Making the switch to WordPress

My husband asked my when I was going to make the switch...so I did. Here's the link to my new and improved blog:

http://amyciske.wordpress.com/

Blogging again

The other day I was cleaning out my bookmarks and ran across the link to my blog - I haven't been to my own blog in months! As I looked through the different posts I was so glad that I had blogged. It was fun to read things that I had forgotten about and to travel back in time and see how much things have changed - how much I have changed!

So, I decided that I should start blogging again. I don't know if anyone ever visits my blog, but that's okay. Maybe that will change as I start blogging again.

Here's a quick update:
Nick and I are moving to India in November. Nick will be starting a creating services division of the company we work for. I will be learning the language (Hindi), spending time at the feet of Jesus and who knows what else. ;-)

Life is quickly changing for us...we only have a few short months left before we make the big move. Lots of friends to hang out with, family to visit, stuff to get rid of and not enough time!

When Two Become One - Becoming One with Christ

I'm not even sure if anyone checks my blog anymore. I haven't blogged since Nick and I got engaged. I've toyed with the idea of taking my blog down, but haven't been able to get up the courage to do it yet.

Nick and I are currently reading a book called "When Two Become One" by Christopher McCluskey. It has been a great book so far. I think every time we read a chapter we have both ended up saying, "Wow! That's good!" or "Why hasn't anyone told us about this?" or "Wow, no one really talks about this." If you're married, I suggest reading it.

Last night we read a portion about God's holy design for marriage and how it reflects His heart towards us. McCluskey brought up God's intense desire for deep intimacy with His beloved (the church). Throughout Scripture, God uses the word that means "to know" when referring to the intimacy shared between man and wife - "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain." (Gen. 4:1). In the same way that a man and wife share such a deep level of intimacy only with eachother, so does God desire to share a deep level of intimacy with each of us that we know with no other being. This level of intimacy goes way beyond mere head knowledge.

The verse that McCluskey shared that brought this to a whole new level in my mind was Matthew 7:21-23, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.'" I've always struggled with how someone can perform miracles in the name of Jesus and not know Him. But now, it's a little more clear. I am afraid that I have been guilty of this very thing. I know God with a head knowledge, but truly opening myself up to Him and diving into the depths of authentic, deep intimacy with Him is a scary thing. God has issued the invitation, but it's up to me to accept it. I am the one who keeps Him from knowing me the way that He desires. This type of relationship requires me to let down my guard and trust Him completely. It means that I have to die to my own wants and desires and allow His heart to be placed into my own. It means that there is nothing off limits to Him and I remain open to the process of refinement until the day I meet Him face to face. This is the type of relationship that God desires to have with us. It is not easy, but it is the way to true joy, peace, freedom and life.

I want my God to know me inside and out, not just because He is God and is omniscient, but because I have engaged Him in an intimate and deep relationship and have invited Him into the very depths of my being.

Our Website

For those of you who are interested, here is a website that Nick set up with wedding details (at least what we have so far):

Nick & Amy's Wedding

The Pictures

They pretty much speak for themselves...Nick added little captions all along the way.

flickr set

Today has been quite an unproductive, but fun, day! Beth (our HR person) came in early this morning and decorated my desk with signs and baloons. I have had frequent stops from various co-workers, and a plethora of emails after Nick sent out a mass email announcing our engagement.

On our way over to the dining room for lunch, Sue Shetler was waiting for us and took this picture before we came in the door. It's so much fun to have all these people share in our joy!

Mrs. Nick Ciske

That is going to be my name...

Today, Nick popped the big question! It was the perfect day. I really wasn't expecting it to happen today because we had a lot to do to get ready for the Seder we were having at Bluer tonight. But he carved the time out to ask me to spend the rest of my life with him. It was absolutely perfect.

I love how God orchestrates life. Thus far, it has never turned out exactly like I expected it to...I know that He has great plans in store and I look forward to searching them out with Nick at my side. He really is a wonderful man, and I am so grateful that God has brought us together in order to experience just a shadow of what He has intended for His bride. I am so overwhelmed at this great mystery! I am having difficulty coming up with words to express the feelings that are in my heart. I think I am just beginning to experience a slight glimpse of the passion that Christ feels towards me, well as the response that belongs to Him. The more I experience, the more I am convinced that marriage is the ultimate metaphor for the reality of my relationship with the Lover the of my soul.

There will be pictures and more details to come...Nick had to stop to capture each moment of the day! Just one of the things that I love about him!

This just makes me laugh...

Parents Continued

We survived! Actually, it went very well. Nick was charming and witty and did not appear to be nervous at all. My parents took to him quite well, which isn't much of a surprise.

The best part was the ride home. I have never seen Nick more giddy or hyper about anything. It was great, and it was a huge relief to get that behind us.

Next weekend, we'll be going to Willmar for 2 days...I'll be going to a Father/Daughter banquet with my sister and dad, and Nick gets to hang out with my mom and my brother. Lucky him! If anyone thinks about it, please pray for us.