The Valley

There are many rare and beautiful treasures 

deep down in the valley, if you take the time to look for them. However, if your only goal while traveling through the valley is TO GET OUT then you WILL MISS OUT on such rare gifts of God!

I admit when I notice I am on a fast track down hill from a mountain top to the valley low, the first thing I tend to do is to try and see if I can locate an alternate route. I mean come on! Seriously now. Going ALL the way down the mountain to the valley and back up again isn't exactly the quickest route and I know I have wasted enough time already in my life messing around so when it comes to pulling out the ol' spiritual GPS and choosing between quickest way or least amount of mileage I am all for quickest way! Unfortunately for me, the Lord doesn't always see it MY WAY.

Or IS IT....."unfortunate"?

I have learned, after a great many trips down the same old mountain and into the same valley, that it is quite fortunate that I have upgraded to the spiritual GPS system (God Positioning System) and no longer have to depend on my out dated gps. My navigating skills are some-what lacking! I have this ever longing desire to go upward, even though the map is telling me otherwise. 🤦‍♀️ Go figure.

It has taken me quite a few years and a good up grade but I have finally made it to the valley and taken a full tour. It is quite beautiful down here!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths
of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
For Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff
they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my
head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house
Of the Lord for ever.

A Poem by AmyColleen

Changes of the Heart

 

It’s evening now, as the sun sets low.

The sky is a painting with bright colors aglow.

The midnight sky not far away,

Nighttime animals come out to play.

A whole new world beneath the sky,

As the moon and the stars rise up so high.

A world the same, yet not at all,

Just like the mountaintops in spring and in fall.

Both a beauty in themselves; the mountains in the fall;

Speak of change and solitude; spring, new life to all.

So mountaintops in seasons change a divine work of art.

We too have night and day to live, in changes of the heart.

The sun awakes as morning breaks. Mankind begins its day.

Survival of the fittest one is now the game we play.

Though games of survival we continue to play, and the life we lead goes on.

There is a change in man's heart, between the dusk and dawn.

For some it is as a mountain in fall,

A way of escape from it all;

For others it is as a mountain in spring;

A breath of life for their weary being.

~Selah~

Before too long, it's no longer dawn, but evening has arrived.

Tired and yet thankful ones are happy to have survived.

No matter what the case may be, there's beauty to be found;

If we’ll only take the time to see, how God’s glory in nature abounds.

If the Lord has led you into the valley,

Know,  HE is with you.

Know, it is not a punishment.

Know, everything will be okay.

REST, because SOON you will need strength to start your climb back up the mountain!

Grace, love 💗 peace 🕊️and joy 🥰 in Jesus!

AmyColleen

This just REALLY spoke to me this morning...so I blogged it!

 A psalm of David

23

ADONAI is my shepherd; I lack nothing. 

He has me lie down in grassy pastures, 

he leads me by quiet water, 

he restores my inner person.

He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name. 

Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, 

I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; 

your rod and staff reassure me.

 You prepare a table for me, 

even as my enemies watch;

 you anoint my head with oil

 from an overflowing cup.

 Goodness and grace will pursue me

 every day of my life;

 and I will live in the house of ADONAI

 for years and years to come.

Be Blessed in Yeshua our Messiah!
AmyColleen

Do Not Fear

Did you know that God tells us 365 times in the Bible , "Not to be afraid" ?

I know that I have had my own bouts with fear throughout my life time.

As I am sure we all have. Thus, the reason for my posting this.

 However the Lord makes it very clear to us that we are not to be afraid!

In fact the Word of God tells us (in 2 Timothy 1:7)   ^That 

 ^"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

We as believers will face many trials and tribulations. We will have to endure many storms during the course of our life time. For the Lord causes it to rain both on the just and unjust alike. However, we must remember that we are never alone. As long as we remain in the Lord He will remain in us. This is His promise to us. (John 15:4)

The Lord will not let us be overcome by the storms of life.

