Jesus Loves YOU

Received by Faith

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Tamar


Job 1:1-5:27

Ahhhhhh…… I love that new book smell! And it’s funny because so often people talk about the book of Job and how much he suffers. But they miss the whole point of the story! The book of Job isn’t about Job, just like the book of John isn’t about John. Every book in this Bible is about Jesus. They all either point forward toward Him or backward to what He did in His ministry and on the cross or forward to what He is doing now and in the future. The book of Job is no different.

Here in the opening chapter of Job we’re introduced to Job and his astounding wealth and prosperity. We’re told that he is “the greatest of all the people of the east”. (Job 1:3) Next we find God holding a heavenly counsel, to which Satan is in attendance. And at some point in this soiree Satan sidles up to God and strikes up a conversation with Him. God asks Satan, “So whatcha been up to lately?”

To which the Accuser of the brethren replies, “Eh, you know, the same old, same old. I’ve been here, there and everywhere; just doin’ what I do.”

With His thumbs stuck proudly under the hems of His robe at His chest God said, “Mmmm…. HEY! Have you seen my man Job lately? Boy that’s a guy I’m awfully proud of. There’s nobody like HIM in all the earth. He’s a real stand up kind of guy that Job. And boy does he hate you.”

“Well sure he loves You! You’ve given him everything a man could ever want; ten kids, all the livestock he could ever need and more, servants to care for his every wish. You’ve got such a high hedge of protection around him that he has no reason NOT to love You. I bet if you took that hedge of protection away and let me at him for a few days he would curse you and spit in your face.”

At this God rubbed His long white beard as He considered the merit of what Satan was saying, he might have a point… and not just the ones on the top of his head.

“Alright,” God said, “I’ll take you up on that bet. Everything he has is in your hands now. But you are NOT allowed to touch him.”

Satan swirled around in his haste to set his plot against Job into action. He knew that if he hit just the right buttons he would be able to get Job to turn away from God. And by the end of chapter one we find Job’s servants coming to him one right on the heels of the other. “The oxen and donkeys and the servants watching them have all been killed except for me.” As the first servant was finishing his report the next one came, “Lightning just struck all the sheep and your servants! They’re all fried crispy but me!” Then the next servant came and reported, “Master, the Chaldeans just surrounded your camels and servants in the fields! It was a massacre! I’m the only one left!” And just when Job had to be thinking, “Dear God, please, no more!” The final servant came to him and breathlessly reported, “A tornado just hit the house where ALL your children were having a party! The house collapsed and killed every single one of them; I’m the only one that survived!”

THAT, my friends, is a bad day.

In a matter of a few simple hours Job literally lost everything but his house, his wife, his life and four servants. Just this should make your day seem at least a LITTLE better. But it’s what happens next that absolutely blows my mind. After all these reports what is Job’s reaction? He worships.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21

Honestly, I don’t know how in the world he did it.

Now I need to tell you another man’s story of Satan working in his life. I think his reaction we’ll be able to relate to a little more readily; at least I know I can anyway. He had a very different reaction than Job did. Come with me to the Last Supper and I’ll tell you the story of Peter.

(Luke 22:31-34) “‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know Me.'”

Later that night Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and the soldiers,

“seized Him and led Him away, bringing Him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together. Peter sat down among them.” (Luke 22:54-55) “And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, ‘You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘I neither know nor understand what you mean.’ And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders. ‘This man is one of them.’ But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’ But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, ‘I do not know this man of whom you speak.’ And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.” (Mark 14:66-72)

Here we have the stories of two men; both good upright men being “sifted” (as Jesus puts it) by Satan. One of them boasts in the LORD and His provision and protection and when he has been sifted he continues boasting in the LORD. The second man boasts in his own love and loyalty toward the Lord Jesus. He boasts that even though Jesus tells him that he will deny even knowing Him, Peter adamantly sticks to his guns professing that even if everyone else runs away and hides in fear, he won’t. He promises that even if everyone else denies Jesus, He won’t. Yet when the time comes, He may have been the only one to follow Jesus to the high priest’s house, but he was also the only one even tempted with denying knowing Jesus.

When I read Peter’s story this time I found it quite interesting that it’s a rooster crowing that signals the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophetic statement of Peter’s denial. It was Peter that was “crowing” about his love and loyalty to Jesus just a few hours earlier. I’d never noticed that before.

Like I said, Peter’s story is an all too familiar one for us, myself oh so included. All too often we crow about our accomplishments to make ourselves look good in front of others, or to make us feel good about ourselves. But that’s not where our identity and safety are found. They’re not found in our generous wealth, or the abundance of our friends, or the amount of our paycheck. Our identity and safety are found in the LORD alone.

For all of us who have fallen short of the glory of God I think we need to finish Peter’s story and receive some hope for the future.

(John 21:1517) “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’

He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’

He said to him a third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said it to him a third time. ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep,”

At the Last Supper Jesus alerts Peter to the coming danger of Satan sifting him like wheat and then foretells of Peter’s denial of even knowing Jesus. How many times did Jesus say Peter would deny Him? Three.

In the courtyard next to the warm glow of the fire, how many times did Peter actually deny knowing Jesus? Three, and the third time it was even with curses!

On the sea shore after breakfast how many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him? Three.

My friends, this passage is so lacking when it is translated into English!!! So allow me, if you will, a few extra moments to pack in the extra punch that the original Greek contains. There’s a secret play on words that is hidden in the English that is plain as day in the Greek. There are two different words here that have been translated into “love”. There’s “agape”, which is the kind of love that only God can give. It’s a deep relationship and intimacy that has a one-sided generosity without ANY expectation of repayment. And then there’s “philos”. This kind of love is a deep emotional attachment that comes with a deep and abiding friendship. If we were to look back at their conversation in “Greek-lish” it would look more like this.

Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you agape Me more than these?”

Peter said to Him, “Yes Lord, you know that I philos you.”

Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.

Simon, son of John, do you agape Me?”

Peter said, “Yes Lord, you know that I philos You.”

And Jesus said, “Tend My sheep.

Simon, son of John, do you philos Me?”

