Posts with the label devotional
Showing posts with label devotional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devotional. Show all posts
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Coming Clean: my Secret Addiction
Lisette and I watched Finding Nemo yesterday. Do you ever feel like Bruce? He's the shark that loves to eat fish. My favorite scene in the movie is when he confesses his addiction. Hi. My name is Tammy. I'm addicted to eating at midnight or after. Seriously! I wake up every night and simply cannot resist the urge to eat. I started this bad habit with my first pregnancy 28 years ago! I still cannot control it. And, it's mostly sugary perfection.
You're probably thinking don't buy yourself treats or don't make them, right? I'm that smart. But, don't you just love a warm, crispy toasted piece of fresh bread with melted butter, sugar and cinnamon on it? I do! Yes. I'm that pathetic midnight snacker you see in commercials or movies ransacking the pantry or fridge for food. I've actually woken up with crumbs on my clothes that I don't know how they got there. I'm confessing this to you so maybe I can stop this insanity.
I'm thankful and surprised I'm not overly overweight. That's my body with Bruce's head in the picture. Eating at midnight is terrible for my digestive system. I feel awful the morning after. I'm allergic to sugar and most food chemicals. The allergic reaction causes baggy, saggy eyes. I wrote a blog entitled 5 Tips for Problem Eyes hoping I'd follow my own advice. Nothing has worked so far. Just last night I ate seven or eight little chocolate donuts after midnight. I made it all better by washing them down with water. I can't walk to exercise due to my disability so minimizing food consumption is the only way I have to control my weight.
My bad habit probably seems silly to you. Midnight snacking is extremely frustrating to me. Embarrassing even. I could probably be a cat burglar I've become so good at sneaking in and out of the pantry so my husband doesn't catch me. I know he knows! One night I was in the pantry with the door closed, my daughter and her boyfriend came home from a date settling into the den to watch TV. I was trapped in the pantry for three hours in my t-shirt and undies. There was no way I could get past them without being seen in my shirttail. I'm surprised they didn't hear me laughing at myself and then almost crying when the reality of being a 51 year-old-woman trapped in a pantry controlled by my own sugar vices struck.
As James 5:16 instructs, please pray for me if I cross your mind. I would love to be healed of this mind game.They say "mind over matter", but it's more like "mind wrapped around a Twinkie and won't let go"! I'd appreciate your tips on overcoming habits/addictions if you've successfully done it. Reply to this email or email me at tammy.stafford@hotmail.com. Confession is good for the body and soul.
Feeling crumby,
Tammy
Thursday, July 30, 2015
End of Season Sale
Do we treat salvation the same way? I hear a lot of people say "I'll go to church when I'm ready." or "When I need Jesus, I'll go." As I was surfing department store websites this week for clearance sales, I pondered how many people wait to the very end of their life's season to accept Jesus. Our freedom cost him his life. Salvation isn't getting any cheaper. Christ bestows redemption freely. However, you can't and won't be stingy to accept it. Salvation will cost you your pride, anger, resentment, fearfulness and every other human imperfection I could name. You will have to give it all to Jesus. Godly peace is the still the best bargain around.
Am I really getting the best deals waiting for end of season sales?
1. I'm not really getting what I want, I'm settling for what's available.
2. I could have been enjoying my purchases for a lot longer time.
3. I would cherish something that costs me more.
These same truths apply to our salvation.
1. Jesus can help you get out of life what you really want instead of settling for what comes your way.He's not only a ticket out of hell but he's a provider of a better life now. I'm talking about things that matter most in life like love, family, fellowship, faith, etc. Let him guide your life with righteousness.
2. Accepting Jesus is the sweetest thing you'll ever do at any age. But, a rebirth early on in life allows you to enjoy him a lot longer here!
3. As the old saying goes, when you have "skin in the game" or you apply all of yourself to something, you cherish it, you care for it, you protect it with your life.
Jesus has "skin in the game". He protects you and me with his life. Don't wait for the end of the season to get a better bargain. There isn't one. Don't wait until you're ready, come when Jesus calls. Don't play the waiting game too much. You may be penalized for delay of game, get setback 10 yards and the clock run out while you're trying to make a decision. Or worse. You could be that ugly sweater that never gets purchased! End of season sales are fabulous and Jesus does attend them but allow him to pick you off the rack now. He's already paid full price!
Don't wait,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Friday, July 10, 2015
How to Obtain Greatness
I've meditated and asked God for years about homosexuality. He showed me it is like any other sin. Before you gasp, inhale too much saliva and choke, please let me try to explain. Ask yourself this question: Do I sin with Jesus in my heart? The answer is "Yes, you do." But, homosexuality is repeated sin. I don't keep repeating the same sins. If gay people were truly saved, they'd turn from that lifestyle and please Jesus. Right there, I want to say "Point out someone else's faults and run the risk of having all yours exposed!" Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. My girls heard this verse many times AND believe it!
I've been thinking of Matthew 18:3-4 since the gay marriage ruling. Jesus talking "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. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Glance back at the picture of my beautiful granddaughter Lisette. That's a picture of humbleness, so innocent and unknowing. Sometimes I get lost in her undemanding, unselfish love! I remember a line from the old song Blessed Assurance that says "Filled with His Goodness, Lost in his love." If you've got a grandchild you've probably experienced being lost in love. Have you ever had the same feeling for Jesus?
As I contemplated writing this week, I wondered if Jesus would be pleased with me saying homosexuality is just another sin in a long list that we all commit. I always want some blessed assurance from him that I'm sharing His Truth. I got it! I've been in VBS this week with seven Kindergarten boys. Last night, we studied about the fiery furnace and trusting Jesus. I asked the young sprouts whom they trust. They gave me great answers; Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, my uncle, etc. Then Javier looked at me with big brown innocent eyes magnified through his adorable glasses and tenderly said "I trust everyone." What faith! What compassion! What love! What humbleness from a child. If we could only see through their eyes, speak with the kindness of their tongues and love out of the abundance of their hearts, we could obtain greatness in the kingdom.
