Tammy's Inspirations

Lord, I love you
Here I am
Do with me as Thy will
Tammy B. 03/08/09

Lord, I thank You that when I am tired, You fill me with energy
When I am down, You lift me up
When I feel no love, You fill me with Your love
When I am weak, You fill me with strength
When I am restless, You give me rest
When I am worried, You ease my fears
When I have storms, You fill me with calm
When I am empty, worn down and broken, You restore me
Thank You Lord, for all these things and so much more that You do for me.
Without You, I am nothing. With You, all things are possible. Amen. Tammy B. 03/06/09

Lord, thank You for loving us even when we get too busy for You. Thank You for taking us back time and time again. Thank You
for Your continuous love. Amen. Tammy B. 03/04/09

Folks need to read the Bible and read the Bible and read the Bible and read the Bible some more and read the Bible some more and
all the time. We stop reading the Bible and then we start making our own rules. We start getting soft. Satan gets in and fills your
head with lies. Read the Bible. If you want to know how to live your life, read the Bible. God tells you right in the Bible how to live.
No watering down - the Truth. Tammy B. 2/15/08

Don't let satan make you afraid and fill you with doubts, that's what he wants.
Give a mighty shout, "I live for Jesus Today! Jesus is the way!" --T.B.

In The Eyes Of God
If we are honest, the majority of us get caught up in what we look like in the eyes of others when what is most important is what we look like in the eyes of God. How many times has someone admitted they are not perfect, made a mistake and others will say - "Oh, I am not like that," "I never do that," and then jump on the bandwagon of telling a person the correct way to live when they are not living that way themselves? We are so concerned with looking great even though we know the truth which is we are not perfect - we all make mistakes but it is so important what others think of us that we mask the truth. We can appear to be perfect in the eyes of others but how are we truthfully in the eyes of God? Remember God knows the truth - we can't mask the truth with Him. God sees and knows everything. We may can deceive others but we can't deceive God. When the day of judgment comes, we won't be standing before other humans seeking their approval to enter Heaven. We will be standing alone before God - how will we look in the eyes of God?
In life we strive to grow in the image of God - we make mistakes but God is a loving and forgiving God. We ask forgiveness and strive to do better every day continuing to strive to grow in the image of God. In doing so one of the things we have to do is to be honest with others about ourselves. Others need to know that though we stumble, God is loving and forgiving. When we admit our mistakes in earnest before God, humbling ourselves, our slate is cleaned. It may seem a little thing to mask the truth about oneself before others, but we all know the little things build and before we know it we are living one big lie. So today, let's be honest, we make mistakes, we err, we stumble, we are not perfect and in doing so we are set free from the prison we build for ourselves.
Free to live for God and continue to grow in the image of God - one day at a time - striving for progress - honestly.
--Tammy B. 8/24/03

For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. 2 Corinthians 8:21

For many years I would get up and my feet would hit the floor and I would be off and running with no sense of direction or purpose
for the day. Now when I get up in the mornings I start my day with prayer and meditation. Asking God to reveal His will to me,
seeking His knowledge, guidance and direction for me throughout the day. Also reading meditations, inspirations and bible
scriptures. This gets my day off to a great start and gives me a positive attitude for the day. When I do this I have direction and
purpose for the day - to do God's will whatever His will is. If I find myself getting off the beam during the day, I quiet myself and
reconnect with God and get back on track. I have found I can stop and start my day over at any time.
When we practice starting our day in prayer and meditation, it quickly becomes a routine part of our day and we find ourselves
looking forward to this opportunity to fellowship with God. We quickly get into staying in conscious contact with God throughout
the day. God is our friend who is there all day for us to talk with. We can have a meeting with God anytime of the day. It doesn't
have to take long - it can only be for a few minutes a day but as we continue along we find ourselves eventually not counting the
minutes anymore that we share with God.
What a wonderful feeling to know that God our friend, our Father is with us all the time. We are not alone anymore.
So today if you haven't already or even if you have - talk to God as you would a friend. Spend some time with God. I guarantee you
will feel loads better afterwards. --Tammy B. 9/27/02

