Year: 2013

Grey Living

tammyrimer Listening to God, What's in my heart

Color_icon_gray_v2.svg

 

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord. On His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalms 1:1-3

These verses speak volumes in today’s time. We live in a world where any opinion and every opinion are taken as truth. Generations are growing up in a world of complete grey – with no absolutes. What a confusing time in which we live.

David (the author of the book of Psalms) shares a warning to us in living in the grey.

Today, there are so many places for us to seek counsel, stand in the way of sinners and sit in the seat of mockers. This world has become a place that loves and accepts and even encourages blurred lines and partial truths. Many sinful ways of living have become accepted as a proper way of life. Drugs are made legal, Playboy is a high quality brand, homosexuality is embraced, divorce is a social norm and so on.

Please know – I am not listing these pieces in judgment but rather in highlighting some of the sinful behaviors, we (even as believers and followers of Christ) have come to accept as normal, natural and right.

It is SO easy to fall into the “grey” way of living and to live among the wicked to a point where truth no longer shows, even among those who proclaim Christ as truth.

David says, in paraphrase, “The righteous man delights in the law of the Lord and on this law he meditates day and night.” I love this verse because what he is saying here is that we know and understand God’s truth and we embrace and believe it for our own good. And when we meditate on God’s word and make it a part of our daily life and memorize it and hold it close to our heart – we are protected from falling into a “grey” lifestyle. The truth of the Lord is clearly seen and understood and we abide by it because we know it is what is GOOD for us.

Just like a parent setting guidelines and rules for their children – God has set guidelines and rules for us – out of love, not control, out of protection, not punishment.

David goes on, “he is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”  YES. When you come to the word of God and mediate on it day and night, you become rooted in the stream of LIFE. You have a power source, a food source, flowing into you daily, keeping you strong, healthy and fed.

When you stay rooted to God, you will naturally yield fruit. What does that mean you ask??? It means others will see the joy within you, they will want to understand why you are so strong and fearless of life and the stream of life flowing in you will naturally want to flow out onto others and you will become a disciple of Christ – sharing your testimony and good news with those who don’t know.

FRUIT. Others will see the truth in you and will become seedlings blossoming into their own tree, rooted by the stream through your discipleship.

The last statement David makes in this verse really spoke volumes to me. “Whatever he does prospers.” For the past 2 years I really struggled with “What is God’s calling for me?” I felt frustrated because I felt what I was currently doing wasn’t right and that I was missing out on what God had for me. Now, as I have rooted myself in His word and meditated on it day and night (as the Psalms says) it has all been made very clear!

If you are living a life rooted in God then whatever you do prospers, because God is at the center of it. God doesn’t have his will “hidden” from us. He’s not sitting in heaven saying to me “Okay Tammy, good luck finding my will for your life. You’re getting warmer. No now you’re colder….” But rather God calls us to a full life with Him – it is the same calling for me, for you and for your neighbor. Our calling is to live a life right with Christ and to share His love and life with others.

When we die to ourselves and allow Christ to live in us – we are living His calling and anything we do will prosper. Please don’t mistake, “prosper” for becoming rich and everything you do will succeed and turn to gold. J God’s definition of prosper and our worldly definition is a bit different.

Even though we are rooted in Christ, we will still encounter hard times – but now we have a solid life source to keep us strong. I want to encourage you to continue reading beyond Psalms 1:3. David compares the man rooted in God verses the man not rooted.

My prayer for you today is that you will dedicate time daily to meditating on the word of God. Plant your heart and life near God’s life stream (his word – the Bible), allowing Him to flow in you daily, keeping your soul strong and fed. Go out and show others what God has done for you and “yield fruit” showing others the love of Christ through your own salvation.

 

The Rewards in Taking Risks

tammyrimer What's in my heart
Teddy R.“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt
On his approach to work and life

 

My husband found this quote this morning and sent it to me, in an attempt to encourage me after a sad and painful experience with someone this week. This person was set out to hurt and deflate me with harsh words. After her exchange of words, her goal was accomplished. I did feel hurt and deflated.

 

But in remembering to keep my eyes and heart focused on the things that really matter (living for our dear Lord and Savior, not people) and after reading this quote, my heart is healed and I am ready to move forward, staying focused on my calling and living to glorify God, even in the mundane tasks I do throughout each day.