Humbly,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
The Moral of the Story
Pete the Cat walks down the street singing "I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes!" He steps into a big pile of strawberries. OH NO! Does Pete cry? Goodness NO! He starts singing "I love my red shoes, I love my red shoes!" He walks on to step into blueberries and mud. You get the picture of how his shoes changes colors. Eventually, he steps into water turning his shoes white again but now they are WET! Does Pete cry? Goodness No! Because "He loves his wet shoes, He loves his wet shoes!"
Pete's story can be applied to our Christian lives.Let's imagine Pete's shoes are our hearts. Do we love the condition of our heart? Is it happy and singing a song or miserable and weighted down? Is it black with sin or white as Pete's shoes? Isaiah 1:18 says "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." We step into situations every day that turn us one way or the other. Do we keep singing or let small things interrupt our journey? Does our sweet song turn to rage and contempt?
Pete stepped into water to clean his shoes. We must step into the forgiving blood of Jesus to clean our heart. The moral of Pete's story is: No matter what you step in keep walking along and singing your song because it's all good! Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
Another moral of the story is: No matter what...Watch Your Step!
Carefully,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
5 Positives to Glean from Caitlyn Jenner
I don't want to keep a can of worms open but I do want to
weigh-in on the Caitlyn Jenner topic. I've seen various Facebook posts from my
friends that are disconcerting, unsettling at the least. I feel sad for Bruce
Jenner. What would make an Olympic Champion want to change genders? We have the
20/20 Special dvr'd but I haven't watched it yet. I'm suspecting the cause goes
deeper than "I've always felt more like a woman than a man."
Here are the positives I've gleaned from the highly publicized situation:
1. God wants to give us a new name. Revelation 2:17 says "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." When we overcome the world through Jesus Christ, we receive a new name. God may have already given Bruce a new name. I just doubt it is Caitlyn.
2. Judgement is scary. If you believe what the Bible says in Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." I don't think you'd be criticizing Bruce Jenner. My husband calls it karma. Call it what you want, just know God has the final say-so. You could wake up tomorrow morning with the burning desire (from your flesh, of course) to change genders!
3. Is a gender change sin? I don't know. Do you? This may be too much information but I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 30. Did I change my gender? No, but I have to take estrogen to keep myself sane and female. But that's ok because mine was medically necessary, right? Of course I'm gonna think that's a better reason because it was me! But if I really truly believed Jesus, couldn't he have healed me? Surgery was so much easier!
4. Could Caitlyn Jenner be a Christian? Possibly. I don't know the heart of Bruce Jenner and neither does anyone else except God. The Bible says we will know people by their fruit. Remember, lemons are a fruit! I've seen people whom I believed were Christians do some awfully strange things. The good news is a gender change is forgivable if it is sin. So is judging others. Don't get me wrong. I believe sin is sin is sin. I just don't agree with the way Christians pick and choose what is sin and what isn't.
5. Is Caitlyn happy now? Probably not. Bruce Jenner proved to the world that achievement, wealth and fame does not a happy man make. He'll also prove it does not a happy woman make. What people, especially Christians, must realize is God gave his son so we can have eternal life through him. That's my belief. I believe our eternal life begins the moment we accept Jesus as Savior. So here's a nugget...If you aren't internally happy right now as a Christian don't expect to die and suddenly find happiness in heaven. Ain't gonna happen!
Those are the 5 things I gleaned from Caitlyn Jenner. Do you agree, disagree, don't care? lol What have you learned from his/her situation? Reply to this post or email me at tammy.stafford@hotmail.com.
Here are the positives I've gleaned from the highly publicized situation:
1. God wants to give us a new name. Revelation 2:17 says "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." When we overcome the world through Jesus Christ, we receive a new name. God may have already given Bruce a new name. I just doubt it is Caitlyn.
2. Judgement is scary. If you believe what the Bible says in Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." I don't think you'd be criticizing Bruce Jenner. My husband calls it karma. Call it what you want, just know God has the final say-so. You could wake up tomorrow morning with the burning desire (from your flesh, of course) to change genders!
3. Is a gender change sin? I don't know. Do you? This may be too much information but I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 30. Did I change my gender? No, but I have to take estrogen to keep myself sane and female. But that's ok because mine was medically necessary, right? Of course I'm gonna think that's a better reason because it was me! But if I really truly believed Jesus, couldn't he have healed me? Surgery was so much easier!
4. Could Caitlyn Jenner be a Christian? Possibly. I don't know the heart of Bruce Jenner and neither does anyone else except God. The Bible says we will know people by their fruit. Remember, lemons are a fruit! I've seen people whom I believed were Christians do some awfully strange things. The good news is a gender change is forgivable if it is sin. So is judging others. Don't get me wrong. I believe sin is sin is sin. I just don't agree with the way Christians pick and choose what is sin and what isn't.
5. Is Caitlyn happy now? Probably not. Bruce Jenner proved to the world that achievement, wealth and fame does not a happy man make. He'll also prove it does not a happy woman make. What people, especially Christians, must realize is God gave his son so we can have eternal life through him. That's my belief. I believe our eternal life begins the moment we accept Jesus as Savior. So here's a nugget...If you aren't internally happy right now as a Christian don't expect to die and suddenly find happiness in heaven. Ain't gonna happen!
Those are the 5 things I gleaned from Caitlyn Jenner. Do you agree, disagree, don't care? lol What have you learned from his/her situation? Reply to this post or email me at tammy.stafford@hotmail.com.
Learning and growing every day,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Would Jesus Wear a T-Shirt?
My memoir, Labeled by Humanity, Loved by God was published
in 2010. Since that time, I've shared my testimony with civic groups, church
groups and just about anyone who will listen. Marketers tell me I need a brand.
I have a brand new me through Jesus so I'm not sure why this is needed. But, to
fit in with today's marketing, I came up with several but the one that sticks
with me is....T-shirt Tammy and her Testimony! (Thanks Jan McNeill for helping finalize the brand!) Didyou think why? I'd love to tell you.
