So it's 2010 already!
WoW!

Where has this last year gone? I have to say for me this will be a warm welcome....bring it on 2010! I had allot of sleepless nights in 2009! I am looking forward to making this coming year a brighter and better year all around!

I have had allot of down time this last two weeks before the closing of 2009, to reflect on my life over this last 12 months. I have also taken the time, ( time being something I have had very little of these past 12 months to do much of anything other than work and well work.) to browse around www and read a little of what my family and friends and yes even acquaintances have had to say about the ending of 2009 and the beginning of 2010. I have read some cliche statements an some sappy ones. Some very pessimistic ones and optimistic ones. However in all of my wanderings I have come across a certain common ground among just about all of everyone's "two cents"... that being "2009 wasn't the best of years and we want 2010 to be a better one!"

How to make that happen? THAT is where all the difference in opinion comes in!

I have a personal favorite of all the blogs and status' I have read...although I must say it was very difficult to narrow it down to just one as there were sooooo many good ones out there!

I tend to stick the train of thought that WE make the year the year doesn't make itself.

Out of about a 100 or so blogs and or status that I read I chose this status by Dexter Francois

People who soar are those who refuse to sit back, sigh and wish things would change. They neither complain of their lot nor passively dream of some distant ship coming in. Rather, they visualize in their minds that they are not quitters; they will not allow life's circumstances to push them down and hold them under~ Author Unknown. Use this as a reminder for 2010. This will be your best year ever.

Well I would like to encourage everyone to keep on keepin' on this coming New Year of 2010!
and
Please remember you are never alone as you travel through life! We have a friend that sticks closer than a brother! (Proverbs 18:24)
And If you ever find yourself having one of those "sleepless nights" just give the Lord a holler. He will be right there with you as He doesn't slumber or sleep....ever......!
He's too busy watching over you!

Shalom my friends!!!
Happy Happy New year!

Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:1-18

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."


Hebrews 13:5 ".....for He himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you."


The ultimate price has been paid. "Let us therefor come boldly to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need." Hebrews 4:16




In the heat of battle - in the fire of the Master's Kiln


We may often times feel alone but we need to remember the truth is we are never alone.

Jesus promised He would never leave us nor forsake us that He would be with us until the end of the age.
Hebrews 13 & Matthew 28

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

A Walk Through a Moment of Temptation

1Cor.: 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond that which you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide you a way out so that you can stand firm under it.”
Eph.: 612 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world.”

Glory to the Lord for he is worthy to be praised!
Glory to the Lord of hosts!
I shall forever and always praise his wonderful name!
Though my day brings me much grief and trials of many kinds
The Lord is still worthy and from my lips shall his praises be raised!
Glory to God in the highest! Glory forever more!

In the heavens and on this earth war is being waged
Still praises to my God shall I sing forever more!
Worthy is the Lamb upon the throne!
Principalities and powers of this dark world racing here and there
Still greater is the Lord of Hosts Glory to his name!
All Glory to the Name of the Lord!

Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!
Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!
Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!

Like a whirlwind of darkness I feel the enemy all around
Still I praise the name of the Lord of hosts!
Glory to the King of Kings who forever is in control
Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world
Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!
Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!

Flying at me from every direction words of doubt and fear
Still standing firm I cry aloud ~ Praise the Lord O my soul!
Cast your care on the Lord He not let you fall!
Overwhelmed with temptation the enemy’s face are those I love
I cry out to God above ~ I will YET PRAISE YOU! God of mercy come now!
Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord! Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!

Sudden hush in the air ~ the scent of defeat is strong
Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord of Hosts! Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!
Praise the Lord of Glory! Worthy is the Lamb!
The direction of the wind is changing ~ I feel the Spirit of God breath upon me
Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord! Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!
Worthy to be Praise! Glory to the Lamb upon the throne!

