Category: inspiration

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Imperfectly Beautiful By Tammy Nicole Glover

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Imperfectly Beautiful By Tammy Nicole Glover

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

With a slightly lazy right eye, she peered back at me. It was nothing anyone would notice unless they were really paying attention. I really paid attention. I saw all of her. The hair that refused to grow any further than her shoulders, the slight wrinkles that formed when she frowned. The extra rolls around her waist. Everything she thought was an imperfection. I found fascinating.

She didn’t like to be in the spotlight, years of being teased when she was younger made her shy away from attention. The more she tried to hide, the more people gravitated to her. What she didn’t know was that her strength, compassion and determination drew people to her. She had a tranquility about her. She wasn’t afraid of quiet moments, she embraced silence. Her words were carefully thought out revealing not just intelligence but wisdom. It was wisdom that could only come from sitting in the shadows, listening and watching those around her.

When I first discovered her, she was encased inside an intricately built fortress. She had spent a lifetime building it with every heartbreak and rejection. By the looks of her fortress, you would think she was a woman who was without hope. However, when she peeked out the window one could see a glimmer of hope.

She was too beautiful to be hidden yet too precious not to be protected. I shouted affirmations to her. “You’re beautiful. You’re worthy. You’re loved.”

All to be drowned out by other voices yelling that she was ugly, unworthy and unloved. I didn’t know what else to do to get her attention. Until one day, I realized I was no longer on the outside looking in. I was inside her magnificent fortress. I searched the halls and in every room but I couldn’t find her. Frustrated and discouraged, I decided to give up. I started towards the door to never return, when I saw her in the corner of my eye.

“Finally,” I said as I turned towards her, only to see myself through a looking glass. My breath caught in my throat. With every tear, the fortress slowly crumbled.

Beloved, we are perfectly made and perfectly loved by an Almighty God. He created us in love. He loved us before we were even formed inside of our mother’s womb. We are so precious to Him that He gave His one and only Son to bear our sins and take our place in hell. We are worthy and we matter. It’s not because society, friends or family say so. It is because the One who created us deemed us so. Who are we to disagree with our Creator?

“How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand.” Psalm 139: 18 NIV

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Finding My Faith By Tammy Nicole Glover

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“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 KJV

I know it has been a while since I last posted something. The end of last year and continuing into this year has been quite the roller coaster. I’ve had to face the death of a sister and sister-in-law, caring for an elderly parent alone and relationship issues, personally and professionally. Not to mention adjusting to life during a full blown pandemic. I admit I have been tremendously overwhelmed trying to juggle everything while keeping the façade of being completely in control and calm. If you would have asked me how I’m doing, I would have convincingly told you, I’m fine but all the while I would be in full panic mode because I know at any point one of the balls I’m juggling is going to drop and shatter into a million pieces that can never be put back together again. And one of those balls could very well be my sanity. I found myself angry, depressed and asking God why was He allowing these things to happen to me. Couldn’t He see me drowning out here? Does He love?

It says in Hebrews 11:1 that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I realized that I was no longer hoping and I wasn’t alone. It seemed like a lot of people around me were no longer hoping either. We were all scared and instead of sitting on the edge of our seats for something amazing to happen, we were bracing ourselves for the next storm. We were losing our faith.

Faith isn’t ignoring or wishing our problems away. It’s not even faking it until we make it. It’s saying, “yes, I see the problem. I see the mountain. It’s scary and painful but God is bigger and I’m going to trust Him to get me through this. It’s probably not going to happen the way I want it to or even when I want it to.”

Faith takes patience and courage but more importantly, it takes humility. I had to admit I wasn’t in control. I was overwhelmed, scared and yes, even angry. I realized that God did see me drowning and His hand was there but I had to let my pride drop and shatter into a million pieces, in order to grab hold of His hand.

Sometimes, I look back at the water below and see sharks swimming towards me because it doesn’t feel like He’s lifting me out fast enough. I may be tempted to let go and figure out a way to get away faster but I have to lift my head back up towards Him. It has taken continual prayer from friends, family and myself to stay in faith. It has also taken spending time alone with God and reading His Word in order to even distinguish His voice from my fears. It has been a difficult and unending journey.

I know I’m not the only one on this journey. We all have moments where our faith may waver. Please feel free to share how you stay in faith. I’m praying for you.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 KJV

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Nothing Wasted By Tammy Nicole Glover

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“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.” Romans 8:28 NIV

When was the last time something happened to you and you thought, what a waste of time? Did you invest your time and heart in a relationship that went sour? Maybe you went to school for one thing and then years later realized that you should really be doing something all together different. Could it even be a mistake that you made and now you’re suffering the consequences of it?

