Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Faith like Andrew

bread

Five loaves of bread and two fishes is a well-known miracle of the Bible. Jesus fed a multitude with five loaves and two fishes. This miracle is relatable. If you've ever fed a crowd, you know how much food is required. Honestly, couldn't two people eat five small loaves of bread and two fishes? So, we get the picture of just  how huge a miracle it was to feed more than 5000 people with a meager amount. You know I'm all about faith. I want to look at faith like Andrew in this story.

Most of Jesus' disciples spoke out negatively about the plan to feed 5000. They were sure they didn't have the money to do it. They didn't see any available food. But there was Andrew, the believing disciple. The faithful disciple. Andrew told Jesus he saw a young boy in the crowd carrying five loaves and two fishes. Jesus said "Bring him to me."  

I want faith like Andrew. The other disciples were overtaken by unbelief. Andrew was hopeful. He stepped up to exercise his faith in Jesus. The other disciples thought the task was too monumental for Jesus to perform. It is no mistake Andrew was the disciple who saw the young boy with the food in the crowd. God knew Andrew was the one who would assist Jesus with this miracle. God needed someone who would use the resources at hand to get the job done. If it weren't for faith like Andrew's, everyone would be hungry and noone would have witnessed a miracle!

I also want to be like the young boy who freely gave Jesus his five loaves and two fishes. He gave all he had to Jesus. Imagine how the scene might have played out differently if Andrew had spotted an adult with five loaves and two fishes. I'm suspecting talking an adult out of dinner may have proved very difficult. The Bible tells us we must come as a child to Jesus. This story is the perfect example of how children (the boy) respond to Jesus versus how adults (his disciples) respond to Jesus. The lesson we also see is the boy gave a little and received a lot. 

How can we apply this to every day life? 
  • Believe God can do what his Word says
  • Exercise our Faith by stepping up and out
  • Give when prompted by Jesus
Have you ever hosted a dinner where more guests came than expected? I have gotten very nervous I wouldn't have enough food for everyone. My faith reminded me of this miracle. I used the framework of this miracle to ask God to help me feed my guests. He increased food and decreased appetites. Jesus wants to be in the details of our every day lives. He does the work. Our job is to have faith like Andrew to believe he can.

Lovingly,




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Tuesday, April 19, 2022

My Kitchen Cabinets Reminded Me

    



My kitchen cabinets are white. Do they look like they need cleaning in the photo? Not really, but, YES, yes they need cleaning badly! I'm ashamed to say I spot clean my cabinets. Dirt is easy to see on white. Every time I look at them, I spot clean a bit, make myself feel better about their cleanliness and move on. I hope my family or anyone else doesn't look close enough to see my cabinets need a deep smack-down with a wet cloth and a bottle of Clorox spray. A good cleaning takes time and energy that I'm not willing to dedicate to my cabinets. They look good enough to me.

How often do you clean your kitchen cabinets? I had several ladies confess to me that, like me, they don't clean their cabinets enough. They spot clean! God spoke to my heart while my kitchen cabinets reminded me, I spot cleaning my heart too. Ouch! Here are some similarities God pointed out to me:
  • My heart has spots (sin) that I have not repented. I know they are there but I hope everyone else can't see them.
  • Spots can't be seen on black, unsaved hearts. My white, redeemed heart shows spots so clearly.
  • Clean my heart? Shew! It just takes too much time and energy to get down on my knees to do some old-fashioned repenting. 
  • Oh wait, I know what I'll do. I will repent half-heartedly, feel a little better and move on aka spot clean my heart.
Do I have enough time to dedicate to cleaning my heart? For the slightest second, God allowed me to feel the pleasure of clean cabinets, to step back and look at my pleasing work. I know the feeling. The elation inside of me when I finish a project with my own hands. The freedom I feel knowing that doesn't have to be done again for at least two years! I can't wait to show someone what I accomplished. Say Amen if you know what I'm talking about. God reminded me repentance and a good confession of sin brings about that same great feeling of forgiveness and freedom AND it should last longer than two years!

I'm thankful Jesus is in the details, even kitchen cabinets. I praise Jesus for showing me my flaws and forgiving them. I'm amazed he can use things I understand, like cleaning kitchen cabinets, to speak to my soul.  I'm glad my kitchen chabinets reminded me that I allow my heart to get spots when I hold on to sin.  I try my best to justify my sin. I'm like a miserable kid screaming "It's my sin Jesus and you can't have it!"

