It’s the word that’s been on my heart for a little over a year now…and it’s where I’m moving to, just 2 days after Christmas.
This past year, the LORD has confirmed over & over that He is leading me to Nashville, Tennessee. It started as a simple word in my heart back in October 2007: Nashville. I brushed it off & attributed it to “my flesh” because…hello…”Music City?” Yyyyyeah…that’s a no brainer. But in February 2008, I committed (quite fervently) to the LORD that I would pursue Him on an Adventure. I strongly sensed Him urging my heart to trust Him radically, to pursue Him whole-heartedly and to take some risks. I had NO idea what that pursuit would look like (hmm…sounds like faith to me) ;) so…I prayed for opportunities.
Two weeks later, I got a phone call from my friend, Betsy. She’d recently been talking to her sister & brother-in-law (The Freeman’s) who live in…hmm…Nashville :) and I came up in their conversation. Betsy told me that the Freeman’s wanted to invite me to do music ministry with them at a camp (JH Ranch) in California that summer. At this point, I was like, “Wwwhhhat?? They don’t even know me…and they’ve never even heard me sing!!!” but I just smiled, shook my head and had a gut feeling that the LORD was up to something…and He was :) He confirmed that California was, indeed, His idea…so I took a risk (and a 6 week leave of absence from my job at Multnomah University) to pursue the LORD on this first adventure.
The 6 weeks I served at JH Ranch were transformational. For about the first 3 weeks, I was pretty miserable. I was lonely, homesick, friend-less (I couldn’t make friends to save my LIFE!!) and I didn’t feel like myself. In hindsight, I see that the LORD (by His grace) intentionally stripped me of every comfort that summer: I didn't have friends, I didn’t have my reputation to rely on, my gifts, my personality…nothing. I only had HIM. And I came to a pretty ugly, but honest, breaking point where I told the LORD He just wasn’t enough for me. He gently spoke to my heart, “Well…then we have a problem, Amber Dawn.” Over the next few weeks, our kind & gracious LORD transferred His love from my head to the core of my heart…and He became my Friend. A dear Friend. Our relationship will never be the same because of it…and I am so grateful (I still get tears in my eyes telling this part. I love Him SO much!!!) :)
Anyway :) The LORD confirmed Nashville again at the Ranch. In a 24-hour period, 5 different people asked me the same question, almost verbatim: “Have you ever considered moving to Nashville?” I was like, “Uhhhh…yeah?” :) It was pretty funny. I thought, “Wow, LORD…wow. I’m listenin’!!” I declared to Him at the Ranch (whose slogan is “The Everlasting Adventure”) that I would continue to pursue Him on an Adventure and…gulp…move to Nashville. I had peace.
I took my first trip to Nashville in October 2008 to kinda “scope out the land.” Before I left, I prayed that I’d make some connections (I was concerned that I wouldn’t fit in as a northerner & that I wouldn’t have any friends. I know…I sound like a 7th grader) :) But the LORD is faithful to answer prayer, and I did make some pretty crazy connections (again, a lot of smiling, shaking my head & going, “LORD, You are somethin’ else!”) I stayed with the Freeman’s (whom I ministered with at JH Ranch) and met their neighbors the first night I arrived. Turns out…they moved to Nashville from Portland (mmm-hmm), the wife graduated from Multnomah (uhh…yeah), and they’re friends with my Pastor (who took over their college ministry when they moved to Nashville). Are you kidding me?!! I could go on and on with examples, but…ya catch my drift.
The next risk that awaited me when I got back to Portland was to resign from my wonderful job. Wooh…that was very hard. I'm not moving because I'm unhappy with my job. I LOVE my Multnomah Family!!! I’m moving because the LORD has captured my heart, urged me to dream again, and radically pursue Him on an Adventure…a Faith Adventure (that’s why I titled this “The Abraham Adventure”). I don’t have a job...I don’t even really know why I’m going to Nashville. But I do know that God has given me a voice to use for His glory, and I can’t sit behind my desk any longer. I have to go. I have to obey. I have to take risks. I have to pack my bags and trust Him. I have to follow Him. And...I want to. He is worthy to be trusted. He is worthy of being LORD over every part of our lives & hearts. He is worthy of praise…and my hope is to sing for His glory. I don’t want to be famous. I don’t want to be an entertainer. I want to be a minister of the Gospel thru music. So…as I walk on this journey and discover why the LORD has me in Nashville…I’ll let you know, too!! :)
This is a crazy time of life. I am not the adventurous type. I am the “I-Want-To-Know-The-Game-P
Love the LORD with all your heart. Believe. Trust Him with the deep, important things in your heart. Take risks. Keep the faith.
