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Name It!

I have a practice that affirms me. When God allows me the privilege to journey to His oceans and seas, I purposely plant my feet in fresh sand, walk to an isolated space on the beach, stoop down, and write the words, My Journey Matters. I usually sign and date it, take a photo, and sit (or stand) in meditation. In that isolation, shut off from distractions, I recall my spiritual journey, assess my “right now” circumstances, and then embrace a newfound perspective of my now and my later. Most importantly, I thank God for leading me to this seemingly sacred conversation between Him and me. I thank God for reminding me to speak life and to name our encounter before I left that place.

Our predicaments may change from day to day. But our mindset and our speech must champion the willful fight within. We must give voice to our God-inspired dreams and determinations. Whether it’s I can – I will – I am – I shall. We are wise to honor our overcoming with words that affirm who we are and whose we are.

This series is purposefully named My Journey Matters because I’m living the manifestation of these words in thought, word, and deed every day. Even with the highs and lows, God is relentless in His whispers to me that all of it matters, and that the journey is for my good. I love how God, in my lowest moments, reassures me of his promises, sealing those encounters with the sign of His rainbow. Naming it works! Name your encounters with God. Name your becoming adventures and your overcoming. Watch God position your journey to bless you and someone else needing a breakthrough. He knows what He’s doing.

“Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don’t return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat. That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.” -Isaiah 55:10-11

The featured photo for this writing is from my recent travels to the Bahamas.

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Maybe God is Trying to Tell You Something

My 50th year of life has been a mammoth rollercoaster ride of sudden turns, deep dives, and exhilarating highs. As soon as I think I have a handle on things, here comes something else. At one leg of this year’s journey, I felt defeated with thoughts that I was stuck in a position of feeling like I was catching up more than I was in sync with the anticipation of promising possibilities presented in each new day. I found myself with my head down, caught up in my work – so much so that I began experiencing pain in my neck and back. Then suddenly, God exposed a blessing in plain sight for me to acknowledge. As the scales fell from my eyes, I was reborn in those moments of uncertainty and revived to live in the truth of my gifts and callings. Still, I felt there was something else lingering. I became finally convinced – maybe God was trying to tell me something.

I realized this epiphany during a session with my therapist. God revealed, “Tammi, you’re stronger than you think you are.” The course of this year and my life have been routines of action, jumping in to do whatever was necessary to accomplish a goal, overcome a hardship, encourage, or listen. Responding in times of need was my natural reflex. However, assuming my strength on the rollercoaster was not an adjective I allowed for myself. It wasn’t until I shared with my therapist the events of my life in the last three years that the notion of strength rang in my spirit. “Tammi, you’re stronger than you think you are.”

Closing out this calendar year, and preparing for another birthday in the new year, God is sounding alarms within my heart. God is directing me to my innermost parts. God is speaking to the work He began in me, to remind me that my strength comes from Him. God is reminding me that as I begin a new year I’ve never experienced before, there are seven key truths concerning me to hold close to my heart:

  1. When I’m weak, God is strong.
  2. The battle is not mine; it’s God’s.
  3. Trust God, even when it hurts.
  4. Everybody can’t travel where God is taking me.
  5. Finish what I’ve started.
  6. My obedient works will not return to me void.
  7. I, and everyone connected to me, win.

I’m stronger than I think I am. 

Just as God is trying to tell me something, He’s also trying to tell you something. I encourage you to find out what that something is. We don’t have the time we think we do. Ignoring God and His pleas to follow Him will provoke God to get our attention with sudden turns and frightening dives along our journeys. God doesn’t want us to wander any longer. Be still and hear His voice. No more chasing mirages. God is our living water.

“You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-5

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

It’s All in the Reach

Over a year has passed, and I’m still navigating a rotator cuff injury. My range of motion is better, but not quite 100%. I struggle from time to time with my reach. Reaching across seats for my purse after it’s fallen on the floor, reaching for a bowl from a top shelf, or reaching too far behind me to catch the sleeve of my coat to put it on. My reach is just plain pitiful at times. It’s been a frustrating experience.

Right after my injury, I engaged in weeks of physical therapy, as directed by the doctor. My treatment included practicing exercises at home to gain strength in my injured shoulder. The more I practiced, the more hopeful I became. But as soon as I allowed the busyness of life to distract me, my confident aim diminished, and the scope of my reach shortened. 

There is a narration in scripture that describes a woman who suffered hemorrhages for 12 years (Luke 8:43-48). The narration tells how this woman reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment for healing. Even though a crowd surrounded Jesus, the woman did not allow that distraction to hinder her determination to reach the one she believed could heal her and replenish her life.

Whether we fall, stand, or hold on for dear life, our reach is an exercise in seeking God, of reaching in hope and for hope. The woman with the issue of blood sought Jesus. She found Him, and a mere touch of His cloak and her determined hope was the prescription that released her from 12 years of discomfort and shame. Jesus’ words to the woman sealed the result of her reach – “your faith has healed you. Go in peace”.

