In The Eyes Of God
If we are honest, the majority of us get caught up in what we look like in the eyes of others when what is most important is what we look like in the eyes of God. How many times has someone admitted they are not perfect, made a mistake and others will say - "Oh, I am not like that" and then jump on the bandwagon of telling a person the correct way to live when they are not living that way themselves? We are so concerned with looking great even though we know the truth that is we are not perfect - we all make mistakes but it is so important what others think of us that we mask the truth. We can appear to be perfect in the eyes of others but how are we truthfully in the eyes of God? Remember God knows the truth - we can't mask the truth with Him. God sees and knows everything. We may can deceive others but we can't deceive God. When the day of judgment comes, we won't be standing before other humans seeking their approval to enter Heaven. We will be standing alone before God - how will we look in the eyes of God? In life we strive to grow in the image of God - we make mistakes but God is a loving and forgiving God. We ask forgiveness and strive to do better every day continuing to strive to grow in the image of God. In doing so one of the things we have to do is to be honest with others about ourselves. Others need to know that though we stumble, God is loving and forgiving. When we admit our mistakes in earnest before God, humbling ourselves, our slate is cleaned. It may seem a little thing to mask the truth about oneself before others, but we all know the little things build and before we know it we are living one big lie. So today, let's be honest, we make mistakes, we err, we stumble, we are not perfect and in doing so we are set free from the prison we build for ourselves. Free to live for God and continue to grow in the image of God - one day at a time - striving for progress - honestly. --Tammy B. 8/24/03
For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. 2 Corinthians 8:21
For many years I would get up and my feet would hit the floor and I would be off and running with no sense of direction or purpose for the day. Now when I get up in the mornings I start my day with prayer and meditation. Asking God to reveal His will to me, seeking His knowledge, guidance and direction for me throughout the day. Also reading meditations, inspirations and bible scriptures. This gets my day off to a great start and gives me a positive attitude for the day. When I do this I have direction and purpose for the day - to do God's will whatever His will is. If I find myself getting off the beam during the day, I quiet myself and reconnect with God and get back on track. I have found I can stop and start my day over at any time.
When we practice starting our day in prayer and meditation, it quickly becomes a routine part of our day and we find ourselves looking forward to this opportunity to fellowship with God. We quickly get into staying in conscious contact with God throughout the day. God is our friend who is there all day for us to talk with. We can have a meeting with God anytime of the day. It doesn't have to take long - it can only be for a few minutes a day but as we continue along we find ourselves eventually not counting the minutes anymore that we share with God.
What a wonderful feeling to know that God our friend, our Father is with us all the time. We are not alone anymore.
So today if you haven't already or even if you have - talk to God as you would a friend. Spend some time with God. I guarantee you will feel loads better afterwards.
--Tammy B. 9/27/02
Many of us did not have the childhood as portrayed on "Leave It To Beaver". Simply because that is a TV show based on the perfect idea of what a normal family should be like. There are some who are fortunate enough to have a childhood that closely resembles that TV show. I have heard and read from many who suffered child abuse - (physically, verbally, sexually), those who lost a parent or both parents, those whose parents were alcoholics, drug addicts or both, those whose parents sent them away to school, those whose parents who were so caught up in their own life they had no time for their children and so forth. We, the children are left feeling unloved, uncared for, guilty, afraid, angry, resentful, lonely, unable to have a relationship with others and just unable to function at all because of our childhoods. In order to cope some of us have turned to many different things - alcohol, drugs, sex, work, God. I put God last in that list because it seems we always try all the other avenues first before finally saying "Okay God, I have had enough, I am turning my life over to you now." We find those other things only bring us temporary relief for a brief time and leave us feeling empty every time. But once we seek God, that emptiness begins to disappears. We have found someone who will love us unconditionally and be there for us always forever. We have found that God is the one constant that we can count on in life. Everything else is uncertain but God is constant and forever. We begin to heal, to grow, to mature in God's loving embrace. Our sufferings and our experiences we use to help others who are seeking their way out of the darkness. We tell them what God has done for us giving them HOPE that this can happen for them too. They only have to let go and let God. Though we cannot change the past, today holds promise of new beginnings, a new life if only we seek it and choose to live it. We don't have to live in our past anymore, we don't have to be the person we were anymore, we can be different from our parents - we can make a change. With God there is HOPE and PROMISE for a better life. What have we got to lose but our misery - we have everything to gain.
