Sunday, October 30, 2016

The Walking Dead Reaches Out


TWD
Pastor Allan Taylor with Lifeway Christian Resources is a guru on Sunday School. He preached at my church this past Sunday. It was an eye opening depiction of just how important Sunday School is to the church and the believer. I want to share a few of his points that I found very inspiring:
 
  • Sunday School is for reaching people and teaching people. What? I've never considered Sunday School as the gateway to the church. However, after listening to him, it started to make sense to me that lost people are oftentimes confused or don't understand preaching (unless the Spirit reveals it to them). The Bible is like reading a foreign language and worship might be equated to going to a concert to listen to someone you have no idea what they sing. I wouldn't attend a concert like that, would you? Let's commit to get someone to Sunday School so they can learn about Jesus.
  • Are you on mission? The Great Commission to reach people for Christ. Pastor Taylor asked if we were on mission. I thought about it and wondered, Am I? Then he said, "If you don't have a phone number, email or address of someone you're trying to reach, right now, for Christ, you're out of God's will." OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! Did someone make a voodoo doll of me and start sticking my heart? It feels like it! I pray for people but how often do I call, text, message, email or even visit someone to really REACH them? Answer = not a lot.
  • Births vs. Deaths. Pastor Allan shared with us God's reproductive plan for the earth and his people in Genesis. Plants and animals are to reproduce after their own kind. The trees we see today are not originals to the Garden of Eden, they have survived due to seed and the reproduction of life. Same theory is true for animals and humans. We all know what happens if death rate exceeds birth rate, extinction. Statistically, the church is burying more Christians than we are birthing. Pretty soon at the rate we're experiencing, Christians will be extinct. That, my friends, is an eye-opening, heart-wrenching statement. 
The Walking Dead must have been a crazy episode this week. Everyone on Facebook was talking about it. I don't watch the show. I cannot listen to that raspy breathing sound the zombies make. I can relate to the zombies though. Everyone of us are "The Walking Dead" until we accept Jesus and our souls are born again to new life. Luke 20:38 says For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. I shutter to think the world might envision a sign like the picture above on our church doors; afraid to come inside because the people trying to grab at them and reach them are dead. The saved look much like the unsaved anymore. On the outside, we may appear alike but on the inside, one thing separates us, the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 
Wanna come to Sunday School,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

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Thursday, September 29, 2016

We're a Basket Case

apple basket
Happy Fall Y'all! Good news...this article is not about a basket but I'm glad to be a basket case. Let me explain. This past Sunday, Sloane and I taught Little K at church. Here I am again, in a room full of Pre-K and kindergarten boys! Go figure. :)

I asked the young guys to share a Bible story. Urban raised his hand and said "Noah and the Ark". Good answer! I received some other "stories" some from the Bible and some made-up just to give an answer. Then they asked me for a Bible story. Moses immediately came to my mind. I was surprised that many of them couldn't relate the story of Moses to me. They also seemed perplexed that a child was put into a "basket" and sent down the river alone. I quickly shared the miracle that happened to Moses being raised by his mother and then the Pharaoh's daughter. As I was telling the story, I saw some grown-up things about the Moses story I never noticed before.

We are the same "basket case" as Moses. Moses was born a commoner just like us. He was adopted by a King. We are adopted by the King of Kings! Afterwards, Moses was chosen by God to "free the people". We are chosen to share the gospel so people may be freed by the saving grace of Jesus. Romans 8:15 says "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." The children of Israel were blessed to have a boy from a basket to be their escape from bondage. We are blessed to have a boy born in a manger to be our Savior! Please read the book of Exodus and email me with how the story speaks to you.

Bible stories, as we call them, aren't just for kids anymore...

