Love is Teamwork. How do you play?

Do you love watching the Olympics? Do you love being married or want to get married? What do Marriage and the Winter Olympics have in common? They both require major teamwork and superhuman commitment. Zig Ziglar shared an important attitude toward marriage and teamwork. His motivational advice still helps people succeed in life even after his death in 2012. Do you view your spouse as a teammate? Are you on the same side? Marriage works best as a loving, supportive team of ONE comprised of two.

Olympians train and practice most of their life to just be part of their country's team. Making the team doesn't always mean glory and winning, sometimes it means heartache and defeat. Dedication, commitment and love for their sports are required to make the team. The team supports each other.  Mark 3:25 reminds us "And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand." If teammates are working against themselves, they cannot win. Teamwork is the very epitome of marriage.

Let's look at  the famous "love" verses in I Corinthians 13:4-8 thinking of  "your spouse" as part of them for better understanding.  "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor (my spouse), and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in inquity, but rejoiceth in truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth...

So, so much knowledge in four verses of scripture, but I want to concentrate on "seeketh not her own".  We could say "sticks with the team", "includes team members in all ideas, decisions and choices for the team", or "puts the team before herself." THIS IS TEAMWORK!  Imagine your marriage as a 2-person Olympic team. You journey to a foreign country with a teammate. You walk in before the world together. You share agony and triumph together. You leave the event a stronger team than you came. The same process should happen every day in a marriage.

Marriage is a "give, give, give" and "did I say give" type of team. If you don't like giving, marriage may not be a team you want to make. Some days you'll be rewarded with a gold medal, some days a bronze and others, no medal at all. The important things aren't the rewards but the strength of the team.  Do you and your spouse clearly understand you are on the same side?  When you watch the Olympics tonight, I hope you view them differently.

Going for the Gold,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional

5 Excellent Ways to act like a Child

I'm blessed to keep my granddaughter weekdays. She's a picture of how deep the Father's love is for us. She's just fallen asleep on my chest as I'm writing this. Tears well in my eyes when I look at her. It's amazing to think how much more God
loves us than we can ever love him. If you have children, you understand. We love the children we helped create and God created us all.

Lisette brings to my memory Mark 10:15 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." How does a little child receive the kingdom of God? The exact same way that Lisette and I interact every day.  The "little child" model looks like this:

• She trusts me to feed, clothe and protect her without question. Do we trust God this much or rely on our own vices?
• She accepts what I offer her. Do we accept what God has for us or complain nothing is ever right?
• She cries out to me when she needs me. Do we cry out to God often or try to help ourselves?
• She is satisfied with what I give her. Is God enough or are we always looking for something else?
• She rewards me with a smile. Do we praise God for his goodness or let it go unnoticed?

The one thing Lisette does that impresses me the most, relating to the "little child" model, is she really doesn't like her pacifier. I love her face when you stick it in her mouth like she's sucked on a sour persimmon. From birth, instinctively babies know the difference in a bottle and a pacifier. She doesn't want a fake bottle with nothing in it. She's not happy with it. A pacifier doesn't give her what she needs. no substance at all.  Do you have a pacifier you've been sucking for years? Are you  satisfied yet? You'll never be happy with it. It will never give you what you need. Throw away that paccie, come as a little child, enter in and drink from a real Cup.

Being childish,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional encouragement

What's your temperature?

Do you remember the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears from your childhood? Can you tell the story from memory? Goldilocks tried every pot of porridge. Daddy Bear's was too hot. Momma Bear's was too cold. Baby Bear's was just right! The story goes on but always, always, Goldilocks found something that was just right.



The temperatures have been frigid in the South this month. The weather has been way too cold. Cold enough to freeze breathe in mid-air. Summer is headed our way though. The temperatures will get steamy and balmy. Can you feel and see the heat rising in squiggly lines off the pavement now? July and August will be way too hot. The perfect times of year are the few days we relish between Spring & Summer and Summer & Fall. The weather is just right!

