The Day Evie's Homework Blew My Mind.

 

A few weeks ago Evie was listening to a podcast for a night class she is taking at the University. The podcast was a discussion about the 30th anniversary of the ADA (American's with Disabilities Act). In the discussion, Alice Wong, a disability activist, reflects on the fact that the LAW can only give us the "standard" but it doesn't REALLY change ANYTHING if people don't follow it. 

Not only that, but if people just MEET the law, but go no further than what is recommended or required as the "bare minimum" to following the law, then we still don't see a truly inclusive day to day experience for people living with disabilities. After all, there's no ADA police...so the only way we know when the law is broken is when someone goes to the trouble of filing a lawsuit, and is that really how we want to go through life? 

For example, when Evie and I walk around the University, for example, there is often only ONE accessible entrance, and it's often the back of the building, through a remote parking ramp, or next to a dumpster. Huh...is that equal access? Does that feel truly inclusive if you, as a person perhaps in a wheelchair, can't use the same door all your friends do? 

Alice Wong then made a statement that resonated to my core, "ACCESSIBILITY IS LOVE." 

I sucked in my breath and got teary eyed and said to Evie, "THAT IS THE GOSPEL!" 

Evie said, "What?" 

Accessibility is LOVE! 

In the Old Testament we had "The Law." The Law that God gave us showed us the standard, showed us the WAY to righteousness...but it couldn't MAKE us righteous...it could only show us HOW to be righteous. And guess what? NO ONE can uphold the standard of the Law except God. So how can we ever have ACCESS to Him if we are always falling short? 

Then came Jesus...and He gave us COMPLETE ACCESS to God through his sacrifice on the cross. He DID uphold the Law, and He DID meet the standard and then He took on our punishment for EVERY SINGLE way in which we fall short. He stands as our full access High Priest before God to attest that we are worthy and in a right relationship with Him. 

So, our HEART condition, our LOVE is the true path to accessibility. We can advocate, we can legislate...but that only goes to changing the LAW, it doesn't create a HEART change in people. What our world needs is Jesus. Our world needs His UNFAILING LOVE. Our world needs His Full Access Pass so that we can be in right standing with our Holy, Righteous God. 

Why? If He's so loving, why doesn't He just forgive us WITHOUT Jesus's death and resurrection? 

Because what is JUST about that? What would be JUST about all of our sins going UNACCOUNTED for and just giving out all access passes to all of us? That wouldn't be what we want! Heaven would be HELL! There MUST be penalties for all broken laws or there is NO JUSTICE. I want to see people pay for their sins...but then that means I MUST PAY for MY sins. 

Unless Jesus pays for them. 

And He has...He already has, for all of us! But we need to accept that and turn to Him and say, "I can't do the rest of this without you, Jesus! Thank you for paying for my sins...come into my life and strengthen me through your Holy Spirit to live and walk with YOU through the rest of my life...I want FULL ACCESS to what You are offering! I will no longer be a slave to my sin, I will be a bondservant of the Living God, the one who paid my ransom." 

Accessibility is Love. And God showed that love for the whole world when He sent His one and only Son, that Whoever will believe in HIM will not perish, but have LIFE ETERNAL.... full access forever and ever. 

The Tears of Silent Sparrow

 

Evie and her instructor on the corner of a busy street.

Today we had tears...lots of tears during our orientation and mobility lesson. 

Evie's been using a cane since she was 3 years old. But that doesn't mean she "relied" on the cane, and that doesn't mean that she used it to independently navigate busy or dangerous terrain. 

Now that we are looking at her starting college however, the game plan has changed and we need to change with it. 

And it's scary.

And it HARD.

Nobody likes to see Evie cry...it's heartbreaking...it's like seeing a baby bird who is injured. 

But tears are necessary because they reflect her realization that she can't fake her way through a lesson on her own positive attitude. No, sometimes it takes hard work, mind-bending work, gut-wrenching work. 

On the corner of one of our busiest neighborhood streets we saw her reach her breaking point today. The realization that life isn't safe. The realization that cars, speed, and distractions can equal injury and harm. The realization that there are no promises and there aren't really any shortcuts to true independence. 

