Prayers asked. Prayers answered. ________________________________
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
Still in Love with Myself
Yesterday, I commented on an application of the commandment "Love they neighbor as thyself." Today, that commandment still rumbles in my soul, especially as I came across the Facebook post about ISIS beheading 21 Christians and this story about hundreds of children being released from child slavery.
I sit here, realizing that I am beyond measure blessed. Blessed.
Yesterday, our pastor asked, "Will be accountable for what we don't know?"
I have to think that, yes, we will.
The more we are blessed, the blinder we seem to become, taking all these blessings for granted, expecting them to always continue. That, though, is not the covenant that God has made with us: that the blinder we become, the more He will bless us. Not, not at all.
Please consider this scripture from Ezekiel:
59“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant. 60 Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant with you. 62 So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. 63 Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
Then, from yesterday's Sunday School literature, Nehemiah 9:32-39:
32“Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. 33In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.34Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. 35Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways. 36“But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.38“In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”Side Note: Re-read the above scripture and, instead of Israelites and Jerusalem, substitute Americans and the USA. Almost scary, right?
What can I do? What can you do? We can pray. Just call on His Name. For as James 2:19 states: "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror." That, my friends, is what we need. We need the enemy, the devil to tremble in terror.
The example for us in scripture after scripture is that the people have to return to where they left God; that begins with prayer. Then deeds.
When read in context, this scripture in James 2 expects "deeds" to go along with that faith. I do not have all the answers to which deeds need to be taken. God does. He will lead us. If we return to Him. That is the covenant.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Love Thy Neighbor...as Thyself
Love thy neighbor...especially if that person is in a burning car...as thyself, for who wouldn't want someone to run to his/her rescue in such a scene?
This past Thursday morning on the way to school, I slowed down for a bus a few cars ahead of me which was picking up some students for school. When we heard that sound...the sound of two...or three...(or four we later learned)...cars colliding. By the time my eyes made it to the rearview mirror to investigate that sound, two of the cars were aflame. In my enlightened state, I told The Daughter there had been a wreck, told her to call 911, pulled the car to the side of the road, put it in park, and exited, running to the flaming cars...so did The Daughter, not that I realized this until later.
I ran to the second car where I could see a lady trying to get out of the passenger side..the driver side had born the brunt of the wreck. (The people in the first car were exiting). I am not sure why the lady could not get out: maybe she was panicking, maybe the door was locked...but when I reached for the handle, it opened as easily as I ever opened a door. God was there.
The Daughter had run around to the other car, the driver a classmate of hers, and assisted her, with the aid of the driver of the third car, out of the vehicle which was quickly becoming engulfed in flames. Thankfully (?) this young lady did not have on a seatbelt, for I am not sure what the outcome would have been had she had one on that would not come unfastened. God was there.
If you are like me, you may have wondered how you would react in such circumstances. You just do.
In the time since then, I have had many minutes of reflection. This, I have concluded...
This past Thursday morning on the way to school, I slowed down for a bus a few cars ahead of me which was picking up some students for school. When we heard that sound...the sound of two...or three...(or four we later learned)...cars colliding. By the time my eyes made it to the rearview mirror to investigate that sound, two of the cars were aflame. In my enlightened state, I told The Daughter there had been a wreck, told her to call 911, pulled the car to the side of the road, put it in park, and exited, running to the flaming cars...so did The Daughter, not that I realized this until later.
I ran to the second car where I could see a lady trying to get out of the passenger side..the driver side had born the brunt of the wreck. (The people in the first car were exiting). I am not sure why the lady could not get out: maybe she was panicking, maybe the door was locked...but when I reached for the handle, it opened as easily as I ever opened a door. God was there.
The Daughter had run around to the other car, the driver a classmate of hers, and assisted her, with the aid of the driver of the third car, out of the vehicle which was quickly becoming engulfed in flames. Thankfully (?) this young lady did not have on a seatbelt, for I am not sure what the outcome would have been had she had one on that would not come unfastened. God was there.
If you are like me, you may have wondered how you would react in such circumstances. You just do.
In the time since then, I have had many minutes of reflection. This, I have concluded...
- No, The Daughter and I are not heroines. We only did what countless other people would have done in that very situation. This is the culture in which I have raised my daughter. Maybe it's because I am a teacher. Maybe it's because I am a mom. Maybe it's because I have such tremendous giving role models in my life. Maybe it's because I would want someone to save me from a burning car. Maybe it's because I am a Christian. Yes.