And Peter, grieved, said, “Lord, You know everything, You know that I philos You.”

To which Jesus replied a third time, “Feed My sheep.”

In Peter’s confession of his own faithfulness, he was crowing about his agape for Jesus. In Jesus’ questioning of Peter’s agape for Him, Jesus was calling Peter to come to terms with his humanity. As humans we aren’t capable of giving agape, only receiving it.

In Peter’s reply to Jesus questioning him THREE times about his love for Him, we see Peter’s heart break on the third time through the process. The first two were to humble him and remind him that his betray was proof of his lack of agape love for Jesus. On the third time through the questioning Jesus comes down to Peter’s level which emphasizes His acceptance of this level of love for Him. “Do you philos Me?” And with a sigh Peter responds, “You know EVERYTHING”.

Jesus KNOWS that we aren’t capable of agape love. He knows that as humans we can do our best to attempt the kind of love towards God that doesn’t expect anything in return, but at some point we will always fall short of the glory of God because we simply were not made to be gods. We were made to be justified by HIS grace. It’s a GIFT and should be received as such. An agape gift where He has given IT with no expectation of repayment; because honestly, He knows that there is absolutely no possible way for us TO repay Him for it. That’s agape! Not that we loved Him. But that He first loved us. And while we do our utmost best for our Highness, we will fall short. And that’s OK.

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Job, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

You’re an Overcomer

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 51:12-52:34

“So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived.” Jeremiah 52:33-34

So first of all, I was a bit excited this morning to see the end of Jeremiah, it’s ALWAYS a good feeling to finish another book. But what a GREAT way to end a book so filled with war and discord and struggle! The king of Judah had been taken captive and placed in prison. To see him released, invited to sit at the king of Babylon’s table AND given a daily allowance for anything he needs. Talk about a Cinderella story!

It makes me smile, because it’s our story too. We were created for fellowship with true royalty, but cast into darkness because of one man’s sin. We were wandering in deserts and arid places looking for the “thing” that completes us, only to find nothing truly does. Then one man stands up and says He will pay the penalty for our transgression against the King of kings. And BOOM! No more prison, no more rags, no more stale bread and dirty water, no more mud, no more war, no more darkness. In one weekend, Jesus took care of thousands of years of sin so that we would no longer be called slaves, but friends. (John 15:15)

Have you taken off your prison garments? Do you dine at the King’s table? You can you know, it’s called the Bible. Your table has been prepared in the presence of your enemies, with your cup flowing over and the oil is ready to anoint your head. Did you know that goodness and mercy have been following you all the days of your life? (Psalm 23:5-6) Today, choose to dwell in the house of the LORD, by remembering that you ARE the house of the LORD! (1 Corinthians 6:19) He lives IN you! He is always with you and will NEVER forsake you. No matter how grim your circumstances may appear, you have to remember, they’re just circumstances. They are ALWAYS subject to change at any given moment. Whatever you’re going through, it’s not forever. It’s like my mom always says, “This too shall pass”. And before you know it, it will be a distant memory. Good or bad? Well, that’s up to you and how you choose to remember it. Will you remember how harsh your circumstances were? Or will you focus on how gracious your God was in this very circumstance? I guarantee you that He IS there with you right now in your circumstance, working His love into the entire thing. Will you choose to see it, to feel it, to allow it to permeate your being enough to change the way you’re reacting to your circumstances?

You are royalty; you are a child of THE one true King of kings and Lord of lords. Does your circumstance know who you are? Do you? I tell you the truth; it will change your outlook on things. Knowing whose you are and where you come from, it changes the way you react to your circumstance. Remember that we do not wage war against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities at work in the world around us. No matter what is going on around you right now, you are not fighting with a person; you are battling against the dark powers of this world. And you know what; they have NO POWER OVER YOU. (1 John 4:4)

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Who is Like Me?

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 49:23-51:11

“Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like Me? Who will summon Me? What shepherd can stand before Me? Therefore hear the plan that the LORD has made” Jeremiah 50:44-45a

OK, so this scripture is God talking about Himself, “For who is like Me?” However, I’m saying it today as well. “Who is like me?” Seriously? Who out there is exactly like me? No one! Who out there is exactly like you? No one! Isn’t that a wonderfully freeing truth? While there are hundreds of thousands of people out there that share different aspects of what makes you, you. No one, absolutely NO ONE is exactly like you. You’re a one-of-a-kind!

Over the last three days, I’ve been working feverishly on a mermaid costume for my daughter, and then writing out the pattern to it for anyone who might be interested in it. I’ll be honest; part of my motivation is a hope for an increase in readership. But another part of my motivation, the majority of it in fact, came from my Sabbath rest with God. That day I lay on my couch half asleep, half meditating, when my thoughts fell toward my daughter and how desperately she wanted that Ariel costume in the store a few days earlier. But she was getting a new pair of shoes and so I had to say, “no” to the costume. L It broke my heart just thinking about it. Then my thoughts turned toward the crochet basket a mere foot from my head. I could MAKE her an Ariel costume!

And the longer I thought, the more it sank in how much I LOVE crochet. I’ve been doing it for a hobby off and on for almost my entire life. My mom taught me when I was young and I’ve been doing it ever since. Mostly blankets and scarves until Pinterest came into my life a few years ago! That’s when I started realizing how many things you can do with crochet! I was amazed! My eyes had been opened.

For the most part I’ve hand crocheted almost every gift I’ve given since then. (I need to start doing some hand stretching exercises because Christmas is coming ya’ll!)

Anyway, this got me thinking. If I love crochet this much, and all those people on Pinterest love crochet this much, maybe they might like MY crochet, dashed in with as much word of Truth and personality as I can infuse into it of course. I’ve been told by several people that I should sell my crochet creations. And while super sweet of them, I’m not sure that I have that kind of time to spend actually making all these things. But I can spend a bit of time writing out the patterns and sharing them with people… and maybe putting them on a crochet site or two for a bit of profit.

Plus, it also got me thinking about you all. I mean, crochet is just one thing in this life that I love. And isn’t it the things that we love that make up a huge part of who we are? And that’s what this blog has been all about from the very beginning; me sharing with you who I am. God is, of course, the biggest, most important and critical part of all that. However, He isn’t the only aspect of my life. I have my family and our funny anecdotes too.

