tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11963509982710946822024-02-07T04:29:00.228-08:00testimony.Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-76133760274415310932021-04-28T06:59:00.002-07:002021-05-21T07:26:41.948-07:009<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg3gMP8SvPwWG8Ln2hNPu1Qzup8wKuIW-ACwSgIP4T5hzg8YRlKOOKS6hi9En-WNUMKvu640XzijZ_NB1q9iF_zYNxuMeqtpsJRle4pNGiI5k23TPqNVxW341IxwoqdK7jvLAZDWkOpdO/s2048/EMWC2H7Q.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg3gMP8SvPwWG8Ln2hNPu1Qzup8wKuIW-ACwSgIP4T5hzg8YRlKOOKS6hi9En-WNUMKvu640XzijZ_NB1q9iF_zYNxuMeqtpsJRle4pNGiI5k23TPqNVxW341IxwoqdK7jvLAZDWkOpdO/s320/EMWC2H7Q.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>i'm still in bed as he kisses me goodbye in the morning on his way to work. he takes an extra 30 seconds to massage my leg muscles because he knows that although pregnancy has been more of a joy than anything, the leg and back pain can effect everything.</p><p>he collects his employees from the driveway and he's off to whichever job has been on the calendar waiting for him. he works hard. he's meticulous, honest, faithful. his customers know this too because 22 years later, it's the same. </p><p>he washes the sheets at least once/week without fail - because he sleeps better on clean sheets - and it's a gift to me too.</p><p>though he told me long ago that it is the one thing that he hates more than anything, i find him cleaning the dishes, emptying + loading the dishwasher some evenings after we eat together. </p><p>sometimes he finds me just watching him from across the room, lately he doesn't notice because he's too busy. </p><p>at least once every few weeks i say 'i can't believe we're married" because it's surreal to be married to your best friend... when we get laughing about something and we can't stop, or we start dreaming about a project in the yard, weekend plans with the (not-so-)little one, painting a room, building a dresser, narrowing down a list of potential baby names. </p><p>when you get to do life with another human, one who shares your desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, to learn more gradually with each passing day to make it the default to lay down your life for the other person, can it be anything but joy? </p><p>even in the moments where eye-to-eye doesn't come easily, where it is apparent that sometimes great minds think very differently, and that can be a good thing too, when iron sharpens iron, even the differences are received as blessing. because they get us somewhere. always sharpening, always growing us together. </p><p>he works hard for us. he doesn't complain about much, but when he does, he usually lets me laugh because i think everything he does is funny. </p><p>while he painted the baby's room, i read an old journal i found where i wrote prayers for him - not knowing who he would be. i was embarrassed because i wrote these in my mid-20's, all wordy and theological as you would expect from a bible college graduate. but it was stunning to see some of the accuracy of the words that i prayed for him then - for joy, to know the love and nearness of God. i prayed for him knowing he'd have 3 things: a deep love for God, a compassionate love for people (and for me), and the best sense of humor. </p><p>and i look back now, so beyond grateful that God wrote our stories to come to this time in history, because He knew we would point each other to Him and life together would be joy. </p><p>it's been almost 9 months married to this one and i wouldn't change one bit of our stories. thankful for you joel ryan <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">♥️</span></p>Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-11894678885644611792020-02-08T06:48:00.002-08:002020-02-08T06:48:41.930-08:00mercy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-4" id="en-NIV-29234" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">But because of his great love for us,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29234H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29234H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">God, who is rich in mercy,</span><span class="text Eph-2-5" id="en-NIV-29235" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">made us alive with Christ </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">even when we were dead in transgressions<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29235I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29235I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>—</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">it is by grace you have been saved.</span><span class="text Eph-2-6" id="en-NIV-29236" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">And God raised us up with Christ<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29236K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29236K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">and seated us with him<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29236L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29236L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">in the heavenly realms<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29236M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29236M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">in Christ Jesus,</span><span class="text Eph-2-7" id="en-NIV-29237" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">in order that in the coming ages </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">he might show </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">the incomparable riches of his grace,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29237N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29237N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">expressed in his kindness<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29237O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29237O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> to us </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in Christ Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-2-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">[Ephesians 4]</span></span></div>
Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-64782529276520341212019-08-06T13:48:00.000-07:002019-08-06T14:05:06.797-07:00sacrifice <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">today hasn’t been a smooth one. i knew it the moment i started getting ready for my day. it was mid-morning before i ventured to ask God why i find my heart like this...