tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84792318766286597412024-02-20T00:59:48.382-08:00Sincerity and HopeAlways striving to be transparent and sincere as I learn what the Love of God truly means. "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15)
Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-30055370439071141712022-05-27T21:48:00.001-07:002022-05-27T21:52:47.297-07:00Heal: Five Minute Friday<p>It's probably been two good years since I joined the Five Minute Friday linkup, but the invitation to spend five minutes writing on the word "Heal" without edits was a welcome chance to immerse myself in community. <a href="https://fresh.inlinkz.com/party/14e886e2bf084d95ad0617f2f7260d2a" target="_blank">Here's the linkup for Five Minute Friday: Heal. </a><br /></p><p> Heal. Heel. </p><p>"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring
and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his
heel.”<span class="p"> Genesis 3:15<br /></span></p><p>"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10</p><p><span class="p">"</span><span class="reftext"></span>And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him." Luke 22:50-51<span class="p"></span></p><p><span class="p"><br /></span><span class="highl"><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> </span> <span class="reftext"></span><span class="p"></span></p><p><span class="p">Conceal. Don't feel. Don't let them in, don't let them see.</span></p><p><span class="p">Healing hurts.</span></p><p><span class="p">Crying hurts.</span></p><p><span class="p">Sadness is too sad.</span></p><p><span class="p">It's easier to pretend not to feel.</span></p><p><span class="p">It's easier to remain numb, callous, unfeeling, uncaring, shell shocked.</span></p><p><span class="p">It hurts to sit and feel and mourn and grieve.</span></p><p><span class="p">Everything that we couldn't control.</span></p><p><span class="p">Every way we felt controlled by uncontrollable forces.</span></p><p><span class="p">Everything we lost.</span></p><p><span class="p">We want Jesus to answer, "No more of this!"</span></p><p><span class="p">We cry out, "No more of this!"</span></p><p><span class="p">Is He silent?</span></p><p><span class="p">Is He good?</span></p><p><span class="p">Where is He when life is not good?</span></p><p><span class="p">Is God Sovreign?</span></p><p><span class="p">We read Job.</span></p><p><span class="p">That was not good.</span></p><p><span class="p">Job did not do anything to deserve it.</span></p><p><span class="p">God never told him "why".</span></p><p><span class="p">But we are allowed to ask.</span></p><p><span class="p">When I was in despair, a sweet small voice on the radio said "Salmo siete uno catorce."</span></p><h3><span class="text Ps-71-1" id="en-NIV-14978">Psalm 71</span></h3><div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span class="text Ps-71-1"><sup class="versenum">1 </sup>In you, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, I have taken refuge;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-1">let me never be put to shame.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-2" id="en-NIV-14979"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-2">turn your ear to me and save me.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-3" id="en-NIV-14980"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Be my rock of refuge,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-3">to which I can always go;</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-3">give the command to save me,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-3">for you are my rock and my fortress.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-4" id="en-NIV-14981"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-4">from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.</span></span></p></div> <div class="poetry top-05"><p class="line"><span class="text Ps-71-5" id="en-NIV-14982"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>For you have been my hope, Sovereign <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-5">my confidence since my youth.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-6" id="en-NIV-14983"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>From birth I have relied on you;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-6">you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-6">I will ever praise you.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-7" id="en-NIV-14984"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>I have become a sign to many;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-7">you are my strong refuge.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-8" id="en-NIV-14985"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>My mouth is filled with your praise,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-8">declaring your splendor all day long.</span></span></p></div> <div class="poetry top-05"><p class="line"><span class="text Ps-71-9" id="en-NIV-14986"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Do not cast me away when I am old;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-9">do not forsake me when my strength is gone.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-10" id="en-NIV-14987"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>For my enemies speak against me;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-10">those who wait to kill me conspire together.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-11" id="en-NIV-14988"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>They say, “God has forsaken him;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-11">pursue him and seize him,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-11">for no one will rescue him.”</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-12" id="en-NIV-14989"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Do not be far from me, my God;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-12">come quickly, God, to help me.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-13" id="en-NIV-14990"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>May my accusers perish in shame;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-13">may those who want to harm me</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-13">be covered with scorn and disgrace.</span></span></p></div> <div class="poetry top-05"><p class="line"><span class="text Ps-71-14" id="en-NIV-14991"><sup class="versenum"><b>14</b> </sup><b>As for me, I will always have hope;</b></span><b><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-14">I will praise you more and more.</span></span></b></p></div> <div class="poetry top-05"><p class="line"><span class="text Ps-71-15" id="en-NIV-14992"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-15">of your saving acts all day long—</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-15">though I know not how to relate them all.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-16" id="en-NIV-14993"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-16">I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-17" id="en-NIV-14994"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>Since my youth, God, you have taught me,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-17">and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-18" id="en-NIV-14995"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>Even when I am old and gray,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-18">do not forsake me, my God,</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-18">till I declare your power to the next generation,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-18">your mighty acts to all who are to come.</span></span></p></div> <div class="poetry top-05"><p class="line"><span class="text Ps-71-19" id="en-NIV-14996"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-19">you who have done great things.</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-19">Who is like you, God?</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-20" id="en-NIV-14997"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>Though you have made me see troubles,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-20">many and bitter,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-20">you will restore my life again;</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-20">from the depths of the earth</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-20">you will again bring me up.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-21" id="en-NIV-14998"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>You will increase my honor</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-21">and comfort me once more.</span></span></p></div><p> <span class="text Ps-71-22" id="en-NIV-14999"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>I will praise you with the harp</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-22">for your faithfulness, my God;</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-22">I will sing praise to you with the lyre,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-22">Holy One of Israel.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-23" id="en-NIV-15000"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>My lips will shout for joy</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-23">when I sing praise to you—</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-23">I whom you have delivered.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-24" id="en-NIV-15001"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>My tongue will tell of your righteous acts</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-24">all day long,</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-71-24">for those who wanted to harm me</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-71-24">have been put to shame and confusion.</span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-71-24">To heal, we must believe that God is faithful.</span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-71-24">Only He will have the comfort our broken hearts need.</span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-71-24">This world has trouble.</span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-71-24">The Lord is my Shepherd.</span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-71-24">Amen. <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-71-24"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6gFFvqM1-kY" width="488" youtube-src-id="6gFFvqM1-kY"></iframe></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p><span class="p"></span></p>Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-73951709223347075162020-11-13T21:06:00.002-08:002020-11-13T21:06:40.689-08:00Five Minute Friday: Cancel<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2020/11/12/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-cancel/" target="_blank"> This is part of the Five Minute Friday linkup.</a> You set a timer and write for five minutes on the word prompt without editing.<br />I began in this linkup group in 2014 or 2015. Though I'm not a frequent contributor these days, tonight I'm in the group!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This week's word is "Cancel".<br /><br />Though I'm tempted to vent my frustration as I live in a state with a high level of panic and a governor who has issued "mandates" through "emergency power" for the last 8 months straight and recently issued a "two week freeze", I am led a different direction.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><b>"Cancel</b></i> her debt," He said.<br /><br />Paid in full.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How? I come from a poor family. I have no nobility, no inheritance. I would have been doomed to work off my debt as a slave until the day I breathed my last.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Instead, He looks at me with tender, loving eyes.<br /><br /><span class="text Ruth-3-11" id="en-NIV-7184">"And now, my daughter,
don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my
town know that you are a woman of noble character." (Ruth 3:11)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He is Boaz, I am Ruth.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He is Jesus, I am chosen, beloved, highly favored.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I choose to accept this gift.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I <i><b>cancel</b></i> sin and guilt and shame when they try to tell me that "that's your name."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus has ransomed me, there is none closer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Aun cuando yo pase por el oscuro valle de la muerte, no temeré porque tú estás a mi lado. Tu vara y tu cayado me protegen y me confortan." (Salmo 23:4)<br />Even when I pass through death's dark valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the intimate form of "you", the Spanish tells me that in the very darkest of times, Jesus is intimately, dearly, close beside me, protecting me as a cherished family member.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is no formal distance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What is <b><i>canceled</i></b> this year? Our list of wrongs. Our idols. All that we worshiped before life was put on hold.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What is not <i><b>canceled</b></i>?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hope.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me." John 14:6<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.<br />Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices, oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I pray that God would <i><b>cancel</b></i> fear for you.<br />From the end of last year, at Christmas Eve service, He had me pouring through my Bible for the phrase "Do not be afraid". It was in all the gospels as the angels and even Jesus appeared to mankind.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In 2020, God is continually repeating Himself, "Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."<br /><br />Have courage, my friends. In 2020, fear is a liar, and fear is <i><b>canceled</b></i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sincerely,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tammy</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K1kXGXwT1fU" width="320" youtube-src-id="K1kXGXwT1fU"></iframe></div><br /> <br /><p></p>Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-10265543253668851722020-04-04T12:21:00.000-07:002020-04-04T12:50:34.790-07:00Now: Five Minute FridayThe prompt is “Now”. You get one word and five minutes to write whatever comes to mind. Go!<br />
