ON THE THRESHOLD: Tammy Smith’s Blog

Looking Ahead

God is at work, all the time, in everything.  If there’s nothing else we can be sure of, it’s this.  When I look at the threads of my life and how He squeezes truth in the cracks over here, and shouts it from the doorposts over there, I realize that if I will but listen, He is always talking.  Always.

The problem is, His voice doesn’t sound like mine, my girlfriends’ or anyone else I know.  Sure, at times He speaks massively through them, but His “voice” is not limited to verbal sounds uttered from a human vessel.  Even if we just look at Scripture, we can see that God’s messages are given through dreams (Joseph), circumstantial arrangements (Esther), overwhelming physical manifestations (Saul), prophetic people (Elijah), and even an ass (Balaam).  Ummm, to that last point........I must say I resonate greatly with it.  That I even get to open my mouth and grunt in the presence of other people who want to know more of God and His Word makes me fall on my face in thanksgiving and worship.

So, thanks for continuing to fuel into fire the work He began or continued in you through Forever Changed.  Thank you for desiring to know what other contexts Truth will be shared in.  Thanks for being examples of people who understand that God is at work, all the time, in everything, constantly “speaking” through it all.

Upcoming Speaking Schedule:

    

March 6-7: New Life Church Women’s Retreat “Dream Big", Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark, Ohio, Contact Laurie Brown:  lbrown@enewlife.com, 614-475-8500

March 12-13: Northwest Bible Church Moms to Moms, "Marriage" , Northwest Bible  Church, Dublin,  Ohio, Contact Jamele Wenger: Jamele@columbus.rr.com

March 15-17: Soul Connection Women’s Spirituality Retreat, Olmsted Manor Retreat Center, Ludlow, Pennsylvania, Contact Jody Larson:  jody@olmstedmanor.org, 814-945-6512

April 17-18: Rural United Methodist Church Women’s Retreat, Heartland Retreat and Conference Center, Marengo, Ohio, Contact Cindy Cunningham:  pnc90@hotmail.com

April 25-26: Emmanuel Baptist Women’s Retreat, Sauders Heritage Inn, Archibold, Ohio, Contact Maryann Luring:  maluring@emmanuelbaptist.com

May 18: Heritage Christian Church Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), Heritage Christian Church, Westerville, Ohio, Contact Anji Stauffer: saa_stauffer@sbcglobal.net, 882-1289

October 24: Women Sharing Faith Conference, West Central District of            Evangelical Christian Ladies, Deer Creek Lodge, Mount Sterling, Twila Mathias: tmathias@fairfieldi.com, 740-654-3078

“So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:18

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”  Isaiah 30:21

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen…” Romans 1:20

Watching closely for Him, with you!!

Tammy

 

 

 

 

It'll Never Work

Those were the words to sum up what Mike and I were reading about our marriage:  it'll never work.  More accurately, it said something like, "The best thing about the relationship between these two types of people is how quickly it will end." 

Mike came back from an around-the-world trip to Cambodia and Africa and so bedtime had been earlier for us both as he got readjusted.  A few nights, for whatever reason, Mike decided to look at some really terrific personality profile information we've enjoyed for years.  If the doctor in me could give a little plug, I will tell you that the best personality inventory out there, hands-down, is the Myers Brigg Type Indicator (MBTI).  The reason it is so amazing is the sheer volume of decades and decades of research behind it.  It is an incredible tool for understanding, and really enjoyable, so if you've never taken it, we both would highly encourage you to do so.  (You can google MBTI or Kiersey Bates and you will have plenty to start with.)

Anyhow, when I was in my master's program in the second year of our marriage, we took this test for a class of mine and it was massive to us in helping us understand why we struggled in the ways we did.  Because it was so huge for us, Mike memorialized it by having sweatshirts made for each of us with our particular type on it. We still have them to this day, 16 years later!  The shirts show that we are opposites.

Yep, Mike and I think, process, emote, take in information, and reenergize completely differently.  Yet, contrary to the author of the article who said it would never work, we enjoy a genuinely great marriage. 