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">truly truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">the hardest thing I’ve ever been asked to do<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">surrendering my feelings for joy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">refusing to demand my happiness from someone else, rather looking to a good Father to meet all of my needs, which He does, through Jesus. but. it doesn’t always feel that way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">dying to my need to be right,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">dying to my need for people to agree with me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">when paul says of Jesus that he made himself nothing and gave up his life to death on a cross,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">to understand the smallest part of what that means, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">death to pride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">life on the altar, admittedly not my own<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">the goal, righteousness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">the reward, Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">inevitably this path chooses things that others wouldn’t choose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">following this Shepherd inevitably looks like nonsense to people who see the world differently<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">and inevitably, people who claim the same trajectory will label mine a lie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">then the fork in the road where the decision stands between accepting the accusations with grace, all for righteousness, for Jesus, to produce fruit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">or <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">turn and fight the labels, the pointing fingers, the judgment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">and the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, remains alone, and produces nothing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">but Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter, He remained silent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">nevertheless His life (and death) have produced fruit that has produced more fruit, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">and that exponential<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">on the hardest of days i practice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my life on the altar of my Father’s goodness and grace and stunning immanence <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">so people are allowed to remain on their paths, at the level of maturity in which God is working in them, the degree of control to which they’re willing to lay down,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">and my mouth may remain silent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">because i don’t need to convince anyone of anything (j tells me)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(and his dad reminded me, with such sweet humility too) neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">His spirit alone does the changing work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">it isn’t my battle to fight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my call is faithfulness, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my call is life as sacrifice,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my call is death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">and if i ever achieve this goal <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my life looks like kindness in persecution, joy in faithfuless<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">this, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">this is the greatest reward<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">this is the hardest peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">this is death for the purpose of life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">this is fruit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">john 12, philippians 2, romans 12, 1 corinthians 2.14, isaiah 53</span></div>
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Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-57890107699924900742019-05-22T07:36:00.002-07:002019-05-22T07:36:59.656-07:00mustard seed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
humility knocks on the door, gently, patiently<br />
pride, though, pride keeps the lights off, the blinds drawn, the deadbolt secure<br />
humility asks most genuinely for a small bit of pain to be allowed inside so that with it might come joy one hundredfold<br />
but pride. she fears the pain and with that rejects the abundant life held out in the open hand<br />
if only by trusting the giver of the pain one might also trust the giver of the greater peace, rest, satisfaction, joy.<br />
<br />
he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things?<br />
[romans 8.32] </div>
Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-38337870071145526792018-07-01T14:33:00.001-07:002018-07-01T14:35:00.628-07:00confident<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aJ8iVSygXxZyN3MOlnJ91ef6MA3WLZgU1cmFGLheXEY1fVuaAET_BtO5yTdknzaSY_o8gn2wRi6dxRVsM8FGD8nezPcrZ0O2eVn4FMznGxRgqPUjIT936WvTM2Q7YFCmWwPzxnlw8Pew/s1600/chris-ried-586037-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aJ8iVSygXxZyN3MOlnJ91ef6MA3WLZgU1cmFGLheXEY1fVuaAET_BtO5yTdknzaSY_o8gn2wRi6dxRVsM8FGD8nezPcrZ0O2eVn4FMznGxRgqPUjIT936WvTM2Q7YFCmWwPzxnlw8Pew/s400/chris-ried-586037-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
you just have to be more confident, he told her<br />
you'll be good enough if you were only more confident<br />
try harder to be confident (or at least appear that way)<br />
<br />
but she became more anxious<br />
all the while knowing that, for his approval,<br />
she needed to be more secure, more sure of herself<br />
and what he meant as loving, constructive criticism<br />
trapped her in a prison of circular reasoning<br />
trying harder<br />
grasping to find the corner in a round room<br />
<br />
because just maybe<br />
we live in a context that misunderstands<br />
this precious confidence<br />
that gets so much of our [subconscious] attention<br />
<br />
although we all try,<br />
we don't build our confidence by trying harder, do we?<br />
eventually<br />
we have to place our confidence in something or someone,<br />
find something or someone outside of ourselves that can bear the weight of our hopes and fears<br />
for some people it is a relationship that promises security and safety<br />
for some people it's a dream job or lottery winnings or credentials<br />
and for you?<br />
<br />
that's one of the beautiful things in life -<br />
you get to choose where you place your hope and who/what determines your confidence<br />
you get to choose who or what is worthy of your trust<br />
you get to choose which voice(s) speaks value into your life<br />
<br />
choose wisely, my friend<br />
test everything,<br />
hold on to the good<br />
hold on to the unshakable<br />
exude confidence because you placed yours in something that is sureTammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-60942466922287571632018-05-28T19:26:00.000-07:002018-05-28T19:26:01.075-07:00imagine[i can only imagine]<br />
<br />
i was all tears<br />
i snuck in a bag of snap peas into the theater, even a lacroix<br />
but i forgot a kleenex<br />
[its okay though, i also brought in a sweatshirt which served just fine as an oversized tissue]<br />
<br />
this story represented so much of what my heart has been crying out in this season<br />
for myself, for friends, for family<br />
acknowledged brokenness<br />
spoken fears<br />
surrendered insecurity<br />
anger, laid down<br />
<br />
for honesty regarding our own wounds<br />
<br />
adults willing to wrestle with the damage done by broken people<br />
but still to choose the grace to forgive<br />
because of jesus<br />
because He forgave (forgives) every damaging thing that i've done<br />
to myself and to others<br />
mercy upon mercy<br />
as He took all punishment for all of my mess<br />
and in those moments of shame and insecurity He gently reminds that it still rests there on the cross<br />
far from the memory of this good and perfect Father who accepts me as righteous now, without condition<br />
and it becomes real<br />
when this unearned compassion<br />
bears fruit<br />
fruit as forgiveness<br />
fruit as transparency<br />
fruit as grace extended out<br />
because of grace experienced in<br />
<br />
it's kindness to those who, without the power of the Spirit of Jesus,<br />
