When I was little, I used to hide behind my mama's or daddy's legs. I pretty much kept that state of mind for the first 40 years of my life. Back then, it was called being "bashful" or "painfully shy." I do remember the painful part. Today, they call it the high-falutin' term of social anxiety disorder/phobia.
Whether it was a piano recital during my elementary/junior high years or a presentation for a class during my high school years, I remember the agonizing beforehand, sometimes for weeks or months prior. I would get physically sick. I would have zero appetite, my stomach would churn, and I couldn't sleep in the period leading up to such events. I felt literally paralyzed by the fear.
So what was I afraid of? Perhaps I was afraid of mean-spirited criticism, being publicly humiliated, and extreme failure. Add to that the fear of knowing that other people know you're scared and you cannot conceal it because your body tells on you. Your knees knock, your voice quivers, and your hands tremble. Worst case scenario is that you actually faint from the dizziness caused by your racing heart. I have actually fainted twice in my life, much to my chagrin.
Here I am. Hi, my name is Tammy and I'm a recovering phobic of social anxiety. I did actually pull myself out of it. How? For starters, I got sick and tired of it and examined the problem to see if my fears were justified or irrational. Despite all the "cons" I could think of, my fears weren't rational.
Next, I learned to gain some control over the physical side of it by getting more sleep, learning relaxation techniques, making better dietary choices, and medication. I'm a Type-A personality, so this is an ongoing process.
As for the spiritual side, I had a "come-to-Jesus" talk with my inner self and told her that fear was a tool the devil used to hinder her in her faith and progress. Just remember:
1. Your audience is not your enemy. They're on your side and want you to succeed. Their attentiveness, comments, smiles and nods mean that they're pulling for you.
2. I am not to fear what man can do to me. God did not intend for His children to be constantly afflicted with fear.
A. Matthew 6:25-27 - Worrying is futile (in fact, it only makes matters worse);
B. Matthew 10: 28 - The only one I need to please is God Himself. I need not fear what others can or might do to me. Nor do I need to fear what they think of me because God esteems me. I'm very valuable to Him (v. 31).
It's very humbling to admit that I struggled with this for the largest part of my lifetime. If you do, I sympathize and I want you to overcome it as well. Talk to me. I'll hold your hand. Life is much more fun when you escape this self-imposed prison.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Hating the Lord's Church
"He who hates me hates my Father as well." (Jno. 15:23 NIV)
I have never actually heard anyone come out and flagrantly say that they hate the Lord's church. Maybe some have said it out loud. Probably. Most likely. What does it mean for someone to "hate the church"? I really believe it's directed more at the people who choose to try to live their faith. It's really speaking against God's adopted children and Jesus' brothers and sisters. It is Jesus talking in the Scripture at the beginning of this post. He is clearly stating that one who hates Him also hates God and His church. His "church" is not a building. It is a body of believers. I have often wondered if one doesn't want to spend time with people who are trying to live right in this life, then where do they expect to live for all eternity?
The two extremes of accepting and rejecting Christ, and His subsequent crucifixion, are represented respectively in Matthew 21: 1-22 and 27:27-44. When it comes to serving Him, there's no fence-sitting. It's an either/or decision (Hos. 4:6; Matt. 6:24).
It is not uncommon for those who claim to love God to reject His plan for salvation through Christ. He's given us the perfect way out of sin, but not everyone will choose to take it or continue to walk with Him after being saved (Matt. 7:13-14; Eph. 3:10-11). Why?
Some act out of ignorance like Paul once did (1 Tim. 1:13). He was reared a Pharisee and thought he was doing God's work by persecuting Christians. Some just choose to worship their own chosen way (Prov. 14:12; Amos 4:4-5; 1 Cor. 3:11-14). While the scribes' and the Pharisees' religion was only pretention, Jesus' own disciples at times turned them backs on Him too (Matt. ch. 23; Jno. 6:66).
