The Word Woven into the Code

Evie interlining her Braille assignment.

Just last weekend I attended a breakout session at my church for volunteers to help re-fuel us and our "servant-hearts". During the break out session, I learned about the impact the translation of the Bible into English had on literacy rates. According to the Washington Times: 

...in a period of 100 years reading and writing English among males in England went from about 5 percent of the population to 25% eventually reaching 40% of the population. By 1770, shopkeepers were 95% literate. Literacy in England is directly attributable to the Bible. (Creason, Washington Times, 12/11/14).

My Oversized Poster of Strong Groupsigns

Scripture certainly does give us something worth reading, and at that time it may have been some of the ONLY stuff to read. Now we are bombarded with all kinds of leisure reading options, some worthy and others not...but the Bible, unfortunately finds itself all too often resting on a lonely shelf collecting dust and cobwebs.

Fast forward a few days to today, and my daughter and I working on her Braille lesson. She was brailling Psalm 27: 1-2 which is part of our scripture memorization. As she was doing this, she recognized that she was making mistakes and wanted to fix them. I told her to just keep going and that she could interline her work (print the translation above the brailled symbols) after she was finished, and then we would make corrections the next day.

While she was working on her Braille, I was also working on mine. I was using large paper to create giant posters with CONTRACTED Braille on them so we could continue learning where she left off last year. (She was in public school, but we started homeschooling just this fall). As I was preparing a poster and reading through the various contractions, I started to take note of some unique words that I had no IDEA would be a part of the contracted Braille code.

lord

spirit

world

rejoice

rejoicing

character

ought

knowledge

shall

thyself

Of all the words that could have been transferred into a shortened code in order to make Braille easier to read for its audience...these were worthy enough to be part of that pool.

These beautifully Biblical words were suddenly a part of our lesson plan. 

Evie's Braille assignment with interlining notes,
corrections she made, and new contractions for her to work on
as she continues to practice brailling Psalm 27: 1-2

I was flabbergasted...I was moved almost to a point of tears as I felt relief wash over me. One of the toughest parts of the decision to homeschool my daughter was knowing that we were not going to have access to Braille lessons in the district anymore and I would be responsible for continuing her Braille literacy. I didn't know quite where to begin-but something in my gut today said, "Tammie, just have her start with something she knows...her memory verses."

We will begin to learn those contractions because they will occur over and over again in the scripture that we will be proclaiming in thought, word, deed...and now in Braille. For sure, God's plan is always better than my plan, and His word is a light unto my path.

For the word of God is alive and active...

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

Many are the plans...

Many are the plans in a man's heart, 

but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. 

Proverbs 19:21

We are definitely in a state of transition in my home. With the excitement of summer break approaching, the joy of launching into homeschooling next fall, and the few days that I have left to work this school year, I just feel like none of it can come fast enough.

But God continues to remind me that I need to stop looking so far ahead. There is treasure in TODAY. I may be feeling frustrated with the behaviors of students at school, or I may be anxious about Evie's finals, or I may be wishing that we already had her grades wrapped up and I could file our Notice of Intent to Homeschool paperwork...but God nudged me today in my quiet time with Him and reminded me that I have a bunch of plans in my heart...but He has plans of His own and His plan comes first. 

I cannot miss what He is doing TODAY just because I'm so excited about what our plans are for the next few months. 

I must not run ahead of Him or else I am choosing to run away from Him, because He stands here...right here, TODAY. 

Many are MY plans, Lord...but Your purpose prevails. Amen.

That's What He Said ~ Guest Blogging Day

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:10-11 NASB

My cat has been waking me up somewhere between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM in the morning since January.  Since I don't get to bed until 10 or 11 at night, that leaves me only a "couple"of hours of uninterrupted sleep for a few months now.  

But, that's a story for next week.

I just needed you to be aware of my state of sleep deprivation so the following story makes more sense.  Today, I want to tell you about the surprise blessing I received this past week by committing to scripture memorization.  

I have stayed on the mailing list for our women's ministry back in WI even though we now live in NV, and a few months ago I saw a message to the women that there would be a scripture memorization challenge for the summer. I thought that would be something fun for me to do while I was off of work and home with Evie over summer break.  

I didn't realize I was supposed to start BEFORE summer, and I was dragging my feet at starting in on the memorizing.  I really had only planned on it when "I had nothing better to do."  

Something urged me to start this past week, however, and I'm glad.  

When I pulled out the program information, I found that we were to start by memorizing Psalm 1.

AN ENTIRE PSALM?  

