Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love · 2 Comments

I Saw God

I recently came face to face with a buck. Well, almost face to face. I was traveling home from work on a rural road soon after sunset. I approached an intersection, and suddenly, in my peripheral, I saw a large object dart to the edge of the road. I instantly reacted. My body tensed up and my eyes darted to the road’s edge and my rearview mirror. I gripped the steering wheel and my foot slammed on the brake. My heart beat like it was pounding out of my chest. I screamed; inwardly and outwardly.

After coming to a complete stop, I turned my head to face the object and recognized it as a large buck. My eyes seemed to bulge out of its sockets and fastened on the buck’s antlers, then later to its majestic stature. The buck stood still and calm, unbothered, as if nothing could disrupt who and what it was. My presence didn’t upset, bring fear, or alter its intention to cross the road. When the buck was ready, it chose to cross the road behind my truck. And in seconds, it was out of my view.

I sat at that intersection shaking. Thoughts of what could have happened raced across my mind. I gathered myself, cautiously looked in all directions, and slowly continued my journey home. My mind continued to race. I then remembered to breathe.

My inhale and exhale settled me. I heard God whisper, Tammi, breathe again. So, I did. God repeated his instruction, and I obeyed His whisper each time. He then began to pour wisdom into my spirit like an overflow of refreshing water. He allowed me to recall what I just experienced – this time with revelation, accompanied by a force of unmovable strength. The impact was undeniable. God consoled me and His creation was reborn.

I saw God that day. God showed me His majesty, protection, power, and provision – yet again. He has sustained me and has allowed me to walk in stillness, no matter the terrain, for such a time as this. God’s got me. I’m mighty grateful!

God is intentional in ways that get our attention. When He reveals Himself, we are wise not to dismiss Him. Instead, we should lean in closer in hopes of receiving a fresh perspective. No one is exempt from the refilling God offers. We all need to see God for who and what He is. 

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? – Exodus 15:11

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love · 3 Comments

Better Days

We are living in peculiar times. We’re experiencing unprecedented struggles that have yielded a bold complaint from our heart to God’s ear, “This isn’t fair.” Job, in the Bible, suffered unimaginative loss and pain, repeatedly. When Job couldn’t take it anymore, Job demanded God explain Himself. His heart questioned God. What is this?

Job’s suffering came at a permissive utterance from God. God made a back-room deal with Satan, allowing Satan to attack Job. The book of Job details his struggles, but also his repentance and recovery. Job’s story is good news for us today.

God is writing a book with the details of our struggles and our overcoming. The book God is writing concerning our journey is proving to be a best-seller. Our loved ones will read about the back-room deal God made with Satan at the onslaught of what we thought was going to take us out. They’re going to learn about how we pressed through and made it over. Maybe our book will take 42 chapters as in the book of Job, or perhaps it’ll take more. No matter the length of our book, God will get the glory in all we go through if we’re mindful of the words our heart speaks.

In despair, do we curse God? In disappointment, do we question God without deeper reflection? God understands our frustration in times of uncertainty. He also understands our anger. However, when times of weakness push us to poor choices, we allow our love for God to direct us to an intimate moment of remorse. Our authentic encounter opens the window of experiencing more with God, to include gaining back everything we lost and more.

Hold on! Don’t throw away all you’ve experienced with God! Your better days are ahead.

 

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

The ‘Nobodies’

“Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 The Message Bible