Monthly Archives: September 2012

Day Fourteen (Pre-Launch)

30 Sunday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for a day of Sabbath rest here in the desert with You.  Lord, we have had a busy week and today will be busy as well.  We will be videotaping with Vero´s friend this afternoon.  It should be exciting and the kids have been helping with the cue cards and the translation from English to Spanish.  I think we will simply put Spanish subtitles.  My pronunciation is horrible.  Thank you, Lord, for this experience.  It´s almost as if the floodgates have opened and things are starting to happen fast now.

Thank you also for yesterday.  It was a great day for Vero.  She had a one day spiritual retreat at church and it was a time of fellowship, sharing and communion.  One lady gave her life to you so I´m sure that there is a party in heaven right now.  I pray that the word that has been planted with grow and flourish in the fellowship of believers.  Vero had a wonderful time of renewal as well.  She is a Proverbs 31 woman.  Complete and godly in every way.  Thank you for her.

I was talking with Vero about the book she is always asking me to write, called Unconditional Intimacy – A Marriage made in Heaven.  I wish that I had the time to write it right now, but I don´t.  We have to make some choices about what books to write first, second and third.  There is enough work here for the next ten to twenty years.  I don´t know how long you will give me, Lord, but I hope to be using that time writing and speaking and training and encouraging others to live out and reveal the glory that is in them.  You gave us two more titles that would make a great triology.  Unconditional Parenting – A Family made in Heaven and Unconditional Fellowship – A Church made in Heaven.  The idea is to talk about the centrality of the cross in confession, repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.  It is the most difficult thing to do in relationships but it has the power to transform and heal and motivate the human heart.

Thank you for all these ideas, Lord.  I already have ten books in the list of book projects, but I believe that you give these creative ideas together with the resources to get the job done.  Thank you, Lord for your grace in my life.  I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright c 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net        info@desertwarrior.net

Day Thirteen (Pre-Launch)

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for another day in the desert with You.  I have to admit that I was shocked today when I found out.  I saw the protests on the news and heard about this low budget film that started the outcry.  I must say that most people thought the whole thing in bad taste, inaccurate and offensive.  I did, too.

Lord, what I didn´t realize was that the original name of this film was “Desert Warrior.”  I was rejoicing that so many people from all over the world were coming to view my website but now I realize that they were looking for information about this film.  I had views from Egypt and Pakistan among others, as well as Africa, England and the States.

Lord, I have to laugh.  Here I was thinking that this was all because I had such a great name and some great stories, when it was people looking for information on this ridiculously stupid film.

Lord, your sense of humor always amazes me.  That´s not to say that there is anything funny about the film or the protests but my naiveté and pride were exposed (at least to myself) and that is good (and funny).

Lord, perhaps there is something more here that I can do.  Perhaps I have an opportunity to put a front page with a clear Christian message that may be viewed by those who are upset by this film.  Lord, give me the words to say to demonstrate your grace and love for all men.  I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net    info@desertwarrior.net

Day Twelve (Pre-Launch)

28 Friday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for another beautiful day in the desert with you.  It has been a busy morning already.  Thank you for the great coaching with Fernando.  The project pitch is almost done and the rewards are in place.  We even worked out a way to do it in English and Spanish.  Thank you, Lord.  The book trailer and video intro is in full swing.  Vero´s friend agreed to help us with the video.  Lord, help me to demonstrate your grace to him.  He is not very interested in you but I take this situation as an opportunity to show (and perhaps say) something that may move him in the right direction.  Perhaps it´s nothing more than building the relationship at this point.  I pray for your wisdom and anointing, Lord.

The song that Petra found for the video is perfect, Lord.  It certainly speaks to me and it isn´t too preachy or obviously worship music, much better for this kind of book.  Thank you, Lord.  I receive it as a gift from you.

The learning curve is still quite steep, Lord, and I want to do things in such a way as to please you.  After all, without your anointing, none of it matters.  Copyright and royalties and attribution for images and songs is very difficult to figure out.  It´s not so clearcut as I thought.  I don´t even mind paying a royalty or giving attribution.  That isn´t a problem.  It´s getting the right information and knowing how to process everything.  Lord, help me to find solutions to all of these issues.  Thank you for your guidance.