A fun one from today was the pulling of Anna’s loose tooth. Do you remember me telling you about it back in Baby Teeth? Well tonight it finally came out and Anna was almost literally bouncing off the walls she was so excited about it.

You know, it’s not every night that the Tooth Fairy comes! Well, the tooth got “conveniently” pulled right before she went to bed so as she literally JUMPED into bed she shouted, “Tooth fairy, I want a LOLLIPOP!” and then snuggled down between her covers. I sat down next to her and said, “Really? You want a lollipop? You don’t want money?”

“Nope.” She said, “I want a lollipop.”

I said, “Oh. OK then.” And kissed her on the forehead. And after thinking about it for a second she said, “I think I would like a lollipop AND money.”

Seriously. Could she be any cuter? I mean really? 😀

So after I put her to bed I raided our candy stash, no lollipops. Not even any suckers! So at 8:45 at night I jumped into the car and ran up to the Dollar General to see if they had any lollipops.

Oh LORD, thank you for the super kind lady who helped me find them! When I told her what I was looking for and why she directed me to a box of lollipops that are easily 2 ½ inches in diameter! I can hardly wait to see the look on her face when she sees those babies under her pillow!!!

Earlier in the evening she had come to me and asked me to wiggle it, just to see how loose it had gotten. It was to the point that one or two good pulls and it would be out. So I asked her if it was OK if I tried to pull it. She excitedly said, “SURE!”

Well, one good pull and she backed away from me and said, “Mommy! That hurt!”

I said, “Sweetie, it’s going to hurt just a little bit to get it out. But it will only hurt for just a little bit. It won’t be long. And then you’ll have that cool hole in your mouth that you’re tongue loves to play in AND the Tooth Fairy will come tonight!”

Well, at that moment she wasn’t interested in any more pain, no matter how brief. So I let the matter drop. But even in that moment I was already thinking about those “Baby teeth” in our lives that God is working on wiggling and jiggling and preparing us to lose them in order to make room for something bigger and more permanent. I just had to smile.

Did I mention that when I left Dollar General, I didn’t just leave with one lollipop for my daughter with the now gaping hole in her mouth? No. I wanted to make sure that I, A) overwhelmed her with the generosity of the Tooth Fairy and B) was fully prepared for the next time the Tooth Fairy needed to come, because now I know that Anna expects for her to bring lollipops when she comes. So when I checked out at Dollar General, I had TWO of the BIG lollipops and SIXTEEN smaller lollipops! I bought more lollipops than she has baby teeth left in her head!

And you wanna know what I kept thinking while I was buying them.

“To Him who does exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ask or imagine.”

God doesn’t just meet our needs and many of our wants, He EXCEEDS THEM! Abundantly above all that we could ask or imagine. I asked him for a dog. Not just any dog, but the perfect dog for our family. And we got him! I asked for God to fix my husband and my marriage. I didn’t get what I asked for; I got MORE than what I asked for!!! He is SO GOOD and He loves us SO MUCH that when we ask for the mermaid costume in the store, He says, “No”. But not because He can’t afford it, He says no because He knows that He has something much much better in store for us. He wants us to watch Him for the next few days, crochet something just for us. We get to watch it grow and change and take shape into something really beautiful and exactly what we want. And if there’s something about it that we’re worried isn’t going to “cover us” enough (like Anna’s top to her costume” then He puts it aside and makes us another one; just because He can. We might have to wait a little longer, but that’s OK sometimes.

Yes, we have a very good Heavenly Father who loves us exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever imagine.

Have a blessed day in the LORD my friends! I love you!!! Thanks for listening as I ramble on about my crazy life one day at a time!

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

As Promised, Albeit very late: Crocheted Mermaid Costume Pattern

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 47:1-49:22

“Your branches passed over the sea, reached to the Sea of Jazer:” Jeremiah 48:32

OK, when I had made the decision ahead of time to try something new and post a crochet pattern for a mermaid costume along with the Word of the Day, I was really sweating how I could make it all connect!

LOL! Only my God! I tell ya!

I think there were more mentions of the word “sea” in this reading than any of the others in the entire book of Jeremiah! Sure, it’s a bit of a stretch, but hey, it still fits right? (wink) Ya gotta love me!

I’ve heard it said that God’s love is like an ocean in that it’s farther than we could ever swim and deeper than we could ever dive. Well, if that’s true, then turn me into a mermaid baby ’cause I’m livin’ there! (By the way, at this point, We’ve been traveling, I’ve been working on this pattern ALL DAY LONG, and it’s after 1 am and I’m quite punchy. J

So without further ado I bring you my very first published crochet pattern!

Ariel Costume

Girls sizes 6-7

Materials:

Hooks: I, N, & P

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Pale Green, worsted weight 4, Caron Simply Soft Blue Mint worsted weight 4, Red Heart Super Saver Lilac Worsted Weight 4, & small amounts of bright red worsted weight 4, white worsted weight 4 & dark purple worsted weight 4.

Abbreviations:

sl st = Slip Stitch

sc = single crochet stitch

hdc = half double crochet stitch

dc = double crochet stitch

tc = triple crochet stitch

qc = quadruple crochet stitch

ch = chain

dcf = double crochet foundation stitch

scf = single crochet foundation stitch

yo = yarn over (wrap your yarn over your hook from back to front)

Notes: Throughout the pattern, the last chain (ch) 2 space counts as a Double Crochet (DC)

At the end of each row the pattern calls for you to “turn” the material. You don’t have to do this, I actually didn’t. Instead I crocheted “in the round”, which means to just continue going in the original direction. You can do this with pieces that are crocheted in a circle like most of this one. Turn, no turn, I leave the decision completely up to you.

Tail:

Row 1: With the N hook and Pale Green yarn you’re going to dcf (50), join with a sl st to create a circle, ch 2 & turn.

[To do a dcf:

ch 4

Yo and insert your hook into your first ch.

Yo, but pinch the yarn between your left thumb and forefinger in order to keep it loose. (this will be IMPORTANT later.

