How's About A Smile

I received a phone call from my daughter yesterday and she asked me an exciting question. She said have you ever just picked your bible up and been excited and overjoyed that you had it. And then I received a sweet email from my sister this morning and it was about Natural Highs (things that make you happy or make you smile.) In this world filled with so much ungodliness sometimes you find so little to smile about and I am so grateful for people such as my daughter and my sister who have the ability to make me smile with such beautiful thoughts. I was especially overjoyed by my daughter who at twenty-two years of age has a love for the Word of GOD! I knew exactly what she meant because there have been times when I have picked up my bible embraced it and realized I was actually holding the WORDS of GOD! What a powerful thought and most importantly you have to know what is in the bible in order to be excited about it and by GOD’s grace my daughter knows what’s inside it and appreciates it and so do I. I pray that you all have people in your lives that make you smile and even laugh. Yesterday I went to pick up one of my wee little Sisters-in-Christ to take her and my son to a book club party and when I drove up she had on reindeer antlers and a reindeer nose that lit up! I laughed so hard I was revived. Earlier that morning I was feeling rather out of sorts and a tad bit tired and just plain Blah! But my little friend gave me the boost I needed to get revived and I must say it was much healthier than caffeine.

Let us rejoice in the LORD always, Let us be glad that this is the day that the LORD has made. Let us be satisfied with all the goodness of GOD and all the blessings that the righteous receive of HIM.

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”
Psalms 90:14

Be Blessed and Always Trusting,
Tammy Martinez

When Our Faith Fails

I was put in remembrance this morning of GOD’s unwavering faithfulness and our frailties as I read in GOD’s word. David says in Psalms 31:22:

“For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.”

I believe that many of us have had points in our lives that in our haste we felt as though the LORD had not heard our cry or our supplications. We may have even felt that the LORD was not concerned about our tumultuous situations. David says that in his haste, he felt that the LORD did not see him in his troubles; he said that he felt as though he was cut off before the eyes of GOD, that HE did not see him. In all of this I stand amazed at the Great Mercies of GOD. We serve such an Awesome savior who does not always take offence at our distrusting nature and he blesses us any way. David says, “nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.” I am so happy that we serve a GOD that will look beyond our faults and take care of our needs. I don’t believe that Bro. David condoned having a fretful spirit but sometimes in our deep distresses we can waiver in our faith towards GOD. Fear can be a very captivating thing and sometimes we forget what type of GOD we serve, but nevertheless HE is the GREAT and MIGHTY GOD, the KING of GLORY. David finishing off the psalms by stating in verses 23and 24:

“O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”

I just want to encourage you this morning to remember that GOD has not forgotten His children and he hears EVERY cry. We serve a GOD that preserves the faithful, who rewards the proud doer and strengthens the heart of all those who hope in HIM!

PRAISE GOD and have a Blessed Week!

Simply Trusting in Hope,
Tammy Martinez

50/20 Vision

It has been very busy around my camp, but rest assured the LORD has been foremost on my mind. I do apologize for the delay in my writing and it is amazing just when you think no one cares the LORD always sends that special “one” to say, “hey, I haven’t heard from you lately and I’m hungry,” and with that loving word, I am humbled.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I must stop and reflect on all the wonderful icings on the many cakes that the LORD blesses me with on a daily basis. We should never take for granted the Family, Friends and even Foes that the LORD puts in our paths of life. The LORD has diligently placed them in our lives for a reason and for a purpose. Our family and friends keep us grounded and our enemies keep us on our knees. I am so thankful for everyone that has entered into my life whether they be a rose or a thorn, I have been continually blessed. Thank You LORD for all of your blessings and for EVERYTHING that you have allowed to enter into my life. I pray that as we press forward to the upcoming year that we may all grab a strong hold of the vision that the LORD has set before us. HE is a GOD of wonder and miracles, HE is a GOD of Might and Power, HE is a GOD that gives good gifts to His children when they ask, and HE is a GOD who hears our prayers. WE serve a GOD that transcends the wisdom and knowledge of this world and with this knowledge, we have been blessed beyond belief.

I love the Character of Joseph of the Old Testament; I believe that he had such an understanding heart towards GOD, that as you notice in scripture, he never complained during His captivity after being betrayed by his jealous brothers. Knowing all the while that he was an innocent man endured with patients the trials that were set before him. There is one thing that I took away from this whole account and I will share it with you. It is the ability to have 50/20 vision, that is Deuteronomy 50:20, which reads:

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

What a vision of the future, and a vision of hope and most importantly that GOD has EVERYTHING under control. The world and even misguided friends may desire harmful things to happen to you because of jealousy, likes Josephs older brothers. But that is perfectly okay, because GOD will bring to pass good things, not only to you but possibly to many more people than yourself.

I challenge you to read the account of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37 when we enter his life at tender young age of 17. I caution you this, that as you read, put on the mind of Christ and lean not unto your own understanding. I have heard many a preacher say terrible things against this blessed man of GOD. They used terms such as spoiled, tattle-tail and I digress to say more as it is vexing to my spirit that we would dare to judge such a righteous young man according to our own understanding. That is why Proverbs 3:5 clearly says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” I’m sure that as you read this account in the Spirit of GOD, you will be encouraged to stay in the battle and to let HIM take care of the foes and trials in your life and like Joseph you will be able to continually say that, “GOD meant it unto me for GOOD!!“ GOD Bless you and may you continue to grow in the wisdom of the LORD.

