In our Sunday School lesson this morning the topic came up about how God works in the Bible. That we can read about His nature, His grace, His mercy and His love for the people whose stories are contained within the pages of His Book. As I sat there and listened to the discussion it struck me that alot of people limit God to the stories contained within those pages. As I sat there with my Bible in its cover with a zipper closure, I realized that it would be very easy to let my experience with God live within those pages. That I could easily zip Him up and let my knowledge of Him be limited by what is contained in His word. While I am encouraged and strengthen by the word in the Bible, I really am very thankful for the Real God that I find and experience outside of those pages. The concern in our class today is that people don't share their stories anymore of how God is working in their lives. The people in the Bible most likely didn't have the written word the way we do today to reference so their belief was based on the stories that were passed down from generation to generation. Now 2000 years since Jesus left this earth there are still stories everyday that could be written about God's greatness, love and works. It is our job to share our stories with others. I strongly feel called of God to share my story with others so that is what I am doing. I posted the question today on facebook asking how do you know God is working in your life now? (I don't think it was worded exactly like that but it is close). I was hoping to get people to share how they know God is real and so far I have 4 answers which have blessed me and hopefully others. Until you have to rely fully on God you may not know God for how Real He is. When you have the opportunity to feel God's power and see His active work in your life it then it becomes your job to share it. With that said not everything we experience is something we can share but if you feel God's prompting to share, I encourage you to do so. Let that one person or the world know How Great He Is! That's what my Blog is about. Facing a Lion with God on my side. Yes one Lion is God and the other is the cancer. I have learned that facing God takes all the focus off the other worries, concerns, and disappointments in my life aka the other lion. I choose to face God because He IS REAL, HE IS ALIVE AND HE IS WORKING EVEN NOW. How do I know? My tumor markers are down. My strength has increased. My skin color per others is better. See there is no set treatment for my type of cancer but God is placing the right doctors, nurses and others in my path to accomplish His Will. I am a walking testimony to God's realness and greatness. And if He will do it for me, He will do it for you.
Praising God for His greatness! I could go on forever on this subject and one day I will. That's what heaven will be about. : )
Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!
Love you all
Tammy
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The little things (or perhaps the big things) in life
My daughter asked me on Saturday if I would take her to see Cody Simpson at Crabtree Valley Mall on Monday. I did not know who Cody Simpson was so she quickly showed me. She pleaded her case and by Sunday I decided....why not. He was going to perform a concert at 1130 that morning but if you were in line by 10am you could receive a wristband that would ensure a chance to get his autograph. So after much conversation, we decided to get up early and head that way. I really didn't know if I could take all this activity but I figured that wherever we ended up I would just sit down while I waited. So I got the girls up a little after 7am and we headed to Crabtree. We got there probably by 815am and went inside (Yay - didn't know if they were gonna make us wait outside). the line had already formed but we were less than 50 people back. So we sat down and waited. We waited and waited and waited. About 945 they passed out the wristbands so we knew we were guaranteed an autograph. We still wanted to keep our place in the autograph line so I waited there. Once it got time for the concert, Maggie left me to go watch it and then as soon as he finished she rushed back to her spot with me. We got thru the autograph line without any difficulty and Maggie got her shirt she had decorated with I love Cody Simpson signed. Olga and myself got an autographed picture. Yes I gave my picture to Maggie. What happened later is what makes me know it was worth it.
As I thought about the pros and cons of going, I realized that this was one of those once in a lifetime opportunities for me and my child so I decided that since I had been feeling better, I would make the most of it and we would go. So we went. Last night my child was still excited. She has decorated her door with Cody pictures and her excitement was well worth the trip. All it cost me to go was gas to Crabtree. everything else was free. that's a bargain.
We don't get chance in our lifetimes for many once in a lifetime things so I took the chance and we went with it. I am so glad we did it. It is something she will not forget. Even Olga was a little excited about meeting an American Superstar. She thinks she is a Belarussian Superstar. (LOL)
I thank God for these opportunities and for giving me the strength to do it. I did have one time that I had sat on the floor for over an hour and when I went to get up, I actually did not think I was going to be able to do it. I froze in the squatting position till I could get the strength to stand. Needless to say I did not sit on the floor again. Maggie had a ball, Olga enjoyed herself a little with the crazy americans and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
Thank you God for everyday you give me!!!!
Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!