Love now fills the air dispelling the whirlwind of darkness around me
Glory to you O my God! Glory to you alone!
Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord! Holy ~ Holy ~ Holy is the Lord!
Faithful and true is the Lord of hosts ~ Caring for me is He
I shall forever and always give glory to His wonderful name!
Jesus! I love you, precious Jesus! Glory is YOURS forever and always!

***

Thank you Lord That Your Promises are Yes and Amen!

This Too Shall Pass

Perhaps This Too shall Pass

Autumn was brisk, cold and very short this year.

The leaves took no time to fall and cover the nearly already frozen ground.

It isn’t even the first week in December and the chill of winter has made its way about.

Perhaps Mother Nature has come about to feelings of empathy for me,

As I too have a heart that has changed from warm to cold in an abnormally short a time.

A love of many years is responsible for these many tears falling quickly down my cheeks to a cold and weary heart.

I cannot take time. I no longer have the strength to gracefully mourn my broken heart.

One time too many, one word too harsh, like the wind so strong and too cold for

a tree to hold on to her last few colorful leaves; I cannot.

So here I am, just this skeleton of a once beautiful blossoming tree, barren, shivering, and dry. Just as the tree sheds her last leaf in Autumn I now have no more tears to left to cry.

Nothing to shelter me from the harsh freezing winds, my insides all out in the open for the world to see, as my new life begins.

I turn deep within myself and pull strength from my inner source. Just as the tree lives off its root system, I must depend on my own root system, my Lord.

He is my Rock and my Salvation, a very present help in time of tribulation. When I need a shelter I go to Him and I need a shelter. When I need comfort He is my comforter. I need comfort. When I need counsel, I go to Him and I need counsel.

Yes, I will go to Him.

Perhaps just as the tree looses its leaves in Autumn and then again springs forth new life in the Spring, I too shall be given such a blessed cycle of life. Perhaps I too, shall have this to look forward to.

Perhaps, this too shall pass.

As for now, I am shivering and my heart is cold. I only have eyes to see the cold winter ahead. The one who I love, who has stripped me of my leaves and tossed me to the wayside, is but a piercing gust of freezing wind that shrieks past my the nakedness of my heart from time to time only to remind me that I am less than what I ought to be to the one I love.

Perhaps, this too shall pass.

So much for freedom......I can't get myself to say good-bye....

***

Want A

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE of AMERICA

*

then watch the movie

*

"Doctor Zhivago"

and FOCUS on the part where

HE is FORCED to work

and the fact that his home is taken away from him...BY THE GOVERNMENT.

~gee~

Thank you Mr. President

R.I.P.

America the Beautiful Land of the Free

***

Some times all we can do is cry out to the Lord
Just cry out


Oh Lord have Mercy!!!

***

A post from "Anonymous"

The closer I get to you

So he hates me

He doesn’t listen to me

He screams and yells

And words I would never want my worst enemy to have to hear come like a title wave crashing over me

HELP!!!!!

Oh Lord…..how much can my heart take of this?

What have I done to him?

Nothing

Still….He becomes colder and colder and colder

“YOU! YOU! YOU!” ….is all he answers back…..when I try to figure out why

I want to run away….I can’t run away

Deep down inside…I know the reason why…..it’s you

The closer we get; you and I; the more angry he gets

It all comes out….everything about anything about nothing

It doesn’t matter

There’s so much anger

So much anger

Anger

So much Anger

He hates me

He hates you

The closer I get to you

You know sometimes you just need to write.

This is one of those times.
It's the "Holidays!" Oh yippee!... :)

Or is it yippee? I men, come on can I get real here? What is so "yippee" about it? My days are long, (as normal) my kids are busy as usual and I don't hear from them .... so if I think about it being the "holidays" and this time ....supposed to be "special and all" that actually makes me kinda sad. Then there's the fact that I have a some what religiously blended house hold, (if you will ) goodness knows that doesn't make it any easier to celebrate and experience spontaneous "joy". (Again, it actaully has the opposite affect and in turn makes me work all the harder to bring about the Christmas/ Hanukkah spirit)

Just ...."being that it is the holidays" that itself doesn't magically transpose the season into the cheerfulness that is portrayed constantly every where on the billboards and radio and T.V. and even church. (although I wish it did!)

