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Precious Jesus
Who for me did die
Precious Jesus
Who says 'You are mine'
Precious Jesus
Who walks by my side
Precious Jesus
Who loves me for all time
Oh Precious Jesus
I do not deserve Your mercy, but please ALWAYS be mine
My Precious Jesus

Winter Wonderland

Once upon a time (Last Sunday) I was actually excited about the winter wonderland that has overtaken our city. A few of us girls decided that it would be a fun time to go out and take pictures in Confederation park.. Here are the results from my phone (the actual pictures were taken by Po on her camera) And yes, we did have fun!

RANDOM ORDER




Po handing over the umbrella...

Umbrella failing for Vern...

sigh... I was tagged..

Do not get excited, I am not starting my blogging career again just yet. I just don't want to let my good friend Po down by not responding to her tag.

6 unspectacular things about me:


1. I can't swim (I'm going to try and learn this in the next year!! Yay for me!)
2. I am half Vietnamese, part German, Italian and English
3. I still don't have my learners and I'm already 20... SOON!!!! I HOPE!
4. Sky-diving is something I've always wanted to do
5. I often day-dream of coming into loads of money and being able to travel the world for fun and for missions (Usually on Mondays while I'm at work... Like today for example!)
6. Something I despise is forwards of any kind and anything like a forward - ex. This tag!! Haha LOVE YOU PO!!




Rules:


1. Link the person that tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your own blog
3. List 6 unspectacular things about you or your group.
4. Taggify 6 other bloggers.



PO TAGGED ME!!

I am officially disobeying the last rule and am not tagging anyone else because I'm a poor sport!

HAVE A HAPPY WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!!!!! YAY FOR HOLIDAYS!!

.once again.

For probably the last 7 or 8 years one verse has stuck with me more than anything. At first glance you may think Um OK Esther what are you thinking, but really it has helped me through so many rough times of my life, something of which there unfortunately were many. It's a simple verse, at first it seems to not have much meaning, but if you analyze it you will find it to be a true and strengthening verse. Maybe I'm crazy and you may not get from it what I get from it but that's OK! The verse is found in the book of Romans chapter 5 and verse 4 and is as follows:

"And patience, experience; and experience, hope:"

Read all of Romans 5 its a good chapter. Love you all!

Now is the time.

God is full of love and mercy, it's by His grace and His grace only that we make it.

02/19/08

kneel down to pray

no words come to say

try the good ol love You Lord

only so many times can you adore

wonderin what to say so unsure

need so deeply to be heard

cant find the way out of this mess

how can it be undone

how can it turn around

from the heart comes a cry

so deep

so rough

so loud

help

please help

the tears flow

the body shakes

but what is left when the cry is gone

a mind still so unsure

a heart still aching

lost

so lost

where is the way out

is it a drunken night

a doped up mind

a pleasurable fling

no

no its not

though the flesh desires it

its prayer

its love from on high

but how is this found

when words do not flow

when all thats there is the normal

hey Lord

love Ya God

hallelu

and its done

its over

its finished

what more can be said

with a heart so confused

it seemed so right before

all things were sure

but life happens

caught in the wind

twirled around to the music

got lost amidst it

music of life

cares of the world

too many bills

too much debt

where to live

how to eat

why this and why that

who loves you

who doesnt

it wasnt supposed to happen

why did it go wrong

why cant it turn around

straight

go straight

remember what is says

straight and narrow is the way

the heart knows

how can you go

eyes are blinded

the mess to much

to thick

to tangled

hear a voice

please my child

come to me

so far

too far it seems

why

WHY

why must You be so far

cannot reach You

cannot see You

felt You the other day

You brushed past

reached out

called out

but it wasnt enough

it wasnt Your fault

it was mine

got tired

weary

laid down to rest

wasnt trying my best

please

dont let it be the last chance

once more will You please

try again

dont give up

please

trying to keep my head up

dont want to miss You again

so sorry my words fail me

so sorry

it hurts so much to kneel down to pray

and have nothing to say

my plea is to You

draw near

touch me so

need Your love

please take control

cant do it on my own

slowly dying without You near

wont You reach out and touch me

just once more

I just want to say, I love my TruthYouth. I love every single one of you. It may not always seem like it and I'm sorry if I come across that way but truly I LOVE ALL of you. I wouldnt trade any of you for anything! I mean it!

..

How can one find themselves feeling so lost and incompetent in something they have always known.

It doesn't seem to matter where you are on the graph with God, You can't deny that He is great. He continues to amaze me with His subtle yet mind blowing ways of telling you He still loves you.

Comming into this year I would like to:

Rethink - My ways
Remake - My vows
Reabsorb - God's Word
Renew - My strength in Him
Recharge - With His love
Refresh - My love and passion for Him


Happy New Year to ALL! I hope this is the best one yet!