Our hard-pressed predicaments compel us to reach for God. Our joyous determination urges us to stretch out our praise to God. Daily, we are challenged to refuse the urge to reach for unproven sources that tear us down, leaving unrest. We are purposed to seek the life-giving words and affirmations inspired by God. He will lead us to wholeness. He will lead us to becoming a new creation.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.”  – Isaiah 55:6

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It’s Worth It

Emotional healing is a remarkable feat. Kudos to those living victoriously – no longer distracted by taunting triggers and stressors. For those still pursuing emotional healing, still wrestling with creative diversions, the path to overcoming can feel like repeated cycles of defeat. Traveling the unassuming terrain toward becoming healthy (again) proves to be an arduous journey. Yet it’s worth it.

Our human condition is dressed in feelings and emotions. We can’t escape the natural consequence of action and reaction. However, we can accept the challenge to secure a healthy pathway to healing, not succumbing to repeated feelings of hurt that mislead us to misery and bondage.

I’m leading a study on the prophets Elijah and Elisha in the Bible with a group of women at my church. During our study time, we discussed Elijah’s feelings of defeat while carrying out God’s plan for his life. Elijah’s emotional state led him to run away from the ensuing hurt pursuing him. Jezebel, that is. 

From an anguished heart Elijah told God in 1 Kings 19:4, “I have had enough, Lord.” Elijah felt he could no longer escape the taunting of Jezebel’s threats to kill him, nor could he escape his weariness. He felt alone and was giving up on any hope of rescue or healing. Then God responded. God released an angel to Elijah’s side to alert him to the resources right in front of him, resources God was providing as needed healing to carry Elijah through the rest of his journey. 

At Elijah’s lowest point, he recognized, through God’s reminders, that wholeness was within reach. Even though Elijah experienced unjustified hurt along his journey, Elijah also experienced healing by the permissive hand of God. It was worth it.

Along my journey I’ve learned that it’s okay to feel defeated in this life, even while having a relationship with God. The truth is, committing to live for God and not self will position us on a challenging journey that comes with feeling hurt sometimes. However, in the nick of time, God reveals Himself, alerting us to His resources and might. Those resources may include counseling services, rest, relocation, new friends, a new mindset, nourishment, visions, whispers of encouragement, an army of angels, a table of overflow prepared for us set before our enemies, revelations, and forgiveness. 

No matter the trigger or trauma we encounter, we don’t have to wallow in feelings of defeat. Wallowing will suffocate us. Our healing is in God – He is ours, and we are His.

It’s all worth it.

“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 40:31

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love · 2 Comments

Be Still and Know

I live a pretty demanding life. It’s liberating to confess I don’t practice self-care well. That is, well enough not to feel like I’m moving about life with warnings from within that I’m a few miles to empty. I’ve failed at making myself a priority. Until I finally heard God. He said, be still and know.

Our callings to serve others, to work wholeheartedly in all we do as to the Lord and not man, are guiding principles of the heart. They are the beacons of light that direct us home when we question, become weary and wander. 

God’s might delivers us from our troubles. God’s love leads us beside still waters and refreshes our soul. God’s concern for us directs us to the beginning of time, amid the busyness of creation, God’s wisdom made room for rest (from His work) on the seventh day. Be still and know He is God.

We dream and pursue; we explore the unknown with great anticipation. Our creative minds and motives drive us to experiences that prove to be exhilarating, exhaustive, and hurtful. With all God allows for His creations, He whispers, be still and know I am God.

I started this writing expressing the freedom of confessing what was. I conclude with a confession of what is. I now carve out self-care moments in my life. 

  • I intentionally schedule my lunch break on my work calendar and lessen the number of times I eat lunch at my desk; 
  • I no longer stay hours in the office after business hours; 
  • I spend more time dreaming and strategizing our family’s legacy with my husband; 
  • I began meditating using visualization techniques and breathing exercises;
  • I have scheduled sessions with my awesome therapist (I love her!);
  • I started learning yoga at home; 
  • I avoid negative energy; 
  • I don’t engage with persons or things that trigger unhealed hurt; 
  • I cut off all appearances of evil; and 
  • I’m still when God tells me to be still.

Stillness has allowed me to see the work of God in my past, present, and future. Stillness has allowed me to experience the joy of living free, knowing who God is. God continues to save me from my foolish self. The Maker of heaven and earth, the Mastermind of creation, has proven He’s a promise keeper in the midnight hour and in the uncertainties of my “meanwhile”. 

Finally, I’m committed to trusting God when He reminds me to pay attention to “me”, to make myself a priority, knowing the world won’t crumble because of it. I can’t give 200% of me to others and devote nothing good to myself. I’m free of that!

I recently took a work trip out of the country. After completing full days of recruiting and networking, I gave myself permission to concentrate on me. I took walks on the beach, played in the rain, laughed with strangers, wrote passages in my journal, and stood under the promise of a complete rainbow. And I felt God smile.

Be still and know.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10