Love you All
Tammy
As I thought about the pros and cons of going, I realized that this was one of those once in a lifetime opportunities for me and my child so I decided that since I had been feeling better, I would make the most of it and we would go. So we went. Last night my child was still excited. She has decorated her door with Cody pictures and her excitement was well worth the trip. All it cost me to go was gas to Crabtree. everything else was free. that's a bargain.
We don't get chance in our lifetimes for many once in a lifetime things so I took the chance and we went with it. I am so glad we did it. It is something she will not forget. Even Olga was a little excited about meeting an American Superstar. She thinks she is a Belarussian Superstar. (LOL)
I thank God for these opportunities and for giving me the strength to do it. I did have one time that I had sat on the floor for over an hour and when I went to get up, I actually did not think I was going to be able to do it. I froze in the squatting position till I could get the strength to stand. Needless to say I did not sit on the floor again. Maggie had a ball, Olga enjoyed herself a little with the crazy americans and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
Thank you God for everyday you give me!!!!
Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!
Love you All
Tammy
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The urge to pray
Good Morning,
I read the book "Heaven is for Real" yesterday and was struck with the power of prayer once again. This book is about a little boy who goes to heaven while on the operating table. He describes heaven, Jesus, God, and the things he saw while there to his parents months after this occurred. His dad is a minister and compares what his son is telling him with scriptures in the Bible and the descriptions match. This child was only 3 or 4 at the time so it is very convincing that this could be what heaven may be like. The first person that greeted this child was Jesus. And at one point in the book, the child relates that Jesus sent him back because his dad prayed and asked for him back. The dad also relates a time in the book where he called on his church to pray and they did and there was significant change in his condition the next day.
I also got an email recently about a missionary that was in a foreign country at a medical clinic. Every 2 week he would ride his bike thru the jungle to go to a village to pick up medical supplies to bring back to his site. The journey would take 2 days. On one such journey he stopped to help someone who had been in a fight as soon as he entered the town. He picked up his supplies and then got back on his bike. His trip required him to spend the night in the jungle all alone. He did this and arrived back safely. A couple of week later when he was speaking to a group of people the injured person that he had helped was in the crowd and spoke up and said that he and a group had planned to attack him and rob him on one such journey back. Upon arriving at the location where he was sleeping they saw 26 guards protecting him so they turned away. This missionary was traveling alone. When the missionary returned to his home church and told the story, someone from his congregation spoke up and asked the date of this occurrence. When he related the date to them the man informed the missionary that it was the same date that he had felt the need to call for prayer for the missionary. He had called people in the church and asked them to meet at the church for prayer. He asked that everyone that had come to pray to stand. There were 26 people that had prayed for him that day. HOW AWESOME IS THAT! 26 people, 26 guards
I am relating this to say that if you feel the urge to pray for someone, please do. Pray right at the moment that you get the urge. Don't wait till later, pray then. It doesn't have to be a long prayer but if you feel it in your heart .... say a prayer. Sometimes people cross my mind and I pray for them right then. Being on facebook some times leads to urges to pray. I get hurt (not personally) by things that are posted when I see the hurt others are going thru. The life circumstances that come our way that can be made better by prayer. You don't even have to tell them you prayed for them. You know and God Hears and that is all that is needed. Like I said this hit me last night again after I read that book. And then this morning someone posted something on facebook that made me speak a prayer for this person and their family. There is a world that is hurting and that needs someone to pray for them. So PRAY! Nothing fancy .....just simple requests to God to help someone else in need.
With all that said and knowing the power of prayer...you can continue to pray for me especially if you feel that urge in the middle of the day or night. God is working and He works in response to prayer. You have not because you ask not. I am asking! All that I am is a result of His Great Love For ME! Love You God!
Love you All
Keep PRAYING and Keep Looking UP!
Tammy
I read the book "Heaven is for Real" yesterday and was struck with the power of prayer once again. This book is about a little boy who goes to heaven while on the operating table. He describes heaven, Jesus, God, and the things he saw while there to his parents months after this occurred. His dad is a minister and compares what his son is telling him with scriptures in the Bible and the descriptions match. This child was only 3 or 4 at the time so it is very convincing that this could be what heaven may be like. The first person that greeted this child was Jesus. And at one point in the book, the child relates that Jesus sent him back because his dad prayed and asked for him back. The dad also relates a time in the book where he called on his church to pray and they did and there was significant change in his condition the next day.