haven't been able to make right the damage that they've done, to others and to themselves<br />
it's letting go of the expectation that they will ever be able to see or acknowledge it<br />
it's accepting that sin has so tainted every relationship we experience<br />
that no one is expected perfection<br />
even if that means that we are left grieving the relationships that will never be<br />
the ones that never lived up to their potential<br />
the ones in which people weren't able to see how beautiful it could have been had they lived into what God designed<br />
knowing Jesus<br />
He gives us the grace, freedom, to let people out of the boxes of our expectations for them<br />
to accept the reality of their abilities, capacities, brokenness<br />
and trust God to do in them the work that only He has the authority to do<br />
with His patience, His tenderness, His kindness that leads to repentance<br />
<br />
so this prayer that has echoed in for all these weeks and months<br />
echoes out on through letters on a keyboard<br />
that You, beautiful Jesus, would bring the broken places to the surface,<br />
that You would lovingly drag the secretly-hurting into a safe place of vulnerability<br />
that Your beloved sons and daughters would<br />
acknowledge<br />
identify<br />
name (without blame)<br />
the hurt that we've experienced <br />
and that we'd watch with expectation as you<br />
heal<br />
redeem<br />
restore<br />
bring life to the dead places<br />
for Your glory + our joyTammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-9567770237007675982018-04-26T15:15:00.000-07:002018-04-26T15:15:43.354-07:00cruciform<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjg553k3yQQeuCjftqxbIgFhsAxEcZi-LSt6qkcmDDPYsKhD2y3VAjFCXHgl3DCR8tLLtiueI1RIFEk2nA8GeHpkYAkX8dmr_6GFcKl__N4RnRGlLr2FVh-DxieKJ0LfAvebo2AnpHT5_/s1600/northwindowinchristchapelatcornerstoneuniversity+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjg553k3yQQeuCjftqxbIgFhsAxEcZi-LSt6qkcmDDPYsKhD2y3VAjFCXHgl3DCR8tLLtiueI1RIFEk2nA8GeHpkYAkX8dmr_6GFcKl__N4RnRGlLr2FVh-DxieKJ0LfAvebo2AnpHT5_/s320/northwindowinchristchapelatcornerstoneuniversity+2.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<br />
the ancients believed that their leaders were image-bearers of their gods.<br />
pharaoh, for example, was the image-bearer of the egyptian sun god, ra.<br />
this idea, though, is grounded in reality.<br />
God says in genesis 1 that He created the first man and woman in His image. and subsequently, every person whose life origninates from adam + eve (i would argue this is every human who has ever existed, and each one to come) then also bears this same image, God's image, and a significant identity and purpose to represent God to the world.<br />
His goodness, His kindness, His justice, His grace, His integrity, His work ethic, His love for unity within diversity.<br />
"problems arise when people determine that they are more of an image-bearer than others" said dr. jonathan greer,<br />
and then referencing deuteronomy 7, "the Lord did not set his affection on you [israel] and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. but it was because the Lord loved you..."<br />
"proceed in humility" dr. greer cautioned us.<br />
and it struck a chord with this heart that has been wading through a heavy season of testing and sharpening and hard but good. so hard, but so good. the oh-so-painful-but-still-i-wouldn't-trade-it for-ease-and-comfort kind of hard.<br />
because we're free to deeply and genuinely love all people when we recognize how undeserving of love we ourselves truly are.<br />
we're free to give [kindness, forgiveness, grace, approval] to those who have hurt us, when we can see through eyes of humility.<br />
but we don't simply choose to be small before others, this too is a gift, and it is one we must ask for daily, and probably multiple times each day.<br />
to be honest, i don't do this well. sometimes i find myself going days, weeks, riding on my own perceived strength and successes, until God, in His grace, lets me feel all of the things that i naturally am apart from Him.<br />
i see the ugliness and selfishness of this heart that forgets that i can do all things through Christ, and nothing apart from Him.<br />
i experience the debilitating effects of anxiety when i've failed to look to Him for my next steps, but this anxiety, is also in these moments the greatest gift as it points me back to the truest north.<br />
i feel hopeless and lonely until i turn back and see that God, whose image i bear to the world, is also my constant companion and my joy.<br />
i'm thankful, thankful that we haven't been created to live this life without purpose or in isolation. i'm thankful that the God whose image i bear is willing to let me feel pain to be reminded that He alone promises a life without pain, sadness, fear, loneliness, anxiety, regret, sickness, death. because He alone has the words of life and the keys to life and He alone promises that He will come back here, when the time is best, and He will renew, restore, re-create.<br />
if we trust Him and remember our place: undeserving, but fully and completely loved,<br />
then we're free to give the same kind of love, the kind that doesn't need to be earned, because it is gift, grace, cruciform.Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-63464958922372222762017-12-10T06:59:00.005-08:002017-12-10T07:03:41.134-08:00advent<h6 style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiUfw_FzQ-jNjLepCca63PBVVI_mT2_c12aqFE_kydJpzBO6yXzZHsa8sRDEEzJdDlHDs3lh76LfHv_ndLIWbvRdw5bDVH5EJ-YoeUcynrfX4-g1S0QUB69izxH2Cc-eIqdVGBP_3MhcR/s1600/monkimage.php.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="290" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiUfw_FzQ-jNjLepCca63PBVVI_mT2_c12aqFE_kydJpzBO6yXzZHsa8sRDEEzJdDlHDs3lh76LfHv_ndLIWbvRdw5bDVH5EJ-YoeUcynrfX4-g1S0QUB69izxH2Cc-eIqdVGBP_3MhcR/s400/monkimage.php.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: none;">i had the honor of writing for a blog(below) that our church was putting together for advent. </span><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-transform: none;">read the rest of the blog </span><a href="http://crossroads-bible.org/about-us/blog/" style="font-weight: normal; text-transform: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">here.</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
</h6>
<h6 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">
</h6>
<h6 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">ISAIAH 7:10-14</span></span></h6>
<div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #323232;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">Here Judah sits as the King of Aram and the King of Israel approach with their armies and threaten a likely defeat. Tensions are high and hope is at an all-time low as Judah’s army is no match for the partnership between the Arameans and the Israelites. (Note: This is when the kingdom of Israel is divided – the Northern Kingdom: Israel, and the Southern Kingdom: Judah).</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the seventh chapter of Isaiah, the prophet is sent to the terrified king of Judah to warn him, and subsequently the people of Judah, that they’ve misplaced their trust. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">God wanted to offer a sign. Ahaz missed the flashing lights. But still, God gives the sign he intended to give. He makes the grandest promise. I’ll come to you, He says, as a child, and the child will be Immanuel, God with you. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Isaiah goes on in chapter 9, </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The people walking in darkness</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> have seen a great light;</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">on those living in the land of deep darkness</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> a light has dawned.