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.
6 comments:
Wow, thanks for sharing so openly, Amber. Your step of faith is definitely very encouraging. Looks like you're in for an amazing adventure!
-Amanda May =)
I'm so glad to see God moving you towards using your gifts to the fullest! I'm sad to see you move away from me...but happy that He's moving through you!!! :) The latter out weighs the former...so I'm all joy for you! :)
I'm amazed at how the Lord orchestrated you going!
Amber! What a great thing. You can never go wrong trusting God. I will pray that you will find a church family and a great job right away and that God make completely clear why he has you there each day! I am so excited for you!
welcome to the fray my friend!! i'm so excited for what's ahead!!!
Amber,
I just heard about your life changes! I have been so blessed by the small amount of time I have been able to be around you...and I am excited to see what God is up to in this adventure!...I am going to keep up on your blog and pray with you!!! It is awesome to hear of what he did for you to know Him as Friend. I love that! I pray the Lord will open up doors so your worship ministry will expand - He has given you an amazing gift! With lots of love in Him,
Anna Stager
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