Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

Make Your Request Known

At the close of 2021, my family and I created a short list of prayer requests to God. We titled it 2022 Love Family Prayer Requests. When determining what to place on the list, we agreed to spend time searching within for those things that truly mattered to us and those things we knew we needed God to do – make a way out of no way. Once our hearts were on one accord, we typed a short list and were intentional to match the name with the request. We called out each request before God in prayer, pleading the blood of Jesus over each listing and proclaiming we trust God to do it. And do it, He did!

As the year 2024 began, I was led (by God) to search for our 2022 Prayer Request list on my phone. I was excited to find it. As I read the words of the brief opening prayer and traveled down the screen to the prayer requests of each of our children, then my husband, and finally me, my heart leaped. God answered most of our requests within two years! He did it with power and grace. Nobody but God could do what we asked Him to do. His doing wasn’t always instant, but certainly it was on time.

Seeing what our hearts longed for in that season, organized on a list, reminded me of each instance when God blessed us. At the time of each blessing, we praised God for His love and might. In difficult moments, we shared the list as a reminder of what we believed God for. Taking another look at what God had done during that time in my family’s life caused tears to rush down my face and a “Thank you, Lord” to rush out my mouth. My heart was overcome recounting the ways and means God chose to alert us to what mattered as we continued to journey our paths. 

My family made a new list of prayer requests to God. It’s titled 2024 Love Family Prayer Requests. Our prayer over this list included thanksgiving and a plea, “Do it again, God. We trust You”. And we do.

As new years begin, some make vision boards, some proclaim resolutions, and others throw caution to the wind and profess to live life how they want to. I implore those that don’t, to consider spending isolated time with God to learn from Him what truly matters concerning you. Spend time with your Creator, learning His voice and His comforting touch. Then make your request known to Him. Specifically, make known requests that honor God, not requests that center on glory directed to yourself.

The world is looking for answers in all the wrong places. Our lives are spared, for such a time as this. We must practice pointing to the source of our blessings, our overcoming, our breakthroughs, and our accomplishments. Take a breath and step back. Take another look at what God has done in your life. Shift your talk and your walk. Make your heart’s request known to God. He’s been waiting.

“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.” – Philippians 4:6

The photo featured in this writing shows my excitement after receiving the Yellow Fever vaccine shot for an upcoming life-changing trip I listed as a prayer request in 2021.

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

We Have What We Need

Some years ago, my family spoke an affirmation that we recognized as an undeniable truth. The affirmation was all we need is in the house. Proclaiming and believing this truth yielded our determination to lean on God and the gifts God blessed us each with as we approached the uncertain moments of life. My husband introduced our family’s affirmation to the congregations we served across the country, reminding church leaders that ministry work begins with the critical work of discerning the gifts in the house (of God) and championing the truth that our gifts and callings are enough to reach those in need.

Now experiencing a new season, our family’s affirmation has remixed to – we have what we need. As before, my husband shared this affirmation with our new church family. We have what we need is a vision cry for what is on the horizon. It is also a reflection of what has been and what is. We don’t have to chase fickle people who have no fear of God. We don’t have to rely on systems that leave us stranded. We don’t have to consent to selfish egos. We don’t have to be lazy in our pursuit of joy.

We have what we need means we must take the time to invest in what God invests in. God doesn’t succumb to distractions. God persists in getting our attention and nudging us to learn more about the power within us to move mountains. We have what we need.

God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. – Philippians 2:13

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love · 1 Comment

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.

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

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