I once lived sinfully and then decided to truly dedicate myself to living faithfully for Him. Living with Him in my life is so much better than living without Him. I've experienced far more love, joy, and blessingsfor it--not just of a spiritual nature, but of an earthly nature as well. I just want the same for everyone else.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
I have never actually heard anyone come out and flagrantly say that they hate the Lord's church. Maybe some have said it out loud. Probably. Most likely. What does it mean for someone to "hate the church"? I really believe it's directed more at the people who choose to try to live their faith. It's really speaking against God's adopted children and Jesus' brothers and sisters. It is Jesus talking in the Scripture at the beginning of this post. He is clearly stating that one who hates Him also hates God and His church. His "church" is not a building. It is a body of believers. I have often wondered if one doesn't want to spend time with people who are trying to live right in this life, then where do they expect to live for all eternity?
The two extremes of accepting and rejecting Christ, and His subsequent crucifixion, are represented respectively in Matthew 21: 1-22 and 27:27-44. When it comes to serving Him, there's no fence-sitting. It's an either/or decision (Hos. 4:6; Matt. 6:24).
It is not uncommon for those who claim to love God to reject His plan for salvation through Christ. He's given us the perfect way out of sin, but not everyone will choose to take it or continue to walk with Him after being saved (Matt. 7:13-14; Eph. 3:10-11). Why?
Some act out of ignorance like Paul once did (1 Tim. 1:13). He was reared a Pharisee and thought he was doing God's work by persecuting Christians. Some just choose to worship their own chosen way (Prov. 14:12; Amos 4:4-5; 1 Cor. 3:11-14). While the scribes' and the Pharisees' religion was only pretention, Jesus' own disciples at times turned them backs on Him too (Matt. ch. 23; Jno. 6:66).
I once lived sinfully and then decided to truly dedicate myself to living faithfully for Him. Living with Him in my life is so much better than living without Him. I've experienced far more love, joy, and blessingsfor it--not just of a spiritual nature, but of an earthly nature as well. I just want the same for everyone else.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Overrun With Stuff!
This posting has nothing to do with modern Christianity. At least, I don’t think so. This is just a stupid thing that made me scratch my head in wonderment.
Sometimes dreams are just irritating and mess up my night’s rest. Sometimes they’re very curious and cause me to mull them over the day after (that is, if I remember the details). Last night was one such occasion.
In my dream I became aware that I had a whole empty bedroom full of cosmetics and all sorts of beauty and bath products. It looked like I had looted an Avon lady or something. I got to going through it and saying, “What was I thinking!? Why do I need all this STUFF!?” I told my husband that we needed to have a garage sale right away to move this mess out of the bedroom as it was taking up space that could be put to better use. Also, there was no way I could use it all and it would go to waste. He got the word out that I was having a garage sale to move these things. Subsequently, I’m contacted by someone else I can’t recall who told me that I had all sorts of household possessions (both appliances, home décor items, etc.) that HAD to be moved out of this warehouse immediately because they had a need for that space. I had to have everything gone by the next day. This presented me with a dilemma. I was having to run both of these events on the same day. I tried to cancel the garage sale I had planned earlier, but realized I had already advertised it, so I had to do both.
I didn’t recall what I was supposed to have had stored in the warehouse. I thought I would do a walk-through to examine the contents. I recognized none of it as being my own. I didn’t recall buying it, inheriting it, or just how I came to own it. Some of it was very attractive and some of it I could have cared less about. The first area of the warehouse I walked into was roughly the size of a mom and pop grocery store with high ceilings. Everything was neatly displayed and went from the floor to the ceiling. I said, “Wow! Where did I get all this stuff!?” The person told me to wait a minute; that that wasn’t all of it. There were rooms both to the left and right of me full of all MY STUFF. I was dumbfounded. I started being attracted to some of it and made a mental note to keep certain things for myself. I walked back into the main area and a lady wanted my attention. There was a large but rather worn-looking dining table there and she asked me who much I wanted for it. I had no clue what to tell her because I didn’t recognize it as belonging to me. I told her that I didn’t know, but to make me an offer. She offered me $250 and I took it. She was overjoyed and acted as if she had just gotten the best of me because she had priced one similar elsewhere for $520. I didn’t really care, but was happy that I had moved that piece of furniture.
