Trekking with Me

Ever have an experience that made you want to crawl in a hole and die? Earlier in the week I had an assignment to lead a discussion of sorts with a small group.  It went phenomenal until I opened my mouth.  Seriously, the first half was simply powerful and tender.  God blew me away with the experience; then for some weak reason, I felt I needed to open my mouth and add something.  (In reflection, this is the point I wish I had a partner with me who loved me enough to see the downward spiral of my words and would kick me to make me stop.)  My words seemed to defuse the warm, sweet atmosphere that had warmed the room seconds before.  Not that I was saying something wrong, I simply did not need to add anything; in all honesty, it was my insecure flesh wanting to be something significant and approved.  Well, God's got that covered already, so please shut my mouth - right?! Later in sharing my horrific embarrassment with some girlfriends, they helped me r...

I love the story of Lazarus.  I just finished reading it.  There are so many aspects of this story that can be unfolded to reveal God to us.  The whole incident is  - "so that God's Son may be glorified through it." As I read through it, I noticed a few things and I played with a few of the words: In verse 5, I played with the names...  "Jesus loved (Tammie) and her (friends) and (others Tammie cares about)...." I also noticed how often the phrase, "But, Lord..." or "But Rabbi..." and a few other "but..." statements; I love Jesus' kind reminder in verse 40, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" How often I am hit with challenging circumstances and heavy thoughts, find myself kneeling before My Savior, heavy-laden and distraught... "But Lord...." He is so patient. It seems odd to look at that phrase and realize the two words I am using; "But" casts doub...

I kind of get discouraged with statistics. Over the last few weeks, I have had to read about worldwide happenings; sobering facts that evil and death exist and increases on our planet. Yeah, Surprise, surprise, surprise! It's not pretty; I look around me at my little world and see things that speak of the decay of sin, fallenness... more than once I have had thoughts; am I making a difference? Lord... help! About two weeks ago, as i was pulling into work, thinking of the people I work with, their apparent lostness, on top the articles I had read; a shadow of discouragement began to darken my sky, but then I Heard Him whisper: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." Matt. 13:31b-32 My heart heard Him remind me of how His Kingdom works... in t...

Mercy doesn't get as much limelight as Grace. Mercy is something I am pondering a bit more. Hosea 6:6 says, "I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings." The dictionary defines mercy as "compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." God is completely just, holy, righteous, - He has the power and right to punish us. We deserve it. Yet, He is merciful. He tells us to love mercy. I am thankful for mercy, from Him and also, applying it to myself. I have lived under law so much - much time has been spent beating myself up for not being perfect, yet He calls us to mercy: toward others and myself. He has forgiven me, washed me white as snow, so why do I walk under condemnation so much? Once I heard that if God is convicting you of sin, it is VERY specific - confess, and make it right. Condemnation is from the Enem...

Lately I have been so thirsty for time with God. I have noticed I have been having a hard time focusing lately. When you have a "routine" for so many years - even though it is a very significant routine - you may find yourself falling asleep because it is so routine. Well, over the last few months I felt I wanted to do something new with my quiet times with God, so I bounced around trying new things.... but then I wasn't focused and i lost some depth that I usually enjoy. So, I knew I needed to pull back and do what I have always done....and enjoy HIM. Last night I went to bed knowing and purposing and desiring to spend quality time with Him today. I pulled out my familiar tools, a cup of coffee and drew up close to Him. I opened my Chronological Bible and picked up a few days behind where I should have been but I didn't care which date it said, I was just thirsty! Psalm 40 was the second Psalm for the date.... I didn't get much farther that that! He bega...

Over the past few weeks I have heard some profound messages in my classes and our chapel, as well as seeing dear friends grieve the death of their husband and father after a vigorous battle with pancreatic cancer. Needless to say, my Spirit has been attentive. Some truths are being illuminated. At times like these, our eyes get a heavenly adjustment if our hearts are open and receptive. With permission I share these profound incites. "What is crushed? I feel I am being crushed....and Your Word says, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed..." this is the struggle we all feel, a question we all ask and some of us are literally being crushed, or so it seems. My friend, Dale, had a good answer to this - or rather, he pointed to the correct understanding and definition of "being crushed," here are his words: My family has been wondering what God's definition of crushed was...he says we will be pressed but not crushed or whatever...I had...

This is an awesome reminder of what our lives should be all about - what an AWESOME GLORIOUS God we serve...He is SO worthy. May we Celebrate Him forever!

Wow! These last nine weeks of school have FLOWN! What a wonderful blessing it has been to be in this school, teaching history and Bible, getting to know my students and being surprised by the delight of it all! If you will look back at my first blog on this "challenge" i was pretty frightened of the unknowns...but thanks to lots of prayer and God's blessing, it has turned out to be one of the BEST teaching experiences i have ever had - How i praise the Lord! I believe this is part of a healing time for me too. I have been teaching in some capacity for the last ten years or so, and to be honest, it has been hard! I know teaching is in my blood, but i would come home feeling so defeated, and unhappy. I remember thinking more than once, "this is just not for me!" This was just one of the dark battles i had fighting within me. Why could i not enjoy my work and walk in more happiness? Where was that fruit of the spirit? Was this a lesson on longsuffering? I...

Thank the Lord for New Mercies every morning! I don't know who is actually reading this blog of mine but maybe it is simply something God will use to encourage someone (maybe only me?!) to remember His faithfulness... This morning I ran across a wonderful article from the LifeWay website, entitled "Walk On: Five Characteristics of Christlikeness" written by Victor Lee. One verse he brought out really encouraged me.... Romans 15:4-5 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.” Several passages come to mind that spoke directly to me - a Rhema word to my heart! The two that come to mind are Psalm 37 and Genesis 42:36b (how often have i said this - yet we see the bigger picture in this OT story that God is all over the details to ...

As at the end of each year i reflect on the overall "theme" of what God illuminated to my heart, i also look to see what "Shouts" at me in the beginning of the year! A few weeks ago, as our worship team was practicing a new song, the phrase "the year of jubilee" seemed to jump off the page to me. That phrase settled in my brain the next few days with the tune of the song and i began to proclaim, "This is MY year of Jubilee!" Today the message the pastor spoke on was the Year of Jubilee! My ears perked up, what was God going to show me today? My brain began to tick away on the deeper meaning of "Jubilee" as i listened to the message...and a realization popped up! THIS IS MY YEAR OF Jubilee....literally! Every seven years the nation of Israel were to allow the land to rest, to return what they had borrowed, to restore land that belonged to you, to release servants - it was a Year full of restitution! Returning, restoring, releasi...