Out with the Old...

Ending this year with a day of cleaning...and beginning 2011 with a day with family and friends over, for what I hope, will be a good meal!

I am joining Beth Moore's scripture memory challenge...and this is my first scripture:

Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation)


10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Beth Moore recommends also putting these scriptures in a journal, which I think is an excellent idea, for there, I want to reflect also on God's use of my chosen scriptures.

Just so you know...I am a day ahead on challenge!  Feels so good!




This scripture I chose as I was thumbing through my The One Year Bible for Women (which I plan to read through in 2011) and feel that this scripture is appropriate for a basis for all my "intentions" -- not resolutuions! -- for 2011, for if I am God's Masterpiece, I need to act like it more.

The Answer.

Yesterday, I needed a word from the Lord, so I sat down and picked up my The One Year Bible for Women.

Let's pause here for a moment...before you even begin to have any sort of admiring thoughts about my reading the Bible through in a year...I'm not. Unfortunately. Not there. This version of the Bible always sits waiting on me, though.

As I sat down, I asked the Lord to give me something, a word, to help me understand, to deal with a situation in my life right now. I opened the Bible and immediately turned to yesterday's entry and begin to read...and, of course, received my answer:

7 Ten days later the Lord gave his reply to Jeremiah. 8 So he called for Johanan son of Kareah and the other guerrilla leaders, and for all the people, from the least to the greatest. 9 He said to them, “You sent me to the Lord, the God of Israel, with your request, and this is his reply: 10 ‘Stay here in this land. If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you. For I am sorry about all the punishment I have had to bring upon you. 11 Do not fear the king of Babylon anymore,’ says the Lord. ‘For I am with you and will save you and rescue you from his power. 12 I will be merciful to you by making him kind, so he will let you stay here in your land.’ Jeremiah 42:7-12

Not wanting to take this out of context, I read on...the people did not do as the Lord asked...no, just do not want to go there.

Tomorrow, I will be 44, and if there's one lesson I have learned in life, do as the Lord asks.

As I shared this with a friend, who is helping me deal with the latest trial in my life, I could hear the humbleness in her voice when she replied, "Tammy, I know of no other scripture that would have been a better answer. You have your answer."

Honestly? And I am ashamed to say this..I am not sure I have ever read that particular scripture, and if I have, it did not "speak" to me as His Word did yesterday.

I am so greatful to live in a land where I have the privilege and honor to know and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Should you not know Him...my prayer is that He be revealed to you, for there is no greater peace than that granted by the Great Peacemaker.

Now, I have also not reached the grand age of 44 without learning that even though God grants the Peace, that the journey is not over, but, oh, the journey is so much easier when God grants His Peace.

Thank you, Lord.

Mugs and Muffins

In the morning at 9:00, I will help lead our women's book study of Susanne Scheppmann's Embraced by the Father.  As I began reading her book, I did a search and discovered her website, from which I linked to her blog on which her most recent blog post discussed a meeting for new women in her church in which they hosted a "Mugs and Muffins."  Coincidentally, I purchased muffins for tomorrow morning's meeting...or maybe it's a sign of sorts that this group will be touched, lead by the hand of God?

Prayerfully, this is my request.

I go tomorrow asking to be embraced, for as I related to my husband today, in too many areas of my life, I am focusing on the negatives.  As I told my husband today, if I were God, I would be saying, "Tammy, why should I reward you?  You are just too negative."

As I told my husband?  I want to focus on the positive and enjoy living.  In a few days, I will turn 44.  I want the next 44 years to be as rewarding as the first ones were...except for an even more positive focus.

Below is one of the first scriptures within the "Prelude" of Embraced by the Father...this time this scripture spoke to me:

1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush [a] and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.
_______________

I am humbled to be loved to such a degree. May my life reflect that love back...as I learn to dance.

Reading the Bible

Just came across a post while skimming Facebook from Essential Connection magazine that linked to their site where they had posted the daily Bible readings if reading the Bible through in a year.

I love to read, yet I have never read the Bible through...a bit shamed to admit to that.

Thus, here I now commit to at least attempt this endeavor.  I am adding the daily reads to a page that will be accessible on a tab at the top of this blog.  Maybe you might join me?

I will keep you posted!

A New Year

Last Sunday began our new church year. Last Sunday began a new year for me in church.

