Letting Go Of Things

Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

You have too much stuff! Why don’t you get rid of some of these things? That was the words of one of my sisters to my mother who was in the midst of moving. In all honesty, my mom had accumulated a lot of things over the years. Some things were out dated; others she no longer used but held on to them anyway. In any event, my mother was not willing to let go of her “things”

We find the Apostle Paul focusing on an absolute willingness to let go of some things. He discarded his heritage, lineage, former legalism, past zeal and his self righteousness. Paul so narrowed his focus that he discarded not only the things he once counted for gain; but he counted everything as garbage for the sake of obtaining Christ.

Letting go is one of the hardest lessons in life. In life, there are many things that we need to let go of. We have to let go of situations, things, memories, and even ourselves. It's easy to form an attachment to people and things. When you've formed an attachment to people and things, it can be a very painful experience and feeling when you realized that it's time to let go. Even the mere thought of not having that person or thing in your life just squeezes your heart in pain.

However, there are times where you or that person has changed to the extent that it's necessary to let go of the relationship or friendship, so that each of you can fulfill your life path. Letting go of your past and memories are also extremely hard. Even though old memories can be tormenting, yet you might hold on to the past and refuse to move forward. However, by refusing to let go of the painful past, it'll serve as a roadblock to love.

Letting go of your old self and the process of letting the new you emerge can be one of the scariest experiences in your life. But by leaving behind your old self and taking a leap of faith into the unknown, it might just reveal what you are truly capable of becoming.

Ephesians 4:22-23 says: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Paul tells the Ephesians to leave behind the old life of sin now that they are followers of Christ. The Christian life is a process. Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically have all good thoughts and attitudes when we become new people in Christ. Phil 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Today, if you find it difficult to let some things go, you might not be able to do it in your own strength, but the word states we can do all things through Christ. We can be content in all circumstances no matter how severe they are through Christ; but we cannot be content in any circumstance apart from Christ.

My mother eventually agreed with my sister and threw a lot of things away. In doing so she found that some of the things she initially thought she could not live without; really did not matter after all. Today, I encourage you to let go of all bitterness, anger, resentment, evil speaking and un-forgiveness.

Prayer: Dear Lord: Today, help me to let go and let God. Amen….. God Loves You and so do I…. Pastor Tammy

Peace in the midst of Pressure

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).

Earlier in life, I can remember times when as a young mother, I longed for times of peace and quiet. My children would awake; my day started and the pressures of life seem to start closing in the minute our feet hit the floor. Life at times can seem out of balance. The balance of everyday living can create a lot of pressure and become overwhelming. Our Heavenly Father, states in his word, HE will keep us in peace, in perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace at all times, under all events. This peace shall he put us into, and we shall keep possession of, whose mind is stayed upon God, because we trust in HIM.

When evil tidings arise, those who hearts have been fixed and trusting in the Lord will not fear. Psalms 112:7-8 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. (NIV)

Our Father’s love and support never changes. From the cradle to the grave, God has promised to give us the strength to meet any challenge. God has promised to lift us up and guide our steps if we let Him. God has promised that when we entrust our life to Him completely and without reservation, He will keep us in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on him. This gives you and the courage to face any trial and the wisdom to live in His righteousness.

Henry Kissinger said: “A diamond is a chunk of coal that is made good under pressure.”

Pressure reveals what is on the inside of us. We must resist the temptation to blame other people for our reactions. Some of us like to shift the blame because we don't have to take responsibility for our own mistakes and weaknesses. Christian maturity is revealed by how we behave in everyday life, particularly under pressure. How do we act when someone cuts us off in traffic? Or a person gets in an express check out lane at the grocery store with more than the required number of items? How do we act on our own in the little things reveals pretty much how we will react in bigger things?

Jesus is the Prince of Peace! He is the only one who can offer permanent peace. The Lord not only wants us to know His peace, but also He wants us to distribute His peace. Matt 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”. Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. God Loves You and so do I….Pastor Tammy

Let Us Go On By Faith

There are many people today who have been adversely affected by the events in this world. I awakened this am thinking of all the people who are on the verge of giving up or giving in due the pressures and cares of daily living. I want to encourage you today, BE STRONG and let us go on by faith. Today, let us walk by faith and not by sight. We might not be able to see where we are headed; and when we can’t trace God’s hand; we can trust HIS heart.

