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

That Awful Feeling...

 

I heard an eye-opening statistic Sunday. A poll taken in a city with a 13+ million populace revealed Christians never explained how to follow Jesus to 80% of the people polled.   I've been instructed my entire life to 'live good"; be an example. I've wrestled with that ideology all my life too. I fail to see how I can live "good enough" to bring anyone to Christ. Who does it help to attend church? The sinners on the outside of the church or the sinners on the inside? I love church but to say I attend church to help others seems like a selfish endeavor. I attend church to worship God and make myself feel good.



Most of us are results-driven people. Washing a car is instant gratification. Seeing our reflection in the hood of a shiny waxed car makes us feel good and driving around in a clean car makes us feel better. Losing weight is another story. Too much time invested for slow results.  Exercising to accelerate results is strenuous to say the least. Those are things we do for ourselves. What do we do for others? Washing their car is a nice gesture but it will soon get dirty again. Telling them about Jesus and how to follow him are results that will last for an eternity.

God's Word is like seeds that must be planted. Planting is not a one step process. Any gardeners out there? Grounds have to be prepared, seeds have to be planted, then comes water, sunshine and air. If the seeds come up, weeds have to be tended, fertilizer added and much patience is required to wait for the harvest. The same process happens when planting seeds for Jesus. People need to be befriended, words have to be spoken, then the Holy Spirit waters, shines on and breathes life into your efforts. Patience is required because not all seeds come up. The seeds that take roots need tended and fertilized until they are harvested. Matthew 9:37 paraphrased "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few." This is not an easy job but the reward is excellent.

We must tell people how to follow Jesus; admit your sins, ask forgiveness from Jesus and believe with your whole heart unto salvation. I wish the Holy Spirit were like E.F. Hutton, "When he speaks, people listen", but they don't. I'm guilty of brushing off the Holy Spirit. Are you? Do you ever get to June or July when people are gathering fresh vegetables from their gardens and wish you'd planted one? You had the seeds but they're still in the cabinet. It's a bummer of a feeling but there's hope for a chance to do better next year. The most awful feeling I know is to hear people are dying without Jesus because we don't have another chance to tell them about him. Don't wait for spring. The time is now. Break open the seed packets of your hearts and start sowing!

Opening my heart,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

encouragement

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

Do I mind being called handicapped?

Do I mind being called handicapped? Do you mind being called ugly? Actually, I prefer my given name of Tammy. See how pretty it is...

Handicapped just sounds awful, doesn't it? Not really. I don't mind it. That's why I call myself "The Happy Handicap". I beat you to the punch! Wanna know what word I really hate? CRIPPLED! I would rather be called a witch with a b over crippled. The fact is yes, I am handicapped and may even be the epitome of the word crippled but please don't remind me, OK? 

Of course...I can remind myself...because I live with the fact and these feet! My impairment may never be forgotten now, silly me wrote a book about it. My story is a fun tale, not at first but it gets better near the middle and very exciting at the end. Isn't that the way every good book reads? My complete story hasn't been written I'm still typing it as you are reading but I've got my first 44 years in print.  Don't worry the book is not that long! It's an easy read with a gripping story or at least that's what I've been told.

For the New Year, it's available here for just $3.14 Kindle version and $9.14 paperback including shipping! There are some fabulous reviews on my "Shop" page and Amazon! You can watch a pretty sweet video about the book here. Help me out and buy yourself a copy and please don't share it with your friends! Well share the fact they should buy the book and read it but don't share your copy of the book with them. They'll be happier with their own copy!

And, if you find me interesting after you read my story, I do speaking engagements for basically whoever will listen! My contact info is here.

Waiting to hear from you,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

encouragement handicap humor

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

What would you do if you were told you had 15 months to live?

I meet some pretty amazing ladies blogging! I meet one last week, Heather Von St. James.

Heather, hubby Cameron & daughter Lily Rose

Her tenacity and view of the world through rose-colored glasses inspires me! Each November, the month she was diagnosed with a deadly cancer, she gets the dreaded "November Blues". Heather overcomes the blues by focusing on things she enjoys like the first frost, the first snowfall and the beautiful holiday lights. I think we all could learn from Heather's positive outlook.