Instead for me and I am quite sure for many other, the holidays is a time of sadness and loneliness and even a time time that many may wish to come and go in great haste.

There are so many reasons, that we may never know of.....so many friends and even church family....neighbors....strangers on the street; who have no one during this time of year to share ... "The Holidays" with....but would NEVER tell anyone. Sad-but true. Others who are not alone, that we can see.... but just have broken hearts and broken families.

Let's take the time during this blessed Holiday season........to reach out.....in prayer FIRST. To be sensitive in spirit and remember our neighbors....our church family.....and those we see but do not know during the time we are enjoying ourselves with those we love.

I am thinking of a dear dear precious, woman of God right now.....who would not want me to mention her name (I know) so humble, so giving.....she is spending he Christmas with the poorest of the poor here in the USA. She herself has been forgotten by her own. I love you sweet sister! I wish I could join you! You will be in my prayers!

Happy

Chanukkah

Merry Christmas!

Tough Love from Above

Wow.....okay.....I may get some hits on "this" one but I just gotta say something about it.

The spirit of religion is getting just a little too outta hand here these days.....or maybe it's the need/desire to be "right"....or a little of both.

When I say "Religion" you may think of a particular denomination i.e. Catholic's or Lutheran's or Baptist's or something of that nature...but I am not talking about a certain denomination I am referring to religion as is defined in the Webster's dictionary i.e. 1) a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe. 2) a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny.

Don't misunderstand me here, it is good; in fact I believe necessary for us as followers of Yeshua/Jesus to have "religion" (as previously defined above). However when this becomes the guide in our life and measuring stick by which we make all our choices rather than our "relationship" with Yehsua/Jesus THAT'S when it becomes problematic.

For instance; the word of God ....the Torah...the Holy Scripture is given to guide us through life's journey and be a tool and an answer book if you will for every question we might encounter; should we take the time to read/study it.
Much of the time we need only find the answer once and when the situation, be it a common one, comes up again we will know already how to handle it because we have read the Holy Scripture and know of it's wisdom and instruction on that given subject.

*** Example - A group of believers are gathering for prayer and worship. - The question is, "Should you go and join them in fellowship? According to the word of God?"....... Well...the BIBLE says....Yes. (Hebrews 10:25)

Please tell me , why must we "PRAY" about such things?

Now I can understand praying about many, many other things. But praying about whether or not we should come together and pray one with another....support each other...and worship the Lord?.....Oh Pllllleeeease!

We have the free will NOT to go. But that is where it stops. If we think God is telling us NOT TO GO support someone who is on the front lines of ministry and is asking us for prayer....and telling us NOT to worship with each other and encourage each other when the Word of God clearly tells us otherwise?....NOPE....Unless God has told us to GO some where else to do something of like value....we ARE HEARING WRONG.

AND AGAIN AmyColleen will say....time to GET TOGETHER CHURCH! STOP living APART and START acting LIKE ONE BODY!

If I have to live alone to do and say what I am called to do and say....I will.... and I won't be the only one. This is the season to love....and not yourself but everyone else.

Let just say for the record.

From experience.....it hurts....allot.

Thankfully.....the great physician is with you all the way!

Shalom,

AmyColleen

He told me to post this today....

I was on my way out the door to work. I had had on "okay"....that turned into a "wonderful morning filled with praise and awesome intimate time with Jesus!

As I was on my way "literally out the door", I heard that wonderful small still voice say to me, "Psalm 42."

I went to my bible, singing along the way "as a deer panting for the water......" (as I it was that Psalm about the deer panting for the water) but when I opened my Bible to Psalm 42 I had an incredible unexpected surprise!

I found not only the following verse....but a a little peice of paper with a short saying on it, I had saved; that went totally with Psalm 42.