Praise the Lord, for sure. 

Actually, that's the truth -- we praise the Lord, for without understanding His perspective, peace, and purpose for our marriage, we would be doomed.  However, in His grace, He has taught us a few things which have been integral to the true love we have now.  Here are some.

Forgiveness is a lifestyle critical if marriage is going to work.
We never know what tomorrow holds, so stay in today.
Choose to focus on the good in your spouse rather than on that which you would want to change.
When in doubt, check it out.  Assumptions kill relationships.
We can either trust what a person says and does or believe they are not being honest.
Seeing each other through the eyes of Christ will eventually transform your perspective.
Check your expectations of what a good spouse is. 
Don't compare your marriage to others.

It's kind of funny, because right before Mike started perusing through the personality type information again, we had been asked to do a radio interview on marriage (to air on Valentine's Day - 880AM WRFD, Saturday at 1:00).  I think God wanted us to have a poignant reminder that with Him all things are possible and without Him, there is no hope. 

Some days more than others we can see how tough - okay, awful - a marriage with our personality preferences would be if we didn't have Christ.  We are living proof that we - or anything about us, including our relationships - are literally nothing without Him!!

GET ME BACK

I have a friend losing a baby, another diagnosed with cancer at age 24, one whose spouse lost a job for the second time this year, another whose spouse admitted to unfaithfulness, a friend suffering panic attacks from out of nowhere, and one whose son was arrested for underage drinking. 

In another vein, many people I know right now are detesting the frigid cold, raging against the demands of their work schedule, freaking out about lost money from a falling economy, complaining about political changes, and still grieving the loss of the Seinfeld sitcom.

And after 40 plus years on this earth with no problem whatsoever, my eyes have decided they want to change and not work the way they used to. I'm peering at you through the coolest pair of drugstore glasses I could find. 

What do each and everyone of these people share in common?  The desire to get back to a place of comfort.  As soon as possible.

I'll try to connect these dots, with the Lord's help.  It seems we all are infected with an insidious disease that we don't realize, but that is sabotaging the health and beauty of our days.  My friends losing their first-born child are just ready for this long ordeal to be over.  The one with the panic attack told me that she just wants to feel like herself again.  The woman with the cheating husband said she's having a hard time not just living in denial and putting on the "happy family" face.  And it was my young friend facing the cancer operation who said, "It's like we all just want to get back to comfort however we can.  Me included."

Folks in winter remember summer.  Ones losing money just wish they could get it back and many people refer to "the good old days" as being some other time in their lives.  And I keep getting ticked everytime I can't see something like I used to.  When will this be gone and things be back to "normal"?

What is this with us?  What is "normal," really?  We're obsessed with comfort, and getting there as fast as possible. 

I don't really know how else to communicate this, but I know I was supposed to write about it.  My thoughts go to Jesus, who told us all "In this world you will have trouble."  God refers to us as "strangers and aliens" as we roam about this earth because our true place of comfort is our eternal place in heaven.  The parables depict the craziness of blessing through persecution and comfort to mourners.

In other words, I'm pretty sure God's primary agenda for us is not our comfort.

I think He might be up to trying to give us His comfort, which is a whole different deal. 

However, when we are bent on getting through challenges as fast as possible, getting out the church like lightning to watch the game and take a nap, getting rid of the trouble, getting on with returning to "normal"...maybe then we miss the true opportunities for the real kind of comfort, not that counterfeit stuff.

He said He'd give us "peace that passes understanding," and cries out "comfort, comfort, oh my people."  Jesus told us He came to give us life to the full, and to consider our trials all joy because of what He does in us through them.  He says He will give us rest when we come to Him heavy-burdened. 
I guess to sum it up, if we are looking to hightail it to the place of greatest ease and comfort as quickly as possible, then we probably miss chances for true comfort found only in Christ.  Because, if you really think about it, if we're counting on sickness to go away, troubles to disappear, people to be predictable, weather to be perfect, friends to be flawless, leaders to be non-corrupt, money to be more, family members who don't disappoint, aging not to occur, and injustice to cease, then we will never experience peace, joy, or contentment.