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
-Psalm 73:26

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
-Psalm 46:1-2

The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
-Psalm 28:8

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.
-Psalm 31:9

But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
-Psalm 22:19

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
-Psalm 29:11

O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress.
-Psalm 59:9

Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.
-Psalm 68:28

My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.
-Psalm 89:21

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
-Psalm 118:14

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
-Psalm 119:28

....

Ever feel melancholy? Feel like your tied up in a big claustrophobic knot? Don't know what to do? Yeah that's the kind of week I've been having.... You feel like nothing is right... Your job sucks, you miss the bus or your car doesn't start, it's too cold outside yet too hot inside, your clothes don't fit right, you don't have enough time to do everything, your hair doesn't work, your bored to death but you have no idea what would make it better, you've read every book you own, nothing is satisfactory, you have an ache in your body but have no idea where or what caused it, you feel tired yet you can't sleep, you try to laugh but you always end up somber again... You feel like you need to pray like... yet when you go to pray you just don't know what to say, you don't have the energy, the strength to make your prayer work. You try to read the Bible but your mind just wanders... You have no idea whats wrong with you, you don't know what caused it. You wish you could cry but there is nothing to cry about, you try to think of lovely thoughts but you can't find them...

Then you remember, something seeps through your melancholy haze, you remember God's love... you remember His sacrifice, all because He LOVES us. You remember that He is all knowing, ever present in the time of need, He knows our need, He knows our pains and sorrows... With God you don't need words, God doesn't need your energy, God understands that sometimes we have no strength, that sometimes we don't have anything to say. God is our best friend, He's like the friend that can sit on the phone with you and you don't need to say anything, just to feel His presence is all we need. When we have no strength , He's our strength, He's the one who will pick us up and carry us through our day, He coaches us with gentle reminds of His love, of His presence. He's always there, so just sit back, bask in His love, take comfort in the stillness, in His gentle reminder that He's there even when nothing or no one else is.

So if your feeling melancholy, try to take a moment, in the midst of the craziness of life, just to sit still and think on His love, to clear your mind of all else but Him for just a moments time. Just bask in His love, let it flood your soul. I assure you, you will find the strength to make it through your day, even if just barely.

Almost....

Well, it's almost christmas... I don't know the exact amount of days but it's close! Another year has wizzed by us and we are once again looking back on the year and wondering what exactaly we have accomplished throughout the year. If anything at all let's remember that we made it. That we are still here standing, we are still in the truth, we are still trucking through the muck of the world but we have made it through the year and we are just that much closer to going home to see Jesus! Let's just pray that we can make it through the next year or until He takes us away which ever one comes first!

Anyways I've started to feel a little more festive this last week and I was thinking about Christmas music and I thought I might share one of my favorites with you.
This is Mark Lowry singing his song "Mary Did You Know"

WAIT NO MORE!

IT'S TIME!!!
WE NEED TO GRAB OUR BOXING GLOVES DOWN OFF THE WALL AND START FIGHTING!!!
WE NEED TO WHOOP THE DEVILS BEHIND!!
ON SUNDAY LETS HAVE SUPERB CHURCH, LET'S PUT OUR ALL INTO IT, LET'S GET REFRESHED AND REJUVENATED!
THEN ON TUESDAY LETS GET RIGHT IN THERE AND HIT THE DEVIL FROM EVERY SIDE!!!!!!

TOGETHER WITH GOD WE CAN CONQUER!!
LET'S HAVE WICKED AWESOME, TOTALLY COOL, PHSYCO CRAZY, OUTRAGEOUSLY MIND BLOWING, FANTABULOUS YOUTH PRAYER!





I'm pumped...how about you??

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM TYPING THE WRONG EMAIL ADDRESS.
A MINNEAPOLIS COUPLE DECIDED TO GO TO FLORIDA TO THAW OUT
DURING A PARTICULARLY ICY WINTER. THEY PLANNED TO STAY AT THE
SAME HOTEL WHERE THEY SPENT THEIR HONEYMOON 20 YEARS EARLIER.
BECAUSE OF HECTIC SCHEDULES, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO COORDINATE
THEIR TRAVEL SCHEDULES. SO, THE HUSBAND LEFT MINNESOTA AND FLEW
TO FLORIDA ON THURSDAY, WITH HIS WIFE FLYING DOWN THE FOLLOWING
DAY. THE HUSBAND CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL. THERE WAS A COMPUTER
IN HIS ROOM, SO HE DECIDED TO SEND AN EMAIL TO HIS WIFE.
HOWEVER, HE ACCIDENTALLY LEFT OUT ONE LETTER IN HER EMAIL
ADDRESS, AND WITHOUT REALIZING HIS ERROR, SENT THE EMAIL.