Pull the yo through the first loop only. It should look like this:I’m still pinching that same spot for reference.

Yo and pull through the first TWO loops on the hook, then it should like this:

Yo and pull through the last two loops on the hook, then it should look like this:

* Ok, here’s where that part you’ve been pinching comes in. yo and insert the hook into the pinched loop, your hook should look like this:

** Yo and pull through that pinched loop on the hook. When you yo again, pinch the slack as you pull through the next two (this is your new “pinched loop”), yo and pull through the last two on the hook.


Continue this step (from * to **) until you’ve reached the desired length of dcf. J]

Rows 2-14-: dc in each dc around, sl st in the original ch to close up the circle. Then Ch 2 & turn. (50 total stitches)

Row 15:
[creating the skirt split] dc in each of the next 25 dc. Then ch 2 & turn.

Row 16: Skip first dc and dc in the second dc from the previous row. (This creates a decrease of one stitch.) Then dc across however do not dc in the final chain stitch as this also creates a decrease of one stitch leaving you with a total of (48) stitches.

Rows 17-23: Repeat Row 16 continuing to decrease by 2 dc each row until you get down to 4 dc in Row 23. Finish off by ch 1, pull the yarn tight, trim yarn from ball and pull through the knot creating a tail.

Creating the second side of the skirt split:

Return to Row 15: Pull a loop up through dc #26 (right where you left off on Row 15 previously). Dc in each remaining dc across, working any tails between the previous rows and your new work. Then ch 2 & turn.

Repeat the same process from Rows 16-23.

Frill on the tail split:

Row 1: Using the N hook and the Blue Mint yarn, start at the point of one of the skirt splits and pull up a loop. Sc all the way around the rim of the skirt “hem”. (Sc over the tails of the yarn as you go.) Then ch 3 & turn.

Row 2: Using the P hook work 3 tc in each sc around. Join with a sl st. Finish off and weave in the tails.

Frill at waist:

Row 1: With the N hook again use the Blue mint yarn to draw up a loop in the ch stitch of the dcf row. Sc in each stitch across (50 total). Then ch 1 & turn.

Row 2: Work 3 sc in the first sc.

3 hdc in each of the next 2 sc.

3 dc in each of the next 2 sc.

3 tc in each of the next 3 sc.

3 qc in each of the next 6 sc.

3 tc in each of the next 3 sc.

3 dc in each of the next 2 sc.

3 hdc in each of the next 2 sc.

3 sc in each of the next 2 sc.

Sl st in the next 1 sc.

3 sc in each of the next 2 sc.

3 hdc in each of the next 2 sc.

3 dc in each of the next 2 sc.

3 tc in each of the next 3 sc.

3 qc in each of the next 6 sc.

3 tc in each of the next 3 sc.

2 dc in each of the next 2 sc.

3 hdc in each of the next 2 sc.

Join with sl st and finish off weaving in the tails. Then wipe the sweat from your brow!!! Woo! (If you find that my numbers are off on this, I wouldn’t be surprised! Just let me know so that I can fix them!)

Belt:

Ch a length of about 3 feet long. Finish off. And weave between the bars of the dcf row of the tail leaving the ends INSIDE so that the adjustable waist band is hidden.


Top #1:

Row 1: Using the N hook and the Lilac yarn, dcf 57 stitches and finish off.

Row 2: Draw a loop up and dc in the 20th dc of Row 1. 1 dc in each dc across to the 37th dc of Row 1. Then ch 2 & turn. (17 total dc centered on top of your 57 dcf.)

Row 3: 1 dc in each dc across. Then ch 2 & turn. (17 stitches)

Row 4: Skip 1st dc. 1 dc in 2nd dc from chain. 1 dc in each dc across. Skip last ch stitch. (Just like in the tail decrease.) Then ch 2 & turn. (15 stitches)

Row 5: Repeat Row 4, omitting the (ch 2 & turn). Finish off.

Flip piece over and repeat Rows 2-5 on the other side. Working in the underside of the dcf row make sure to put your hook under two strings each time.

Switching to the dark purple accent yarn, sl st between the bars all the way across the 2nd, 4th & 7th rows (Listed from top to bottom when looking at the piece as a whole.). Finish off after each row.

Then sl st around the entire outside edge of the piece covering over any tails as you go. I skipped the “strings” of the bikini but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. Finish off and weave in the tail.

Take a small length of lilac yarn (~6 in) and weave it from top to bottom through the center of the piece starting between the 7th & 8th dc on the top row and down through the rest of the piece. Fold the piece like you would a paper fan creasing each row individually and use the string to tie it up. Leave moderately loose for adjustment.

Bikini middle:

Using the I hook and the dark purple accent yarn scf a piece ~4 in long. Finish off. Tie around the middle of the Bikini top, covering the lilac yarn you wove through previously.

[A scf is worked exactly like a dcf except in the beginning you only chain 3, not 4. And you don’t yo before you insert your hook through the pinched loop.]

Top #2 (Pictured on model): Because my daughter refused to wear Top #1. I was a lot glad {Hallelujah for modesty!} … and a little mad, I HAD just spent about two hours making it.

Row 1: Using the N hook and the lilac yarn dcf 45 stitches. Join with a sl st into a circle. Then ch 2 & turn.

Rows 2-5: dc across, join with a sl st, ch 2 & turn. In Row 5, omit ch 2 & turn, and finish off instead.

Headband:

Row 1: Using the I hook and the bright red yarn dcf 40 stitches. Join with a sl st into a circle. Then ch 2 & turn.

Rows 2-4: dc in each dc across. Join with a sl st. Then ch 2 & turn. In Row 4, omit ch 2 & turn, and finish off instead, weaving in the tail.

For the flower I’m sending you to someone else’s flower because I just don’t like mine. Anna was happy with it, but I wasn’t! If you REALLY like mine and want the directions, let me know and I’ll be more than happy to send them to you. J

Attach the flower to the headband and voila! You’ve made an Ariel costume!!! And some little girl will be very very happy you did!