I believe Jesus would wear t-shirts. T-shirts would be the fashion statement of Jesus if he walked the earth today. T-shirts are comfortable, modest and cool. They usually display a written message. As a matter of fact, I wore a t-shirt to church this past Sunday. I didn't feel like I was dressing down for worship because Jesus accepts me just as I am. He is the Great I Am!
The thing I find special about a t-shirt is its shape. When you place your head and arms in, it resembles a cross. You are basically wearing the symbolism of Christianity! I wear a t-shirt every day. They suit me. I look best in one of them. So my brand may someday be: T-Shirt Tammy with a tagline of "Clothed in the Cross". Do you like it? Make me happy and take the survey to the right side of this blog.
Brands and taglines really aren't that important in God's plan. Getting dressed up to go to church or other places doesn't impress God either. Yes, I know Jesus would wear a humble cotton t-shirt if he were to physically show up at church this Sunday. I'd have one on too. I hope he'd walk over to me and say "Bless you child. You're clothed in my righteousness inside and out!" Jesus gets me.
I believe Jesus would wear t-shirts. T-shirts would be the fashion statement of Jesus if he walked the earth today. T-shirts are comfortable, modest and cool. They usually display a written message. As a matter of fact, I wore a t-shirt to church this past Sunday. I didn't feel like I was dressing down for worship because Jesus accepts me just as I am. He is the Great I Am!
The thing I find special about a t-shirt is its shape. When you place your head and arms in, it resembles a cross. You are basically wearing the symbolism of Christianity! I wear a t-shirt every day. They suit me. I look best in one of them. So my brand may someday be: T-Shirt Tammy with a tagline of "Clothed in the Cross". Do you like it? Make me happy and take the survey to the right side of this blog.
Brands and taglines really aren't that important in God's plan. Getting dressed up to go to church or other places doesn't impress God either. Yes, I know Jesus would wear a humble cotton t-shirt if he were to physically show up at church this Sunday. I'd have one on too. I hope he'd walk over to me and say "Bless you child. You're clothed in my righteousness inside and out!" Jesus gets me.
Feeling good in a t-shirt,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Monday, June 1, 2015
5 Things to Do When God is Silent
What is happening when God is silent?
I'm not exactly sure but I'd like to share five things that may help you through the quiet
times.
I routinely do two things when I get into my car; put on my seat belt and my sunglasses. I can see better if light isn't blinding me. What happens on a rainy day? I put on my sunglasses and can't see. I have to take them off to allow light to reach my eyes. I think the same instances happen in our spiritual lives. We routinely block out "too much God" keeping him at a distance. As long as we can hear him, feel him and know He's present; we pray routine prayers, attend routine church services and lead routine lives. When God is silent, we can't feel him and begin to wonder where He is. We feverishly start searching for the light, His Light!
The Bible says in Pslam 28:1 "Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit." What's in the pit? Darkness! The same kind of darkness we feel when God is silent and the darkness we see when we wear sunglasses on an overcast day.
Five Things to Do When God is Silent:
I routinely do two things when I get into my car; put on my seat belt and my sunglasses. I can see better if light isn't blinding me. What happens on a rainy day? I put on my sunglasses and can't see. I have to take them off to allow light to reach my eyes. I think the same instances happen in our spiritual lives. We routinely block out "too much God" keeping him at a distance. As long as we can hear him, feel him and know He's present; we pray routine prayers, attend routine church services and lead routine lives. When God is silent, we can't feel him and begin to wonder where He is. We feverishly start searching for the light, His Light!
The Bible says in Pslam 28:1 "Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit." What's in the pit? Darkness! The same kind of darkness we feel when God is silent and the darkness we see when we wear sunglasses on an overcast day.
Five Things to Do When God is Silent:
- Praise Him. Tell God how powerful and mighty He is. Let him know you believe he's busy orchestrating his grand plan and you're available when he's ready to talk.
- Repent. We haven't sinned every time God is silent. But, repentance is a fresh cleansing for the soul. Repenting feels so good!
- Hold On. He's Coming. Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He's always near you even when you can't hear him or feel him. Soon you'll feel him slip his hand into yours or hug you with those great big arms. Everything's gonna be alright!
- Listen Attentively. Do you ever start your day expecting to hear from God? I do! Sometimes I get troubled and don't listen as closely as I should. I couldn't write last week. This week, I've had my heart open and listening with elephant ears!
- Believe
Him....for everything. He is able.
Have you ever been given the "silent treatment" by
your spouse or your children or maybe you've given someone the silent
treatment? Has someone ever begged you to talk? God may be giving us the silent
treatment so we'll beg him to speak to us. He may be silent so we will become
better listeners. Whatever the cause, you know the reason God is silent in your
life. Break your routine. Take those
stunner shades off and let the Son shine in!
Listening more intently,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
What do you do when God is silent in your life? Comments are welcomed.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Evil Front and Center
My church is having a silent auction to raise money for a
mission trip to Mexico. We need donations to get donations! I've been trying my
patience with embroidery so the first thing I think is "I'll donate an
embroidered shirt!" Sounds easy enough with over a dozen projects under my
wings. Right? Well, the donations are due tomorrow.
The first shirt I attempted is now an every day shirt for me. The font for the scripture I put on it messed up regally. The thread color was all wrong too as you could hardly see it on the applique fabric I used. I almost threw it in the trash like I have several other shirts. I'm donating the one in the pic whether it gets a bid or not. If you look closely, the word "First" looks terrible, incorrectly spaced and the "r" is almost double embroidered! I accidentally snipped a hole in the shirt but thankfully the thread covered it. There are several other things I could point out but I'll just let this be a picture search for you. If you see something wrong, let me know.
Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Evil was in my sewing machine today! Kidding. I don't think Paul was talking about evil the way this verse is used sometimes. I think Paul explains the human sin nature here. We, most days, set out to do good and somewhere along the way the human in us fails and bad happens. Evil is always present in our body because we have sinful tendencies. I see this so much in my granddaughter. At 18 months, no one taught her to be bad but some days she is. We are all born of sin.