It's terrifying as a parent of a child with disabilities to hear people speak so lightly of crosswalks, speed limits and handicap parking spots as if they shouldn't have to be bothered with these inconveniences because they are slowing them down or moving them further away from where they would like to be. 

All we are looking for is a way to keep our loved ones safe! 

Ultimately, though, I come back to one solution. My only solution. 

The government cannot save us.

The money cannot save us.

The rules cannot save us.

The Law cannot save us. 

Only God can save us. 

If I look anywhere else for solace, safety or salvation, I will be disappointed. 

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5 

Hem her in, Lord. Hem in her in. Keep her safe in this crazy, broken world. Lay your hand upon her. 

Sometimes

sometimes i forget 

i wasn't guaranteed today,

sometimes i forget

that you hear me when i pray,

sometimes i forget

the mountains are footprints of your design,

sometimes i forget

that i am yours and you are mine.

sometimes i get lost

in all the world will say is true,

sometimes i trade my faith

as an earthly bargain tool,

sometimes when i see 

uncertainty in their eyes

i begin to panic; 

my own fear begins to rise. 

then you rescue me

with your words from ancient days,

showing me your mercy,

as you provide in every way,

you remind me that you've written

all of this in history

and to fix my eyes on you

because you're always fixed on me.

Seek Him, Earnestly...

Photo Courtesy of Ian Lindsay

Father God, Sovereign LORD, Jehovah Rapha ~ You are the God who heals.

Only You can sustain us.
Only You can extend us.
Only You can strengthen us.
Only You can purify us.

Your mighty hand extends to all the corners of the earth.
Your presence is great and as deep as the darkest parts of the oceans.
Your majesty soars higher than the heavens.

Only You are creator.
Only You are defender.
Only You are redeemer.
Only You are healer.

Your angel armies swoop down and battle the darkness-
Enemies fall at the sound of the trumpets.

The oppressor,
opposer,
destructor,
His power cannot stand- He has no power in Your presence.

The enemy flees -
Your land is free - I'll proclaim it today and in all of my days.

You are God alone and Your Word can heal. Your Word can topple the enemy today.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion in the house of Judah.
I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away and there will be none to deliver.
I will go away and return to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face; 
In their affliction will they earnestly seek me. Hosea 5: 14-15 NASB

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11: 6 NASB

Communion ~ A Celebration in our Solitude, Solidarity, and Savior

Photo credit: Dadion Gomez

Last night our church held an on-line service. I will be honest, I have so many mixed emotions about the fact that we have been told by our government not to gather. 

• I feel relief because it allows me (a long proclaimed hypochondriac and highly anxious individual) to stay "safe" in my home. 
• I feel frustrated that I can't see our loving church family and friends as we look forward to doing every week.
• I feel perplexed at how we seem to have lost our right to gather and worship freely in a democratic society. (Please, this is not a political post, just an honest one about my mix of emotions). 

So, last night, when we gathered as a family in front of our TV and streamed our worship service on-line, I was excited that our pastors had told us to prepare our own Communion elements before hand. Cool, breaking bread with the two most important people in my life...my husband and my daughter.

And, as Pastor Alex began speaking during our time of Communion, I instantly thought of how it was for the early church, and how it IS in SO MANY places around the globe...where Christians are persecuted for their beliefs and where they take Communion together despite the risk of imprisonment, torture and death.

Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I held the bread and juice tightly and I felt throughout my soul the deep longing to be taking the elements of Communion IN my church building WITH my church family. But we couldn't. We absolutely couldn't, and that was a feeling I had never experienced before. 

The persecution of Christianity still goes on every day too. It's not just "in the days of Nero" or in some distant past that we see depicted in etchings on cave walls. It is really happening now, every day, around the world. We see this is confirmed in recent studies, for example:

While alarming, the British study is not surprising. It affirms 10 years of Pew Research showing increasing governmental restrictions on religious activity worldwide. The latest Pew report indicated that Christian groups were harassed in 144 nations in 2016, up from 128 the year before, with China leading the world in government-sponsored restrictions on religious exercise. Muslims were second most targeted, persecuted in 142 countries. ~ Journal Review, 12/6/2019 

This is why I'm praying Psalm 91 daily for our family, for our community, and for our world. This virus is not "just a virus." This virus is the just one more attack from our real enemy. My husband and I were watching the second movie in the Hunger Games, and there was a line "Remember who the real enemy is."