* Thank you ever so much to Lucy from Attic 24 for the use of your wonderful flower tutorial! J

Categories: 365 Life, Crochet Tuesday, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: | Leave a comment

My Chains are Gone

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 39:1-43:13

Yesterday we joined in Jeremiah’s plight in the cistern during the war and I’d like to continue that journey today.

When we left Jeremiah yesterday the Ethiopian Eunuch, Ebed-melech, had stood up for him and rescued him from the muddy cistern where he had been left to die by the ruthless princes. Jeremiah had been safely returned to the court of the guard where he was still a prisoner. He was fed and clothed and dry and still able to interact with the people who remained in the city.

Today’s Word of the Day starts with the pronouncement that The Chaldeans had finally breached the city. Just as God said they would. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, gave a command concerning Jeremiah: “Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you.”

I just find it incredibly interesting that Jeremiah’s own people falsely accused him, threw him into the dungeon, a muddy cistern, and prison while the pagan king of Babylon not only sets him free, but commands his soldiers to “look after him well” and to “deal with him as he tells you”! Talk about respect for a man of God! But I guess we also have to remember that these are also the people who were on the winning end of the prophecy Jeremiah was sharing. (And not the other way around.)

Anyway, as we begin reading chapter forty of Jeremiah we find the captain of the guard taking Jeremiah aside and saying to him,

“Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go.” Jeremiah 40:4

After all this time and all this struggle with his own people, it’s the enemy that sets him free. Well, no, not really; it’s GOD that sets him free through the Chaldeans. God has used the very thing that was causing Jeremiah’s people so much turmoil to set him free from the chains that bound them all. And he was free to go wherever the LORD led him. And he was so respected by the captain of the guard that if he chose to go with him, Jeremiah would be well taken care of. In other words, the captain would continue protecting him from his own people who had so obviously turned on him.

Isn’t it such a glorious story? It reminds me of yet another glorious story of a man scorned and shunned by his own people. He was a man who was falsely accused, thrown in a pit and eventually executed even though he had done nothing wrong in His entire life. I’m talking, of course, of Jesus. And it was through His bondage that we have been set free; free indeed. It is through His stripes that we are healed. It is through His obedience that we are made right with God. It is through His sacrifice for our sin that we are forgiven. It is through His Grace that we are made whole. It is through His Spirit that we are able to discern truth and lie.

By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. Paul said that. Paul, the one responsible for the murder of Stephen. Paul, the man who led the hunt for anyone who claimed to be a Christ follower. Paul, the one who got knocked off his high horse so hard that it changed his life. Paul knew what he had done. And he knew what all he had been forgiven for, all of it. God’s grace covers so much more than what we like to give it credit for. We in our fleshy humanity love to take responsibility for things and take credit for things that we didn’t have anything to do, and pass the blame whenever we can. God’s grace covers all of that. God’s grace breaks the chains that bind us to the prison of sin. And when we really truly grasp the enormity of His forgiveness towards us, well, it changes you. Changes you beyond anything you could hope or imagine.

By the grace of God you are what you are. HUMAN. Faulty, frail, forgetful, inconsiderate, rude, mean, spiteful… Although sin may about, His grace abounds all the more and swallows the sin up as if it were never there to begin with. That’s GOD! That’s GRACE! That’s FREEDOM! That no matter how bad we’ve been in the past, there is no sin that is “too bad”, “too big” for God to forgive it; to forgive YOU. He loves you sweetie.

Surrender to His love for you today and just listen to the clattering of the chains as they fall off your arms. When you choose Jesus, you are forgiven. Now go and through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling within you, sin no more. You have become the righteousness of Christ in this world, live like it.

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Down in the Dumps?

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 35:1-38:28

Today I would like to dig into a small sample from the Word of the Day. Tucked away amidst the story of a raging war that was poised and destined to break through Jerusalem’s gate, we find the prophet Jeremiah. He has been given a word for the people of God. It’s a word that if followed will save their very lives, however, it’s not a word that is welcomed by many of them. The Chaldean’s are breathing down their necks and God has sent word to His people through the prophet Jeremiah, that the Chaldean’s will win this war. He strongly suggests to them that they surrender themselves to the Chaldeans as prisoners of war in order to save their lives. If they don’t surrender, the Chaldeans will conquer the city, kill those inside it and burn it down to the ground.

Like I said, not many people were very happy with what Jeremiah had to say about the war. Eventually it got to the point where several princes got tired of hearing him tell the people to surrender to the Chaldeans. So they went before the king and told him that

“he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” (38:4)

To which the king replied, “Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.” (38:5) In other words, do whatever you want to him, I’m not going to stop you. (He was probably tired of hearing the doom and gloom message too.)

So these princes took Jeremiah and lowered him into a cistern that had a good amount of mirey mud in the bottom of it.

And this is where I must pause for a brief moment in order to breathe and turn our gaze to the present. Our world has grown suddenly dark and frightening and altogether different than it was just a few short years ago. And besides that, even on a personal level, we can completely relate to this poor prophet. He is simply doing his job. Faithfully relaying a painful message to the people he loves for the God he worships and what does he get in return? They don’t listen and they throw him into a pit where he sinks down into the mud. Lovely. Talk about gratitude! He’s trying to save their lives and they throw him into a pit.

I’m fairly positive that there is at least one element to this story that you can relate to. We’ve all been the messenger of bad news at some point in our lives. It’s not fun. But that doesn’t make it any less necessary. And yet once that message is delivered who is it that usually bears the brunt of the reaction? The messenger.

I’m also fairly positive that some of you out there can relate to feeling like you’ve been thrown in a pit where you’re sinking into the mud hopeless, helpless, and left to die of starvation. But this is where the story really gets good.