The good news is that God’s love, mercy and grace covers all of that. Nothing is ever wasted when God gets involved. God uses every disappointment, heartbreak and loss for our good. I know this can be hard to believe when we’re in the midst of a storm. God knows the end from the beginning, so nothing ever surprises Him. He’s not shocked when we make mistakes or when someone hurts us. He has plans in place for turning everything bad in our lives into something good. Isaiah 61:3 (NIV) says that God will, “bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy, instead of mourning and a garment of praise.

That setback is setting you up for a better opportunity. The heartbreak you experienced will help you comfort someone else who experiences the same loss. The skills learned for one job will eventually help you in the job you’re supposed to be in.

God can do exceedingly more than anything we can think or imagine, even if it means using the wasted things in our lives. It’s not our job to figure out how He will work it out. Our job is to trust and believe that He will. He is God Almighty, nothing is too hard for Him.

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.” Psalm 30:11-12 NIV

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God Is Good…Yes, All the Time By Tammy Nicole Glover

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“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:2-3 NIV

Someone recently told me, quite angrily, that God may be holy but definitely not good all the time. All my efforts to explain why God is good all the time came across as condescending towards them. They thought I was dismissing their pain. I was so taken aback by their reaction that it left me questioning my purpose as a writer. The whole reason why I write is to encourage the heartbroken and those who have lost hope. I felt like I had just failed an important test. Was this really what I was called to do?

As much as I tried to shake it off and not take it personally, I just couldn’t. Writer’s block set in. It was like I had subconsciously refused to allow myself to write. The longer I went without writing the more fear, anxiety and doubt took over. Where did I miss it?

After a lot of prayer and sleepless nights, I realized that my answer to the person didn’t come from a place of sincerity or love. I was angry that someone was questioning the goodness of my God. I also felt like my character as a compassionate human being was being attacked. My answer, although polite and “churchy,” was not the answer that person needed. In a sense, I was dismissing their pain. I didn’t realize that they were speaking from a place of intense pain and in their eyes the only person that was big enough for causing that pain was God. I’m sure I came across as someone who is clueless to the pain of others with my positive and upbeat response of, “God loves you and I’m praying for you.”

What was really needed was an honest answer that would probably mean I would have to allow myself to be vulnerable and share a testimony. I don’t share a lot of my personal struggles, especially on social media. I usually try to keep a smile on my face and post words of encouragement, which is probably why people assume that I never have any problems. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When I say that God is good all the time, it is because I have been through something. I’m not just saying a catchy, church phrase. When I say God is good, I mean He was good when I was emotionally and physically abused. He was good when my grief was so overwhelming it felt like I couldn’t breathe. He was good when I didn’t think I would see another day and wasn’t even sure if I wanted to. He was good when I was paralyzed with fear, He was good when I was lied on, lied too and betrayed. He was good during every family drama and every moment of loneliness. In sickness or health, He is good. In lack or in plenty, He is good.

Why?

Because no matter what the situation, He never left my side. He never lied to me and promised that I would never experience hardships during my time on this earth. Life doesn’t become perfect when you accept Jesus as your Savior. In fact, He promised that I would definitely face many hardships of various kinds but He promised to never leave me. He loves me so much that He sent His One and only Son to endure unspeakable torture and death just so that I could receive His mercy and to have a relationship with Him on earth and in heaven. He has never been the cause of my pain but He has always been my solution. No matter how angry I get because I have to endure pain or I want to turn my back on Him because He isn’t answering as quickly as I want Him to, He is always faithful. He is my Healer and Restorer. No matter how hopeless my situation looks, He always gives me the victory.

The fact that no one can tell that I’ve been through the fire is because He was by my side, shielding me from the flames. I came out healed and stronger. I don’t know what you’ve been through but I know what I’ve been through. I know that God is not indifferent towards my pain. He is merciful. He is the one that created me and He doesn’t owe me anything. I’m the one that owes Him for all of the blessings He’s given me. I also know that if He did it for me, He can do it for you, if you’re willing to let Him. It may not be instantaneous and it probably won’t happen when or how you think it should but it will happen.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV

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Be Still By Tammy Nicole Glover

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“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NIV

Being still seems like it should be such an easy thing to do but have you ever had to be perfectly still for any amount of time and all of a sudden you get an itch? You try to ignore it but the more you try, the stronger the itch gets. Just when you think you can’t take it anymore you’re finally free to move.  Sometimes, it’s like that when God tells us to be still. All of a sudden we get an itch or an urge to do something. The itch could be caused by rumors of possible layoffs, a bad prognosis from the doctor or a troubled relationship. The fear, anxiety and sheer unpleasantness of the situation feels so unbearable we feel like we have to take matters into our own hands and do something but we hear God telling us to be still and know that He is God.

