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Sunday, December 1, 2013

Heaven is about to break upon us...


 


Sometimes there are days when it feels like the darkness is winning. 
Sometimes it's when there are a lot of big and terrible things going on all around.

Today it was the multitude of small things.
So many small hurtful and dark things on this, the first day of Advent.

But I am reminded that the Light has come to drive out darkness.
I will look for the tiny flames of light that flicker in the darkness as it has passed from person to person as Advent gains momentum. Until the day of His arrival, the coming of The King of Light.


"Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.,and to guide us to the path of peace." Luke 1:78-79






Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Keep Breathing...

Everyday I am overwhelmed by the world around me.
Sometimes it's just too much.
It feels like I'm suffocating in an avalanche of...
natural disasters that destroy homes and people's lives
people who come to be to help with problems I can't even begin to wrap my brain around
precious lives being stolen by addiction
people who are trapped by circumstances far beyond their control
power hungry people who use fear and intimidation as a means to control
people who have been hurt and some eternally wounded by those who claim to follow Christ because they
don't fit the mold,
aren't enough,
or any of one million invalid excuses that are given to
exclude
divide
hate
when it should be so simple just love...

it just keeps
pressing
pressing
down.....

In those moments when my breath is stolen from me
I hear the whisper of The One
The One who created it all
Who's heart breaks with mine
Who sees more
hears more
feels more
and He says
Keep breathing.

Because I Am
The Alpha
The Omega
I Am
The Way
The Truth
and
The LIFE
I Am the Ressurrection
I am Hope
Keep Breathing...


Friday, November 15, 2013

40 Day Facebook Fast

I have recently returned to Facebook after a 40 day fast. I did it for a variety of reasons but the overarching reason was to protect and heal my spirit.  It was good. I found myself connecting more with my children, with people, with myself, and with God. There were so many things I learned about myself and others. Here are just a few:

  • Boundaries are important. I knew this. I learned it before. But somehow all of my boundaries disappeared for awhile.  I can't be available to everyone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. My family needs me and I need time to recharge my batteries with God.  
  • It is far too easy to use Facebook as a weapon. When there is an issue, whether big or small, it is easy to hide behind a computer screen and post your issues rather than just sitting down face to face with a person and dealing with it.  One of the most interesting things that I have found is many times the complaints and arguments people post on Facebook are really just temporary rants (that honestly should probably not even be posted) that end up dissipating if ignored. If an issue is really that important than we really need to go and talk to the person/s involved face to face.  If it's important than it deserves face time.  For those who consistently continue with this kind of behavior, there is a hide button, and if it gets really bad there is a de-friend button.  I hate that things have to get to this point but there really has to be a boundary somewhere. 
  • I take things WAY to personally, really, it's not all about me.
  • Facebook is a great tool to stay connected with friends and family far away  and to build and create new friendships. But that cannot happen if we don't interact with each other.  If you are interested or have a question about me or something going on in my life, please, ask, don't assume. I really value connection with people and friendship. I am very approachable and pretty open. Besides, "spying" is just not a healthy way to build a friendship. 
  • Life shouldn't be lived through a computer screen or a phone. Instead of participating with life I was finding it easier to hide behind a screen.  
  • I sometimes use Facebook as my filter.  In real life conversations I don't often take time to pause and think about how to respond or even what I am going to say.  Facebook forces me to think for a minute and then respond. I need to slow down when I am in real life conversation with people. 

There are lots more things I learned during my time but these were the biggees.  One of the biggest though is that Facebook is not essential to life.  I can live a perfectly, happy, peaceful life without it.  It's nice to stay connected but sometimes you need to count the cost.  I may fast again from time to time just to hit the reset button but for now I'm back.

Peace.
Tammy

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Chronos Vs. Kairos Part 1

I'm currently reading Your Life In Rhythm by Bruce Miller. In this book he talks about how if we try to live our life in balance it will never happen and we'll just make ourselves crazy (I am living proof) instead our lives are meant to be lived in rhythm. 

Ecclesiates 3:1-13 says this:
There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Living in rhythm is Biblical!!  

For the past nine years I have been struggle to keep things "in balance". I hear that phrase everywhere I go and every time I do my eye starts to twitch. 

Between marriage, children, ministry, and my own personal care, something is always neglected. But I am comforted in the fact that balance is not possible. No matter how hard I try it will not happen. 

My solution....let it go. 

Start living in the rhythm of my life. 

Focusing on the task at hand, doing my best for those other required things, and just relaxing. 

The question that I need to ask myself day to day and moment to moment is "What is important right now?" Instead of weighing myself down with what was important yesterday or what will be important tomorrow, what is important right now, in this very moment. 

The best part is that God has been whispering this in my for quite some time but it's taken me a while to really, really be ready to listen and do something about it. 

Part 2 coming soon....

Friday, January 25, 2013

Longing for the slow...

why are we always in such a hurry?
my brain and my heart have decided we need to sllllloooowwwww dooooowwwwwnnnnn......
technology....ugh....
e-mails, texts, cell phones
people expect an answer RIGHT NOW!
friends please don't expect that from me
i'm not able to accomodate that pace any more
i'd like to be
more thoughtful
more intentional
more deliberate
less rushed
less frazzeled
too many things that 'require' our attention
too many things fighting for our attention
people require our attention
people shouldn't have to 'fight' for our attention
i am tired of the rapid pace
but i am trained
trained to hurry
trained to focus on too many things at once
trained to be frustrated with people who need
time
attention
love
i am done
i surrender
i am longing for the slow

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

On my mind...

Snapdragons...in a lovely bouquet.

Peace...my word for 2013.

Simplicity...in all things will help me with the above.

So many other things battling for attention in my brain but I am choosing to focus on the above three for a little while. It's good to take a break, to lower the intensity setting of our minds, and just rest.