 

Today I want to encourage each one of you to look past any heartache and pain that others try to cause in an effort to elevate themselves. Our worth and blessings come only from God and the opinions of mere man do not affect our current work or eternal worth.

 

Keep your eyes focused on God. Trust in His will and His way for the life He has blessed you with. And leave the stresses and distractions of this world to satan.

 

God bless you today.

Following His call for your life…

tammyrimer Fishers of Men, Voice of Clarity, What's in my heart

fishermenLuke 5: 4 – 7  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.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” 

As I read through the full passage Luke 5: 1-11 this section in the middle (verses 4-7) really caught me. The fishermen were tired. They worked hard all day and bore no fruit for their efforts. They probably came in from the water feeling defeated, embarrassed and frustrated with all the wasted time for that day.

Then Jesus comes by and talks with them for a time. The scripture doesn’t indicate what Jesus said here. But after teaching from the boat, Jesus tells the fisherman to go back out and drop their nets. So, with faith, the fisherman went back out.

Now this is the first thing that really caught my attention. How many of us would go back out and drop the nets again? Do we truly trust God, when He speaks to us? Do we believe that if we obey His calling that He will be faithful to bless our actions? Do we trust that He will work it all out for good or do we fear that God can’t accomplish what He is calling us to do?

Well, the fisherman trusted in blind faith and went back out and dropped their nets. They heard God (although I am not sure they truly understood the magnitude of who was speaking to them as you’ll see in a few verses) and took action on His calling – His command, and went back out in the waters and dropped their nets.

This is what caught me next. What if they didn’t go back out in the water? What if they decided they were too busy or too tired to try again? What if they thought that they knew better and that nothing would ever come from going back out and dropping their nets?

I will tell you what would have happened… They would have missed out on not only the blessing of God but they would have missed out on the true EXPERIENCE of God in hearing Him and acting on His word and calling for them.

How many times do we hear God’s still small voice telling us to do something where He is just waiting to bless us (and others) with amazing things and we don’t act? How many of us feel too busy or too tired or ill equipped to move for God?

For myself, I know I have heard God’s calling and have not acted. My reasons? Too busy, not sure it was God, too scared, lack of confidence…[fill in the blank] because I am sure I have said it. I look back and feel sad at now understanding the time I have wasted in not moving when He called me.

But in verse 6 the fisherman experienced the blessing of God because they acted in faith and obedience. And in verse 8 they are overwhelmed with emotion, telling God to “Go away from me, I am a sinful man.” (This is where they truly understand the magnitude of our Lord).

That experience was more than pulling up a net full of fish. It was an act of love and blessing straight from God. I am sure you had to be there and experience their emotions throughout the day (and maybe even throughout the years before – who knows). We were not there to hear what Jesus shared with them when He taught in the boat – but maybe hearts were stirred before the calling from Jesus was spoken.

What I am sure of is the men didn’t fall to their knees because Jesus brought them a net full of fish. What brought them to their knees was the realization that they were unworthy of a love so pure and so righteous, yet they received that love none the less. They realized and experienced the true nature of God and were overwhelmed with His glory in that moment.

God has that moment designed for each one of us – if we would just be willing to go out in the waters and drop our nets.  God wants to have that personal experience with each one of us. And as the love of a father, He wants to bless us abundantly (which doesn’t mean we become millionaires but rather we are 100% fulfilled in him and our souls are filled to abundance with His love).  He has a personal calling for us all and has gifted each of us with an amazing unique talent that is personally ours, as personal as our fingerprint.

My prayer for you today, is that you take some time to LISTEN. Just sit in silence with God and trust me when I tell you that in the silence, He will speak to your heart. Allow Him the time and space to share His will and calling on your life.

His will is perfect and his blessings are filled with love and goodness for you….Do not be afraid to follow His call for you.

 

 

The fleeting “riches” of this world

tammyrimer An Early Morning Vitamin, Voice of Clarity, What's in my heart

 three crossesLuke 9:23 – 24 says this: Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”

This verse spoke to me in a different way than it ever has in the past (which is why it is the LIVING WORD – amen). When Christ uses the word “daily,” I believe He is reminding us that the action of following Christ is an ongoing and purposeful decision.  We are to be intentional with our walk with Him and intentional with our faith, words, choices and actions.

