Thursday, May 23, 2013

The 36 Year Journey

Overwhelmed! The feeling I got when my precious prosthetics got a hole. They tore the same spot every time. Sometimes they tore quickly and sometimes they tore well into the "every two years" cycle of getting new ones. I was overwhelmed because I couldn't wear shoes or walk without them. I was overwhelmed fighting insurance to justify another pair for $22K, beg my prosthetic man to repair the old ones and endure even more pain than usual. Psalm 61:2 says "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." I cried to God many times when my heart was overwhelmed and he knew if I didn't have the prosthetics it'd be impossible for me to stand on a rock. That's kind of a joke and kinda not. God knows your needs and your situation!

So many times our hearts become overwhelmed and we cry to God. We want rescued but maybe not led. We want helped but maybe not guided. We forget God is higher than us. We may consider him a peer, a "bounce it off of" guy or a "fairy god father". Psalm 25:5 says "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." It's not easy to wait on God and sometimes the day is extremely long.

It was my pleasure to speak with a Scottish Rite Mason this week. I shared how God led me to various entities starting with Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta. They suggested McMahan Shoes. McMahan Shoes suggested Lifelike Laboratories in Dallas, TX and I don't even remember how God led me to Young Prosthetics in Memphis, TN. The moral of the story is; today, after a 36-year journey, Steve and I made the set of prots in the pic! Praise Jesus! They are the most comfortable set of feet I've ever had and they cost about $300 a pair!

What if I had given up or turned around on the journey? It wasn't month-after-month of smooth sailing either. I've encountered storms, obstacles and nightmares enough to scare the bravest souls. You just gotta keep being led by the God of your salvation. Are you overwhelmed? Cry to Jesus, follow his lead and wait!

Overwhelmed in a good way,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Thursday, May 16, 2013

An Essential Element for Temptation


glass of waterEver been tempted by an ice cold glass of water? Probably not, right? If we were parched in the desert, a glass of water might be a temptation for us. But, we live in a "land of plenty" where water is abundant and free. Water is good for our bodies. We could say "Water is essential to our bodies to live." The Bible says in Jeremiah 2:13 that God's people have forsaken him, the fountain of living waters. Here's something to ponder. Why aren't we attracted to or tempted by things that are good for us?

I need to drink water. Dehydration causes kidney stones. It seems so simple. Drink water, avoid kidney stones! I do well for a few days and then I'm off the wagon again. I don't really like to drink water. I can drink plenty of Coke and Tea though. The bad drinks seem to call my name from the grocery shelves. I am never beckoned to the water aisle by my own persuasion. James 1:13-14 says Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempeth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. So, there's the answer. We are tempted by our own lusts. I like Coke, it's a lust and temptation for me.

Wouldn't it be amazing if good things called us to partake of them? God does! He offers the water of life freely. Have you ever noticed once you start doing things that are good for you, you begin to crave them? The more water you drink, the more you find yourself reaching for it....over the Coke! God is the same way. Once we choose him, we look to him over other things to help us and satisfy our souls. Our conscience or the Holy Spirit helps us choose God's ways. I'm thinking I need an accountability partner to make sure I drink water and eat good food especially since broccoli and exercise will probably never tempt me!

Always tempted,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Leave me a comment with some things that tempt you...good or bad! lol


Friday, May 10, 2013

The Advice that still makes me Laugh!

funny sayingWhen I saw this photo on facebook this morning, it make me laugh! The advice my daughter's grandfather (Pop) gave them years ago still makes me chuckle.

My father-in-law was Claude Leonard Stafford. He thought he was born in 1919 but later in life found out it was 1920. He lived to be 87 years old. Pop was quite handsome with a head full of  beautiful grayish-white hair and some of the biggest ears I've ever seen. He also said "Your ears don't stop growing you know!" He was a quiet, kind

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Finding my Place in the Middle Generation



middle generation

I was so excited to be a guest blogger for middleplaces.com this week. Here's an excerpt and the link:

Perhaps you are entering the "empty nest" phase and struggling to find your purpose, or maybe you are caught between caring for your children and aging parents. Most of the Middle Sisters are still parenting young children, but today we have a guest writing who is one step farther down the road and has found herself in a new middle place.

Full story here.

I'm looking for guest blogger gigs! If you know of one or have a blog yourself, I'd be honored to guest blog for you anytime! Just fill out my contact form and I'll think about it. You know I'm kidding, I'll contact you before your keyboard cools down.

Aging gracefully,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap


Thursday, May 2, 2013

A hypothetical Reason not to Fall asleep in Church

thinking

I've subbed quite a bit lately. Needing a filler for my class before school ended Monday, I thought it a novel idea to give a test over stuff we'd covered. The children were instantly worried when I promised them a grade. I assured them if they'd paid attention during the day the test would be a