I repent to Jesus. I ask forgiveness of my spots. I allow God to deep clean my heart. I feel so free. I love this old hymn Search Me, O God. The hymn speaks for my heart completely! Will my heart get spotted again? Probably. But, I hope it takes two years!

Lovingly,

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

I'm so thankful I have the power of Jesus in my life! Are you?
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Monday, April 18, 2022

5 Steps to Increase Every Day Faith


Do you feel like you're being eaten alive? Daniel may have thought the same thing when he found himself thrown into a lion's den. Do you feel like you're drowning? Moses may have thought the same thing just before the Red Sea parted. Are you burned out asking what's the use? The three Hebrew children may have considered eating meat to get out of the flames. Instead of caving to unbelief, Daniel, Moses and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego exercised their faith. They confidently waited on God to deliver them. We can do the same when we exercise faith in our every day life. 

Hopefully, we won't face hungry lions, nor a sea with an raging army behind us or even get thrown into a fiery furnace. Life overwhelms big sometimes leaving us desperate, scared and begging for help. What if you could face life with confidence relying on your faith to dispel your fears? Would you do it? I've listed 5 steps to increase every day faith to help you depend more on God. These steps should free you up to live more and worry less. You've got to apply them. Practice them every day. 

1. Meditate on God when you first wake. I find communication is best with God first thing with a clear, renewed mind, without all the demands of the day pulling at me. I thank God for who he is and what he's done for me. I thank God for the day. I ask God to guide my day. Think about his goodness. Things he has done you. Request some things from him. Then, listen...

2. Listen for God to speak. My believing friend shocked me when she asked me "How do you know God speaks to you?". I know God is speaking to me when I have a "new elevated" thought. Something I would never think of on my own. It's kind of like letting God do your thinking for you, allowing him to guide you through the day. There's so many ways God speaks. If you'd like more, let me know in the comments.

3. Learn to Recognize God is speaking. I always recognize God speaking to me in my thoughts. We carry many conversations, because I'm continually asking him for advice or answers or something. My seeking heart is always open to recognize him. He may confirm what he spoke through someone else's conversation with me. The Sunday Sermon might cover my questions for the week. I may read my answer. The other day on my way to lunch with a friend, God popped an idea into my head. I thought about turning a project into an Air B&B rental. I'd never had that thought before. During lunch my friend said, "Why don't you turn your house into an Air B&B rental?". Coincidence? Not at all. God spoke and confirmed quickly!

4. Take Action. I remind myself all the time, faith is an action word. The Bible says faith without works is dead. We need faith action in our every day life to keep our faith building and strong. My definition of the word "works" in that scripture is simply a response to my faith.  There are spiritual "works" responses and physical "works" responses. 

Spiritual example: God asks me to believe. If I choose not to believe, my faith is dead. Belief is the works or action required from me. 

Physical example: God asks me to bake my neighbor a cake. If I choose not to bake it, my faith is dead. If my faith were alive, I'd bake the cake and deliver it, recognizing God will accomplish his work with the cake. Another physical example. Will I turn that project into an Air B&B rental?

5. Ask, Believe, Receive. Do this exercise every day to increase your faith. Ask God for something small, very specific and personal. Ask for something tangible so you know God answered your prayer. Ask for:

  • a friend to call or text you today
  • your empty gas tank to make it to the station
  • to find something you've misplaced
  • to understand a scripture you've struggled with
  • to curb your appetite (this is a favorite of mine)
Ask God for it. Believe him to do it. Receive it. If you practice this simple technique every day, your faith will increase. Trust God for the little things and before long, HE will be trusting you with the BIG things. Matthew 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

My goal is to help you see Jesus in the details. 5 Steps to Increase Every Day Faith is just the beginning. Please comment your simple prayer below and let me know how God answered it. 