It's All About The Position Of The Sun

I was thinking about the position of the sun today and that sometimes we may not always see the sun on a cloudy day but we can rest assure that it is there. This is the way our Christian walk is sometimes, there is so much gloom and cloudiness that we can't see the SON, but we can rest assure that He is there. I read a lovely poem today by Helen Steiner Rice and it goes like this:

Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain,

Laughter and pleasure, teardrops and pain,

All days can't be bright but it's certainly true,

There was never a cloud the sun didn't shine through

So just keep on smiling, whatever betide you,

Secure in the knowledge that GOD is always beside you,

And you'll find when you smile, your day will be brighter

And all of your burdens will seem so much lighter

For each time you smile, you will find it is true

Somebody, somewhere, will smile back at you,

And nothing on earth can make life more worthwhile

Than the sunshine and warmth of a beautiful smile.

So where is the position of the Son in your life, please don't allow the clouds to block out the majestic rays of GOD's love and hope in your life. Smile because you'll never know what a blessing that will be to someone. I am so thankful for all of the smiles that I receive from my dear family and friends, whether it be through the phone, in person or by letter, they always make my day. So as Paul said in Philippians 4:4, " Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."

I pray the GOD of peace upon you all and may He reign in you all!!

All To the Glory of GOD and as always,

Simply Trusting,

Tammy Martinez

It’s Time To Get Up!

Well, I have had a roller coaster week of emotional highs and then an anticlimactic fall for (I felt) absolutely know reason at all and through this the LORD showed me some wonderful truths in His WORD.

So many times I believe we take our walk in Christ for granted and we walk about on spiritual highs with great spiritual prowess and prideful-ness; with our heads held high and our arms bristly swinging from side to side with great confidence (“ for we are the children of the king, the most high GOD, you know!”) and then without warning, we fail to see the deep pit in the road and of course with unbelief and dismay we plummet to the ground in utter disbelief, “how in the world could this have happened to me, I am so spiritually filled” we say to ourselves with an inkling of self-righteous indignation. 'Au contraire mon frair', we must suffer and glory in the lows as well as the highs.

Although I jest a little (which is not really convenient) I want to share some scriptural nuggets and thoughts with you today from GOD’s Word. Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” This is the principle thing, we are to put our trust in GOD and him alone. We can be deceived by our feelings and the passions of our heart can sometimes be fleeting, being tossed to and fro. One moment your gliding on the wings of an eagle and the next thing your groveling in the dirt, but that should NEVER affect the awesome work that is continually being done in you through our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. I love it when David said, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” The LORD will perfect the work that he has begun in us. I take that scripture very personal during my low periods and I will trust in His Word. As I have struggled with a few low periods this week I have also heard from some of my Sisters-In-Christ who have had low and even desperate periods in their lives this week too, but they have purposed to stay in the fight. I tell people all the time even if you do give up who are you giving up to? And even if you do give up who is there to care? I believe it is even appropriate to say that in giving up on the LORD it is a terrible sin, because in essence we are saying that His word is not true, Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Our LORD is so compassionate and loves His children in their lowly states and he desires to lift us up by His right hand. I am encouraged today to write of His goodness and desire to lend a word of encouragement. I want to encourage you to have a merry heart today and every day for Proverbs 15:13 says, “ A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” I also want to give you a good word today and ask you to stand upright in the LORD for Proverb 12:25 says, “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” So be glad in the LORD today and do rejoice in that you are a child of the King, The Most High GOD! Amen.

Be Blessed and Triumphantly
Simply Trusting,
Tammy Martinez

Things To Be Thankful For

The good, green earth beneath our feet,

The air we breathe, the food we eat,

Some work to do, a goal to win,

A hidden longing deep within

That spurs us on to bigger things,

And helps us meet what each day brings,

All these things and many more

Are things we should be thankful for...

And most of all our thankful prayers

Should rise to GOD because He cares!

by Helen Steiner Rice

" And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:15

I pray that as we focus on Thanksgiving in the weeks to come that we not forget about the peace of GOD. We are commanded to let His peace rule in our hearts. We are also charged to remember that we are one body in Christ and in all of that we need to be thankful. I praise GOD for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ who walk with me as I journey through this life. I thank the LORD for each and everyone. Let us all be mindful that we are called the body of CHRIST and His death on the cross was to bring us all together in the unity of the faith.

May GOD richly bless us all and keep us bound together in love. AMEN

Simply Trusting,
Tammy Martinez

Please Join Me for Breakfast

Psalms 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Let us taste of the LORD this morning and see that HE is Good. Our desire every day should be to feast on the word of GOD. For Proverbs 3:6 says that we should acknowledge the LORD in all of our ways, because Proverb 3:8 says, “It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. What a blessing it is to eat of the everlasting Word of GOD. Jesus said that He is the bread of life and that if we come to Him we shall never be hungry or thirsty (John 6:35.) Finally Psalms 36:7 says,

“How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Wow!! You can’t have a better meal than that. I pray that as you partake of your daily meals that you join the LORD for breakfast and start your day being filled abundantly with the fatness of HIS House.

Praise GOD and have a bountiful Day!!!

As always,
Simply Trusting,
Tammy Martinez