I've been so much lately of how we do this, and have been asking God's forgiveness for my shallow, weak, "just-get-me-out" approach to strife, whether big or small.  I don't want to be a product of my society.  I want to be His creation alone, which is one that welcomes all things as permitted by Him in a greater plan that I could ever hope to imagine.

You never know...

I have been beating myself up lately, about alot of things.  One is keeping up with this blog.  Can't figure out why, but I'm still not grooving with the blog concept yet.  You'd think I would because my husband believes I have enough words for 3 or 4 people.  But anyhow, this temptation to disdain a wide variety of aspects of myself has been a reality recently. 
                                                                                                                (Romans 7:15-25)
Now, if you've heard me give a talk anywhere, you've probably know that I am radical about the importance of believers seeing themselves as the unique and important creatures God made them to be.  In other words, I've urged folks with intense passion to not take satanic bait to spend time speaking ill to that child of God in the mirror, but instead to live out the truth regardless of one's feelings. 
                                                                                                                (Ephesians 2:10)
So it is with me.  I DO stand in the truth of God's creation of me, and refuse to savor the self-abusive moments.  However, there are times like these where remaining in the truth is tough.  Whether it be a recent comment made by another, a certain time in the month, an inability to overcome a feeling, or whatever, hanging onto God's perspective can sometimes feel like it's by a thin thread.
                                                                                                                (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Just tonight, out of nowhere, someone from whom I have never received an email, just felt compelled to shoot me a quick note of encouragement.  And, in God's infinite intimate mercy, it was about one of these self-pummeling areas I've been fighting just today!  I am honestly in awe of such kindness of God that He would move another of His children to speak directly to a struggle evil was trying to win over me today.  As a result of this person's obedience, my heart is encouraged, God is on the throne in my thoughts, and His Truth prevails again.  This is how faith increases.  These are the kindnesses of God we are to treasure in our hearts to sustain us when times get tough.  This is the beauty of being His body empowered through a complete Spirit of love.  All that, from a quick email!
                                                                                                                (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
And think about it from her perspective.  Maybe she felt silly, like it might sound weird, or worried about my response.  You never know.  But, she moved with the prompting of the Spirit.  She obeyed.  And in so doing, God is getting much glory through her simple, what she thought might be barely-noticed act of obedience to encourage.
                                                                                                                 (Hebrews 3:13)
Hebrews says we need to be encouraging one another as much as we can in these tumultuous times.  I'm a living testimony on this Monday night, October 20th that you never know just how much a simple word of encouragement can be used by God...to turn a person's day around, to reaffirm the reality of God's Spirit and closeness, and to spur another person onto greater love and good deeds. 
                                                                                                                  (Hebrews 10:24-25)
I know I for one don't want to miss any opportunity to both bless and be blessed by giving someone a shout out of encouragement when God brings them to mind.      
                                                                                                                   (Colossians 4:5-6)

An Army that Shoots its Wounded?

I even hate typing that phrase, but, yep, that's what the church is too often known as.  Why, why, why do believers fall so prey to hurting others with their judgment, gossip, and comparison?  Doesn't God over and over tell us to extend His grace to others?

In the past 24 hours, people have told me these things:

"I was told I was an embarrassment at the church function because I pronounced the word 'wash' as 'warsh'."

"My husband just admitted to having multiple affairs and everyone in the Bible study knew it and not one person prayed for me during the prayer time.  However, they prayed for another gal's sick aunt."

"My marriage is a disaster because of how much I despise my wife's religion.  I hate it because it reminds me of my parents who told me over and over all the things I'd go to hell for as a child.  I can't stop taking my anger out on my wife, simply because she grew up in the same church I did."

"I really don't think the people in my church would accept me if they knew I was going to counseling."

"I couldn't sit in the baseball stands with my male friends because of what everyone in the church would think, so I just sat there ale.  None of the gals from the church talked to me, so I just ended up going home and crying.  Aren't we adults, for heaven's sake?"