MEANWHILE, SOMEWHERE IN HOUSTON, A WIDOW HAD JUST RETURNED HOME
FROM HER HUSBAND'S FUNERAL. HE WAS A MINISTER WHO WAS CALLED
HOME TO GLORY FOLLOWING A HEART ATTACK. THE WIDOW DECIDED TO
CHECK HER EMAIL EXPECTING MESSAGES FROM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.
AFTER READING THE FIRST MESSAGE, SHE SCREAMED AND FAINTED. THE
WIDOW'S SON RUSHED INTO THE ROOM, FOUND HIS MOTHER ON THE
FLOOR, AND SAW THE COMPUTER SCREEN WHICH READ:

TO: MY LOVING WIFE
SUBJECT: I'VE ARRIVED
DATE: DECEMBER 16, 2005

I KNOW YOU'RE SURPRISED TO HEAR FROM ME. THEY HAVE COMPUTERS HERE NOW AND YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SEND EMAILS TO YOUR LOVED ONES. I'VE JUST ARRIVED AND HAVE BEEN CHECKED IN. I SEE THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR YOUR ARRIVAL TOMORROW. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THEN. HOPE YOUR JOURNEY IS AS UNEVENTFUL AS MINE WAS.

P.S. SURE IS FREAKING HOT DOWN HERE!!!!

STONE(stōn):
Concreted earthy or mineral matter; rock.
Such concreted matter of a particular type. Often used in combination: sandstone; soapstone.
A piece of rock that is used in construction: a coping stone; a paving stone.
A gravestone or tombstone.
A grindstone, millstone, or whetstone.
A milestone or boundary.
A small piece of rock.
Rock or a piece of rock shaped or finished for a particular purpose, especially:
A piece of rock that is used in construction: a coping stone; a paving stone.
A gravestone or tombstone.
A grindstone, millstone, or whetstone.
A milestone or boundary.
(www.dictionary.com)

[LUKE 19:40]

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

A stone; A material with no life, no sorrow, no pain, no joy, and no love. Why should we think anything great of this stone? Besides being used to build buildings and such things, it does not have any useful human traits. How many times do you kick aside the stones on the ground? If you were asked to name the tops 10 most important things in the world, you would never say the stone. What do I mean by all of this? All I'm trying to say is that we never think about the stone, and when we do it is never in reverence. But though we may not think much of these stones, God; King of all kings, Lord of all lords, our Master and Saviour Jesus Christ, He does, in fact He says that if we as humans can be so stupid as to stop praising Him, the stones would cry out to God in our place!!!
To think....A mere stone could praise and worship God in our place. This thing with no life, this thing with no human traits...WORSHIPING!?? It's sickining to think that if I stop worshiping, a stone will cry out in my place. We must never let ourselves stray away from true worship!

Only because it makes me laugh....

Bummed Out...

I hate this... I hate being sick and not being able to go to church. I listened to Bro. Sam Emory from No Limits 2006, But it's just not the same. There is something about going to church that cannot be replaced. I don't know what people do when they leave church. I would be going nuts, I already feel like a backslidder when we only have one service on Sundays.. Ha ha

Sooooo......

It's been so long!! But now I have internet again...YAY! Hopefully my blog will be updated more often now....HOPEFULLY!

Love it!

Haha, who's favorite song is this??? Or at least one of the "favorites" he plays over and over???

You have to watch this guy...He's crazy. I LOVE IT!

Tye Tribbett & G.A. "Victory"

Amazing

How Great is Our God
Hillsong United





Our God is an Awesome God
Hillsong United

As a child...

Oh to be as a young child again... So innocent and blameless. To pray and never doubt that God is there to hear you. Never ashamed to say He is your friend. Not embaressed to claim your were talking to Him. To never get tired of calling all your friend's and family's names ( and pets if you had them) to God in prayer every night. When Bible stories gripped your attention. Being Mary or a Shepherd in the church skit was the most exciting thing around. Knowing the most Bible Memory verses and having the most stars on your Bible reading chart was the most wanted position in Sunday School. You were never afraid to correct someone on their thoughts of God, never ashamed to tell them what they were doing wrong and to say they would go to hell if they were not to turn to God. You never doubted there were angels standing guard over you (though I think I personally thought the angels lived in my teddy bears).

What does it take to be as a child again.......

Matt.18
[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

How GREAT is our GOD!

This song is one of my absolute favorites right now! Everytime I sing or hear this song all I think of is sitting a God's feet in Heaven and singing of His Greatness...


Artist: Chris Tomlin
Song: How great is our God
Album: Arriving
[" Arriving " CD]

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Rain, Rain, Rain!

I LOVE RAIN!!! Well, most of the time!