<a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2020/04/02/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-now-a-gift-for-you/" target="_blank">FMF link!!</a><br />
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I don’t like to sit still. I am always looking ahead. Turning the calendar to the next month thrills me. I am always happy to help turn that page when my friends are a week behind because it doesn’t bother them.<br />
God has a plan for me and I am slowly accepting it.<br />
It’s called “Now”.<br />
I am not enjoying it.<br />
He is asking me to slow down and look at today. What can I see right now that He can do through me to speak to hearts needing to hear His reassurance?<br />
We have a lot of transitions at my school-potentially merging with the other large Christian school in town. There has been so much uncertainty about the future and this has compounded it.<br />
I have no idea what my future holds next year and if I will be classroom teaching the subjects I have previously taught and God has been prying gently every single bit of control from my chubby toddler hands. He is also asking me to empty my pockets.<br />
I have stuffed my pockets full of little things I delight in controlling.<br />
He is reminding me that this is the time to look for Him NOW, not in the future. This is our time. Each day, we are sharing the good news. Especially as tomorrow is Palm Sunday. “Hosanna” means “Lord save us.”<br />
How fitting that we cry it out each Easter.<br />
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I am grateful He has been using the words of others’ posts and writing out the clouds in my head so I can see clearly.<br />
<br />
-Tammy<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4UVmvWCaVFZPsm0PHdXqCHpSue8NDPDJ8cAtbNtp98nupKjzLdNK5P-n4GVtifpf7Dkw4IlKHdY3goZAIYKIISt2OUTGOKBTMxqBXEi5VnRpVApP8PvkISM45QEM6lzKMxrXUwsajdE/s1600/51A338D6-27F9-41CC-86FD-285DE2BF2A70.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4UVmvWCaVFZPsm0PHdXqCHpSue8NDPDJ8cAtbNtp98nupKjzLdNK5P-n4GVtifpf7Dkw4IlKHdY3goZAIYKIISt2OUTGOKBTMxqBXEi5VnRpVApP8PvkISM45QEM6lzKMxrXUwsajdE/s320/51A338D6-27F9-41CC-86FD-285DE2BF2A70.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bilingual Bible: we are studying James and even here we have the “corona” in my mind. 😂</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LyD526NbXf1j32tHuWiLaloAkgLRH2PXadkiIhTGA1VHzAwZNDWV4kgS9fJzHoo7S3aGQAxhqBsPS9UzV7k-Pn-ABTkuDtFEPDd19uoCQ9NWvqSQjOF9GGREnqcQNCxykSNprVYCoDA/s1600/56ABB4E0-EBBE-42BB-B157-3D4D5F2EA589.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LyD526NbXf1j32tHuWiLaloAkgLRH2PXadkiIhTGA1VHzAwZNDWV4kgS9fJzHoo7S3aGQAxhqBsPS9UzV7k-Pn-ABTkuDtFEPDd19uoCQ9NWvqSQjOF9GGREnqcQNCxykSNprVYCoDA/s320/56ABB4E0-EBBE-42BB-B157-3D4D5F2EA589.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to go to our room to host our Bible study via Google Hangouts </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnRgvHX5ztlDaZ1gA87LQi8GcHUvQBL3oLIrFAi8gq0uM_VHthOh92A9o9Z6vNAztnYBWTVQmY4oRf7VEX4OoHcR0uHm3mjnvJOwH5veMlwWhaErtkuo-ASHsufUwPSt704OTJ21vnHY/s1600/42731E86-A904-44A6-81DA-2543F5218146.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnRgvHX5ztlDaZ1gA87LQi8GcHUvQBL3oLIrFAi8gq0uM_VHthOh92A9o9Z6vNAztnYBWTVQmY4oRf7VEX4OoHcR0uHm3mjnvJOwH5veMlwWhaErtkuo-ASHsufUwPSt704OTJ21vnHY/s320/42731E86-A904-44A6-81DA-2543F5218146.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same passage in English...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-covering for a grocery trip. Strange days we live in!!</td></tr>
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<br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-49792319609457308312019-12-09T21:47:00.000-08:002019-12-09T21:47:08.879-08:00FaithfulIt's not Friday. I'm not spending five minutes typing.<br />But, I'm here to share. God is good.<br />
He is answering prayers.<br />
I shared with my chapel students last week some entries from a prayer journal my girls and I began in December 2018. We stopped writing our prayers and answers after I went to Guatemala. God didn't stop answering our prayers, but I kept no record. We have begun to write again.<br />
And? I am thankful. Oh how He loves to defeat cancer in the people around us! Hallelujah!<br />(and sometimes, He doesn't defeat it on Earth. He takes those people to Heaven where death has no reach. We have had those people around us as well.)<br />
My challenge to you? Write your prayers. Keep a record of the conversations you have to our faithful God. Then, mark the answered ones.<br />
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God keeps using Scripture to confirm His voice to me. Most recently? Psalm 5:12. The word Shield was on my mind during worship. I was writing down thoughts and my pen took over and wrote that word. Then on the slides of the Pastor's Power Point? "<span class="text Ps-5-12" id="en-NIV-13986">Surely, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, you bless the righteous;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-5-12">you surround them with your favor as with a shield."</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12">Then, at school reading through my "199 Promises of God" devotional book (which is not linked to any date or order), we read that exact verse as the verse of the day just after that morning. It took my breath away. I gave testimony of God using that exact verse. I shared it with all five of the classes I teach that day. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demo photo credit from Dayspring website. See the rainbow behind the date? <br />That's on EVERY page and I didn't even notice!!</td></tr>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12">Today, a similar occurrence. I had ordered a perpetual calendar, "Promises of God". I didn't even notice but the cover had a rainbow. Often this school year, friends send me pictures of rainbows via text message or tag me on social media. It happens on Monday nights often when I seem to be feeling low. Today, that calendar arrived and today's passage was the exact passage dealing with Rest that our Pastor preached on yesterday and there was a rainbow on the page (and my friend texted me two rainbows from West Florida). Just a couple days ago my friend in LA also texted me pictures of a rainbow.<br />God is really trying to reassure me that He's with me. The passage? Matthew 11:28-29.</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-28" id="en-NIV-23488"><span class="woj">“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj">He spoke in service how rest is operating in Jesus' way. In His job, His marriage, His plans, His finances, His victories. Then you are working WITH Him and it really is easy and light! </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj">I was not applying this yesterday afternoon/evening. And I became weary and burdened quickly. My poor husband is away on business and he got the full load of my emotions last night and a little more this morning. (He's trying to help me fix something on the car from a distance and I'm underqualified and don't have my head around the concept. I'm totally capable but doubt my abilities.)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj">Anyway, that rainbow and that devotional really got my attention (finally, right?!) tonight. He's got this. I need to TRUST Him fully.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj">Whew.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj">Anyway, those are some of the ways God is at work and speaking to me. Is He speaking to you? I'd love to hear about it!!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj">Love,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj">Tammy </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-5-12"><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></span></span>Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-35876886371572059352019-07-19T09:05:00.003-07:002019-07-19T09:05:57.624-07:00Distant: Five Minute FridayThough intermittent, I'm trying to utilize my posts for when I have something worth reading.<br />
I've been having a lot on my mind lately and am grateful for a chance to share.<br />This week's linkup on <a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2019/07/18/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-distant/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday</a> is titled "<i><span style="color: blue;">Distant</span></i>". We set a timer for five minutes and don't take a break to edit or re-write. This is raw, unedited, heartfelt writing that we share and comment on with each other. It's the most uplifting, encouraging writing community and I love the people behind those screens. I was blessed to meet up with many of them in real life a few summers ago at an FMF Retreat.<br />What a joy to be walking on Earth at the same time as these friends!!<br />
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Go!<br />The thought on my mind is to do with parenting. How do we ensure our children are actually being raised to follow Christ? If we don't do the work ourselves, we are expecting others to usher our children into the kingdom of God. We watch from a <i><span style="color: blue;">distance</span></i> as the Sunday school teacher or the AWANA leader once a week pours into our kids. Perhaps we pay the tuition to put them into a Christian school so they get five days a week of a spiritual environment, but our <span style="color: blue;"><i>distant</i></span> contributions will not ensure anything if we're not doing work as well.<br />
I could pay a "nursery" to care for my plant five days a week, and then pick it up at the end of the day, hoping that it would flourish in that environment. It might make it okay, but on the weekends, in the evenings, what am I doing to make sure that plant is thriving?<br />
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If I don't have my child plugged into a consistent church community because I myself am not involved, how am I being fed to pour out into my kids??<br /><br />This is a post of self-reflection because God is stirring my thoughts lately. I teach at a private Christian school, but I cannot depend on my children's teachers to do the work I am tasked to do.<br /><br />I am not allowed to be a <span style="color: blue;"><i>distant</i></span> mother, hoping that my own faith will rub off on my kids. I'm even less prepared to teach them if I'm not being prayed for and held accountable and worshiping corporately with others.<br /><br />Sure, churches are full of people and people have their own problems, but we need to try, my friends.<br />
Our children are at risk of being drawn AWAY from the love of God and what is true and right and noble and pure, because we are living in a world that wants to destroy our faith.<br /><br />How are we equipping our kids for shining in the darkness when they grow up and move out??<br />
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-Tammy<br />
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<br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-87996268541379416772019-05-03T14:24:00.001-07:002019-05-03T14:24:10.233-07:00Opportunity: Five Minute FridayI'm so excited to make my first FMF contribution of 2019.<br />I love this community and have been really living in a new year with my walk with Christ this school year.<br />
My word transformed from "All" in November. We took a family trip to the coast and the word "Still" became my new word. That was confirmed in December. <br />Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still."<br />
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This week's prompt at <a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2019/05/02/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-opportunity/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday</a> is "Opportunity."<br />Here we go:<br />
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When God gives you a dream, it may start out as a small idea that you're not even sure you'd entertain again. When the dream continues to visit you, something begins to stir and the dream becomes a passion. When you get the opportunity to take that dream and turn it into a reality, that opportunity from God becomes a direct graft into the vine. <span class="text John-15-5" id="en-NIV-26705"><span class="woj">“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5</span></span><br />
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<span class="text John-15-5" id="en-NIV-26705"><span class="woj">In March I got the opportunity to go with our church to La Oscurana in Guatemala. I had a dream two years ago to bring instruments to the children so they would be able to worship even if the music in their heads wasn't the same as the sounds they produced when they sang. God helped me every step of the way, and His grace removed all barriers.</span></span><br />
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<span class="text John-15-5" id="en-NIV-26705"><span class="woj">The children were in school when we visited and I was allowed to teach during their regular school day. I had 12 and 13 year old boys who in the afternoons ignored the soccer balls we brought and instead sat with me in the breezeway, hungry for more music instruction.</span></span><br />