I would be grateful for your prayers, as the LORD puts me on your heart.
Two weeks later, I got a phone call from my friend, Betsy. She’d recently been talking to her sister & brother-in-law (The Freeman’s) who live in…hmm…Nashville :) and I came up in their conversation. Betsy told me that the Freeman’s wanted to invite me to do music ministry with them at a camp (JH Ranch) in California that summer. At this point, I was like, “Wwwhhhat?? They don’t even know me…and they’ve never even heard me sing!!!” but I just smiled, shook my head and had a gut feeling that the LORD was up to something…and He was :) He confirmed that California was, indeed, His idea…so I took a risk (and a 6 week leave of absence from my job at Multnomah University) to pursue the LORD on this first adventure.
The 6 weeks I served at JH Ranch were transformational. For about the first 3 weeks, I was pretty miserable. I was lonely, homesick, friend-less (I couldn’t make friends to save my LIFE!!) and I didn’t feel like myself. In hindsight, I see that the LORD (by His grace) intentionally stripped me of every comfort that summer: I didn't have friends, I didn’t have my reputation to rely on, my gifts, my personality…nothing. I only had HIM. And I came to a pretty ugly, but honest, breaking point where I told the LORD He just wasn’t enough for me. He gently spoke to my heart, “Well…then we have a problem, Amber Dawn.” Over the next few weeks, our kind & gracious LORD transferred His love from my head to the core of my heart…and He became my Friend. A dear Friend. Our relationship will never be the same because of it…and I am so grateful (I still get tears in my eyes telling this part. I love Him SO much!!!) :)
Anyway :) The LORD confirmed Nashville again at the Ranch. In a 24-hour period, 5 different people asked me the same question, almost verbatim: “Have you ever considered moving to Nashville?” I was like, “Uhhhh…yeah?” :) It was pretty funny. I thought, “Wow, LORD…wow. I’m listenin’!!” I declared to Him at the Ranch (whose slogan is “The Everlasting Adventure”) that I would continue to pursue Him on an Adventure and…gulp…move to Nashville. I had peace.
I took my first trip to Nashville in October 2008 to kinda “scope out the land.” Before I left, I prayed that I’d make some connections (I was concerned that I wouldn’t fit in as a northerner & that I wouldn’t have any friends. I know…I sound like a 7th grader) :) But the LORD is faithful to answer prayer, and I did make some pretty crazy connections (again, a lot of smiling, shaking my head & going, “LORD, You are somethin’ else!”) I stayed with the Freeman’s (whom I ministered with at JH Ranch) and met their neighbors the first night I arrived. Turns out…they moved to Nashville from Portland (mmm-hmm), the wife graduated from Multnomah (uhh…yeah), and they’re friends with my Pastor (who took over their college ministry when they moved to Nashville). Are you kidding me?!! I could go on and on with examples, but…ya catch my drift.
The next risk that awaited me when I got back to Portland was to resign from my wonderful job. Wooh…that was very hard. I'm not moving because I'm unhappy with my job. I LOVE my Multnomah Family!!! I’m moving because the LORD has captured my heart, urged me to dream again, and radically pursue Him on an Adventure…a Faith Adventure (that’s why I titled this “The Abraham Adventure”). I don’t have a job...I don’t even really know why I’m going to Nashville. But I do know that God has given me a voice to use for His glory, and I can’t sit behind my desk any longer. I have to go. I have to obey. I have to take risks. I have to pack my bags and trust Him. I have to follow Him. And...I want to. He is worthy to be trusted. He is worthy of being LORD over every part of our lives & hearts. He is worthy of praise…and my hope is to sing for His glory. I don’t want to be famous. I don’t want to be an entertainer. I want to be a minister of the Gospel thru music. So…as I walk on this journey and discover why the LORD has me in Nashville…I’ll let you know, too!! :)
This is a crazy time of life. I am not the adventurous type. I am the “I-Want-To-Know-The-Game-P
Love the LORD with all your heart. Believe. Trust Him with the deep, important things in your heart. Take risks. Keep the faith.
I would be grateful for your prayers, as the LORD puts me on your heart.