Yeah, I know this is a stupid post. However, it could mean something, so I thought I would toss it to any of you who fancy yourselves able to interpret dreams. I thought some of you might give me your take on it or accuse me of smoking left-handed cigarettes. HA!
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Sometimes dreams are just irritating and mess up my night’s rest. Sometimes they’re very curious and cause me to mull them over the day after (that is, if I remember the details). Last night was one such occasion.
In my dream I became aware that I had a whole empty bedroom full of cosmetics and all sorts of beauty and bath products. It looked like I had looted an Avon lady or something. I got to going through it and saying, “What was I thinking!? Why do I need all this STUFF!?” I told my husband that we needed to have a garage sale right away to move this mess out of the bedroom as it was taking up space that could be put to better use. Also, there was no way I could use it all and it would go to waste. He got the word out that I was having a garage sale to move these things. Subsequently, I’m contacted by someone else I can’t recall who told me that I had all sorts of household possessions (both appliances, home décor items, etc.) that HAD to be moved out of this warehouse immediately because they had a need for that space. I had to have everything gone by the next day. This presented me with a dilemma. I was having to run both of these events on the same day. I tried to cancel the garage sale I had planned earlier, but realized I had already advertised it, so I had to do both.
I didn’t recall what I was supposed to have had stored in the warehouse. I thought I would do a walk-through to examine the contents. I recognized none of it as being my own. I didn’t recall buying it, inheriting it, or just how I came to own it. Some of it was very attractive and some of it I could have cared less about. The first area of the warehouse I walked into was roughly the size of a mom and pop grocery store with high ceilings. Everything was neatly displayed and went from the floor to the ceiling. I said, “Wow! Where did I get all this stuff!?” The person told me to wait a minute; that that wasn’t all of it. There were rooms both to the left and right of me full of all MY STUFF. I was dumbfounded. I started being attracted to some of it and made a mental note to keep certain things for myself. I walked back into the main area and a lady wanted my attention. There was a large but rather worn-looking dining table there and she asked me who much I wanted for it. I had no clue what to tell her because I didn’t recognize it as belonging to me. I told her that I didn’t know, but to make me an offer. She offered me $250 and I took it. She was overjoyed and acted as if she had just gotten the best of me because she had priced one similar elsewhere for $520. I didn’t really care, but was happy that I had moved that piece of furniture.
Yeah, I know this is a stupid post. However, it could mean something, so I thought I would toss it to any of you who fancy yourselves able to interpret dreams. I thought some of you might give me your take on it or accuse me of smoking left-handed cigarettes. HA!
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Political Correctness Is Evil
I've said many times that I am not politically correct and don't care to be. I make a point not to keep it a secret and don't particularly care how anyone else feels about it. As it turns out, my instincts have been proven correct; that I should call things as I see them. Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying not to incorporate tact. That's an art acquired with practice.
I used to think political correctness was merely stupid and annoying. Now I have come to realize it has a very sinister agenda attached to it. Marxist father, Georg Luckas (no, not Mr. Star Wars) taught his followers to incorporate it as a tool against both civil and religious America to provoke it in a socialist/communist direction. It also begets a postmodernism mindset. Like the deadly ebola virus, our nation is already in its clutches. Don't believe me? Let me shore up my opinion with the following points:
* It all starts with the indoctrination of children. Make them praise-addicted. Never critique anything they do, no matter how gently you might deliver the constructive criticism. Don't give real grades. Don't help them discover their strengths and weaknesses. Tell them everything they do is fantastic even if it isn't and you know they're capable of much better. Congratulations! You just created an egocentric individual.
* Ask a young person, teen or adult, a hypothetical question. Ask them for a proper, moral solution to the proposed dilemma. While there can be and are exceptions to the rule, many young people will either give you a situational ethics answer or complete silence. The silence would signify that the young person feels it's wrong to express moral absolutes. What you're seeing and not hearing is postmodernism's hold on that person. R. Scott Smith said, "In a postmodern world there is no objective, universal truth. Indeed, all is relative."