Paul writes on to call himself a wretched man saying with his mind he serves the law of God and with his flesh he serves the law of sin. He also answers the question "Who can deliver us?" Jesus Christ! Will we ever quit sinning? When this evil flesh quits being front and center in our beings. Unfortunately, not in this life.
I provided the example of this shirt to illustrate how evil is present while I was trying to do good:
1. My evil temper flared while working on this
2. The evil twins of frustration and defeat tried to prevail
3. Evil doubts kept trying to rob me of the project
4. Evil reasoning pleaded with me not to donate it
5. My evil pride swelled with perfection paranoia
The first shirt I attempted is now an every day shirt for me. The font for the scripture I put on it messed up regally. The thread color was all wrong too as you could hardly see it on the applique fabric I used. I almost threw it in the trash like I have several other shirts. I'm donating the one in the pic whether it gets a bid or not. If you look closely, the word "First" looks terrible, incorrectly spaced and the "r" is almost double embroidered! I accidentally snipped a hole in the shirt but thankfully the thread covered it. There are several other things I could point out but I'll just let this be a picture search for you. If you see something wrong, let me know.
Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Evil was in my sewing machine today! Kidding. I don't think Paul was talking about evil the way this verse is used sometimes. I think Paul explains the human sin nature here. We, most days, set out to do good and somewhere along the way the human in us fails and bad happens. Evil is always present in our body because we have sinful tendencies. I see this so much in my granddaughter. At 18 months, no one taught her to be bad but some days she is. We are all born of sin.
Paul writes on to call himself a wretched man saying with his mind he serves the law of God and with his flesh he serves the law of sin. He also answers the question "Who can deliver us?" Jesus Christ! Will we ever quit sinning? When this evil flesh quits being front and center in our beings. Unfortunately, not in this life.
I provided the example of this shirt to illustrate how evil is present while I was trying to do good:
1. My evil temper flared while working on this
2. The evil twins of frustration and defeat tried to prevail
3. Evil doubts kept trying to rob me of the project
4. Evil reasoning pleaded with me not to donate it
5. My evil pride swelled with perfection paranoia
I.AM.DONATING.THE.SHIRT....PERIOD!
Persevere to allow Jesus to deliver you to do good. Also, if
you're planning a silent auction for your church don't request items be turned
in on the 13th...13 is evil!
Hoping for bid,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Sunday, May 10, 2015
The Power of Touch
Last Wednesday morning I marveled at the power of touch as I
held my granddaughter tightly to comfortably rock her to sleep. At almost 18
months, she knows the difference between my touch and her mom, both are
comforting, but mom is far superior in her opinion. My long-haired Dachshund
Hermy knows touch is important too. He roots and pushes to get as close to me
as he can on the couch or my bed. Your pet may do the same thing.
Currently, skin-to-skin contact is revered as one of the most vital
"touches" a baby can experience when entering the
world establishing bonds, instincts and acceptance. I've read stories of people
who believe human touch has brought people "back from
the dead" after accidents or injury.
Around 1511, Michelangelo painted The Creation of Adam (excerpt pictured) on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel depicting Adam reaching out to touch God. Touch is so important the Bible recounts a story in Luke Chapter 8. A woman, sick for years, believed if she touched Jesus she would be cured. Her faith was so strong she believed she needed to just touch the hem of his clothing. I can imagine this was not a simple task with the crowds around Jesus. She desired help, was determined and received what she believed! Luke 8:45-46 says "And Jesus said, WHO TOUCHED ME? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." Who touched me? That gives me goosebumps in an amazing way!
Touch is a powerful action and response especially when filled with love and belief. Are you a touchy, feely individual? If not, you should be! Touch someone today in a good way; share a hug, give someone a genuine pat on the back, extend your arm for a welcoming handshake or sit close enough to touch. If you're receiving a touch, be aware. Don't dismiss someone's touch without regard. I'm guilty of this, are you?
Words from a poem by aviator John Gillespie Magee, Jr. used by television stations as a sign off (I'm dating myself) warms my heart as I recite them in my mind. The last two lines of High Flight are filled with belief and wonder.
Around 1511, Michelangelo painted The Creation of Adam (excerpt pictured) on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel depicting Adam reaching out to touch God. Touch is so important the Bible recounts a story in Luke Chapter 8. A woman, sick for years, believed if she touched Jesus she would be cured. Her faith was so strong she believed she needed to just touch the hem of his clothing. I can imagine this was not a simple task with the crowds around Jesus. She desired help, was determined and received what she believed! Luke 8:45-46 says "And Jesus said, WHO TOUCHED ME? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." Who touched me? That gives me goosebumps in an amazing way!
Touch is a powerful action and response especially when filled with love and belief. Are you a touchy, feely individual? If not, you should be! Touch someone today in a good way; share a hug, give someone a genuine pat on the back, extend your arm for a welcoming handshake or sit close enough to touch. If you're receiving a touch, be aware. Don't dismiss someone's touch without regard. I'm guilty of this, are you?
Words from a poem by aviator John Gillespie Magee, Jr. used by television stations as a sign off (I'm dating myself) warms my heart as I recite them in my mind. The last two lines of High Flight are filled with belief and wonder.
...Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Have you ever put out your hand to touch God? Have you ever put out your heart to touch God? More importantly, did he feel it? Has God felt your touch and asked "Who touched me?" and you humbly whisper "It's me, Lord." How insanely powerful to know we can touch the Creator God of the universe!
Touching Him Matters,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Palm Reading 101
March 29, 2015 was a special day. Last Sunday was my Mom's
75th birthday but more importantly, Palm Sunday. My pastor, Mark Shaw preached
from Matthew 21:1-11 about the coming of Jesus our King into Jerusalem. I
learned two important symbolic things about the entrance of Jesus into the
city. I can't wait to share them with you.
1. Jesus came into the city on a colt or foal, a young donkey, a young unbroken, untamed donkey. Jewish culture knew riding into town on a donkey was the sign of royalty. Jesus riding in on an "untamed, unbroken" donkey was symbolic of new, unmatched peace. Jesus was bringing a peace that had never been known before to mankind.
