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#JesusRocks

NPC BIKINI: PEAK WEEK

written by Amber

REPENT! And turn to God, for the kingdom of heaven is near…and so is my very first NPC BIKINI COMPETITION!

I cannot believe that I am officially 2 days out from my 1st NPC Bikini Competition. I will be competing in the Seminole Classic bikini division and I could not be more excited for it! This last few weeks has been a complete mental challenged filled with self doubt, worries and fear. But the bible tells me that I have not been given the spirit of fear, but of POWER, and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND. It has taken this verse, prayer and encouragement from a few close friends and my coaches to truly experience the peace that I have right now. God is truly gracing me to feel the best I ever have about this entire experience just a couple days out!

I’ve talked to a few of the young ladies who train on the same team as me, and they’re feeling how I felt a few weeks ago. Tired, run down, completely over this whole process, ready for it to be over. You may find yourself feeling the same way and I want to take the time to encourage you.

The best thing that my coach Ty could have told me one day when I was feeling pretty low was to “make myself the competition and not the other competitors. Bring your best package in and that’s all you can do. You can’t get any better, than best.” When he told me that, my perspective began to change.

Slowly but surely I began to pray for peace and it was almost like the scales had been removed from my eyes and I was able to really see myself and the gains and progress that I had made! I was really starting to see changes in my body, old clothes that I had kept were starting to fit again and my abs, which have never surfaced before in my life, were making DAILY appearances! My feelings had shifted like night and day and I am truly one of my biggest fans. If nobody claps for me, I will be the only one clapping. It’s so great to receive confirmation and affirmation from others but to feel it deep down within myself is everything! When motivation and joy are intrinsic and given by the Holy Spirit it is impossible for anything to come by and take it away. Not another competitor, not a certain persons attendance to your show, whether you place or not, nothing!

Competing for me has gone from wanting to win everything, to truly getting my body in the best aesthetic shape of my life. Competing for me is about progressing and looking the very best that I possibly can every time I hit that stage. Needless to say in spite of placing and trophy’s I am pretty darn excited to compete this weekend, and even more excited for my next show. I will have about 6 more weeks to dial it in and bring in an even tighter package before going into a great off season.

So if you’re feeling low, rest assured that God has your back and will send you just the right amount of encouragement to make it through the storm and trust him to bring you further!

Sincerely,

Amber Danielle

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May 6, 2016 0 comment

Blog Fitness

Fitness: It’s a Lifestyle & Journey!

written by Amber

I believe that the goal of any legitimate health and fitness program should always be to become a lifestyle. If you think about it, most of the things that you’re doing from your diet to exercise takes effort, time, planning, and discipline. Why opt out of making healthy decisions daily, for a 30 day quick fix that will probably leave you in a worst off position then when you started your journey?

I’ve personally tried the skinny teas, DVD’s and master cleanse/detox e-books, and nothing has stuck. These were all temporary programs that only further frustrated me when trying to see major results in my body. I’m not saying that these things are bad or don’t work, but I believe that if they are not supplemented with mindful eating and maybe even a little more exercise outside of what they call for, seeing results will be minimal at best (at least for me.)

As I’m preparing for my first NPC competition, I’ve hit a few road bumps a long the way. Most recently I consumed much more sodium than I usually do throughout the day in my meals and I woke up the next day extremely bloated. I had never been that bloated my entire prep! But after me and my coach got to talking about what could have made this happen so close to show, we found that it was the new seasoning that I had picked up from the store and tried out on ALL of my meals the previous day! I was so surprised at how much water my body retained merely from adding more sodium into my diet. Since, I’ve consumed lots of water and had some pretty great sweat sessions, so my little tummy is back in business.

With that being said, I’ve made and am making some pretty drastic changes as my show day approaches. (8 days away to be exact!) But to see my body react so drastically to something that wasn’t normally a part of my meal plan was crazy. It showed me that all of these changes that I’ve been making were designed for me to live a healthy lifestyle for the rest of my life. Though I may gain a few more pounds during my off season to build some muscle and fill out a little more, my body is prepared to eat more good things. “Clean” proteins and veggies and carbs. I put “clean” in quotations because in the body building world there is no real way to define clean. Food is fuel and if used correctly you’re able to use Poptarts if you want to obtain your fitness goals. I’m very interested in IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros) but haven’t practiced it. I simply follow the meal plan that my coach provides for me. I’ll write about this another time, though!