God's Mercy

If there is one thing that makes me think about Heaven, It would be the the Sun peaking through clouds. Something about those rays of light shining through the darkness catches my attention... It seems as though past those dark and dreary clouds, there is a hope, a hope of a light that shines so bright nothing can hold it back. It makes me think....
Heaven is our place of peace, a home beyond this world of pain. Something to look forward to, but only by the grace and mercy of God can we look toward the light of Heaven. Just as the the sun breaks through the clouds to bring us hope of something brighter, Jesus shone through the sins of the world to bring us hope of eternal life with Him in a place beyond our wildest dreams. In our darkest times, and our deepest doubts, our God shines through. Though it may only be a glimse, a tiny ray, it brings us hope.
It all reminds me to never give up, just keep trying. Just ONE more time! If we get tired of seeing the same dark clouds over and over again, will we stop looking out the window and miss a chance to see the ray of sun? Or will we keep checking just ONCE more, just so we don't miss that glimmer, that ray, that wonderful stream of light! Never give up, hold on to the faith! God will ALWAYS come through!

Humility...

HU·MIL·I·TY
–noun
the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.
—Synonyms lowliness, meekness, submissiveness.
—Antonyms pride.


HUM·BLE
–adjective
1.not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.
2.having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.
3.low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin; a humble home.
4.courteously respectful
5.low in height, level, etc.; small in size
6.to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.
7.to destroy the independence, power, or will of.
8.to make meek: to humble one's heart.

Dictionary.com


How hard is it to remind yourself daily to be humble? I like to believe that I don't think higher of myself than others... But how many times do I catch myself criticizing someones clothes, or perhaps there hair, car, house, personality, way of life...etc. Is this because I think I am something special?...No, because in general I don't wear as nice of clothes as I want to, nor do I even have a Drivers License or own a house, my hair is nothing special, my personality isn't the greatest at times and my idea of a good wholesome lifestyle may not be the same as everyone else's. So what is it that causes this occasional pride? I have no idea...and perhaps I will never know.
This last Communion and Foot-washing has made me realize my pride is getting the better of me too often. When I see a person, what is my first thought...Do I think about their soul, Do I wonder if they are hungry, lonely, or lost in this world of darkness, Do I think about how I could help, Do I think about the love I am to love them with through Christ? Or are my first thoughts about their appearence, their situation, or maybe their attitude... Why can I not remember to always see people through the loving eye of Jesus reather than the critical eye of the flesh? What will it take to be more like Jesus...
This year I would like to learn to have more humility. What better example and teacher can I have than Jesus? Jesus, the Almighty King, washed the feet of people He knew would deny Him, betray Him and perhaps mock Him. Can I, a sinner, not do the same? My biggest enemy at times is my flesh... I pray the Lord will help me. Teach me to be humble towards others.

Truth Youth Prayer

WOW, Wow, wow!!! I can't explain, there are no words to describe the awesomeness of God. Truly He is an awesome, awesome wonder! Everyone NEEDS to go to youth prayer!

GOD!, You truly are so awesome! I stand in awe of you.

Psalms 18

1: I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2: The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3: I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4: The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5: The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6: In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7: Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8: There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9: He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10: And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11: He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12: At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13: The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14: Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15: Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16: He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17: He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18: They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19: He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20: The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21: For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22: For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23: I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24: Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25: With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26: With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27: For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28: For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29: For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30: As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31: For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32: It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33: He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34: He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35: Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36: Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37: I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38: I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39: For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40: Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41: They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42: Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43: Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45: The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46: The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47: It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48: He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49: Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50: Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

AHHH It's SO SO COLD here!!

It's cold in Calgary...did I say it's cold?? Well what I really meant to say is that it's REALLY REALLY COLD in Calgary! Though I have my moments of happiness for being home, I long to be back in beautiful, warm, green, WARM Barbados! I LOVE Calgary...but my body was not yet ready to leave Barbados. But I am here and there is no way to rewind and refuse to get on the airplane leaving Barbados. I am happy to be back with my mom and my friends(those that were not with me), as well as my church.
Barbados taught me to appreciate the things I have, I realize now that I have all I need. All of my needs are supplied, why should I want more? My flesh is weak and though I shouldn't want more, I often times do. I need to learn to be content! I need to remember to thank God daily for the life He has given me, and the needs He supplies.
So here it goes, my list for today;

I thank God for:
His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness towards me each and everyday
The clean air I breath
The food I have
Clean water to drink
The house I live in
The church building (with bathrooms!)
My youth group that knows how to have fun and yet when there is a need and it's time to pray, they do the deed willingly
My Pastor who loves me
His wife who cares
My Youth Pastor who understands
A church family I can turn too in times of need
My family who loves me through it all
My friends, they keep me grounded
A beautiful and clean city to live in

The list is not complete...but I could never complete it...it would take too long.

I hope to soon get some pictures up of Barbados...but I wouldn't hold your breath because it may never happen knowing me...haha

Adios!

Hopefullness...

The possibility is here that I may start to blog....It may not be often, but it is a place to put my thoughts when I feel the need.... So yeah here I am.