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You have enlarged the nation</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and increased their joy;</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">they rejoice before you</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> as people rejoice at the harvest,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">as warriors rejoice</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> when dividing the plunder.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> you have shattered</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the yoke that burdens them,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> the bar across their shoulders,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> the rod of their oppressor.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every warrior’s boot used in battle</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and every garment rolled in blood</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">will be destined for burning,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> will be fuel for the fire.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For to us a child is born,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> to us a son is given,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and the government will be on his shoulders.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And he will be called</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of the greatness of his government and peace</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> there will be no end.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He will reign on David’s throne</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and over his kingdom,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">establishing and upholding it</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> with justice and righteousness</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> from that time on and forever.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The zeal of the Lord Almighty</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: inherit;"> will accomplish this.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When Isaiah references Midian’s defeat, what is the going through the mind of those who are hearing this prophecy in real time? Do you remember Gideon, one of the judges of Israel? You may recall the account in Judges 7 when God calls Gideon to go to battle against the Midianite army, which was grand in number. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You watch as the scene opens and the main character stands on a dark hill overlooking the valley below where hundreds of thousands of people gather late into the night to launch their attack on the one you’re quietly but anxiously rooting for. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Over the next few minutes you watch the reasons for hope flicker and soon your heart resolves to watch as the last stream of smoke whisks away the last bit of confidence that you had in your hero’s chances at survival, much less victory. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The odds are so small. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You watch as the crowd below seems to multiply spontaneously and you scan again the team that you believed in. </span></span></div>
<ol start="300" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></ol>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Three hundred compared against an army</span><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The darkness continues to settle like a wet blanket, and standing under its ever-growing weight adds layers of despair. Your grip on hope is weak. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But then</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">you hear a shatter</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and 299 of the same sound</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">at the same time light pierces the darkness to the left, and to the right, and on the far side of the hill across from where your hero stands.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He holds a torch in hand, a shofar in the other,</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the sound is deafening and the firelight so bright that your eyes haven’t had time to adjust.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The 300 torch-bearing, horn-blowing soldiers stood in their place</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and that army in the valley below, the innumerable men and camels that had sucked almost all hope from your heavy heart,</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">they destroyed one another </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and the ones that remained? </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They fled</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">while the 300 rejoiced at the victory that was surely miracle. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Isaiah paints this picture, drawing the mind of his audience back to Gideon’s battle against the Midianites, and the growing hopelessness that many of the people of Israel felt as God limited Gideon’s army from 32,000 men to 10,000 men, to 300. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Why? </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">God knows. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He knows the tendency of the human heart. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He knows my heart to believe that my own strength is the reason for any success in my life. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He knows that the human mind cannot comprehend His power and authority, and certainly not the depth of His love.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He knows.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, hundreds of years later, when he speaks to Israel, through Isaiah, </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He promises a seemingly impossible salvation</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">but artfully reminds the original hearers that He’s done this before.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In 2017, we know that He can save and He did completely when Christ came as a helpless baby boy and lived a life of fellowship with God the Father and died a death cut off from the Father and He did all of it selflessly, for the glory of the Father and ultimately that each of us might share in that glory.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sister, is there a challenge before you today? </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Is God gently walking </span><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">with you</span></span><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, asking you to remember His past faithfulness and to trust in His current faithfulness?</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All throughout Scripture, He calls his people to remember and to trust Him who is able. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Practice this art of remembering today.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rest in His faithfulness</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Remember the countless accounts.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Deuteronomy 8, Psalm 40 + 41, remember when He reveals to a despairing Elijah in 1 Kings 19 that He sees a picture so much grander than our limited eyes can see. </span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #323232; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.78em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dear one, may His character stand firm in your heart and mind and you traverse the hills, mountain-tops, and deep valleys of life. May you look back at His past faithfulness and look trustingly forward to His certain future faithfulness as you walk out your days with Him. May you know it is HIS faithfulness and HIS love that carries you. You can’t earn this greatest gift. He gives it freely so that it cannot be stripped of its power and worth – His Presence. Treasure Him today, treasure Immanuel. Your God is with you. Always.</span></span></div>
Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-7390374289015206612017-10-08T08:28:00.000-07:002017-10-08T08:29:23.187-07:00psalm 145<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>I will exalt you, my God the King;<br />
I will praise your name for ever and ever. <br />
Every day I will praise you<br />
and extol your name for ever and ever.<br />
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;<br />
his greatness no one can fathom.<br />
One generation commends your works to another;<br />
they tell of your mighty acts.<br />
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—<br />
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.<br />
They tell of the power of your awesome works—<br />
and I will proclaim your great deeds.<br />
They celebrate your abundant goodness<br />
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.<br />
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,<br />
slow to anger and rich in love.<br />
The Lord is good to all;<br />
he has compassion on all he has made.<br />
All your works praise you, Lord;<br />
your faithful people extol you.<br />
They tell of the glory of your kingdom<br />
and speak of your might,<br />
so that all people may know of your mighty acts<br />
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.<br />
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,<br />
and your dominion endures through all generations.<br />
<br />
<i><b>The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises<br />
and faithful in all he does.</b></i><br />
<br />
The Lord upholds all who fall<br />
and lifts up all who are bowed down.<br />
The eyes of all look to you,<br />
and you give them their food <i>at the proper time.</i><br />
You open your hand<br />
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.<br />
<br />
<i><b>The Lord is righteous in all his ways<br />
and faithful in all he does.</b><br />
<br />
</i>The Lord is near to all who call on him,<br />
to all who call on him in truth.<br />
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;<br />
he hears their cry and saves them.<br />
The Lord watches over all who love him,<br />
but all the wicked he will destroy.<br />
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.<br />
Let every creature praise his holy name<br />
for ever and ever.Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-50754951280832469972017-07-22T07:35:00.002-07:002017-07-22T07:37:11.876-07:00consolation <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>it is because a definite faith is lacking to appropriate the spiritual blessings we desire that so many prayers appear to be fruitless. for such an act of faith not everyone is ready. in many cases, there is not a spiritual capacity to accept the blessing; it is where there is no true conviction of the sin of disobedience and consequently no true sorrow for it. often there is not a strong longing or purpose to obey God completely in everything. in others, there is no deep interest in the message of scripture: that God wants to perfect us to do his will, by His working in us that which is pleasing in His sight. <i>in such cases the christian is content to remain a babe. <i>he wants only the milk of consolation.<i><b></b></i></i> he is not mature enough to bear the strong meat of which Jesus ate: doing the will of His Father. </I><br />
<br />
[a life of obedience, andrew murray, 1982]<br />
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Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-27526372940035507262017-04-04T11:44:00.001-07:002017-04-04T11:44:32.910-07:00seventhre-learning rest - having given in to busyness, the reason why almost 11 months have passed since i've listed. that's not to say that I have't recognized gifts, but it's telling that the time it takes to type and list these things has been low priority. this week of "spring break" and cutting down from 50+ hours of work/week to just 18 feels like life again. it's that rest that God talks about in genesis on the seventh day when rest isn't the 24-hours of laziness that we tend to think rest should mean, but its an intentional time taken out of the week, holy, distinct from the other days, different in that God sat on His throne when He rested and managed all of his creation. He took up the reigns and organized and prioritized and took authority over His life. and its what i've felt called to for quite a while now, and this week has been that gift that i have needed. praise Him. <br />
<br />
and if you don't already know, a few friends and i have been archiving treasures like these for a few years now, on our way to 3000. you can follow along here: <a href="3000 gifts">www.3000gifts.blogspot.com </a>Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-31886486324443889472017-01-05T05:22:00.005-08:002017-01-05T05:22:47.561-08:00disagree"if you can speak about what you care about to a person you disagree with, without denigrating them or insulting them, then you may actually be heard."<br />
-amy pohler Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-72572742863312147422017-01-01T17:04:00.001-08:002017-01-02T06:28:40.135-08:00importanceeverything in me wants to defend this fortress<br />
to "be true to myself" as i'm told to do<br />
because if i feel it, it must be true...right?<br />
it's shouted to me from each angle: <br />
feelings are the barometer of truth<br />
some days i try it out and i like how it feels<br />
and i rise to the top of the hierarchy of all things important <br />
they keep telling me this is right and good, <br />
this is the way to happiness and confidence and success <br />
i want it to be true <br />
because it feels empowering <br />
but i feel sick <br />
every time <br />
the instant gratification of being right and strong<br />
it does it's job, gratifying instantaneously <br />
then it flits away and takes everything with it<br />
and does nothing to improve the interpersonal <br />
or the intrapersonal <br />
finally in the early morning hours <br />
when eyes open sooner than usual<br />
and the mind spins circles so that sleep is no longer welcome <br />
i wonder if there isn't a way that yields more fruit<br />
because the rotten fruit that i've peeled from the branches until now<br />
has never found a purpose.<br />
i decide to try the opposite, experiment.<br />
the lowering of self to a place of minimum importance <br />
so as to look up to those previously labeled inferior <br />
i watch vulnerability blossom <br />
freedom and acceptance exhale <br />
and this feels even better<br />
more right <br />
more fruitful <br />
more life Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-39300802453246146282016-12-20T09:32:00.001-08:002016-12-20T11:37:01.278-08:00shoelace selfishness stares me right in the face with an undeserved contentment on her own. <br />