 Woven by Him,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Sunday, September 18, 2016

All I Have Needed

soul
What moves you? A big hairy spider that crawls up beside you! That would move me too, but I'm talking about genuinely emotionally being stirred. I'm one of those people who seek to be moved...by music, by movies, by relationships. My greatest desire is to be moved by God. Have you ever experienced God moving you to lift your hand in praise? Have you ever testified of his love and power to someone because he moved you to do so? Have you ever listened to the same song for the last ten years and really hear a line in it for the first time when it moves you? I did this very thing this past weekend. I love the song Great is Thy Faithfulness. I was moved by the following lyric.
All I have needed thy hand hath provided. WOW! Just.Wow! I can truthfully say, "All I have ever needed God's hand has provided it to me"! Can you say that of anyone else? My answer is no. Some of the things I've needed a mere human can't provide. God has provided me with great parents, a nice career, a loving husband, fabulous daughters, sweet son-in-laws, grandchildren, house payments, money when I didn't have any, gas for my car, a car, two cars, three cars, awesome church family and the greatest provision of all, calling me into his saving power! He's provided forgiveness when I'm wrong, mercy when I didn't deserve it, grace that is more than sufficient and peace I sometimes don't understand. Take a few minutes and think about what he's provided for you. Does that move you? 
DOES THAT MOVE YOU?
If it does not move you, please ask yourself why? 
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside. Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Thomas Chisholm, who penned the hymn in 1925, explained toward the end of his life, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now.  Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”

I believe Thomas Chisholm was moved!


Be moved,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap



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Monday, September 12, 2016

Trunk or Treat Idea

Disclaimer: Oriental Trading Inc. sent me these products for review.  All opinions and experiences in this post are expressly my own. 

Fall is in the air. Halloween is just around the corner. If you're like me, you are already googling Trunk or Treat Ideas. Decorated trunks have become a favorite at many Halloween festivities and especially churches. Kids are always excited to get candy.  I'm always excited to see the elaborate trunk themes! We work long and hard on these trunks but finding the items to create them isn't hard at all with Oriental Trading as our Halloween Headquarters for decorations.

Let me share the details of  Noah's "ARK"cade trunk. Everyone loves amusement parks, especially children. Most amusement parks have game arcades where you play the game and hopefully win a prize. At Noah's Arkcade, you play the game and ALWAYS win a prize! How cute are these Color Your Own Heart Bubble Bottles for a prize? These Mini Marker Sets are a must to color the hearts. You might get the chance to witness about how God's love is always "bubbling" up!

May I suggest these animal-themed games for your arcade? You can even buy two of each to make your Noah theme more realistic and easily accessible to more kids! The Inflatable Alligator Ring is fun for all ages trying to "ring" the alligators nose or tail. The Going Bananas Monkey Bean Bag Toss gives you a chance to have some fun with your little players by asking them to scratch their head and make monkey sounds before taking a turn. Don't forget extra bean bags! One of my favorite games is Pick up Ducks. Place these cute duckies  in a tub of water. Take a permanent marker to place a number corresponding to a prize on each duck. Kids simply "pick up a duck" to win a prize. Use these or find many more at Oriental Trading Halloween Headquarters.

Your trunk might look something like this with your games in front of the ark and off to the sides.
Simply make this ark-like structure from cardboard and use these Jumbo Zoo Animal Cut-Outs for the animals in your boat. You might also want to add a balloon arch similar to the picture below to create an arcade-like arched entrance way.
balloon arch
Photo Credit: www.celebrateitballoons.com
A rainbow-colored arch is perfect for a Noah's Ark theme. Balloons are fun, pretty, add tons of color AND are super easy to decorate with. My family and I plan to dress up like different animals to add more excitement to the ARKcade! A Printed Animal Face Mask would also do the trick!

I hope this has stirred some creativity for your Trunk or Treat Idea. Whatever theme you decide on, (see my Alice in Wonderland theme from 2015 here) be sure to check out Oriental Trading for all your Halloween needs.

Happy Trunking,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

If you have a clever Trunk or Treat Idea you've done using Oriental Trading products, please share it with us in a comment. I'd love to see a picture too!
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Sunday, September 4, 2016

Should You Say the Word "Hell" to Your Pastor?

vbs

VBS Week 2016 was July 31 - August 4! I love the anticipation, the energy and the fun before and during VBS. I almost enjoy the tiredness from a week well spent too.....almost. If you participate in Bible School, you know what I mean. This year, like last year, my girls and I were assigned the Kindergarten Boys class. We had eleven boys! 11 boys! E.L.E.V.E.N. B.O.Y.S.! After this week, I knew more than ever God does not make mistakes. I have two girls, one granddaughter and another granddaughter due in October. I'm suspecting my younger daughter will have girls also if and when she has children.

