Voice of Clarity

Speak It Out loud!

tammyrimer Voice of Clarity, What's in my heart

“Speak it out loud and you suck the power right out of it.” This statement has truly changed my life. As Christians, I believe it is sometimes harder to get out of a cycle of addiction because we are afraid to share our sins and struggles for fear of judgment from other Christians. As humans, that struggle is then compounded because, once addicted, it is terrifying to think of life without it because it has become a natural part of your life. I have spent years in this cycle of behavior, not having a clue how to get out of it, all the while stepping further away from God and hating myself more and more with each time because I didn’t have the strength to break free, even though I so desperately wanted to.

Then, this simple statement was made in the middle of a powerful sermon this past Sunday and it was the only thing that stuck in my head and it weighed so deeply on my heart that it brought me to tears, “Speak it out loud and you suck the power right out of it.” So I did. And I did again, and again, and again – and I cannot tell you how true that statement is.

God is NOT ashamed of our sin or our disobedience. Like a parent, He always wants us to be whole and healed and does not love us any less when we fall short. Whether it is because of pride, embarrassment, fear of judgment or persecution, or Satan whispering in our ears that we are not good enough or unloved because of our sin –we hide our addiction away and never reach out for help and try to fix it on our own – which will only lead to failure.

I am writing this at 1:40 AM because I can’t sleep because I feel so compelled to share with you that if you are struggling with addiction too, and are too afraid to tell someone and reach out for help, please know that when you speak it out loud – I promise you- the power WILL be sucked out of it and you will feel empowered each time you speak it to overcome it. This step has to be the FIRST step in moving out of addiction before anything else can or will improve.

I am no longer hiding this because I have realized that when I hide it – I give it power over me. When I hide it, it causes separation between God and me. When I hide it, it opens the door to sneak back into my life to become the unhealthy crutch it once was.

The statement “There are no 2nd chances” is a big fat lie. Speak it out loud and trust God to open the doors to healing. No matter how many times you have tried in the past to break free, when you stop hiding it you will find that all the help you need is right there.

 

 

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.

Falling Away

tammyrimer Believers standing strong, Voice of Clarity, What's in my heart , , , ,

In these times of confusion and right seeming wrong and wrong seeming right in the eyes of the world, it is easy for believers to become confused and accepting of what the world says is right. There is a clear “falling away” of believers as their once black and white beliefs become a pale gray.

We, as believers, need to be the hands and feet and Clear VOICE of God…of truth.

I have been struggling with where my voice is…what God would have me do and say. Who to say it to and how to say it. I have struggled with the burden on my heart of stepping out and speaking loudly for God. Yet I have stayed back, talking behind closed doors, but very seldom having the guts and bravery to be a beacon of light and a voice of truth in public.   I am a business owner and I think I feared mixing the two. But at the end of the day – above all else, I am a child of God first and that trumps all.

So where do we go from here? What is our ministry? What would God have me do with this desire of being His hands, feet and voice to this dying world?

As I sit here asking God to tell me what to do, a thought, a memory came to me. I truly believe God gave us the family structure to show and explain His relationship with us. I sit here and think if my daughter came to me and said “Mom, what should I do with my life? Tell me what you want me to do.” I would say, “do whatever is in your heart, what you desire to do, BUT in everything glorify God and don’t hurt others.”

So why would our God, our Father, be any different? Why would He give a book (the Bible) that tells us how to live if He has set in stone what we are to do already? He wants us to make the decision of what to do on our own. There is no wrong answer in missing His calling for my life. His calling is for me to live a righteous life, glorifying Him and living this time, He gave me,  based on what is in my heart.

It is up to me to choose my course in a way that is pleasing and acceptable to Him. He has not set a specific task for me but rather has loved me through it all and is allowing me to find my way and glorifying Him as I walk through this journey.

Ah such clarity! So now it is time to find my Mission, my voice and glorify God.

What Is Real?

tammyrimer Believers standing strong, Listening to God, Voice of Clarity, What's in my heart

I bought a book by Joyce Meyer “How to Hear God’s Voice” but I haven’t finished it and still wonder if it is really so different for everyone that Joyce’s way may not be right for how God speaks to me. I don’t want to do anything the wrong way and miss hearing from Him.

So with all of this writing, I come back to where I started earlier. This beautiful and not so beautiful world, the end of times, and how I and my family participate in this Age. I am filled with such fear. The ways of the world are changing so dramatically and are heading to a place of “no return.” A place where Christians are seen as the enemy, the haters, the liars, the judge and the jury. And not so slowly the Christian beliefs  that this nation was founded on are being stripped away and replaced with subjective beliefs of “anything goes.” YOUR idea of right and wrong is the truth and there is no real standard of one right and wrong – but each persons idea of right is what is right.

If that is true then WHAT is REAL? Your truth or mine? Truth becomes the “Flavor of the Day” rather than a static standard of right and wrong. I fear this place that we, as a nation, are headed. It seems as though we, the Christian believer, have lost our voice. Inside I am screaming – but in reality NOTHING is coming out.

And this is what I am waiting on you, God, to speak to me about. I am trying to hear your voice and understand your will for me – for my family – in these dark days. What would you have us do?