i break eye contact and stuff my face back between pages. this only lasts so long and my mind jumps from one "what-if" to the next while my stomach ties itself like a shoelace, double-knotted. <br />
i read the same paragraph for the fourth time, retaining none of it. finally i exhale and the book lies facedown on the cushion and i close the soul-windows and allow my soul to be searched by the only One capable. <br />
selfishness is. but it is not master. <br />
selflessness is. greater reality. promise. <br />
if surrender. if the heart is willing to be broken and anchor it's hope in unshakable rock rather than drifty sand below sometimes- storm-tossed seas. <br />
rock. qualities and realities that don't change or move or depend on anything else to maintain their integrity. <br />
sand. always uncertain, tentative, contingent on performance and competition and comfort. and the wind and the moon and the creatures that manipulate it's resting place. <br />
selfishness is. but she holds no power that she isn't given. <br />
selflessness is. and holds all power. all authority. even death has no voice where the selfless stand confident, willing to know shallow pain for deep joy and temporary discomfort for forever rest. <br />
jesus, unshakable rock, be my rest, my confidence, my willingness to feel pain - to feel it deeply - but to know joy infinitely deeper. Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-52423389275182508872016-11-25T09:25:00.001-08:002016-11-25T09:25:15.218-08:00unburdened<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>"in Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence" <br />
a few weeks ago ali recommended a group study of ephesians <br />
and because i was too deep in 3 other books [not in the bible, lest you think that i'm trying to make myself sound so honorable] <br />
at the time i didn't step in with the 3-4 that kept a steady dialogue going <br />
but later, now<br />
i remember walking those streets in early december exactly 10 years ago<br />
2000-year-old columns and structures that tell only whispered stories of what the prosperous city used to be <br />
but i remember hearing of the darkness that lived there, where the early church held on so faithfully to this new news of hope and purpose and messiah,<br />
i remember the stadium that created space for gladiators and lions and all of the helpless victims<br />
i remember talk of secret tunnels that led from library to brothel so the men of the city could indulge at whim without public knowledge<br />
and i read here<br />
that Christ came to create a new unified humanity out of the two volatile people groups <br />
that He made it possible for mankind to approach God with freedom and confidence<br />
until that moment of reconciling two humanities, of reconciling Creator with created<br />
there was no access to such relationship<br />
pain and suffering and death and confusion and loneliness landed heavily where they originated with no outlet for the burden and fear and distress<br />
and it would have been fitting, appropriate, deserved<br />
"like the rest, we were by nature deserving of great wrath. but because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ"<br />
all of the mercy, the punishment entirely deserved but withheld, all of the grace <br />
a good God, a kind and selfless outlet for all of the pain within which sinful humanity lives <br />
He carries the hurt and confusion and fear and offers a burden that is light on the shoulders, <br />
hopeful to the spirit<br />
and joy-filled, evident in the eyes<br />
His presence, immanence, companionship, and burden-carrying are the greatest gifts<br />
thank you, Jesus, for making a way where there was no way and where burden was forever our lot in life <br />
<br />
Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-77876192719823408692015-09-05T10:06:00.001-07:002015-09-05T10:06:44.146-07:00expended<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZHZSzSCq2X3sIGgGgMPdjkK7GGr8Qo4skkkh4zJJjSRAUgYpZHfkt5cAPrhaQyRIw168mdwA2UhrmqTimiEM0_bZYT_yshPIuQHh47wXMb8Xmg6A7Qhx5C8WUFMWTy1Pt6EIYOZKX8p6/s1600/3358_RiPk-006L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZHZSzSCq2X3sIGgGgMPdjkK7GGr8Qo4skkkh4zJJjSRAUgYpZHfkt5cAPrhaQyRIw168mdwA2UhrmqTimiEM0_bZYT_yshPIuQHh47wXMb8Xmg6A7Qhx5C8WUFMWTy1Pt6EIYOZKX8p6/s320/3358_RiPk-006L.JPG" /></a></div>lindsey made me do it<br />
she made me run<br />
that's what i keep telling people<br />
and myself<br />
because if i'm doing it for someone else i can tolerate it<br />
normally<br />
i hate running<br />
and my last memory prior to this summer<br />
was running the warrior dash with all of my brother and sisters (that part was actually quite wonderful)<br />
but with some sort of respiratory ailment<br />
one that almost killed me at the first water obstacle<br />
when i didn't realize that the far side of that first barrel was bottomless lake<br />
i was all the way under<br />
and came up terrified <br />
just barely grabbing enough air to keep me going to the sand<br />
and 2 more miles of squishy tennis shoes<br />
complete with climbing and crawling obstacles<br />
then the finish line<br />
where kristi and i looked at eachother and agreed - <br />
i hate running. i'm never doing it again. <br />
but then lindsey made me do it<br />
and i got the app<br />
and i started [at least] trying<br />
but before i knew it<br />
i kind of liked it<br />
the rush of meeting the next goal,<br />
seeing the progress,<br />
working toward something that i'll share with a small group of friends<br />
friends who are as much family as friends<br />
so i keep trying and improving<br />
[except for today - i definitely walked some today]<br />
and i'm able to say that i'm loving running<br />
if we're getting technical though<br />
i'm loving the first mile and the completely expended feeling when the 3+ miles are passed<br />
those other miles in between are a blur - a miserable blur<br />
diluted by matt chandler and andy grammer and iin lectures, thankfully <br />
but the end result always seeps satisfaction and victory and pride<br />
and i'm glad that<br />
lindsey made me do it. Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-5059350431968140462015-06-12T05:33:00.000-07:002015-06-19T05:37:13.296-07:0030this year i started studying nutrition, a dream i've had ever since brooke told me about iin 7 years ago<br />
and i must say that next to Jesus i've never believed in something more<br />
this - this training in order to help other people - <br />
this is fun for me and i've received encouragement from trusted friends that this is a good fit<br />
as well as confirmation via peace, and so much joy in the learning process<br />
i'm thankful<br />
and God has made it clear to me that for now this is in large part what i should be investing my heart into<br />
and the little ones that are my responsibility from breakfast to dinnertime<br />
He's mentioned the possibility of an added responsibility for little hearts<br />
but before i say anything more about that i wait to see what comes out of a few upcoming conversations.<br />
i have a new home with a dear friend<br />
and this place is mine for the long term if i so choose and that feels good.<br />
this year i learned that i love to drive <br />
i love roadtrips to see friends and to explore this country<br />
st. louis and minneapolis at least, idaho to come<br />
i've seen 2 of my girls finish high school and plan for the next adventure<br />
my family will welcome twin babies!! in december...or november<br />
this year we'll send nathan and jana off to oxford, both reluctantly and joyfully<br />
and ben and jeanne to alaska<br />
and God, He's not going anywhere <br />
i've learned more of His steadfastness and the joy of remaining steadfast in trusting Him.<br />
<br />
