Day Seventeen - A Million Dollars

A few weeks ago, my pastor asked those in the sanctuary at the church, "What would you do if you had a million dollars?  If you knew you couldn't fail, what would you do?"

Now, those are 2 VERY separate questions that need to addressed, I think, with possibly 2 entirely different answers.  So, I thought I'd address them separately here, and not address them as one.

My pastor's point, I think, was to get people to dreaming and thinking again about what God COULD do through them, if they would step out of their little "box" and let go of their fears of failure.   So, this is what I came up with, and I knew the answers to both right off - as soon as he asked them.

What would I do if I had a million dollars? I would quit my job teaching in the public school at the end of this teaching term.  Then, I would go do children's ministry in the afternoons and homeschool my own kids in the mornings.  I would then work to see where we could help support orphanages in other countries and work to fund housing for kids working in the red light districts of India, China, Japan, and more.

I would also fix up my house for low cost rent to a needy family, and I would buy a BIGGER house to house all the kids I want to foster and/or adopt.

But why just a million? A million is just the bottom of what I want to have to use for God's glory. It barely scrapes the "bottom of the barrel" of what I need to do all this.  My dreams are bigger than only what  a million dollars can do.

I want horses on a farm and a fresh garden for troubled teens to work in - to learn the BASICS of life.  I want to get more schooling, so I can be better equipped to help these kids.  I want to go back to school and learn more about midwifery, so I can teach other women in other countries about things and help other women here in the US have less invasive labor and deliveries.

No, a million dollars will not cover all I want to do for my Lord.  There's much work to be done and a BIG harvest to work.  A million dollars just won't cover it!

Now to answer the other question presented. What would I do if I knew I couldn't fail?

I would do all the above and more
- Lead D. back to Christ and have a GREAT marriage, working to do God's will
- Lead my unsaved family members to Christ.
- Lead my friends to Christ.
- Well, why stop there.  If I couldn't fail - I'd lead the WHOLE world to Christ.

But, I don't have the "without failure" option button.  Because failure IS possible, and sometimes it is even probable.  I just know what with God ALL things are possible to them that believe and are called according to HIS purposes.  I just have to make sure I'm doing what HE has for me to do today and let HIM handle all my tomorrows.

I am a dreamer, and my dreams are big.  I pray that I live out HIS vision and plan for me though, and not live out just what I want.

One day at a time!

I'll keep dreaming though.  And, I'll listen as my God speaks to me, and hopefully when it's all said and done, I will hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, Tamera. You ran this race well, were faithful to me, and obeyed me. Well done."

The question is for you now - What would YOU do with a million dollars?

Day Sixteen - Letting Go Again

I smile.  I love how God continually asks us to surrender to Him again and again, only because He knows best and keeps a check on our hearts. He knows our hearts better than we do. He knows.


The last few days, God has been giving me freedom. Freedom from some emotions I was dealing with, and He given me freedom to make the right decisions along with the wisdom to do so.  Each time I've surrendered and obeyed him, he's given me a CRAZY amount of wisdom and insight into my own life and into the lives of others.  I've been able to see things that I wouldn't be able to see without Him. 


I hear God again saying, "Give it all to me, Tamera, all your hopes, dreams, desires, wishes, fears, insecurities - EVERYTHING.  Watch what I will do . I know better than you, and I promise to fulfill in you the destiny that I've called you to." 


I sigh. "Okay, Here you go again, Lord.  I give it all to you again. I don't want to hold onto it or others.  They are all yours.  Though it scares me to let things go and to let this go, I'm going to do it again because I trust You."


Wow!  Sometimes letting go can be so hard, but it is well worth it, if we are obeying God.  


16 DAYS!  Hmmmm.... Well, God didn't say it would be easy to do this.  But, He DID say it would be worth it. 


Really, I'm at peace. Sometimes fear of what might be, or the thought of things I might lose, crops up in me.  But, God reminds me that HE has it under control as long as I am surrendered to Him.  If HE removes the people or things, then it is in my best interest.

He HAS a plan!  A BIG plan! And, I will wait to watch and listen for what He wants me to do.   


I will not hold onto what is not mine to hold onto, and I will not let go of what He tells me to hold tight - His promises for me and my children and for His blessings to come. 


I surrender.  With arms outstretched and open again I say, "Lord I surrender to you once again and to YOUR perfect will.  Use me as you please and for your glory.Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and your ways are higher than my ways. Thank you for the honor to serve you and to build your kingdom. I love you greatly. Amen." 

Catching up

I know I'm behind in posting here. I HAVE been writing everything down and journaling it all, but I just haven't had the time to write it. Guess it wasn't the right time, right? :)

So, I'll be posting later.

Be blessed,

Tamera - TJ
- lover of God and passionate worshiper of Him
- and mom to the 2 of the most fantastic boys on the planet!

Anjelah Johnson- Nail Salon Uncut - ChickComedy

Hilarious! I can watch this again and again. It makes me laugh and smile each time.

Day Sixteen - Being Quiet

Well, I had a lot to write - but I guess I wasn't supposed to post it all tonight.  So, I'll post again tomorrow.

God has been faithful. Today was a day filled with joy.  Oh - how I love to laugh.

God sent encouragement in a friend. And, He let me encourage another friend. 

I love that about Him - kind of like the circle of giving. :)

Have a great night, and I'll catch you tomorrow.