Sunday, December 28, 2008

TA DA!!!

I feel pretty,oh so pretty...

Edie of Rich Gifts is the designer behind this beautiful makeover. She is a pleasure to work with and was sooo patience with me. I was clueless in this whole process of designing a new look for my blog but she took all my ideas of what I 'thought' a blog should look like and made it beautiful. I love the look!

Edie's goal is to make sure that you are totally in love with your design that she has created for you.She continues to communicate with you to get "the look" to fit your personality and won't stop until you are happy.

So,if your looking for a blog makeover,drop her a email...you won't be disappointed.

Thank you,my friend.

Tammy

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

How Many Kings?

In Christmas’ past I never gave it much thought on the birth of Christ. I know what you are all thinking “How could you not, aren’t you a Christian?”

Yes, I am and have been since 1990 but pondering the birth and what it meant to me, to mankind has never stirred my heart until now. Over the last month, God has used your stories and your willingness to share your love for Christ to touch my heart this Christmas season.

During my time spent with God this week, He has given me the joy of Christmas and I liked to share it with you.

I remember 26 years ago looking at the face of my first born and wondering what plans were set before him. Being his mother, I dreamed that his days as a toddler would be full of hugs, kisses and laughter. He would receive whatever his little heart desired and no tears would stain his face.

During his adolescences and teen years, he would be filled with a desire to learn, to be at the top of his class. Knowing that working hard would bring him into leadership and give him life of comfort with no pain in sight.

I remember gazing into his eyes as I cradled him in my arms; my hope for him was that he would walk through life unscarred and unashamed.

I’m thankful for not knowing all the plans set before my son. My heart couldn’t have bared all the valleys and tears that I have collected through the years.
But Father God didn’t have to wonder or hope…He knew.

(John 8:36-37)
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
Pilate said, “So you are a king?”
Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

He knew his Son’s birth was for a purpose, to come as King and to testify truth to the world.
God watched as His Son; lay helpless in Mary’s arms as a babe, knowing the day would come when His Son would be hung helplessly on the Cross for our sins.

I can only imagine, Father God listening to his Son’s sweet child-like voice, as he talked to his earthly parents during the hidden years, knowing that one day He would be hearing the cries from his Son’s heart in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Now,I know,the Christ Child had to come on that appointed day, the day had been marked from the very first command of God’s voice. God could have stopped it but where would we have been? All odds were against us, from the very beginning. There was no other way but through Jesus, the spotless Lamb; He is the Way, the Truth and the Life…between us and God.

In the past, I’ve decorated the tree, made the cookies and wrapped the presents. I’ve placed the manger on the mantle as my mind wondered on the next task that needed to be done.
I’ve raised my hands during worship, singing songs this Christmas season, as I’m thinking about the family gathering on Christmas day.

But today is different. God, once again, found me, for I was seeking. He showed me when the Holy Spirit over-shadowed Mary,it was the day a King was to be born for all mankind to bring truth into the world.


Father God,
Please forgive me for seeing a child in the manger and not a Savior. Forgive me for walking to the tree to gather the gifts, when I should have dropped to my knees with a humble heart.


Monday, December 22, 2008

Pictures to share

My dog, Bodie's favorite place at Christmas time.

Mother and daugther...moment.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Make Me Over


Oh, how I love makeovers! I’m always fascinated on how someone can look at something or somebody and actually see the finished results from the very beginning.

You may remember a few weeks ago Edie, Rich Gifts, had joined in on the Christmas Giveaway for Lysa’s blog. Edie was giving away a blog makeover. By leaving a comment; your name would be entered into a random drawing. Now, if you wanted more chances to win, you were asked to let others know on your own blog, which I did. After I did all that was asked, I waited patiently and prayed a little selfish prayer….that I might be the winner.

I’m so excited to tell you, my blogging friends, that I won the blog makeover!!! When I opened my email from Edie on Saturday morning and read that I had won, I literally lost my breath. Once I recovered I ran upstair to tell my daughter, who was half a sleep, the great news. Her reaction was “That’s cool” and rolled over to go back to sleep, I guess she wasn’t as excited as I was.

I’m now looking forward to see what God and Edie have in mind for this blog makeover. I’ve seen some of her work and what a gift God has given her.

So, a day will come when you’ll stop by for a visit and think you’re at a different blog. But your not, the outward appearance will look amazing but the person inside is still the same.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmas Giveaway!


I've been told its important to share anything that might bless someone.
My friend Edie at Rich Gifts is having a Christmas Giveaway.


So don't wait. Go ahead and click on Rich Gifts, the drawing, for a blog makeover to be award on December 13.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Remember...


Two weeks ago, God whispered these words to me “Pray with your heart not just your lips.” I must admit, my prayers for my son have been prayers of doubt. As I praying with my lips, my heart has been holding on to only what my eyes can see.

God is so good! As I was reading this week in (Mark 8:18-19) I came to this verse... You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear? Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” “Twelve,” they said.

Jesus was speaking to his disciples, who walked beside Him. Listened to His voice daily and saw miracle after miracle, yet they had trouble seeing, hearing and remembering what Christ had done during times of need and suffering.

Just like the disciples, we too, seem to forget that God can take care of our needs and even provide us with extra. We even at times forget that day He made the impossible, possible.

I must admit when the impossible stands before me; I can not see, for the cloud of darkness continues to get heavier. When the voice on the other end of the telephone is crying out “Mom, how much more garbage is going to be piled on me?” and “Why is God not helping me?” I have the answer but he’s not listening. As my son continues on, my ears become drawn to the loud sounds of laughter as words of doubt are being spoken to me and I, too, stop listening to the voice of God.

This verse gives me hope with that same question that was set before the disciples...“Don’t you remember anything at all?” I must remember. We must remember. Remembering the day that God called out our names and the chains of bondage were broken. We must remember He was the one who put up the road blocks so that our causal drive to OUR destination of destruction was interrupted.

I know that I’m not alone in this journey; many of you have shared your own heartaches for the return of child who has wandered away from home. For me, time seems to be standing still just the way I believe it stood still for my mother. Yet, the day came when I gave her the good news... “Mom, Jesus has found me, I’m home.

So, now when I pray it’s a prayer of seeing the things that are to come and hearing the voices of many angels rejoicing the day my son (our children) says …. “Mom, Jesus has found me, I’m home.
Oh, let us not forget the extra that comes along with the touch from Jesus.