As I put my son down to bed last night I was contemplating Proverbs 3:5,6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Several years ago, I can remember leading children in worship to this verse/song. It was a wonderful upbeat song that they loved to sing. I loved singing it with them also. Since then this verse has never left me...
As I sang the song in my head tonight I heard "How is your lean Tami?" I first said, "WHAT?" Then I sang it again and stopped at that part in the song and went, "OHHHH!" The first part of this verse says to trust in HIM with all your heart. Not with some of your heart, but ALL of your heart. The next part of the verse states that we are not to lean on our own understanding. I believe this is a reminder from our Father that if we are truly trusting in Him with our all that there will be NO lean in our stature. When we trust in Him we have to have His foundation under our feet and we are confidently standing up straight in our walk.
The next verse tells us to acknowledge Him in every way. He already knows the decisions that we will make before we make them. He loves us so much that He wants us to submit all our ways to Him. When we trust Him with all our heart His promise is to make our paths straight! WOW, if I just trust him with everything He will make my paths straight and not so bumpy.
If we truly abided by this verse life would be so much easier! We, as humans, enjoy control over our lives and our loved ones. He wants us to give ALL of this to HIM so we have no lean in our stance.
I don't know about you, but I have adjusted my lean tonight. I am standing a little more straight and tall so He can make my path straight!
BE blessed & BE a blessing!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Educate, Educate, Educate!
Educate, Educate, Educate! This cheer has been in my heart and my mind for many years. I went to college to learn how to be an educator. I have an incredible passion for educating others and being educated myself!
In December 2009, I was released from my position as a teacher because of health reasons, I felt my life as an educator was finished. I was devastated, at first, realizing that I may never be able to be in a classroom again. The last ten years of teaching definitely had there up's and down's but I can honestly say I wouldn't have it any other way. However, all my dreams and aspirations of teaching generations of students was soon evaporating in my mind.
I began to ask serious questions of why did this have to happen to me, can I truly live out my purpose if I am not teaching children,?etc. Of course, now I know that this is not the truth. God has had big plans for my life for long before I was formed in my mother's womb.
In 2004, at a Youth Retreat the Lord began to reveal a taste of the plan's he had for me now and in the future. After the altar call for our teenager's I felt a strong urgency to get on my knees. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me in my heart and mind about his calling for me to pastor's wives and women. He showed me a vision of myself in front of hundred's of women bringing encouragement and preaching the word to them. He told me that I was going to help Him show women how to take off their mask's /veil's and reflect Him. At the time I was overwhelmed and wondering how this was all going to happen. My husband and I were serving as Youth Pastor's at the time. We loved pouring into students and seeing their lives transformed by the word of God being sewn into their heart's.
Also, at this time I had an amazing job teaching Kindergartner's and I loved it! I saw myself as being GREAT with kid's but adults, especially women, scared me to death. I could not see myself as a motivational speaker to women. This was not in MY plan for my life.
Throughout this last year the Lord has really shown me that my career is not over! He has been showing me that my life as an educator has only just begun. I realize now that I had put God's plan in a box to fit my unperfect plan. I am so grateful that he loves us way outside of the box that we try to put Him in! He dreams much bigger dreams for us. We just have to be willing let Him paint the picture for us to follow and then take the painting and apply it in our life.
So, my life as an educator and lifelong learner is just beginning. I feel God is stirring something in me right now to educate, educate, educate women around me to live beyond the veil. So ladies, I am educating myself and seeking His direction for this next step for my life. Ladies I encourage you to continue to educate yourself daily with the word of God. Make sure that you are seeking His plan for your life. He has only just begun His work in you. Be willing to let Him shake stuff up in you to be all that you can be for Him! Be Blessed and BE a Blessing!
P.S. Ladies of DAG... Get ready, because I am stirred up to Educate, Educate, Educate!
In December 2009, I was released from my position as a teacher because of health reasons, I felt my life as an educator was finished. I was devastated, at first, realizing that I may never be able to be in a classroom again. The last ten years of teaching definitely had there up's and down's but I can honestly say I wouldn't have it any other way. However, all my dreams and aspirations of teaching generations of students was soon evaporating in my mind.
I began to ask serious questions of why did this have to happen to me, can I truly live out my purpose if I am not teaching children,?etc. Of course, now I know that this is not the truth. God has had big plans for my life for long before I was formed in my mother's womb.
In 2004, at a Youth Retreat the Lord began to reveal a taste of the plan's he had for me now and in the future. After the altar call for our teenager's I felt a strong urgency to get on my knees. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me in my heart and mind about his calling for me to pastor's wives and women. He showed me a vision of myself in front of hundred's of women bringing encouragement and preaching the word to them. He told me that I was going to help Him show women how to take off their mask's /veil's and reflect Him. At the time I was overwhelmed and wondering how this was all going to happen. My husband and I were serving as Youth Pastor's at the time. We loved pouring into students and seeing their lives transformed by the word of God being sewn into their heart's.
