Author: Tandy

Contest

I’m sending out an extra post this week because I’m looking for your feedback. My new book will be out in the spring and I’d like you to help me choose the title. The book is a collection of short inspirational stories such as the ones you receive from this blog.

All votes back to me by November 15th will be entered into a draw to win an autographed copy of the new book. You can vote by commenting directly on the blog or by going to the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/timewithtandy

We have three to choose from. Each would have a subtitle of “Finding Inspiration in Everyday Things” Which title would grab your attention?

1. A Twist of Life
2. Is There a Story in That?
3. Dragonflies, Snowdrifts and Spice Cake

Emergency Scene

prayer, Holy Spirit, conscienceMy husband and I were driving on a major highway when the traffic slowed and merged to one lane. We were expecting road work to be the cause of the delay. Soon we came upon a large sign that said: Emergency Scene Ahead, and realized that this was not the case.

Up ahead, in the median, we saw a semi with its roof crushed and windows shattered. Its trailer was being loaded onto a flat deck, while another tow truck worked on the cab. The warning signs had given us the time to slow down and move over to give emergency crews space to work.

Thinking about these warning signs, I wondered what signs I have in my life to warn me of emergency situations ahead. The biggest one is my conscience. The Holy Spirit speaks to me, warning me of things that will cause problems. When I heed these warnings, things go smoothly. It is when I ignore the warning and forge ahead that I put myself in danger.

In order to live securely I need to spend time in prayer and pay attention to the leading of the Holy Spirit. By doing this, there will be less emergency scenes in my life.

The Lord’s beloved people will live securely with him. The Lord will shelter them all day long. (Deuteronomy 33:12B) GWT

Rubik’s Cube

change, transform, God, lifeRecently I received a small Rubik’s Cube on a key chain. This was a game that had both entertained and frustrated me in the past.

According to Wikipedia, the Rubik’s Cube is the world’s top selling puzzle game. Although it reached the height of its popularity in the 1980’s, it still has the power to fascinate its users. This was demonstrated when my grandson picked it up and asked to play with it. When I told him that he could have it, he was thrilled.

The cube has nine coloured squares on each side. When it’s new, each side contains its own colour: red, blue, green, yellow, orange or white. As it is turned the colours shift to other locations, changing the pattern. Returning it back to the original state is very difficult.

Looking at the cube, I recalled a lesson of how it related to everyday life. In life, each new experience shifts my pattern. Left to my own devices, I’d probably stick with the safety of knowing everything will remain the same. When I give control to God, he leads me on exciting new adventures. As I learn and follow God’s will for my life, he transforms me. The pattern is constantly evolving and I look back, amazed at the changes that have made my life more colourful.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

Moving On

God, timing, inspiration, look ahead,Due to unforeseen circumstance, we had to say good bye to the convertible we had enjoyed for the past few years. Hail damage had taken its toll. Originally it was going to be repaired, but things don’t always work out the way we think they will. After a week in the body shop we were informed that the cost for repair was too great and the vehicle was being deemed a total loss.

It was sad to realize that we could no longer drive down the highway with the top down, an unimpeded view of the blue sky above and the breeze in our hair. This model is no longer being manufactured so we can’t replace it with a similar one.

Now it’s time to move on. Instead of being sad to see it go, I choose have fond memories of the past but to focus on the excitement of something new and different. We went vehicle shopping and have found something else to drive.

This is a reminder of my life. Nothing lasts forever. I can choose to focus on what was in the past or move ahead and enjoy what is happening in the present. Each day has new offerings and I need to be open to receive them. The events in my life may not happen as I had planned them, but I know they have been orchestrated by God. He is in control and his timing is perfect.

Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (GNT)

Injury

injury, arm, awkward
image from photobucket
A friend told me she had injured her right arm. Many movements were painful, making it difficult to use. She had attempted to use her opposite arm but found it awkward for even simple tasks.

Someone else commented that using the other arm would force her brain to create new pathways. Joking about this, we said that new pathways for our brains could be a good thing.

The thought that stayed with me was the new pathways. God has many things planned for me which I will never discover if I’m not willing to forge new paths. Like anything new, it will feel awkward and uncertain in the beginning. When I pray to God for guidance and trust in him, those unknown paths will be able to lead me in a life full of exciting adventures.

I have commanded you, “Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 GWT

Toy Box

God, legacy, loveMy father built a toy box as a gift for my son’s first Christmas. It was shaped like a truck and painted red. He had planned on building a little seat in it but was very ill and not able to complete it before he passed away a few weeks later.

It has held toys for children and grandchildren for many years now. It is no longer needed in my house but it is a reminder of my father so I felt it needed to stay in the family. My son has girls so didn’t want it. It was offered to my daughter’s son and he was thrilled to have it.