This November, I want to share her story to help her raise awareness of Mesothelioma. I'm thankful for Heather who hangs on to Hope and never lets go. I feel a connection to her because we have both struggled, stepped up to the plate with all the grit we could muster and kicked a birth defect and an illness right where it hurts. Heather's story is one of courage and love. Her take-away from her challenge is

 "With Hope. The Odds Don't Matter." 

I concur!

Watch a video about Heather, a courageous Mother, Wife and  an 8-year Survivor of Mesothelioma. What would you do if you were told you had 15 months to live? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment. I'd love to hear your story and your hope. What has helped you overcome struggles in your own life?

Please show Heather your support by sharing her story via the social media buttons in this post. You can also watch my story here.

Uplifted & Inspired,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

encouragement features

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

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

5 Ways to Encourage Special Education Students

Okay, okay I'll admit it! I have a beautiful family

I never anticipated our daughters 

Sydnee (the bride) and Sloane (maid of honor)

to be teachers.

Steve and I are so proud of them!

Sydnee was an undecided senior in high school

taking the same class with a young man

who suffered a tragic accident

leaving him profoundly paralyzed.

She believes God used this experience to mold

her future as a Special Education teacher.

 Sydnee has a big heart for her students!

Recently, she was challenged to find a learning environment

for one of her classes.

Should this be her job? Not sure.

She rose to the challenge but not without challenges.

See these boxes

 they all had to be moved

by me

using these

Sydnee is expecting my first grandchild

everyone else was busy...figures.

We got the job done though...

here's the room conducive to learning
storage room now classroom

Finally, I was/am impressed with Sydnee's philosophies

which is the subject of this post

5 Ways to Encourage Special Education Students

1. Have the same goal for all your students 

2. Understand your students but don't be easy on them

1. 
   3. Make reminder rules visible so your students know them
   

   

    4. Provide a welcome learning environment that is not "different" from other classrooms.
   
   5. Treat your students like all other kids. 
   
   
   Take it from me, "The Happy Handicap" we don't want things easy or treated differently!
   Please share your ways to encourage special education students by leaving a comment.
   
   Always Encouraged,
   Tammy
   The Happy Handicap 
   
   
   
   

encouragement

The 36 Year Journey

Overwhelmed! The feeling I got when my precious prosthetics got a hole. They tore the same spot every time. Sometimes they tore quickly and sometimes they tore well into the "every two years" cycle of getting new ones. I was overwhelmed because I couldn't wear shoes or walk without them. I was overwhelmed fighting insurance to justify another pair for $22K, beg my prosthetic man to repair the old ones and endure even more pain than usual. Psalm 61:2 says "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." I cried to God many times when my heart was overwhelmed and he knew if I didn't have the prosthetics it'd be impossible for me to stand on a rock. That's kind of a joke and kinda not. God knows your needs and your situation!

So many times our hearts become overwhelmed and we cry to God. We want rescued but maybe not led. We want helped but maybe not guided. We forget God is higher than us. We may consider him a peer, a "bounce it off of" guy or a "fairy god father". Psalm 25:5 says "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." It's not easy to wait on God and sometimes the day is extremely long.

It was my pleasure to speak with a Scottish Rite Mason this week. I shared how God led me to various entities starting with Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta. They suggested McMahan Shoes. McMahan Shoes suggested Lifelike Laboratories in Dallas, TX and I don't even remember how God led me to Young Prosthetics in Memphis, TN. The moral of the story is; today, after a 36-year journey, Steve and I made the set of prots in the pic! Praise Jesus! They are the most comfortable set of feet I've ever had and they cost about $300 a pair!

What if I had given up or turned around on the journey? It wasn't month-after-month of smooth sailing either. I've encountered storms, obstacles and nightmares enough to scare the bravest souls. You just gotta keep being led by the God of your salvation. Are you overwhelmed? Cry to Jesus, follow his lead and wait!

Overwhelmed in a good way,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

encouragement health