Can I sit on your lap and tell you what I want froe Christmas?  I want all the people I love to feel: loved, special, Important, Needed, Joyful, and most of all Healthy! So many people are struggling not just emotionally but financially, with health, and they lack Joy Even I am a bit lonely and lost. Life is far from easy; I was letting it take me for a ride and had quit fighting for what You have promised me. “Life, Abundantly” John 10:10

You my Lord gave me the best Gift any one can receive: Your son Jesus Christ! The Christ in Christmas!  Because Of Him we have Christmas, A day to celebrate our loved ones, to share gifts, and joy, with a thankful heart. How  Easy is it for us to Forget! Without Christ I would be lost, starved of Hope. But with Him I have all I need! ~Philippians 4:19 ~

So what else is there to want… I would like people to find ways to get a long, to discover the power of their words and lean how to speak Good instead of Bad over their lives. Help me be a better representation of Who you are! Help me Love others, forgive, Help when I speak and write so that I may glorify You! The Lord who has Given me Life literally! Help all who are lacking this season to find their needs met, now and in the New Year! Lead me, Guide Me, Teach Me! I mean that whole heartedly. I have needs in my heart only You need to know, and I give them to you. Please take care of the ones I love near and far, Keep them safe, Bless them with: Favor, Health, Joy, Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, Money, Love, Peace inside and out, Perseverance, Passion,  Patients, and all else we need or are lacking.

And Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! For Another year full of experiences good and bad because they caused growth in areas I needed, for all the Love ones that have supporting me, and all the People who have blessed me in any way! I love you Lord, Abba Father!

Your Precious Daughter,

Amy Jane Sandberg

I have notice so many people are hungry now days. Not hungry by the lack of food, but emotionally, mentally, and physically.  People are searching for something that will fill where they are lacking.  But in things that won’t really help.  Such as: Sex, alcohol, gambling, false idols.

We as the human race are at the time of major changes personally and globally.  Change is hard and so many people are looking for something to cling to sustain them, especially, now around the holidays.

I noticed around Christmas I begin to think about the year past, all I didn’t accomplish, achieve, and am still lacking… I specifically seem to dwell on failures and what I don’t have yet in my life. For example, I should have a book done by now, I wish I had my boyfriend here to share the holidays with. As a result; I get more sensitive, cranky, and lonely….

But then Christmas Eve rolls around and I become extremely thankful for what I have, and all that has happened, and those in my life….   The holiday’s takes a toll on us: Families, friends, money, gifts you want to give and get, trying to prepare the perfect atmosphere for a few days…..  It can be very overwhelming…  One becomes desperate, anxious, hungry…..  It just has to be “PERFECT”.

This year more than other years I realize people seem more then desperate, they are starving for acknowledgment, closeness, success, achievement.. Yet most are going the wrong way. Instead of turning to God, they are running to what they think will fill the void, only to find it growing deeper…

I have also realized that Christmas is one month out  of the year, better yet  only for my family about 36 hours of festivities… Then next we bring in the New Year, and the cycle starts over….  Nothing really changes……

This year I am choosing to skip the pity party that seem to have already started and go straight to that thankful atmosphere. By doing so, I lose a lot of wasted time, and by choosing to be happy, I hope I can help others be happy around me…. But it starts with a choice. I have to choose to change. It is not going to be easy, but nothing really worth it is easy… I am not going to dig a hole and burrow in my emotions; instead I am asking God for hand up, and joy to replace the stress, grief, loneliness, and frustration….

I am filling up on God’s word, I am eating the preaching’s of the pastors I love and drinking in the scriptures my friends are sharing…  I am not close to becoming full yet, but I am also not starving anymore, not in the way I was before.  I wish I could feed everyone this way too. So that they will not be hungry anymore! I pray for all the lost sheep out there. The people who don’t know what they are looking for…

I want to be a good example of Christ and who He is, so that the hungry people around me can be fed…

I urge you to look to God to fill   your plate. Not the internet, not the tv, not shopping, nor in other people. What you’re looking for can only be found in one place…  In Christ! I do not know how to explain it however once you let Christ in your life changes and you no longer fill empty, if you truly let Him in… I still feel lonely, not in the same way…

Don’t wait till Christmas to unwrap this Gift. It’s yours now, waiting with your name on it. For God so loved YOU, He gave His only Begotten son, Jesus Christ, so that who so ever believes in Him, shall have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

If you already have Him in your heart I suggest you reevaluate your relationship and do as I am and submerse yourself in His word! Give yourself the best Christmas of all, and remember the reason for the season. He is the greatest comfort!