Postmodernism tears apart doctrine and absolute moral laws. Every person gets to decide for himself or herself what THEIR own definition of what's moral or immoral is.
Postmoderism considers Christianity harsh, intolerant, and judgmental. They consider Christians to be stupid, superstitious knuckle-draggers.
* Political correctness leads to mediocrity and kills intellectual creativity. How many movie sequels can you name off the top of your head? When and if you do watch television or movies, do you find the scripts as unflavorful and lame as a rice cake? That happens when people become lazy and refuse to THINK. This goes back to the kid thing--not trying to polish their strengths and help them to excel (I do watch television, but not much of it. It bores me if it's not scary or funny).
* A socialist/communist or dictatorship/totalitarian regime will seek to control America's highest producers by confiscating the fruits of their labor, relegating them to a life of servitude, and redistributing it to those who believe they shouldn't have to work for a living. It is not, nor should it ever be, the government's job to babysit and spoon-feel such people. The private sector which is comprised of intelligent and wealthy individuals, is responsible for the employment of millions of American citizens, present company included. When the best and brightest are squelched, so is their ability to produce, grow larger, and hire more. Unfair redistribution will put the final nail in industry's coffin.
This same mindset will also seek to abolish American democracy's First and Second Amendment rights. You can't say what you please because you might offend someone; and I believe that the real agenda of gun control supporters is to eventually be able to exert total, malicious governmental control over us and they don't want us to be able to defend ourselves.
Brave service personnel have fought and died over the centuries so that you and I could enjoy our precious freedoms. Freedom allows each individual dignity and is made up of beliefs and values that bring about a just, moral, and beneficient society. Anything less is substandard and produces extreme depravity (Rom. 1:18- 21; 24-32).
Friends, be on guard and stand up for your beliefs (Rom. 1:16). Call evil by its name when you see it (Mt. 7:15-19; 1 Thess. 5:21). Speaking for myself, I'll be mule-headedly clinging to my guns and my Bible. Peace out.
Love ya,
God Bless!
I used to think political correctness was merely stupid and annoying. Now I have come to realize it has a very sinister agenda attached to it. Marxist father, Georg Luckas (no, not Mr. Star Wars) taught his followers to incorporate it as a tool against both civil and religious America to provoke it in a socialist/communist direction. It also begets a postmodernism mindset. Like the deadly ebola virus, our nation is already in its clutches. Don't believe me? Let me shore up my opinion with the following points:
* It all starts with the indoctrination of children. Make them praise-addicted. Never critique anything they do, no matter how gently you might deliver the constructive criticism. Don't give real grades. Don't help them discover their strengths and weaknesses. Tell them everything they do is fantastic even if it isn't and you know they're capable of much better. Congratulations! You just created an egocentric individual.
* Ask a young person, teen or adult, a hypothetical question. Ask them for a proper, moral solution to the proposed dilemma. While there can be and are exceptions to the rule, many young people will either give you a situational ethics answer or complete silence. The silence would signify that the young person feels it's wrong to express moral absolutes. What you're seeing and not hearing is postmodernism's hold on that person. R. Scott Smith said, "In a postmodern world there is no objective, universal truth. Indeed, all is relative."
Postmodernism tears apart doctrine and absolute moral laws. Every person gets to decide for himself or herself what THEIR own definition of what's moral or immoral is.
Postmoderism considers Christianity harsh, intolerant, and judgmental. They consider Christians to be stupid, superstitious knuckle-draggers.
* Political correctness leads to mediocrity and kills intellectual creativity. How many movie sequels can you name off the top of your head? When and if you do watch television or movies, do you find the scripts as unflavorful and lame as a rice cake? That happens when people become lazy and refuse to THINK. This goes back to the kid thing--not trying to polish their strengths and help them to excel (I do watch television, but not much of it. It bores me if it's not scary or funny).