<span class="text John-15-5" id="en-NIV-26705"><span class="woj">One student, even on my final day, ignored the pinata and the fresh watermelon, desperate to master the "Father I Adore You" round I had written on a notecard.</span></span><br />
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<span class="text John-15-5" id="en-NIV-26705"><span class="woj">My five minutes is up, but my story is only beginning. What God allowed me to be a part of in that little village has made me feel a new spark of life in my heart. I was born to do this. I was born to worship God, and to share that worship with new faces, in a new language.</span></span><br />
<span class="text John-15-5" id="en-NIV-26705"><span class="woj">I have no greater joy than when I work with children and sing about our Jesus!</span></span><br />
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Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-74098226660742834592018-08-30T21:16:00.001-07:002018-08-30T21:23:30.794-07:00Rush: Five Minute FridayIt has been a crazy long time since I have participated in the linkup. (Blogger actually emailed me today to see if I still wanted to receive comment notifications on my blogs. That's a warning sign.)<br />
The last FMF prompt I wrote on was May 6. <br />
Since then, I have been down and am now back at level, working on getting back up.<br />
God has been doing so much in me, carrying it on to completion and it's still a work in progress, but mostly He has been working out that word "Rest" that I received at last year's Five Minute Friday retreat. <br />
As I prayed all summer about this year's oneword365 (google it. I do mine Sept-Aug instead of Jan-Dec), I had lots of ideas, but the consistent one was the word "All". As in "<a href="https://youtu.be/3WPbs7N-E0Q" target="_blank">you can have it all</a>" (google that song!), "I surrender all", and most recently, Jennifer Dukes Lee's book, "<a href="http://itsallundercontrolbook.com/" target="_blank">It's All Under Control</a>". <br />
Now that the back story has caught you up to date, it's time for this week's Five Minute Friday prompt and linkup.<br />
Here's the <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/08/30/fmf-link-up-rush/" target="_blank">link to Five Minute Friday</a>.<br />
The prompt this week is "Rush".<br />
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The first thing I thought of when I saw that prompt was the song "Breathe" that starts out really fast and then slows down on the Chorus. "<i>Breathe, just breathe, Come and rest at my feet. And be, just be,<br />Chaos calls but all you really need </i><i>is to just breathe.</i>" (Breathe, by Jonny Diaz)<br />
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I have been rushing so much. Rushing my kids out the door, constantly feeling the pressure of having to be somewhere on time has led to a high level of stress. Kids operate at a slower pace when they are in the primary grades. My oldest is usually ready on time and is entering middle school.<br />
It's funny that I can't even remember what life was like when she was the one entering second grade and her youngest sister was still in preschool. That was my first year as a working mom.<br />
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Rapidly <br />
Underappreciating <br />
Sitting <br />
Here<br />
<br />
<br />
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Martha was in a rush. Mary was not.<br />
Somehow I crossed that line of "being busy means I am balanced and under control."<br />
Instead, I'm overwhelmed by all the wonderful things I am doing for God, trying to make sure He really loves me.<br />
Friends, that's not Jesus and that's not Grace. That's insecurity and Satan's spinning all the plates you're holding.<br />
I am so encouraged to be reading "It's All Under Control." It officially releases September 18, but you can pre-order it now and get the first three chapters instantly in digital form. You also get a couple other freebies.<br />
This book will help you to quiet yourself, to slow down, to have the "light and easy" yoke that He offers us instead of all the extra hitches we've put on ourselves.<br />
If you're like me and tired of feeling the rush, maybe this book will also help you.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxdiMAJaZ4yXHwaeCXv753FXMlwkcCb8z64pw4kHeCjuxlB6Lj18_GV-LEjnagl3lLvY_0m17xI1n50sCk-BFREUNRKxbbRuDXVxWwQxgU6w4goBSOxvKRV_fcsUZWTrPVLyMvSbrPRY/s1600/Screen-Shot-2018-04-09-at-7.43.20-AM-427x640.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxdiMAJaZ4yXHwaeCXv753FXMlwkcCb8z64pw4kHeCjuxlB6Lj18_GV-LEjnagl3lLvY_0m17xI1n50sCk-BFREUNRKxbbRuDXVxWwQxgU6w4goBSOxvKRV_fcsUZWTrPVLyMvSbrPRY/s320/Screen-Shot-2018-04-09-at-7.43.20-AM-427x640.png" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From "It's All Under Control" by Jennifer Dukes Lee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It's so great to be back with all of my Five Minute Friday friends! I've missed you and really needed to plug in this summer, but I was in a deep retreat, and it's finally time to surface again. :)<br />
<br />
~TammyTammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-34984060753192335482018-05-06T17:14:00.000-07:002018-05-06T17:16:50.820-07:00Adapt: Five Minute FridayThis week's prompt was Adapt. I wasn't sure if I'd chime in, but after my Sunday service, I'm all pumped up and excited to share with you!! Here's the<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/05/03/fmf-link-up-adapt/" target="_blank"> Five Minute Friday link-up.</a><br />
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Life has been eventful as of late. It began a couple weeks ago with a students vs staff volleyball game. I'd had an iced blended "Dutch Freeze" from Dutch Brothers coffee and was feeling jittery and adrenaline rushed and I had shaky hands. <br />
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Two days later, I had some similar adrenaline rushing without physical activity. I began to have pain down my left tricep from shoulder to elbow, similar to a tetanus shot. Monday I was so in pain in my left upper back that I was unable to sleep well, and Tuesday's last minute chiropractic visit revealed a rib "out to China".<br />
Tuesday evening, however, I was still just not myself and finally went in to the doctor (at 8pm that means ER).<br />
My heart was okay, no heart attack, but my blood pressure was 148/104.<br />
It remained high a week later when I had stopped taking my occasional sudafed and anything else suspect to causing this ailment.<br />
I even went without coffee on Monday to give accuracy and my blood pressure was still 136/100.<br />
So, I was put on blood pressure medicine.<br />
Yesterday at Walmart, I didn't rest much before using their machine by the pharmacy, which gave me a pulse reading of 102, but my BP was 114/79. (My normal range again!)<br />
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During this ordeal, I was gifted with a chinese massage at a local place (before the follow up visit) and the verse John 14:27 was given to me.<br />
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives
do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be
afraid."<br />
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<span class="p">I have also ruminated on John 14:1</span><br />
<span class="p">"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well."</span><br />
<span class="p"><span class="p"><br /></span></span>
Since then, every verse with the word "heart" has leapt at me.<br />
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Today at church it was Psalm 27:14.<br />
(Here are my doodles)<br />
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Break it apart.<br />
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Here's my <span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>adapted</i></span> version.<br />
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"Eagerly anticipate the Lord; be steady, unwavering, and confident, have hope and be encouraged as you eagerly anticipate the Lord."<br />
(Waiting is not a punishment like waiting in line.) <br />
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That's where I am at and the timer has gone off.<br />
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To conclude, I feel that God is just wrestling control from my hands again. :) In His loving, but commanding way, He is saying, "You can eat right and exercise and commit your energy to fitness, but you are not in control of your body and health. You need to trust me in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, for better and for worse. (yes, marriage vows.)<br />
Do I praise Him when I'm up AND when I'm down? Better yet, do I trust His plans over my own?<br />
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~Tammy <br />
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My anthem lately is "Tremble" by Mosaic. I'm sharing it again. The first lyric is "peace" and it's been a steadying one for me.<br />
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<br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-12160313300763893182018-04-13T14:16:00.002-07:002018-04-13T14:25:04.223-07:00Other: Five Minute FridayThree months? This is by far the longest FMF gap I've had. <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/04/12/fmf-link-up-other/" target="_blank">Here's the linkup to Five Minute Friday.</a><br />So, here we go on the prompt "other".<br />
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"What are your other interests?"<br />
It seems like life wants us to narrow down who we are and what we do into a nice, neat package.<br />
And yet, we resist this labeling.<br />
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"I am more!" we cry.<br />
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"I want more!" is our inner cry.<br />
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You see, what is that "other" interest, pursuit, keeping you from being wholly fulfilled to the core of your soul?<br />
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These challenging thoughts have been a very clear message to me lately from the Holy Spirit.<br />
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Am I living for myself? Or am I living for God and what He wants to do through me?<br />
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These convictions don't lead to shame or guilt, but a mindfulness and a sense of renewed purpose.<br />
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Do I want my life to be filled with Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control?<br />
If so, then that person of the Holy Spirit needs to be my center.<br />
The task list can wait and the emails are going to be there when I'm done, but I need to worship.<br />
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Worship is like breathing. If you're not experiencing worship, full, unabandoned daily worship, you are not taking care of your spirit. This can be different for many of us. Worship and music are intertwined for me, but I'm a musical creature and music is my love language. I LOVE to sing praises to God and play music for Him, and to worship with others as well.<br />
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Maybe it's reading your Bible quietly, maybe it's journaling, or creating artistic verse images.<br />
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Though the timer has rung, perhaps you've begun to hear that still small voice like I have.<br />
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Blessings, friends.<br />
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Love,<br />
Tammy<br />
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This song has been stuck in my head for weeks, but I couldn't remember how it began. Every week at church I would hear the interlude in my head with the female vocals (and no words there). A friend of mine was able to find it for me, based on my "ah-ah-ah-ah" rendition of the interlude. :) Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-81113327362765673792018-01-18T20:14:00.000-08:002018-01-18T20:14:00.761-08:00Intentional: Five Minute Friday<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/01/18/fmf-link-up-intentional/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday </a>happens every week. We get a prompt Thursday night and go to our keys, sharing our words for five straight minutes and then we stop. We then share our meager fishes and loaves to edify and encourage and build community.<br />
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Tonight's word is <span style="color: #351c75;"><i>intentional</i></span>.<br />
I don't even know what to write.<br />So, poetry for five minutes, unfettered.<br />
Here we go:<br />
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Trembling<br />
Quivering<br />
Holding it back<br />
Holding it in<br />
Unwavering hope<br />
Unyielding faith<br />
And yet, pain.<br />
Emptiness.<br />
Loneliness.<br />
Where are you?!<br />
I know you're here.<br />
I feel nothing.<br />
I want everything.<br />
I want you.<br />
What are my <span style="color: #351c75;"><i>intentions</i></span>?<br />
I am fully yours.<br />
Wholly yours.<br />
I want only your fulfilling love.<br />
I am<span style="color: #351c75;"><i> intentional</i></span>.<br />
I am waiting here for you,<br />
and yet,<br />
I cannot wait.<br />
I cannot stand still<br />
I cannot stand the silence.<br />
Deafening<br />
Rushing<br />
Washing over me<br />
Tumbling me like Ocean waves<br />
Crashing<br />
Overwhelming<br />
Exhausted,<br />
Panting from all my trying.<br />
I struggle to keep my head up<br />
as I bow down<br />
What am I that you would love me?<br />
What do you see that would stop the God of the Universe?<br />
And yet, I am beautiful and wonderfully made.<br />
