If you had told me a week ago that I would have made 2 videos of myself to share with you here, I would have called you crazy. I’m talking completely crazy, and I PROMISE I don’t plan to do it much, but there have been some things brewing since Friday’s post.
{rss followers, click over to the blog to see the video!}
So here’s what I’m wondering. Are you using your gifts for the purpose of the gospel? What if I challenged you within the coming weeks to embrace and write about the gifts you’ve received or to work them out so as to engage your readers with the gospel? Do you know what you would post?
*UPDATE* Holley Gerth wrote a post today that I think directly explains the courage it takes to step out on this kind of water: What Courage Really Means.
Also, here’s the link to my previous post, if you didn’t get to hear that video.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Love
So awesome!
Thank you for your courage Amber. For the questions and the encouragement. He is using you mightily for the Kingdom and I’m happy to be a recipient of your gifts.
I hadn’t even had a chance to spend time with your last two posts when someone told me today that what I published this morning reminded her of your words here. Kindreds we, Amber.
And Aslan is always on the move.
Can’t wait to squeeze you.
erika @ the life artist recently posted..I Am An Alchemist
What did I tell ya? He is MOVING!
You are such a light, Amber. Thank you for this. xo
Ooooh girl. Yes and amen. I am feeeeeeling this. You are a courageous one. Love you.
This is packed full of life affirming words and encouragement. Thank you, bold one, for stepping out and for your joyous creative spirit. So so excited to follow along and be emboldened by your moving, preaching and stirring up of all good God gifts.
Amber, what a great challenge for me today!
You are mighty brave, Amber…heaven is cheering for you this evening. Love your words. Love your heart. Thank you.
incredibly convicting..i’ve spent my whole life embarrassed, insecure, and not wanting to share my gifting as i worry it will be misinterpreted, not valued, ignored, or deemed over-confident. i’ve been a slave to anticipated rejection and critique…when all the while the gifting is in no way and never was about the sound that comes back, but rather the sound that goes out..that’s not even my sound..it’s HIS..and i just need to let it go. THANK YOU for imparting bravery.
thank you for bravery to put yourself, and your gift, out there not only so that people can learn from your preaching but just learn that its OK to acknowledge gifts and USE them. Its more than ok, its what we are supposed to do. blessings.
Don’t wait! Step in the water. I am blessed.
Dear Amber,
What a blessing it was to click on your link from (in)courage, and watch your two video clips! I’m here to encourage what you already know from the Holy Spirit, that the Lord God has anointed you to speak His words to the Body of Christ, in season and out of season. I fully believe the enemy of our soul has truly one strategy in his (limited) arsenal of attack plans. When he cannot make you evil, he does everything he can to destroy you; if he can’t accomplish that, he then does all he can to shut you up. His strategy is this:
Isolate
Interrogate
Anihilate
Isolate: get you away from truthful brothers and sisters who can encourage you in The Word…make you feel less than, like the ONLY one who ever has been in this place; just plain make you feel like you are weird, less-than, just plan WRONG for existing.
If he can get you to listen and believe any of those things, THEN he interrogates you…”Who do you think you are, thinking you are going to preach?…that’s a MAN’S job. “You have nothing worthwhile to say.” “People are going to laugh at you.” “What if your family screws up and makes a liar out of you?” “Has God REALLY said…?” etc., etc., (truly satan hasn’t come up with a new strategy since the garden. DUH!!)
And lastly, if you buy in to any of this he will anihilate you…destroy you completely if he can, or completely silence you so that the Word does not go forth and accomplish what it is intended to do.
I’m SO glad you put this out there, because you did the right thing…you spoke what was in your heart, spoke the Word in truth and fullness, and invited brothers and sisters to speak accordingly to you. And look at what you’ve experienced in life that NEEDS a biblical perspective for others who have been isolated from help because of their experiences/sins! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US has some secret sin that, unidentified and not dealt with, walls us up from receiving Christ’s freedom! And you, my dear sister, are sending the enemy shrieking away because when you know the Truth by sanctified experience (Jesus has entered into every situation in your life to revolutionize it) the Truth SHALL and HAS set you free! Praise the Lord, Amber! I’m praying for you, that the Lord Jesus Christ will, through the outpouring of His Holy Spirit in your life, release a fresh and powerful knowing of Him, His calling on your life, His mission statement for you, and the opportunities to declare the GOOD NEWS to many who would not hear it otherwise! Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to speak GOOD NEWS to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners…!” Go in the calling, power, and strength of the Holy Spirit!
Blessings,
Peggy Forstad
Director of Worship Music and Arts
Leawood Baptist Church
music@leawoodbaptist.com
Ohhhhhh boy….. ohhhh man….. ohhhhh…um….idk what else to say!
I just posted a comment on one of your other entries before seeing this video; of which I had no idea in content or even its existence….and now I’m SO busted!!! I’m, um…going to bed!
:s
ps YOU KEEP BEING OBEDIENT AMBER!)