These boys were full of male DNA which makes them run and jump off of everything, have wiggle worms in their pants, pay attention only when they want to talk, explore all the room decorations to the point of destruction and melt a girl's heart like only a guy can. I'll admit it was rocky the first couple of evenings. The craft teachers voted me "Most Likely to Need a Xanax" and the music teacher (pictured) "blessed me" all week. When the pastor asked how it was going, I replied "I'm ready to get out of VBS hell!". My husband told me that was probably not appropriate so I'm hoping he thought I said VBS jail. His face told me otherwise. Should you say the word "hell" to your pastor?

I always, always, always receive inspiration and blessings at Vacation Bible School. Here's what I got this year:
  • One little lad announced unexpectedly we should pray RIGHT NOW! He led the sweetest and most humble prayer ever that caused Sloane to say "He prays better than me!". 
  • Directly after the awesome prayer, a little one raised his hand and politely explained "I don't know how to pray". This touched my heart so much we devoted lesson time the next day to "How to Pray".
  • An aunt of one of the boys told me how impressed his mom was with our class. He went home each day giving a detailed account of the Bible stories. I was excited to hear it because she's a school teacher!
  • Lisette, my granddaughter, obviously loved the story of Zacchaeus. She keeps saying "Jesus is coming".  After asking my husband several times "Do you see Jesus? He's right over there.", he got a bit unnerved.
  • I wore my hair down the final evening. I actually put on some mascara too. The same boy who prayed kept looking at me and raised his hand to speak. "You look beautiful today!" he said with dreamy eyes. I said "THANK YOU!" all heart-eyes.
Pure preciousness! A few simple actions erased all my hellish thoughts. These boys and I gained a great rapport in five short days. They amazed me with their answers each night. They made me want to teach VBS again. They engraved themselves on my heart. I love these little boys. Next year, I'm ready for some kindergarten GIRLS!

I'm seriously wondering should you say the word "hell" to your pastor as I did? Leave me a comment and let me know if saying "The Word" to my pastor was inappropriate....

 Blessed at VBS,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap.
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Friday, August 26, 2016

Gross but Good

grumpy cat
photo credit: Grumpy Cat
I am warning you. You may find the details gross but the message is good. Lisette, my almost three-year-old granddaughter hasn't felt well this week. She's been kinda draggy, just not herself. We checked for a fever. We monitored her cough. We ignored her misbehavior because we knew she felt bad. Still, we couldn't put our fingers on anything specific.

Rewind to yesterday about 5:30 pm. "Sette", as she calls herself, climbed up in my lap as I sat in my rocking chair and went to sleep. Two things unusual about that. She never wants me to rock her anymore and she would rather avoid a nap than take one. Lying her in the bed, I decided she was tired from not feeling well. She woke up like a grumpy cat a few hours later.

Earlier that day, she'd draped a towel across her head asking "Do I look silly with this hoodie on my head?" I said "No! You look like Mary, Mother of Jesus!" Her large imagination liked this idea immediately pretending I was Jesus and she was Mary. After waking from her nap, she once again donned her "hoodie" pretending to be Mary. She came to sit in Jesus's lap still sitting in his rocking chair.

We were playing when she said "Jesus, my stomach is hurting. Will you rub it?" I gently laid her back to rub. Throw up spewed from that sweet baby's mouth by the gallon. I quickly picked her up so she didn't strangle while her mom grabbed a bag because she continued to vomit. I had foul-smelling chunks from my neck to my knees. Literally covered in throw up! After Sydnee took her to the bathroom, I sat motionless.

I HATE vomit! I'm one of those people who just can't deal with it. I couldn't even clean up my kids when they did it. Thankfully, their Dad did! I'm thinking to myself, don't gag or you're gonna be covered in two human's stomach matter. I tried to stand but my lap was full. I felt the stuff oozing everywhere (even into my prostheses) when I moved so I sat still until my husband brought me a towel. I inched my way to another bathroom. Luckily, the chunks stuck to me like glue. The floor was safe. Carefully, I raised the neck of my t-shirt over my head, removed it, my shorts, my underwear and naked I went out into the dark world to scrape the chunks from my clothes to get them into the washer. Then, I showered.