Anyway...below is the little saying and the Psalm...I found it to be QUITE amazing that the two were on the same page in my Bible and the Lord told me specifically to go there today!

I KNOW that "I" needed to here this today....and since the Lord spoke to me agin in that small still voice and said, "Post it."
I would venture a guess....someone else needs to hear it as well!

Be Blessed my friends!

Love in Yeshua HaMashiach, God's Own Amy Colleen


My Little Piece of Paper I found in my Bible on the same page as Psalm 42 "Joys are often the shadows cast by sorrows."

Psalm 42

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
My ^[c] soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?"

My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

It's the most WONDERFUL tine of the year!

Okay.....will you PLEASE tell me WHY during this "special " time of year....the time of year everyone is supposed to be ..."so cheerful and happy and FULL of love" it is JUST THE OPPOSITE?

I am not talking "everyone else" either!

I am talking everyone I run into! All the church attending synagogue going mosque patrons there are!

What ever happened to ...."It's the most wonderful time of the year......."

It just seems to get progressively worse every year and you know I can't find a single individual that will admit to taking part in the effort of "grumpordum" (((new word))) but I think we have all at one time or another fallen prey to it's almost uncontrollable and most assuredly undisrable outbursts from time to time.; leaving the person or persons on the receiving end feeling less than "wonderful"....this time of year!

I truly do think we need to take some time, no matter what we celebrate, be it Christmas Day, Ede, Sukot or Hanukkah and seriously THINK about WHY we are celebrating. The Spirit of the matter...you know?

I seriously think we get way too hung up on our selves sometimes... (.again, Amy's pet peeve) and separate from each other and focus on the "celebration" and "tradition" far more than we should rather than giving the weight of the excitement and reverence and respect to the REASON behind the HOLIDAY! ~ Ya know what I mean?

I am by NO means saying we should be little the celebrations for any of the above mentioned! On the contrary, I think if we were to do a little better job of "focusing:" on the reason behind the celebrations I think it would lend to a far greater and much more memorable time!

I guess I am just a wee little tired of all the ruckus of the "Holiday" season.
Which is so sad, because I love the holidays and I truly believe we are suppose to love this time of year!
But I also don't think we are suppose to have hearts full of unforgivness and bitterness during this time of year either....and I think that is why sooo many get so up tight....maybe that is why my heart is so grieved right now....because of the unrest that is so prevalent in society.

(((sigh)))

Oh well....what can "we" do but love through Yeshua HaMashiach!


Merry Christ Mass every one!

Happy Hanukkah!!!

I love you all in and through Jesus our Messiah!

I've Decided,
After talking with the Lord....it's my call in life to stretch
everyone's faith, at least a little....just by being "who I am" .
God's Own Amy Colleen.
(actually made me feel better hearing it from HIM!)

♥(((smile)))♥

Hope of Glory

Once again I find myself in the quiet of the night;

walking away from reality, to board my dreams in flight.

As I reach the destination of my fantasy.

I find that I am smothered in the purest ecstasy.

Ah, the peace that overcomes me, the life that fills my soul.

Being loved for who I am is like nothing I’ve ever known.

I am completely engulfed in passions of the heart;

Experiencing true love in the whole, not just in part.

Feelings of the purest happiness are now apart of me.

As I lay in the arms of one who loves me unconditionally.

It feels like only minutes since I boarded my dreams tonight.

Yet I feel as though I am apart of an endless dream in flight.

Lying still in the arms of he who loves who I am;

it is now I find the strength within, to face reality again.

It’s when I find in my dreams; I’ve reached my highest goal.

That it’s time I say, “Good-bye”, for now. To reality I must go.

One day there’ll be no more dreaming for me.

For my fantasy will have become reality.

The rest of forever will be mine to spend with Him;

in a world perfect and beautiful, untouched by sin.

“…Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Colossians 1:27

©Amy Colleen. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use or reproductions are prohibited.

***