"My best friend loves God but won't ever set foot in a church again because of how Christians have treated her."

"I'm scared.  One of the big guys at church told me I was oppressed."

If this doesn't make you upset, then you're either:

(1) forgetting that we are talking about the bride of Christ here
(2) grossly underestimating the sickness of the sin in your own heart, or
(3) deluded by this false expectation that Christians are supposed to be "better" than others

To point (3), Christians are humans indwelt by Christ.  When they are acting human, His fullness/reality/glory (however you want to say it) are occluded. When we are acting against our self-centered, self-glorifying, self-concerned impulses, Christ has more room to be more apparently manifest. That's only when we seem any "better" at all -- when we get out of our own way.

I really could go on and on about this topic, but I won't.  Do you have a statement that a believing brother or sister has said to you that would fit in with the top of this blog?  Or, how have you contributed to "shooting" a fellow soldier in this war against evil?

It's a fact that too many soldiers have been killed by friendly fire.  It happens when fellow fighters aren't careful.  Who have you accidentally wounded by your uncontrolled weapons of words and actions?

Thanks for thinking about it before the Lord.  We can't unenlist from the army of God (thankfully), but we can do something to change its reputation. 

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God..."  Hebrews 12:15

On the Rebound

Today at a tennis clinic I did a drill which was focused on coming back to center baseline and getting in the ready position. To do so is called “rebounding.” Balls were coming fast and furiously, and I would need to stretch to get a shot then quickly get back to center. The faster I got there, the more prepared I was for the next shot. But, I would often misstep. And rather than just quickly get back to center, I would be bummed about my missed shot because of my screw up.  Sometimes, if I didn’t get back to center quickly, or rebound, I would be off balance when attempting to take the next shot.

 
This is a great picture of the life of a believer.

 
Jesus told us in John 16:33 that life wouldn't be easy.  God's Word is clear that we will be pressed, crushed, persecuted, struck down, and just plain exposed to struggles of all kinds (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, James 1:2).  Shots will just keep coming.  To handle this onslaught, we need to constantly rebound, to get right back to the center, the core of who God is and who we are. If we don't, we'll be off-balance for the next shot.  Our lives consist of having shots come at us left and right.  However we meet them, whether really well or terribly, we must immediately get back to the core, the center, and in that balanced ready position.  That center baseline position is the secure foundation we have because of Christ.  It is essentially the comfort of who God is, who we are in Christ, and what He’s up to.  If we don’t refocus ourselves to those truths as fast as possible, we won’t be in the right posture to handle the next shot.  Especially when we are disappointed or regretful about a misstep, missed opportunity, or mistake, even then we cannot dwell on it. As quickly as possible, we must charge back to center and get squared up. It's following Paul's admonition to "forget what is behind and strain towards what is ahead"  (Philippians 3:13).  If we don’t, then very quickly one mistake leads to more.  In my opinion, maturity in the Christian life boils down to our ability to return to these central realities.   

What has thrown you off balance lately?  Is there a curve ball that has come your way in the face of rejection, betrayal, a financial hit, health crisis, marital upset or unexpected job change?  Perhaps it was as small as being left out of a social gathering.  Maybe it's as big as your child's illness.  Whatever the case, you must get quickly return to center.  Any alternative but believing that God is good all the time, that He is sovereign, that His ways are not our ways will leave us insecure, questioning, and discouraged.  The center baseline point of our lives is that God's character is altogether loving and His lavish love for us is unconditional (1 John 3:1, 4:8).  He rises to show us compassion and longs to be gracious to us (Isaiah 30:15). 

From what do you need to rebound and recenter today?

No good at the BLOG

Well, this is an official apology.  I've discovered that blogging is not yet a key on my keyring, strength in my wheelhouse, or card in my deck.  There have been no original blogs since my first a few weeks ago.  I've been trying to unclog to discover what's under the no blog, but alas, I continue to end up in a thick fog about it all.