During the episode, I prayed for Lisette. I sat there with her vomit all over me thinking about her. God showed me something beautiful through the grossness. We vomit on God. We sin against him and it is ugly. It stinks. It fills his nostrils with stench. He sees it, smells it, feels it but his Excellency is only thinking about us. How much he loves us. How much he wants to forgive us. How much he desires a right relationship with us through his son, Jesus. I am so thankful that when we've covered God's lap with our filth, he's still mighty to save. Still forgiving, merciful, kind, patient and loving. He's the Dad that cleans his children!
I thought this was so cute and funny....

While Lisette was playing Mary, she asked if I (Jesus) wanted to go into another room to play. I said sure I do. She took my hand excitedly saying,
"Come on Jesus, there's plenty of room in the den!"
Feeling clean,
Tammy 
The Happy Handicap

I welcome all comments.
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Thursday, July 28, 2016

When Your Kiddos Teach You

me and my kids

 Becoming a mother is one of the most special gifts I've ever received. Everything about motherhood is hard. Everything about motherhood is easy. Take one glance at the human you grew, all the ugliness blurs. You become a yellow smiley emoticon with hearts for eyes! When you are gifted a grand, it feels like a fairy God father granted you a wish to "get it right" this time. Practice all the stuff you learned raising your own. The easy overwhelms the hard.

I enjoy my children. Laughing with them. Crying with them. Guiding them. Riding with them, not so much. Traveling with them. Making memories with them. Sharing milestones and successes. Supporting them through trials and defeat. Simply, loving them.

Everyone has special qualities that belong inherently to them; Godly gifts. I learn from these in my daughters. The special way Sydnee is the most patient individual I know. She's the one who don't know how to be mean and it's funny watching her try. She's the one that nurtures creativity in her husband and daughter when I would have never allowed it in the first place. She's the one I prayed hardest for me to accept her non-competitive, easy-going, unstructured style. She taught me how to surrender. Her patience influences me in a powerful way. It makes me proud of her.  Finishing second is winning, because, hello, you finished!

Then there's the special way Sloane is the most diplomatic person I know. She cares about everyone's feelings, even animals! She's the one who won't make anyone mad (unless it's me or her sister). She's the one that worries dogs will freeze to death although Google says it's impossible. She's the one that makes herself sick wringing her hands with a flushed face if she feels she said the wrong thing. She's the one always buying gifts, sending thank you cards and making sure to include everyone or exclude everyone mutually. She taught me how to be considerate. Her people skills continually amaze and humble me. I ;love the way people love Sloane!

Then, there's my grand, Lisette. Everything about her is special. She is honestly the most caring individual I know. She's the one that says "Granmom, you be careful" if I'm doing something that concerns her. She's the one that includes me in her prayers every night. She's the one who makes me tear up when she looks at me with pure innocence.. She's the one I want Jesus to call to when it's time. How she loves me right now is like running water without a cutoff switch. Oh how I want to nurture that love!  I never thought it possible but she has taught me to love more deeply than ever before.. 

.
To my girls.
Proverbs 31:29 
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
All my love, Mom

Thankful for my girls 365,


I'd love to hear what your kids have taught you. Share with me in a comment...
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Friday, July 8, 2016

Free Hugs

beautiful flowers

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 2016. You simply MUST go! The city is magnificent. The people are super nice. The weather is gorgeous. The food is delicious. The flowers are everywhere. I could go on and on. Victoria was one of the best city visits I've ever experienced. God has blessed me to travel to 45 states including Alaska and Hawaii and seven different countries. 

I learn something from every adventure. I learned something extra special on this outing, from this woman...
hugger

 This lady has been standing on this corner at various times for the past seven years giving free hugs. Sloane spotted her first and said "Let's get a free hug!". I was apprehensive. I can hug. I like to hug but it's not a common practice for me with total strangers. Also, short in stature does not a good hugger make. You can get a little more insight into short hugger thoughts here.  Since I'm always willing to experience something new and different, I hugged her.

She may be the reason my trip to Victoria was so overwhelming? Her hug was the sweetest, most exhilarating, non-invasive hug ever! She cooed to me in a bird-like song as our arms met and embraced thanking me for stopping to hug her telling me "You're such a good hugger" and "Bless you". Uh, no, Free Hug Lady, thank you!  The experience of that hug still lingers in my heart.