Many of us did not have the childhood as portrayed on "Leave It To Beaver".   Simply because that is a TV show based on the
perfect idea of what a normal family should be like. There are some who are fortunate enough to have a childhood that closely
resembles that TV show. I have heard and read from many who suffered child abuse - (physically, verbally, sexually), those who
lost a parent or both parents, those whose     parents were alcoholics, drug addicts or both, those whose parents sent them away
to school, those whose parents who were so caught up in their own life they had no time for their children and so forth. We, the
children are left feeling unloved, uncared for, guilty, afraid, angry, resentful, lonely, unable to have a relationship with others and
just unable to function at all because of our childhoods. In order to cope some of us have turned to many different things - alcohol,
drugs, sex, work, God. I put God last in that list because     it seems we always try all the other avenues first before finally saying
"Okay God, I have had enough, I am turning my life over to you now." We find those other things only bring    us temporary relief
for a brief time and leave us feeling empty every time. But once we seek God, that emptiness begins to disappears. We have found
someone who will love us unconditionally and be there for us always forever. We have found that God is the one constant that we
can count on in life. Everything else is uncertain but God is constant and   forever. We begin to heal, to grow, to mature in God's
loving embrace. Our sufferings and our experiences we use to help others who are seeking their way out of the darkness. We tell
them what God has done for us giving them HOPE that this can happen for them too. They only have to let go and let God. Though
we cannot change the past, today holds promise of new beginnings, a new life if only we seek it and choose to live it. We don't
have to live in our past anymore, we don't have to be the person we were anymore, we can be different from our parents - we can
make a change. With God there is HOPE and PROMISE for a better life. What have we got to lose but our misery - we have
everything to gain.
Today God, I give myself to you to do with me as You will. I trust that my life with you God will be wonderful. I know God that any
trials or test I must face along the way, You will always be with me to see me through. I thank You, God, for loving me and lifting me
up, filling me with new life, hope and promise. God, as I go out into the world today, I will share the many blessings and gifts you
have given me with others. I will rejoice in Your name and Your love. With Your guidance, I will reach out to others and help to bring
them into the light. In Jesus' name. Amen --Tammy B. 9/20/02

I work in a deli in a grocery store. This week we closed our old deli and moved into our new one. It has been stressful to some.
I think my stress was more before the move than after. Now that we have moved everything to our new deli, it is just a matter of
putting everything away and adjusting to the new equipment and business as usual.
You know life is that way. We come to a turning point, where we will be closing the door on an old chapter of our lives and opening
the door to a new chapter of our lives. It can be stressful in making the change. It can also be very exciting. One thing we must
always remember is we are never alone in life. God and Jesus are always with us. They are there for us to talk to, to listen to, to
give us the strength and courage to face new horizons. We have to stay open to God's plans for us. In each situation God does
have a plan for us - an opportunity to grow spiritually and to share the many blessings and gifts we have been graced with. We
have the opportunity to guide others to God and to Jesus. To be witnesses of His great love and miracles. To help others out of the
darkness. Everyday we pray and meditate. We turn our lives and wills over to the care of God, seeking His guidance throughout
the day. Remember He is always near, right with us. Shielding and protecting us. Loving us continuously. He will see us through
everything. We need only to ask.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and
a good future.” Jeremiah 29:11

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired
or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even
youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will
soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

On Sunday we had a terrible thunderstorm. During the storm, lightening struck nearby our home and hit our air conditioning unit.
We found out about an hour after the storm that we had no AC. So we called the AC repairman and our insurance company.
On Monday the AC repairman came out. He checked out our AC and discovered that lightening had indeed hit the defrost unit to
our AC and the cost could run between $75-$250. I jokingly said I hoped it was near the $75 price of course. While he was replacing the unit, I went in my bedroom and prayed to God on the matter. Well he replaced the defrost unit and informed me that the repair charge total was $275. I wrote him the check,
not at all happy over this. He was on his way and we had AC again. The insurance company called a little bit later informing me
there was a $250 deductible and offered me a check for $25 which I accepted.
Now I was upset. I had been working hard at my job, trying to make extra time so as to have extra money for my youngest
daughter's upcoming birthday. I allowed myself to feel my emotions, crying of course. Later, my two oldest daughters came home
from school with a letter informing me that there had been a false bomb threat in their school that morning. They were evacuated from the school. I was upset because no one informed me of the situation.
After an emotional day, I thanked God that no one was hurt during the thunderstorm, also that even though we would have to shuffle
some bills around that we were able to pay the repair bill. I am thankful that our two oldest daughters were okay. After explaining to
our kids our present financial situation, everyone agreed to work together for the next couple of weeks. Together we will make it
through. I am thankful that because of an unexpectant gift certificate I received earlier that we already have our youngest daughter's
birthday presents. Our youngest daughter will still be able to have the birthday party she wanted though maybe not exactly as we
had planned. Most importantly everyone here is well and healthy. We are all working together as a family to do our part. For all this
I am grateful and give thanks to God. I trust that God will supply us with what we need when we need it.
--Tammy B. 8/23/02