There´s always so much to do in the house, Lord.  What with the dishes, the laundry and the cleaning, I can keep busy for hours.  I am a house author (rather than a housewife).  And then with the evening classes and, next week, starting with daytime classes, there won´t be much time anymore for any of this.  How will it keep going?  How will I find the time to write much less keep the crowdfunding campaign going?  Lord, without your intervention, nothing will happen.  Thank you for your favor, Lord.  What I know for sure is that I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net    info@desertwarrior.net

Day Eleven (Pre-Launch)

27 Thursday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for another day in the desert with you.  No water in the house for two days, no showers, no toilets, no water for dishes.  Apparently they are fixing the water lines after the recent flooding.  Thank you for such a quick response by the government.  Help us to manage the inconveniences with grace.

Lord, I want to thank you for another year of life.  It will be my birthday soon and I will be 53 years old.  I don´t feel that old but I also have diabetes and I know that you can come and take me at any time.  People with diabetes usually die of a heart attack but I also know that I could live for many more years yet.  It´s the not knowing, the awareness of your mortality that matters.  No more living the fantasy of invincibility, much better the reality of immortality with you.  Thank you, Lord, for that assurance.

Still, it makes me wonder how I can best spend the next 10 to 20 years of my life if you give me that much.  I have three things left to do.  First, live out and tell the story of your grace in my life.  Second, make restitution to and reconcile with everyone (including my old lenders for my business ventures in the past) for your glory.  And three, provide for my family, by your grace, both now and after I´m gone.  Thank you for the clarity of knowing you, Lord.

Thank you for a great coaching session yesterday with Fernando.  It looks like we may launch a week later if we don´t have everything ready.  We especially need to get the introductory video done as well as find some people who would be willing to jump start the campaign with early support in the first two weeks.  We also decided to go for 60 days rather than 90 days so there isn´t much time to build momentum.  We need your blessing and anointing, Lord, for any of this to work.  I pray for all the people involved in this project.  Help us to see beyond the work to the truth and the message of your grace.

It also looks like we will be doing the project in English and Spanish so that a lot of our Spanish friends will be able to participate.  Lord, that is important to us right from the beginning, not only because we live in Argentina but because we believe that you have given us a message for both languages.  It is a key aspect of our vision and mission statement.  So, thank you for the opportunity to start right.  We are already trying to translate everything into both languages.  Help me to get better with my Spanish and allow me to communicate effectively in both languages.

It´s amazing how a specific goal with a deadline can focus your energies and make things happen.  Thank you, Lord, for the time and the opportunity to pursue this ministry.  I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net    info@desertwarrior.net

Day Ten (Pre-Launch)

26 Wednesday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for another day in the desert with you.  Sometimes I think about how many things need to be done to make everything happen.  It´s not just the crowdfunding campaign, Lord, it´s the entire ministry idea.  I am fascinated by what is happening and I would love to dedicate myself full time to doing it but there are practical considerations such as living indoors and eating everyday for me and my family.  I know that you want us to step out in faith to do the things that you have called us to, but there are sacrifices that my family has to make with me.

Teach me not to protect my family from the desert so much as to learn to walk in the desert with their protector and provider.  It´s a hard lesson to learn, that you are a practical God and that you love us enough to provide the everyday mana from heaven that we need.

Sometimes I like to say, and it´s true, that your grace is sufficient for me, your grace on the cross, your grace in giving me your Holy Spirit to guide me everyday, your grace in your pleasure, presence and anointing on my life.  That is enough for anyone, no matter if the situation and circumstances aren´t so great.  But you are teaching me that your grace also extends to your providence and protection.

Not always, of course.  At least in the sense that you do allow bad things to happen to your people but only and always for their good and for your glory and the furtherance of your purposes in this world to rescue people from their sins.  That is good enough for me.  But you, still, provide and protect in the meantime.  That is the normal thing to ask for and expect and when you, by exception, allow other things to happen, then I can go back to what matters most to me….your pleasure.

