Too Full

Have you ever enjoyed a really good meal and you were so stuffed you felt as though you would burst but you just wanted one more bite. Well that is how I felt after a week long Church Revival. One night in particular the LORD blessed me beyond measure. I was so filled by the power of the Holy Spirit that I felt like I was going to burst but I wanted some more. When I got home I just didn’t know what to do with myself. I must have talked my husbands left ear off (while we were driving home) as I brimmed with excitement over the revelations that the LORD had given me concerning a Christian’s walk and mine in particular. Once home I did my nightly tasks, still thinking about the Spirit-filled message I had heard and actually didn’t want it to end. I thought I’d sit down and do a bit of crafting but as I sat down and tried to think of something to do. Once again I was drawn to the LORD so strongly that I couldn’t dare diminish my evening by doing a craft. I sat there and began worshipping the LORD again. The lyrics came to my mind of, "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me and I just felt so raptured away by the thought that one day I would actually be able to see my Savior face to face:

Surrounded by Your glory,

what will my heart feel

Will I dance for you Jesus

or in awe of you be still

Will I stand in your presence

or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah,

will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I want so much for my life to be lived worthy of the blood that was shed for my soul and I want so much to be a reflection of the Gospel of Christ. Once dead in sin and now risen to a newness of life in Christ Jesus. One great thing that was emphasized at the Revival meetings is that GOD IS ABLE. I looked up the phrase God is able and once again my soul leaped for joy at the scriptures that held such wonderful promises. I will share a few with you:

The Lord is able to deliver – Daniel 3:17
The Lord is able to build you up – Act 20:32
God is able to make you stand – Romans 14:4
God is able to make all grace abound - 2 Corinthians 9:8
HE is able to keep you from falling – Jude 1:24

We serve a GOD who is able to do far exceeding above what we can even ask or think. I am so thankful that the LORD saw fit to grant me repentance and an opportunity serve Him.

My last thought for this message is that of prayer. One night the Pastor preached on a very important aspect of a Christian’s life that I fear has all too often been lacking in my life and that is of prayer. I know that prayer is what strengthens our Spiritual armor against the enemies of Hell and it is our strongest connection to the LORD. Prayer is not what the flesh desires; the flesh does not like it when we get down on our knees to pray. That is why we must struggle to crucify this wicked flesh and bring it under subjection to the Will of the LORD. I must say I have been revived and I pray that the effects of this Revival will keep me burning for awhile until the next Revival. Correction, we don’t have to wait for a revival to come to town, we can always have the embers of our heart rekindle when we talk with the LORD by the way…Quickly read Luke 24:32 and you’ll be blessed!

Thanks for Listening and Love you all in Christ.

Simply Trusting
Sister Tammy

UNITY

I apologize for not writing sooner, the spirit was definitely willing but the flesh was full of excuses. I will not beleaguer this point for the LORD has put something on my heart to write.

I want to talk about a thing that has always been near and dear to my heart and that is UNITY. Did you know that this word is mentioned (as far as I can see and you can check me on this) three (3) times in the bible?

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The word unity spoken of is in reference to: The brethren, the unity of the bond of peace, and the unity of faith. This particular unity that the Word of God is speaking of cannot be had without Our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. There are many types unified fronts today in our world and society but they do not have the fullness of Christ and I am speaking of the Unity in Christ. When the brethren dwell together in unity the bible says, it is good and pleasant. Therefore according to Ephesians 4:3 we must do something, we must ENDEAVOUR to keep this unity. We must acknowledge that being in unity with Christ is a growing process as Ephesians 4:13 says, til we all come in the unity of faith. This phrase tells me that we must continue to strive to come to this unity of faith. Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary says, “Until we arrive all of us at the unity."

I am encouraged by the scriptures because many times I see the body of Christ in a fractured state and not united, but according to the scriptures all is not lost because if we truly are in Christ we will all one day be united together with the LORD. Ephesians 4:13 also tells us that as we are coming to the unity of the faith that we must also come to the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, and unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. We should all have the knowledge of Christ through His Gospel. Ephesians 3:19 says, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” When we know the love of Christ who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, we should also, for the joy that is set before us endure our crosses. The apostle Paul is a wonderful example of someone who strived to attain to this perfection. Let us look at what Paul says about him striving after Christ:

Philippians 3:12 says: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect…”

Philippians 3:13 says: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended…”

Paul recognized his limitations in the flesh but he never used that as an excuse not to strive for perfection in Christ. Let us look at these two scriptures in their entirety:

Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Beloved in Christ, I rejoice in the fact that even though I have not apprehended all that there is to apprehend in Christ, I have been apprehended of him. In other words, even if I fail to be united with all of my brothers and sisters in Christ my continued effort is to continue to strive for unity. The more we know Christ and the closer we draw ourselves to Him, we should in like manner desire to draw ourselves closer to the body of Christ and all Saints are part of His body (one body.)

Lastly as I was studying Philippians 3:12 my eyes were drawn to the last part of the verse which says, “I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” I looked up the word apprehended in the dictionary and this is what it said:

Arrest somebody: to put somebody suspected of wrongdoing into legal custody.
(Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)

I am so blessed to have been apprehended of Christ, because I was somebody caught in wrongdoing and now I am in the legal custody of Christ and I have been assured through scripture that He will never let me go. AMEN!!!!!

I pray this epistle of love was a blessing and received in the love and mind of Christ in which it was intended.

Blessings and as always,
Simply Trusting

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