Trekking with Me

I am about to throw some clothes in my suitcase and head out the door to land in NC tonight.  I whipped open my Apple to quickly check emails and the ADORABLE BLUE EYED WONDER was staring at me from my screen.   I had to stop and drink in the darling thing... he literally took my breath away.  This is my new little Nephew, Micah Troy.  I had fun snapping pictures of this hunk-a-chunk over Easter Weekend.  I showed this picture to a friend this morning... and snapped my MAC shut and ran out without closing the picture down.   What a beautiful delicious baby.  :-)  Soon he will be 4 months old... 4 years old... 14 years old... 44 years old... gulp.  So... i am capturing him now... to remember always.   :-)

Psalm 18 is one of my very favorite special personal passages, as through it God has encouraged me in very specific personal struggles.   One time was when I was pushing through my undergrad and counting down the semesters to the finish line.  He gave me strength though verse 29, "...with Him you can scale a wall!" (NIV) Another very tender piece is verse 19, of which brought me to tears as I received His Word, " I rescued you because I delight in you!"   Oh He is so good to me! So for the last half of April, I want to sit on verses 28-29 from the HCSB: "Lord, You light my lamp; My God illuminates my darkness. With You I can attack a barrier, and with my God I can leap over a wall."

It's a beautiful day here in Columbia, South Carolina.  I feel very refreshed; God blessed me with a few very good nights rest, time to enjoy Him and His creation and now I am sipping on His Beauty in my yard from my front porch... This would be my New porch "swing" notice... the swing part isn't really happening but it was given to me.  The chains are waiting for my dad or some other male who knows how to construct a frame to hang a swing.  It needs a little TLC too, so before it is hung I hope to sand it down and apply a coat or two of paint/stain. As you see... it is a gorgeous day to enjoy my new seat. This morning I was reading about Gideon.  I have been talking to God about a few challenges lately, things that are pressing for some attention yet I don't exactly know what I am to do about them, if anything. As I read Gideon, I thought of other familiar Bible stories and characters.  God's plans are usually played out a lot differently than what we...

How He Delights My Soul! Last night a dear friend and I went for a walk down on the Riverwalk.  It is one of my favorite places here in Columbia.  If I have not said it already, Spring is beautiful here!!  This Spring seems to be extra beautiful for the Lord has been pouring His Love over me in such a tangible way.  Truly Joy inexpressible! So much joyful juice is upon me that when I spill it over on a status quote on Facebook I am receiving funny questioning comments such as, "are you getting married?" or "Tammie, do we need to talk??" I love my friends.   No I am not getting married; I am simply growing into deeper Delight of My Husband for 34 years.  Jesus Christ has faithfully loved me through valleys and seasons and depths.  He has been tenderly showing me this walk truly has been a living relationship, a marriage, in spite of my complaining, my lack of understanding and seeing(believing!) or mis-belief, my stubborn dig-my-heels in moments, po...

The theme of the retreat I went on a few weeks ago was on His Goodness. I was pretty happy as God has been magnifying his Goodness to me over and over and over again in the recent months.  It kind of ties into "His Favor"... the phrase I felt He gave me in January.   With this goodness theme, Psalm 23 has burst open for me.  This psalm has long been a favorite to me bringing me much comfort.  In the recent months He has brought my eyes to the last few verses.  (these are Tammie's paraphrased version) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear, you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me... You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows... surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.. If you put these verses together - picture them as you read them.... where is this table He has prepared ?  In the valley!  In the pr...

My Little tree in my back yard: I love it. My favorite trail in Columbia... with some of my favorite peeps. The Local Natives are so nice too. Fun in the Columbia Sun I went to take a nap today (Sunday) and noticed a few weeds.... I ran for my camera after I began snatching a few of these annoying, but wispy beauties up.   Ever think of having a Dandelion garden?  Another flowering bush in my yard; the previous owners really loved flowers... I am enjoying the fruit of their labor, AND my dad's labor too.... My beautiful roommate :-)

Ever play that hide-and-seek game as a child, or with your children?  Something is hidden, as they search for it, you gently give them hints: "you are close, getting warmer, warmer... you are getting HOT..."  which means, "you are RIGHT THERE! OPEN YOUR EYES!" I think that God does that in the Word. God has given me a few wonderful life-giving Words, some "rhema" over the past few year.  He is always speaking if we listen.  Last weekend, as I said, He tied a few strings together that connected several concepts I was getting close to: He Lit it Up for me! One concept He opened was how He has revealed Himself in Scripture. This actually started several weeks ago.  This little house I live in is the home of two very early risers.  My roommate gets up in the wee hours of the morning, sprawls our her Bible, her notes, her pens and pours over His Word.  By the time I fall out of bed, she has been up at least half an hour or so... and this is all before...

My Memory Verse, from the New Living Translation, for the next two weeks: Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.  I Peter 4:8