What you always surprise me with is that you like to give me pleasure as well.  You want to give me the desires of my heart so long as my heart belongs to you.  Lord, I expect nothing more than the joy of being your child, and, really, that is enough.  But I know that you are generous and kind and will continue to bless me and my family beyond what we can imagine or think.  Thank you, Lord, for being my Father. I belong to you.  In Jesus´name I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net    info@desertwarrior.net

Day Nine (Pre-Launch)

25 Tuesday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for another day in the desert with you.  It was very cold last night and it feels more like winter than spring.  I don´t pray about the weather anymore, Lord.  You know what is best.  If there is a crisis, then, of course, our prayers make sense.  Lord, thank you for a productive day yesterday.  I learnt alot about Kindle and Amazon P.O.D. books and how little it costs to get started.  Still, resources are needed even if it doesn´t seem like a lot to others.  Lord, you are our Provider and Protector.  Thank you.

Lord, we ended up going in an entirely different direction with the video introduction.  I rewrote the script and put some creative ideas together.  Now I need to find the people and resources to put it together.  Help me to connect with Vero´s friend and someone online to make this all happen this week.  Lord, I also need to connect with family and friends to get more likes on my facebook page.  Give me favor in their eyes, Lord.

I love how the ebook cover came out.  At first, it just seemed to modern and all of the suggestions didn´t work for me.  Now I am happy with it.  Thank you, Lord.  It actually looks like a book, now.  You know, Lord, I am greatly blessed and I appreciate you giving me something useful to do with my gifts and abilities which you put in me before I was even born.

I pray for Vero as well that she would be able to dedicate herself full time to this ministry and use and develop her drawing and painting gifts in your service.  Thank you for my children.  Michu is already starting to write her own detective story and Melu is quite the dancer.  They both love to sing and worship you.  I am the richest man in the world.  I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing.
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net    info@desertwarrior.net

Day Eight (Pre-Launch)

24 Monday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for another day in the desert with you.  I had a great talk with Fernando today and it looks like things are moving forward well.  Sometimes I get stuck, not knowing how to move forward without any money or any idea of what to do next.  It helps to know that launching this ministry is your will whether I feel worthy or not.  Knowing what your will is makes it easier to just keep looking for a solution, to keep going and ignore the frustration or the sense of being lost in the fog of uncertainty.  Thank you, Lord.

Today, we made some real progress on the rewards structure and also talked about the introductory video.  Fernando had some good ideas.  Help me to find the right people to help make it happen.  It seems overwhelming at this point.  Vero says that her friend might be able to help.  He is an expert in video and making documentarys.  Apparently, he has won awards for his work.  I know that he doesn´t believe in you, Lord and he is something of an intellectual.  Help me to remember that it isn´t about getting the job done but about witnessing to the truth of your grace in my life.  Help me to keep my priorities straight.

Lord, I also need to work out the actual project presentation this week.  I need some creativity and clarity so that I can present both the book and the ministry in a way that is appealing and also honors you.  Thank you for your help.  Help me to work out all of the many details that need to be in place before we launch.   Apparently, we need 30 people to like our DWM facebook page so that we can keep the name.  We also need people to participate in the campaign within the first week or so and make a donation and promote the website and the campaign to others.  Lord, I put a list of people together to contact but I need your help.  Give me favor in their eyes, Lord and let me represent you well as your servant.  Thank you for the opportunity to grow and learn in your service.  I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing.
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net    info@desertwarrior.net

Day Seven (Pre-Launch)

23 Sunday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for a sabbath day of rest.  We need it.  A time to recharge physically and spiritually.  Thank you for your help with the video yesterday.  I wrote the script in the morning and when I read it to Vero, she cried and then I cried.  It was very emotional to try to put our message into a few minutes of introduction. But then I had to reduce it from 11 minutes to less than 5 minutes for technical reasons, make it lighter and not preach so much, and try to spruce it up with animation and extras (which I don´t know how to do).  Lord, sometimes I think we are our own worst enemies.  I don´t want to get in the way of your message.  Give me wisdom and help me speak from the heart.  I want to do the best job that I can but I also want to share my heart.  In the end, it is your blessing that matters.