The curve of my chin,<br />
the sparkle in my eyes,<br />
the crinkles at the edges of my mouth when I smile,<br />
this stops you and you say it is very good.<br />
Oh my God, I cry out to you!<br />
Will you let me feel you tonight?<br />
Will you draw me into your tangible presence?<br />
I am needing you to be <span style="color: #351c75;"><i>intentional</i></span>.<br />
Stop me.<br />
Hold me.<br />
Don't let me flutter around like a restless bird.<br />
Still me<br />
Quiet me<br />
Let us be, just you and me, sitting here and let us breathe.<br />
In.<br />
Out.<br />
You.<br />
Me.<br />
Forever.<br />
<br />
<br />
~Tammy<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4eC7K19gkFimm2mIENr7-WdYmy3DqBxJa45odvhkXLwtxB8hjMhzXZya6Zb8Z8FQZbfT5kd5QpQXp7tYLK-aKRufLRveg06LbPOX-US_pz-bnRyRwDooDnA-V4kS5pSZ230An6-yt0k/s1600/IMG_E7953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4eC7K19gkFimm2mIENr7-WdYmy3DqBxJa45odvhkXLwtxB8hjMhzXZya6Zb8Z8FQZbfT5kd5QpQXp7tYLK-aKRufLRveg06LbPOX-US_pz-bnRyRwDooDnA-V4kS5pSZ230An6-yt0k/s320/IMG_E7953.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had an unusual sunspot rainbow that mirrored the other night, and I was fortunate enough to capture it with my cellphone while spending time outdoors with my girls. We took a walk and ate ice cream and enjoyed the rainbows.</td></tr>
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<br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-14051685293465076692017-12-21T12:55:00.002-08:002018-01-18T20:23:22.857-08:00Lost and LossI am trying to process my trip to Arizona. I knew my Grandma was close to her end, but couldn’t make it down when she was still in control of her life the way I had last seen her.<br />
In fact, I was faint with hunger when I landed in Tucson but was advised that she had almost passed away as I landed and I had better hurry over.<br />
<br />
I arrived as soon as I could manage and she held on for me, but could barely move her eyelids open to see me. She had suffered mini strokes, leaving her unable to share her delightful laugh that bubbled up out of her every time before.<br />
I can still see the sparkle in her light blue eyes as she joyfully filled our lives through her small acts of service. She always took great care with every task and paid attention to the smallest details.<br />
<br />
<br />
My Aunt brought her guitar to the care center and we sang and played and spent two hours after visiting had ended, singing Christmas carols, hymns she loved, and even some modern worship choruses. We had harmonies, laughter, and sweet fellowship. My sister was still there, having given up a week to be sure my Grandma was being cared for properly (she’s an RN) and she was able to address some major concerns. We harmonized just as we had so many times before. Both my Aunts and their children were also there as well as my Mom and one of my Uncles.<br />
<br />
A nurse came by and we asked if we were too loud. She said,”No. You can scream for all I care! You are singing Christian songs!”<br />
<br />
There was something special in the room that night. I may never totally understand, but my Grandma was glowing. She had such a relaxed expression in her mouth and her brow was smiling even though she couldn’t open her eyes.<br />
<br />
The next morning, she was much different. It was as if she was in a deep coma and couldn’t acknowledge our presence anymore. My Mom and I looked up hymn lyrics in Spanish on our phones and sang for hours. I spent some time alone by my Grandma’s bed, stroking her hair and holding her hands, praying with her.<br />
<br />
We went to the small church she had attended for the last 15-20 months. The pastor and his wife drove to my Grandma’s home every week and took her to church. After she fell in October, they visited her faithfully. Another visitor at the center commented to me “You have an amazing pastor. He would play songs on his phone for an hour and sing along, holding the phone by her ear!”<br />
<br />
Monday, my Grandma was the same. My Dad flew in, and we spent more time singing at her bedside.<br />
Tuesday she was still stable, so we made the journey south to see my other grandparents. We had almost reached their town when we received the call.<br />
<br />
It was hard to process the words. I knew what they meant, but I still cannot digest them.<br />
<br />
You see, my Grandma is not lost. I have not lost her. I am experiencing loss, because we are separated by a fathom I cannot cross, but I know where she is. I know that I will get to join her. I have a hope and a joy mixed with a jumble of knots in my stomach and throat.<br />
I am laughing and crying and quiet and wanting to shout and in the midst of all of it, it is well with my soul.<br />
<br />
All around me are the jingle bells ringing and bright happy Christmas pictures and lights and I want to lose myself in them and I also want to shut them out.<br />
<br />
I last saw her nine years ago and she wasn’t much for long phone calls, so my recent memories are few and far between, but I mailed her photos of my girls every year and tagged her on Facebook so she would be able to keep up.<br />
<br />
I won’t tell you that I lost my Grandma, but I am definitely at a loss right now. At a loss for words, I am fine and then I am not. I can breathe, and then I am fighting to keep back the ocean from my eyes and voice.<br />
<br />
“Jean was my Grandma, her heart was to love.<br />
She taught about Jesus, who came from above.<br />
Her life was the Gospel, she served and she gave.<br />
She’s on Earth no longer, she’s not in that grave.<br />
Goodbyes are disgusting and awful and hard.<br />
They pierce through my heart like a jagged glass shard.<br />
But someday I’ll join her and we’ll dance and we’ll sing,<br />
reunited in Heaven and worshipping our King.”<br />
<br />
~TammyTammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-75961258035855183552017-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:002017-12-01T10:00:33.464-08:00Near: Five Minute FridayIt's Friday! Time for another <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/11/30/fmf-link-up-near/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday linkup</a>. This week's prompt is "<em>near</em>".<br /><br />
Go!<br />
<br /><br />
I'll admit, the very first thing I thought with this prompt was the theme song to the movie "Titanic".<br /><br />"<em>Near</em>, far, wherever you are, I believe that my heart will go on.<br />We'll stay forever this way, you are here in my heart and my heart will go on and on."<br />
<br /><br />
I thought that maybe I could take Celine Dion's vocals and over-spiritualize that chorus, but then I thought that just getting the song stuck in your head was probably enough of an offense. (laughing over here on this side of the screen)<br />
<br /><br />
Is God really far away, or is He <em>near</em>?<br /><br />Eventually another song I sang in worship often during my college days came to mind.<br />It is scripture based, and draws lyrics from Nehemiah, another prophet, and James.<br />
<br /><br />
"Sing for joy to God our strength<br /> Sing for joy to God our strength, our strength<br /><br /> If we call to Him, He will answer us<br /> If we run to Him, He will run to us<br /> If we lift our hands, He will lift us up<br /> Come now praise his name, all you saints of God.<br /><br /> Draw <em>near</em> to Him, he is here with us<br /> Give Him your love, He's in love with us<br /> He will heal our hearts, He will cleanse our hands<br /> If we rend our hearts He will heal our land."<br />(Sing for Joy by Don Moen)<br />
<br /><br />
If you read the actual passage in James, this was a rather harsh rebuke he was issuing in Chapter 4. Not so light and fluffy.<br /><br />
James 4:7-10<br />"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30345L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30345L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup> and he will flee from you. <span class="text Jas-4-8" id="en-NIV-30346"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Come <em>near</em> to God and he will come <em>near</em> to you.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30346M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30346M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup> Wash your hands,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30346N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30346N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup> you sinners, and purify your hearts,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30346O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30346O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup> you double-minded.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30346P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30346P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text Jas-4-9" id="en-NIV-30347"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30347Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30347Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text Jas-4-10" id="en-NIV-30348"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."</span><br />
<span class="text Jas-4-10"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text Jas-4-10">Perhaps, though, when we ignore the Lord, He feels distant to us because we are not focused on the right things. He is <em>near</em>, and we can hide ourselves in the cleft of the rock, and the storms will rage around us and we will get wet, maybe even soaked, but we will not be drowned. <br />Challenges that are fierce push us, propel us to the feet of God where we cast ourselves on His mercy. He wants us to come to Him, and He will fight our battles for us!</span><br />
<span class="text Jas-4-10"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text Jas-4-10"><div class="pvc_title_with_frows">
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<em>Nearer</em> My God to Thee</h2>
</div>
<div class="b_factrow">
<a h="ID=SERP,5313.1" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=anne+murray&filters=ufn%3a%22anne+murray%22+sid%3a%229cd82cab-0920-ba51-2120-287faebbbccc%22&FORM=SNAPST"><span style="color: #001ba0;">Anne Murray</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="b_paractl">
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!<br />E'en though it be a cross that raise'th me,<br />Still all my song shall be,<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee.<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee,<br />Nearer to Thee!</div>
<div class="b_paractl">
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,<br />Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.<br />Yet in my dreams I'd be<br />Nearer, my God to Thee.<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee,<br />Nearer to Thee!</div>
<div class="b_paractl">
There let the way appear, steps unto heav'n;<br />All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;<br />Angels to beckon me<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee.<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee,<br />Nearer to Thee!</div>
<div class="b_paractl">
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,<br />Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;<br />So by my woes to be<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee.<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee,<br />Nearer to Thee!</div>
<div class="b_paractl">
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,<br />Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I'll fly,<br />Still all my song shall be,<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee.<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee,<br />Nearer to Thee!</div>
<div class="b_paractl">
There in my Father's home, safe and at rest,<br />There in my Savior's love, perfectly blest;<br />Age after age to be,<br />Nearer my God to Thee.<br />Nearer, my God, to Thee,<br />Nearer to Thee!</div>
<div class="b_footnote">
Songwriters: JOHN S HURT</div>
<div class="b_footnote">
© OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP</div>
<div class="b_footnote">
<br /></div>
<div class="b_footnote">
Timer has gone, and I will leave you with two videos. "Sing for Joy" and an amazing, tear-causing Cello version of "<em>Nearer</em> My God to Thee" performed by Stephen Sharp Nelson (The Piano Guys)</div>
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Love,</div>
<div class="b_footnote">
Tammy</div>
</span><br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-51364967525207049742017-11-11T21:58:00.000-08:002017-11-11T21:58:09.515-08:00Silence: Five Minute FridayDue to my infrequent contributions to<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/11/09/fmf-link-up-silence/" target="_blank"> FMF </a>during the school year, my blog will appear to be "<span style="color: orange;"><i>silent</i></span>". :) Our prompt this week is '<span style="color: orange;"><i>silence</i></span>'.<br />
Ready set go!<br />
<br />
The <span style="color: orange;"><i>silence</i></span> of the room, the hushed moment of intimacy shattered in a surprise attack!<br />
<br />
Torn away and dragged off to her death, she struggles to contain herself.<br />
<br />
Thrown to his feet in the crowd, she cannot meet his gaze. They announce her sins for even Caesar to hear, and yet the Rabbi is <span style="color: orange;"><i>silent</i></span>.<br />
<br />
Tears flow down her face as she steels herself for the stinging stones that will be followed by crushing cobblestones.<br />
"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!"<br />
Strangely, the whispers fade into whispers until all she finally hears is, "Woman, where are your accusers?"<br />
<br />
We, like helpless sheep, cannot defend ourselves against our accusers, but our <span style="color: orange;"><i>silent</i></span> appeals to the Lord Jesus Christ are heard.<br />
<br />