- Saving people from burning cars has its consequences; number one, of which, is the inability to shut off the images, the sounds, the adrenaline. Neither The Daughter nor I slept very well that night. I lived that scene over and over, this time imagining all the what-if's.
- God closes doors to ensure that we will be in the perfect place at the perfect time to do His Perfect Will. Had I not been a teacher going to school, I might not have traveled that road that morning.
- Raising your children to do go for others will reap endless rewards. I have never been prouder of The Daughter than I was that morning. She remained cool, calm, and, oh, so collected as she did what had to be done. She felt bad later; she dropped her friend after pulling her out. That was okay. The alternative was so much worse.
- Adrenaline will push you farther than you even knew you were capable. I ran. Holly pulled. I am so out of shape it is ridiculous. Holly has had four heart surgeries, and while healthy, is not in super shape herself. I don't remember being out of breath, panting, breathless...all was well.
- My true personality came shining through. You see...I am bossy. That morning I bossed everyone. Even the police officers. I did attempt to so in the form of questions! I hope, despite that bossiness ("...find a coat for this young lady," "...move back; those cars may explode,: "...clear the way for the hurt girls' arriving mother"....I know I really was bossy, wasn't I?!)...I do hope despite that bossiness that others saw me as a servant leader, for that is one of the lessons I learned that morning. I enjoy leadership, but I truly love servant leadership roles. A true servant leader will not ask anyone else to what she is not willing to also do herself.
- Had we not been there, God would have had someone else, for He is not finished with the ladies in the wrecked cars. His plan for them has not been fulfilled, for they could so easily have been taken that morning, for from the time of the wreck until that car was fully engulfed was just minutes. I do thank Him that He used us as a part of the plan for their lives.
- Finally, I have been a bit concerned by how many drove away. Dear friends, we have to love our neighbor as ourselves, not just when the timing is convenient or when the situation is not scary or when we won't be late for work. You see the cars in front of me drove away. The cars between me and the wreck drove away. Some of the cars behind had to have driven around us, for no one came to help me with the lady in the SUV. No one other than another lady in the third car came to help The Daughter. It must have been the timing, for it all happened in just minutes. Surely, more people believe in helping his/her neighbor during the moment of crisis...and just later standing around watching the aftermath. Surely.
I just could not leave that scene until I had chatted and checked on everyone in that wreck. When I knew everyone was okay, we left. Our car was still idling, one door open, waiting. My job awaited, classes of seniors, willing to listen as I bossed them, too, telling them to not speed, not to tail-gate.
As I drove away, The Daughter began to have a bit of a melt-down, for images of the could-have's began to flash within our brains. She had been so close she could feel the heat of the flames. I saw that inflated airbag and smelled the burning vehicles.
Hug your babies, appreciate what you have...and stop and help people when they are struggling to get out of a burning car. That's right...that's just who we are...people loving our neighbors.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Something Bigger
This past week our community suffered the loss of two young ladies. Such sadness.
Every cup, though, is either half empty...or half full. I want to focus on the half full one, for through these gatherings, I have spent some time with former students and peers and have been gently reminded that family is family...no matter how many weeks, months, or years may pass between each visit.
A common thread through the conversations I have had with these former students has been inviting them to church. Three for three...none currently attend church on a regular basis. I feel that pull...you know...that tug, a vision that my "kids" will one day go to church with me...or somewhere, for fellowship is just so important.
Today, in Sunday School, we studied Nehemiah 11, where once the wall was rebuilt around Jerusalem, Nehemiah's next pull, his next tug was to bring the people back into the walls. As the commentator noted, the people did not resist, for they seemed to realize they were a part of something bigger.
We, too are a part of something bigger.
Following one of the two funerals I attended last week, I noted a post to one of the young lady's mother. The writer shared that following the funeral, she left and went to her jail ministry, where she shared the testimony of this family and of the young lady Rachel, where two of those ladies in jail gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Yes, we are a part of something bigger. Praise God!
Nehemiah was a part of something bigger. He was a vessel heeding God's calling, restoring fellowship within the walls of Jerusalem, bringing the people together for praise and worship.
I have just a touch of Nehemiah's dream, his calling. Do you?
A common thread through the conversations I have had with these former students has been inviting them to church. Three for three...none currently attend church on a regular basis. I feel that pull...you know...that tug, a vision that my "kids" will one day go to church with me...or somewhere, for fellowship is just so important.