Goldilocks picked a bed that was just right and went to sleep. She was unprepared for the return of the bears that lived in the house in the woods. We've heard the story that we will be judged by Jesus just as Goldilocks judged the porridge, the chairs and the beds. The difference in these stories are the Bible is not a fairy tale, rather truth. Goldilocks ran away and got a second chance not to wander in the woods. We won't run away from Jesus and we won't have a second chance to accept his salvation and live for him.

Hell is too hot. Unforgiven is too cold. Revelation 3:16 states "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Have you taken your temperature lately? A personal relationship with Jesus is just right!

Checking up,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Please leave a comment and share your opinions on lukewarm living...

devotional encouragement

3 Things I Know will be in Heaven

Are you a detective? Do you search for clues to see what heaven will be like? I'm curious what heaven is like and I bet you are too. I certainly don't wonder how hot hell is or if the devil has a pitchfork tail. The 3 things I know will be in heaven are:



1. The Holy Trinity - God, Jesus, Holy Spirit 
2. Saved Souls - me and you
3. Relationships - people we know

What is a soul? I believe it is who we are. When a person passes, the physical body imprint remains but the intellectual personal imprint is gone. A personal imprint lives on in the hearts and minds of people. You can have great influence even after you're gone because people "knew" you.

It's all relative my dear Watson.  Matthew 4:19 paraphrased "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."  Ever gone fishing? You have to know how to fish before you are successful. You must know about the fish you're trying to catch. Bass and Catfish don't like the same bait. The right rod is important.  The time of day, the time of year, even the way the sun hits the water is crucial for good fishing. And certainly the fight of fish are varied. Catching fish is relative to the fish.

People are like fish. You have to know something about them. You have to build a relationship with an individual before you can introduce them to Jesus. For example, you try to convince a girl to date your brother. The girl needs to know and trust you before she goes out with your brother.  I can hear here now "I don't know you or your brother."  Trying to push her to a relationship leaves a bad taste in her mouth.  If you're acquainted and she likes you, she'll possibly want to know your brother.  Sharing Jesus is all about the relationship; people's likes/dislikes, circumstances, seasons of life, the fight in them and much more to lead them to him. I don't want Jesus to look in my basket and not find any fish. Do you? Don't be clueless. Relationships we've built for a lifetime will be in heaven.  Our relationship with Christ and others won't be forgotten, they will be fulfilled.

Building...,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional

Do you suffer from "Hidden Identity"?

My favorite apple is a Stayman Winesap. I was happy to see this juicy, red specimen in a produce bin grocery shopping last Saturday. I picked it up, squeezed it a bit and my mouth watered. I thought about biting into the apple tasting the tartness at first and then the sweetness that balances every bite. I bagged the apple placing it in my cart; sold.

Yesterday, I ate the apple...almost.  Juice squirted on my knife as I cut. The crunching sound of the knife sliding through the apple skin was music to my ears. I can't stand a mellow apple. My taste buds swelled as I anticipated a delicious bite. My eyebrows furled and my mouth went dry when I saw the brown mushy stuff in its center. My apple was rotten inside! Disappointed, I ate cantaloupe thinking "How could something look so good outside but be so bad inside?" The store didn't know the apple was rotten. The only means to find out was to cut it or basically reveals its insides. This beautiful piece of fruit had a hidden identity.

I fear many people are suffering from "hidden identity." The Bibles states in Proverbs 28:12-13 KJV "When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." When we sin without confession and forgiveness, it creates a rotten spot in us. Our rotten spot can grow until our outside becomes as rotten as our inside. When we sin we may look like the apple, great on the outside, bad on the inside. Can you imagine what the apple would look like in about two weeks? Totally brown and rotten! We become more rotten the longer we continue to sin.

Does one un-confessed sin really matter that much? You know the old adage "One bad apple spoils the whole basket." Let's just say "One un-confessed sin spoils the whole heart."  An apple is Mother Nature. Sin is human nature. Confession and forsaking our sin to receive mercy is Godly nature.

Revealed,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional encouragement

The Most Important Item on the Bucket List in 2014

I love a parade! Do you? Did you watch the Rose Parade 2014? This picture was taken of a float in an annual New Year's Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. The Rose Parade was an item on my bucket list that is now in the "done" column. The flowers were breathtaking! I definitely recommend seeing the parade in person. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is also in the "done" column of my bucket list.  I also saw the St. Patrick's Day Parade in NYC. I've seen all the parades in Disney World. I just love a good parade.

