That’s 1… That’s 2… That’s 3, Noah. Now take 5.

25 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by tannyg2013 in Obedience

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The incredible and remarkably effective counting is like fingernails screeching slowly down a chalkboard to a child. Boy, do they hate to be counted. The ‘1’ means your doing something you shouldn’t be doing. The ‘2’ means ‘Hey, I’m warning you’ and by ‘3’ all bets are off and a ‘time out’ is in order. Typically by one, my darling Noah takes heed but occasionally she needs to be shown that Mommy means business. It’s the 1, 2, 3 Magic book that’s sold millions of copies to desperate parents. The ‘magic’ of it’s effectiveness, according to it’s authors is that no yelling or screaming is allowed nor necessary, just a calm voice. If by the third warning Noah continues to disobey or ignore my warnings she is to get five unpleasant minutes of time alone to reflect on what she’s done and how she can do things better next time.

When you made the decision to make Jesus your Lord and Savior something miraculous happened immediately. The Holy Spirit came to dwell within you. He is our Comforter when we need tender loving arms around us and no one else’s will do. His anointing empowers and equips us to work powerfully in the areas of our calling. Another crucial role of the Holy Spirit is to direct and guide us; often by way of a gentle warning to tell us that what we are doing is not in alignment with the Word of GOD or prompting us to move in a different direction. Like 1,2,3 Magic, the Holy Spirit often does not need to yell or scream. He graciously allows us the power to choose how we’ll respond to His promptings. When GOD revealed His glory to Elijah it was not revealed in the powerful windstorm, the earthquake, or the fire, but in a still small voice (a gentle whisper). (1 Kings 19:11-12 KJV)

I have experienced the promptings, leadings and warnings of the Holy Spirit on several occasions in my walk with GOD. He reveals Himself in various ways – through dreams, revelations, visions and that still small voice. Let me tell you: I have heeded His warnings and was greatly blessed and I have on several occasions ignored His promptings and experienced significant and unnecessary sorrow and pain. We can choose to respond to His warnings or suffer the consequences. In the Bible Jonah refused to heed GOD’s promptings to go to Ninevah. After several warnings to obey, Jonah was given a ‘time out’ and made to spend three days alone in the belly of a fish contemplating his actions and praying for forgiveness. (Jonah 1:1-17)

Noah thinks I’m ruining her fun but I see the peril that lies ahead if she continues on the path she’s going. My friend, GOD is no killjoy; trying desperately to find ways to take the pleasure out of life. Oh no! Actually it’s the complete opposite. He understands that the pleasures the world offers are empty and lead to our spiritual, emotional and physical destruction. Our GOD is omniscient and He can see the dangers we face when we do not take heed of His warnings. His forewarnings are to protect and guide you. Oh my, I tell you that there is abundant power, blessings, and great joy when we operate within His will.

My friend, what has GOD prompted you to take heed of? Is He warning you to stop a certain behavior? Or perhaps He’s leading you down a new unfamiliar path or guiding you through an opened door. Whatever He is prompting, warning or leading you to do, please take heed. The Bible says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.” (John 10:27 NIV) He is the Good Shephard who has gone through great measures to protect, direct and save you. It is because of GOD’s immeasurable love for you that He gives promptings and warnings. And with your obedience there will be greater blessings, a closer relationship with Him and indescribable joy. He is faithful and He will not let you down. I promise you!

I truly hope this message blesses you. I see you immediately taking heed to His voice. And my heart is overflowing with joy to know that in your obedience you are in the greatest position to receive His absolute best. I’m so, so, so very excited for you!

Yummy or Yay…

17 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by tannyg2013 in Faith

≈ 10 Comments

My daugher, Noah is quite the lucky little lady. I say this because at the tender age of 4 she has already been introduced to a profound life-long lesson; all while twirling around, pointing her toes and wearing a tutu. Please, let me explain. Noah takes ballet with a Russian ballet company. Her first teacher was incredible. She was a very cute young woman who went over the rules at the beginning of every class. One of the rules was that when they stretched and felt ‘the burn’ they were to say “Yummy” or “Yay.” They were not allowed to say what is typically said when one is in pain. We all know and have used those words or expressions of fear, doubt and complaints: ‘Ouch. Ughh. This is too hard. I wish I didn’t have to go through this. I can’t do this. This will never work out. Why me?’ Oh no! Not these ballerinas. They were expected to say yummy or yay because according to their wise teacher, the pain was an indication that they were becoming better ballerinas.

