I'm not a perfect person

I’m not a perfect person

By: Amber Johnson

I’m not a perfect person

I have my flaws I pray won’t worsen

I want to do what’s right

I want to be the warrior in Christ’s fight

My sin haunts me

Some days I think the lock has lost its key

That buried deep inside

Are all the things over which I’ve cried

All the things I tried to hide

That which I wish would purge

So my heart and wounds could continue to merge

Together from the brokenness, hurt, and disgust

I wish Christ never had to see

But the beauty of it all is that He still loves me!

My sin and all

To Jesus I crawl

His love protects me, calms me, and keeps me

Sin was defeated and Christ set me free

I remain on my knees

Never wanting to flee

The holy presence of my Savior

I continue to pray for His behavior

His character, Him imprinted onto my mind,

And I want Him to be all that anyone can find 

1 Timothy 1:15 (New International Version)
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Acts 4:12 (New International Version)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."



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

Lessons

The Lord shapes us and molds us with the people and circumstances in our lives. The past is a map of the journey that got you where you are today. There are no bad things just things that God has made good. It is hard to see this when the past can contain pain, heart break, and broken relationships but if you look closer or ask God to show you it will be made clear. Without the pain and the heart break of the people and circumstances in my life I would not be where I am today. I have learned so much about who God is and who I am. I have learned lessons that will stick with me forever. All this to say that Jesus never ceases to amaze me. Everything has grown me to the place I am now. The only thing to dwell on from the past is the growth, the good, and the glory of God. Take some time, sit down, sort out your thoughts and figure out the lessons learned. Think about the pain turned to growth, good, and glory. See how the Lord works and how He has change you into the person He wants you to be. Don't forget to thank Him for all He is in your life, for changing you into His likeness, and for always taking something that can be painful and turning it into something that is good and glorious. Jesus is my amazing Savior, Lord, life changer, and my best friend. In the end the person you should see in the mirror is not yourself but Jesus Christ. Who do you see when you look in the mirror? 



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

God Has A Plan

Everything that happens in life is under the umbrella of God's plan. We have free will so we can see God's goodness, His love, and His grace. We may choose to sin or choose Christ but in all decisions He knows our hearts, He knows our deepest desires, and He knows where we are in our lives. That is an extraordinary thing- that the Lord God Almighty knows our future and will guide our steps if we listen and lean on Him. Every person, every place, every circumstance that has passed through your life has been there for a reason. If it was something negative- what did the Lord teach you? Did you make that obstacle into an opportunity? Did you grow in Christ in some way? Well, then that "negative" was not negative at all. It was an opportunity to grow, to change, to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. It was an opportunity to be strengthened by the Lord in your areas of weakness. If the past is following you to the present, meet it, deal with it. Ask God to show you how you have grown during that time, ask Him to show you the lessons you learned, and ask Him to help you live for the glorious present He has given you. The Lord has a plan for each of our lives. He knows our past, He guides our present, and He sees our future. Find peace and joy in the fact that the Lord can guide your steps, your heart, and your desires onto His path towards the prosperous future He has for you.


Here are a few Scriptures to show that the Lord has a plan, knows our future, and will guide us:

New International Version (NIV)
Jeremiah 29:11 Listen to this passage 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. New International Version (NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
Psalm 37:23 Listen to this passage  23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,        he makes his steps firm; New International Version (NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
Proverbs 3:5 Listen to this passage  5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart        and lean not on your own understanding; New International Version (NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
Psalm 48:14 Listen to this passage  14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;        he will be our guide even to the end. New International Version (NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
Jeremiah 10:23 Listen to this passage Jeremiah's Prayer  23 I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own;        it is not for man to direct his steps. New International Version (NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
Psalm 37:4 Listen to this passage  4 Delight yourself in the LORD        and he will give you the desires of your heart. New International Version (NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

http://www.biblegateway.com/

The Bible is the best way to get to know your Creator God so dive into His Word to seek Him. If you don't have a Bible of your own check out-- http://www.biblegateway.com/ which is an online Bible.

Picture: http://www.heartlight.org/

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

Leave the Past Behind

Leave the Past Behind

By: Amber Johnson

Do you dwell on the past

allowing those memories to last?

How do you feel?

Do you think it helps you deal?

Or are you just not letting yourself heal?

The sin you try to conceal

And only the righteousness reveal

What does that do to you

who ends up being untrue?

What are you putting yourself through?

Just living like you used to

Taking those memories and letting them override

Does that allow you to abide

In the Christ who is supposed to be inside

Don’t dwell in the past

But in the present stand fast

For Christ erased the old

So the present you could hold

Take every thought captive

So that here and now you can live

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