Enter Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch who was in the king’s house. He had heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern and was apparently outraged enough about the treatment of God’s messenger that he decided to do something about it. Now here I have to point out, this man was a foreign slave in the king’s house. He was not a man of position, nor a man of wealth, power or influence. At that time, for a servant to go to the king uninvited most likely spelled out instant death in most circumstances. But this wasn’t most circumstances. This foreigner was about to march himself right up to the king and tell him that what he had just allowed these men to do was wrong and he knew it. Ebed-melech, placing his own welfare aside,

“said to the king, ‘My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.’ Then the king commanded Eded-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.’ So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn=out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, ‘Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.’ Jeremiah did so. Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern.” (Jeremiah 38:8-13)

Some scholars believe that Jeremiah wrote Lamentations 3:52-65, I’ll let you be the judge:

“I have been hunted like a bird by those who were my enemies without cause; they flung me alive into the pit and cast stones on me; water closed over my head; I said, ‘I am lost.’ I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life. You have seen the wrong done to me, O LORD; judge my cause. You have seen all their vengeance, all their plots against me. You have heard their taunts, O LORD, all their plots against me. The lips and thoughts of my assailants are against me all the day long. Behold their sitting and their rising; I am the object of their taunts.”

If you look up Lamentations chapter three you will also find these words a few paragraphs earlier:

“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (verses 19-27)

Yes my friend, “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.” (Hebrews 6:10) Just like God saw Jeremiah having been thrown into that pit, He sees you having been thrown under that bus. He is, has been and always will be the God who sees. He knows the troubles you’ve seen because He has been right there with you in them all! And just like in Jeremiah’s case God sent help from the unlikeliest of sources; your help is on the way as well.

Ebed-melech took great care in delivering Jeremiah from that pit. He went so far as to even fetch some royal rags to cushion Jeremiah’s already sore arms and sides from the rough rope with which they were using to deliver him. God didn’t just deliver Jeremiah; he delivered him in style and with great care and tenderness. Ebed-melech’s actions showed such compassion and love for this man of God that it’s hard to believe that he was a non-believer…. or was he? God even had the king send with Ebed-melech THIRTY men to draw him out of the cistern. There is no way that it took all thirty of them to get one tiny man out of a cistern. Even in this God shows His tendency toward providing an abundance of help in the salvation of one of His loved ones.

Our God is a God who loves and cares for us so much that He doesn’t just deliver us from the pit; He joins us in it until help shows up from above.

You’re never alone my friend. He loves you too much for that. Fear not, for “behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”. (Matthew 28:20)

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Don’t Give Up!

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 32:1-34:22

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27

Well, I just finished watching one of my all time favorite movies, Facing the Giants. And I’m so glad that I found it on my really old saved recordings because I really needed to watch it today. I’ve been feeling pretty down in the dumps lately and really discouraged about my ministry. And now I know why, it’s because I’ve been facing the Giant.

There is a giant in this world that hates me and absolutely everything that I stand for. He hates my God and everything that He has done and will do for me. And the thing is, the Giant knows that my God is the God that opens doors that no one can close and He closes doors that no one can open. And the only thing that the Giant can do about it is to scare me and intimidate me into thinking that I’m not able to go through the door.

Satan holds us hostage with an unloaded gun. He can’t fire it, but he certainly likes to make us THINK that he can and that he will. But, is there anything too hard for God? Is there anything that He can’t do? No, He’s GOD!

But then there’s a second half to the equation that must be investigated; because it’s the empty gun that the Giant has been pointing toward me: And it’s a thought, “Sure God CAN do anything, but is He willing to do anything for you.”

In the gospel of Matthew chapter six verse twenty-five through thirty-four we read these words of Jesus,

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you? O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

In today’s Word of the Day we find SEVERAL instances where the LORD proclaims “good things” upon His people through the prophet Jeremiah. He begins by reminding them of the LORD’S faithfulness to His word in the past:

“You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. And You gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. And they entered and took possession of it.” (Jeremiah 32:21-22)

“What You spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it.” (Jeremiah 32:24)

Then He speaks of the future good in store for His people:

“I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way. … And I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of Me in their hearts, that they may not turn from Me. I will rejoice in doing good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all My heart and all My soul. For thus says the LORD; just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. … I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 32:37-39, 40-42 & 44

“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it – the LORD is His name: Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. … Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all guilt of their sin against Me and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against Me. … They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. … Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.” Jeremiah 33:1-3, 6-8, 9b & 11b”

God is faithful to His word. Always. Even if it’s painful to believe right now, just keep moving forward, you can do this because He is with you and on your side!

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Noble?

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 30:1-31:40

“Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child?” Jeremiah 30:6

Today’s message was so pivotal for me as a mom. It is another free chapter from my book “Mommy“. Please enjoy!

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“But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.” Isaiah 32:8

Oh my friends! God has just led me down the sweetest little rabbit trail and I do hope you join me in going down it once again! Our Father is so wonderful and has such a heart for women, just wait til you hear what He’s shared with me just now!

I’ve had this verse (above) written out on my desk for probably about a week now, just waiting for the opportunity to get to write about it. I just so love the message of it, that our noble deeds help us stand uprightly. Oh how little did I understand it! It’s amazing to me how much life one word can bring to the scriptures, how differently it can cause us to look at them. I was curious to know if the original Hebrew word for “noble” was the same in this verse as it is in the Proverbs 31 woman’s verses. So I looked them up! OH WOW! Turns out that they are two different words in the Hebrew that just “happened” to both get translated into the same word in English. BUT it’s in their differences that makes them special, check it out!

In the Isaiah verse the word noble in the original Hebrew means: inclined, willing, noble, generous, and in the KJV version there is no mention of it being a noble “man” either. In other words, I feel that we could certainly translate this verse as “the willing woman makes generous plans, and by her inclination to be generous she stands”. What do you think? I like it. LOL. I feel like I’ve certainly lived that verse, just today! I had no real plans of leaving the house this morning… at all. I was all dressed up in my comfy clothes, my hair wasn’t really done, I hadn’t even brushed my teeth yet, when Gabe just could NOT get motivated to move this morning. So I told him that I would take him to school, just this once. I got Anna ready and we headed out, leaving all the lights on in the house and everything. I barely even locked the door! When we got to the school I saw my friend Lisa’s car in the parking lot and got all excited and exclaimed, “Oh Lisa’s here!” And before I was even out of carline I had decided I needed to go in and say “Hi”… slept-in hair, non-brushed teeth and all! At least Anna looks good I resolved. Before I even got all the way into the school I remembered why Lisa would even be at the school today, it’s Monday, she’s leading Mom’s in Touch! Well, then I just knew that I was supposed to be there! I had never attended before, but had been wanting to, so apparently today was the big day! When I got into the room where we meet, Lisa was nowhere to be found, so I started going through the room (the “detention” room, although they don’t call it detention any more they call it the responsibility room) and I prayed over the chairs and the desks and for the children that would be sitting in them this week. Hoping that mine wouldn’t end up there! When she was able to join me, it was just the two of us today and we were able to have a simply delightful conversation and we prayed over the children and teachers, the school and the town and everything we could think of! Today, because I was willing to just follow the Spirit’s leading of my gut I was able to pray and be a part of something special that God has going on in our town right now. To me, that’s what this verse is about. Not when we are worthy of being used, but simply when we are willing to be used, God uses us, sometimes in very powerful ways.