* A socialist/communist or dictatorship/totalitarian regime will seek to control America's highest producers by confiscating the fruits of their labor, relegating them to a life of servitude, and redistributing it to those who believe they shouldn't have to work for a living. It is not, nor should it ever be, the government's job to babysit and spoon-feel such people. The private sector which is comprised of intelligent and wealthy individuals, is responsible for the employment of millions of American citizens, present company included. When the best and brightest are squelched, so is their ability to produce, grow larger, and hire more. Unfair redistribution will put the final nail in industry's coffin.
This same mindset will also seek to abolish American democracy's First and Second Amendment rights. You can't say what you please because you might offend someone; and I believe that the real agenda of gun control supporters is to eventually be able to exert total, malicious governmental control over us and they don't want us to be able to defend ourselves.
Brave service personnel have fought and died over the centuries so that you and I could enjoy our precious freedoms. Freedom allows each individual dignity and is made up of beliefs and values that bring about a just, moral, and beneficient society. Anything less is substandard and produces extreme depravity (Rom. 1:18- 21; 24-32).
Friends, be on guard and stand up for your beliefs (Rom. 1:16). Call evil by its name when you see it (Mt. 7:15-19; 1 Thess. 5:21). Speaking for myself, I'll be mule-headedly clinging to my guns and my Bible. Peace out.
Love ya,
God Bless!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Line is Down
I haven't been on here for some time due to my having internet connection problems. I got to thinking about how I felt "cut off" from my info line and from my friends. Also, I got to thinking how this is applicable to our prayers. We can have connectivity problems to God as well. We know that as long as we walk in the light (meaning, not living in an openly rebellious attitude toward God) as He is in the light, we have fellowship with each other and Jesus' blood cleanses us from our sins (1 Jno. 1:7). However, even a child of God can decide to walk away from Him; and our prayers will have no more merit than an alien sinner's until we are willing to repair the breach.
A child of God can fall from grace so as for God not to hear their prayers. Psalm 66: 18 says, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." John 9:31 says, "We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will." Proverbs 15:8, 29; and 28:9 reinforce this message.
I am not willfully sinful, but I do sin. I try my best to keep that all important prayer connection line operable with the Father. I usually know wherein I've failed and repent immediately because I wouldn't want my prayers hindered. I don't just pray about my own matters. I have others that I love and care about that I want Him to help as well. I also have my long list of thank yous to go through because I want Him to know how grateful I am. He listens when I have no one else to talk to and sometimes my petitions are lengthy. I'm glad He doesn't bill me for the time because I wouldn't have the money to cover it.
Love ya,
God Bless!
A child of God can fall from grace so as for God not to hear their prayers. Psalm 66: 18 says, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." John 9:31 says, "We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will." Proverbs 15:8, 29; and 28:9 reinforce this message.
I am not willfully sinful, but I do sin. I try my best to keep that all important prayer connection line operable with the Father. I usually know wherein I've failed and repent immediately because I wouldn't want my prayers hindered. I don't just pray about my own matters. I have others that I love and care about that I want Him to help as well. I also have my long list of thank yous to go through because I want Him to know how grateful I am. He listens when I have no one else to talk to and sometimes my petitions are lengthy. I'm glad He doesn't bill me for the time because I wouldn't have the money to cover it.
Love ya,
God Bless!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
What if...
Do you ever play this game in your head and ask yourself 'what if' about certain matters? I do it all the time. It is probably the singlemost thing I do that keeps me on my toes as far as how I treat others, my husband most especially, and how seriously I take my commitment to the Lord. It has everything to do with my not wanting to live with regrets.
What if I never got to see my husband again? Not to sound like the Garth Brooks song, but did he know how much I love him? Was I as good a wife as I could be to him? Was I an encourager to him? Did he love spending time with me or did he dread being in my presence?
What if I never got to see my friends and family members ever again? How did I treat them? I know I'm not perfect, but was I a good example to them or a bad one? Did I cause their faith to stumble? Was I hateful to anyone? Do I need to apologize to anyone? Was I fun to be with? Did they enjoy having me around?