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

Audience of One ~ Guest Blogging Day

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ...Philippians 3:8

God often reminds me that the world is NOT my primary audience. I am not here to become popular, famous, or highly acclaimed.  I am here to carry out his will, whatever that may be.  He most recently is reminding me of this with my current condition; daily migraines. 

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

A Thankful Thursday

Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are.  We take things for granted like being "healthy enough".  We don't have to be in the best health in order to "be healthy enough" to enjoy time with family, take vacations, and try new things.  

We have confidence in the promises of our Father in Heaven that someday we won't have to "hope" for health, for sunny skies, for freedom from fear or pain...we are promised all of these things in Heaven.  

So for now, we will appreciate the sun when it shines, we will take advantage of the days when we don't have pain, and we will celebrate the future victory we have over the grave...because his promises are true, and his love endures forever.

Hope is the Anchor for my Soul

What Christ has given us is unfathomable.  He has become our Great High Priest, pleading for us, approaching the Holy of Holies on our behalf.  He took our filth upon himself, suffered the pain of separation from the Heavenly Father, and tore down the veil that once kept us from approaching the throne of God.  

Anchors away...set sail with the spirit of Freedom and Courage...

Leather vs Pleather

It’s trending in fashion today; leather…or pleather…whichever one I choose.  I could wear a sweet leather jacket, or I could choose a top that just had accents of leather on the shoulders or elbows.  I’ve found that I would prefer pleather (plastic leather) to the real deal because it’s more affordable, and I find easier to clean.

However, as much as I like the faux leather in my fashion, I would never choose the imitation in my friends.  I want my friends to be REAL.  The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:9 to “Let love be without hypocrisy.” 

Great is My Shame~Greater Still is His Love

Shame on me…

Here’s what happened…

I had been a part of the Christmas Musical Lightshow committee at our church.  We were responsible for helping to organize, promote and execute the first ever Christmas Musical Lightshow at our church.  The show ran from the night after Thanksgiving all the way through New Year’s Eve.

Why shame on me? 

I didn’t trust God.

Not just that…I went further than not trusting God, and I thought I could make a better decision than Him.

I had doubted that we’d get enough volunteers to work the parking lot all 33 nights that the show was running.  I just couldn’t fathom so many people volunteering to stand in a dark, cold parking lot for 2 hours at a time.

Low and behold, we DID get a LOT of volunteers.  That was good!  I had worked a couple of shifts, but not nearly as many as I had expected to.

So, then, because I was feeling kind of sheepish about my “doubting of God’s provision,” I decided I should sign up for ONE MORE shift.

That was my mistake…

On the night of the 23^rd of December, Evie and I had been playing cards over at Grandma’s, then we came home for dinner, I did laundry, started working on getting things ready for Christmas Eve the next day, and finally sat down to pull up e-mail.  That’s when I noticed I had a missed call.  I recognized that the number was from my church, so I called it back.  I, of course, got the voicemail service as it was after 6:45 pm. 

Why did I miss that call?  Who could have been trying to reach me?  Did I miss rehearsal for singing on Christmas Eve?  No, we had rehearsed the week before…

Oh.my.gosh…my heart dropped into my stomach as I pulled up my e-mail quickly and checked the schedule for the show that had been e-mailed out.

There it was…my name…from 5pm-7pm.  

My first reaction was to try to find something to blame it on…I didn’t recall signing up, it was too cold and I didn’t think anyone would be expected to stand out there, we had all been sick with the stomach flu the week before and were just starting to get back on track…

The fact is, Tammie, you messed up.

*Ding*…the timer on the oven alerts me to the fact that my crow is finished, and now I could eat it.

So, what do I do now?  It was 10 minutes until my shift was over, and Jeff wasn’t home from work yet.  I couldn’t drag Evie up to church on a freezing cold night after she’d had her bath.  What would be the point anyway? I had missed my shift.

I texted the person with whom I’d been scheduled to work and apologized for not being there for her.  I had messed up and there was no excuse.  Then I e-mailed one of the committee members who had e-mailed me earlier in the day and I said, “Oh, I wish I would have checked my e-mail sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have forgotten…” 

I just knew that I needed to come clean, to anyone and everyone I could.  I knew that my guilt would eat me up if I didn’t.  I also later apologized to the person who was scheduled to work after my shift.  That was a REALLY cold night, and I’m sure that arriving to find a person before you never even showed up must not have instilled the greatest amount of “energy” needed to gear up for her 2 hour shift.

So, why am I telling you this story?  

Because pride goes before the fall.

But I also tell you this because, it’s how I get through my shame, and I wanted to share this piece of advice with everyone.

