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.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
How to Pick a Ripe Watermelon
Have you ever chunked an unripe "green" watermelon? Cutting a watermelon to find out it is green or half-ripe and tasteless! Very disappointing to say the least. I've always used the finger-thumping method as I'm pretty good at it. I need a foolproof method that's easier, 100% reliable, money-saving and never disappointing! Nowadays with watermelons close to $10 a piece, it is more important than ever to know how to pick a ripe one!
I read several tips in Southern Living and saw an article on facebook that I put to the test. The tips to picking a ripe watermelon I tried are:
1. Look for a yellow belly which means the watermelon has been in the field a long time hence riper. See the yellow?
2. Look for scarring on the skin of the melon, the blacker the scars, the riper the melon.
These two pictures are opposite ends of the same watermelon. Some yellow belly and an impressive scar pattern! How did this seedless watermelon taste? AMAZING! The sweetest, juiciest, early "May" watermelon I've ever tasted. The appearance of the inside of the watermelon looks questionable but trust me, the taste is delicious! My family and I enjoyed every ounce of the goodness!
I was pretty pumped that I had found a method other than thumping to pick a ripe watermelon! I couldn't wait to try out this new found skill again. I walked into the BI-LO strutting like a peacock with a fanned tail. This trip to the same store picking from the same watermelon bin turned out quite differently. I went thru the same process looking for a definite yellow belly and dark black scars, no thumping.
Found one! Brought it home. GREEN AS A GOURD! Had to chunk it! Now...
I read several tips in Southern Living and saw an article on facebook that I put to the test. The tips to picking a ripe watermelon I tried are:
1. Look for a yellow belly which means the watermelon has been in the field a long time hence riper. See the yellow?
Found one! Brought it home. GREEN AS A GOURD! Had to chunk it! Now...
I'm a yellow-bellied, black-scarred, finger- thumping watermelon picker!
Is there a foolproof method out there for picking a ripe watermelon? I'm not so sure! What's your watermelon picking secret? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment and share it with us folks who are ready to give up!
Let them ripen before picking please,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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
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