2. Matthew 21:8 says "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way." The people of the city laid down their clothes for Jesus to ride on. Other people cut palm branches from trees for him to pass on, hence the name Palm Sunday. Again, the Jewish culture knew these actions toward Jesus were praising him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Our Hosanna in the Highest!
Jewish culture is full of symbolism. I thought about our own American culture and it's lack of relative symbolism. We can recognize a popular logo such as Coke or McDonald's. But the only real symbolism I could think of was "The fish" or the most popular symbol in our culture is quite possibly the different colored Awareness Ribbons for Breast Cancer, Epilepsy and other diseases. With our lack of symbolism, this sermon prompted two questions in my heart:
1. How does my life symbolize the peace of Jesus for others? and
2. How do I show my respect and praise for the King?
There aren't any palm trees in North Georgia. We are still sending out a message of some sort every day. Outside the church walls where others see us most, how do we show our respect and praise for Jesus? Do people even recognize that we hail him King of Kings? Think about it this way...can people "read your palm"?
1. Jesus came into the city on a colt or foal, a young donkey, a young unbroken, untamed donkey. Jewish culture knew riding into town on a donkey was the sign of royalty. Jesus riding in on an "untamed, unbroken" donkey was symbolic of new, unmatched peace. Jesus was bringing a peace that had never been known before to mankind.
2. Matthew 21:8 says "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way." The people of the city laid down their clothes for Jesus to ride on. Other people cut palm branches from trees for him to pass on, hence the name Palm Sunday. Again, the Jewish culture knew these actions toward Jesus were praising him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Our Hosanna in the Highest!
Jewish culture is full of symbolism. I thought about our own American culture and it's lack of relative symbolism. We can recognize a popular logo such as Coke or McDonald's. But the only real symbolism I could think of was "The fish" or the most popular symbol in our culture is quite possibly the different colored Awareness Ribbons for Breast Cancer, Epilepsy and other diseases. With our lack of symbolism, this sermon prompted two questions in my heart:
1. How does my life symbolize the peace of Jesus for others? and
2. How do I show my respect and praise for the King?
There aren't any palm trees in North Georgia. We are still sending out a message of some sort every day. Outside the church walls where others see us most, how do we show our respect and praise for Jesus? Do people even recognize that we hail him King of Kings? Think about it this way...can people "read your palm"?
Telling about my good fortune in Jesus,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Monday, March 23, 2015
5 Reasons Not to Depend on the Law
Has the law ever worked for you? Do you feel protected by
it? I'm not talking about your local authorities but rather the written law of
the land. Our family has little experience with law and less with lawyers. The
lawyers I do know seem to be beaten by the very laws that should protect their
clients, that is, if their clients are good, innocent and should win their
cases without objection. Lawyers that fight to protect guilty criminals seem to
have the law on their side. In my mind, innocent until proven guilty has gotten
us into a bind. Let me explain.
A personal conversation with a lawyer this week made me end the exchange with "We won't be trusting Bill. We will continue to trust God!" Bill replied with "I'm a religious man. I can't compete with God." Then, he quoted a Bible verse. Should that make me feel better? I meant what I said and after I cooled off a tad, God showed me the following about man's law (our court system) as compared to His law (The Ten Commandments).
A personal conversation with a lawyer this week made me end the exchange with "We won't be trusting Bill. We will continue to trust God!" Bill replied with "I'm a religious man. I can't compete with God." Then, he quoted a Bible verse. Should that make me feel better? I meant what I said and after I cooled off a tad, God showed me the following about man's law (our court system) as compared to His law (The Ten Commandments).
- Can we
do good, follow the law and get by? Yes, in the land we live in. No, only
Jesus can give eternal life.
- Are we
innocent until proven guilty? Yes, in the land we live in the burden of
proof is on the law. No, we are guilty just being part of the human
race.
- Will
we receive free representation? Yes, a court-appointed lawyer is free of
charge. Yes, Jesus will represent all who have accepted him.
- Will
we get a bad judge? Maybe, you may draw short straw and get a bad
judge in a United States courtroom. No, God will judge everyone justly the
same.
- Will
the law change? Yes, laws are written and changed daily in our land. No,
the Bible will never change.
Represented by Christ,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Thursday, March 12, 2015
5 Lessons from the Tortoise
This day, I dropped him off at the door of the Duke Clinic to save him steps and oxygen then I walked from the parking garage to meet him. It's quite a little hike, maybe 350 yards. I moved my car three times to get a better parking space close to the entrance. During my hike, I thought about the Tortoise from Aesop's fables. For the first time in my life, I felt overwhelmed with joy to be like the Tortoise. Five lessons the very short story gives us from the Tortoise are:
1. Maintain your God-given pace
2. Challenge yourself and others against all odds
3. Believe you can
4. Work with what you've got
5. Never, ever stop until you reach the finish line
I'm guessing Tortoise may have based his life on I Corinthians 15:58 that says "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." or in turtle words...Slow and Steady wins the race!
Pacing myself,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Are you a tortoise or the hare? Leave me a comment and tell me why...
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Can You Feel the Thrill?
What can we say? We are Southerners! There's nothing quite
like the thrill of an anticipated winter storm aka SNOW! If the forecast says
snow, snow is our main topic of conversation. We can't stop thinking about even
the possibility of the glorious white, powdery miracle that may soon blanket
our existence with pure sweet joy and a certain still serene calmness.
Everything shuts down in our small town of Georgia and I mean
e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
Everything that is but the excitement of us humans frolicking in the snow! SNOW DAY! Do you wanna build a snowman? YES, yes we do! Want to make some snow cream? Duh, can't have snow without it. Are you riding up the mountain where there is even more, deeper snow? Not chancing a wreck, but you go ahead, have fun! Glad I bought that new plastic 30 gallon trashcan. The lid makes a wonderful sled. Two hours into snowfall on a snow day and we're already wondering if school is out tomorrow too!