Yesterday, God used that experience in a way I didn't see coming. Steve and I were at Emory for his checkup. A young woman in a wheelchair with oxygen was leaving the office when the doctor came out and whispered something to her. A few minutes later, I saw this same lady wiping tears from her face as she and her male companion waited for the elevator. I wondered if the doctor had told her bad news about her health. In the same instance, Godly compassion filled my heart and I began to pray for her lifting her needs to our Heavenly Father.

Can you guess what happened next? That's right. God nudged me to hug her. I gave him all the reasons why I couldn't. She's a stranger. She's black. She don't want no white girl getting in her face. There's eight people waiting in this tiny area for an elevator! My heart started POUNDING! Just as her friend was moving her toward the elevator, I did it! I asked if I could hug her, she nodded and I did it. It wasn't awkward or strange in any way. It felt good to extend the love of the Father to a fellow being. I saw her again in the lab. She looked at me and smiled. Her entire countenance had changed. She seemed more peaceful, more content. 

You may hug strangers all the time, but I usually don't. God showed me that to experience him, you must seek that which is alive. I loved the beautiful scenery in Victoria. The flowers are alive now but will soon die. People are alive now but will soon die but their souls are alive forever.  I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. God's love is alive! Share the love whenever and wherever you get the opportunity... especially to strangers.

 Sharing the love,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

 Feel free to leave a comment with hugging tips or experiences.
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Monday, May 16, 2016

Why Do I Need to Spring Clean?

I enjoy a clean-smelling house, do you? The feeling you get from a clean house is exuberant. These things are nice but the reason you need to spring clean is to protect your family's health. I had never really thought much about indoor air quality

UNTIL...

my husband was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. Suddenly, air became super important to our family especially in our home! There are so many contaminants and pollutants in the air these days, indoor air quality can no longer be ignored.



For your health and lung safety, here are a few spring cleaning tips:
  • Lint and dust particles can irritate the lungs. I removed all window coverings and draperies in our home replacing them with plantation shutters. The shutters help reduce cooling bills by shutting out the sun, they look sleek and modern and the shutters are simple to clean with a damp cloth. No more removing dusty curtain/drapes to wash and rehang.
  • Change your heating and air conditioning filter every 30 days to reduce pet dander, dust and other allergen inducing particles in your home. You can program some newer thermostats to automatically remind you with a flashing message when it's time to change your filter.  Be sure to check yours for this handy feature.
  • Make sure you're informed about the contaminants in your house that can affect your health. For example, most homes built before the 1970's contain the toxic material asbestos, which can cause mesothelioma cancer if it is disturbed or not removed properly. Ensure a professional comes in to assess your home if you think it has asbestos in it. Click here to order FREE information about mesothelioma and your rights.
  • Warning: Chemicals are hazardous to your health! Vinegar and baking soda are two common household items that can be used to clean most anything in your home without harsh effects of store-bought cleaners. Add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil for a nice fragrance. I like peppermint or lavender.
  • Make a list of the things you want to accomplish realizing you can't do everything in one day. When you do finish, take a deep breath and enjoy your clean home.
Clean it up,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Friday, May 13, 2016

Standing on what?

*headphones may be needed to hear her sing
Standing on the Word of God. The B.I.B.L.E!

Those Mother Goose Gospel videos are paying off. Lisette loves the B.I.B.L.E. song. I'm so humbled she loves to play piano and sing Jesus songs!

Capturing memories,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap


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Friday, May 6, 2016

Happy Mother's Day


angry birds movie
Photo and Video Credits: Sony Pictures

Loving those mothers who have hatched little ones or are in the process,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Thursday, April 28, 2016

My Granddaughter: Clever or Manipulative?

She's so precious with those piggy tails. Sweetness oozes from every pore of her being! We went to the grocery store today. She was the perfect little angel riding in the buggy with her "babies". She didn't ask for a thing until....



Just in case you couldn't hear her plainly she said in the sweetest possible voice ever
"My Baby Wants a Toy Please!"