I remember the parades but I don't remember the year I saw them. The dates really don't matter. I know I saw the parades. I have the memories of the days, the great feelings of seeing the parades and I even have some pictures. So the dates don't matter. I don't remember the date I accepted Jesus as my Savior either. Do you? The date doesn't matter. I have the memories of the day and the overwhelming feeling of the Holy Spirit every day. I KNOW it happened!

John 19:30 says "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." He died for our forgiveness. Accepting Christ is the most important item on the bucket list in 2014. Check it off! Please!  Seek him and he will answer. Make two.zero.one.four the year to open the door to Jesus. If you can move this to the "done" column, you can joyously say "It is finished". I guarantee, salvation is an experience to remember...HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

Leave me a comment with a few of your bucket items for 2014. The only one I have is to find a successful work from home job so my husband can retire! Got any ideas?

Kicking the bucket,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional travel

3 Joys of an Empty Tree

The Joys of an Empty Tree

My family didn't do Christmas. We didn't do Christmas the traditional way. Three years ago, we whittled our gift giving down to $5 presents each. We did this along with giving to other families. This year 2013, we resolved to not buy any gifts for ourselves. We bought for three families instead. Here are the joys we received from an empty tree.

1) We were Secret Santa for 3 brothers. When the gifts were delivered, the coordinator cried because she had difficulty getting someone to "adopt" these kids. An empty tree brought tears of joy!

2) A mom messaged me about finding a bicycle for her daughter.  I felt God directed her to me and asked if we could get the bike. I found a used bike (just like new). The seller of the bike called me later to tell me how buying the bike had helped her family who was stretched for Christmas with only one income. She said "You didn't even know it but ya'll helped two families at once!" An empty tree doubled our joy!

3) We gave a grocery gift card to a single mom with 5 kids. An empty tree brought inner joy!

Your family may have been giving to others for years and we're just slow to the plate. If not, I encourage you to try it. You can start small like we did or just take the plunge! This has been the best Christmas ever living what the truth of Jesus has told us. Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Overjoyed,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional

Do People Wonder?

 

Sloane is obsessed with celebrities. She follows her favorites on Twitter. She wonders who's dating whom.  Sydnee peruses the fashion section of magazines. She loves new clothing styles and wonders what's in or a has-been. Steve studies survival methods. He wonders if we'll be alright if disaster strikes. I google recipes. I wonder if I can find a fabulous new dish my family will love! Have you ever heard something and wondered about it? So curious you simply MUST check it out to see if it is true? For example, you hear how beautiful Hawaii is. Does that expressed beauty make you wonder enough to get on an airplane to go see for yourself? If not, your storyteller is a dud!

The Christmas Story (as it's known) in Luke 2:16-18 speaking of the shepherds says "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds." The Bible doesn't tell us but I believe those who wondered surely had to come and see. I imagine people making their way to the stable peeking around corners hoping for a glimpse of the baby. I can almost hear people tell others "I heard him cry!", "Well, when the stable door opened I saw he's got brown hair!" or even "I saw one of those angels that talked to them shepherds!"

Today, I wonder if we are still telling the story in a manner to make people wonder? Do we soak up and use Sunday sermons to help someone on Monday by sharing what we heard? Do we tell people about the miraculous things God does in our lives every day enough to make them wonder about who He is? Do we use God's Word in every day language to intrigue peoples' wonderment about where those words came from? Some people the shepherds told went to see the first time they heard it. Some people had to hear the story multiple times and see others excited before they were moved to check it out. Regardless of how many times it takes for a person to hear the story before they come and see...the story has to be wondrously told!

I wonder,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a comment...

devotional

The Birthplace of Jesus

Each year, near the holidays, we remember the place where Jesus was born.  I envision a small barn-like structure. The temperature inside making me shiver with cold and the stale hay tickling my nose into a sneeze.  I imagine  cobwebs in every nook and cranny, so old the spiders who spun them have left.  Although worn and lacking luxury, the building houses a King.

