Saturday, March 11, 2017

Abandon: Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday has become a true joy for me. This community is so warm and inviting. I've built relationships through reading and responding to people who have poured out their hearts in just five minutes. I'm ecstatic at the realization that I will finally be meeting some of them in real life this summer! (There are still some tickets available if you think you want to join us in Kansas City, MO this summer at the FMF Retreat!)
Here's Kate's website with all the information.

This week's prompt is "Abandon".


Go!

I've been lingering on this word for the last 36 hours, ever since the prompt went live. I could take the word in a positive or a negative sense, or both.

But really? I want it to reflect hope. So here we go.

As a young child, I experienced unintentional abandonment. We were on a cross-country trip from Colorado to Oregon and somehow in the headcount, I was overlooked.
My parents didn't get far before returning to the gas station and I don't have a concrete memory of the incident, but they have told me about it.
To this day, I still have trouble with goodbyes.

My Lord, however, has told me He will never abandon me.
"For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath." Deuteronomy 4:31

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

I have had several moments in my life since the time I intentionally accepted Jesus as an independent adult that I felt abandoned. The rug was pulled out from under me, and there was nobody there. My friends weren't home or answering their phones. Another more recent time of great trial for me, my husband was away on a business trip and there were no human comforters available.
I felt so ALONE.
But do you know? I wasn't.
God knew that I can tend to rely on the ones I can see and hear, and forget to rely on Him FIRST. For that very reason, I think He orchestrates those trials to line up with the absence of human help in my life.
It is I who often abandon God's side. I run off, doing my own thing, getting excited about what I think I'm seeing ahead of me, not realizing I'm wandering away from Him.
He does not abandon me, but patiently comes alongside me.

So, I leave you with the song that brought me great great comfort in that time of trial.
"I am not alone" by Kari Jobe



(and if you have time to visit SoundCloud, my friend Shannelle Cayetano has an AMAZING cover of that song!)

Shannelle Cayetano on SoundCloud


-Tammy
P.S. Please let me know your linkup number or URL so I can find you and comment back. :)

10 comments:

  1. "God knew that I can tend to rely on the ones I can see and hear, and forget to rely on Him FIRST. For that very reason, I think He orchestrates those trials to line up with the absence of human help in my life." I am the same way and have experienced the same thing. Here's to a God that never leaves us, even when we try to leave Him! Well done! (FMF #77)

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    1. Tanya, thank you so much. :)
      I'm grateful to know I'm in good company as I travel and learn all these lessons!!
      Can't wait to read your post.
      Love,
      Tammy

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  2. What a heartening and transparent post, Tammy. And I am SO GLAD that your parents turned around!

    Love the song. A good one for me, given the event s of the past week.

    #2 at FMF this week.

    https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/03/your-dying-spouse-282-for-loves-sake-fmf.html

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    1. Andrew,
      ha ha, I'm pretty sure we're ALL glad they turned around! Oldest children are quite useful when there are five kids in the house. I was a babysitter, chauffeur, and all the other things oldest children generally are. :)

      Grateful that you took the time to type to me. I can't imagine the work. And delighted that this music ministered to you as well.

      Love,
      Tammy

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  3. I love that song and the reassurance that God will never abandon us,even though we might abandon him. I think often the times when we feel abandoned cause us to turn to him and seek him more.
    Exciting that you're going on the retreat. I would love to but as well as it being so far away the timing really doesn't work for me. I'd love to meet you all one day. I'm at #16 this week.

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    1. Lesley,
      yes, it's something about that Ocean that keeps us from meeting in person. I think in Revelation there's something about no more sea.
      I know you and I are near in our hearts, so I'll take that for now. And maybe, just maybe, one of us will get to travel to a new continent and meet!!
      Can't wait to come visit you on your blog for now.
      Love,
      Tammy

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  4. I'm so glad that God doesn't leave us alone. Oh and that Kari Jobe song...
    So good! By the way, I lobe the new thumbnail pic of you on the link up. So so pretty friend. I'm over in the 41 spot this week.

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    1. Tara,
      thank you!! I wanted to update but was hoping it would be similar enough for recognition.
      :) I'm also so glad. Thank you for always being such an encouragement.
      And the retreat? If you can afford the ticket for the retreat, He will provide the plane money. (At least, that's my attitude right now. I'm flying into Omaha which isn't as cheap as other places)
      Love,
      Tammy
      I'll be right over to read your post!

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  5. Tammy, I love this post. I tend to be like you. I run off, pursuing my own thing, and abandon God. I'm so, so thankful for His patience with my tendencies to either get ahead of Him or go my own direction. He has a way of calling us back, doesn't He? I'm so thankful for the truth that, if we are in God, we are never alone.

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    1. Jeanne,
      And this is why I am so excited that we'll both be at Retreat! :D You have built me up and encouraged me so much. Thank you for your care and friendship.
      I'm glad to not be alone in learning this as well as embracing His arms around me.
      Love,
      Tammy

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