So often people believe “I did my part when I asked Christ into my heart.” And they truly believe that was their part in taking up their cross. NO! God wants a daily relationship with us. He wants us to daily remember that we are His child and that we are alive because of Him. Our act of worship and love and thanksgiving should be a daily act.

But I believe the other part of this verse is the word “cross.” The cross was an act of complete and pure love and sacrifice. Christ is reminding us that in this life there will be pain, heartache, fear and sacrifice. Often times people turn away from God in times of pain and hardship believing there can’t really be a God if He would allow such horror and pain. NO! God tells us clearly that satan is the prince of this world and that there will be pain and hardship in this life.

Just because we have a relationship with Christ does not exempt us from hardship, as it did not exempt Christ from hardship. But Christ promises to be with us in and through the hardship and often times we come out so much stronger and with a better understanding of our loving God – stay focused on Him in your hardship.

Just as Jesus lived with purpose and intent about being the light of this world – daily, so must we. Just as Jesus lived a life of pure love and sacrifice in obedience to God the Father – daily, so must we. When we die to this world and self and we begin to live for the eternal, for God – daily, we will then be truly alive!!!

Examine your life right now…what are you truly living for? What is the main focus and drive behind your daily choices – for your life? Are you living for the things of this world or for the eternal? Are you taking up your cross – daily?

Living for the things of this world are temporary at best. Look around the room you’re in – when you are out today, look around your city. Everything eventually breaks, falls apart, dies – nothing of this world is lasting.

The “riches” of this world are fleeting – but life in Christ is forever. More precious than gold and silver is the love and life of Jesus Christ. Live for the everlasting and don’t die for things that are dying right along with you….Live for Christ.

Beauty was not meant to be skin deep

tammyrimer An Early Morning Vitamin, Voice of Clarity, What's in my heart

SONY DSCThis morning when I was leaving Zumba class, I walked past a beautiful bed of flowers at the church. Beneath that beautiful bed I could faintly smell manure. Immediately the thought came to me and made me laugh out loud at the obvious symbol.

Many times we try to make ourselves look beautiful on the surface, but underneath that surface is a world of manure. We live a life focused on only the surface to be sure that everyone else sees a strong successful person with no pain, sin or trauma in their life.

We waste so much time focusing on the surface, that we never take the time to go deeper to try to clean out or deal with the manure.

I am a key offender of this. So worried about what everyone sees on the surface , rather than addressing who I really am, on the inside.  What I got from that was a very shallow life, which only ever made me feel empty inside.

During a recent “coming to Jesus” moment in my life, with my marriage, God opened my eyes for the first time. I saw the whole picture – not just my surface – not just who I believed myself to be, but everything I really was.

The amazing thing is, God did this with such love. No judgment – just “Hey Tammy, why are you expecting perfection from others when you have this pile of manure hidden beneath your own surface?” I was convicted for the first time.

I saw the darkness in my own heart for the first time. I began to pray daily and the first thing I asked, daily, was “God, please take this darkness from my heart.” Eventually I added that He would make satan a footstool at my feet and that he would no longer be allowed to whisper his hateful lies to me anymore.

Chains began to break and the “stink” of my manure began to fade. What I am learning in life is this. Many of us will start out with worrying about our surface and ignore the manure inside. BUT once we become aware of the manure, and with real repentance, ask God to remove that manure, what I found is that the manure is what makes us stronger in our faith and makes our outsides mirror our inside – beautiful, just like that bed of flowers.

My relationship with Christ is so much stronger now BECAUSE I saw what He saw. And I watched as He lovingly helped me through my stink, as my Father and Counselor, to bring me to a place of true repentance, forgiveness and peace.

Many of you have “manure” buried under your surface and feel trapped because you don’t know how to change it or you are hanging on to it as a wall of protection. There is freedom from that bondage and that freedom is called Jesus Christ.

He tells us to give Him our burdens and He will lighten our load. He is your Father, and as a father, He loves you beyond measure, beyond words. Give your manure to Jesus – because only He is able to truly clean your heart, cleanse your soul and give you true freedom from sin, pain and heartache.