As I sat listening to the sermon this week from Luke 2:6-8, I suddenly realized another reason why Jesus was born in a stable instead of a palace. Luke 19:10 says "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." How does he seek and save what is lost? Similar to the way he did it over 2000 years ago, even today, He searches for a place to be born. When he finds a place, he asks to come in. Some people have a room for him to stay in and some people still have no room at their inn. If he is invited in, he is used to this place, this live stable. He enters a cold, stale environment draped in cobwebs of neglect. The place is broken, worn and lacking luxury.  And it still houses a King. Rejoice for your heart is HIS birthplace!

My Heart is His,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

devotional encouragement

5 Positive Things about "Auto-Correct"

If you use technology, you've probably experienced auto-correct.  Auto-correct is a built-in vocabulary that automatically corrects "supposed" errors. For example, I might be typing the word "of" and auto-correct changes it to "if". Lots of funny jokes results from auto-corrected text messages. Email uses it too. A lot of people hate auto-correct and they turn it off. Rightfully so, auto-correct has a history of ruining people's lives! Auto-correct has been known to turn the word "Disney" into "Divorce". You can see how this could present a problem...We're going to Disney becomes We're going to divorce!

Is auto-correction really that bad? Here's my thought..."If you're God-connected, you're auto-corrected!" The Bible says in Proverbs 3:11-12 "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." God gave us scripture for correction (2 Timothy 3:16).  It's upsetting when a text gets corrected incorrectly! We  don't need a machine correcting us. But we do need a Holy God to help us correct our incorrect ways. How many times have you turned your auto-correct off? Don't you love (maybe not) when you're thinking about eating a Reese cup and God says "Should you eat that?" and you're like "YAY! I should eat it!" You just turned off auto-correction. Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to get up on Sunday morning? Have you overrode your auto-correct and stayed in bed? I have!

Just say YES to God's auto-correction. He can positiviely help you:
1. Bite your tongue
2. Turn the other cheek
3. Look in the right direction
4. Improve your life
5. Lose weight (lol, just kidding but it could happen)

I couldn't do without my wireless connection to God complete with auto-correct. I don't have to worry about sending or receiving too much data, losing His signal or being charged extra. God's plan is free and doesn't require a new contract every several years! What do you like or not like about God's auto-correct? Share your thoughts with a comment below.

Standing corrected,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional encouragement

You could be a Star!

Yes, 

 YOU COULD BE A STAR! 

every day...

Can you imagine following a star to the place where Jesus lay in the manger? Watching in anticipation as the star leads you across a desert terrain to a stable to visit a King!

The Bible tells us in Matthew 2:2 that the wise men saw his star in the east and came to worship him. 

Can we shine as bright as the star that first led the wise men to Jesus? 

Just a few short chapters over in Matthew 5:16 the Bible instructs us to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven." I believe that is exactly what the star was doing that night in Bethlehem; shining for men to see his good works and glorifying him. Once we accept Jesus, he begins a good work in us.  His Holy Spirit can shine through us so men can see his glory. 

Sometimes I think I make a special trip to the hardware store to buy a dimmer switch for my glorious light. Do you ever feel the same? You know we can keep hitting our dimmer switches until you can't see Jesus in us at all. The good news is we have control of how brightly our lights shine for Jesus. 

So how can we let our lights shine? Live for him and not ourselves. Do his good work! Share the glorious news of Christ! Wouldn't it be amazing if our lights were so bright people were blinded like Paul?  You've always wanted to be a star, haven't you?  Now’s your chance!  You could be that star this Christmas that leads someone to Jesus!

Share in a comment how you're letting your light shine this Christmas...

Illuminated,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

devotional encouragement

Many Thanks

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 

                            2 Corinthians 9:11

I dare to say that we are enriched bountifully in many things. The question I ask is which of those things causes us to give thanks to God? Some folks give thanks before they eat, they are thankful for food. Some people thank God for safety, salvation and shelter. Last week with the birth of my grandchild, I thanked God for his love being so apparent in babies; their serenity, sweetness and perfect spirit is so HIM! Looking at her causes my spirit to overflow with thankful gladness. I know God enjoys being praised. Many things causes me to give thanks unto God. How about you? What causes you to give thanks?