"Please make sure you stomp that snow off your boots before you come in!" Wet floors are annoying. "How many times are you going to change your wet clothes?" The laundry is piling up. "Do you mind sledding down another part of the yard? Not gonna have any grass in that spot come spring!" By Day 2 of the most exhilarating thing we've seen this year, we are SO OVER IT! Ready for shorts and 80 degree weather. It was fun while it lasted.
Can you feel the thrill of the snow? Not the white precipitation that falls from the sky but the kind of cleansing power of snow described in Isaiah 1:18. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Once you catch the thrill created by the saving blood of Jesus, it is permanent, lasts forever, eternally! You don't have to wait for a snow day or even Sunday. Forgiveness never gets old. Day 2436 it's sweeter than ever! You can't find any snow deeper or whiter than that in your own soul so no danger of wrecking searching for it. Your robe of righteousness never needs washed again or changed for laundering. Warning: Salvation may create a puddle in your floors from tears of thankfulness. Trust me. The puddle is SO WORTH the mess.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!
Can you feel the thrill?
Everything that is but the excitement of us humans frolicking in the snow! SNOW DAY! Do you wanna build a snowman? YES, yes we do! Want to make some snow cream? Duh, can't have snow without it. Are you riding up the mountain where there is even more, deeper snow? Not chancing a wreck, but you go ahead, have fun! Glad I bought that new plastic 30 gallon trashcan. The lid makes a wonderful sled. Two hours into snowfall on a snow day and we're already wondering if school is out tomorrow too!
THEN...
the thrill begins to wane...
"Please make sure you stomp that snow off your boots before you come in!" Wet floors are annoying. "How many times are you going to change your wet clothes?" The laundry is piling up. "Do you mind sledding down another part of the yard? Not gonna have any grass in that spot come spring!" By Day 2 of the most exhilarating thing we've seen this year, we are SO OVER IT! Ready for shorts and 80 degree weather. It was fun while it lasted.
Can you feel the thrill of the snow? Not the white precipitation that falls from the sky but the kind of cleansing power of snow described in Isaiah 1:18. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Once you catch the thrill created by the saving blood of Jesus, it is permanent, lasts forever, eternally! You don't have to wait for a snow day or even Sunday. Forgiveness never gets old. Day 2436 it's sweeter than ever! You can't find any snow deeper or whiter than that in your own soul so no danger of wrecking searching for it. Your robe of righteousness never needs washed again or changed for laundering. Warning: Salvation may create a puddle in your floors from tears of thankfulness. Trust me. The puddle is SO WORTH the mess.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!
Can you feel the thrill?
Thrilled365,
Saturday, February 21, 2015
5 Steps to Move a Mountain
Look closely at the picture on the left. The view from my
front porch is magnificent! The peak of Fort Mountain set against the vastness
of a blue sky greets me each day with a fine "How do you do?" I
curtsy and nod to His Majesty thankful to see another sunrise. Today, the
mountain top was icy as I gazed out my window. "Can you move a
mountain?" The thought popped into my head and I began to ponder it.
Matthew 17:20 "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for
verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall
say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and
nothing shall be impossible unto you."
I thought about Jesus' words. The movie reel in my head rewound some of the times in my life when mountains were removed. Please take a moment and replay some of your mountain-removing moments now. Still pondering the deep faith it takes to remove a mountain, I went to my window to take a picture for this article. The picture on the right above is what I saw. Hallelujah! In a matter of minutes, the mountain was gone! God showed me his undeniable power by removing that mountain from my site. I was and still am awestruck. Yes, faith can move mountains! No, nothing shall be impossible to me or you!
Do you have a mountain in your life that needs to be removed? According to scripture, use these step-by-step instructions:
I thought about Jesus' words. The movie reel in my head rewound some of the times in my life when mountains were removed. Please take a moment and replay some of your mountain-removing moments now. Still pondering the deep faith it takes to remove a mountain, I went to my window to take a picture for this article. The picture on the right above is what I saw. Hallelujah! In a matter of minutes, the mountain was gone! God showed me his undeniable power by removing that mountain from my site. I was and still am awestruck. Yes, faith can move mountains! No, nothing shall be impossible to me or you!
Do you have a mountain in your life that needs to be removed? According to scripture, use these step-by-step instructions:
- Believe
in Jesus (a tiny bit is a whole lot)
- Speak
to your mountain (like you believe it)
- Tell
your mountain where to go (it needs your direction)
- Watch
it leave (you might even hold the door open)
- Realize
God's possibilities (God through you is amazing)
NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU!
With just a little faith,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
How do you handle the mountains in your life? Leave me a comment. :)))
Thursday, February 12, 2015
The Many Modes of Junk Mail
Are you the person who gets the mail at your house? Do you
get a lot of junk mail? Do you ever get tired of sorting the real mail
from the junk mail? Scammers are good these days. We get some mail that looks
total legit until I examine it further. I get the mail at our house which is usually
75% junk and only 25% real mail. Real mail, I call it, is typically
BILLS! A happy stop at the mailbox is when I can put a bill into the junk mail
pile because I've already paid it! Ah, that joyful feeling!
I wish my mailbox was the only place where junk mail existed. I find myself deleting junk emails. I screen junk calls using my caller id. My iPhone seems to distinguish junk texts with a disgusted grunt. The absolute worst junk mail I can think of is a bad sermon. Consider this. You search out a church to hear the truth. You actually receive what you could have heard from any mouth on any day without any power or authority from God. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 3:7 speaking of a bishop, "Morever he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
How important is the mail we send out every day? VERY! Ephesians 4:29 tells us to "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." What is corrupt communication? If we are renewed in Christ Jesus, Colossians 3:8-9 instructs us what not to do, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds..." God is straightforward and easy to understand.
A friend of mine, Will Linginfelter reminds us in Sunday School that "You ARE a witness for Christ, either a good one or a bad one." Ouch! I Corinthians 15:33-34 says "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." Ouch again!
The United States Postal Service will not deliver your mail if it doesn't have the correct postage on it. Likewise, the grace of God will not deliver your message if it doesn't have his truth in it. STOP the junk mail!
