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!