So true.

The "real enemy" is not the person hoarding toilet paper, nor the person who makes the declaration that we need to close non-essential businesses. The "real enemy" is the opposer, Satan, who opposes freedom and wants us bound in slavery to him. He loves to see us separated from each other, he loves to see us bickering over who is at fault and who should have done what to prevent this from happening. Let's not give him a foothold with our anger and fear.

Let's celebrate our victory through our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Let's celebrate that we can still break bread and still worship God. Let's pray for healing and peace and celebrate the victory we have over death in Jesus's victory over the grave.

God, have mercy over all the earth and all its inhabitants. We are a desperate people and we need your healing to be poured out upon us. You are God, Most High, and we humble ourselves before you and plead your wisdom, healing and peace cover us today. Amen.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91: 1-2 NKJV

Is This Our Year of Jubilee?

Father God, I praise You for the sunshine and I praise You for the rain. You are the Beginning and the End. No other God before You and none after You.
You are LORD of all Creation and You are LORD over all.
We continue to question and wonder and search for answers during this time of trial over our world. God, may we all earnestly seek YOU...for we are told in the book of Hebrews that we must believe in You and in earnestly seeking You we will see our reward.
So, what is Your word for me today? You bring the word JUBILEE.
I can hear the song in my head:

"Behold, He comes, riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun, at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
Out of Zion's hill salvation comes." The Days of Elijah by Robin Mark

And what is that time, God? Jubilee is a time to show our faith in You, and rest in You, and allow our storehouses to be depleted as we live off of all the abundance and excess that You have provided us in years past.  

God, I have often marveled at the idea of the year of jubilee. I have often asked, "How can we get one of those?"

We live in a world of go, go, go, and busy-ness and excess and distractions. But now, God, now that has been stripped from many of us and we feel anxious and baffled and lost.

So, God, my prayer is for us to settle into our jubilee. My prayer is that we will see Your steadfast love and provision as we are required to "be still". Today, I turn off my TV and I turn to Your Book and I look for You and wonder at Your amazing character.

As I have learned, Father God, the year of jubilee was a time to celebrate and reclaim our personal liberty in the freedom we have found from our sinful character. We look to You and ask You to dig out our sinfulness and restore our hearts anew with the fruits of the Spirit.

I also have learned that the year of jubilee was a time to restore true prices on property. Oh, God, how we need this in our world. In particular I know we need more affordable housing in our very city and surrounding cities. Perhaps this is Your appointing for how this will be done. I do not know the answers, but suddenly I see some clarity in the "reset". Because, what is OUR property? Does it not all come from You?

Finally, I see how the year of jubilee is a time to live the simple life. I'm starting to value things that I never held of value before. I'm saving that little bit of soap left in the bottom of the container. I'm snacking less because I don't know how long to make it last. I'm reusing the tin foil that I cover baking dishes with. God, I will praise You in this time of questions and uncertainty for I know You work ALL things for the good of those who love You. Romans 8:28

God, do all things line up and point to this quarantine as being the year of jubilee? Probably not. But is this where You are turning my eyes today? Yes. You have reminded me through song, and Word that at a point in time in our world's history, they took an ENTIRE YEAR off from sowing and reaping to REST in You.

Would this have been our choice had we not been forced into this? No. Did any of us see it coming and were we all prepared? No. Let us learn from this. Let us see that our security lies not in our cars, nor our homes, nor our money. We have no guarantees in this life. No one true thing other than You, God.

Have mercy on us today. May today be another giant LEAP forward in the solution to this crisis. Give wisdom and strength to those serving in our medical, scientific, political and emergency-driven industries. We need these people strong and healthy and wise and level-headed, and we need Your healing and provision.

In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen

They Weren't My Words Anyway

The grass withers and the flowers fall, 

but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8 NIV

As I reflect on how little I write these days, and how often I used to write, I miss being able to go back and read some of the stories and narratives that once I put onto this little digital thing called the internet.

You see, I once did a lot of guest blogging for a special needs ministry blog. And often, I would connect my stories to my personal blog here because they were our stories; the stories of my family, and how our faith grew or was shaped through our journey.