I wish my mailbox was the only place where junk mail existed. I find myself deleting junk emails. I screen junk calls using my caller id. My iPhone seems to distinguish junk texts with a disgusted grunt. The absolute worst junk mail I can think of is a bad sermon. Consider this. You search out a church to hear the truth. You actually receive what you could have heard from any mouth on any day without any power or authority from God. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 3:7 speaking of a bishop, "Morever he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
How important is the mail we send out every day? VERY! Ephesians 4:29 tells us to "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." What is corrupt communication? If we are renewed in Christ Jesus, Colossians 3:8-9 instructs us what not to do, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds..." God is straightforward and easy to understand.
A friend of mine, Will Linginfelter reminds us in Sunday School that "You ARE a witness for Christ, either a good one or a bad one." Ouch! I Corinthians 15:33-34 says "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." Ouch again!
The United States Postal Service will not deliver your mail if it doesn't have the correct postage on it. Likewise, the grace of God will not deliver your message if it doesn't have his truth in it. STOP the junk mail!
Keeping it real,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Do You Live in Neverland?
Who likes Peter Pan? Wish you could fly off to Neverland
with him? You may already be living in the land of Never and never realize it!
How many times have you been told "never"? My parents were told I would never walk and never contribute to society. I've been told I'd never be a success in business. I was told I'd never be an accountant (thank God I'm not). I've never worn high heel shoes which is never a good thing for a woman. I even created my own "never". I always told myself I'd never be married because of never having ten toes!
The people who told me "never", never knew me! They've never known my God either. Jesus is not from Neverland. He's from "Yes, I Can Land!". Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Jesus helped me walk these four toes all the way to Disneyland Paris in 2013...quite a distance for a girl who would never walk!
Jesus has never said these things to anyone. You will never be mine if you sin against me. I will never love you if you do others wrong. I will never forgive you even if you ask. You will never amount to anything. You will never get to heaven if you cuss, drink, do drugs, cheat on your spouse or dance. Jesus says in Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." That's the kind of positive "never" I'm talking about!
Don't be one of the "lost boys". Invite Jesus into your heart and be forever his. He does say if you don't accept him as Savior you'll hear "Depart from me, I never knew you."
There's one thing for sure...If you continue to listen to the negative "nevers" in your life, you'll become a person God never intended you to be.
How many times have you been told "never"? My parents were told I would never walk and never contribute to society. I've been told I'd never be a success in business. I was told I'd never be an accountant (thank God I'm not). I've never worn high heel shoes which is never a good thing for a woman. I even created my own "never". I always told myself I'd never be married because of never having ten toes!
The people who told me "never", never knew me! They've never known my God either. Jesus is not from Neverland. He's from "Yes, I Can Land!". Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Jesus helped me walk these four toes all the way to Disneyland Paris in 2013...quite a distance for a girl who would never walk!
Jesus has never said these things to anyone. You will never be mine if you sin against me. I will never love you if you do others wrong. I will never forgive you even if you ask. You will never amount to anything. You will never get to heaven if you cuss, drink, do drugs, cheat on your spouse or dance. Jesus says in Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." That's the kind of positive "never" I'm talking about!
Don't be one of the "lost boys". Invite Jesus into your heart and be forever his. He does say if you don't accept him as Savior you'll hear "Depart from me, I never knew you."
There's one thing for sure...If you continue to listen to the negative "nevers" in your life, you'll become a person God never intended you to be.
"Never is an awfully long time!" - Peter Pan
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Super Bowl Sunday
 |
It's Super Bowl Week leading up to the most anticipated
professional football game of the new year. February 1, 2015 is Super Bowl
Sunday! Are you excited? Are you prepared? Will you be watching on TV or will
you be there, on the sidelines? What's the menu for the party? Hot wings,
pretzels, Subway sandwiches, chocolate desserts, etc. What is your favorite
part of the game? The half-time show or the commercials? The Super Bowl is an
event that attracts millions.
 Now imagine this. February 1, 2015 is Super Roll Sunday. Although, it's an event that happens every day and you got your ticket the day you were born. You're a player in this game of life and death this Sunday. Your number is up. You made the Super Roll. Are you prepared? Have you planned for the big day? Many years you've watched others participate, but today, it's you on the field in the middle of the action. This event attracts thousands daily. Are you excited? Probably not. Everyone (even Jesus) wants to live another day or as the famous Bond movie implies "Die Another Day". Job 14:15-16 says "Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. For now thou numberest my steps:..." What's the favorite part of Super Roll? Hearing THE LINE JUDGE say "Well done my good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!" After we thank him and get up from a bowed position at Jesus' feet, I can see us now...stretching both arms straight up in total praise, closing our eyes in profound joy and whispering...
Touchdown!
Enjoy the game,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
|
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Should Christians come with Warning Labels?
I received an email from a sweet friend last week. She
forwarded a devotion from Holley Gerth entitled "Why
Your Joy is Worth Fighting For Today." You can read it by
clicking on the title in red. As I was reading the devotion, I got an unusual
yet close-to-truth thought. Should Christians come with a warning label? The
words in her post that rattled this question from my brain are "We've all
probably had well-meaning people say to us, "Just be joyful!" like
it's an easy thing. As if the moment we decided to follow Jesus our lives would
be cotton candy happy forever so we should just get with the
program."
I must admit it is difficult to be joyful every day. I don't think we should so easily use "we are human" as an excuse, although we are broken and fallible. I think here's where the injustice lies. Christians (I want to call us Believers) understand other Christians. Folks who don't have their belief rooted in Christ don't understand when we aren't cotton candy happy forever. Therefore, should we come with a warning side effect label?
Some days our moods and what comes from our mouths might cause depression or nausea. We can get so mundane about our salvation, our speech causes drowsiness. We might be overly zealous causing agitation and nervousness. We can even cause confusion. These side effects occur in others not us. We think we are holding up our end of the joyful noise verse when others are wondering if they really want to trust our God with their lives.