(This is so beautiful)

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; 

   I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 

 When you pass through the waters, 

   I will be with you; 

and when you pass through the rivers, 

   they will not sweep over you. 

When you walk through the fire, 

   you will not be burned; 

   the flames will not set you ablaze. 

 For I am the LORD your God, 

   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior"

(read entire scripture here)

Below is a poem I wrote during a very difficult time in my life.

I have since then, over come the fear that had paralyzed me during that season in my life.

I pray these words bless you in some way.

May the Shalom Peace of our Savior be your covering today and always.

Amy Colleen

In the Eye of the Storm

Such calm for a moment;
In the eye of the storm;
There’s sunshine and clear blue sky.
Why does beauty behold such scorn?

Which way is out?
Is there such a thing?
Can I escape this whirlpool of death?
Up through the eye; if I only had wings!

I do not have wings.
I cannot fly.
So until I can find a way out.
I must keep up with this storm or die.

Crashing noises; thundering blows.
A sudden gush of wind;
Once again the storm’s course has shifted,
When oh when will it end?

Dark clouds forming over my head;
Rain begins to fall.
I open my mouth to cry for help;
The wind’s gush drowns out my call.

I’m swept up high into the air,
Tossed about in a whirlwind of speed;
Being battered and bruised from head to toe
By various pieces of debris;

My heart getting ready to give out,
I open my eyes, and take one last breath.
Knowing in my heart my time has come;
This life I live is far worse than death.

Sudden quiet fills the air.
Just as unexpectedly so,
The storm that swept me up
Just lets me go.

There is calm and quiet all around.
I can see once again the blue sky.
I am all of a sudden standing
Right by my Saviors’ side;

I fall to the ground. He lifts my head.
Without speaking a word to me, he says,
“My precious child, don’t give up. I am still here with you.
Walk by faith and not by sight. This storm will not overcome you.”

I lean over to kiss his feet
When I looked up he is no longer in sight.
I am back in the eye of the storm;
though, no longer afraid of my plight.

By: Amy Colleen copyright ©2009  All rights reserved.

A Challenge to my Church Family! Yes you Can!! Do Not Be Afraid!!

There are so many churches every where. On every corner. All offering an incredible array of "churchy" delicacies to the unsuspecting wanderer  inner. Each having their very own "flavor" (if you will) proudly,(but not of course as that would be sinful in God's eyes) proclaiming theirs is theologically correct on all counts and by this measure should be the sole reason you should continue attendance. ARRRRGH!

I am quite certain my response to my fabricated first paragraph is pretty darn close to the Lord's response to many of the churches around these days. Sadly enough.

Why? Why do I say that? Learned it first hand. Just too much politics and not enough Jesus. Plane and simple.

Would someone please tell me why there seems to be such a great fear of getting close to God?
Such a fear of letting go and surrendering self to our creator?
Why we seemingly have to have so very much order in church services that there is no room left for the super-natural move of God's Holy Spirit?

Why are we so afraid? Why have we let fear take hold of us? Take hold of our minds, our hearts and yes even in some instances our walks with God?

Seriously.....this has gotten me so stirred up deep within my spirit.

When one can't find a body of believers within 50 mile radius that consistently meets the ACTS Church criteria (all areas evenly); while there are literally hundreds of churches within that perimeter...there is seriously something wrong!
Wouldn't you agree?

Oh, I am not saying we as a body of Christ aren't "trying"  or "striving"  to "become" the fellowship of believes outlined in the book of ACTS. However my point is...Why aren't we already? Why is it so hard for us to become one? What are we afraid of ?

Let's take a look at our nature lives for a minute. Our non-church lives. I'd like to use them to make a point or two.
It doesn't really matter what season it is, Summer, Winter, Autumn or Spring, it seems life affords us many opportunities to overcome fear. Daily challenges causing us to stretch our comfort zone.  This all in out daily living routine. Then there is the added recreational facet some of us enjoy such as sky diving, skiing, mountain climbling, high diving, motorcycling, racing, going on a safari. Perhaps you are someone who is just stepping out for the first time in an area of your life....a new job.... buying a home....it could be a plethora of different activities. ...It could even be taking the risk of loving someone. So many different things we do in life, frighting as they may be. We don't hesitate. In fact some of us feed off of the excitement and unknown facet of it all; and others need a little encouragement but still will take the risk to say they did something fun and exciting for the enjoyment of spending time with family and friends. After all, "What's living if you don't live? Right?"... I believe that is the way it goes.