We can choose today to be overcomers or overcome; a victim or victorious. The word of God declares we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. We are loved by the Father regardless of whether we love him or not. The life given to us is a precious gift. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Faith says: Let us go on. Unbelief says let us go back to where it is safe. When Moses sent the spies into the promise land to check out the land and bring back a report; two reports came back, one of faith and one of unbelief. Joshua and Caleb stated to the people we are more than able to defeat the enemy and take the land, let us go up at once. The other 10 men said we are not able. What a contrast of faith vs. unbelief.

It’s amazing how God can use the personalities of ordinary people to teach us some very simple principles. Joshua and Caleb were men of faith. They had faith and believed God. God honored them. And because of their belief they entered the promise land.

God hasn’t changed, and the principle of faith hasn’t changed. What seems to have changed is the attitude of God’s people: We no longer believe God and act by faith in His promises. His promises never fail but we can fail to live by the grace of God and not enter into all that He has promised for us. God has “brought us out that He might bring us in,” but too often we fail to “enter in because of unbelief”

“Have Faith in God” God Loves you and so do I….. Pastor Tammy

Sight but no vision

Where are you going? Where are you headed in life? Do you have a goal or destination in mind? What is the vision for your life? Too many people walk around and don’t have any idea where they are going. A nowhere destination always results from a nowhere plan.

Hellen Keller was asked “What would be worse than being born blind?” She replied, “to have sight without vision.” Proverbs 29:18 says “that where there is no vision the people perish”. With a vision life has direction. What you can see is what you can be.

People with vision possess two things: they know where they are going and they are able to persuade others to follow. Hebrews 11:1 says: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is vision and vision is seeing a worthy possibility before it actually takes place. To fulfill a God given vision you must take the limits off your thinking. Why it is that two people can be in the same place at the same time and both see entirely different things? Could it be that we see what we are prepared to see? In other words, what you see if what you get.

I want to encourage you today to look within yourself. What do you see? Vision starts from within! Look behind you, what have you learned? Leonard Lauder, president of Estee Lauders Said “When a person with experience meets a person with money, the person with experience will get the money. And the person with the money will get the experience. Look ahead of you what is the big picture? Look above yourself, what is God expecting of you? Great visions are bigger than one person. Look beside you, what resources are available to you? A vision should be greater than the person who has it. Look around you, who are the people you are associating with? When a vision is hindered it is usually a people problem!

While pursuing your vision remember to put in the things you love. People carry pictures of other people and things they love with them. And remember to achieve the vision you are pursuing takes time. So, take time to stop and rest, smell the flowers, encourage someone and stay your course. We all need to be refreshed from time to time, mentally and physically.

To fuel your vision you must have passion. Passion shows itself in different ways in different people. Vision is more than just a mental image of the future. Vision sees a better, more desirable future and provides direction and fuels motivation for its achievement. To turn your vision into reality:

• You must picture the vision

• Give your heart to the vision

• Make sure your vision pleases God

• Get focused

• Get organized to accomplish your vision

• Step out on faith and take a risk

• Put your faith into action

God’s gift to me is my potential. My gift back to God is what I do with that potential. Revisit, revamp and renew the vision for your life. And let’s not be a person who has sight but no vision!!! God Loves You and so do I. Pastor Tammy

Finding Hope in Difficult Times

What would it take to restore your hope? In this life, we will all find ourselves at one time needing someone to help lift our spirits. Someone to remind us that our present condition is not the conclusion of the matter. Hope means "to desire something with confident expectation of it's fulfillment." The state of Hopelessness has been suitably described as a type of "Hell on Earth" filled with endless despondency and despair.

Today, more and more people are finding themselves alone and depressed. Many of us have at one time or another felt the sting of hopelessness and despair. It is possible to find Hope in Difficult Times. Help is available, not the kind the world has wherein it wishes for the best. It is one thing to wish, and quite another to have faith based on the promises of God.

And, perhaps most important, you need direction. Psalm 16 is a great source of encouragement when you are in need of hope. Psalm 16:7-9 states I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Even if you reach what you consider to be your lowest point, God's word say's He will never leave or forsake you (Matt 28:20). He will give you peace and comfort even in the worst of circumstances. He can and will lead you through, over or around the muck and mire of your situation, and again set your feet on solid ground.

Our God is the God of new beginnings, and with Him nothing is impossible. Whether you are very young, or considered to be very old, trust in Him because with Him it is always just the beginning. You may even find yourself in such a situation through divorce, death of a spouse, loss of health, finances, or whatever, that forces you to begin all over again, but is that so bad? Trusting God in difficult times forces us to seek His guidance, and to trust in Him.

Trusting God through these uncharted waters takes faith and courage but is worth every effort. The path of His choosing is the only one that leads to true happiness.

