Fuzzy Feelings into Sacrifice

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”- 1 John 3:18

It is not what we say but what we do that makes a difference. If you promise but never follow through, if you love but never sacrifice, if you say you will be there but never show up....there is no love. Love is what you do for others not the fuzzy feeling of butterflies and stomach turnings. Love is doing the hard thing, the thing you might not want to do or really don't want to do because it would be a blessing to that person. Act on your love and do something to bless those around you. Love is sacrifice. Love is hard. Love is what Christ did for us. The hard thing, the thing no one would want to do. He died on a cross for all of us, taking on Himself all our sin and shame, so we didn't have to suffer, die, and be defeated by our sin but could live victoriously in Him with the gift of eternal life in Him. Love....Jesus went above the standard above and beyond....He died so we could live, He sacrificed His perfect sinless heavenly divine self, He took all the pain, shame, sin, and defeat from everyone one and put it on His own shoulders, He loved us enough to act out His love on His way to the cross, on the cross, in the tomb, and ascending into heaven at the right hand of the Father. Can you even begin to imagine what it would have been like if Jesus only loved us with His words and never acted on it? Turn those fuzzy feelings and words into some real action and sacrifice. Model after the perfect role model of all time Jesus Christ.



Read this encouraging image and try to grasp as much of you can of the grand and eternal love of the Almighty Savior and Lord Christ Jesus.


God Bless and have a beautifully blessed weekend!!!


All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

Give us Clean Hands & Pure Hearts

Give us Clean Hands
By: Chris Tomlin




Give us Clean Hands Lyrics:

We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes
From evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let this be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes
From evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands--Oh God
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

Oh God of Jacob

(Give us clean hands)

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands--Oh God
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

Oh God of Jacob
Oh God of Jacob

Give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands--Oh God
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

Oh God of Jacob 

Psalm 24:3-5 (New International Version)

 ³ Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
       Who may stand in his holy place?
 ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
       who does not lift up his soul to an idol
       or swear by what is false.
 ⁵ He will receive blessing from the LORD
       and vindication from God his Savior.

All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

Monday Inspiration

Nothing takes God by surprise. He knows the future and can therefore guide us through its trackless ways.

“I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” Proverbs 4:11-12

Have a wonderful week!

Scripture for the Soul

1 John 4: 7-21

God's Love and Ours

 ⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^[b] into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for^[c] our sins. ¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. ¹³We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. ¹⁶And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
      God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. ¹⁷In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. ¹⁸There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
 ¹⁹We love because he first loved us. ²⁰If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. ²¹And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.




All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

The Free Gift

God is our Provider. It always eases my mind and calms my heart to know that the Lord will provide for me and take care of me. He knows me inside and out. He knows what I need and He promises to provide. The amazing thing is that Jesus is one of my greatest needs. Without Christ my days would be cloud covered, smile-less, and impossible. He provides me with the strength to keep moving, the will to do what is right, the faith to do the impossible, the love to help the unlovelies, the happiness to defeat the bad days, the heart to conquer all before me, and the protection to remain safe in it all. Jesus's love, grace, mercy, hope, promises, glory, goodness, giving, help, strength, and the rest of his characteristics are what I need every minute of my every day. Jesus is my greatest need and without Him and His provision I would be an empty, unfulfilled, hurting, helpless, hopeless, and defeated human being. To think that we can get all this by just asking Jesus Christ into our lives. This is the best FREE GIFT I have ever received. All you need to do is ask Jesus Christ into your life and you can get the best free gift ever given too!!!

Genesis 1:3-28 (New International Version)

 ³ And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
 ⁶ And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." ⁷ So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. ⁸ God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
 ⁹ And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.
 ¹¹ Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. ¹² The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
 ¹⁴ And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. ¹⁶ God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. ¹⁷ God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
 ²⁰ And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." ²¹ So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." ²³And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
 ²⁴ And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
 ²⁶ Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, ^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
 ²⁷ So God created man in his own image,
       in the image of God he created him;
       male and female he created them.
 ²⁸ God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

God provided us with the earth we live on and everything in it. He gave us nature and the beauties of the world so we could marvel and delight in them. He gave us everything we need so we could be blessed and enjoy them. God is the Provider.


All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

New Creation

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."

-- Michelangelo

This quote is by Michelangelo the great artist blessed with talent from God to create the breathtaking Pieta, David, the Sistine Chapel and other miraculous works. This quote is exactly what the Lord does with us. He sees our sin and our flesh that we are embedded in and He carves away until we are set free. Before we are saved we are stuck in our big block of sin, encased in the world, and all its ways. When we accept Jesus into our hearts He works to change our worldly stone heart into one that is filled with compassion, love, kindness, and empathy. He chips away at our old self and makes a new creation. He creates a work of art with His own hands that over time begins to gain the characteristics of the artist Himself. The Creator sees our potential, our future, who we are and who we will be. He sets us free from our bondage and the hardness of the world and transforms us into a work of art. If you haven't yet accepted Christ into your life give Jesus the opportunity to transform your stone jail of sin into a masterpiece carved by freedom from sin, eternal life, and everlasting peace in Him. 