Today, in Sunday School, we studied Nehemiah 11, where once the wall was rebuilt around Jerusalem, Nehemiah's next pull, his next tug was to bring the people back into the walls. As the commentator noted, the people did not resist, for they seemed to realize they were a part of something bigger.
We, too are a part of something bigger.
Following one of the two funerals I attended last week, I noted a post to one of the young lady's mother. The writer shared that following the funeral, she left and went to her jail ministry, where she shared the testimony of this family and of the young lady Rachel, where two of those ladies in jail gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Yes, we are a part of something bigger. Praise God!
Nehemiah was a part of something bigger. He was a vessel heeding God's calling, restoring fellowship within the walls of Jerusalem, bringing the people together for praise and worship.
I have just a touch of Nehemiah's dream, his calling. Do you?
1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
SSMT: Verse 2
As I visited several blogs I follow (Feedly is an awesome Reader), this scripture chose me for the next two weeks or so for Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory Team:
The scripture's background refers to when God was sending the plagues up0n Pharaoh and the people, to when God was reminding Moses that He could have totally wiped out the Israelites, also, but, no, there was a plan...a plan that included you and me.
Aren't you thankful?
Sometimes, in our day-to-day lives, when we want to question, "Why me, Lord?", this scripture contains the words upon which to rest.
Just last week in one of my classes and then later with my colleagues, I shared that when I obtained my master's degree in secondary administration and curriculum, I felt driven, led...a God-chosen decision...to obtain that particular master's degree. Since then, though, every time I have applied for any administrative or curriculum position, I have never been selected. Not once. None. I remain in the classroom; this is my 24th year, 15 years after earning and receiving that degree.
Could it be that I obtained that degree to be able to give that very testimony?
For then, I had to finish it. Still, deep in my soul, when I get very still and listen, I still feel that affirmation that I (or we...yes, a God-led decision) made the right degree choice. Yes, the peace returns even now. I pray that in that setting of education that the testimony built within my narrative spoke to even just one person.
If I travel back to Moses' time, I just have to think that he must have thought a time...or two...or three..."Why me, Lord?" Think about all that he went through...a man, a stutterer, lacking confidence, dealing with an upset King and a group of excited people (at first), then a group of very discontented people. Very irritated at times, they were.
Please don't take this wrong, for I love...dearly...the Bible, but many of the narratives leave out some of the human details what Moses (and others) went through to obtain their mighty testimonies. Yes, I am looking forward to having the time to sit and listen to all these great heroes and heroines stories! Won't that be fun!
At 24 years in education, my career is more than half completed. I want Exodus 9:16 fulfilled within me: that His Purpose, His Power, His Name Proclaimed be fulfilled through me, that I be at Peace with His Decisions for me, that, while I may knock on doors, that He open only that keep me in His Perfect Will.
Would love to hear to hear from you...where are you in this journey of life to remain in His Perfect Will?
Blessings to you today!
The scripture's background refers to when God was sending the plagues up0n Pharaoh and the people, to when God was reminding Moses that He could have totally wiped out the Israelites, also, but, no, there was a plan...a plan that included you and me.
Aren't you thankful?
Sometimes, in our day-to-day lives, when we want to question, "Why me, Lord?", this scripture contains the words upon which to rest.
Just last week in one of my classes and then later with my colleagues, I shared that when I obtained my master's degree in secondary administration and curriculum, I felt driven, led...a God-chosen decision...to obtain that particular master's degree. Since then, though, every time I have applied for any administrative or curriculum position, I have never been selected. Not once. None. I remain in the classroom; this is my 24th year, 15 years after earning and receiving that degree.
Could it be that I obtained that degree to be able to give that very testimony?
For then, I had to finish it. Still, deep in my soul, when I get very still and listen, I still feel that affirmation that I (or we...yes, a God-led decision) made the right degree choice. Yes, the peace returns even now. I pray that in that setting of education that the testimony built within my narrative spoke to even just one person.
If I travel back to Moses' time, I just have to think that he must have thought a time...or two...or three..."Why me, Lord?" Think about all that he went through...a man, a stutterer, lacking confidence, dealing with an upset King and a group of excited people (at first), then a group of very discontented people. Very irritated at times, they were.