As if that wasn’t good enough, check out what the word noble in Proverbs 31:10 means!

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

In this verse, the word noble is transliterated from the Hebrew word “chayil” and it means: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army. Personally, I found it very interesting that “noble” wasn’t listed anywhere in there! ANYWAY!

I was thrilled however to see that the first definition of the word chayil was strength. “A wife with strong character who can find?” You know, that’s just not something I expected to see! I don’t know why, I know that strength is a quality that God placed within many women, yet it still surprised me to see it there in black and white all the same. So many times as women, we have to be strong when everyone else around us is being weak. Those moments when we are forced to take charge simply because no one else is. To stand up for what’s right when no one else is willing to. I really feel like God honors that in us. We as mothers have a really hard job to do, one that no one else can do for us, or like us. And yet in our society, the role of “Mommy” is so drastically under rated! If only they truly understood. If only WE truly understood! God’s plan for us is so much better and brighter than we often give ourselves credit for. Yes, we may spend the majority of our day changing dirty diapers and scooping out the litter box, wiping runny noses and keeping everyone in line… but there is so much more nobility and honor in that than anyone often realizes.

Take this example straight from Jesus: “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit You?’ The King will reply, ‘ I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'” Matthew 25:37-40

Mommy, how many times have you put food in that hungry tummy of your child? How many times have you given drinks to that thirsty little throat? How many times have you had other little friends over to play? How many times have you clothed that little naked body of your child? Friend, I tell you the truth, when you did those things for your child; you were doing them for Christ. Now. Just TRY to convince me, that being a mom isn’t a noble and worthy position for a woman to hold! Yes, you will feel dejected, and alone often as a mom, especially if you are a stay-at-home mom. But please know that every single outfit that you fold that your family thinks just MAGICALLY appears in their drawers clean the next day, isn’t going unseen by the One who sees us for who we really are.

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

El Roi

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 26:1-29:32

“Do not hold back a word.” Jeremiah 26:2

Today I want to share with you a very powerful mom Truth. This is word for every single mom out there, so feel free to share share share!

God is El Roi – the God who sees me.

Please enjoy this free chapter from my book, “Mommy“.

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“Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away…” Genesis 16:8

Oh, can you relate to Hagar? Do you feel so mistreated that you long to just run away? Do you get so tired of being the one at the bottom of the totem pole… you know, the one at the bottom holding everyone up… and getting ZERO recognition for it. That’s the job description in the classifieds next to “Mommy wanted”! Woman willing to submit to her husband, clean up after and cook for her family, run errands, be a taxi service, juggle the entire family’s social calendar, make sure everyone is fed, clothed appropriately, and has clean faces before they walk out the door, all without a single thank you or even a high five or a way-to-go-Mom. Yes, moms are the unseen glue that holds every family together. We are the ones that make sure our families all walk around looking like movie stars while we look like hell warmed over or Frankenstein’s bride on a good day. Now, don’t get me wrong, when given the time and opportunity we moms clean up pretty well and can generally get down-right hot… but how often do we really get the time AND the opportunity? Plus, if given the choice between a bath and a nap… we usually pick the nap!

Let’s face it being a mom is tough, especially if you’ve spent any time in the work force! Out there, what you do gets seen, it gets recognized, it get acknowledged and sometimes even complimented. Out there you’re somebody with something to offer… in here, your home, you’re just mom. A nobody with nothing to offer. At least that’s what the world says anyway. It amazes me to see from our society’s point of view when it comes to stay-at-home moms. It’s as if, other than child-care for those who do “work”, we have nothing to offer the world at large because they think we’re sitting around eating bon bons all day. But oh how mistaken they are!

There is little more frustrating to a stay-at-home mom than when someone asks her, “So are you working yet?” As in, are you doing something outside the home to earn a paycheck yet? As IF a paycheck defines your worth to society and your family! Hardly! Just look at Hagar! She had been Sarai’s faithful handmaiden for years, was her friend and confidante through a lot of Sarai’s marital turmoil and childlessness. Hagar was there through it all. Then Sarai gets the bright idea to take matters into her own hands and gives Hagar to her husband Abram as a wife. Hagar gets pregnant and a little cocky around Sarai and so Sarai starts getting downright mean to Hagar… as if it was somehow Hagar’s fault that Sarai was barren and unhappy. Not able to take the abuse Sarai was handing out, Hagar fled from her. And that is where we find today’s opening verse. “The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert;” Genesis 16:7 Notice it doesn’t say “an” angel of the LORD, but “the” angel of the LORD. Honey, she saw a pre-incarnate Jesus! THE One and Only! And then, better yet, what does it say next? Found. Jesus found her, you usually only say you found something when you’ve been looking for it because it is somewhere it’s not supposed to be. You know, like “I found your shoe… in the middle of the livingroom floor… when I tripped over it!”

Hagar had not been treated with the respect she deserved and she ran away from where she was supposed to be, where God wanted her. So He Himself came looking for her, and asked her “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” He knew the answers to both of those questions! But did she? Do you? Today in this moment I’m finding myself in Hagar’s sandals with the LORD sitting at the foot of my bed as I write – literally having run away from my family – saying to me “Tamar, mother of Anna and Gabe and wife of Sean, where have you come from and where are you going?” Sometimes it’s just so hard to keep going, to keep moving, to keep doing all these meaningless things that no one sees or thanks me for! Who in their right mind would want to spend 18+ years of their life sweeping up dropped Cheerios and wiping noses??? OK, well I suppose that it wouldn’t be 18 solid years of those things, eventually they grow up to wipe their own noses and stop dropping quite so many Cheerios, but right now it certainly doesn’t feel like it will ever end!