I never kept hard copies of what I wrote because to me, "it would always be on the internet."

Now, however, my personal blog here has a number of posts that are from those "guest blogging days" and give you a taste of what my post was about, but then contain a link that goes NOWHERE. Literally, it takes you to a FORBIDDEN page.

I felt quite melancholy when I realized this. My stories were gone. None of them have "an end." It's as if you start a tv show and only get 1/3 of the way through every single episode!

But God quickly put my feelings in check. He reminded me that everything around us is temporary and that it all belongs TO HIM.

Every sunrise, every stream, every mountain.
Every heartbreak, every fever, every tear.
Every word, every breath, every step. 

If it were God's will for those words I wrote to still be found, He would make them findable. If God has a new story He wants me to tell, He will have me write it. If God meant for those stories I typed to be for one special period in time, then that is where they are and that is where they'll stay.

Because, as much as I'd like to claim ownership of those words and rights to those stories, the fact of the matter is, they weren't my words anyway.  They belonged to God. 

This Sunday Morning.

Pixabay Image

They struggled to put some socks on her feet, 

Their own hands cold, their own hearts weak, 

I knelt to help, not knowing how, 

But moved by the gesture I saw just now. 

In her face I glimpsed a familiar kind, 

Like a grandma from a long-past time, 

She wanted to talk, had stories to tell,

She was all alone and her health wasn't well.

I'm lost in her stories and wish I could stay,

How do I turn now and walk away?

Go back to my home where I'm fed and warm,

Praying for God to shield her from harm? 

Be with her, God, do not hide Your face...

For the Son of Man to rest had no place,

We wait on You, LORD, and know we will see,

A day for Your justice when we all fall for thee. 

Mom, I Got This...

Evie and I before we left for the NOT Back to School Pool Party

I carefully read the sign...then I RE-read the sign.

Slide Rules: No lap sitting, even for small children. Single rider only.

SINGLE RIDER ONLY?

"Evie," I said, "We can't go down together. The sign says you have to go alone."

My heart sank. I knew she loved water slides...we spent so many fun days at Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells when we lived near there. But, I couldn't think of the last time she had been on a water slide where you don't have a raft around you, and I wasn't sure that she wouldn't panic and get an arm or leg caught inside the tube. All of the dangers of this came rushing to the front of my mind like a tragic news story on 20/20.

Jeff snapped this photo of us in the car before we left. 

Good Evening, I'm Barbara Walters and this is Hugh Downs. We begin tonight with a tragic story of a blind girl who broke several limbs when she was stuck in a waterslide in Northern Nevada. Her negligent mother spoke to us earlier today...

"So..." Evie began, "Yes, I want to go."

"You want to go on the waterslide?" I repeat after her to clarify her intention.

"Yes. I-I-I got this, Mom."

"Honey, I can't go down with you. Do you know how to cross your arms and slide down? You have to go feet first?"

My blood pressure begins to rise, I start to sweat and I hear a buzzing in my ears. Even scarier than her potential disappointment is, apparently to me, her desire to do this INDEPENDENTLY!

"Yes, mom," Evie says, "I can do this. O-o-n my own." Her regular stutter is incredibly subdued when she is being assertive with me...good for her!

I grab a life jacket off the wall and fasten the straps around her. She looks like my little girl going in the kiddie pool with her goggles and wet hair, and yet she isn't that little girl anymore. She's going to go on this big, gigantic, looping, swooping, water-rushing water slide all by herself.

I proceed to follow her up the stairs to where the lifeguards are loading the children (and some adults) into the watery SHOOTS OF DOOM (as they appear now in my mind).

Somehow the lifeguard now looks like Santa Claus in The Christmas Story when Ralphie is clutching the slide and desperately pleading for his Red Rider BB Gun...I picture the lifeguard's flip flop pushing on Evie's forehead to get her to release her grip and plunge to her liquidy fate.

I think of all the things I'll say to the lifeguard...she's blind, I need to be down there to catch her, so don't let her come down before you see me in the pool, you'll want to repeat the safety rules to her...

"Mom, leave, please...I-I got this."