Also, at this time I had an amazing job teaching Kindergartner's and I loved it! I saw myself as being GREAT with kid's but adults, especially women, scared me to death. I could not see myself as a motivational speaker to women. This was not in MY plan for my life.
Throughout this last year the Lord has really shown me that my career is not over! He has been showing me that my life as an educator has only just begun. I realize now that I had put God's plan in a box to fit my unperfect plan. I am so grateful that he loves us way outside of the box that we try to put Him in! He dreams much bigger dreams for us. We just have to be willing let Him paint the picture for us to follow and then take the painting and apply it in our life.
So, my life as an educator and lifelong learner is just beginning. I feel God is stirring something in me right now to educate, educate, educate women around me to live beyond the veil. So ladies, I am educating myself and seeking His direction for this next step for my life. Ladies I encourage you to continue to educate yourself daily with the word of God. Make sure that you are seeking His plan for your life. He has only just begun His work in you. Be willing to let Him shake stuff up in you to be all that you can be for Him! Be Blessed and BE a Blessing!
P.S. Ladies of DAG... Get ready, because I am stirred up to Educate, Educate, Educate!
Friday, February 25, 2011
PRECIOUS...
This evening as I was climbing out of Josiah's race car bed I took a minute to gaze at his precious, little, sleeping face! The red light from his Lightning McQueen lamp was illuminating his sweet face. His eyelashes looked like they extended half way down his cheeks because of the shadows that the light was casting. His lips were pursed as if he was in deep thought. His little fingers were holding tightly to his brand new Thomas the Train toothbrush that he got at Wal-mart today!
I kind of laughed inside as I began to walk out of his room. I then began to think about how every night he chooses something to hold tightly to as he goes to sleep. I might think his things are so insignificant, but to the Si-Guy they are precious. One night, it is all of his trains, when he was about 2 I can remember him sleeping with a dinosaur card he received from his Aunt Tracey. The many things that he has slept with have been cute, funny, sweet and very sentimental to my precious boy. Golf clubs, dinosaurs, shoes, books, Blue, cars, rainbow colored bear, cereal bowl, etc are just to name a few.
We may think that these things are not important enough to sleep with, but to him they are his livelihood. He really thinks that if he doesn't take it to bed with him he might not have it in the morning. Of course, I know that they will be waiting for him in his bed every morning. It has become tradition for him that the thing that he is gone to sleep with one night is the 1st thing he looks for in the morning.
As I walked out his room tonight, I felt strongly that the word precious was laid on my heart to share tonight. Webster's Dictionary defines PRECIOUS as:
Precious:(adj)(high price or great value; very valuable or costly: precious
metals. Highly esteemed for some spiritual, non-material, or moral quality:
precious memories. (noun)Dear; beloved: a precious child. A dearly beloved person; darling.
As I read the definition of precious, I couldn't help but think of my precious little one sleeping soundly in his room. He is my precious boy that has great value in my eyes. He is more precious than any metal or memory that I have in my past. He is my now but he is my future. He is my dear one, my precious child, my darling. He is my miracle baby that I was told that I would never have. I esteem Josiah very high in my eyes.
However, as I think of my precious husband I see how he fits the exact definition of precious to me also. He is my beloved and one that I highly esteem. Of course, the list can go on and on of my family and friends that I consider precious in my life.
Then I began to think about those "things" that I have that I hold precious... such as my wedding ring, my many bibles that have been given to me, pictures, anointing oil bottle, blankets made by my grandma, hankerchiefs from my great grandmother, the vanity in my room, my journal and so many more "things" that I could name off that are precious to me.
I can't help but think about what our Father says about us...
*Psalm 19:10
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb
*Proverbs 3:15
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
*Proverbs 8:11
for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Our Father compares us to the most precious stones that we have on this earth. He tells us that none of these can compare with us! He tells us that we are sweeter than honey! He looks upon us as his most precious, prized possessions. These "things" that we have on this earth cannot compare to the precious future that he has in store for us. He watches us everyday and takes note of those things that are most precious to us. He cares for us that much! You are truly precious in His sight! He holds us tightly when we are going through the toughest trial in our life. He rejoices with us when we rejoice. He mourns with us when we grieve. He delights in us. We are HIS precious!
Be encouraged tonight that you are precious in His eyes even in the midst of your sorrow, grief, anger, joy, etc.
...And my precious still holds his Thomas toothbrush tightly as I close... His precious...atleast for tonight!
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