This is the toy she picked for her baby. A set of plastic Cowboys and Indians for $1.

plastic toys

She's extremely Clever
She may be a tiny bit Manipulative
I'm TOTALLY in love with her!

What do you think? Leave me a facebook comment of your vote. Clever or Manipulative!

I would have bought any toy she asked for,
Tammy :)
The Happy Handicap
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Saturday, April 23, 2016

One Thing God and Donald Trump Do Alike


Have you seen The Apprentice? Donald Trump is the star of the show. He is looking for a good worker. He always finds that one person who completes their given tasks well, after he's sifted through the rest of the crowd. When you don't do your job well, Donald Trump pronounces "You're Fired!".

Now you may be thinking God never fires anyone. I agree, partly. God never fires anyone who has truly accepted his free gift of forgiveness. However, the Bible says in Luke 13:23-24 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

That is a pretty intense scripture. I audibly heard God say the other day "People should quit trying to do my job and do the job I called them to do." How can you and I know we are doing our job correctly? 
  1. Realize we can't save ourselves or anyone else. Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...
  2. Remain humble in well doing. Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man boast. 
  3. Judge ourselves, not others. I Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 
  4. Stay on task. Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
  5. Be his workmanship. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
How do we work and be his workmanship? We become what Christ is. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."


In The Apprentice, Trump tells the eager workers what not to do. God tells us what not to do also. Galatians 5:19-21 instructs us "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

God and Donald Trump use different words but the meanings are the same. Be sure you are serving your fellow man from the goodness of your redeemed soul. If you're of Christ, let your work be from Christ! If not, you may find yourself like the folks in Luke 13:27 who tried to tell their Master what they had done for him. His answer was this: But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. In other words, You're Fired!

God always, Trump 2016
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Sunday, April 17, 2016

It's Not Polite to Stare


Looking and limping,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Saturday, April 16, 2016

Juanita's Enchanted Gardens

The winding gravel road to Gran-Nan's house is lined with romantic Bradford Pear Trees and rocks!

bradford pear trees

These aren't your everyday, run-of-the-mill rocks, more like boulders. My parents hauled these giant stones one-by-one to their nesting place under the trees lining their driveway with a tractor, a 3-point hitch and some really strong chain! I remember it like it was yesterday, but it 25 years ago.
boulders

The rewards are always worth the effort!

My mom LOVES flowers and my dad enjoys helping her. Together, they give us beautiful scenery to enjoy almost year round.
pink azalea


Seven foot tall Blooming Bushes!
candy tuft

concrete border

blooming bush

She loves clematis!

white clematis

purple clematis

orchid clematis

Purple Iris and another clematis

iris




Mom loves garden statues




dog
Do you see Peachie, her Pom? Not a statue.
And....everything has a place.

The Walk!

Mom laid this concrete path, all by herself, using a 2 x 2 form from Lowe's and Sakrete! This picture makes it difficult to tell just how long it is. The sidewalk winds up to the porch and all the way around her house. Good job Nano!
sidewalk

We are so thankful for her and her beauty!

We kid her a lot about her flowers, harass her even at times but oh the blossoms. I can't imagine home without her gardens.

Loving on the scenery... and .... MOM AND DAD,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Sunday, April 10, 2016

Wanna Trade Seats?

inspiration

I saw this truth on a church sign in Florida yesterday. For years, folks used bumper stickers to communicate the thought "God is my copilot". In all sincerity, this is the correct thought "God is my pilot". Any idea how things have gotten turned upside down in our country? We must allow God to be the driver in our life, not a passenger along for the ride.

Job 5:6-8 - 
Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground. Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks FLY upward. I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:....
Life is like an airplane ride.
1. You take off. / I equate this to spiritual morality and understanding you're a sinner.
2. Reach the perfect flying altitude. / Spiritually when you accept Christ.
3. Land safely when your journey is over. / Enter into perfect rest in heaven.

The "flight" is your life journey. Some flights are long, some are short. Your flight may be turbulent and even smooth at times. If the cabin loses pressure, you'll need oxygen to survive. Just like when you sin against God, you need forgiveness to survive! During your flight, you have no control other than to trust your pilot. This example shows how we should trust Jesus, completely, relinquishing our life to him.