I snap back from my terrifying train of thought. "What? You want me to go now? You don't want me to talk to the lifeguard?"

"No, go. Mom, I got this..."

Okay. I need to let go here. I know I need to, but it is so hard. This is where my fear and my faith collide.

"I'll be right down there when you come out of the slide. Okay? And if you change your mind, just come carefully down the stairs."

I head back down the stairs and head over to the pool where the water is rushing out and little bodies sporadically come shooting out of the tubes. I see Evie approach the lifeguard through a foggy window upstairs and she talks to him and in the blink of an eye she is one of the bodies that projectiles into the raging waters of the pool.

She did it! 

As she fights to stand up, she doesn't look too happy. She's almost stunned! I'm laughing and I say, "Honey, you did it! Wow, was that fun?"

She looks around and tries to gather herself and figure out where she is. Then she looks at me and says, "Oh! Oh! I did it! Yeah, that was fun! I'm going to go on the big one now!"

Evie proceeded to go on the bigger slide with me catching her at the end, and then she even went two more times WITHOUT me waiting for her in the pool. Just doing it all on her own. I even allowed myself to stay busy talking to another mom while watching for Evie out of the corner of my eye.

Who knew that the four sweetest words I would hear yesterday were, "Mom, I got this"?

Cracked

Temple-dwelling God,

Once so distant and remote,

CRACK! Now Holy Ghost.

Written in response to The Write Prompt 

Hark! My Christmas Letter

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Whelchel

By now our family Christmas cards are reaching their addressed destinations, and, for another year I found myself unable to write a Christmas letter that sat well enough in my heart to be included.

What did I write about before?
Why can't I bring myself to write something which sums up our year and shares our lives?
How can someone who has so much to say (LOL) find no way to say it?

In recent years, when I try to compose such a letter, the words feel trite, or boastful, or redundant. So, I just stopped sending letters, and resolved to send a photo card with a Christmas greeting in hopes that it would be enough.

But today, I found myself filled with a message that I needed to share. The message started with a few lines in a very well known Christmas Carol, "Hark!" the Herald Angels Sing:

Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King !"

In the form of an infant...helpless...exposed; the God of our Creation laid aside His due glory and came to earth. 

He came so that He could die...so that WE no longer would have to suffer that same type of death...

He came for US, the sons of earth...He, the one true GOD, came so that we may be born again in his SPIRIT. 

He came so that we could be free from our bondage to sin over and over an over again...He came so we could be made holy and have a close, personal relationship with Him. 

Hark! Listen! PAY ATTENTION!     

YOU  DO   NOT WANT TO MISS THIS.

In the Old Testament, God resided in one place...the Holy of Holies ... and ONLY the most High Priest could even approach Him! But NOW...because of Christmas, because of Easter...because of BIRTH, DEATH, RESURRECTION and ASCENSION... we have GOD with us every minute of every day...COMPLETELY accessible as a HOLY GHOST. 

AMAZING...He is always with us.

SCARY...He is always with us. 

OVERWHELMING...He is always with us. 

So, THIS is my Christmas letter...because what WE did this year is nothing compared to what HE did this year.

Oh, how He loves us.

Merry Christmas!!! 

Set the Table

I rise to another day,
I set my sights on you,
Their voices try to shout me down,
Try to break me through and through.

My mission here before me,
I set my sights on you,
Their words fly as hurled spears,
And they pierce me through and through.

My day leads me into war,
I set my sights on you,
Their taunts are vicious stones,
And meant to leave me black and blue.

A new day and another room,
I set my sights on you,
A table set by you for me,
In the presence of foes so true.

Are You Still Watching?

We don't have cable television nor do we have Direct TV...satellite, any of that...We just have a monthly subscription to Netflix and we love it!

There are no commercials with which to contend, and I can watch whatever I want whenever I want it! I also love that Netflix will stop after it's shown you three straight episodes of a show and will say, "Are you still watching?" You have the option to hit CONTINUE or go back to the menu.

Clearly, their belief is, "We'll make this convenient in that we'll start three episodes in a row without making you do any work...BUT, we also know that you don't want to fall asleep and then miss an entire season of a TV show, so we'll stop at three and make YOU decide if you're ready to go on.

I wonder what life would be like if God would stop progressing our LIVES whenever we tuned out on him.