I’m not sure how many people would have “known” that I didn’t show up for my shift.  I’m not sure how many people may have missed getting greeted because I wasn’t there.  But I DO know that I can’t hide what happened from God.  He already knows.

The fact is; he allowed it to happen…I needed to eat some crow, and God knew this was the best way for me to do it.

Shame and guilt can eat away at people.  Shame and guilt eats away at me.  But God already knows everything that we have done; we cannot hide from him.

We don’t HAVE to hide.

While we were YET sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

You see, shame is actually a way that we tell God, “You don’t have the power to forgive me.”

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5

If we don’t allow God to forgive us, we’re telling Jesus that he died for nothing.

I’m not sure about you, but this tells me that I had BETTER get up and forgive myself.  If I have confessed my sin to God, and if I have recognized what I needed to learn from this incident, then the only thing I’m accomplishing by carrying around guilt and shame is denying God’s sovereignty and power. 

But, Tammie, you’re not talking about a BIG sin here…

Okay, I’ll accept that…this isn’t the MOST embarrassing or shameful thing I’ve ever done…but let’s look straight at the Bible and see what Jesus did regarding those “BIG” sins. 

 

The adulterous woman, she was caught cheating on her husband.  I think we can agree, that is definitely a shameful sin.  And what did Jesus do?  After telling her accusers that only one who could throw a stone at her to kill her was the one who had never committed a sin, this is what happened:

Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." John 8:10-11

I think Jesus is saying that to each of us right now

The voice of your accuser is the voice of a liar. 

The voice of your Father in Heaven says, “I do not condemn you…”

Go…and shame no more…

Sweeping the Threshold

I’m filled with excitement.

Have you ever felt that way?  When you are just waiting for the next day to start so you can see what other connections are made, what other people God brings into your life, or what other opportunities He places before you?

Every day lately I have found connection after connection after connection, where one task I’m given directly prepares me for the next one; where each assignment strengthens my ability to complete the NEXT assignment.  

As I stand here, sweeping the threshold of a new adventure, I feel a path has been paved for me, so I have no fear or trepidation; just wonderment at how God takes me on my journeys through life, and always has much greater plans than I ever thought possible. 

Have you seen the connections God has made in your life?  Have you seen in hindsight how he has spared you heartache or failure by setting up a barrier that at one time you resented?

One of my favorite bands, the Newsboys, sing a song that keeps running through my head on a daily basis:  

God is Movin’

I've been oblivious and unaware
That there's a war raging on out there
Between the good, the bad
Every day's a battle
But something's in the air
I can feel it, I can feel it
God is movin', movin', movin'
Love is alive, we're wakin' up
I can feel it, I can feel it
Yeah, God is movin', movin', movin'

Can you feel it? 

God is moving. 

Written in response to www.sundayscribblings2.blogspot.com writing prompt: Sweeping the Threshold.

Third verse better than the first...



I wish it were summer, I want to be warm again.

I think some of the best verses from Christmas carols are most often the ones that are omitted to save time!  (Or, in the secular world, to gloss over the true meaning; but that's a topic for another day.) In  order to pay due respect to many of these verses, I'm going to share them tonight.  Here we go, some of my favorite "mystery" verses from some of my favorite Christmas carols. Pay attention to the last one.  It's a DOOZY!

O' Holy Night

Led by the light of Faith
Serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts
By His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wise men from the Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus
In lowly manger,
In all our trials
Born to be our Friend!
He knows our need,
To our weakness no stranger;
Behold your King!
Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King!

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://www.carols.org.uk/ba32-o-holy-night.htm

 

Silent Night

 

Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth!

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://gcarlmoore.com/2013/12/06/loves-pure-light/


Joy to the World

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.  

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://www.carols.org.uk/ba27-joy-to-the-world.htm

 

 

What Child is This?

 

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me and you:
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/andrea+bocelli/what+child+is+this_20893161.html

 

 

Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

 

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave:
                (Peace! Peace!)
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one, and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall:
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

 

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/good_christian_men_rejoice.htm

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing!

 

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

 

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

 

 accessed on 12/11/13  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/h/a/hhangels.htm

 

I mean, come on...how awesome are those two verses from "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing?"  Those lines are straight out of Genesis and Romans.  I was overwhelmed when I found them, and wish so much that we included them more in our typical and contemporary "renditions".  The Word of God is so powerful, that if we sang it more frequently, it would have life-altering power. 

 

Adam's likeness, Lord, efface, Stamp Thine image in its place~second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love. 

 

Yes, Lord, yes.