Let’s face it, there are times in life when we feel stretched to our limit. It may come in the form of stress at work, responsibilities at home, or trying to meet the expectations and needs of family and friends. The stretching, my friend is inevitable but the response is all yours. So may I ask: What words do you speak when the proverbial ‘burn’ occurs? Do you gripe, complain or blame other people for your circumstances? Or do you speak words of faith and expectation? Your words carry so much weight that in the Bible it is written that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). The Message version says it this way: “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” How amazing is that! We have the power to either bless or curse our situation.

Since we know that this stretching is inevitable, we must also have faith that it is working for our good and fulfilling it’s purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIT) “And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Every single circumstance (yes, even that one) is necessary in preparing you for the future GOD has predestined for you. So, my friend I am here to remind you, with a huge smile on my face, that GOD has an incredible future for you! And it is so much better than you can even think or imagine but He must first prepare you for it. And in doing so, there will be times when we will have to undergo some painful and excruciating stretching. This stretching is not intended to harm you but to strengthen your spiritual muscles, deepen your faith, and draw you closer to GOD. Great things will result from ‘the burn.’ I promise you. And with this in mind, we can look at our circumstances from GOD’s perspective.

Thanks to my daughter’s ballet teacher several 4, 5, and 6 year olds will learn a life-long lesson at a very young age that the ‘burn’ from stretching is not intended to hurt them but is necessary in fulfilling it’s purpose of making them stronger and more graceful ballerinas. Now, it’s my turn to translate this to my daughter into real-life terms. I fully embrace this task.

So, what’s stretching you today? Is it your job, your children, your marriage? Or could you be waiting for the fulfillment of a vision or the answer to a prayer? Perhaps you have been deeply offended or disappointed. Whatever, your ‘burn’ is refuse to speak or listen to words of doubt and fear. Choose to speak words of life into it and know in your heart that it’s all working for your absolute good. In doing so, you will walk out of your circumstances stronger, wiser and more prepared for the life GOD created just for you. Be encouraged. This stretching is producing fruit that you will enjoy in the near future.

I hope this message blesses you. I see words of faith flowing freely from your lips like water. I see absolute good coming out of your circumstances. And, I am so very, very excited for you! More than you will ever know!

Whatever He tells you, do it…

10 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by tannyg2013 in Obedience

≈ 3 Comments

Anyone who knows me knows that I am absolutely awful when it comes to navigating across the city. If you are trying to get to another side of town, please don’t ask me. The beautiful thing about it is that I have made complete peace with it. I will graciously tell you, with a shrug of my shoulders, “I have absolutely no idea and you should probably ask someone else.”

So when I had to take my daughter to an ice skating lesson across town I decided to use the GPS navigation on my cell phone. I entered the destination address and proceeded to drive. Voila! I heard the pleasant woman’s voice say, “Make a left onto La Cienega Blvd.” Once I made the left she then chimed, “In 2.5 miles make a right onto the 10 fwy.” After I made the right and got onto the freeway, she continued with another instruction. It wasn’t until I had gotten into unfamiliar territory that I realized that this ‘voice’ would not give a new instruction until the last instruction was completed. But, I wanted to know what came well ahead. Not just what was immediately in front of me. Frankly, it was extremely frustrating, annoying and scary. I found myself turning down Noah’s music in an effort to listen more attentively and so as not to miss the next instruction. I humbly realized that I needed this ‘voice’ to direct me or I would be completely lost. And lost with an eager 4 year old in the car. I also realized that this ‘voice’ waited for me to complete the instruction given before proceeding to the next one.

GOD is much like my phone’s GPS system. He will often not give you new instruction until you have completed the last one He’s given you. This doesn’t seem to agree with our human desire to lead ourselves and get somewhere, anywhere fast. We want to know what’s 2, 3, 4, or 5 steps up the road. In having this additional information it allows us some feeling of control. But, GOD doesn’t operate like that. It is written in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we are to walk by faith and not by sight. Our relationship with GOD is a trust walk. He desires to see you move forward. He desires to see you receive His best. But, we must complete His current instruction.

So, I ask you dear friend: What are you waiting for? What has GOD instructed you to do that you have not yet done? Is it to start a blog, make a phone call, apply for that new job, fast, spend more time with family, spend more time with Him, exercise more? Whatever it is, He’s given you that instruction because it opens up opportunities that you can not see. He sees what lies ahead and His instructions are given to navigate you to your next blessing, promotion, or deliverance.