God Bless you,

Merry Christmas~

♥ Amy Jane ♥

Hi Everyone,

Hi Everyone,

Inspirational

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to give you the update as I heard it just now from our printer, Jim Haskett of Watkins Printing.  The inside pages of the book are ready and they are waiting for the cover stock, which was on back order, to be delivered either today or tomorrow.  Once the right machine is chosen for the binding (the cover stock is heavier than they normally use), they will go forward and finish the project.

So we are so very close to having this book in the mail to you!  I can’t wait to see the packages on their way.

Thank you for your patience and as I said earlier, I will notify you when the books are in our church bookstore and the shipping costs can finally be determined.

Sincerely,
Diane

I am so excited to tell you “A New Song” Has finally Been published!!!

I am not sure where to start. When I was asked to contribute to this book, I became excited at the opportunity to share my story, God’s story!   But as I actually sat down to write it, I became afraid, that I would not be able to convey the message properly and that I could disappoint those who may be expecting me to write a masterpiece. I am presently struggling with some books that I also am writing.  I am sure God is using this opportunity as a push. He is telling me to just do it, while using this opportunity to boost my confidence too. I know God wants me to share this story in any way that I can. He is opening new doors daily, not just for me but for you as well. We just need to walk through them – even if at times we have to crawl through.  Whatever it takes for us to move forward, keep growing, and to help others do the same.

Any ways!   Here is a note from the main editor, with the book Poster below.

Hi Everyone,

I just heard from our printer about the book’s final price for 192 pages with contributions from 53 authors, 17 photographers/artists, and a beautiful color cover with semi-exposed Wire-0 binding that allows the book to open flat.

If we order 500– the cost will be $15/book
If we order 1,000 — the cost will be $13/book

So far, I have received orders for 237.  Please let me know how many you plan to order so that I can get the best price.

Thank you,

Diane Kulkarni

A New Song Poster

I’m  so happy that is is finally here!!  There are so many awesome stories besiides mine in this book. It is a great Testament of God’s work!!! Please  check it out for yourself!  Email Diane or call her and place your order. I don’t thing it is selling online anywhere..

I can’t wait to share my story with you all!!   I love you, and God Loves you too!!

~Amy Jane

It seemed like; Every time I started working on just that room, something would always come up…  Good thing,  my aunt and uncle surprised me and are coming in the morning!!  They will be the first relatives to see my house besides my baby sister, and my parents since I moved in…  I though I had more time like til the end of the month when my Nanna and Baca (grandma n’ grandpa) are coming; and soon after my boyfriend early October .  Good thing I started doing the other chores yesterday and this morning. My house has not been so clean since my sister visited. It is not hard to clean but I was pet sitting and and not putting things away, not folding, kind of adds up ;p

I am glad they are coming. I meant to sleep but didn’t wanna leave the main stuff  for morning.. Now I just have lil things to do…  shower, and clear off  dining room table, and hopefully finish folding the clean  cloths ( in 3 garbage bags…)  That is the chore I hate most!  folding, boo!  I don’t have a dryer, it is in the lease that the washer and dryer belong to the land lord. Even if I could get one I can’t afford one, so thankfully I can wash my stuff at my beloved parents house not to far from here.  God is so Good!

In the last 8 months I have really leaned to treasure the little things, the pleasure of a shower, a cozy bed to sleep in at night, a vehicle to get around,  doctors,  pots n’n pans, dishes, silverware, hot water, soap, loved ones, a helping hand, patience, joy, health, food, internet, a phone! Praise God I have them! After living out of a suitcase for 5 months travling back and forth from  family homes, it is so nice to have a place to be proud of, a place God has blessed me with to keep me safe, and where I can share my time with people who are important to me!!

I had this whole other blog I was gonna write, but it will have to wait till latter, sleep has finally come and now I am saying  good night! God bless you, and take time to remember and treasure the people and little thing in your life that are important.

~Amy  Jane

¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸ …¸.¤\
\ 9/11 AMERICA \
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/ \ NEVER FORGET!!! ….

ever since I moved here to the valley, I had Paslms 23 in my mind. especially Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; ~ I kept asking God, huh, explain. And he did. I am not in the valley of death but in the shadow of it, so I can see the bad all around, but am protected.

A fictional short story

By: Amy Jane Sandberg

It was long week the week her dad died. She felt like a zombie. The day after the funeral she found a bunch of fresh cut white daisies on her door step. As a child she had loved the flower and it brought back many pleasant memories from her past. It lifted her mood, though she had no idea who had left these flowers there. Over the next few months she would find a fresh bunch once a week.

After a year the pain was not as deep, nor gone. However she was now engaged to a man who was new to the town and it felt like life was getting better for her. He was a simple man, smart, not very rich, and very kind.