Lord, I give you this ministry, this entire effort, it all belongs to you.  I look at myself and I wonder what people see.  A loser.  A sinner.  A clay pot unworthy of the glory of your grace.  Lord, I´m not the best choice for something like this.  I´m too direct and I lack patience.  I want to get to the truth and deal with reality.  I have no patience for politics and playing games.  Lord, I know that is my flesh too.  I need to have the same patience that you have with me.  I need to be as gentle with others that you are with me.  I need to see others as you see me, in Christ, without spot or blemish before your throne.  I need you in my life, Lord.  Change me and give me your eyes to see, your ears to hear, your heart to love others as you love them.  I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net    info@desertwarrior.net

Day Six (Pre-Launch)

22 Saturday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Thank you for another beautiful day in the Desert.  Thank you for the great meeting with Fernando yesterday.  I would like to get to know him better.  I pray for his ministry and, Lord, I pray that you would give him favor in the eyes of his key supporters and clients.  I pray that his life and ministry would reflect the glory of the cross.  Thank you for his help in getting DWM started.  We had a good discussion about rewards and it looks like we are close to a solution.  Lord, our goal is to get your message out to as many people as possible.  We need resources and prayer and promotion and donations.  Give DWM favor in the eyes of your people, O Lord.

Lord, we decided on a modest goal of $5,000 US but we know that you can bless us far beyond what we can think or imagine.  We need about $3,000 US of that money to fulfill the rewards and the other $2,000 US will be used to translate the book into Spanish and begin to create the ebook, audiobook and printed book in that language.  Lord, we pray boldly for $150,000 US in order to launch DWM full time and to write and prepare materials for relational evangelism, distinctive apologetics and radical discipleship in the context of repentance.  Every day, Lord, it seems that you give me ideas and thoughts that I want to study furtherand reflect on and pray about and finally put down in writing.  I pray that you would use this crowdfunding process to do more than publish a book.  I pray that you would use it to launch DWM (including vanKregten Publishers, the publishing arm).  Thank you, Lord, for giving us a life ministry that will reveal the glory of your grace in our lives.

Lord, today I have to put the project presentation together and make a first attempt at the video introduction.  I´m not sure what to say.  I pray that you would give me the words to speak to communicate what you have done in my life and the vision of what you want to do with DWM through Vero and I.  Lord, I need clarity of thought, creative ideas and a mind open to your priorities, agenda, purposes and passion.  I am not convinced that I am the best choice for this endeavor, but you have chosen me and given me these ideas, this message, and the desire to make it happen for your glory.  Thank you for the opportunity to be useful to you and even though I can´t take the credit for what you have done in me and through me, I certainly can enjoy it and wonder at how you take our impossibilities and make them your instruments for transforming lives.  Your creation “ex nihlo” (out of nothing) continues even today.  Lord, I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

Click here to read more…..

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net        info@desertwarrior.net

Day Five (Pre-Launch)

21 Friday Sep 2012

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Good morning, Lord.  Happy Spring Day!  Michu is celebrating Spring Day and School Spirit Week at BAICA.  I pray for our Christian School  and ask you to keep them all safe and teach them the awesome power of being filled with your Spirit continually.  Give her teachers wisdom and help Michu to become a godly woman fully dedicated to pleasing you above everyone and everything else in her life.  Help her to develop her gifts and abilities so that she can fulfill her purpose in life.  We give her into your hands.  Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of raising her as our child to love you.

Lord, I have another SKYPE call with Fernando this morning about the crowdfunding campaign.  We are working on the reward structure for the various levels of donations.  Help us to be creative and realistic at the same time.  Lord, I know that it is necessary to do the financial side of the project (it is also “spiritual” and part of our stewardship) but I know that getting people to pray for and promote DWM is even more important than making a purchase.  Lord, how do I get that message across to people, that without prayer nothing will happen.  We want to follow you and dyour way of getting things done.  Help us to be creative and wise.

Thank you, Lord, for more answers about the copyright issues.  We still have a long way to go.  In addition, we need to create a budget for all of the different rewards that we will offer and that is a lot of work in a very short period of time.  I pray for your help in figuring this all out.  Thank you for the challenges of ministry and the opportunity to make it more real by working on the details.

Lord, I need a number of people to sign up and make a donation early on (in the first week) in the campaign in order to get the ball rolling.  Please help me find these people (family and friends) and to ask them to prayerfully consider becoming supporters of DWM through prayer, promotion and a purchase/donation.  It´s a bit scary, Lord, because noone likes rejection.  Remind me, Lord, that you do not reject me and this ministry belongs to you.  My job is to follow you and seek to please you in all that I do.  Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to see my life and ministry from your point of view.  I belong to you.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.

The Desert Warrior

Click here to read more…..

The Adventure of Grace by Bert A. Amsing.
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net       info@desertwarrior.net