As the Psalmist stated in Psalm 16 I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel and even in the night seasons he will instruct me. When you can’t see your way, the Lord will instruct you. The Psalmist realized one key factor in finding hope; we must set the Lord before us always. When you truly believe God is intimately acquainted with you and your situation; and that he will put no more on you than you can bear; and that his grace is sufficient you will find hope even in the worst situation. If you can’t trace HIS hand, trust HIS heart.

In order to reap the benefits of the Christian life and to have protection, guidance, and comfort from the Holy Spirit one must first be born again and become a child of God.

The born again child of God has the unique privilege of talking to, and hearing from God, but this, the greatest resource available, is often neglected. We should always pray! Even in the darkest moments, when you don't feel His presence and think you will never smile again, pray anyway, because He is there; He is listening, and is an "ever present help in time of trouble" (Psa 46:1) God Loves You and so do I……. Pastor Tammy

Stop Giving Your Past Permission To Speak

Jer 29:11 “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 hope and a future.” NIV

God has a plan for your life. And that plan is to prosper not harm; to give hope and a future. What an awesome plan!!! God’s Word teaches us that He loves us and wants the best for us. God is ever present and always watchful. He does not consult your past to justify his blessings on your future.

It is difficult to look towards our future when we are constantly allowing our past to speak. Maybe mistakes have been made in the past. Failure is not final, but it can be used as fertilizer to help us grow. We must take the adversities of this life and allow them to become stepping stones into our future. No one has ever become great overnight.

There are many celebrities who have overcome obstacles in their past and pushed forward into their future. James Earl Jones overcame a stuttering problem as a child, now we have the pleasure of hearing him speak in a deep baritone voice. Halle Berry, well known actress was diagnosed with diabetes and fell into a diabetic coma 7 years ago. Michael Jordan, cut from his high school basket ball team, later to become one of the greatest NBA players. These celebrities did not allow their past to speak into their future. They continued moving towards the future that was ahead of them becoming men and women we all know and love.

Zig Zigler said: “Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful”. Successful people do not allow the past to tell them what can or cannot be done. Today, make a non-negotiable decision you will not allow your past to speak into your future. The first thing we must do is change our mind. The bible says be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. You are what you think! Some of us have given up on our dreams because of what others have said. We have to encourage ourselves with the knowledge that God has a good plan for our lives and even if we don’t understand the plan we can trust it.

We must be prayerfully persistent. Or as I like to say, we must watch and pray. Maybe we got off on the wrong road or made an wrong turn, or possibly headed down a one way street, it’s okay if we have to make a U-Turn or change directions. The point is it is God who will lead and guide us. A man’s heart devises’ his ways but the Lord orders his steps. It’s time to re-position yourself. Expect something great out of life today. Don’t get comfortable with compromise. The only person that can stop you from becoming all you were destined to be is YOU…. God Loves You and so do I….. Pastor Tammy

The Next Step

The Next Step
(Where do I go from here?)

Ps 16:11- Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Job loss, foreclosure, health crisis, can leave us wondering where we go from here. Maybe you have been putting in job applications and you have not received a call for an interview, what do you do to try and support your family? The path of life referenced above denotes variety abundance and immortal blessedness. If you are experiencing tough times, you may be asking yourself, "What does God want me to do next?" Perhaps you're pondering your future, uncertain of your plans, unsure of your next step. But even if you don't have a clear plan for the next step of your life's journey, you may rest assured that God does.

Jer 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

God has a plan for the universe, and He has a plan for you. He understands that plan as thoroughly and completely as He knows you. If you seek God's will earnestly and prayerfully, He will make His plans known to you in His own time and in His own way. God makes His plans for His people, and they are good plans that ultimately bring hope and peace. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid or discouraged. In every situation, however, God’s people have the responsibility to seek the Lord, pray, and ask Him to fulfill His promises, for the Word and prayer go together.

Perhaps your vision of God's purpose for your life has been clouded by a wish list that you have expected God to dutifully fulfill. Perhaps, you have fervently hoped that God would create a world that unfolds according to your wishes, not His. If so, you have probably experienced more disappointment than satisfaction and more frustration than peace. A better strategy is to surrender your will for God’s will (and not to struggle vainly in an attempt to conform His will to yours).

Sometimes, God's plans and purposes may seem unmistakably clear to you. If so, push ahead. But other times, He may lead you through the wilderness before He directs you to the Promised Land. So be patient and keep seeking His will for your life. When you do, you'll be amazed at the marvelous things that an all-powerful, all-knowing God can do.

