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
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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
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Saturday, January 17, 2015
5 Ways to Make your Man Happy for FREE!
Happy Birthday to my Husband!
He's 58 today. How do you make a man happy that has everything he wants? His past wishlist included:
- a shop filled with every tool imaginable
- the brand new Harley Davidson that seems to purr to him with a hypnotizing love noise
- the restoration of his baby (a 1979 CJ5 Jeep he bought new). He tells everyone that he will get rid of me before that Jeep
- the restoration of a 2000 Ultra Classic Harley Davidson. He had that motorcycle in so many pieces (down to the frame). I'm impressed he got it back together and sold it for a profit.
- and then there's the GLOCK!
At this time in our lives, big stuff becomes less important and the small stuff becomes much more important. Here's my list of 5 ways to make your man happy for FREE!
- Cook him a meal. Yes, the way to a man's happy place is through his stomach. Take-out is easier but it won't guarantee you the compliment that's sure to come whether he likes the food or not! Take-out doesn't say "I love you enough to take my time and use my hands to make something just for you." Click to Tweet: While woman may overlook small sentiments, men don't.
- Listen to his suggestions. I know you tune him out and hardly listen more than you'd care to admit. I'm guilty myself. I've learned over the years though my husband is very smart and ingenious if I will pay attention and simply listen to him.
- Change his sheets. Is there anything better than lying down on a clean set of sheets? Nope, didn't think so and neither does he! 5 minutes to a crisp, clean, relaxing haven. Clean sheets have their own special message whispering "Come here!"
- Agree with him. What a novel idea. Just in case you forgot what "agree" means, it is the direct opposite of argue. When I notice I'm disagreeing or arguing, I check to make sure I'm wearing my hormone patch.
- Thank him. No matter how small the deed, compliment or thought, thank him for doing, noticing and acting on it.
Simple is good. Try these and see how it works for your man. You may make him happier than he's ever been for FREE!
Love my Steve,
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
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