It is in the <span style="color: orange;"><i>silent</i></span> discipline of listening that we hear the voice of God. It is no coincidence that the letters which spell "<span style="color: orange;"><i>listen</i></span>" also spell "<i><span style="color: orange;">silent</span></i>."<br />
<br />
*time has ended*<br />
<br />
~Tammy<br />
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<br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-21571143099429467012017-10-27T14:23:00.000-07:002017-11-04T20:42:11.391-07:00Overcome:Five Minute Friday <div class="MsoNormal" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I saw that the prompt was “overcome”, I thought hard. Am I overcoming or am I being overcome?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have had some refining and growing experiences over the past seven days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, some reinforcement of those principles as the days have gone on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">God had my full attention, He was calling me to press into him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And yet, I still was not ready to fully embrace the calling of the moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was stirred, passionate, ready for action, and then I froze.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The results of my inhibition were the exact results I’d predicted, but the aftermath did not leave me unscathed either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I still had to learn some things about myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m still processing much of this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Remember the verse about Mary pondering this in her heart?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m trying to do more of that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m reading a book titled “Fiercehearted”, the very first story is on conflict. On embracing conflict.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the ways that going through conflict actually makes relationships deeper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m the opposite of embracing conflict. I’d rather know I’m right and hold my tongue than risk a flare of nostrils from one being challenged by my words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is a time and a season for everything, and I need to see these moments with my spiritual lenses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My battle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces. (Eph 6:12)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My friend Marie speaks of standing firm in her post <a href="http://mlsgregg.com/3017/10/26/five-minute-friday-overcome" target="_blank">here</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could so relate! I’m wanting to be Barnabas and encourage others, but sometimes that means speaking truth in love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It means bracing myself for what is right and how it can clash with what is wrong, and being willing to state that something is wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh, friends, this is a scary new place for me, and along with it is overcoming my need for approval.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*<b data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" style="font-size: 1rem;">time has ended</b>*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's the <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/10/26/overcome-day-27/" target="_blank">FMF link</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks for walking with me, one day at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Tammy</span></div>
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Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-46117793475523098462017-10-14T11:53:00.003-07:002017-10-14T11:53:47.685-07:00Invite: Five Minute FridayI participate in "Five Minute Friday" as often as I can. Weekly, at <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/10/12/writing-life-invite/" target="_blank">fiveminutefriday.com</a> we have a one-word prompt that we free-write on for only five minutes. No edits, no fanfare, just our sweet offerings in a community of gifted writers that pour out encouragement and "me too".<br />
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I was so excited to write this week and had hoped that I could incorporate the prompt into my words.<br />The prompt is "<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i>invite</i></span>" and it fits so perfectly!!<br />
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How often are we rushing through our lives? We are trying to maximize our time and be efficient, and we don't slow down for anything. We tell our kids to "hurry up" more than we tell them "I love you".<br /><br />Ouch.<br /><br />Recently, I was going to be at an appointment that I knew would take longer than I wanted it to take. I was trying to prepare my heart to have a good attitude, when God softly whispered to me.<br /><br />"What if I want to bless you? Would you be willing to linger? Would you soak and savor in that blessing from me?"<br /><br />My attitude was completely changed! All of a sudden I was looking at this with brand new eyes.<br />God was <span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><i>inviting</i></span> me to a chance to be blessed.<br />I couldn't wait!<br /><br />And I thought, what if I were looking for His blessing in every situation? Especially the difficult ones? Would I find it there, hidden from plain sight but obvious to one searching?<br />
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Last night, I was one of the lucky people in our small Oregon town to attend a Cloverton concert.<br />
Their new album, "Bloom" is full of meaningful lyrics and each song was either filling my heart, or speaking to me where I was at. Lance, the lead singer, took time in the concert to be intentional and speak to us in the audience about what God is trying to do for us. Their music ministry is by far the largest blessing I've ever received at a concert.<br />I came expecting to be entertained, but I left with my heart refreshed and my soul restored.<br />Truly, if you are anywhere near their tour, I cannot tell you enough what God is doing right now through them! They have a young lady opening for them named "Linsley" who is gifted, sweet, and even told me she'd be praying for our worship conference next week.<br /><br />How often do you meet a touring group that is selfless and giving, instead of self-focused and entitled?<br /><br />God is trying to bless us right now. We need only to look for the blessing. Will you take Him up on his <span style="color: #93c47d;"><i>invitation</i></span>?<br />
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Linsley's Song "Give it a rest" was absolutely beautiful. Her voice is such a gift!</div>
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Cloverton's new song "Here it Comes" was by far my favorite at the concert!!!</div>
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-Tammy<br />
P.S. Thank you for your comments! I have found that even though I reply well, I don't always make it over to your blog in return, and I apologize if I don't. Know that I will make an effort to read your offering as well if you tell me your linkup number.Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-25353679785109881372017-09-28T20:03:00.001-07:002017-09-28T20:03:11.534-07:00Depend: Five Minute FridayFive Minute Friday is here again, and I am finally caught up enough to participate! Here's the <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/09/28/five-minute-friday-link-up-depend/" target="_blank">weekly linkup</a> if you're interested in reading more about "<i><span style="color: orange;">depend</span></i>" this week. So much blessing awaits you! <br />
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I never thought of being <span style="color: orange;"><i>dependable</i></span> as sinful.<br />
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Growing up, I was the oldest of five children and quite Americanized. Independence and self-sufficiency were praised and I flourished in the predictability of being in control and "in charge".<br /><br />I wanted to prove that I was trustworthy and responsible and could be left alone.<br />
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All of these things are necessary for children to live on their own and survive, but in the realm of the faithful, we have much to unlearn.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><i>Depending</i></span> on somebody else, being <span style="color: orange;"><i>co-dependent</i></span>, needing somebody in order to sustain our own lives—these all are fairly uncomfortable situations for most of us.<br /><br />This is precisely where God wants us to develop faith.<br />
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He reminds us of feeding the sparrows—that their basic needs are met, and how we are worth much more than sparrows to God. How easy it is to forget, as we are coordinating schedules and packing lunches and balancing checkbooks and grocery shopping and folding laundry, that God is supposed to sustain us, not the other way around.<br /><br />"See, God? I'm doing it all! I'm Instagraming my sweet devo while I'm waiting in the pickup line." "Philippians 4:13, Lord. I can do all things! (through you, of course, but you don't have to worry about me. That friend of mine needs much more of you right now, what with her husband deployed and another one on the way.)"<br /><br />Oh, sweet sisters (and brothers), can we just remember why God calls us children? We're not supposed to outgrow our need for God.<br />*timer has sounded*<br />
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And, if you wonder if you can <span style="color: orange;"><i>Depend</i></span> on God? This song. Oh, if nothing else you do today, THIS SONG!!! (It's been my anthem this summer, and our High School worship team introduced it at school yesterday. I was beyond ecstatic!)<br />
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Love,<br />
TammyTammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-30753596915838999242017-09-09T16:54:00.002-07:002017-09-09T16:55:19.992-07:00Work: Five Minute FridayOh my friends, I miss you! Here is my submission for this week's <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/09/07/five-minute-friday-link-up-work/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday Linkup</a>.<br />
The prompt is "<span style="color: orange;"><i>Work</i></span>", which is my large reason for less contributions to FMF in general. :)<br />
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Go!<br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><i>Work</i></span> is not a word that is all negative. In fact, it's a compliment to be labeled a "hard <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i><i>er</i></span>". We are encouraged to <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> hard, to be diligent and not lazy.<br />
When, however, we have to "put in the <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span>", the tone of the word can take on a negative connotation.<br />
The same is true in marriage.<br />
This Monday, my husband and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary.<br />
For the most part, we've <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i><i>ed</i></span> hard to <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> together and <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> things out.<br />
And, most of the time, we don't have much to <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> out.<br />
This past week was a week of hard <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span>, most likely because I'm "back to <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span>" as a school teacher. We're just not getting much time together and he's been helping catch up some of my house <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> to ease my burden but it's not gaining us any time.<br />
We had an opportunity to talk about it and <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> it out. It wasn't really a fun or easy conversation, but the beauty of 13 years is that we are understanding each other better. We know what the other needs, but don't always recognize an unmet need in that area without a floodlight or a magnifying glass or a megaphone in those times of emptiness.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Company Christmas party 2004 (still newlyweds)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myself and Dave on the first day back to school (and his amazing Barracuda behind us)<br />
<a href="http://dartslantsix.wordpress.com/">http://dartslantsix.wordpress.com</a> to follow his rebuild adventures</td></tr>
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I am so so thankful that neither of us enjoy stewing and punishing the other with our hurt feelings. That our parents are still married (for both of us! it's rare with friends our ages) is one contributing factor, but I think that the <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> you put in yields you the reward.<br />
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So, if you're married, commit to <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i><i>ing</i></span> it out. If you're not married, don't rush into it until you know that they're willing to <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> at it until it <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span>s.<br />
And, if God's not at the center of your marriage? You're going to have to <span style="color: orange;"><i>work</i></span> so much harder to keep it together. He is our third strand that keeps us tightly woven. Even if one of the strands would be removed, He would still be tightly wound with the other strand.<br />