So if you’re thinking about competing or just getting in shape or back in shape, think of it as a lifestyle. I know you’ve probably heard this a million times, but in order to meet, obtain and sustain your goals it’s true. Having abs or your dream body isn’t going to happen because you participated in a 30 fitness challenge or crash diet. Stay consistent and the results will come!

Sincerely,

Amber

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April 28, 2016 0 comment

Daily Devotional

Leaving Behind the Darkness

written by Amber

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” Ephesians 5:8-9

Romance novels were my absolute favorite back in high school. Mesmerized by the world’s idea of love, I wanted to be in a relationship so badly. Every heroine I’d read about was always some gorgeous high school babe, who would find herself in a daring relationship with someone insanely attractive and sadly nothing like Christ. I was obsessed with the idea of belonging to someone, being wined and dined, pushing the boundaries of my innocence and getting married so that I could obtain the same “love” that I read about in dozens of novels a year.

Since, I learned that some forms of entertainment just aren’t worth revisiting. The bible says, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” Ephesians 5:8-9 NLT

Sometimes we get so comfortable in God’s light and grace that we forget that Christ is the one who gives us the desire to be like Him. We develop this mentality that there are certain things that we can allow back into our lives because we’ve matured and grown in Christ or we’re nothing like we used to be. If we’re being honest with ourselves, then we would realize that our righteousness is not our own. That once we begin to live a life in the pursuit of God’s will that some things that we put down are meant to stay behind, never to be entertained again.

The novels that I used to read were filled with characters dominated by their lustful desires, pushing the boundaries of whatever beliefs they had and acting based on what would provide them the most pleasurable results. They did not fear God, and some of them blatantly questioned His existence. I remained in the dark throughout high school allowing my mindset to be inculcated with what the sexual aspect of marriage would be like, when “the one” would find me, picturing my life in the place of the heroine’s. It was a massive waste of time and kept me from truly being able to cultivate a real relationship with Christ.

It is God’s desire to hold us close each and every day, protecting us from the things that we cannot see ourselves. Destruction, heartbreak, sexual immorality, low self-esteem, and senseless violence are just a few things that God is trying to protect us from. Through the death and resurrection of Christ we are able to be as close to God as we desire and truly live a life that is “good and right, and true!”

Prayer: Abba I thank you that your light shines within me, giving me the desire to live in the perfect will that you have for my life. I pray that you will show me the things of darkness that I am entertaining and escort me to the way of escape that you’ve provided. Allow me to be sensitive to your Holy Spirit, ruling out what is and isn’t acceptable for me to entertain. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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April 11, 2016 0 comment

Daily Devotional

A Man of His Word

written by Amber

“His faithful promises are our armor and protection.” Psalms 91:4

If there is one thing that I admire the most about my daddy, it’s his generosity. Ever since I can remember he has always indulged in making sure I had everything that I wanted and then some. Whether he was being deployed or simply running out to the store, the promise of bringing me something back was always wrapped around my eager little heart. No matter what happened that day at school, or with my siblings, or at home, nothing could deter my excitement. My daddy had promised to bring something home for me.

I can’t help but think about how our Abba Father is exactly the same way. The word actually says that “His faithful promises are our armor and protection.” Psalms 91:4 NLT

The absolute comfort and excitement that I felt by my daddy making little promises to me, was amazing. It sustained my hopeful spirit throughout the day and gave me something to look forward to, but God’s promises are designed to provide what mere human generosity could never obtain. God has made so many promises to us so that in times of uncertainty or hardship we have his word to sustain us, to lift our spirits and to comfort us in times of calamity.
Furthermore this verse says that God’s promises “are our armor and protection.” There are so many times in life where adversity has the opportunity to rear its ugly head, circumstance makes living a little stressful and sometimes we’re left feeling just plain bullied and beat up. But God’s promises are there to shield and protect us from it all. Just as we cling to the promises of our mortal father’s, allowing them to set the thermostat of our emotions and behavior, so we must do the same with our promises from God. Unlike man, God’s promises are faithful and will never leave us disappointed. His mind is always stayed on us and his intentions toward us are always good!

But where are we able to see what God has promised us? How would we ever know what it is that he has in store for us? Reading our bible is essential. There are so many promises and vows that God has made to us, not because of who we are, but because of all that he is. Prayer is also very important, and being able to listen to Holy Spirit after moments of prayer and quiet time are crucial. I truly believe that God is the best encourager there is. His promises are so strong that they can literally form an impenetrable armor and protection around our hearts, minds, desires and actions. All we have to do is trust and believe that he will bring in to our lives what has been promised and our tender hearts will always be filled with Christ’s joy.