On their wedding day he wore a single daisy on his tux. She was appalled that the wedding planner had let him do so. She tried to force him to wear a white rose from her bouquet, but he refused. She gave in since it was seemed to be a trivial battle and she loved him too much to start their marriage off with a fight.

They had a good marriage, yet every birthday, Christmas, and major holiday the only flowers he would buy her were plain white daisies. No matter how much she complained or bagged it made no difference. Didn’t he care what she though, wasn’t she worth more than that?!  When they were newly married she thought I was cute, and that was all he could afford. But now she knew he could do much better than those darned daisies! It was beginning to drive a wedge between them in her heart, and she resented, even hated those flowers. She began to not care when she received them anymore. She told him to stop wasting his time if he wasn’t going to send her what she wanted then he should not waste his money. They no longer brought her joy but frustrations’ and anger.

After it seemed countless years of marriage and their children were gown with children of their own her beloved husband grew very ill. The doctors warned her he would most likely not make it through the night. She loved him so but the only thing she could think about was those darned daisies. She wanted to ask him why he tormented her so with them, was it his way of keeping some control in the relationship, did he do it to make her mad on purpose? She needed to know once and for all why? She got up the courage to ask him just before the nurse would come to send her home for the night.

His answer was this. “I remember the first time I saw you at your father’s funeral. I happened to be there visiting my grandfather’s grave, you looked so sad and yet you kept up a strong front for your mother and others that were there. I fell in love with you that day.  I didn’t know what to do or how to approach you so I did some research and found some white daisies to leave on your door step. I chose that flower because it reminded me of you. I liked what the flower meant. ‘Pure, along with a true love’ depending where you looked.  Yet I also liked that it reminded me of you. It is a small, simple, strong, beautiful, and yet joyful. I wanted them to encourage you, and prayed they would bring you joy.   And it seemed to work. I kept it up even after I got the courage to ask you to dinner for the first time.   I thought about what you said when you complained about them, and almost did as you asked. However I couldn’t It was as if was cheating on you when looked at other flowers. I hoped and prayed you would ask me why them, but you didn’t. You just complained.   I almost stopped giving them to you, however I knew if you ever did ask me why and I told you; you may have questioned or even doubted my love for it. I have never stopped loving you! You are my Gift from God, my white Daisy!”

Utterly moved she was left speechless… She had been so vain, selfish, and petty about the whole matter. Sahe was overwhelmed with remorse towards all her previous thoughts about the white daisies. And how had she forgotten about how they had once made the world of a difference in her life? Ashamed she fell to her knees and prayed. “Dear God please forgive me I sure made a mess of things, and I took my beloved husband and best friend for granted. Please give me a second chance to love on my Husband, and to truly appreciate him, help me make things right!  Please heal Him Completely!”

The next day she got a call from the hospital. Fearing the worst had happened, she slowly answered the phone. “Hello… I know it is still very early in the morning but I‘d like to tell you the good news as soon as possible. Your husband took a sudden turn around and his body is accepting the medicine now, we are not sure why. But there has been a great change in his vitals and he will be able to check out within the next forty –eight hours!!”  In shock and overwhelming joy she again fell to her knees and Praised God!  Never again did she question or doubt her husband’s small gestures but delighted in his presence because he was her Gift from God!   

~The End

This came to me in a dream around 3am this morning. This was a personal test for me. I wanted to see if I could write a quick full story, and it turned out better than I had hoped. Along with a great message that has come to mind.

How often do we take life’s gifts, God’s Gifts, any gift for granted?  Instead of appreciating what we are given, or have we may complain, or think be mad it isn’t what we wanted, or that it is not enough. Instead we need to just say Thank you! I’m not just talking about material gifts. I am talking about all gifts, including people. How many people do we take for granted?

I have trouble accepting gifts at times. I sometimes even hurt the people I love.  I am far from perfect.  But God loves us so much, enough to have sent the Ultimate Gift Jesus Christ. John 3:16 Who died on the Cross so that we could have a another chance to get it right, to be forgiven  for the things we should not do, but do every so often, like maybe tell a small lie, loose our temper unjustly, say things we shouldn’t…. We are Human. God knew what we needed; there was a lot of thought put into this gift and limitless love. We just need to decide if we want to take it.

God shows His love for us not only with Jesus, but in many things. Great parking on a rainy day, a cool breeze on a hot day, a much needed hug from a friend, a burst of energy when we feel like we can’t go on any ore, or peace in a stressful situation!   As my pastor says “Is your Receiver broken?”  I know mine was fixed recently…  My Giver is working well too. If receiving feels great you should try giving. It feels even better.  And you don’t have to give something material, but maybe some of your time? Who knows, it may just change a person’s life.

~Thanks for Reading and God Bless you!

~*Amy Jane