"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all of your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in
Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

Yesterday (Thursday), my husband came in with a dozen roses for me! He had some good news. A man he had helped with a
project at his work received a big bonus for a job well done. He took my husband out to lunch yesterday and also gave him $50 for
helping him. He told my husband that it was because of his help that he received the bonus. We also received our check from the
insurance company yesterday. The money was very much appreciated since our ordeal the first of the week. I share all this with
you because we must never give up our faith and trust in God even when life doesn't go the way we want it. God will reveal
more to us as we go along. We just continue to have faith and trust. God will provide. --Tammy B. 8/23/02

*About a week and a half later after this, we received an unexpected refund check for $268 from a bill we had unknowingly overpaid.

The Devil

I don't like to talk about the devil much but he does need to be talked about some. I prefer to talk about the Lord because the more we talk about the Lord, live for the Lord, read the Word, give praise, pray, and worship the further the devil will stay away because that is one thing he can't stand to hear about is talk of the Lord and he can't stand that we are living for the Lord.
When I was along about 7 months into sobriety, it was revealed to me that my addictions (alcohol and drugs) and the devil were one. The devil had used my addictions for a long time in my life to keep God out of my life. The devil had me with my addictions and it was until I surrendered to Jesus that I was freed from that hold the devil had on me. When I understood the connection between the devil and my addictions it made it so much easier for me to stay sober.
The devil goes away for a little while but he comes back. He doesn't forget that I am still here. But I am aware of him and his evil ways of trying to get me back because you see I know he is not happy that I have chosen to live my life for the Lord. Yep - he has lost another one to the Lord - me. The devil stays away from me longer these days. The more the Lord is in my life the more the devil will stay away. When I am filled with the spirit, there is no room for the devil. I say, "There is no room in my life for you devil so go back from where you came from." "The only room I have in my life today is for the Lord."

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:7-9

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee you. James 4:7

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:10-20

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Ephesians 6:24

Talk about the Lord, read the Word, pray, give praise, worship the Lord, live for the Lord every second of everyday and the devil WILL stay away.
--Tammy B. 11/8/05

Afraid To Love
My father died when I was 8. Then when I was 17, a boy that I was in love with at the time was involved in a tragic car accident. The driver of the car was killed at the scene but that boy lived but he was badly injured. After that, I convinced myself that the reason those things happened to them was because I had loved them. I was even more convinced when my sister died when I was 31. I became afraid to love. I decided if I just didn't let myself love anyone then the bad things wouldn't happen to those around me. All those years I thought I had done a great job at keeping love out. I had built walls around me to keep me safe from the pain of loving others and then losing them. After I came to AA in 1997, I found out quickly that even though I thought I had kept love out, it had somehow crept in through the cracks in my walls. My hubby came to bed late one night and told me of a lump he had found on my middle daughter's neck. I got up and checked her and sure enough there was a lump. I stayed up the rest of the night - crying and praying and talking with my online sponsor. I took her to the doctor the next day and the diagnosis was that she had cat scratch fever. Praise the Lord it was nothing serious. From that experience I found that no matter how hard I tried not to love others around me that love crept in anyway. But I still tried to keep love out and still wouldn't let myself fully love others. In 2000, I totally surrendered my life to Jesus. I became unafraid. About a year later I was standing in the garden with my husband. He was bent over picking some beans and I was standing, looking down at him and all of a sudden I felt this overwhelming love for him like I never had in my life. I told my hubby, "I love you." He said, "I love you, too." I told him, "You don't understand. I mean I really, truly love you. All these years I was afraid to let myself really love you. I held back my love for you but now I am not afraid anymore to let myself love you." I give credit to Jesus and the program of AA for being able to love again. God led me to AA and because of AA I received Jesus in my life again and became unafraid. --Tammy B. 11/9/05

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. Psalm 56:4

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 5:10