Show me and the Almighty some love by leaving a comment. I'd like to know what causes your heart to be thankful.

Praising Him thankfully,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

devotional

Do you see what I see?

 

Do you see what I see? This picture still intrigues me! When I look at things my mind almost automatically creates a parallel with God. Does your mind do this too? I'm not sure why it happens. Trust me. I'm not a disciplined Bible reader, I only attend church once a week and I don't pray at the same time every day or night. I think it's a gift! Anyways, here are the other things I thought when I looked at this picture. What do we as believers have in common with the things in the pic?

• Water hose. Is our spigot to Christ on or off? When Christ tries to flow through me, am I kinked up and block the flow? Do I allow his Spirit to flow freely "extending" to what desires water?
• Gas Tank. Are the contents of my heart ready to ignite whenever touched by "the fire" of His Spirit? Does my flame get smothered out at the least bit of wind?
• Satellite Dish. Do I stand with arms open ready to receive a signal from Christ? More importantly, when I do receive information, do I transmit outward to others?
• Flood Light. Do I beam His goodness for others to see? Do I keep my light in the on or off position?
• Gutter. Do I route harmful stuff away from my building or do I soak it up? My job is to maintain my spirit and keep it away from things that will decay the foundation.

Share your thoughts with me. Leave me a comment!

Reflecting,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional

I want to be like a leaf! Do you?

 

This picture was worth at least a 100 thoughts for me! The other day as I was walking into my house, this dogwood tree caught my eye. I had to stop and behold it's beauty with the sun shining through the exquisite red leaves. The tree got my attention as if it had spoken my name. Walking away, God said "What if people would let me shine through them like the sun shone through the leaves on that tree?" Good question. What if we would? I've always been a tree hugger and I started to really relate to that tree! Here's a couple of my thoughts: 

• WE EXPECT ORDER. That's a dogwood tree in the picture. We expect it to have red leaves in the fall, crooked branches and red berries. We are God's people. We're expected to be kind, love our neighbor and walk in righteousness. What if we walked outside our door expecting a dogwood tree and saw a pine? Would we be confused? What if people look at us expecting Christ-like behavior and think we're demon possessed?  Would it leave them shaking their heads? How can God shine through us if we are out of order?
• WE EXPECT OBEDIENCE. Don't we? What if that same dogwood tree turned red in the summer and green in the fall and didn't loose it's leaves? This reaction is absolutely contrary to what we expect. The unusual behavior would be in direct disobedience to God's natural plan. Do we do things that are disobedient? Are people expecting one thing from us and we do the opposite? Is God expecting something different than what he's seeing from us? How can God shine through us if we are disobedient?

I want to be like a leaf! I asked God to help me be like the leaves on that tree, transparent enough for His spirit to shine through to others and committed enough to maintain my "color" so people will know I'm his! I see several more things in the picture, not just the tree. Next week, I'll talk about what else I see. Do you see anything you could compare yourself to relating to God? Leave me a comment!

Reflecting,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

devotional

Separation Anxiety: Do you have it?

Today, we look at the last three verses of Ephesians Chapter 5 verses 31-33. It goes like this: "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great MYSTERY: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

When I got married, I had separation anxiety from my parents. I thought it was because I am an only child but Sydnee did the same thing. The feelings were not so much anxiety as they were a longing to be with my parents. The bond was and still is extremely strong! I've always wondered why the scriptures don't say "For this cause shall a woman leave her father and mother...". Do you have any thoughts on this? I'd love to hear them.  I think maybe it's because the husband is the head of the house and the covering for the family unit. Guys, did you know that God holds you responsible for the family unit as the head of the household? Morally and spiritually? We become bone of your bone, not the other way around!