My next step is to wait on the Lord, be of good courage and he will strengthen thine heart, wait I say on the Lord. Don’t be anxious for anything, but by prayer and supplication make your request known to God…...God Loves you and So do I…….Pastor Tammy

Drawing Close to God - The Necessity of Quality Time with God

Drawing Close to God
The necessity of Quiet Time with God


Where is God? There are times in our life when it seems as if we are waiting on God. Truth be told, God is waiting on us. I need quiet times because I need God. He is the one who makes sense of life for me, in times of crisis or calm. I came to realize that just as my body needs regular meals to be healthy and energetic, so my relationship with God also needs regular nourishment. Thinking about God is important, but it is not easy.

Because we live in a society influenced by secular culture, unless we take conscious precautions, we too can develop God-blindness. And like colorblind people, we go about our lives without realizing that something is wrong. When we practice quiet time, we counter the forces of God-blindness. Quiet time focuses our spiritual sight so that we can meet with God.

Ps 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (NIV)

Attending church and all sorts of religious activities can have the appearance of seeking God when in fact it is another means of avoidance. The compulsive busyness of our culture is also a means of avoiding God. Most of us spend forty to sixty hours a week at work. We have families, children with after school activities, bills to pay. Even as we maintain such a crazy pace, we lament it. If we ever slowed down, the presence of God might just begin to get through.

What is a quiet time? A quiet time is a meeting with God. The presence of God is the birthright of every believer. This is important to fix in your mind. It is always possible to know God better than we do. When we have a quiet time, we feed our souls. We lift our eyes beyond the here and now to the eternal. If we want to meet with God, we have to set aside time. This is not easy. Most of us feel that we have too much to do and not enough time.

How can we establish time patterns that will allow us to meet with God? We must choose to set aside holy time. We are busy people who live in a busy world. But if we are going to spend time with God, we will have to slow down our pace. We must create a space in our lives to be with God. Find a meeting place. We need special places for spiritual nourishment. We must practice Solitude. Solitude is being alone on purpose. Loneliness happens to you. Emotionally and mentally step out of all your personal connections, not because they aren’t important, but because you want to come back to them strengthened and refreshed from your time alone with God.

God creates time, meets us in time and orders time. Therefore the use of time is to revolve around him. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. God Loves You and so do I….Pastor Tammy

A Wounded Spirit: Yet still I rise

A wounded Spirit: Yet still I rise

Prov 18:14-The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

It has been said whatever does not kill you; strengthens you. What is a wounded spirit? It’s also known as a broken spirit or crushed spirit. A wounded spirit is injury to any area of our soul or spirit faculties - mind, emotions and will. It is injury to the unseen areas of our being. The only way others can see the injury is how we behave and conduct ourselves.

The deeper or more severe the wounds the greater the negative effect on an individual’s life; spiritually, socially, materially and physically. The scripture says a wounded spirit is worse than physical sickness. A wounded spirit comes as a result of a reaction to negative words, events, actions, or a violation of your person or rights. An action that crushes you, knocks you down and from which you cannot seem to rise. It crushes an area of your life deep within; your spirit.

There are many ways we can receive a wounded spirit. Negative words can produce a wounded spirit. Words are death and life to the one who speaks them and to the one who receives them. Unforgiveness can lead to a wounded spirit. Refusing to forgive those who have disappointed and hurt us will cause us to have a wounded spirit. We cannot heal if we do not release the hurt and offenders to God. No matter how much someone has wounded us; we must come to a place of being able to release forgiveness to that person. If we don’t, we will be the one who pays the highest price. Betrayal is another way we can receive a wounded spirit. To be betrayed means to disclose a secret; to break a promise, or be disloyal to a person’s trust; to disappoint the expectations of. We betray one another when we don’t keep our promises. A string of broken promises lead to a wounded spirit. False accusations, divorce and relationship issues also cause a wounded spirit.

Each of us has some level of scars in our spirits from unpleasant past experiences and events in our life. Scars imply that the wounds have healed. Healing the wounded spirit is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit. The transformation of our minds directly affects the other areas in our spirits; the will and emotions.

The past experiences, or disadvantages, circumstances, people with ill motives or whatever may have intended to harm us. God is Sovereign. He is able to take the negativity of life and turn it for our good. Nothing can separate us from the love of God or his fulfilling his plan for our lives. He's the one in charge, not our circumstances. Yes, we will still possess the scars which tell us we have been wounded and there has been an injury. We all have scars from life and we have been wounded, but praise and thanks be to God we have not been destroyed. If you are suffering with a broken heart or a crushed spirit; The Sun of Righteousness is here with healing in his wings. God Loves You and so do I…….Pastor Tammy