). She'll receive her second treatment in three weeks here at Duke. A few weeks after that second treatment, they'll reevaluate to determine if the cancer is responding as hoped for. If so, she'll receive four additional treatments every three weeks, for a total of six over the next eighteen weeks.

If, after the first two treatments, her cancer is not responding, Tricia is in serious trouble.

Each treatment lasts several hours, and immediate side affects include the nausea, headaches, etc. Because of Tricia's other current health issues and medications (which I'll discuss at a later time), this entire process is a lot trickier than it normally would be if she was only facing cancer (not to diminish anyone who is "only" facing cancer...that alone is nothing to laugh at).

Needless to say, we're both very bummed tonight. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm sure we'll be more optimistic, but tonight we're very discouraged. We continue to trust God, believing that, regardless of what lies ahead over the next few months, He is in control and knows what is best for us, but we're feeling rather beat up.

Blessed be the Lord
day after day he carries us along.
He's our Savior, our God, oh yes!
He's God-for-us,
He's God-who-saves-us.
Lord God knows all
death's ins and outs.

Psalm 68:19, 20 (The Message)

Nate

BTW...Gwyneth had an appointment today and has another tomorrow...I'll update you on her status later tomorrow. Thanks

Pray For Tricia!

Everyone:

Please pray for Tricia from CF Husband. This is Nate’s latest post, and it sounds like Tricia is not getting any better. Please pray that this new treatment they’re going to start to try to cure Tricia’s Post-Transplant Limphoproliferative Disorder (what I get tested for every couple months) will be successful for His glory. Also, please pray for her husband Nate, their parents and their precious daughter, Gwyneth, who is also still facing a few difficulties of her own. Check out their website anytime. If you need more background of their story, please go here.

Life Just Got Complicated

Yeah...you might be thinking that our life was already complicated. Well, not to us...at least not until now...

Tricia's lymphoma in her lungs did not respond well to the meds over the past five weeks. In fact, some of the growths are bigger, and there are a few new growths. Only two of the growths are smaller, and none have gone away. That alone was pretty disappointing.

Next, they've decided to keep Tricia overnight until they can come up with a new game plan. Another disappointment (Gwyneth and I will be partying at the hotel by ourselves tonight).

This evening, we met with the oncologist (cancer doctor), who explained that the next step is R plus CHOP. I've been explaining to you that the chemo Tricia had been receiving was not the heavy duty stuff...CHOP is. CHOP is the stuff that you hear about that comes with a lot of potential side affects...nausea, severe headaches, risk of leukemia, hair loss, etc.

Tricia will receive her first treatment tomorrow. If all goes well, she should be released on Thursday (we were planning on heading home Thursday anyway). She'll receive her second treatment in three weeks here at Duke. A few weeks after that second treatment, they'll reevaluate to determine if the cancer is responding as hoped for. If so, she'll receive four additional treatments every three weeks, for a total of six over the next eighteen weeks.

If, after the first two treatments, her cancer is not responding, Tricia is in serious trouble.

Each treatment lasts several hours, and immediate side affects include the nausea, headaches, etc. Because of Tricia's other current health issues and medications (which I'll discuss at a later time), this entire process is a lot trickier than it normally would be if she was only facing cancer (not to diminish anyone who is "only" facing cancer...that alone is nothing to laugh at).

Needless to say, we're both very bummed tonight. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm sure we'll be more optimistic, but tonight we're very discouraged. We continue to trust God, believing that, regardless of what lies ahead over the next few months, He is in control and knows what is best for us, but we're feeling rather beat up.

Blessed be the Lord
day after day he carries us along.
He's our Savior, our God, oh yes!
He's God-for-us,
He's God-who-saves-us.
Lord God knows all
death's ins and outs.

Psalm 68:19, 20 (The Message)

Nate

BTW...Gwyneth had an appointment today and has another tomorrow...I'll update you on her status later tomorrow. Thanks

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

A Realization...

What I just told my best friend, Annie...

A Realization...

use me Father (12:22:32 AM): and I'm growing and changing...

use me Father (12:22:54 AM): and Im learning it's okay to admit that I'm not always 100% happy with my current situation

use me Father (12:23:01 AM): that I love Jesus, yet I long for the Full Redemption

use me Father (12:23:22 AM): that I love my calling,and wouldn't trade what I've been through for ANYTHING, yet at times I don't feel whole...

use me Father (12:23:25 AM): and I'm not supposed to...

use me Father (12:23:32 AM): because we don't belong here in this fallen world

use me Father (12:23:38 AM): and admitting that doesn't mean I don't love Jesus

use me Father (12:23:49 AM): or that I can't be a spokesperson for a proper theology of suffering

use me Father (12:23:57 AM): it just makes me a better candidate to do it

Lord, I really am learning, aren't I?

With or Without You...

With or without you....
I am finally understanding who I am in Christ and loving every minute of it.
With or without you...
I know "it's okay" (in a lot of ways)..and not just in my head but in my heart.
With or without you...
I know to what and to whom I am called and am living in it in absolute freedom.
With or without you...
I am going to live the rest of my life out of conviction and not out of guilt.
With or without you...
I know that because I am whole-heartedly seeking HIS WILL above all else, God truly does want to give me the desires of my heart, not just 95% of them but all of them.
With or without you...
I'm dealing with my demons and casting them all at His feet, every single one of them.
With or without you...
I'm taking off the masks I didn't even know I wore and untangling the baggage that comes with them.
With or without you...
I am thankful we took the gamble and learning once again how to WAIT upon the Lord.
With or without you...
I have been changed forever, and for that, I thank you.