Lovingly,


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Wednesday, April 6, 2022

The Chest or the Bosom

 




When Steve lovingly slid Milisende’s stuffed zebra, Zebby, inside his jacket, I was jelly! His chest is still tender from his double lung transplant. You’d know the top of my face/head hits Steve perfectly centered on his scar. We hug gently not to hurt him.
I wondered what the draw is to laying your head in someone’s bosom that is so comforting. The bosom position also makes you feel safe, protected and loved. Arms don’t even need to complete the hug as long as your head rests on the bosom of another!
Then I remembered Abraham’s bosom from the Bible. I’d equate it to heaven before Jesus came, for people who died in faith believing. Ah! I suddenly understood the security of the physical bosom. It is a place of rest. God designed the space between our neck and stomach long and wide enough for a baby-size head to an adult-size head to fit. Wow!
Steve received new lungs inside his bosom. The heart is inside the bosom. God breathed life into our bosoms. Blood is disturbed from the bosom throughout the entire body. Life-giving milk comes from mom’s bosom. A lot of things happen in the bosom. I don’t know if your mind works like mine, but I’m thankful God can take a one-word thought and totally blow me away!
John 13:23
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

In his bosom365,




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Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Giving Back: How to Practice Self-Care as a Caregiver

I don't personally know Jason Lewis, the author of this guest post, but he astounded me with his intuitiveness. Thank you Jason, this article is personally touching. I cared for my husband during his double lung transplant on October 7, 2020. Lung transplant was/is an incredibly difficult yet amazingly miraculous journey. Today, we enjoy 17 months post transplant. My husband, Steve, is doing well. I'm still learning to care for myself...

Caregivers are extraordinary

Exercise

Self-care is important, but even more so when you’re caring for someone else. The Family Caregiver Alliance refers to research showing that 40-70% of those who do so in the US exhibit clinically significant signs of depression. The process of providing care often takes a huge toll and you’ll need to take action if you want to keep in good health. Tammy365 shares some tips on how to look after yourself, whilst looking after others.

It’s crucial, even after a long day at work, to push through the exhaustion barrier and get out to do some exercise. The mental health benefits of exercise are innumerable, but beyond the improved confidence, decreased stress hormones and distraction from stressors, exercise will also help to provide you with the long-term energy you need to cope with day-to-day caregiving grievances. Even a short jog can be enough to break a negative cycle and release some of those ever-important endorphins.

Diet

If you can partner a positive exercise regime with a nutritious diet, you’ll be well on your way towards a healthier work/life balance. Changing your diet is often less complicated than you might think - a good first step is to wean yourself off junk foods high in salt, carbs, and trans/saturated fats. You can do this using replacement methods - by trading sugary foods or fruit and healthy alternatives and gradually lowering its demands.

Social Life

Like anything else, it takes time and effort to maintain a healthy social life. Although it can be difficult to find that time away from work, diverting your attention to spend with friends and family is crucial if you want to stay emotionally stable as a caregiver. The main key for unlocking a fulfilled social life is to organize and plan ahead - make sure you’re using apps and calendars to write down any plans and try to agree on dates well ahead of time to ensure that everyone can make it.

Music

The importance of music as a tool in battling stress, anxiety, and depression is too often overlooked. Studies cited on Pulse TMS show that music therapy leads to reduced muscle tension, increased self-esteem, and self-expression. Live music has even been linked to the release of oxytocin (the love or trust neurotransmitter). If the stresses of caregiving feel overwhelming, try finding some music that complements your mood and spending an hour just listening.

Art

The arts have long been an outlet for those who are troubled by mental maladies. If the weight of caregiving feels too heavy, try off-loading some of it via painting, sculpture, or physical crafts. Art and colors are shown to improve mood and, oftentimes, provide a more pleasurable way to explore and confront internal issues.

Time Management

It’s difficult to engage with any of the above if you haven’t got the time to do so. That’s why it’s important to bring in help to free up some of your own time. Some services will help you to keep things orderly in your life as you’re dedicating your time to others’ - for example, lawn care maintenance tends to cost between $30 to $80 (although this can go up if irrigation, fertilizing, pruning and hardscaping are included) but can save you hours on the weekend for you to spend on yourself. If in doubt, just Google: lawn care companies near me.

The value of caregivers is incalculable. By sacrificing your own time, you’re making the time of the receiver and people around them far more enjoyable. Just remember that if you’re not in a good mental or physical state, your ability to help others will always be impeded.

Caring365,




The Tammy365 blog shares faith, recipes, humor, and encouragement. Reach out to Tammy today! tammy.stafford@hotmail.com


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