Again, in these verses we are told how marriage is a great mystery. I will never understand how a true marriage takes place in a couple of minutes. It is still a mystery to me. Marriage is a replica of the love and acceptance of Christ for us and vice versa. The same mystery happens when Christ proposes to us and we accept his spirit in marriage for an eternity. This change happens in a split second! Marriage is also a great way to solidify eternal salvation. When you marry someone, you can't unwed them. Sure, you can get a divorce on paper or an annulment from the court system but you will never change the fact that you were married to that person, it is eternal. Christ's salvation is the same way. Once you truly accept Christ as your Savior, you can't undo that acceptance. You can live poorly by physically disobeying his word, you can forsake the church, you can try to avoid God every way possible but it will not change the fact that you are his! If you truly accepted his spiritual grace, you can't get a divorce or annulment. You can sure create some separation anxiety though...

Chris Gregory, a friend of mine and Steve's sent a comment last week which is an excellent visual of salvation. He said "Jesus knew for a fact that I didn't deserve his love, but He opened the door for me anyway! By His sacrifice, the door of eternal life was opened for me. I stood at the door for 37 years, and for 37 years, Jesus patiently held the door and waited for me to enter." Isn't that just like a husband? Steve patiently opens doors for me to lumber up to and through! My Dad (pictured) has been holding doors for my Mom (pictured) for 55 years!  Whether you accepted Christ long ago or are still standing outside the door waiting to walk over the threshold, Jesus has the door open just for you. Unlike a honeymoon, where the husband carries you across the threshold, in your union with Christ, you must step over the threshold into grace and mercy. In a physical marriage, the husband traditionally carries you one time in the beginning. In a spiritual marriage, Jesus carries you all the time even until the end.


Enjoying Holy Matrimony,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap


I welcome all comments or thoughts...

devotional encouragement

Are Men Lovers?

 

Steve & me on our wedding day!

Welcome to the 2nd week of  "A Great Mystery."  Last week I shared my thoughts on Ephesians verses 22-24. This week let's delve into 25-30. The verses read as follows: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,  and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.

Why do you think husbands were instructed to love their wives? Love in a marriage should be second-nature, shouldn't it? Men are protectors and providers, not lovers. Just for clarification purposes, love and sex are not synonymous. Unlike a woman, love is not constantly in a man's mind! Husbands are given a specific example of how to love wives. They are instructed to love with a "supreme, sacrificial, blameless" love just as Christ loves the church. 

If a husband loves his wife like Jesus loves the church, she will be the most beautiful thing in his life. Christ gave his life for the church just as a husband devotes his life to his wife. I believe a certain cleansing happens through the marriage ceremony within a new union. The woman becomes holy by becoming a wife, selected by the man who loves her. This "setting apart and joining" of two bodies from the single world into matrimony is a beautiful picture of Christ and his Church. When a husband looks at his wife he sees perfection in every way because he selected her and she accepted him.  He views her as innocent, not finding fault, not accusing or assigning guilt. Another beautiful picture of the forgiveness of Christ!

Okay, I'm going to say it! Men are self-absorbed. That's why they don't have babies, not designed for it. Husbands can understand the example of loving their wives as their own bodies. If you can love yourself, you can love a wife. Verse 29 proves that everyone loves themselves "no one ever hated their own body." It also proves that men are protectors and providers saying "they feed and care for their body." As believers are members of the body of Christ, a wife becomes a member of the body of her husband. Husbands know how to care for themselves and can bestow the same love and protection upon their wives.

Guys, if you can get these verses right, your wife will submit and subject herself to you without hesitation! And on the flip side, ladies, if you can submit and subject yourself to your husband, he'll have an easier time loving you!


Feeling the husband love,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap


Thanks for all the communication last week. Let me know how you feel about these verses too! Leave me a comment...

devotional

The 2 S's of a Wife; what are they?

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

 Trey and Sydnee
October 16, 2013

 

THE TWO S's OF A WIFE

what are they?

Submission & Subjection
please read on...

I've often pondered the mystery of marriage; walking up an aisle to a minister, answering a few questions "yes" or "I will" and walking out an entirely different person. I may over-analyze things a bit but this was the scariest part of marriage for me. In a few seconds with a few simple words, your life is changed forever.  If...you believe and accept it. Our transformation from life to death through Jesus happens in the same manner. Think about this, it's really no different from the dating and marriage process. Jesus has been whispering in your ear encouraging you to choose him for a new life. You finally make your decision that it's him you want, you walk the aisle to an altar or a minister, say "yes, I accept you" and your life is changed forever. You must also ask Him for forgiveness and believe.  Will you make mistakes in both unions? Will you want to throw your hands up and quit in both unions? Will you ever wonder what it all means? Yes, Yes and Yes!