Prayer: Abba I thank you that your promises are so much more trustworthy than any others. I thank you that they were designed not only to build hope in my heart, but to protect me from the things of this world. God I thank you that you’re filled with unfailing love and faithfulness and that your promises to me are birthed from the intimate place of your perfect will for my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

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March 9, 2016 0 comment

Letters of Love

Sustained in Jesus

written by Amber

I felt the Holy Spirit asking me to share this letter with you all:

“I’ve created you to be sustained by me and me alone. There is absolutely nothing else in the world that can sufficiently sustain you, while having the absolute best and perfect intentions as I do for you. Not even your own body that I hand crafted and designed was made to sustain the soul that I gave life to years ago. I’ve made it so that everything about your earthly life is temporary. Relationships, job status, location, and time. You don’t even look the same way that you did when I woke you up three days ago. Rest in my unfailing love and perfection. My son Jesus is your inheritance, which makes you the richest kings and queens that I’ve ever designed. Trust and know that my plans for you are so much more than the world you live in. If they weren’t you’d already have everything that you need. Continue to have faith in the return of my son and your savior Jesus Christ. Seek him and his kingdom first and he’ll add all of the rest. Start building your life of eternity with us now, and the fruit of it will be waiting when I call you home. But until then, let me sustain you. It would be my pleasure and greatest delight.”

Sincerely,

Your Abba Father

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February 11, 2016 0 comment

Daily Devotional

Rushing the Hearts Timeline

written by Amber

“Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.” Song of Songs 8:4 NLT

Sometimes it seems as though the women in my family are more preoccupied with my marital status than they are my purposes in life.

It’s as if I blew out the candles on my 23rd birthday and they all wished simultaneously that a husband would be mine, and soon. Though most were only joking, it was something that came up quite often and still does to this day.

“So Amber, have you met anyone?”
“You’re so beautiful. I can’t believe there’s NO ONE interested in you!”
“Have you talked to (insert boy’s name here)? I really liked him for you.”

After a while their thoughts became my thoughts and it crippled me. I didn’t dare think of buying a new bed, or even imagine owning a home let alone a new car if I didn’t have a husband first.
All of those things were reserved for a young lady my age who had already walked down the aisle, holding on to her father’s arm poised and absolutely beautiful. She glowed beneath her veil as she walked towards the man who would take care of her and she him and they would bask in the glow of all the things that I couldn’t have because I wasn’t married yet.

As silly as it sounds that’s exactly how I felt. Then I came across this wonderful verse that encouraged me “not to awaken love until the time is right.” Song of Songs 8:4 NLT

God has a specific blueprint for our lives and has tasked us with relying on Him to get everything built in His time, not ours.

I had begun to awaken the idea of loving another person simply because of the things and status that it would bring me and the social acceptance of my family and friends whom were already married or in courtships. I had forgotten about the divine blueprint that God has already laid out for my life and is excited to show me. I had forgotten that being single is not a disadvantage and certainly not a status that requires me to wait on a husband to do certain things, but to trust that God will reveal his purposes and plans for my life in His perfect timing.

I truly believe that we were made for love. God made each and every one of us just so that he could showcase how much He loves us each and every day through His son Jesus Christ. Just imagine if such a powerful feeling transpired between two individuals before it could be understood, truly shared, and rooted in Christ. The disaster that would ensue is probably much worse than anything we could ever imagine.
So I’ve learned to practice loving those in my here and now, cultivating relationships with friends and family that push me even closer to Christ and the beautiful blueprint that He has laid out for me to follow.

Prayer: Abba, I thank you for being the essence of love and showing me how to love on others daily. I thank you that my life has already been planned and that I am able to rest in the assurance of your loving kindness and not awaken love before its time. Help me to patiently await your perfect timing in all aspects of my life, so that you may be glorified. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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February 8, 2016 0 comment

Letters of Love

Take Courage

written by Amber

Today I want to empower you,

The plan that God has for your life is so beautiful and tailored perfectly to meet a need here on earth. Through Christ you are a gift and solution to so many. We must take heart in knowing that in our weakness God is made strong. So instead of struggling with inadequacy, powerlessness, defeat and negativity, give your weakness to God. Surrender your gifts and talents unto God and surrender your inadequacies as well.

God just wants us to be honest with him, but specially with ourselves. Honesty opens the door to repentance, and repentance opens the door to right standing and holiness.

Give him all of you today and watch him transform you and your life for his good.

Happy New Years.

Love your sissy,

Amber D. Avery

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January 3, 2016 0 comment