So we "jump in" -  into the lake - or - out of the plane - "ski dive" (for the first time...end up breaking a leg) or jumping head long in love with a total stranger. Not a problem, well maybe, but it's okay because, "that's life." and "life isn't life unless you're living it!"


Well that's our life in the natural - let's get back to our Church life - or at least how we are looking at it anyway.

So I don't know about you, but I was lost and now I'm found. Was blind and now I see!٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫•
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil, A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we've first begun.
٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫•
Okay, I know that I have been saved, blood bought, redeemed and made whole by the precious blood of the Lamb of God! When I meet up with any.....and I do mean ANY body of believers, all I want to do is shout! ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫• And Praise ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫And Sing ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫And Dance ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫And Give Glory to my Messiah! ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫•

So, why are we still sitting in our pews, our benches, our soft comfy still not paid for auditorium chairs, with our arms folded tightly across our chest, noses in the air refusing to get wet, when by the all incredible Grace of God we are visited by Ruach Hako'desh (the third party of the God head - Holy Spirit himself) ?
٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫•

What an all incredible gift! to have Holy Spirit among us! To be invited to worship the Lord our God in dance and Song! It seems though that we are forever so concerned only with getting through our "songs" and then the next 30- 45 minutes and out in time  that we will never know what we may have missed if would have taken time to "wait on the Lord". :(

But then.....that would mean.....venturing into the realm of the unknown. Taking a step of faith and for some a leap of faith. (that's okay. really. Jesus planned it all out)

THEN, there are those bodies of believers....fellowships, that have the worship dan pat! Yes sir diggidy! We are talking the worship will melt you blues away and have you ushered into the heavinlies in 5 minutes flat!  ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶♫♪♪♫•They will keep there for about an hour as well.

But then one leaves with no meat to last  and has to ask, "Where's the Teaching???? Exhortation? Preaching of the Word?"

So I suppose you are wondering about the title of the post at this point.....(if you are still here)...thus the question to follow.
 "Are you in the same place naturally, physically,or spiritually as you were last year?....the year before? If so...why?"

Although God does not change. He is a constant (thankfully) he is the same yesterday- today and forever. He is all about changing US. From lost - to found. From glory to glory. Into the perfected image of his Son Jesus.

This post is not about judging anyone.

I can hear it now...all the clamoring. I am just glad you are reading this. I have always been used as one to speak it forth. A "faith challenger", if you will. :)

The Lord left us a parting gift. Holy Spirit. When we first accept this most amazingly, beautiful gift and learn to embrace Holy Spirit and walk with and understand Holy Spirit - our life with God becomes something more than we even knew it could be. Our walk with Jesus stronger in ways we need  it (and others) need it to be. And healing births from the inside out and produces fruit in our lives that not only is evident to us but to the unseen future world of those that God has for us to minister to.

The seasons are changing. No matter what you believe in life I think you would probably agree with me on that one.

It's time.
Time to take your life to the next level. Time to take the next step. The next step will be different for everyone.
It may be your very first step....of faith...to Jesus.  It's okay, He's waiting for you.

Maybe it's a step IN faith ...for Jesus...it's okay Jesus believes in you.

Perhaps a step of faith is required WITH HIM....He is there waiting for you.

IN faith....TO Jesus IN Jesus....TO Holy Spirit IN Holy Spirit.

No matter what it is....you are not alone.....and you CAN. Yes you can.

What is impossible for you is possible with God (Matthew 19:26)

So go ahead ....take that step of faith....see where it leads...you won't be disappointed.