By completing the current instruction GOD has given you, you are demonstrating faith and faith leads to miracles. Several times in the Bible instructions were given to a person and it wasn’t until the instructions had been followed in the order given that the miracle occurred. For example, in John 2:1-11 Jesus performs His first miracle. He is at a wedding and they had run out of wine. Jesus’ mother, Mary tells the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.” Jesus begins to ‘navigate’ them into their blessing. He tells the servants to fill six stone water jars with water, and so they filled them to the brim. Once that was completed, He then told them to draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. The result of their following the instructions as it was given was the miraculous changing of water into wine. But not just any wine, my friend. The master of the banquet said that typically the choice wine is served first then the cheap wine last. But this wine he was just given was the best wine served.

Perhaps you don’t know what GOD’s last instruction was for you. Or maybe you’d decided that the instruction He gave you was too hard or required too much effort. Or could it be that you were distracted, thrown off course by something or someone. Well let me give you this great news: the iPhone GPS “re-routes” you when you have not completed the instruction given. So, if you were told to make a left onto La Cienega and you kept going forward, the beautiful ‘voice’ will give you a new instruction with the intention to get you back on track to your destination.

So, if you don’t know which way to go next, ask GOD in prayer. Have a conversation with Him and let Him know that you need a new instruction. He will bend His ear to you and answer (Psalm 116:2). I promise you. He is waiting to show you great and mighty things. He is waiting to whisper your next instruction to you. And as Mary said, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”

I hope this message blesses you! I see you being given new instruction. I see you receiving it with joy because you know in your heart that GOD is navigating you to the extraordinary future He has purposed and planned just for you before the very foundations of the earth. I’m excited for you! Boy, am I excited for you!

What are you desperately holding on to? It’s time to let it go…

02 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by tannyg2013 in Surrender

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On November 23, 2012, while in prayer I saw an image of water in my hand. This water was clean, clear and pure. I was trying to grasp it and hold on to it but it kept slipping through my fingers. No matter how tightly I cupped my hand the water seeped through. I remember feeling very sorrowful because whatever this water represented I wanted. I mean I really, really wanted. I focused on this water with such great intent as I continued to try various ways to manuever my hand to stop the water from slipping away. But nothing worked. The water continued to run through my fingers. It was then that GOD said to open my hand and let it happen the way it’s supposed to.

After much prayer GOD revealed to me the thing I was holding on to with such tenacity. And it was the very thing He’d told me to release time and time again. With tears pouring down my face, I surrendered it to Him. I didn’t understand why He wanted it but by faith I gave it to Him. I kneeled on my knees, with my hands cupped over my puffy eyes… and I gave it to Him. At that moment I felt an overwhelming peace! It was as if a weight had been lifted up from off of my shoulders. I realized that all of the worry, struggle and frustration of trying to make something work wasn’t mine anymore.

So I ask you today from one friend to another, what are you holding on to that you so desperately desire but know it is not for your good? And although you know it is not GOD’s best you try to hold on to it; all the while watching it fall apart before your very eyes. Is it a relationship? A house, car or status? Or perhaps, it’s something that served you well in the past but you realize that it’s now time to move on but you can’t let it go.

Whatever GOD asks you to surrender, His intention is to give you something greater. This is biblical. Luke 17:33 (GNT) “Those who try to save their own life will lose it; those who lose their life will save it.” What is ordained by GOD is far better than anything you can work hard to keep for yourself. Let Him have it. Give it over to Him. He wants it. He’ll take it and replace it. I promise you. GOD is faithful!

The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) “Cast your cares on the Lord because He cares for you.” Our human body was not created to shoulder the weight of life’s pressures, struggles, and concerns. In Matthew 11:28 (NIV) it says “Come unto me all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” Indeed we have Someone who understands and He is ready and willing to bear All of the weight. Give it to Him today!

Well, I pray that this message blesses you! I see you surrendering and handing it (whatever your ‘it’ is) over to GOD. I know it’s hard, my friend! But I see blessings pouring down on you because of your trust and belief and it gives me so much joy! I am beyond overjoyed for you!

Please feel free to comment and leave feedback. This is my first entry and I am an open vessel, willing to learn and grow! Also, feel free to pass it on to anyone you believe it would bless.