Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love · 2 Comments

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 · 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

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

Fight the Good Fight!

“Fight the good fight. Purposely fight to hear the voice of God over the noises and aggression working against the good work God has promised through you. Then respond in power. Your spirit groans for it. Your peace aches for it. Your future depends on it. Be still. God is speaking.” ~ Tammi Love