Being still is definitely not for the faint of heart. It requires completely putting your trust in someone we’ve never seen. His power is so miraculous and mysterious that it’s sometimes hard to wrap our heads around the fact that He is, He can and He will. How can we be sure that a power so great truly cares for us? We know because He sacrificed His only Son for us. He not just cares for us, He loves us completely. We are His children and He takes pleasure in taking care of us. If we can just be still in His love we can see mountains move, the dead rise and chains of despair broken.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37: 7 NIV

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The Beauty of Closed Doors By Tammy Nicole Glover

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“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

When a door is closed on an opportunity that we’ve spent a long time hoping for, the last thing we want to do is to give thanks and praise to God. We typically want to ask God why He isn’t making good on His promises to us. We feel rejected and hurt. After several closed doors, we start to feel like giving up. We start thinking that maybe our dreams just weren’t meant to come true.

Sometimes our feelings of disappointment can hinder us from seeing the blessings in front of us. When we have a dream in our heart, we can become so consumed with our own ideas of how and when things should happen. We forget that God’s plans are always bigger than what we can ever imagine. His line of sight goes far beyond ours, which allows Him to see troubles and obstacles down the road that we can’t see. He knows the pain we may experience when a door is closed may pale in comparison to the pain we would experience if He allowed us to walk through that door. A lot of those doors we wanted open would not only have set us back but could have taken us out entirely.

Another thing we tend to forget is that God’s timing never matches our own. We may think we’re ready but God knows we have more growing to do. The blessings He has in store for us usually require us to be more spiritually mature because they come with greater responsibilities and even greater battles. God’s plan is always for us to succeed. He doesn’t want to put us in a position that would cause us to fail. If we walk through some doors too soon, we may not be ready for the challenges that come along with them and we could decide to give up and walk away.

Never be ashamed of a closed door. Always give thanks to God because you know in your heart that God has your best interests in mind. If you come across a closed door, know that God has an even better door for you to walk through around the corner.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

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A Reminder to My Future Self By Tammy Nicole Glover

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“They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair on their heads singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Daniel 3:27 NIV

Dear Future Self,

So, another problem popped up and threatens to overcome you. Don’t panic! You’ve been through this before. It may be a different problem that looks bigger but God has not grown smaller, nor has He changed. He is still the Lord God Almighty, who has promised to never leave you nor forsake you. He is still the God who promised to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Don’t forget His commandment for you to be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged. He is with you. (Joshua 1:9)

My beloved future self, don’t doubt God’s love you. He has not removed His mighty hand from you. Surely, you can remember how He delivered you from the last crisis. He not only restored you but He placed you in an even better position than before. You were so blessed that you were able to help those around.

Dry your tears and be of good cheer, for Heavenly Father sees all and will answer your call. God is good, faithful and full of endless love and mercy. Now, is not the time to have a pity party. It’s time to praise God for your victory.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:2-3 NIV

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Doing the Impossible by Tammy Nicole Glover

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“With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NIV

When I was younger, I always wanted to be a superhero. Superheroes are fearless, strong and have amazing super powers. They always know exactly what to do and what to say to save the day. Even when it seems as if their enemy has them beat, they never give up. They keep fighting until they have won the battle.

To be honest with you, I never really grew out of that superhero faze. Although, I don’t run around the house with a cape, I still wish I had super powers. When a crisis hits, I feel powerless until I remember the ultimate superhero, Jesus Christ. He not only risked His life for humanity, He actually sacrificed it. He has the power to heal, deliver, comfort and strengthen. What’s even better is that He freely shares His powers with us. There is no sickness, problem or demon in hell that can defeat us when we allow Christ to work through us. With Christ we have the ability to save the day. We can lay hands on the sick and they will be healed. We can cast down demons. We can forgive those who hurt us. We can love as God loves all through the power of Christ who is inside of us.

I may not be Wonder Woman or Supergirl but I am a child of God and that makes me more powerful than any superhero ever created. To God be the glory.

“I can do all this through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NIV

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God of Comfort

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Thank You, Lord, that even in my pain, You give me strength to comfort and encourage others. Thank You for the people that comfort and encourage me. You take care of us even when we don’t know how to take care of ourselves. You are truly a good God.

“Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

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Spring Cleaning

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Despite what the weather may be spring is finally here. Soon, there will be an explosion of colors from flowers blooming and the grass turning green. Even the air will smell sweeter. The warmer temperatures and being surrounded by the beauty of spring may fill us with the urge to clean. However, this spring, let us not forget to clean our spiritual lives too.

All winter we’ve been storing up disappointments, heartaches and betrayals. We may have become angry and discouraged because some of our dreams still haven’t come to fruition. There’s no telling how long we’ve been holding on to our grudges either.

God wants to give us an outpouring of blessings in our lives. He wants to give us beauty for our ashes. There’s just one problem, we have to let some things go. We have to let go of our anger and shame. Let God replace it with love, hope and joy. Clean out the past and let God do a new thing in your life. Allow Him to heal your wounded heart. He is able and willing. Don’t miss out on your blessings because you didn’t do your spring cleaning.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV