Well, it really comes into this week's prompt. Here's Kate's linkup.
Loyal.
Loyal. Faithful. Committed. Reliable. Dependable.
I'm so thankful these days. Thankful for a loyal spouse. Thankful for the trust we share. Thankful for loyal friends. Even if we're all busy and overwhelmed in our busy lives with our children, we're available. It may be a brief 'I'm praying for you', or 'Call me in an hour', but we know we can count on those friends. I'm hearing the term 'squad' lately. I'm presuming it describes that same loyal pack that you are surrounded with.
I've always been pretty loyal. It stems from my extreme dislike of change. I'd much rather stay and work it out than try something new. That attitude has led to longevity in church family, in my marriage, in our choice of school (and it has evolved into a full-time job at said school).
Loyalty is admirable, but for people who've been hurt multiple times, it's more difficult to trust.
This is where God takes over. We trust Him. Completely. We run to Him first when we're upset. We don't vent our emotions to humans who may or may not be able to keep it secret or discern what we're 'really' saying. We don't blast veiled hurts all over the internet.
You see, He can take it. Read the Psalms if you don't believe me. David was highly emotional, but He was 'a man after God's own heart.'
God created our emotions, Jesus walked the Earth and experienced those emotions. It's okay to yell how upset you are. He'll wait it out with you. He's loyal.
Starting in Deuteronomy, He promises.
"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Here's "Loyal" by Lauren Daigle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXKG-ooExGs
Love,
Tammy
P.S. Please include your linkup # or your url. I'd love to read your thoughts on Loyal!
Lovely post, Tammy!
ReplyDeleteI am finding, more and more, that God expresses His loyalty to me in demands...now, Tokyo 2020. Decathalon.
I can't walk, says I.
"You don't have to walk, IDIOT," says God. "You have to run, fast, and I will show you how."
I have four years to relearn the things that once came naturally, and to do them at a world-beating pace. But hey...I'm not worried, because I have those four years, and He made the world in seven DAYS.
#2 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/08/your-dying-spouse-199-phoenix-rising-fmf.html
Andrew,
Deletethank you. And I can see your dedication already. Let's work on your pole vaulting skills. For me, it's a mind block. I could never get over the snap and hurl myself in the air.
I'll be rooting for you in Tokyo!
Love,
Tammy
It's such an interesting aspect of the human heart that we can know all the Truths about God and His character yet run to worldly comforts instead of the source of the only One completely true and trustworthy. Thank you for your faithfulness to share these truths here.
ReplyDeleteAmber #5 this week on FMF
Amber,
Deleteoh how right you are. I was so guilty of it, especially in college. I'd run to my friends instead of running to Him. One time in a desperate situation, not a single one of my friends was home. No answers to phone calls, nobody answered their door. Then He revealed to me my "oh, DUH!" moment.
:)
I'm getting better at this in my thirties.
Love,
Tammy
I love this and can so relate to the progression... loyalty, longevity, trust, healing. A great reminder and a great song! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteShauna (#14 this week)
Shauna,
Deletethanks so much! I can't wait to see what Loyal brought to your mind in only five minutes! :)
Love,
Tammy
Tammy, if I had known you were at the Twitter party 4 hours early I would have joined you! I hardly use Twitter but I'd like to join you all at the Twitter party- the problem is it's about 2am here. 4 hours earlier would be good!
ReplyDeleteI am also pretty loyal and not a big fan of change, but yes, our trust has to ultimately be in God and not in people, and I love that we can express how we feel to him, knowing that he can take it and that he will always be loyal. (#15)
Ha ha, Lesley. It would have been fun! :) Wow, 2am?! That's pretty late/early. It usually is during our family dinner since I'm on the West Coast, so I pop in a little later than most, but am raring to go. I think Kate's prompt usually shows up at 7pm over here.
DeleteWe can have our own Twitter party sometime, just let me know when, and we'll invite anybody else who wants to come. #FMFpreparty ?? Lol!
Love,
Tammy
Ooh great song. And so much THIS: "What is it about these kind souls across the United States (and world) that cause us to come back longing for more time together?" Yes! I love how loyal we are, but God is truly the most loyal of all. I'm in the 35 spot this week.
ReplyDeleteTara,
Deletethank you. I have missed you so much! :) You are a loyal friend, for sure! And how grateful I am for God's loyalty above all!
Love,
Tammy
Oh, I was there early too, and then couldn't get to the actual time :( Next time I'll just say hi anyway! Great insights about loyalty, such a rich and beautiful concept and it is so important when we find it in Him. Hope you have an amazing week xx
ReplyDeleteEmma,
Deleteha ha. I doubt I'll be early anymore. I'm finally at school again. Our students begin classes next week, so we're in meetings and preparing our classrooms.
Thanks for the compliments. I'm still learning, but I know more at 34 than I did at 24. So thankful for the learning, even if the process is painful at times!
Hope you also have an amazing week!!
Love,
Tammy