but if i'm really honest, <br />
30 was not a milestone that i was excited to reach<br />
i expected to feel like such an adult by 30<br />
you know the same way you looked up to the seniors in high school <br />
when you were a short, skinny, greasy-haired freshman <br />
and they were all tall and beautiful with their curled hair and contact lenses, <br />
all loud and laughing in the hallways while you secretly cowered as you had to pass by them on your way to the science hall<br />
but then you get to senior year and you notice how little those wide-eyed freshmen are<br />
but you realize that you don't feel the way that you thought seniors were supposed to feel,<br />
that you don't feel as tall and beautiful and confident as they think you are<br />
but also<br />
that that doesn't detract from where you indeed are,<br />
the responsibility and the gift of years and added wisdom<br />
and then you get over yourself a little bit<br />
and realize that you're not as important as you think you are<br />
you're priceless and loved and gifted in impacting so many of those who are looking up to you<br />
if you can stop long enough to see what you can offer<br />
rather than wasting your time asking why the things you want haven't materialized<br />
so i've had to stop and ask for God's help in changing my attitude<br />
and to open my eyes to see the freshmen looking up at me<br />
and to pray that i can help them to see Jesus a little more clearly <br />
and to love Him more for always<br />
because this is so much of my purpose and i've always known that.<br />
<br />
"we are doing more good than we know, sowing seeds, starting streamlets, giving men true thoughts of Christ, to which they will refer one day as the first things that started them thinking of Him; <br />
and of my part, i shall be satisfied if no great mausoleum is raised over my grave, but that souls shall gather there when i am gone and say, 'he was a good man; he wrought no miracles,<br />
but he spoke words about Christ,<br />
which led me to know Him for myself.'"<br />
-george mathesonTammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-82232017356910813392015-04-22T14:14:00.000-07:002015-04-22T14:14:22.384-07:00rose-hueand then everything began to look different<br />
when the rose-hue faded to transparent<br />
and the self-imposed plans melted to a wick and a flicker and a threadline of smoke<br />
the plans, stuffed into a box, shelved alongside numerous other plans made from limited understanding<br />
but the dreams<br />
the dreams only grew larger<br />
and more real<br />
with each passing day<br />
Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-73305611569894815122015-04-01T14:30:00.000-07:002015-04-22T14:31:08.712-07:00pointshe points me to christ, you say<br />
who is this christ?, i ask<br />
this christ who encourages deceit<br />
this christ who delights in the breaking of the family<br />
this christ who contradicts Himself<br />
this christ who lives to satisfy only Himself<br />
this christ who pursues instant [self] gratification<br />
this christ who repels any accountability<br />
this christ who has much to prove<br />
this christ who strives to protect his own reputation<br />
this christ who keeps a firm grasp on every last bit of his pride<br />
this christ who runs after sexual gratification<br />
this christ who lives in a sea of confusion and chaos<br />
<br />
this christ? i don't know him. <br />
<br />
but i know of satan, liar, deceiver.<br />
he sounds like your "christ"<br />
i caution you, dear one, <br />
to know the voice of your Father<br />
know His Words<br />
know them for yourself<br />
discern between the voice of truth <br />
and the voice of falsehood<br />
the voice of wisdom <br />
and that of that woman in [proverbs 5], <br />
who tells you what your itching ears long to hear<br />
<br />
but the true Christ, He is a father to the fatherless<br />
[and He'll fill both your shoes and His]<br />
the true Christ, the One the Bible speaks about,<br />
there is no falsehood in Him<br />
and His eyes are too pure to look on evil<br />
He says, delight in the wife of your youth<br />
He took the Church as His forever bride to display a picture of faithfulness<br />
even in suffering, to the point of death, because His love saw nothing of selfishness<br />
the true Christ,<br />
He's the God of all peace<br />
who satisfies the mind that is fixed on Him<br />
there's no life apart from Him [john 15]<br />
because only He holds the words of eternal life [john 6]<br />
<br />
we always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. for we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body...<br />
therefore we do not lose heart. though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. [2 corinthians 4] <br />
<br />
i pray that He, the real Christ, is your greatest treasure,<br />
that you're willing to sacrifice now, temporarily,<br />
for joy, for redemption, for reconciliation,<br />
for the prize that will last for always. Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-82487535887740372092015-02-06T06:25:00.004-08:002015-02-06T06:28:41.200-08:00alonei see you<br />
i see that loud personality that vies for attention at every turn<br />
i see that smile, perpetual, and in so many ways, genuine<br />
because you love people, being around them, learning about them,<br />
laughing with them<br />
but i also see you when you go back to your apartment at the day's end<br />
and you're alone<br />
you distract yourself<br />
with books, movies, social media, <br />
but no real joy<br />
not the kind with roots that run deep <br />
immovable in the unshakable rock that is your sure foundation too.<br />
we've talked about these things in the early morning hours<br />
you listened curiously when i shared my heart with you<br />
and then you shared, i was honored to be let into this space,<br />
but you kept some of those rooms in your heart locked, dark, secret<br />
and i wondered then what it would take<br />
and neil [most credible and humble to speak about suffering] <br />
used to tell me that so-often young people need life experiences and suffering and time<br />
and the maturity that results from all of these<br />
before they can understand<br />
we can't make you to know what we know<br />
just like those ahead of me can't make me to know what they know [though i wish]<br />
you're on your own journey<br />
and i know that God will give you that gift of suffering and time <br />
He'll let you experience real depths<br />
real levels to which you have no choice but to engage<br />
and the distractions just won't suffice anymore<br />
i know that He'll teach you who He is and how worthy He is of every bit of you<br />
He'll walk you back into those most-painful places<br />
He'll ask you to put words to how you felt then and how you feel now<br />
and no amount of fun or people or alcohol or drama or affirmation from those people <br />
will heal the memories<br />
you're not alone dear one<br />
and your Father - <br />
He knows what you need. <br />
and i promise you that He's trustworthy. <br />
Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-50495369959312667532015-01-23T10:03:00.001-08:002015-01-23T10:38:39.161-08:00commondear brother,<br />
thank you<br />
for talking with me<br />
kind and curious as you were<br />
for sharing with me your heart for discipleship<br />
and faithfulness<br />
in a house of humility,<br />
for laughing with me <br />
as we listed<br />
all of the people that make our world so small,<br />
common ground.<br />
thank you for reminding me of that standard<br />
that i've had for so long,<br />
that i've been gradually letting go of<br />
and reminding me that no level of settling is necessary.<br />