Perhaps I just need to get some things out of my head, like how many words can come from the small, single word "blog":

LOG    LOB    GLOB    BOG    GOB    'OL    GLO   

Maybe I just need to dump the alliteration game problem I have when I think about my blog:

Bless Loved Ones of God

Bloviate at Lenth about Ongoing God thoughts

Bring Literary Opining Godward

not Bringing Little Offerings of Gibberish

but maybe it is Burdening my Life and making me Out of my Gord!

Well, whether I'm doing any of that or not, that's just a snippet of how spastic my brain goes when it encounters the word "blog."  Perhaps it's because I don't really know what a blog is supposed to be.  Is it like handing me a box of crayons and a blank piece of paper (which you would really never want to do - every partner I've ever had in Pictionary has lost), or is it more like "I have thoughts that need thought out loud"?

Whatever the case, this is it.  This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and do blog in it (as well as be glad :).  Here I go.  I'm getting a running start.  Ready for blast off...or should I say "blog off?"

Thanks for Being Loyal and Offering Grace. 

Love,
Tammy   (Big Lover Of God)

Forever Changed Devotional - Day Three

Day Three…
TRANSFORMATION OF THE MIND:  EVIL’S LIES OR GOD’S LOVE?

Shame is one of Satan’s weapons to keep you hiding from God.

Make no mistake: Shame is not the same as guilt. Guilt stems from our own wrong actions. Shame—warranted or unwarranted—is humiliation we are taught. We perpetuate shame by treating ourselves as unworthy of forgiveness.

Shame can be the penetrating tip of a lie shot at us by Satan. The real lie Satan wants us to believe is that we are too guilty to be forgiven and accepted by God. Jesus died to tell us the opposite, but Satan will pierce us so deeply with his lie that we may not be able to comprehend the truth.

Over and over, Satan will whisper, “You’re no good. Don’t even think about talking to God because He won’t give someone like you the time of day.”   

Beware, friends: Words like these create an evil trap rigged with chains for your soul. By paralyzing you with anguish, Satan will deceive you into thinking you are unworthy of God's love. Satan will trap you in a prison of misery as he devours your soul, sucking your life dry of all joy in the process.

I really don't want to give the Evil One much space: yet sometimes, we need to remember he truly does exist. Scripture reveals his existence as a spirit of evil from Genesis to Revelation. God threw Satan out of heaven because of his wicked ways. His names include: serpent, accuser, dragon, enemy, man of sin, power of darkness, devourer, devil, and tempter. These names clearly describe his dark character. Jesus called Satan “…the father of lies.”

Like it or not, Satan is real.

Satan desires to destroy the lives—yours and mine—by sin. He ambushes us with half-truths, deceit, and outright lies. He uses past experiences to plant thoughts that make us feel, hopeless, rejected, and defeated. By these, Satan deceives us into believing we are not worthy to seek Jesus. He will not rest until he robs us of our worth, future, and very souls.

So what’s our defense against him?

When we call out to God in surrender, He rescues us. Our confidence in Him is based on the rock-solid promises of God—the truth.

Satan is a liar, but Jesus is truth. Jesus’ life and death is the greatest demonstration of truth the world has ever known. That truth is: God loves us— me and you.

God did not leave you alone and defenseless in your struggle against Satan. He sent you a champion to fight for you. God’s love defeats the deceit Satan uses to enslave us. We need to stand at the foot of His cross. And look up.

Through the cross—i.e. the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection—God completely expresses that He loves all of us. At the cross, God offers us unconditional love and acceptance. And at the cross and the empty tomb, Satan is defeated in your life and mine—forever!

Crosswalk.com Break Free from Shame's Prison by Jan Coates

Forever Changed Devotional - Day Two

Day Two…

RENOVATION OF THE HEART:  GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU.

You, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

Sometimes I think that if we set any human struggle in the center of the room and peeled it back, layer by layer, when we arrived at the core we would run smack into this question of the love of God. It is the great, fundamental wondering we carry inside us: Does God love me? Really love me? Beyond tolerating me of having to love me because that’s what God does? Has God actually set His affection on me for not reason at all? If I let that in-that He loves me, that He loves ME-then even the struggle itself starts to change shape.