I think I would still be 10 years old.

How OFTEN do we fall asleep and STOP WATCHING God?.

How OFTEN do we have God running in the background while we're doing other things, and suddenly we are three episodes in and have missed the story?

We have so many distractions in our lives these days: social media, sports, games, family...all of them CAN be good, but all of them can become idols that pull us away from God and take a position of utmost importance in our daily lives. 

ARE WE STILL WATCHING GOD?

Here's the irony in my writing, and COMPLETING this particular blog post...it's been sitting in my drafts folder for three years. THREE YEARS it took me to finish something that I had thought about writing. I'm a little surprised that when I logged into Blogger, there wasn't a pop-up window that would say: ARE YOU STILL WRITING?


Written in response to The Write Prompts

Dear, Nori ~ Entry 2 of my Journal

Dear, Nori~

I kind of had a break through yesterday.  You know how we shared our mornings together?  Buddy (Jinxy) would wake us both up waaaay too early, but then you and I would sit back down together after I'd fed you both, and you'd talk to me and I'd drink my coffee.  Well, since you've been gone, I've hated the mornings.  I had an ache in my stomach so big and empty that I didn't want to eat, and the smell of the coffee would make me panic because it signaled the start of another day without you here.

I went from being a morning person to being a sad girl who only wanted to sleep the day away.

Of course I couldn't, I had to get up and walk up those stairs at 5:45 for Evie, because I knew that she needed me to be "normal," as much as possible anyway.

So, what happened yesterday?

Well, remember how much I loved to sing at church?  I had accepted the opportunity to fill in this weekend for student ministries worship.  I didn't know at the time that I accepted that our world was about to be turned upside down by losing you.  And, since you've been gone, I haven't felt much like singing.  I haven't felt much like praising.  I haven't felt much like living.

But, yesterday, I suddenly realized I NEEDED to practice because I hadn't learned any of the music. So, as I drove to pick up Evie Jo from school, I plugged my iPhone into the stereo in the car and started playing the set list.

Oh.my.goodness.

God knew what he was doing when he lined up the stars and got me to say "yes" to singing this weekend.  I'm sure they planned the set list weeks ago, but here is the first song I am scheduled to lead.

Nori, can you believe it?  The lyrics were God speaking directly to me:

Tammie, how you WAKE in the morning sets your tone for the day.  When you WAKE, you must have hope, you must call on me first and fore-most.  I know you loved your mornings with Nori...she is still with you in spirit.  Just as you can't SEE ME, and you can't see and feel her physically, she is forever with you and I AM FOREVER WITH YOU.  Let this eternal love break through your darkness.  REJOICE and HAVE HOPE for this type of love NEVER fades.

I needed that so much, Nori.  I needed to know that "moving on" didn't mean forgetting you.  I needed to know that washing the blanket you died in didn't take you any further from us.  I needed PERMISSION to get stronger and start to heal.

I'm going to pray now, the way we did together when I read my devotions with you in the morning:

Dear God, thank you for sending music to help me start to heal.  Thank you for helping me WAKE this morning with some hope in my heart.  Hope enough to drink my coffee.  Hope enough to eat a granola bar.  Hope enough to laugh through my tears.  Thank you, God for creating this eternal love which will never die even though our bodies die.  Amen.

I love you, Nori.  I'm sure I'll have more to say later.  Jinxy was dancing to this song with Evie and I last night as we practiced for this weekend.  I'm sure you know that, though, because I know you were with us too.

Love, Mommy. xoxoxo 

The Luscious Lies We're Fed ~ Guest Blogging Day

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; 

and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 

James 1:14-15, NKJV

Dear Mom and/or Dad, 

You're being fed a lie.  

Pinterest tells us:

• When it's real, you can't walk away.
• Do something today that your future self will thank you for.
• Maybe it's not about trying to fix something broken.  Maybe it's about starting over and creating something better.
• Do your things and don't care if they like it.  (This quote is actually credited to Tina Fey)
• If it makes you happy, no one else's opinion should matter.

These lovely quotes fall under the category of INSPIRATION or MOTIVATION when you search your favorite social media sites.

You're being fed a lie.