Today God, I give myself to you to do with me as You will. I trust that my life with you God will be wonderful. I know God that any trials or test I must face along the way, You will always be with me to see me through. I thank You, God, for loving me and lifting me up, filling me with new life, hope and promise. God, as I go out into the world today, I will share the many blessings and gifts you have given me with others. I will rejoice in Your name and Your love. With Your guidance, I will reach out to others and help to bring them into the light. In Jesus' name. Amen --Tammy B. 9/20/02
I work in a deli in a grocery store. This week we closed our old deli and moved into our new one. It has been stressful to some. I think my stress was more before the move than after. Now that we have moved everything to our new deli, it is just a matter of putting everything away and adjusting to the new equipment and business as usual.
You know life is that way. We come to a turning point, where we will be closing the door on an old chapter of our lives and opening the door to a new chapter of our lives. It can be stressful in making the change. It can also be very exciting. One thing we must always remember is we are never alone in life. God and Jesus are always with us. They are there for us to talk to, to listen to, to give us the strength and courage to face new horizons. We have to stay open to God's plans for us. In each situation God does have a plan for us - an opportunity to grow spiritually and to share the many blessings and gifts we have been graced with. We have the opportunity to guide others to God and to Jesus. To be witnesses of His great love and miracles. To help others out of the darkness. Everyday we pray and meditate. We turn our lives and wills over to the care of God, seeking His guidance throughout the day. Remember He is always near, right with us. Shielding and protecting us. Loving us continuously. He will see us through everything. We need only to ask.
--Tammy B. 8/30/02
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a good future.” Jeremiah 29:11
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
On Sunday we had a terrible thunderstorm. During the storm, lightening struck nearby our home and hit our air conditioning unit. We found out about an hour after the storm that we had no AC. So we called the AC repairman and our insurance company.
On Monday the AC repairman came out. He checked out our AC and discovered that lightening had indeed hit the defrost unit to our AC and the cost could run between $75-$250. I jokingly said I hoped it was near the $75 price of course. While he was replacing the unit, I went in my bedroom and prayed to God on the matter. Well he replaced the defrost unit and informed me that the repair charge total was $275. I wrote him the check, not at all happy over this. He was on his way and we had AC again. The insurance company called a little bit later informing me there was a $250 deductible and offered me a check for $25 which I accepted.
Now I was upset. I had been working hard at my job, trying to make extra time so as to have extra money for my youngest daughter's upcoming birthday. I allowed myself to feel my emotions, crying of course. Later, my two oldest daughters came home from school with a letter informing me that there had been a false bomb threat in their school that morning. They were evacuated from the school. I was upset because no one informed me of the situation.
After an emotional day, I thanked God that no one was hurt during the thunderstorm, also that even though we would have to shuffle some bills around that we were able to pay the repair bill. I am thankful that our two oldest daughters were okay. After explaining to our kids our present financial situation, everyone agreed to work together for the next couple of weeks. Together we will make it through. I am thankful that because of an unexpectant gift certificate I received earlier that we already have our youngest daughter's birthday presents. Our youngest daughter will still be able to have the birthday party she wanted though maybe not exactly as we had planned. Most importantly everyone here is well and healthy. We are all working together as a family to do our part. For all this I am grateful and give thanks to God. I trust that God will supply us with what we need when we need it.
--Tammy B. 8/23/02
"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all of your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
Yesterday (Thursday), my husband came in with a dozen roses for me! He had some good news. A man he had helped with a project at his work received a big bonus for a job well done. He took my husband out to lunch yesterday and also gave him $50 for helping him. He told my husband that it was because of his help that he received the bonus. We also received our check from the insurance company yesterday. The money was very much appreciated since our ordeal the first of the week. I share all this with you because we must never give up our faith and trust in God even when life doesn't go the way we want it. God will reveal more to us as we go along. We just continue to have faith and trust. God will provide. --Tammy B. 8/23/02
*About a week and a half later after this, we received an unexpected refund check for $268 from a bill we had unknowingly overpaid.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Psalm 25:1-2