I also got an email recently about a missionary that was in a foreign country at a medical clinic. Every 2 week he would ride his bike thru the jungle to go to a village to pick up medical supplies to bring back to his site. The journey would take 2 days. On one such journey he stopped to help someone who had been in a fight as soon as he entered the town. He picked up his supplies and then got back on his bike. His trip required him to spend the night in the jungle all alone. He did this and arrived back safely. A couple of week later when he was speaking to a group of people the injured person that he had helped was in the crowd and spoke up and said that he and a group had planned to attack him and rob him on one such journey back. Upon arriving at the location where he was sleeping they saw 26 guards protecting him so they turned away. This missionary was traveling alone. When the missionary returned to his home church and told the story, someone from his congregation spoke up and asked the date of this occurrence. When he related the date to them the man informed the missionary that it was the same date that he had felt the need to call for prayer for the missionary. He had called people in the church and asked them to meet at the church for prayer. He asked that everyone that had come to pray to stand. There were 26 people that had prayed for him that day. HOW AWESOME IS THAT! 26 people, 26 guards
I am relating this to say that if you feel the urge to pray for someone, please do. Pray right at the moment that you get the urge. Don't wait till later, pray then. It doesn't have to be a long prayer but if you feel it in your heart .... say a prayer. Sometimes people cross my mind and I pray for them right then. Being on facebook some times leads to urges to pray. I get hurt (not personally) by things that are posted when I see the hurt others are going thru. The life circumstances that come our way that can be made better by prayer. You don't even have to tell them you prayed for them. You know and God Hears and that is all that is needed. Like I said this hit me last night again after I read that book. And then this morning someone posted something on facebook that made me speak a prayer for this person and their family. There is a world that is hurting and that needs someone to pray for them. So PRAY! Nothing fancy .....just simple requests to God to help someone else in need.
With all that said and knowing the power of prayer...you can continue to pray for me especially if you feel that urge in the middle of the day or night. God is working and He works in response to prayer. You have not because you ask not. I am asking! All that I am is a result of His Great Love For ME! Love You God!
Love you All
Keep PRAYING and Keep Looking UP!
Tammy
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Vacation Bible School
It''s been a busy couple of days and that's a good thing. It is Bible School time at my church and I happen to love Bible school. There is something exciting about it. All the energy that is displayed in those rooms with all those kids is amazing. Our Bible school started on Sunday night and after having spent almost all day at church getting ready for that night I was tired. I couldn't decide if it made me feel younger being around all those kids and that energy or if it made me feel older cause by 9pm that night this chick was tired. Oh well, whatever the case it was Fun and last night was too. I am teaching the Bible lesson to the Kindergarten thru 2nd grade group and what a great group they are. It has been fun the to see their faces and to even hear their comments about God, Jesus and the stories that I am telling them from the Old Testament. I think my favorite part last night had nothing at all to do with the lesson but was when one of the little girls wanted to perform a song in the middle of the lesson. She proceeded to sing a song that she was making up. What a wonderful imagination. God is ready for me....was the song and I am sure if I asked her to sing it tonight that it would not be the same song. You can't help but smile when something like that happens. At least the song was about God so you have to know He has a place in her heart and her mind. What a Great thing.
I have been feeling good the last couple of days. No nausea noted just still weaker than I used to be but I am determined that if I keep moving it will not get the best of me. I like the off weeks of chemo. I can get more things done and feel like getting out and about more which is good. The down side of this all is that it is so HOT outside that I definitely don't want to go outside to do things. We did venture out to go to the movies yesterday. We saw Mr. Popper's Penguins....that is a cute movie. Glad we went to see it. We only have one more week with Olga our child from Belarus. Time has flown by and I am sure this week will as well.
That's all for now. Gotta get ready for VBS. Keep the prayers going up. God is Still Working!!!!
I do have a special request. There are 6 people including me at my church with active cancers in their bodies. We all have a different type but I know God is capable of healing any type of cancer. Please remember them in prayer. One is a 16 year old that possible has cancer in his bones and his lungs. I know how my diagnosis rocked my world and I just can't imagine what this young man is going thru. My heart goes out to him and his family and I have been in prayer for him last night and today. He was to go to Chapel Hill today to have his portacath placed, have more tests done, and to start chemo. Please pray strength, peace, no nausea, and rest for him and his family. I pray that God wraps his arms around each and everyone of the people diagnosed with Cancer. I know that He has me in His arms and has not let me go and I am thankful for that. It reminds me of a bible school song from a couple of years ago. "Oh No, you never let go....thru the rain and thru the fire, Oh no you never let go....... No you never let go of me.