"We are now boarding rows 17-34."  "Boarding all rows all seats." You have an assigned seat. Be sure you're in it!

Only a co-pilot,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Saturday, April 9, 2016

I Got a Grill Crush

I got a grill crush, hate to admit it
I got a heated rush, flame ain't going down
I got it real bad, love everything it sears
Yeah, I got a grill crush.


THIS IS MY GRILL. 
An OLD model Jacuzzi my husband won from a band raffle vintage 1986ish
I.Love.Her!


grill crush

My husband has had his hands on her more than a few times!

New handles

grill handles


New Grates and Rocks

grill press

I don’t get no sleep, I don’t get no peace
Thinkin’ about her under the palms of your hands
The way that she’s steamin’, the way that she’s pullin’ you in
Lord knows I’ve tried, I can’t get her off my mind


jacuzzi grill

I wanna taste her burgers, yeah, ‘cause they taste like you
I wanna drown myself in a bottle of her smoky fumes
I want her rusty knobs, I want her magic touch
Yeah, ‘cause maybe then you’d want me just as much
I got a grill crush
Obviously I'm joking but I'm not joking about how much I love this grill. What I love more than the grill are the hours my loving husband has spent preserving it for me the last 30 years! I've had new grills but I always come back to her. The other grills never cook as well, heat as even or make our food taste as delicious.

Thank you my sweet husband, Steven G. Stafford for loving things, especially me, when they've become rusty with age and not much to look at, for never giving up when other's see despair, you see promise! It's not what is on the surface but the substance of the whole.  I've got a grill crush because you've shown me what love can do! I love you....


Admitting it,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap


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Monday, March 28, 2016

Religious Liberties or Snobbery?

religious liberties

On March 8, 2016, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board (GBMB) issued a public affairs alert stating "Georgia Religious Liberty is "Being Held in the Balance". There is much controversy surrounding Georgia House Bill 757 addressing this issue. The biggest disagreement seems to be the potential discrimination of the GLBT community by a person's religious beliefs. Should a business owner be allowed, by the State of Georgia, to withhold services to homosexuals based upon their own religious conviction without fear of legal recourse?

"Being different", born with a disability, I understand the feeling of simply desiring to be accepted. My challenge is a mutated DNA problem and so may be some of the GLBT community. The Bible states homosexuality is sin right alongside divorce, fornication, babies out of wedlock, drunkenness, jealousy, stealing, murder, cursing and many of the abominable acts that are rampant in our current culture. I'm glad Jesus overcomes ALL and gives us victorious life over sin!

Can you imagine a society where you have to answer a questionnaire before being served? Have you ever been divorced or committed adultery? Have you ever cheated on a test? Are you illegitimate? What is your sexual preference? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions, according to the laws of the State of Georgia, we choose not to serve you at this establishment. Ridiculous, yes? But, I'm afraid the sexual preference question is included in GA HB757 as reported by the AJC. I wonder how Christian Business Owners intend to make the determination and differentiation? Will it be all GLBT or just same sex couples?

I agree with Governor Deal's comment about his religious faith:

 “What the New Testament teaches us is that Jesus reached out to those who were considered the outcasts, the ones that did not conform to the religious societies’ view of the world. … We do not have a belief, in my way of looking at religion, that says we have to discriminate against anybody,” he said. “If you were to apply those standards to the teaching of Jesus, I don’t think they fit.”

Jesus showed his love, forgiveness and acceptance of humanity by dying on the cross as the only worthy sacrifice for human sin. He also practiced many non-discriminatory acts including taking water from the woman at the well (John 4) and eating dinner with Zacchaeus (Luke 19). Jesus dining at the house of the sinful tax collector got people talking. Luke 19:7 "And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner."

The following phrase from the GBMB alert particularly snagged my attention. The plea to Christians was the next to last sentence on the bulletin:

 Remember: Be respectful and polite when contacting your elected officials.

The request reminded me of the TV show Hill Street Blues. After the police chief gave daily instructions to his unit, he always started their shift with the endearing words "Be careful out there". Having to ask Christians to be polite is akin to God needing to instruct Jesus "Be kind out there."

 Update: According to the AJC Governor Deal vetoed HB757 today, Monday, March 28, 2016.
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