Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love · 1 Comment

Space and Opportunity

Imagine this. You enter a tattered room scattered with lifeless people. The stench of death is overwhelming and persistent. But so is the pressing of an undeniable force. What is this thing that is trying so desperately to disrupt the circumstance of this room? It’s so vast, you can’t get around it. It’s a sensation called greatness, an average-sized word with a massive appeal.

Greatness breaches cramped spaces where practices of mundane and mediocre suffocate. Much like an athlete who puts in the extra work to help catapult his/her team to record-breaking stats. Or the “techie” who engages in relentless innovation to transform how the world responds in crises. Anyone interested in the beauty and hope of greatness has to deny within themselves every thought and action that sabotages a pursuit to be better and to do better.

Seekers of greatness have target focus, distinct goals, and recognition and reliance on someone more significant than their pursuits. The Almighty God, the great ‘I Am,’ is the giver of greatness. Are we comfortable refusing God’s gift, only to remain lifeless? God’s grace provides space and opportunity for us to grab hold of the greatness He gives. Inviting God into our cramped and dismal experiences makes room for Him to show His might, compelling us to move out of our own way to let God have His way.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:8

“I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

Take a Deep Breath

‘It’ came out of nowhere and disrupted your plans. You perceived ‘it’ to be disastrous and described it as horrendous, then suddenly recognized ‘it’ came from God’s hand. Your rush of selfishness almost prevented you from experiencing the move of God miraculously and unexpectedly. The pivotal light bulb moment came when you stopped your complaining, stopped replaying the events and emotions of your disaster, and took a deep breath. You exhaled.  It felt so good; you did it again. And as quickly as you released another breath, the intricacies of your ordeal forcibly rushed into the newly liberated corners of your mind. Without hesitation and with specific intent, you exhaled once more. You felt your spirit uncoil from its grimacing state and felt the grace of wings flutter within you warding off what was no longer welcome, allowing God’s voice and warmth to fill every space.

God is clear. He can move through anything and anyone to remind us of His covenant with us. He will do it, not to harm, but to offer us a future and a hope. Therefore, we must give Him our undivided attention. We must step away from those things and people who lure us into frantic behavior and dangerous practices. Settle down. Take a moment to exhale and commune with God to gain a new perspective.

At the beginning of time, the breath of God made all things good. His goodness is available to us in our most uncomfortable moments. Breathe in, breathe out. Allow your gratitude to God to fill you with peace and a new mindset that settles you in a safe space with Him. God is relentless in His love for us, and He is committed to His covenant with us! Give way to God for a rebirth of an unshakeable belief that He is the master of possibilities. Let Him breathe on you. And allow His goodness to awaken a life committed to the will of the Almighty God, a life that offers you peace.

“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:31-33

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

There’s Nobody Like God!

I wept today. Hard. I wept after experiencing the manifestation of God’s goodness during a season of pressing. In this instance of goodness, God reached down from heaven and placed an unwrapped gift before me to open. As soon as I opened this unexpected gift, I could not refuse what was overtaking my heart, and I could not stop my tears. It wasn’t silver; it wasn’t gold. It was God’s response to my prayers, praise, service, and sacrifice to Him! God heard my faintest cry, and He answered! He came to see about me in the midst of my pressing, and He encouraged my heart. He continues to prove Himself over and over again! That’s why I love Him. That’s why I trust Him to do exceedingly, abundantly more than I can ask or think. There’s nobody like God! I invite you to commit your life to Him today.

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

Our Lasting Impression

There are mysteries in this life that leave me often times perplexed. How the newly healed return to ill-mannered behavior. How the professed ‘delivered’ resort to trouble-making. How the resurrected reject a new life to hold on to the former. Yes, it’s all quite puzzling. It appears the second chance God awards in our cries of need are quickly discarded as trash at the first trick of the eye, the onset of a compelling lofty thought or the sleek sly whisper in the ear. And still, our loving God continues to give. He gives us another chance. And another chance.

Are we content with leaving such an ungrateful impression with God? Or is our response to God’s gracious acts, “We deserve them”? Our bold disrespectful behaviors reveal such suggestions. I can hear the ancestors moan in disgust. Was their living in vain? Is our living in vain? Our testimonies are not to be episodic tales we share. Our testimonies must motivate us to live a transformed life, which in turn encourages others to live transformed. For the Lord is good. He deserves our respect. He deserves our best.

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

I Am Persuaded

Just when I think the bustle of life is slowing down, an urgent situation, an uncertain circumstance rolls in and disrupts my vibe. My pretty, wrapped-up in a bow thought processes to set-aside “me-time” or a “mental health day”, quickly dissipates to practically nothing until the next weary moment comes crashing in. As a teenager, I dreamt of my adult years as compartmentalized experiences that would yield a carefree life. Boy, did I get a reality check! My adult years have proven to be a mixture of sorts ranging from indescribable joys, hard-to-handle uncertainties and near-death experiences that have actualized a life I could not have planned for. I dare not complain. Even with its highs and lows, my life is better than what I could think or imagine. So, I press on.

My pressing is teaching me to flow with God as He dictates when and where and how. And I’m following His leading, getting what I need when I need it the most. Rather than be pushed away, I feel drawn even closer to God, motivated in a renewed mindset.

I am persuaded to live with fervor. I am persuaded to pray with fire. I am persuaded to serve with faith that moves mountains. I am persuaded. The life God has given me persuades me to be an example that points the lost, the broken, the forgotten, the cast aside – to Him. To Him, who saves me from myself. To Him, who is mighty in ALL things. To Him, who is Alpha and Omega. To Him, who bids us all to draw near to Him and find rest. Are you persuaded to begin a renewed walk with God? I invite you to do so today.