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~TammyTammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-59058759723426723802017-08-19T10:01:00.003-07:002017-08-19T14:46:35.612-07:00Speak: Five Minute Friday It's Saturday morning and I am linking up for <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/08/17/fmf-linkup-speak/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday </a> I really did intend to post this yesterday, but it's going to post exactly in the order it's needed.<br />
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The prompt is<i> speak</i>.<br />
Go!<br />
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"<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">I'm finding myself at a loss for words</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">And the funny thing is it's okay</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">The last thing I need is to be heard</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">But to hear what You would say</span></span><br />
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<i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.399999618530273px; text-align: center;">[CHORUS]</i><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Word of God <i>speak</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Would You pour down like rain</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Washing my eyes to see</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Your majesty</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">To be still and know</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">That You're in this place</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Please let me stay and rest</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">In Your holiness </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Word of God <i>speak</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.399999618530273px; text-align: center;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">I'm finding myself in the midst of You</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Beyond the music, beyond the noise</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">All that I need is to be with You</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">And in the quiet hear Your voice</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.399999618530273px; text-align: center;">[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.399999618530273px; text-align: center;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">I'm finding myself at a loss for words</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">And the funny thing is it's okay"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Instantly,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">this was the song in my head when I heard the prompt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Mercy Me released the song in 2002, but in the current age, a stillness and a quiet appeal to me greatly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">I can hear all the angry and sad and fearful voices clamoring on the internet and in the newspaper but what I really want is to hear God <i>speak</i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">His words are alive and they bring life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">One verse came up in a Facebook memory today and seems appropriate to share.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">Psalm 142:1-3</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-142-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">"I cry out to the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span>;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-142-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;">I plead for the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span>’s mercy.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-142-2" id="en-NLT-16265" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>I pour out my complaints before him</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-142-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;">and tell him all my troubles.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-142-3" id="en-NLT-16266" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>When I am overwhelmed,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-142-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;">you alone know the way I should turn."</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-142-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-142-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;">Overwhelmed is a great word to describe how I have been feeling, deep in my soul.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-142-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;">I hope you and I can just rest in the Word of God and His holiness.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-142-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-142-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;">Turn on a worship song, something that ministers to you, and let the hopelessness subside.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-142-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-142-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; position: relative;">~Tammy</span></span></div>
Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-27995308013659726552017-08-11T10:40:00.002-07:002017-08-11T10:59:55.098-07:00Place: Five Minute FridayIt's Friday and I'm joining the link-up again with so many beautiful people whose hearts are aligned! <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/08/10/place-to-land/" target="_blank">Here's the link</a>, I hope you'll try it!<br />
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This week's prompt is:<br />
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Place.<br />
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Immediately, Michael W. Smith's "Place in this world" popped into my head. <br />
I remember the first time I heard it on a secular station, shocked that a "Christian" artist would be played on a "secular" station.<br />
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If you examine the lyrics, they're not overtly Christian, though. He wrote it along with Amy Grant and Wayne Kirkpatrick.<br />
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"The wind is moving<br />
But I am standing still<br />
A life of pages<br />
Waiting to be filled<br />
A heart that's hopeful<br />
A head that's full of dreams<br />
But this becoming<br />
Is harder than it seems<br />
Feels like I'm<br />
<br />
Looking for a reason<br />
Roaming through the night to find<br />
My place in this world<br />
My place in this world<br />
Not a lot to lean on<br />
I need Your light to help me find<br />
My place in this world<br />
My place in this world<br />
<br />
If there are millions<br />
Down on their knees<br />
Among the many<br />
Can you still hear me?<br />
Hear me asking<br />
Where do I belong?<br />
Is there a vision<br />
That I can call my own?<br />
Show me I'm<br />
<br />
Looking for a reason<br />
Roaming through the night to find<br />
My place in this world<br />
My place in this world<br />
Not a lot to lean on<br />
I need Your light to help me find<br />
My place in this world<br />
My place in this world"<br />
<br />
I think it reflects the human heart well. We want to have a plan for our lives and a purpose. Well, our purpose is to glorify God and the details of the plan? Those are not always revealed to us.<br />
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I spent time with a friend recently who told me her first remembrance of me. We were in a parent panel, interviewing candidates for administrator of our school. She came in with a different background and was concerned about his financial plans. I would not have thought to ask about those. I, instead, asked him what his view was of chapel and its importance. I was currently teaching the preschool and elementary chapels, but knew that our high school needed to be spiritually fed and not put into the "church box" where it's adult church at school and unappealing.<br />
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It left an impression on her that I was concerned about the spiritual state of our school, because it's God's school. And, that if we're doing what He asks us to do, then He will definitely provide financially.<br />
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It had been my prayer that year (After reading "The Circle Maker") that our school would become God's dwelling place. That our chapel would be set apart, a sacred place (much like the church sanctuary is not the fellowship hall). Currently, our chapel services are in our cafeteria, as are the elementary and kindergarten/preschool concerts.<br />
***Timer ended here***<br />
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*wrapping up my thoughts here*<br />
If God's place is our place, if we're consumed by wanting to be aware of His presence in every place we are, then we will find "our place in this world."<br />
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At the FMF Retreat, I wasn't sure what my place was. When you have a lot of gifts, people expect to define you by one thing, and you are sometimes at a loss to define yourself. Am I a writer? A musician? A teacher? A mom? A wife? Well, yes, but even if I lost all of that, I'd have Jesus. I'd have His Spirit dwelling within me. So, I am (in Darlene Zschech's wise words) a paper cup. God fills me up and I pour out His overflow on others.<br />
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:D<br />
Love,<br />
Tammy<br />
(please leave me your url or linkup number in the comments so I can find you!)<br />
<br />
Now I want to wear light denim jeans, with a white t-shirt, and a matching denim jacket. Ha ha ha!<br />
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<br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-58115650855730213752017-08-04T10:43:00.001-07:002017-08-04T10:43:14.283-07:00Try: Five Minute FridayWoo-hoo! It's Friday again and already time for another linkup. I missed the Twitter party last night (it hits at dinnertime out here in Oregon, and my girls and I were preparing to see the community theater production of Mary Poppins.)<br />
This week's <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/08/03/fmf-try/" target="_blank">linkup is the word <span style="color: blue;"><i>Try</i></span>. </a><br />
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Test<br />
Results<br />
Yielded<br />
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As I was pondering the word "<span style="color: blue;"><i>try</i></span>", I thought of "tried and true" and being "tried in front of a jury".<br />All the <span style="color: blue;"><i>try</i><i>ing</i></span> was a result of proving and testing.<br />
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So, a poem.<br />
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<i><span style="color: blue;">Try</span></i>, <i><span style="color: blue;">try</span></i>, <i><span style="color: blue;">try</span></i> again.<br />
Failure is a part of the learning process.<br />
What leads to success in one's own eyes may be quite the opposite in another's.<br />The light bulb glows with a flick of a switch,<br />
energy pouring from wires into more wires encapsulated in blown glass.<br />
Over 99 times, this energy did not produce light.<br />
<br />
In the beginning, God said "let there be light".<br />There is no need for God to "<i><span style="color: blue;">try</span></i>", but for us, we are constantly <span style="color: blue;"><i>trying</i></span>.<br />
Our weakest efforts are the beginning of His handiwork.<br />
He flows in us and through us like the electric currents pouring into the tiny wires that are coiled precisely until light begins to dimly glow then brightly beam.<br />
His glories stream into that sacred place<br />
our bodies bearers of His grace<br />
our eyes bear image of His face<br />
and all He asks us to do is <span style="color: blue;"><i>try</i></span>.<br />
If we are plugged into His source<br />
we will not need to force<br />
His power to flow for us to glow.<br />
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Love,<br />
TammyTammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-1690919561350319402017-07-31T13:18:00.001-07:002017-08-02T21:36:58.885-07:00Reflections and Rest: Five Minute Friday RetreatI have been savoring so many memories from our retreat last weekend.<br />
Jumping back into real life has been a completely different pace than the still and quiet moments we shared in the Heartland Center in Missouri.<br />
I chose to fly a couple days early to spend time in Omaha, Nebraska with my brother and his wife and their daughter who is not quite a year old.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFPV0LOQKc4mEq_mlFwns_C-CT18qgbGSkGmkVfr0SxSBSVEqHUT1DcFqG2b8GGfK_5vPYTBnp6YkT0VLoA_yvZWthmxn2QcGYOmlebStPpidE-p-7rcnF9DF3s_EF2Ak_jYkGjrQut4/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFPV0LOQKc4mEq_mlFwns_C-CT18qgbGSkGmkVfr0SxSBSVEqHUT1DcFqG2b8GGfK_5vPYTBnp6YkT0VLoA_yvZWthmxn2QcGYOmlebStPpidE-p-7rcnF9DF3s_EF2Ak_jYkGjrQut4/s320/IMG_4713.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dear college friend and pageant sister that I hadn't seen in 13 years had time to lunch with me on the way to Kansas City! Megan also brought her darling daughter, Phoebe.</td></tr>
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When I was flying out to the FMF Retreat, I was asked often where I was going and why. <br />