like elijah<br />
when he thought he had exhausted all other options<br />
God reminded him<br />
there are 7000 still,<br />
and i believe Him again.<br />
thank you for giving me a few hours of your time<br />
for honoring me,<br />
for listening.<br />
talking with you was a breath of fresh air<br />
a little hope infused back into my soul<br />
thank you for your words<br />
and thank you for tea.Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-84283998802046387412015-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:002015-01-21T06:02:21.018-08:00no<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJG9KgIT8pHz4X8Ad5Pop8vgQgq-LknOQvt9pHt_AhA2P3xU8MZLfKhftuus4bBhHIeO_x-xUiHy_OZKmyhyqDF8i_goce55j0Q8nlSuJ4EeTrkrj-Jan0SgdQHvIa6PTkJM6RbenfJRJ7/s1600/French+Alps,+France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJG9KgIT8pHz4X8Ad5Pop8vgQgq-LknOQvt9pHt_AhA2P3xU8MZLfKhftuus4bBhHIeO_x-xUiHy_OZKmyhyqDF8i_goce55j0Q8nlSuJ4EeTrkrj-Jan0SgdQHvIa6PTkJM6RbenfJRJ7/s320/French+Alps,+France.jpg" /></a></div><br />
it's an honor <br />
to be at a place with God where He doesn't cater to my need for all of those feelings <br />
feelings of His presence in my life<br />
feelings of happiness<br />
feelings of satisfaction, having received what i asked for<br />
i'm grateful<br />
that at this point in my journey with Him <br />
i depend on the history, <br />
the one that He's written,<br />
more than on my present circumstances.<br />
His story from the first accounts of the creation of the world, <br />
and my entrance into His story, <br />
from the first recollections i have of life under this sun<br />
up until the present moment<br />
it's an honor to be counted worthy<br />
to be trusted with the deepest of truths<br />
when my circumstances change or disappoint <br />
or leave me feeling lonely, dissatisfied, or hopeless<br />
i can still cling to<br />
the Rock that is higher than i<br />
for in this is all my value, and my joy.<br />
when the unshakable Rock raws the hands but the grip remains firm,<br />
when everything apart from this Rock is shaken,<br />
these hands, this body, this soul+mind+heart<br />
is satisfied with everything it could ever need <br />
<br />
and thank you, my precious Jesus,<br />
for responding 'no' when my request for emotionalism is childish<br />
when i'm asking for some impulsive form of assurance that you're present<br />
or some confirmation that you are indeed good<br />
when you've proved yourself to only, always be so <br />
<br />
i count it an honor to be told no<br />
when i already know<br />
that You know<br />
what i need<br />
<br />
Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-59789348312957906402014-12-25T08:29:00.002-08:002014-12-25T08:29:42.977-08:00non-verbalsthe space, nearly full, quickly emptying<br />
lights dim<br />
air mildly smoky with freshly extinguished candle sticks laid on seats and floor<br />
a few bunches of excitable friends huddled in groups talking, laughing, planning<br />
and christmas tomorrow<br />
but she sat with us, sensitive<br />
when he walked by, this shepherd who leads with humility, compassion, gentleness<br />
on his way out, to home, to prepare for the morning's celebration with his own family<br />
he stopped, caught her eye,<br />
fully aware of her situation and the choices that she had made to bring her to the very bottom of herself<br />
to where she sits, empty, quiet, insecure, fearful<br />
his full attention on her, subtle, one hand pointing, one hand over his own heart<br />
i didn't catch his words<br />
but the non-verbals communicated loudly<br />
we love you. we're walking this road with you. you're not alone. we know what you've done, we forgive you, and we're right here.<br />
merry christmas, daughter.<br />
merry christmas, sister. <br />
we do know and we do love you and we will go forward together. Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-8473453883291006502014-12-25T07:56:00.000-08:002014-12-25T07:56:19.192-08:00freest <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oZ4G6E2DwIE9eGJFPWZIb4N8-sJ_MoYMTJGzKlJOf6EtXD_WLt5Et_FI1kgdP5g01aLTQECWSMbR4IvwjbGxpEhWkreOGTIQR8lwBO9UDXE-Fr2f4Ydk1oTL-gh9TLjxYdRKtW9A75CM/s1600/IMG_20141224_185103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oZ4G6E2DwIE9eGJFPWZIb4N8-sJ_MoYMTJGzKlJOf6EtXD_WLt5Et_FI1kgdP5g01aLTQECWSMbR4IvwjbGxpEhWkreOGTIQR8lwBO9UDXE-Fr2f4Ydk1oTL-gh9TLjxYdRKtW9A75CM/s320/IMG_20141224_185103.jpg" /></a></div><br />
that rich Immanuel-reality, "God with us," the very first reason for any of the december 25 celebrating<br />
it drowned this year under the build up and the decorating and the gifts<br />
and i felt it too, gasping for a few breaths, something that would anchor me back into the Life which came all those years ago,<br />
my purpose for existing<br />
but with so many exciting things going on why would i slow myself to sit in a place of remembering<br />
unless Life Himself<br />
would graciously withhold some of the holiday euphoria from me, remove blinders, make me to see<br />
that this is the very purpose for His human existing<br />
He came to be flesh so that He might sympathize with us - children, brothers and sisters with Him<br />
john piper explains the <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/labs/why-christmas">reasons for Christmas</a> from Hebrews 2<br />
God came - Jesus - <br />
to sympathize with mankind,<br />
to die,<br />
to destroy death/the devil,<br />
to deliver mankind from the slavery+fear+death<br />
<br />
so, "the reason for the incarnation is the death of the Son of God"<br />
<br />
...and if we are freed from the slavery of death, we are the freest of all peoples, and that is owed to the fact that the devil is destroyed by having his accusations removed, because Christ died, because Christ partook of the nature of mankind, and that happened because of christmas...<br />
and because we're freed in this way, we are also the most humble and grateful of all people.<br />
<br />
and this is why we can say with all sincerity,<br />
<br />
merry christmas. Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196350998271094682.post-66362651878194566102014-12-13T19:13:00.001-08:002014-12-13T19:16:07.081-08:00inch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFAox94jOOOBGzO-vfnqpGRhIPGWIQYzspvPeUUAOq_yG5BIxqSBox5aNqdMyrKJU0A-Xah-HktSOGyrjUjzASjvaAEMulRWGYT5D29b93qwT5i91awGvm_XI9MegSWZ9o18jD6IQb1Zl/s1600/8125610854_f529738d18_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFAox94jOOOBGzO-vfnqpGRhIPGWIQYzspvPeUUAOq_yG5BIxqSBox5aNqdMyrKJU0A-Xah-HktSOGyrjUjzASjvaAEMulRWGYT5D29b93qwT5i91awGvm_XI9MegSWZ9o18jD6IQb1Zl/s400/8125610854_f529738d18_z.jpg" /></a></div>a few friends have asked why i'm not writing much lately<br />
and the obvious answer is time<br />
the holidays<br />
family<br />
out-of-town friends here, home<br />
and the not-so-obvious answer is that i've been dreaming<br />
and none of these swirling ideas are close to fruition<br />
yet<br />
so i don't have much to say <br />
yet<br />
but i do feel<br />
like that little girl, lollipop in hand, wide-eyed, curious<br />
with wonder<br />
if God really is preparing the ground<br />
for my little mustard seed<br />
if this dream is the one <br />
finally<br />
that combines my passions, my loves<br />
with His<br />
if this is the merging that i've been praying and inching toward all my life<br />
so<br />
please<br />
pray for me<br />
with me<br />
for patience to listen and wait<br />
for obedience to step when i hear that quiet leading<br />
for humility to start small, to be small<br />
for confidence in God, not me, but me because of Him<br />
Tammy Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938506706456008240noreply@blogger.com1