Often when talking about the love of God, the questions of “how” arises: How do I experience more of God’s love? I have discovered in solitude and silence that God is much more willing to love me than I have been able to let Him. Of course, you will encounter at first what wel all encounter in the silence and solitude: the deafening distractions of you other life and a thousand condemning voices. Henri Nouwen expresses it this way: In solitude I get rid of my scaffolding: no friends to talk with, no telephone calls to make, no meeting to attend, no music to entertain, no books to distract, just me-naked, vulnerable, weak, sinful, deprived, broken-nothing. It is in this nothingness that I have to face in my solitude, a nothingness so dreadful that everything in me wants to run to my friends, my work, and my distractions...the task is to persevere in my solitude, to stay in my cell until all my seductive visitors get tired of pounding on my door and leave me alone.

Nouwen says that our need to withdraw, to meet God in silence and solitude, is about shaking off our compulsions so that we can dwell in the gentle healing presence of God. There we encounter His love. In experiencing His love, we are always going to be standing on the edge of a vast ocean with our feet barely wet, longing to swim to the other side. The quest itself is what keeps us moving forward, moving deeper. Paul is saying that is we want to know something of the fullness of God, then we will camp our in the territory of His love. 

Love: Delighting in God's Tenderness by Paula Rinehart Issue #114 November/December 1999 Discipleship Journal

Forever Changed Devotional - Day One

“For this reason, since the day we heard about them, we have not stopped praying for them and asking God to fill them with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And we pray this in order that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued them from the dominion of darkness and brought them into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom they have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 1:9-14

 
Dear forever changed participant,

This scripture has been prayed for you continually for the past two months. We are so thrilled that you are coming to seek all that God has for your life. These last few days before the conference we will be sending just a few thoughts to prep our hearts for the great work God wants to do this weekend in each one of us. I pray that this isn’t just a weekend event, instead I’m asking God for it to be a soul satisfying, heart transforming, spirit uplifting, wonderful time that you will never forget because you’ve been forever changed.

So much love,

Tammy

 

Day One…

RENOVATION OF THE HEART:  THE OLD YOU HAS GONE

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The word "new" strikes a chord with most of us. There is something inspiring about getting a new anything. Shopping is one of our nation's favorite pastimes, bordering on obsession. We love to buy new things, go to new places, eat at new restaurants--you name it, if it is new, then we are interested. And if all of this is not enough, we can go a step further and get a brand new makeover for ourselves. Today, a person has several options to choose from for their new look, from whiter teeth to a whole new face. Plastic surgeons are more popular than ever as they give hope of not only a new look, but a new life. People today are desperately seeking something new and are willing to do anything to re-create themselves.

I keep thinking of the phrases "beauty is only skin deep" and "the new will wear off." The basic point in these sayings is this: surface pleasures that bring joy and excitement do not last as they eventually fade away. Our joy is not on the outside but on our inside. Our happiness begins within us. If we are not fulfilled in who we are in ourselves then we will not ever be able to buy enough new things or make ourselves look good enough to fill the emptiness. How do we find this inner joy? How can we find true contentment? Our verse today is one that should give us all great encouragement and hope. Anyone who comes to Jesus Christ is given a brand new start. "All things have become new." What an amazing promise!

Nothing we could ever buy could compare to actually being given a new start in life. Jesus promises us that we not only get a new start, but we become a new creation. We are born again in His Spirit (John 3:3-8) and are forever changed. "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25) Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He wipes all of our sins away and we are given a new start with a new life. If you are in Christ, take hold of this promise today. Do not believe the lies of the enemy who will tell you that you are still the same old sinner. Praise the Lord for His mercies and ask Him to teach you day by day how to live as His new creation. Ask the Lord to help you let go of the past and start living for Him today. Go forward, not backward.

Crosswalk.com Daily Disciples Devotion Sept 12 2007 by Tonilee Adamson and Bobbye Brooks