Please don't take this wrong, for I love...dearly...the Bible, but many of the narratives leave out some of the human details what Moses (and others) went through to obtain their mighty testimonies. Yes, I am looking forward to having the time to sit and listen to all these great heroes and heroines stories! Won't that be fun!
At 24 years in education, my career is more than half completed. I want Exodus 9:16 fulfilled within me: that His Purpose, His Power, His Name Proclaimed be fulfilled through me, that I be at Peace with His Decisions for me, that, while I may knock on doors, that He open only that keep me in His Perfect Will.
Would love to hear to hear from you...where are you in this journey of life to remain in His Perfect Will?
Blessings to you today!
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Chronological Read: Thoughts about Noah
Below are the comments I posted for today's Bible read:
It has rained and rained here in Arkansas. What a great reminder this read is that He reigns...but will never rain again as He did then. As Joanne Weaver commented, His Mercy, though, is tremendous, for His heart must be breaking when He looks at our world's condition.
It's not too late to join in the read-along and enjoy the comments here.
One year on the boat! That's quite a long time. I had not noticed that length of time before.
It will be interesting one day in Heaven to hear the story of that time.
This reminds me of the song..."Sometimes, He calms the storm...sometimes, He calms me." I imagine there was quite a time when those outside wanted in...very desperately; but God had shut them in. Surely, He calmed those inside. I know I sure appreciate when He calms me during my storms.
I also thought it was interesting how the animals came to Noah. Just a gentle reminder that when we have so much going on in our lives, God takes care of details. He is ever mindful.
It has rained and rained here in Arkansas. What a great reminder this read is that He reigns...but will never rain again as He did then. As Joanne Weaver commented, His Mercy, though, is tremendous, for His heart must be breaking when He looks at our world's condition.
It's not too late to join in the read-along and enjoy the comments here.
Study, Obey, Teach
My first scripture to memorize for Beth Moore's SSMT is Ezra 7:10 -
This scripture also popped off the screen last evening as I was looking up a chronological version of the Bible for possible purchase in my read-along for Joanne Weaver's Challenge to read the Bible in chronological order in one year. Here, I found a site with support materials for this challenge (some resources are free; some are not). In the writer's bio, he used the above scripture.
What does this mean? Nothing to no one but myself...just caused my spirit to quicken a bit. More like a spiritual pat on the back of confirmation of my first scripture choice. Ahhhh...thank you, Lord.
This scripture is also the Memory Verse in our Sunday School literature for next week. It almost feels like cheating to use one for another study. Wait! Any way we learn scripture is pure honesty...no cheating here!
This may be the method I use throughout the year; I'll just wait and see what scriptures He provides through the Sunday School studies and what scriptures speak to me through the chronological read. I just know that my life is busy, and if I may merge these studies, I will focus more and learn more.
What is this scripture saying thus far to me?
Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.Now read with your name substituted -
Now Tammy had determined in her heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Arkansas.Yes, that speaks to me.
- Study
- Obey
- Teach
This scripture also popped off the screen last evening as I was looking up a chronological version of the Bible for possible purchase in my read-along for Joanne Weaver's Challenge to read the Bible in chronological order in one year. Here, I found a site with support materials for this challenge (some resources are free; some are not). In the writer's bio, he used the above scripture.
What does this mean? Nothing to no one but myself...just caused my spirit to quicken a bit. More like a spiritual pat on the back of confirmation of my first scripture choice. Ahhhh...thank you, Lord.
This scripture is also the Memory Verse in our Sunday School literature for next week. It almost feels like cheating to use one for another study. Wait! Any way we learn scripture is pure honesty...no cheating here!
This may be the method I use throughout the year; I'll just wait and see what scriptures He provides through the Sunday School studies and what scriptures speak to me through the chronological read. I just know that my life is busy, and if I may merge these studies, I will focus more and learn more.
What is this scripture saying thus far to me?
- Study: I want to complete this read of the Bible. Never have I read the entire Bible. I have been all over it; just not a complete read. Yes, I write that with shame. (NOTE: Completer is my one word for the My One Word Challenge.) As a growing Christian, I am more convinced than ever that IN His Word is where I need to be.
- Obey: All of it. There are places in my life where I need to be a better Christian. I am certain that through these studies and focuses that He is going to continue to speak to me about those particular places! He is just that kind of God!
- Teach: Besides two classes at church, I want to partake in teaching my daughter more, the children in our church more, my grandgirls more, me more. Just more.
How are you studying or learning the Bible more this year?
Blessings as you read.
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