To be honest, I wasn't completely sure of the "why". To meet my friends in real life, of course, but beyond that? What did God have for me and why was my heart so stirred to break bread with these women? One gem was the three hour layover in Seattle. I met a young Christian woman and we had time to reveal our hearts to each other and I was privileged to pray with her (but almost missed my flight because of it!) The bonus was I got to move to the emergency row with extra leg room. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEH4lAQPE3V_MFpiyWGdwMp3UH8soJOONtFv5yvA2M50aO0QVDMpcu6Dg91YQsQh3PsPxXkG7qpEUE5Opc4y-HC5UAuQf0tARfBbz9Xy45hYx2SXD2yJE8GJ17ep0RkgdamN108DnSwEo/s1600/IMG_4625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEH4lAQPE3V_MFpiyWGdwMp3UH8soJOONtFv5yvA2M50aO0QVDMpcu6Dg91YQsQh3PsPxXkG7qpEUE5Opc4y-HC5UAuQf0tARfBbz9Xy45hYx2SXD2yJE8GJ17ep0RkgdamN108DnSwEo/s320/IMG_4625.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new friend from Australia that I got to know and pray with during a 3 hour layover in Seattle. Natasha is amazing!</td></tr>
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His biggest gift to me was to be a messenger. Over a month before the retreat, I had the idea to make something for each of the women that would bear their name. I practiced my brush lettering, found a cute printable stationery set, and waited to hear which verses to print on that set for them. (The same passage was used for everybody)<br />
Psalm 139 and Ephesians 2:10 were both brought to my mind repeatedly. That we were intentionally made with a purpose. We are God's masterpiece. We are delightfully complex.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bjiwk1yZ_2fuN8BxYQW-aMvEyMrnh5PrDl810LwpKBD5aAf-a-vpVJYdr4psqCHFu_ZGGVGQ-wWMFgwW8jrS24ew5FpTGl7V2DIkTU-Sjp1nefGX4jWr_7VeBOxinAvP_aJQeH2D74o/s1600/IMG_4073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bjiwk1yZ_2fuN8BxYQW-aMvEyMrnh5PrDl810LwpKBD5aAf-a-vpVJYdr4psqCHFu_ZGGVGQ-wWMFgwW8jrS24ew5FpTGl7V2DIkTU-Sjp1nefGX4jWr_7VeBOxinAvP_aJQeH2D74o/s320/IMG_4073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practice Penning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa6i2w87LuAyd-YizNZw-X0XJnHO1xIRTMbOqq91-ki07vGbgjtT353REpWy2B5NAQ_LpKSjYk2Ux_RZy3ki5dKpFlY0NkdARxiSTSWydhw2nLtAuc18MskviwkDaebVq0Z2gG0aoQlE/s1600/IMG_4890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa6i2w87LuAyd-YizNZw-X0XJnHO1xIRTMbOqq91-ki07vGbgjtT353REpWy2B5NAQ_LpKSjYk2Ux_RZy3ki5dKpFlY0NkdARxiSTSWydhw2nLtAuc18MskviwkDaebVq0Z2gG0aoQlE/s320/IMG_4890.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drying step</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDjR9STNbXXFN4NT8YM3-H57zEbvWpgSTwJm4ECaePAK3BydRln269DmMxW9AoUF5qQyxvG0sB0-Qt6LEiJYq95qHcQ2kIO525u6b_lspHfDgGWWxM-KpPjSvvgQfnpjWg2sTDYgqz_k/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDjR9STNbXXFN4NT8YM3-H57zEbvWpgSTwJm4ECaePAK3BydRln269DmMxW9AoUF5qQyxvG0sB0-Qt6LEiJYq95qHcQ2kIO525u6b_lspHfDgGWWxM-KpPjSvvgQfnpjWg2sTDYgqz_k/s320/IMG_4075.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final product that each woman received (with their own name)</td></tr>
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Kate led the speaking our first night. What a treasure she is! She blessed us with our own copies of the Craving Connection book from (in)Courage.<br />
Christina Hubbard spoke from her heart and read from Psalm 139 the first night. My heart was leaping inside my chest at the confirmation!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJayAx9dpusxG-ek_XQLHpXFK19c2AhdCMx-tXSGAJA5JFtP2IlCpCwGCPDA-0uTmNIZLod3EAEFUdNFE2qYgS8AJwAbuYA1wwXONsI4vuVPVukhf6wqzghliyyrXo1L-kAOVgTb9v6YM/s1600/IMG_4749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJayAx9dpusxG-ek_XQLHpXFK19c2AhdCMx-tXSGAJA5JFtP2IlCpCwGCPDA-0uTmNIZLod3EAEFUdNFE2qYgS8AJwAbuYA1wwXONsI4vuVPVukhf6wqzghliyyrXo1L-kAOVgTb9v6YM/s320/IMG_4749.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only did he speak to our hearts, He also spoke to our wardrobes. #accidental #twinning #daytwo<br />
Christina is somebody you like right away when you meet her. She is caring and kind and so relatable! She is also not afraid to speak from where she's at. Her genuine "this is what I'm learning" makes her very approachable!<br />
Her blog is: <a href="http://www.creativeandfree.com/" target="_blank">http://www.creativeandfree.com</a> </td></tr>
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Kate graciously gave me the floor for a couple minutes while I handed out the cards after reading the passage printed on them. We also sang "He Knows My Name" (I have a maker). <br />
Oh it was so rich!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTzyXoVJqa3QD-ANpint-AuVRxNi4yniVRNmMMoo7m1NPXIKpcfW0rqx01g7zEGweJRzqAPQ0VUDvQO9Trtr2gYycmY7BtTYLszMzy2I29uGDpNX-T9VuYOLv5zClSzDleQnPLUV8BwM/s1600/IMG_4751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTzyXoVJqa3QD-ANpint-AuVRxNi4yniVRNmMMoo7m1NPXIKpcfW0rqx01g7zEGweJRzqAPQ0VUDvQO9Trtr2gYycmY7BtTYLszMzy2I29uGDpNX-T9VuYOLv5zClSzDleQnPLUV8BwM/s320/IMG_4751.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, she's better in person than I could ever have imagined! Kate is all about others. What a true gift she is. :)<br />
The entire retreat, she was giving to us and providing a space for us to connect. I hope she received as much as the rest of us!<br />
Her blog is: <a href="http://katemotaung.com/" target="_blank">http://katemotaung.com</a> </td></tr>
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I unintentionally coordinated with my roommate, Alice William. And, my mind-reading friend Jeanne also matched me Friday night. This was just a piece of the pie.You see, Five Minute Friday is also Five Minute Family. These sisters? They understand me. Somehow, in all my quirkiness and social awkwardness, I found them, and they've embraced all my muddy ramblings and found the gold nuggets buried within. <br />
<br />
I found the people who speak my language, though we all speak differently.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRnHMxzRQRVAmubbti3BMOjJTsorpDqWp9wf32J2Q49ql2KxCzGkO1upPGrh10EfoE48WKUH8-ktulEpszzpQOW_658VK3U9LE6ASGxgrCA9DuxTI-ccMmqmGOxLMC7sTN2yZhQBrplo/s1600/IMG_4721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRnHMxzRQRVAmubbti3BMOjJTsorpDqWp9wf32J2Q49ql2KxCzGkO1upPGrh10EfoE48WKUH8-ktulEpszzpQOW_658VK3U9LE6ASGxgrCA9DuxTI-ccMmqmGOxLMC7sTN2yZhQBrplo/s320/IMG_4721.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oregon and Rhode Island...we're coastal and cute!<br />
Alice has a treasure trove of faith and wisdom. Her blog is a weekly memory verse challenge, and her depth of love for God is rich. I am very touched to be called her friend and delighted to have been paired as her roommate!<br />Her blog is: <a href="http://walkinginword.com/" target="_blank">http://walkinginword.com</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFFGQe6x1yjclvrLXIDxFQ-0vdTTK5y-kRUbGqW0aWi4dou3aCDeWGQvZX3rp7_hwfinJeLBgNaBXWMdd88hiypIYWw-uC5Q_zCWpvIAqf_6Rv3QjinACW5wVlDPRrvHhfcWSVMyKudw/s1600/IMG_4720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFFGQe6x1yjclvrLXIDxFQ-0vdTTK5y-kRUbGqW0aWi4dou3aCDeWGQvZX3rp7_hwfinJeLBgNaBXWMdd88hiypIYWw-uC5Q_zCWpvIAqf_6Rv3QjinACW5wVlDPRrvHhfcWSVMyKudw/s320/IMG_4720.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeanne and Tammy Jean...both with Colorado roots :)<br />
Jeanne is raw and real and always listening for what God has to say. She continues to try to improve what is already a beautiful, faithful walk. You want to be her friend. Forever!<br />Her blog is: <a href="https://jeannetakenaka.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">https://jeannetakenaka.wordpress.com</a></td></tr>
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Anita Ojeda, Jeanne Takenaka, Alice William and I got up before the sun on Saturday to take a morning walk, which ended up being a shared love of God's creation and snapping photographs. There were a couple of hills to make it count as exercise, but it was such a leisurely pace and a safe place to just breathe in the beauty of the morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1G2iPbpOrLPfwPgYMGFPeUnWu6w7UnbHf4or-J4_euNVOJjXAmEPo0Z2V8VaGaADMzbYaWhucbWUzwfZKExbMjdFq0UbzZtT721GtCB9sfRZSv8-weHWvHJ8VTLVw3VEiB82JEkZyNQ/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1G2iPbpOrLPfwPgYMGFPeUnWu6w7UnbHf4or-J4_euNVOJjXAmEPo0Z2V8VaGaADMzbYaWhucbWUzwfZKExbMjdFq0UbzZtT721GtCB9sfRZSv8-weHWvHJ8VTLVw3VEiB82JEkZyNQ/s320/IMG_4725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
All of Saturday was filled with becoming a better writer and a more connected person. We had such joy and laughter together! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqQnBf_8E8zNmOJF7ofq147B9m-GX4J8jT8RboRmQQZNY23McKL-KZHAeoNoIqTzjSLNsS8yT1CAC_FXMa7PJ0_VCBffl3EKXv61C6Q-k8CM7jxhMpLm2WGHYt4irJdC4OkWf92h3KTM/s1600/IMG_4760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqQnBf_8E8zNmOJF7ofq147B9m-GX4J8jT8RboRmQQZNY23McKL-KZHAeoNoIqTzjSLNsS8yT1CAC_FXMa7PJ0_VCBffl3EKXv61C6Q-k8CM7jxhMpLm2WGHYt4irJdC4OkWf92h3KTM/s320/IMG_4760.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meghan has SO much to share! I am delighted to be connected to her. She really trusts God with everything. This is a Faith Warrior right here!<br /><a href="http://meghanweyerbacher.com/" target="_blank">http://thebloggingwriter.com</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Vt616rLpHbFnHkK4YYb9KgFucEmjnaUcDiIAfi_75EFpr3UwGLZlLFBsWr9bg5Yk_11qrwwqb4AtxAGW6fMeoE4i2sF9ejMUaO652DrPxtGE5TcfW91NrieaRhfLRB2Dnkux8iiHZio/s1600/IMG_4755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Vt616rLpHbFnHkK4YYb9KgFucEmjnaUcDiIAfi_75EFpr3UwGLZlLFBsWr9bg5Yk_11qrwwqb4AtxAGW6fMeoE4i2sF9ejMUaO652DrPxtGE5TcfW91NrieaRhfLRB2Dnkux8iiHZio/s320/IMG_4755.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen is someone I would definitely have been friends with in school! She gets me on so many levels. She even gave me a vanilla lip balm made from beeswax because she and I both burn with Burt's Bees. And we are dedicated to our coffee! :) But seriously? Jen is someone who gives without expecting anything in return. She listens well, she loves to be behind the scenes and help others.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5tm8BmbY3bu-t0JXREfEEK93gEMZeKlS3HsASeGX5qzOpEodhV6YBio6xY84Fl98OlBcNIcPvy7nuiLuTKIHTR2qk9_ea4NHJJLdHpuucdlAdEqz6SpVc7LB2aQLCU1an7e3TqGKCvk/s1600/IMG_4762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5tm8BmbY3bu-t0JXREfEEK93gEMZeKlS3HsASeGX5qzOpEodhV6YBio6xY84Fl98OlBcNIcPvy7nuiLuTKIHTR2qk9_ea4NHJJLdHpuucdlAdEqz6SpVc7LB2aQLCU1an7e3TqGKCvk/s320/IMG_4762.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolina's real name is spelled AGAPE. :) God is so strong in her life and she is sparklingly beautiful inside and out. And she really DOES give the best hugs. You must meet her for yourself!<br />
Her blog is: <a href="http://cisneroscafe.org/" target="_blank">http://cisneroscafe.org</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQKFI9br9ipF1v4dOXxabgxdC_zMgXFk-VB19GnN5kwfmX7LMOF5n1s1ZkNxUm8ZqUz9ChC5dWIhs3Yy1XDEuTvLIxij86F7N8IvA-o_9p3oCpQDWk1T9owhD62SqmEs0X6W72tMxtP4/s1600/IMG_4763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQKFI9br9ipF1v4dOXxabgxdC_zMgXFk-VB19GnN5kwfmX7LMOF5n1s1ZkNxUm8ZqUz9ChC5dWIhs3Yy1XDEuTvLIxij86F7N8IvA-o_9p3oCpQDWk1T9owhD62SqmEs0X6W72tMxtP4/s320/IMG_4763.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cyndi is an encourager. She lifts you up even when she needs lifting herself. She won't ask for anything, but I'm so grateful she shared from her heart on Sunday. Her obedience and faithfulness to God are going to lead to many hearts being changed for His glory!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-1BdsvKkngxz_M6szdqLRBXSGP5XWhk2RSUI8_n-JfRUiADuAjDs7GKqPoPbKZP-bf3R4LS_x5GQtk-tYBjEtmD5b2rHG6qaLdyqXJopoYXpsiWpOuIiDaYlg5zmWmKfovbtWkFAXvM/s1600/IMG_4764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-1BdsvKkngxz_M6szdqLRBXSGP5XWhk2RSUI8_n-JfRUiADuAjDs7GKqPoPbKZP-bf3R4LS_x5GQtk-tYBjEtmD5b2rHG6qaLdyqXJopoYXpsiWpOuIiDaYlg5zmWmKfovbtWkFAXvM/s320/IMG_4764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christina, myself and Alice at dinner at Spin Pizza</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyCM-NNXxUpqwVkbPquPsjFtO1QHBtLsd_HQxi0F0MllkZV6gJ69F6R0zbm_oszarhxI3nbYdpwL5TX0RoClMzUmmbW0ijW_cId2ii2V1VOVJ3cXkKtwn5zVruGRGsn12owHviVL-bk4/s1600/IMG_4769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyCM-NNXxUpqwVkbPquPsjFtO1QHBtLsd_HQxi0F0MllkZV6gJ69F6R0zbm_oszarhxI3nbYdpwL5TX0RoClMzUmmbW0ijW_cId2ii2V1VOVJ3cXkKtwn5zVruGRGsn12owHviVL-bk4/s320/IMG_4769.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Geisen. This woman is BRAVE. She agreed to lay on the floor with me for better lighting. Anita put that photo on Instagram. Then, just below, the real antics began.<br />Her blog is: <a href="http://www.marygeisen.com/" target="_blank">http://www.marygeisen.com</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbKUHMR-tLPL-P_sO7K1v3ljLRk51R4qf3IOzDRUXJHSIUQkwvKSCx_NC89rYRHpHFCEygx-GwSVijCh8tPp7LaJW6MZNKj2MTIn91xUc8SuOX1gW1VDzAX40gWlRIOEF5ZZf7GFNqwo/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbKUHMR-tLPL-P_sO7K1v3ljLRk51R4qf3IOzDRUXJHSIUQkwvKSCx_NC89rYRHpHFCEygx-GwSVijCh8tPp7LaJW6MZNKj2MTIn91xUc8SuOX1gW1VDzAX40gWlRIOEF5ZZf7GFNqwo/s320/IMG_4770.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That beautiful red head behind you is recoiling from my finger being poked between the two of us to prevent a photobombing...poor Holly! I didn't know I'd made contact, I just reached between us when I knew she was trying to put a goofy face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_QVVAvI19QuotAUt1A7dcL0Nir_oqHkXWzOxC7FmZk8m6Kx04jPIdnSm_EXwJ_hF1XnBhRhnUNF8qPE6nseMQQiVs8S4e9YP1KHiCv03BALgR3gKUfbEuLMVo578vNcQfMqvQI-uTnc/s1600/IMG_4771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_QVVAvI19QuotAUt1A7dcL0Nir_oqHkXWzOxC7FmZk8m6Kx04jPIdnSm_EXwJ_hF1XnBhRhnUNF8qPE6nseMQQiVs8S4e9YP1KHiCv03BALgR3gKUfbEuLMVo578vNcQfMqvQI-uTnc/s320/IMG_4771.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think Holly is still tender from my poking, so Jen and Mary made sure to make up for the photobombing snafu!<br />Her blog is: <a href="http://hollybarret.org/" target="_blank">http://hollybarret.org</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4fJ8rqbc7pj7SSU5TB_kmXaTy5o_wUj3fgLa4kn_hSGx7nxGWvjBSt5Z0a0Ir290aMMYDmnMk-lNT9Gw06i7A6ITDz3Ug1APn-Deqpb31xlOK2OeOFDBPb7SAuAo-LXePGJxwai0Ong/s1600/IMG_4809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4fJ8rqbc7pj7SSU5TB_kmXaTy5o_wUj3fgLa4kn_hSGx7nxGWvjBSt5Z0a0Ir290aMMYDmnMk-lNT9Gw06i7A6ITDz3Ug1APn-Deqpb31xlOK2OeOFDBPb7SAuAo-LXePGJxwai0Ong/s320/IMG_4809.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By the third day, the humidity had got the better of me, so I embraced Anita as we embraced our wild hairs. She has also mastered the art of self-portraits and has longer arms than I do!<br />Her blog is: <a href="http://www.anitaojeda.com/" target="_blank">http://www.anitaojeda.com</a></td></tr>