What those lines should actually be categorized as is: Easiest ways to destroy your life, Narcissism 101, or 5 ways to ensure you are unsatisfied with your current situation.

You're being fed a lie.

The TRUTH is: even if "it's real," you could walk away if you chose to. Doing something today just because it feels good to YOU could hurt everyone you love. Walking away from something broken and "starting over to create something better"...well, you tell me what that sounds like when you apply it to certain situations in your "broken" life.

WE'RE BEING FED A BIG, FAT VAT FULL OF LUSCIOUS LIES...

Continue reading on Comfort in the Midst of Chaos...

My Beautiful Feet ~ Guest Blogging Day

Image courtesy of Sura Nualpradid/www.freedigitalphotos.net

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? 

As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those 

who preach the good news!"

 Romans 10:15 ESV

Paul is quoting from Isaiah when he writes to the Romans about the beautiful feet of those who bring good news.  I had never really been "caught up" in this verse before, but a pastor at our church referenced it a couple of weekends ago, and I was on worship team that weekend, so I heard it four different times and it snuck deep inside my heart.

• I want to be beautiful.  
• I want to have an impact.
• I want to change the world. 

But, how can I do that as and still be a wife, daughter, mother (of a child with special needs) and substitute teacher?  I'm a sister, cousin, and friend.  

How can I do it all?

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We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Life ~ Guest Blogging Day

Evie in the Hospital following her Wilms Tumor diagnosis in 2005

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 

“Put out into deep water, 

and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, 

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night 

and haven’t caught anything. 

But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Luke 5: 4-6 NIV

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a conference in Redding, CA called GrowU.  One of the "top billed" speakers of the event was Chris Brown, who is one of my favorite storytellers because he has a tremendous gift for bringing scripture to life.  

On Saturday night he retold the story of Jesus choosing his first disciples.  And, when Mr. Brown re-tells this story, you suddenly realize how God chooses us today in the very same way as He chose people back in biblical times.  

When you read Luke 5, you read about some fishermen who are cleaning their nets and Jesus asks Simon to take him out in his boat so he can speak to a crowd who has gathered on the shore.  Now, fishermen fish at night, which means, if Simon was in and cleaning his nets, he had just been out fishing all night long.  

Working hard.  

He was exhausted. 

And Jesus comes along and says, "Hey, can you take me out in your boat?"

Ugh.

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When a Friend Speaks the Truth ~ Guest Blogging Day

Kathryn with Evie

Many are the plans in a person's heart,

but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21 NIV

I was driving home from the hospital with my baby girl in the car.  My heart was racing and my blood pressure was high.  How could God do this to us?  Just when we had reached the finish-line of chemo...boom, another punch in the gut.

I dialed my friend Kathryn and she answered.

"Can you believe it, Kathryn?  We just finished chemo and now she has pneumonia?  Oh my gosh, are you kidding me?"  I say in response to her, "Hello".

"Tammie Jo," she replied, "This is your life...stop waiting for it to change."

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Preparing for the Flood ~ Guest Blogging Day

Mount Rose in Reno Nevada

Trust in the Lord forever, 

for the Lord, the Lord himself, 

is the Rock eternal.  

Isaiah 26:4 NIV

Last week my family arrived back home to Nevada from our vacation in Florida with just enough time to make a run to the grocery store for food and supplies before the torrential rains hit Northern Nevada and California.  On our first week "back to school" after winter break, our first day was cancelled, the following two days consisted of late starts due to closed roads which had flooded and high schools being turned into shelters for evacuees, and icy roads as the temperatures were dropping and still more precipitation was falling.  School was again cancelled on Thursday and we had another delayed start on Friday.

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The Top Four Phrases I Stole from Jesus ~ Guest Blogging Day

Image Courtesy of pat138241/freedigitalphotos.net

As a parent of a child with special needs, I have found that many times I can relate so clearly to many of the emotions that Jesus experienced as he walked the earth in the form of a man.  

The fear, the pain, the rejection...so many things that you would never think GOD would experience; and yet, he did, so he CAN truly relate to us in many of our raw and brutal emotions.  

The following are my top four phrases which Christ himself uttered 2,000 years ago; long before I ever did.  And yet, it brings me so much comfort to know that "he gets it."

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