The next couple of weeks I'll be sharing my thoughts on Ephesians 5:22-33 concerning marriage. Today, let's start with verses 22-24 which reads; Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

The definition of submit in this context is to accept or yield to the will of another person. God didn't give wives instructions to love their husbands because he knew that would be easy for them. He designed women inherently for love and care, as a help meet.  He created women to love and for love. An example of this is childbirth, great pain + new baby = unending love!  Ladies, our husband are the head of our households and we should let them be. I know what you're thinking. He doesn't accept responsibility, he's lazy, he doesn't know how to do anything, he can't make decisions, he don't have any common sense, how can I submit to that?  Yeah, maybe but you have to understand his role in the union.

Genesis 3:23 tells us man was banished from the Garden of Eden to till the ground because he listened to his wife and ate from the wrong tree. I'm not trying to be funny here, this is scripture! This incident plainly shows us how our roles get turned upside down and what happens as a consequence. Men are single-minded because that's how God created them, to dress and tend the garden. For example, how do you plant a garden? In several single steps, right? Till the ground, drop the seed, cover the seed, no compound tasks! Have you ever noticed how annoyed your husband becomes if you ask him to stop what he's doing and do something else? It's the way he was designed! Understand him and submit to it. It'll make your union so much stronger.  You aren't submitting to Christ if you aren't submitting to your husband.

Your husband is also your protector as Christ is the savior of the world. Your husband's job is to save and protect you, keep you from harm. Does Christ save everyone? Everyone that will let him. Can your husband protect you? If you will let him but don't be encouraging him to eat bad fruit!  I bet your husband gives you a hundred subtle tips a week to help you and most of the time you shrug him off. Are you guilty? I am! When I don't listen and find myself in need of Steve's help, I hear him, in my head, warning me about the thing I just did and what would happen. Do you know anyone else who guides your life in the same manner? Are you understanding verse 24 yet? Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Being subject unto your husband allows two things to happen in your marriage; encourages your husband to accept his leadership role in the home and keeps wives out of trouble.  When you are subject to Christ, you feel good inside because you know you have pleased him. Be subject to your husband for once and please him!

Of course, for all this to work correctly as God intended there are instructions for the husband also. We will cover some of those next week. There is so much in Ephesians 5 it's difficult to shorten and contain to a brief space. Read it for yourself, examine yourself and submit to it's teachings. 

 

Practicing,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

devotional

Can Cabbage help Control Anger?

I served boiled cabbage for lunch yesterday and had the leftovers for dinner. Did you know cabbage is one of the "world's healthiest foods"? Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that boasts many health benefits including: cancer prevention, anti-inflammatory properties and a powerful stomach tonic. Cabbage is also a natural cholesterol lowering food.

The best way to cook cabbage to maintain nutrients is to healthy saute. Heat 5 tbsp. water in a stainless steel skillet on high heat. When bubbles begin to form, reduce heat to medium, add shredded cabbage, cover and cook for five minutes. Cut off heat and let stand covered for two more minutes before you serve. You can see from the picture, I thinly shred my cabbage. It is yummier that way! My Aunt Nell taught me that!

Whilst (I love that word! I learned it in London) I was preparing the cabbage, I posted a face book question asking "How long do you boil your cabbage down?" God used that cabbage to show me something. Can cabbage help control anger? Ephesians 4:26-27 says "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." I began to wonder how long it takes us to boil down or simmer down when we get angry.

Just like the cabbage, if simmered for 5 minutes and cooled for 2, it is tasty and beneficial for our bodies. If we get angry and cool down quickly, we can avoid sin which is healthy for our bodies. Alternately, if cabbage simmers too long, all the nutrients are removed, tastes bad and the color is poor. If we simmer too long with anger, we give place to the devil which is not healthy, causes us to act out and is sinful.