Lord, it’s so hard when even my husband doesn’t acknowledge the things that I do for our family! I feel so invisible, so insignificant, so… dust-like.

“Then the angel of the LORD told her, ‘Go back to your mistress and submit to her.'” Genesis 16:9

Siiiiiigh…. Yes Lord. I will continue to serve my thankless family, for YOU.

“The angel added, ‘I will so increase you descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” Genesis 16:10

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Please Lord, I know that children are a blessing, and I believe that, but please, no more babies!!! I’ve got enough on my plate right now the way that it is!!!!!

“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,” for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'” Genesis 16:13

Lord THANK YOU!!!!! Thank you that all those things that I do for my family that they never see and never acknowledge, YOU see them and YOU acknowledge them! Thank you that the little details that I put into mothering are not COMPLETELY un-noticed, rather they are simply un-discovered by the ones for whom they are intended for. Thank you Father that you see me in my occasionally abused state and You validate my pain. You ease my suffering. You give me purpose. Thank You Lord that you are El Roi, the God who sees me, and everything that I do.

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | 3 Comments

I Will

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Tamar


Jeremiah 23:1-25:38

“I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land, I will build them up, and not tear them down.: I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be My people and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:6-7

As many of you know, I am a mom first and a writer second, Right now my children are on Fall Break and my husband has the next two days off work, so I’ve decided it best to spent more time with them than with you. I hope you will understand. So for the next few days I will be sharing with you some of my favorite moments from the past few years of blogging and teaching. The first one fits so perfectly with today’s Word of the Day I could barely stand it!

If you re-read today’s scripture you may notice a particular phrase repeated over and over again, “I will”. As God is saying this through His prophet Jeremiah, He is making sure that we understand who it is that will be doing all the work. And that, my friends, is the message I wanted to revisit today!

This is the final video lesson in the “Waiting” Bible Study we did together a few months ago. Enjoy! J

“Waiting for the I Wills”-(Video Link)

Video Guide

“for they shall hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm,” 1 Kings 8:42

The 7 I Wills in Exodus 6:1-9

I will ______ you out from ______ the _________ of the _________.

I will ______ you from ______to them.

I will ______ you with an ______ arm & with great acts of _______.

I will ______ you to be My _________.

I will be your _____,

I will ______ you into the ______ that I______ to give to Abraham, to
Isaac, and to Jacob.

I will ______ it to you for a ______, I am the LORD.

The 9 I Wills in Ezekiel 20:33-38

I will be ______ over you.

I will ______ you out from the peoples & ______ you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a ______ hand & an ______ arm, & with ______ poured out.

I will ______ you into the wilderness of the peoples, & there

I will ______ into ______ with you ______ to ______.

I will ______ into ______ with you, declares the Lord GOD.

I will ______ you pass under the ______ and

I will ______ you into the ______ of the ______.

I will ______ out the rebels [sin] from among you, and those who transgress against me.

I will ______ them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Romans 7:1-4

Or do you not know, brothers – for I am speaking to those who know the law – that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a ______ ______ is bound
by ______ to her ______ while he lives, but if her husband ______ she is ______ from the ______ of ______. Accordingly, she will be called an ______ if she ______ with another ______ while her husband is ______. But if her husband ______, she is ______ from that ______, and if she ______ another ______ she is ______ and adulteress. Likewise my brothers, you also have ______ to the ______ through the ______ of ______, so
that you may ______ to another, to ______ who has been raised from the ______, in order that ______ may bear fruit for God.

Galatians 3:10-12

For all who rely on ______ of the ______ are under a ______; for it is
written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by ______ things written in the Book of the Law, and ______ them.” Now it is evident that ______ ______ is ______ before God by the ______, for “The righteous shall live by ______,” But the ______ is not of ______, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”

Galatians 4:1-7

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a ______, is no different from a ______, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under ______ and managers until the date set by his ______. In the ______ ______we also, when we were children, were ______ to the elementary ______ of the world. But when the ______ of ______ had come, God sent forth His ______, born of ______, born under the ______, to ______ those who were under the ______, so that we might receive ______ as ______. And because ______ ______ sons, God has sent the ______ of His Son into our ______, crying, “______,______!” So you are ______ ______ a ______, but a ______, and if a son, then an ______ through God.

Luke 15:11-24 the story of the Prodigal son

“While the son is a long way off” just tells us that the entire time the Father was there w______ for the son to c______ b______.

God was w______ for us to figure out “I need a S______, I need someone to h______ m__, to pull me out of this place where I’ve put myself.

As soon as He s______ us, He comes r______ with o______ a______ ready to e______ us.

Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:33, John 19:18

With His arms outstretched, they C______ H______.

Galatians 3:13-14

Christ r______ us from the c______ of the l___ by b______ a curse for ___ – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” – so that ____ C______ J______
the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that ___ might receive the promised Spirit through ______.

Hebrews 9:11-28

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of g______ and b______ and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of C______, who through the eternal Spirit offered H______ without blemish to God purify our c______ from dead works to serve the l______ God. 15 Therefore He is the mediator of a n___ covenant, so that those who are called may r______ the promised eternal inheritance, since a d______ has occurred that r______ them from the t______ committed under the f______ covenant.

I will deliver you from slavery to the l____,

I will bring you out from under the burdens of the L___.

I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment on J______.

I will take you to be my people, and

I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the L___.

I will bring you into the land of rest that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob,

I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.

Hebrews 9:16 For where a w______ is involved, the d______ of the one who m______ it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect o______ at d______, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with b______, and without the shedding of b______ there is no f______ of sins.

26 … But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to p____ a______ s___ by the sacrifice of H______. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to s______ those who are eagerly w______ for Him.

Psalm 136

H___ s______ l____ e______ f______! Praise be to God alone!

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Jesus Loves YOU, Waiting, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

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