1. Discipleship Training Director. As I sat reading A Woman After God's Own Heart, I began to think about my responsibilities to assist those working on Sunday evenings. In this book, author Elizabeth George recites, "Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better best." Now, I am questioning what can I do to help better our best? That is now my prayer.
2. College and Career Sunday School teacher. Due to a need in our church, I asked that this class be re-instated, for we have not provided for this age group in too long, and it is so reflective in our attendance. Last Sunday, I had no one in my class, not that I expected to, since no advertising was done, but now I am praying and asking that God send these college and career Christians to me so that we can spend an hour together talking about Him, so that maybe just one word can be said that will help draw them closer to the Lord, so that their weeks may be just that much more peaceful.
3. Committee Work. This year one of the committees on which I will serve is the special events committee...a committee that I asked to be resurrected so that again a need could be met. We really do a lot for children in our church, but little is hosted for the adults. Fellowship is powerful. Fellowship is needed.

Tonight, as I read our Sunday School lesson, either in preparation for my College and Career Class or for the women's class I normally attend, my heart was stirred, for as I began to read, I, literally, was reading a phone conversation I had earlier today with my dear friend Glenda. Just earlier today, I said that what we need to do is begin to get everyone praying that God work in our need....well, I said that and a few other things!

Then, I open my book to our lesson and this scripture:

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe,
according to the working of His vast strength." - Eph. 1:18-19

So much better worded than how I phrased it! May the eyes of our inner hearts be opened that His call may be revealed to each of us. He can do that! Without my getting involved. Without Glenda's getting involved. My God can take care of our need.

You see, my walk continues.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:6

May I know when to stop and acknowledge Him. May I know when to move, to walk the paths He has chosen for me.

I haven't always fulfilled this scripture. My prayer is now that I do, realizing that to do so that sometimes, I just need to be quiet. And listen...

The Smell of Prayer

My walks continue. Walking a little farther now. Yes, still huffing and puffing and praying.

The sounds continue. Up until today, the Gaithers who attended their Homecoming traveled with me. Today, Selah walked the mile-plus.

The prayers continue. I have not talked to any of my neighbors along the way...have waved at a few in the early morning hours. Just have to say, I am a little curious about how He has answered my prayers for them. Yes, I anxiously await their testimonies.

The smells continue. With a little more significance and intensity. On my last two walks, I have met or was passed by two (make that a total of four) Townsend chicken trucks, some with chickens, some without, all carrying loads of chicken smell. Yes, intense. Oh, my. All that sweat might have been tears from the truly awful smell! :)

Paul writes...

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

I wonder, though, if those drivers noticed a difference within their trucks? I asked God to ride with them and speak to them. Wouldn't you just love to hear those conversations?


PERSONAL Ongoing Prayer Request: I am praying that God begin a revival within each person in my church. Wouldn't that be a blessing? Imagine a revival breaking out from person to person...throughout a church. Then the church would be in revival...and so many concerns and discontents would be solved, for it is very hard to talking about someone in less than pleasant manner when you are on fire for God...right? Yes, that's my personal ongoing prayer request. Yes, you may begin to pray that for you church also. Oh, the power of one, two, three, even more churches in true revival

How else can revival sweep across our land until it starts in one church, then two, then yours!

Now back to that topic of smell...just hoping today I can spread the fragrance of God and hoping its a pleasant smell!

So Quick!

I began walking two days ago for my health.

Today I began walking for my spiritual health.

On my first walk, I counted the houses on my mile walk and realized that, including mine, eleven households needed me to pray for them. Today I tried it. A prayer was answered before I had walked half a mile.

A lady down the road, and with whom I also attend church, was, how do I say?...well, she did not like me. In an attempt to rectify those feelings on Sunday, I realized that I had done all I could do...except pray.

This morning, as I neared her house, there she was, so I paused and greeted her, and she responded! We exchanged pleasantries, and I continued on my way. Rejoicing! On my return trip, I stopped and offered my assistance and then walked on after more pleasantries and her wishing me a good day.

My prayer for these neighbors/friends is that today God will place someone in their lives that will draw them closer to Him. Thus, my prayers extend beyond my road and to the roads on which these "helpers of Christ" live.

When I returned from my walk (and as I sat cooling off...yes, very hot, but I also VERY out-of-shape!), I discovered this quote on my Facebook Jesus Daily feed: "How many loaves have ye?" -JESUS in Matthew 15:34. Jesus can greatly use us, even if we think we have little to offer Him!

I am offering my walk to Him. Not just my walk down my neighborhood road but also my walk through life, through work, through town, through church.

How has He used you today?