Unresolved anger has many detrimental effects on our health. Anger is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, stomach problems and even the flu! The next time you get angry think of a head of cabbage and remember "Simmer 5, Cool 2!" This visual mantra should distract you from being angry, force the devil to find another place and improve your health!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice.

Just thinking of a head of cabbage not helping with anger management? Look at this cutie! Print out this little guy and hang him up in your office or home. Every time you look at him, surely you'll crack a smile and your anger will be gone!

Happy not Angry,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

devotional encouragement recipe

God gave me a Gift

 

God's gift to me...

another HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

It's a milestone!

The big 50!

Approaching this day,

 I've taken the time to reflect on things

especially since GOOGLE knows my name!

 

 

 

 I thank God for his blessings too numerous to list!

I also looked over my bucket list

 to see how I'm doing.

 I don't really have a list

 just some things penciled in my head.

 So far, so good!

 

You might say that I am

right where God wants me to be.

I would say maybe.

We have a lot more to do with the position

 of our lives than we accept responsibility for.

 

Please don't get me wrong.

God has complete control

OVER EVERYTHING

 but we have to make decisions

based upon Godly knowledge

 and go forth trusting him.

 

I know God is pleased with many things

 in my life that honor him,

 i.e. my marriage, my children, my parents, my book, this blog, etc.

 but I also know he is waiting for me

 to do other things he has assigned me

 that I just haven't gotten to yet.

 

 Today, I challenge you and me

 to make a list of the things

 you know God has for you to do

 but you just can't seem to get around to it

 and next year, about this time,

 let's review our lists!

 

 If you say "Well...God hasn't told me

 anything he wants me to do."

(I can hear my mother saying that.) 

I say...

 "Have you asked him?"

 

 Remember,

we live for his pleasure,

 honor and glory,

 not our own.

 

 It may be just to completely

submit your life to him,

 it may be a big change

you've been struggling with,

 it may be helping your neighbor.

 

 Here's the thing...

you know what it is

DO IT!

  

 God gives us gifts every day!
 The wisemen brought him gifts...
What gifts have we given him?

Thankful for every gift,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Share in a comment what gifts you've received from God. It's a great way to praise him!

devotional

One Way to have a Great Presentation

Do you like pretty things? Of course, you do and so do I! Our species likes pretty people, pretty places, pretty pets, pretty cars, we even like pretty food. We are all about PRESENTATION. One way to have a great presentation is physical. Women look better with makeup, men look better clean cut (personally I like a 5 o'clock shadow and long hair on men but don't tell anybody) and kids look better if they don't get dirty. There's nothing wrong with looking good but sometimes I think we take it to extremes. We wish to live in houses we can't afford - I'm guilty. We buy pretty cars that cost as much as a house - I'm not guilty.  We come close to humanizing our pets because they are soooo cute. Could you love an ugly dog? And, what about our food? We need a colorful plate with variation. The United States probably wastes enough food on garnishes to feed a small starving nation. Yes, we're all about presentation, how we look and how others perceive us. 

Did you know we are giving a presentation every day? For people and for God. They're watching and listening to us. I hope God is shaking his head in agreement during our presentations. You shouldn't be nervous because he don't care about your clothes or your Sunday best.  If you've been saved, you're wearing the most beautiful garment ever ...a white robe. He don't care where you live. He'll visit you, in your house, just like he did Zacchaeus. He'll ride in your car whether you drive a Mercedes or a Ford. He created your pet and he loves them all. He don't have to eat so quit worrying about dinner!

Here's the moral of the story and one way to have a great presentation.  If you aren't prepared for your presentation, it may turn disastrous quickly. For example, most people prepare their clothes before going to bed for the next day. Ever been undecided about your clothes and your wardrobe turn into a disaster? If you don't prepare for travel and fill your gas tank, you may be a walking disaster! You even have to plan dinner to get the right colors on the plate. Ask Jesus to rule over your day to avoid disasters with people. People are our most critical audience. God is our most forgiving audience.  If you want to be presentable, follow the advice of Paul in Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye PRESENT your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Have you worked on your Godly presentation lately?

In His Presence,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

Leave me a comment and let me know how this devotional spoke to you.

devotional