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I'm not sure I can summarize this experience well. I'm way over five minutes, ha!<br />
The biggest thing God spoke to me this trip was REST.<br />
Though I'm not sure what that looks like, I know I need to enter His Rest. I've been working too hard on His behalf, trying to be His sidekick, I think.<br />
At the retreat, I found rest. We didn't have a packed schedule, but just the right amount of scheduled time and free time. We ate together, we laughed together, we prayed together, we found safe space to share pain and doubt and hope and dream, and at the end, we are all looking forward to the greatest family reunion of all.<br />
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And, though it was extra time away from my husband and our three girls, I had extra time to meet with friends in Nebraska and spend more time with my niece, my brother, and my sister-in-law.<br />
I was able to sleep deeply and to enjoy taking it slow.<br />
I hope to take these lessons and put less on my schedule in the months to come. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZSBRn6iqu_p-2jj-DgshEJoE8H317Wo-GxmnnsOO1wiIcVPxi0CmxMs483p00W9ztYzeZYnD5A7JzHsLvydwX9TpGRNHaE2RQnqxYa48qJg2DD4XDSDw2RxkuukTQqlsDZzSTTuRBQ8/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZSBRn6iqu_p-2jj-DgshEJoE8H317Wo-GxmnnsOO1wiIcVPxi0CmxMs483p00W9ztYzeZYnD5A7JzHsLvydwX9TpGRNHaE2RQnqxYa48qJg2DD4XDSDw2RxkuukTQqlsDZzSTTuRBQ8/s320/IMG_4821.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one and only Deidra Riggs made time for a late lunch in Lincoln, Nebraska with me on Sunday. We both had French Toast and spoke about her retreat I'd attended in Nebraska two years prior, our husbands, writing, and Classic Cars. (My husband has a 67 Plymouth Barracuda)<br />Her blog is: <a href="http://www.deidrariggs.com/" target="_blank">http://www.deidrariggs.com/</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwsfpGMXYFzd2CPfIe_iXbjU33LNiG27yeWMXwz7RLnVV2YclhSu9VSjoagHqbwQGMscwyqINyZU_ftjilAyD6SSjF9CzlW-WNq8DI5qDVoIpF8kAK4Dw6Mi00SRz94t20JFRycTl7kM/s1600/IMG_4839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwsfpGMXYFzd2CPfIe_iXbjU33LNiG27yeWMXwz7RLnVV2YclhSu9VSjoagHqbwQGMscwyqINyZU_ftjilAyD6SSjF9CzlW-WNq8DI5qDVoIpF8kAK4Dw6Mi00SRz94t20JFRycTl7kM/s320/IMG_4839.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking of family, this is Claire. I have only two nieces in the world and she's the younger of the two. This trip was our first in-person encounter. She is delightful!! (My sister-in-law is an amazing Omaha, NE photographer. Book with her!)<br />Photo credit: Katie Hammond<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KatieHammondPhoto/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/KatieHammondPhoto/</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ISodV08U5IG4HCkg8fmqObr34QMd9ApDQVhkJHDLRd6Z14omR-DFgX0GLnrVhE5Bod0XpxvEbtvys6sHsSTZQtZWJLOgXv4W3n-WNuVpxX4hRQn3BcU1Ma4kUsWy2TOvzEKsVvdKUxo/s1600/IMG_4879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ISodV08U5IG4HCkg8fmqObr34QMd9ApDQVhkJHDLRd6Z14omR-DFgX0GLnrVhE5Bod0XpxvEbtvys6sHsSTZQtZWJLOgXv4W3n-WNuVpxX4hRQn3BcU1Ma4kUsWy2TOvzEKsVvdKUxo/s320/IMG_4879.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monday before flying out we walked in the park. This caterpillar was in the grass. It had a twin later on the sidewalk. It was surprisingly soft! We are much like caterpillars. We have no idea what we really look like, but we are on a journey to transformation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVJ3540x9y_RB7EdR35Kztx55O1yUrLpzv_5z45OsA1vKJLFTavi125ct9hu1ybSalE9VyRyxMDGFoXXwjUf9xgpcprkUDrobgJT0YnCJvqNtHPFp12uaD9luIshF3FuIXX1oRdNy3FY/s1600/IMG_4897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVJ3540x9y_RB7EdR35Kztx55O1yUrLpzv_5z45OsA1vKJLFTavi125ct9hu1ybSalE9VyRyxMDGFoXXwjUf9xgpcprkUDrobgJT0YnCJvqNtHPFp12uaD9luIshF3FuIXX1oRdNy3FY/s320/IMG_4897.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunset at my final airport before I drove home.</td></tr>
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I was seated next to a woman and her daughter on the final flight home. She noticed my World Vision logo on my sweatshirt (the planes get cold, folks!) and struck up a conversation that lasted two hours.<br />God is stirring her to write. She's new to all internet and writing online, etc, and I was armed with a wealth of information for her!<br />
(She took notes! Ha!)<br />When I get a chance (and her permission), I will share a link to her blog. But know this, Rachel Fisher is someone with a story and the ability to tell it!<br /><br />I am looking forward to reading the other posts, because mine is more of a journal/timeline and less of a lesson. This retreat and trip were about people and relationships and community, and so my pictures are of the people that I really got the time to know. There were more wonderful people that I didn't get time with, and <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/07/31/five-minute-friday-retreat-link-up/" target="_blank">you simply MUST read what they have shared!</a> I know I will!<br />
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I'm so hopeful I will get to meet more of you in the future.<br />
Thank you for allowing me to be sincere and share from my heart.<br />
I really can't process it all yet, so this is a rough draft. But that's what Five Minute Friday is all about.<br />
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Love,<br />
Tammy<br />
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<br />Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-2546303414239388332017-07-21T19:03:00.000-07:002017-07-21T19:04:36.566-07:00Story: Five Minute Friday Story is our prompt.<br />
What's your story?<br />
History can be broken into "His story".<br />
Time was marked BC (before Christ) and AD (anno domini) when I was in school.<br />
As I travel around the sun I am learning and seeing how my story is truly His story.<br />
I made decisions to follow Him and those are parts of my story.<br />
I made decisions to follow my own acclaim and He welcomed me with open arms, still a part of His story.<br />
The story is unpredictable but the ending is wonderful!<br />
A selfless love willing to die for the hope of returned love and devotion that ends in a forever "Happily ever after."<br />
And everyone is offered the same ending.<br />
<br />
I am at the Five Minute Friday Retreat. May this short offering bless you.<br />
Love,<br />
TammyTammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-21177656321991071002017-07-16T19:14:00.002-07:002017-07-16T19:19:03.522-07:00Comfort: Five Minute FridayIt's so good to be back at <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/07/13/where-do-you-find-comfort/" target="_blank">FMF</a>!!<br />
I am sitting in a park typing on my iPhone and my thumbs are wrecking my five minutes!!<br />
Siri is interfering with the no edit experience, I will be honest.<br />
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I was late to the party Thursday and have been meditating on the word prompt for a couple days.<br />
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The verse comfort, comfort, my people came to mind but I didn't remember the rest.<br />
My struggle with sugar for comfort when stressed also made an appearance but here in the warm summer breeze, the thought of "Come to my Fort" is where we are going.<br />
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You see, Jesus is always inviting us. And his fort is so much stronger and better than mine! Instead of seeing myself in my human standards of relationships and give and take, I need to re-evaluate his lens.<br />
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Little kids play in front of you and occasionally check in and then go back into their world. I like to think this is how He views us. Not as a needy God, upset we aren't focused on Him alone, but a much wiser, calmer grownup who isn't bothered by the little things that ruin our entire world. (The sippy cup is the wrong color, anyone?)<br />
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So if I take shelter in His fort, I will be saved.<br />
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are saved."<br />
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Will you take comfort in God's fort???<br />
We can hang out together!<br />
:)<br />
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-TammyTammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-27851849415976321812017-07-07T17:20:00.002-07:002017-07-07T17:20:27.662-07:00Play: Five Minute FridayI can't believe my last post was June 3. And yet, I can. The end of the school year was way more "full" than I had imagined.<br />So, I'm chiming in tonight for the <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/07/06/link-up-play/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday linkup</a>. In just two weeks I'll be live with the real Five Minute Friday people in Missouri! Oh wow!<br />
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Play.<br />
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"Mom, may I please play your piano?"<br />The sparkling brown eyes I've loved to gaze into for almost ten years look up with anticipation.<br />"Yes."<br />Those eyes remind me of another pair of brown eyes that also came alive when the small hands reached out for the black and white keys.<br />The sounds that resulted would either cause pleasure or dismay to the two young ears on either side of those brown eyes.<br />Hours spent alone and delighted, just making music on the piano.<br />Listening and correcting, until finally the music that was composed by others was picked out, note by note, and displayed audibly as a triumphant puzzle solved!!<br /><br />To have my daughter pick up this gift is such a joy for me! I love to hear her play. She is reading music, playing songs I once played, and picking out other songs by ear.<br />Someday I hope we will play together. For now, I just savor her love for music, which is my love language.<br />
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Stop.<br />
<br />
-Tammy<br />
I apologize for not returning comments last time. It was the weekend before school ended and life was crazy!Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479231876628659741.post-55240062198899314932017-06-03T10:41:00.004-07:002017-06-03T10:41:36.437-07:00Future: Five Minute FridayWelcome to another wonderful week of Five Minute Friday posting! We have a website now!<br />
<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2017/06/01/future/">Fiveminutefriday.com</a> So thankful to all who have worked to make it possible. :)<br />
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The prompt this week is "<b>Future</b>".<br />
<br />I had two thoughts in my head. One was investments. And <b>futures</b>. And how I know those terms are related but didn't know what "<b>futures</b>" actually were. Here's the internet's offering on the subject:<br /><i><br />"<span class="_Tgc"><b>Futures</b> are financial contracts obligating the
buyer to purchase an asset or the seller to sell an asset, such as a
physical commodity or a financial instrument, at a predetermined <b>future</b> date and price."</span></i><br />
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<span class="_Tgc">Well. I could stop now. That's Jesus right there!<br /><br />:) But I get five minutes, so I'll keep going. Jesus bought our <b>futures</b> and paid for them. We can rest knowing we are redeemed, but we have to claim that redemption!</span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc">The other thought? One of my favorite Hymns. "Because He Lives"<br /><br />The chorus says, <i>"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the <b>future</b>, and life is worth the living just because He lives."</i><br /><br />So, if Jesus is our life and our focus and our <b>future</b>, then everything is because of Him and due to Him and all for Him. Wouldn't our churches look different if we all believed this?<br /><br />If I'm investing in the <b>future</b>, I am investing in the spiritual legacy I'll leave with my children, and someday grand and great-grand children. I'm investing in the lives of the students I teach. I'm investing in the lives of this amazing FMF community by reading and responding and encouraging and "Me-too-ing"!!<br /><br />Relationships will be eternal, but nothing else will last.<br /><br />And now for the corny 90s Jesus poster.<br /><br />"My <b>future</b>'s so bright, I've gotta wear shades."<br /><br />Remember that one? There IS truth behind it, though.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset this Wednesday</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This doesn't do justice to the colors Wednesday night!</td></tr>
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<span class="_Tgc">Out of time for my five minute limit, but so glad for the <b>Future</b> because we'll both be there together!</span><br />
<span class="_Tgc">Love,</span><br />
<span class="_Tgc">Tammy</span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc">P.S. Please include your linkup number or url in your comments for me so I can find you and post and comment back!!</span><br />
<span class="_Tgc"><br /></span>Tammysincerityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.com5