Love you GOD!!!
KEEP PRAYING AND KEEP LOOKING UP!
Tammy
I have been feeling good the last couple of days. No nausea noted just still weaker than I used to be but I am determined that if I keep moving it will not get the best of me. I like the off weeks of chemo. I can get more things done and feel like getting out and about more which is good. The down side of this all is that it is so HOT outside that I definitely don't want to go outside to do things. We did venture out to go to the movies yesterday. We saw Mr. Popper's Penguins....that is a cute movie. Glad we went to see it. We only have one more week with Olga our child from Belarus. Time has flown by and I am sure this week will as well.
That's all for now. Gotta get ready for VBS. Keep the prayers going up. God is Still Working!!!!
I do have a special request. There are 6 people including me at my church with active cancers in their bodies. We all have a different type but I know God is capable of healing any type of cancer. Please remember them in prayer. One is a 16 year old that possible has cancer in his bones and his lungs. I know how my diagnosis rocked my world and I just can't imagine what this young man is going thru. My heart goes out to him and his family and I have been in prayer for him last night and today. He was to go to Chapel Hill today to have his portacath placed, have more tests done, and to start chemo. Please pray strength, peace, no nausea, and rest for him and his family. I pray that God wraps his arms around each and everyone of the people diagnosed with Cancer. I know that He has me in His arms and has not let me go and I am thankful for that. It reminds me of a bible school song from a couple of years ago. "Oh No, you never let go....thru the rain and thru the fire, Oh no you never let go....... No you never let go of me.
Love you GOD!!!
KEEP PRAYING AND KEEP LOOKING UP!
Tammy
Friday, July 15, 2011
God is Good
Good Friday Morning,
God is good everyday of my life. I do not know why He loves me so but He does. I am not worthy of His love or His mercy but He pours it out on me anyway. I am thankful to Him for everything. For all He does and for holding my hand. Life is uncertain but God gives us certainty in knowing that regardless of what comes our way, if we trust Him we can not go wrong. He will be right beside us. I love knowing that without a doubt.
If you are friends with me on facebook you know that my tumor markers are still falling. (Yay). Down to 763 now and I started out at over 9000. Dr. Anderson said we would do a scan soon and possibly back to Duke to determine the next steps. I am trusting God to lead the way. I don't expect it to be easy but I just know that His healing and comforting hand will be with me the whole way. I am weak from the chemo and I can feel this in my bones almost. It still takes a little more to lift my arms, to lift my legs, to move but I keep going. As long as God is by my side I will keep moving for He will give me strength.
Thank you everyone for your prayers! Keep them coming. I don't know what the future will bring or what kind of procedures I will have but I pray for wisdom and God's presence so that what is done is exactly what God has planned. That is what will happen anyway. God's Will. I can't ask for anything better than that. I love you God and can't wait to see what you have in store.
Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!
Love Ya
Tammy
God is good everyday of my life. I do not know why He loves me so but He does. I am not worthy of His love or His mercy but He pours it out on me anyway. I am thankful to Him for everything. For all He does and for holding my hand. Life is uncertain but God gives us certainty in knowing that regardless of what comes our way, if we trust Him we can not go wrong. He will be right beside us. I love knowing that without a doubt.
If you are friends with me on facebook you know that my tumor markers are still falling. (Yay). Down to 763 now and I started out at over 9000. Dr. Anderson said we would do a scan soon and possibly back to Duke to determine the next steps. I am trusting God to lead the way. I don't expect it to be easy but I just know that His healing and comforting hand will be with me the whole way. I am weak from the chemo and I can feel this in my bones almost. It still takes a little more to lift my arms, to lift my legs, to move but I keep going. As long as God is by my side I will keep moving for He will give me strength.
Thank you everyone for your prayers! Keep them coming. I don't know what the future will bring or what kind of procedures I will have but I pray for wisdom and God's presence so that what is done is exactly what God has planned. That is what will happen anyway. God's Will. I can't ask for anything better than that. I love you God and can't wait to see what you have in store.
Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!
Love Ya
Tammy
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Prayer
I was gonna write this Sunday night or Monday but did not get to it. I have been invited to join a prayer team at my church that will pray during certain services each month. So far I have done this twice and both times it was a blessing. This is a new thing that has been started and there is a group of people that are meeting in the prayer room for each service and praying for the service while the service is going on. We pray for musicians, singers, choir, pastor, the sermon, the people attending and that God's will will be accomplished during each and every service. We pray for strength for our pastor, clarity of HIS word and that it touches hearts. We pray for prayer requests for members in our congregation and for those that are not a part of our church. We pray for our community and for upcoming events like VBS and mission teams. It is an honor to meet in that room with one or two other people and just pray. Yes we talk a little about prayer requests. Even mention what we need for prayer for at times. But we are mostly there to pray and that we do. It is a blessing and I am so glad I am on that team. I originally thought. how are we gonna pray that long especially during a Sunday morning service but we did o.k. Time goes by faster when you lose yourself in prayer. Last Sunday night we weren't finished when the service was over....so how is that for losing you time in prayer. I love this opportunity and know that prayer works so what an honor to pray and watch its effects. YAY GOD.
My second thing about prayer is my personal prayers everyday. I can honestly say that the top of my prayers start out with thanks then I pray for David, Maggie and my Mom .....that is every time I pray even if it is several times a day. God is blessing them I know, maybe in unseen ways. My prayers from there drift off in several directions. I have been praying for several that have gotten cancer diagnosis's over the past week. Praying God will bring them comfort and peace and healing. Also praying for a friend that was injured in a car wreck. God is a Big God and He is More than Enough to meet all of our needs.
I praise God for what He is doing in my life. My tumor markers are down, My doctor is positive which is definitely making me positive about my condition. I have always been one to look at both sides of the picture because I want to know what can happen either way. I don't believe that is a lack of faith. My grandma Moore always said use wisdom that God doesn't expect us to walk blindly. He expects us to prepare our self with information and His Word so that we can face anything. I have Faith that God can heal me but I also ask His Will to be done and not knowing what His Will might be I prepare myself for life either way knowing God will give me the strength and peace to face whatever it might be. I love God! I think through all of this, it is interesting that I have done a spiritual gifts assessment and all 3 times I have done it. my top spiritual gift is FAITH. YES, I believe My God can do anything and I do Mean ANYTHING. And I think that is part of this journey that I am on is to share my Faith with everyone reading. GOD IS IN CONTROL. ALL THE TIME. If you don't believe that,,, fall to your knees and ask God to open your eyes to His work. Its going on all the time.
Almost finished, I am still blown away by the fact that God gave me a dream before all of this started. I look back to the day I was told I had cancer and then to the minute I remembered my dream on the very same day. I know that was from God and He brought it to my remembrance in that hospital room to give me peace and the strength and reassurance I would need to face the coming days. I don't know why He choose me for that dream but He did. What an awesome thing He did for me! What an awesome message to plant in my heart and mind. God loves me and I need only to face Him to get thru this valley although at times it doesn't feel like a valley anymore. God has lifted me out of the valley. Yes, my body is physically weaker from the chemo but I think my mind is as clear as it used to be and other than the general weakness I feel NORMAL. YAY GOD. And yes I am looking a slight bit different. A little smaller than I use to be (that's o.k) and my hair is getting very thin in spots (and yes that makes me cry sometimes) but I am here to serve God and that's what I will do.
Can't wait for Vacation Bible School next week. Love it and the energy that is in the rooms.
Thanks for reading.
Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!
Tammy
My second thing about prayer is my personal prayers everyday. I can honestly say that the top of my prayers start out with thanks then I pray for David, Maggie and my Mom .....that is every time I pray even if it is several times a day. God is blessing them I know, maybe in unseen ways. My prayers from there drift off in several directions. I have been praying for several that have gotten cancer diagnosis's over the past week. Praying God will bring them comfort and peace and healing. Also praying for a friend that was injured in a car wreck. God is a Big God and He is More than Enough to meet all of our needs.
I praise God for what He is doing in my life. My tumor markers are down, My doctor is positive which is definitely making me positive about my condition. I have always been one to look at both sides of the picture because I want to know what can happen either way. I don't believe that is a lack of faith. My grandma Moore always said use wisdom that God doesn't expect us to walk blindly. He expects us to prepare our self with information and His Word so that we can face anything. I have Faith that God can heal me but I also ask His Will to be done and not knowing what His Will might be I prepare myself for life either way knowing God will give me the strength and peace to face whatever it might be. I love God! I think through all of this, it is interesting that I have done a spiritual gifts assessment and all 3 times I have done it. my top spiritual gift is FAITH. YES, I believe My God can do anything and I do Mean ANYTHING. And I think that is part of this journey that I am on is to share my Faith with everyone reading. GOD IS IN CONTROL. ALL THE TIME. If you don't believe that,,, fall to your knees and ask God to open your eyes to His work. Its going on all the time.
Almost finished, I am still blown away by the fact that God gave me a dream before all of this started. I look back to the day I was told I had cancer and then to the minute I remembered my dream on the very same day. I know that was from God and He brought it to my remembrance in that hospital room to give me peace and the strength and reassurance I would need to face the coming days. I don't know why He choose me for that dream but He did. What an awesome thing He did for me! What an awesome message to plant in my heart and mind. God loves me and I need only to face Him to get thru this valley although at times it doesn't feel like a valley anymore. God has lifted me out of the valley. Yes, my body is physically weaker from the chemo but I think my mind is as clear as it used to be and other than the general weakness I feel NORMAL. YAY GOD. And yes I am looking a slight bit different. A little smaller than I use to be (that's o.k) and my hair is getting very thin in spots (and yes that makes me cry sometimes) but I am here to serve God and that's what I will do.
Can't wait for Vacation Bible School next week. Love it and the energy that is in the rooms.
Thanks for reading.
Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!
Tammy
Friday, July 8, 2011
I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from.
It has been a bit since i posted but I am happy to say that it is not because I have felt bad. It is because I have been in the mountains and didn't take the time to post. I have felt good this week and had a good time. David and the boy scouts had a planned trip to go gold prospecting and to camp out this week and he invited the girls to come along....so we did. We camped out in the Comfort Inn in Marion and met up with the boys for the fun stuff. Maggie, Olga, my mom and myself went and I think they had a good time too. We rode on the parkway for a bit, went to the Cove (Billy Graham's training Center), went gem mining and basically chilled out the rest of the time. The girls got to swim in the indoor pool at the hotel and they liked that.
It was wonderful to be in the mountains. Sorry folks, but I have never been much of a beach girl. I could go to the beach one or two times a year and be happy. The mountains however.....I could live there. The are so beautiful. I just can't help but think of God creating the heavens and earth and how He molded those hills and all those trees, flowers, lakes and streams. I feel closer to the garden of eden in the mountains. Nature is all around you. The most awesome thing was riding down the road and looking into a mountain stream and seeing 3 deer in the middle of it just standing there. How awesome is that. The views also affected Maggie. She started talking about people that didn't believe in God and how could you not if you looked around you. How can people see the beauty that nature beholds every where you look, not just in the mountains and not believe in God? I don't know. That is simply not wanting to believe in God. How Awesome is HE! I told Maggie that the mountains reminded me of the book of Psalm. .....I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from, my help comes from the Lord the MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. Thats what the mountains reminds me of. Not only is it awesome being there but you can't help but feel closer to God. At elevations of 5,000 feet above sea level, we had to be closer ; )
Another wonderful thing about the mountains was the time spent with my family. Sitting on the bed in the hotel with my daugther between me and my mom was priceless. She told us she was the peanut butter and jelly and we were the bread. Then she decided to change that to being a marshmallow and we were the crackers. So we proceeded to squish her together. how funny and what a memory for us all. I treasure those moments more now. Happy times, Times where you can share love and good times with your family...there is nothing better. Never take that time for granted, make the most of the time you are given. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow no matter who you are.
Can I share a prayer request with you all? I don't know if it is because I am actively fighting cancer that has made me more aware of what is going on or if the incidence of cancer is simply rising but there are several people around me that have been diagnosed with cancer. Please pray for all people that are facing this uncertain disease. Everyone I know of is facing a different type and they will receive different treatment that I do more than likely but I know the weight that this diagnosis can place on the person and their family. It breaks my heart when I hear of yet another person who has been told they have it. I pray continually for them. These people are of different ages from child, to teen, to adult. God be with them and their families. I pray that He will give them peace, strength, love and that He wraps his arms around them and protects and shelters them from doubts and fear. I know He will do this because He has done this for me and this is the prayer I pray daily for my own family. God I love you and thank you for your gifts to me!
Well enough for now, tears are falling but don't worry they are tears of thanks, tears of gratitude, of knowing that I am not worthy of my God's love but He loves me anyway. Tears of knowing that God will be there for me always and that He will be there for these families too. I love you God, I love your Son and I love the Holy Spirit! Thank you for being there for me.
Love you all,
Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up.
and as I write the above I am reminded of the dream that God gave me before my diagnosis. I am thankful that He gave me that dream. It was His provision for me to face the future. You ask me how I am so strong.....I am not but my God is and He gives me strength. So you are not seeing Tammy being strong, you are seeing God making me strong. I am only that way because of HIM!
Tammy
It was wonderful to be in the mountains. Sorry folks, but I have never been much of a beach girl. I could go to the beach one or two times a year and be happy. The mountains however.....I could live there. The are so beautiful. I just can't help but think of God creating the heavens and earth and how He molded those hills and all those trees, flowers, lakes and streams. I feel closer to the garden of eden in the mountains. Nature is all around you. The most awesome thing was riding down the road and looking into a mountain stream and seeing 3 deer in the middle of it just standing there. How awesome is that. The views also affected Maggie. She started talking about people that didn't believe in God and how could you not if you looked around you. How can people see the beauty that nature beholds every where you look, not just in the mountains and not believe in God? I don't know. That is simply not wanting to believe in God. How Awesome is HE! I told Maggie that the mountains reminded me of the book of Psalm. .....I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from, my help comes from the Lord the MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. Thats what the mountains reminds me of. Not only is it awesome being there but you can't help but feel closer to God. At elevations of 5,000 feet above sea level, we had to be closer ; )
Another wonderful thing about the mountains was the time spent with my family. Sitting on the bed in the hotel with my daugther between me and my mom was priceless. She told us she was the peanut butter and jelly and we were the bread. Then she decided to change that to being a marshmallow and we were the crackers. So we proceeded to squish her together. how funny and what a memory for us all. I treasure those moments more now. Happy times, Times where you can share love and good times with your family...there is nothing better. Never take that time for granted, make the most of the time you are given. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow no matter who you are.
Can I share a prayer request with you all? I don't know if it is because I am actively fighting cancer that has made me more aware of what is going on or if the incidence of cancer is simply rising but there are several people around me that have been diagnosed with cancer. Please pray for all people that are facing this uncertain disease. Everyone I know of is facing a different type and they will receive different treatment that I do more than likely but I know the weight that this diagnosis can place on the person and their family. It breaks my heart when I hear of yet another person who has been told they have it. I pray continually for them. These people are of different ages from child, to teen, to adult. God be with them and their families. I pray that He will give them peace, strength, love and that He wraps his arms around them and protects and shelters them from doubts and fear. I know He will do this because He has done this for me and this is the prayer I pray daily for my own family. God I love you and thank you for your gifts to me!
Well enough for now, tears are falling but don't worry they are tears of thanks, tears of gratitude, of knowing that I am not worthy of my God's love but He loves me anyway. Tears of knowing that God will be there for me always and that He will be there for these families too. I love you God, I love your Son and I love the Holy Spirit! Thank you for being there for me.
Love you all,
Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up.
and as I write the above I am reminded of the dream that God gave me before my diagnosis. I am thankful that He gave me that dream. It was His provision for me to face the future. You ask me how I am so strong.....I am not but my God is and He gives me strength. So you are not seeing Tammy being strong, you are seeing God making me strong. I am only that way because of HIM!
Tammy
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Lazy Sundays
Today has been a long day. It's too hot to do much outside and there is not much going on inside. I did watch two movies this afternoon after a nap. I have always liked the movie Beetlejuice and it was on this afternoon. Even talked Maggie into watching it and for much of the time had 3 girls in the room keeping me company watching it. Thanks Julia, Libby and Maggie. They don't know it but having them in the house makes me happy. It is their energy, their enthusiasm, their joy of life that is wonderful to be around and makes the day better for me.
We went to church this morning and today was the day for communion. Thinking of how Christ died for me and by his stripes I am healed. Thank You Jesus for your gift to me.
And one more random thought, my niece is in labor right now at the hospital in Goldsboro. This is Brittany's first child and it will make me a Great Aunt. (I always have been one of those.) Can't wait to get the news that Levi Pressley is here. Praying for her safe arrival and for Brittany.
We went to church this morning and today was the day for communion. Thinking of how Christ died for me and by his stripes I am healed. Thank You Jesus for your gift to me.
And one more random thought, my niece is in labor right now at the hospital in Goldsboro. This is Brittany's first child and it will make me a Great Aunt. (I always have been one of those.) Can't wait to get the news that Levi Pressley is here. Praying for her safe arrival and for Brittany.
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