My prayer today is that you will allow Christ to create in you a truly beautiful surface through cleansing what is inside your heart – removing your manure and setting you free.

What does it mean to follow Christ?

tammyrimer Fishers of Men, Voice of Clarity

follow me 5 for web

Somehow many have come to believe that a person can be a “Christian” without being like Christ. A “follower” who doesn’t follow. Many people have decided to take on the name of Christ and nothing else. This would be like Jesus walking up to those first disciples and saying, “Hey, would you guys mind identifying yourselves with Me in some way? Don’t worry, I don’t actually care if you do anything I do or change your lifestyle at all. I’m just looking for people who are willing to say they believe in Me and call themselves Christians.” Seriously??? (excerpt from Multiply).

I found this paragraph to be terribly convicting and powerful. I am (was) just as guilty as those he is writing about. I lived a life no different from non-believers. Praise God for sticking with me until I finally got it . My prayer today, for you, if that you will examine your life for Christ and ask Him what he would have for you – what great calling and purpose you are meant to fulfill and live out while you are still here. Without truly following Him, you may never hear His voice, His purpose for your beautiful life. Seek Him.

The Amazing Healing Power of God

tammyrimer Fishers of Men, Voice of Clarity, What's in my heart

the-cross.jpgSo, what is discipling? I want to suggest this basic idea:

Discipling is learning and living the ways of Jesus so that others can “see” Christ through us. But Discipling doesn’t stop there. It is what the Great Commission is all about – Go and become fishers of men.

As a true believer, God is calling us, Christians, to live a life of “fishing” for souls. To live a life that is forever teaching and showing His great love to and for all mankind.

Discipling is about proclaiming the message of Jesus – telling of His amazing act of sacrifice and love. A Disciple of Christ lives to share the Good news of hope and healing, love and forgiveness… They share the Good news of eternal life with our Creator.

Today my challenge is this – Live this day in a way that honors both Christ’s love and sacrifice. Live this day as if Christ is walking beside you. Live this day believing that your actions speak of God’s trueness and presence to those around you, and that your actions, as a Christian, impact how others view and understand Christianity.

I have spent the past month examining my life as a believer. What I saw was a watered down version of an Americanized Christianity. That is not how I want my life story and legacy as a Christian to be. That is not what I want to show to those who are seeking, those who are questioning faith and belief in Christ. What a disappointment I have been…. But the good news is that our God is a God of forgiveness, love, compassion and understanding. He is a God of new beginnings. He is a God who can make beauty out of ashes. I have seen it first-hand. In fact, I am living it as I write this.

Through working through the pain and disappointment in my own marriage and family, God is teaching me the true power of forgiveness, mercy and grace. He is showing me my true self, in love. He is slowly revealing to me His will for this life He has given me. He is also teaching me how to love with His heart, how to forgive with His mercy, how to live in His grace.

Now my hope is to share this story of new beginnings with others. To help others see that our loving compassionate God is a God who can restore that which is broken, lost, and forgotten…He is a God of LIFE and LOVE. And LIFE and LOVE is not static but ever moving and changing – growing and learning.

I encourage you to share your story with us. Share how you live as a witness for Christ to others. Share how you live as a disciple – a fisher of men. Share how God is restoring your life, relationships and understanding of the Cross.

Creationist Stakes $10,000 On Contest Between Bible And Evolution

tammyrimer Believers standing strong

A California creationist is offering a $10,000 challenge to anyone who can prove in front of a judge that science contradicts the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis.

Dr Joseph Mastropaolo, who says he has set up the contest, the Literal Genesis Trial, in the hope of improving the quality of arguments between creationists and evolutionists, has pledged to put $10,000 of his own money into an escrow account before the debate. His competitor would be expected to do the same. The winner would take the $20,000 balance.

The argument would not be made in a formal court, but under an alternative dispute resolution model known as a minitrial. Mastropaolo said he would present the argument in favor of a literal interpretation of the creation story once he had found a willing scientist to argue that a non-literal interpretation of Genesis is more scientific.

“They [evolutionists] are not stupid people, they are bright, but they are bright enough to know there is no scientific evidence they can give in a minitrial,” Mastropaolo said.