All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

Monday Inspiration

There are those who are willing to die for a cause, and there are those who are willing to live humbly for one.

“Let me live that I may praise you.” Psalm 119:175

Have a wonderful week!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Wishing you all a blessed and beautiful Valentine's Day!!!! Remember Jesus loves you more than anything in this entire world!!!
God Bless,
Amber

Love: An Action

God is LOVE!!!  He is the perfect example we have of love. Remember love is not merely a feeling it is an action. It is what you do to show your love for another. It is not a mushy gushy butterfly feeling but a wash the dishes, take out the trash, be there when you are needed, and be like Christ kind of love. Love is Christ, dying on the cross for the sins He never committed, for the people who caused Him pain, anguish, and death, and all so we could have eternal life in the most perfect place every created next to the most loving perfect awesome God there ever was, is, and will be for all eternity! How is that for love?

1 Corinthians 13

Love

 ¹If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing. ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 ¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.





All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

Monday Inspiration

We are like pencils. Our true worth lies within us. We are in God's hands and He uses us. We are sharpened in life by events and situations. We are also expected to leave a mark.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

Have a wonderful week!

Revelation Song - Kari Jobe - Music Video

This video was sent to me by a friend and it touched my heart so deeply I felt I needed to share it with all of you. Our Lord, our Savior, our Creator, Christ is so beyond worthy of our praise!!! He deserves our lives and our endless praise and devotion always!!! Jesus loves you so much that He died for you on that cross, He endured the pain and ridicule it took to get there, and He never gave up on you. He took the beatings, He took the nails, He took the agony, and He took all the sin upon His own sinless body so we didn't have to die that way for one of our sins but could live righteously with the blood of Christ covering our sins. Live and praise Him for the unending everlasting sacrifice and love He has poured out on you!!! PRAISE JESUS, WHO IS LORD AND KING FOREVER AND EVER!!!!! Amen!!! 

Lyrics to Revelation Song by Kari Jobe: 

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

Tutorial on the Prayer Pact

Today I wanted to bring people on this blog together in prayer. I hope all of you will post your prayer requests. I  want to encourage and build up my readers and what better way to do that then prayer. So I on the right side of the blog under my about me information you will see this :

Prayer Pact

To submit a prayer request:

Click Here

Click on any of the underlined pink lettering: To submit a prayer request: Click Here and you will be on your way. Read the Scripture about prayer and scroll down to the comments section. Click  Post a Comment and type in your prayer request or what God has put on your heart. Then submit it and the praying will begin :D!!! I hope you all find this a blessing! God bless you all!!! 


All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

Prayer Pact

This is an area for everyone to post their prayers and what is on their heart so others can pray for them.

New International Version (NIV)
Luke 18:1 The Parable of the Persistent Widow  1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Romans 12:12 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Ephesians 6:18 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Colossians 4:2 Further Instructions  2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 17pray continually;

Leave a comment with your prayer request and I as well as others will be praying for you :D!!! Have a blessed day!!!
~Amber~

Holy Helping

It is a blessing to me that the Lord guides us and the Lord knows all. It is such a comfort and relief to know that I don't need to have everything under control, even if at times I want to. The Lord knows what was, is, and will come and we just need to be open to the opportunities, the challenges, and to learning more about the Lord. Every day is a chance to show our dedication to the Lord and to improve our upward growth. We get to learn of the power, greatness, holiness, and love of God. We get the privilege and honor to read the Words of God and to have His spirit within us to guide us and teach us. As Christ followers we can mature and develop in the Spirit and dive deeper into the wisdom of the Lord. How amazing is it that the Lord Almighty gave us not only the gift of eternal life by His side and cleansing from sin in His Son but that we also received the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us, to teach us, and to grow us to be more like Him. His gift of the Holy Spirit grows us to be like Him and moves us towards Him as we start to mirror areas of His likeness. No one on this earth will ever be perfect but with the help of the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and Christian fellowship we can continue our journey, growing upward towards our kneeling seat at the heavenly feet of our gracious merciful and loving Savior. 

1 Corinthians 2: 

Wisdom From the Spirit

 ⁶We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹However, as it is written:
   "No eye has seen,
      no ear has heard,
   no mind has conceived
   what God has prepared for those who love him"^[b]— ¹⁰but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
      The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹²We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.^[c] 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
 ¹⁶"For who has known the mind of the Lord
      that he may instruct him?"^[d] But we have the mind of Christ.

All content copyright © 2009 Amber Johnson. All rights reserved. You MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION to reprint or republish any of this material.

Monday Inspiration

Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Have a wonderful week!