Paul said there would be days like this. Romans 8:16-18 tells us "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." There will be suffering if we live for Jesus. There will also be glory. Let's purpose to suffer joyfully with no side effects for others and......
I must admit it is difficult to be joyful every day. I don't think we should so easily use "we are human" as an excuse, although we are broken and fallible. I think here's where the injustice lies. Christians (I want to call us Believers) understand other Christians. Folks who don't have their belief rooted in Christ don't understand when we aren't cotton candy happy forever. Therefore, should we come with a warning side effect label?
Some days our moods and what comes from our mouths might cause depression or nausea. We can get so mundane about our salvation, our speech causes drowsiness. We might be overly zealous causing agitation and nervousness. We can even cause confusion. These side effects occur in others not us. We think we are holding up our end of the joyful noise verse when others are wondering if they really want to trust our God with their lives.
Paul said there would be days like this. Romans 8:16-18 tells us "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." There will be suffering if we live for Jesus. There will also be glory. Let's purpose to suffer joyfully with no side effects for others and......
No warning label required!
Feeling dizzy,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
A Plan Better than Dave Ramsey's for Debt-free Living
 |
| photo credit: empressofdirt.net |
Is your 2015 resolution to get out of debt? If so, Dave
Ramsey promises to make you debt-free. Dave says in his blog "You can get
out of debt no matter how much you owe!" He tells you how people act that
are debt-free in his article "7 Characteristics of Debt-Free People." Debt-free
folks are wise, patient, confident, goal-driven, responsible, not materialistic
and willing to make sacrifices. The question in my mind is "Are we ever
really debt-free?"
I've never had a month where I didn't have to write a check for a bill or schedule a payment on the world wide web. Think about it. If you're alive and want to stay warm or cool, you'll always have a utility bill. If you want to stay connected and be mobile, you'll always have a cell bill. Unless you use an antennae, you've got a cable bill. Then there's insurance if you want to drive or be healthy and oh, let's not forget taxes! You will even incur debt as you draw your last breath and someone else will take care of your bills after you're gone. Can we ever be truly debt-free?
John 8:36 says "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Our souls are the only thing about us that can truly be debt-free because Jesus paid it all. As the old song goes, "All to him I owe". Except, I don't owe him. His grace and mercy are free. You don't owe him either. You don't have to be wise, patient, confident, goal-driven, responsible, not materialistic or willing to make sacrifices to become free indeed. You do have to believe in Jesus unto salvation with your whole heart and love your neighbor.
You may already be monetarily debt-free as much as is possible but your soul may be burdened with a debt you can't pay. Have people seeking to be debt-free heard Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom? I'm glad some people are still willing to make sacrifices but that went out of style about 2000 years ago. Make your 2015 resolution to get out of debt, not materialistically but...spiritually. Become a living sacrifice. Jesus can give you new meaning to Debt-Free Living!
I've never had a month where I didn't have to write a check for a bill or schedule a payment on the world wide web. Think about it. If you're alive and want to stay warm or cool, you'll always have a utility bill. If you want to stay connected and be mobile, you'll always have a cell bill. Unless you use an antennae, you've got a cable bill. Then there's insurance if you want to drive or be healthy and oh, let's not forget taxes! You will even incur debt as you draw your last breath and someone else will take care of your bills after you're gone. Can we ever be truly debt-free?
John 8:36 says "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Our souls are the only thing about us that can truly be debt-free because Jesus paid it all. As the old song goes, "All to him I owe". Except, I don't owe him. His grace and mercy are free. You don't owe him either. You don't have to be wise, patient, confident, goal-driven, responsible, not materialistic or willing to make sacrifices to become free indeed. You do have to believe in Jesus unto salvation with your whole heart and love your neighbor.
You may already be monetarily debt-free as much as is possible but your soul may be burdened with a debt you can't pay. Have people seeking to be debt-free heard Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom? I'm glad some people are still willing to make sacrifices but that went out of style about 2000 years ago. Make your 2015 resolution to get out of debt, not materialistically but...spiritually. Become a living sacrifice. Jesus can give you new meaning to Debt-Free Living!
Happy to be free,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Thursday, January 1, 2015
5 Predictions for 2015
Happy New Year! I pray it's a great year for everyone.
Here's my 5 Predictions for 2015:
- ASK
AND YE SHALL RECEIVE. I feel like sometimes we turn this into "Give
and ye shall receive." We miss a lot of things God wants us to
have because we've convinced ourselves we don't have anything to give
in order to receive. The good news is Matthew 21:22 says "And
all things , whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall
receive." Quit worrying about giving and simply ask!
- REGRET
IS WORSE A YEAR OLDER. Haven't you always heard "Don't put off
tomorrow what you can do today?" This is so true
concerning doing things we know in our hearts we should. Repent
where you need to, forgive where you need to, love where you
need to. The longer the sorrow goes, the bigger it grows. Proverbs 15:13
tells us "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow
of the heart the spirit is broken."
- EFFORT
WILL BE REWARDED. Remember the tortoise and the hare? Slow and steady won
the race. Staying in the race is the moral to the story. This may be your
year! You aren't napping, are you? Because it is true, you can't get
something for nothing. Proverbs 28:20 says "A faithful man shall
abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be
innocent." That old rabbit is guilty as charged.
- TALKING
TO STRANGERS BECOMES THE NEW CRAZE. If people ever realize they may be talking
to a supernatural creature when they speak to a stranger, talking to
strangers will become the latest, greatest crazy thing to do. Can you imagine a
world of friendly people with everyone talking to everyone? Sounds
like heaven doesn't it? Hebrews 13:2 says "Be not forgetful to
entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels
unaware." You can talk to an angel today!
- I'LL
WRITE IF YOU'LL READ. Thank you for your faithful readership in 2014. I
promise to seek God's guidance to continue to bring you a "word"
each week. Please feel free to share these weekly emails with family,
friends, co-workers, etc. or ask me to add them to my list. I love to
share the splendor of our Heavenly Father!
Happy 2015,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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