A minitrial differs from a regular trial because it does not need to be held in a courthouse and does not require the presence of traditional court figures. Mastropaolo plans to have a bailiff and court reporter in attendance, along with the judge. Contest rules state that evidence must be scientific, which means it is “objective, valid, reliable and calibrated”.

Mastropaolo believes that evolution cannot be proved scientifically. “It turns out that there is nothing in the universe [that] is evolving, everything is devolving, everything is going in the opposite direction,” he said.

Read More

Do you understand the Beatitudes of the Bible?

tammyrimer An Early Morning Vitamin, What's in my heart

candleDo you understand the Beatitudes of the Bible? Matthew 5: 1 – 12

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. The poor in spirit are those who are humbled, who knows they need God.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Those who mourn are not widows but rather people who have empathy for those who are suffering in this world – those who cry or mourn for those who are persecuted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. The meek are those who are humbled before God understanding we can do nothing of good and righteousness without Him, without His strength and His spirit. That with Christ I can do all things for His kingdom but without Him I can do nothing.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. God is not talking about those who are physically hungry and thirsty but rather those who hunger and thirst for justice and righteousness and want to help the world – God’s children – our brothers and sisters through Christ. We should hunger to be their voice, their justice and become God’s hands and feet. 

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. There is a part on the Lord’s Prayer that says “and forgive me as I forgive those who trespass against me.” As we extend mercy and forgiveness to others God to that same measure will extend his mercy and forgiveness unto us. We ask God to release us of our sins and release us from that judgement – yet we struggle to extend that same mercy onto those who sin against us and we hold them in judgement. The golden rule – treat others as we wish to be treated. We need to daily examine our mercy towards others.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. As we strive to live in obedience to God, our hearts will desire to be pure – clean – representing a Christ-like spirit. We will desire to turn from sin and we will desire things of purity. Will we someday be perfect – not on this world. But through the forgiveness and free gift of Jesus Christ, we will one day be free of sin, pure, in His perfect image.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. God calls us to be people who bring others together and make relationships whole. We are not to be a people of divisiveness. Our eyes are to see the world as God does – one people, our hearts are to love the world as God does – one people. We are to make peace with our enemy and love not because we are loved first, but love because that is what God calls us to do and because God loves.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. We should not fear persecution as we know this will happen. Love anyway. Our home…our life is not here – but in Heaven with God. Do not fear man for man is temporary. Live for God – not for man. Men do not understand the ways of God and they hurt things they do not understand. Stand strong anyway and be the light upon the hill for the Kingdom and trust that God will show the truth through you.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecute the prophets who were before you.

May God bless you today as you reflect on the beatitudes and reflect on your life. My prayer is that you daily give yourself to God allowing Him to shine through you, allowing his love to reach those in need, through your life, through your actions. Be His hands and feet with an attitude of love and thanksgiving.

Come with me and I will make you Fishers of Men

tammyrimer Fishers of Men, Listening to God, What's in my heart

Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus makes an “Ask.”

fishermenWill you abandon your other pursuits and follow me? Can you leave behind your previous ambitions and follow me?

If James, John and the other disciples did not “drop their nets” and follow Christ – we, Christians, would not be here today – knowing God. Jesus never intended us to sit idly back and wait for others to reach the lost in His name. He has called each one of us to this work. Jesus wants to stretch us in every aspect of our life and teach us to trust God in every step we are called to take.

Our life with Christ is about a relationship – it is not about what church we attend or what denomination we adhere to. It is not about what neighborhood we live in or what nation in which we reside. It is totally about serving God THROUGH serving others (not ourselves).

Serving self has been a burden on my soul for the past year and a half. I have struggled with the comfortable life I live and the lack of serving I do. I claim Jesus – I have Him inside of me – and that has been where I have kept Him for many years.

When I am in front of God this feeling of “DO SOMETHING” beats at my heart like an iron fist. When am I going to “DROP MY NET AND FOLLOW CHRIST?”

I begged God to make it clear to me and I believe He has. As you go through your day – allow God to speak to you about His calling for your life. Allow Him to show you your purpose. We all have a purpose and what a shame it would be to never find it – and never live it.

Go in peace.