Finally and most importantly, if this were my last day on earth, am I ready to meet the Lord? As for right now, am I where I would want Him to find me if He were to come this very instant? Have I been as faithful as I could be to God by putting Him first in my life? Is my name still in the Book of Life or has it been blotted out because I just couldn't be bothered when it came to spending time worshipping Him?
I decided some time ago that it's best to just act as if TODAY is my last day on earth; that the Lord is coming TODAY. If you preface your decision making with that in mind, you'll make the right choices. Anyway, we can't know, can we, if we'll ever see our loved ones again or if we'll have time to make things right with God.
To my husband, I should always be his wife of noble character (Prov. 12:4).
To my friends and family members I must remember: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Heb. 3:13
To my Lord, I must seek him first (Mt. 6:33) and be faithful to the point of death (Rev. 2:1) because He will come when I least expect it (1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 16:15).
Friends, I hope you will do the same and not live with regrets.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
What if I never got to see my husband again? Not to sound like the Garth Brooks song, but did he know how much I love him? Was I as good a wife as I could be to him? Was I an encourager to him? Did he love spending time with me or did he dread being in my presence?
What if I never got to see my friends and family members ever again? How did I treat them? I know I'm not perfect, but was I a good example to them or a bad one? Did I cause their faith to stumble? Was I hateful to anyone? Do I need to apologize to anyone? Was I fun to be with? Did they enjoy having me around?
Finally and most importantly, if this were my last day on earth, am I ready to meet the Lord? As for right now, am I where I would want Him to find me if He were to come this very instant? Have I been as faithful as I could be to God by putting Him first in my life? Is my name still in the Book of Life or has it been blotted out because I just couldn't be bothered when it came to spending time worshipping Him?
I decided some time ago that it's best to just act as if TODAY is my last day on earth; that the Lord is coming TODAY. If you preface your decision making with that in mind, you'll make the right choices. Anyway, we can't know, can we, if we'll ever see our loved ones again or if we'll have time to make things right with God.
To my husband, I should always be his wife of noble character (Prov. 12:4).
To my friends and family members I must remember: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Heb. 3:13
To my Lord, I must seek him first (Mt. 6:33) and be faithful to the point of death (Rev. 2:1) because He will come when I least expect it (1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 16:15).
Friends, I hope you will do the same and not live with regrets.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Post #100! -- But I'll Admit It's Stupid
I didn't mean for this to be a brain-damaged post. I really didn't; but have you ever had so much goofy stuff rolling around in your head that it keeps getting in the way of constructive, rational thinking? I'm so there. Junk, I tell ya! Dumb stuff like this eventually has to be vocally expressed or put on paper, so here it goes:
1. I have a theory that you can silence a teenager by duct-taping their thumbs down so they can't text. I wonder if any of you moms out there will test my theory and get back to me on your findings.
2. I was reading the account of the births of Jacob and Esau. It said Esau was the firstborn and that he was covered all over with reddish hair. What a strange thing to say about an infant. Did that mean he was such an ugly baby that you had to hang meat around his neck just to get the dog to play with him? Or, did he have hypertrichosis--like Jo Jo the Dog Boy that used to be in the circus? Reddish hair too. Bet he looked like Chewbacca. Instead of crying, did he do that Chewie "Aaaauuuuggghhhh" sound? Esau was a wookie!!
I've got more, but I'll dump those on you later. Thanks for indulging my silliness.
Love Ya,
God Bless
1. I have a theory that you can silence a teenager by duct-taping their thumbs down so they can't text. I wonder if any of you moms out there will test my theory and get back to me on your findings.
2. I was reading the account of the births of Jacob and Esau. It said Esau was the firstborn and that he was covered all over with reddish hair. What a strange thing to say about an infant. Did that mean he was such an ugly baby that you had to hang meat around his neck just to get the dog to play with him? Or, did he have hypertrichosis--like Jo Jo the Dog Boy that used to be in the circus? Reddish hair too. Bet he looked like Chewbacca. Instead of crying, did he do that Chewie "Aaaauuuuggghhhh" sound? Esau was a wookie!!
I've got more, but I'll dump those on you later. Thanks for indulging my silliness.
Love Ya,
God Bless
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