When we delivered the toy box to our daughter’s house my six-year-old granddaughter was upset that it was for her brother and not her. I explained that my father had built it for her uncle and it was to go to boys in the family. He didn’t have any boys which was why it now was passed on to her brother. I thought I had satisfied her with this answer until she looked at me with a worried expression and asked if her brother was now going to be part of her uncle’s family!

The thought of belonging to family and family legacies being passed on made me realize again how blessed I am to be a part of the family of God. The legacy that he has passed on is available to everyone. Gender has no bearing on the gifts that he bestows. The family I was born into has no impact on how he feels. God loves me unconditionally and calls me his child.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 NIV

Wrong Number

mesage, God, inspirationalI live in Alberta, Canada. One day I received a phone message from a school in Texarkana, Texas, informing me that my son Ryan was absent from class. This continued sporadically, building up to three calls in one week. The messages were automated meaning I couldn’t let the school know they had the wrong number.

When the calls stopped for a couple of weeks I thought the error had been discovered and corrected. Then I received a message with an invitation to visit the fire hall with the class. Immediately following was another call saying Ryan had been absent that day.

Realizing that this child’s parents were not getting the information they needed from the school, I took matters into my own hands. An internet search of the school name and area gave me the phone number I needed. I called and left a message informing them of the mix up.

Telling people I was getting calls from a school over 3,000 km away made for a good story. It also made me stop and wonder how often there are messages in my life that I ignore. Do I really pay attention when God is speaking to me? Are his messages pushed to the background of my mind, ignored like a wrong number? I need to seek God’s will in my life so I will hear and respond when he speaks to me.

And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10 NLT

Lost Tooth

excitement, God, trust,surrenderMy almost six-year-old granddaughter had just lost her first tooth. She was very excited and pictures were taken of her with her mouth open so those not present could know of this momentous event.

It’s not easy for a child to give the final tug on a tooth that is ready to come out. For this reason, her mom held her while her dad pulled the tooth out. She cried because she was scared and thought it would hurt. Seconds later she was laughing with excitement. Soon she was dancing around the house, stopping in front of family members with a huge smile to show them where the tooth used to be.

As my daughter was telling me this story, I felt God pointing out that I have acted in a similar way with him. There have been times that I have been so close to a goal but stopped short. Fear was holding me back. The fears have been that I don’t have the ability needed; it could cause me discomfort or a myriad of other things.

Like the loving parents that held my granddaughter, God is always there to gently but firmly give me what I need to get through the fear. After I fully trust and surrender to him, any discomfort is momentary and soon forgotten. My trust is rewarded by what he has accomplished in and through me. I want to dance around letting everyone know what I have done. On my own I could not do anything of significance. When I let him work through me there is no limit to what we can do.

I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 GWT

Thanksgiving

thanksgiving-still-lifeToday, on Canadian Thanksgiving, I am sharing a story from my book “Inspirations From The Everyday” on what Thanksgiving and being thankful mean to me.

Thanksgiving is a day set aside for us to give thanks, so important that it is a statutory holiday in Canada and the United States. Many of us gather with loved ones to enjoy a turkey dinner, Some may share what they are thankful for.

I know that when I sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with family, the bounty of food before us will only be a small part of what I am thankful for. I am thankful for a wonderful husband who is a gift not only to me and to our family, but also to those fortunate enough to know him. I am also thankful for our children and their spouses and the time we enjoy spending together. The joyful sounds of our grandchildren remind me how blessed we are to live close enough to be able to play a significant role in their lives.

All of us have so much to be thankful for. Taking time to stop and do this on a daily basis can change your life. It did mine. For over ten years now I have been keeping a gratitude journal. Every night I write down five things that I was grateful for that day. Some days it is basic things like a roof over my head and food to eat. Others it is a smile from a stranger, a phone call from a friend or the beauty of nature. One of my favourites is the excited squeal of grandchildren as they run and throw themselves into my arms. There is much to be thankful for, and now I look for these things every day. This allows me to focus on all the good things that God continuously provides. No matter what my day may bring, I am confident that God is watching over me.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV)

Rental Car

God,something better, plans, inspirationMy car had just been dropped off at the body shop to have hail damage repaired. As I stood in line at the car renter counter I wondered what kind of vehicle I’d be driving for the next couple of weeks.

When it was my turn, the person at the counter seemed to have difficulty locating a car for me. I could see her frustration growing. More than once she sent someone out to the lot, looking for the right car. Each time he came back shaking his head. Studying her computer monitor, she said, “Oh, I know; I’ll give you a small SUV.” After a quick inspection of the vehicle I was on my way.

Later I was thinking about this and realized that although I didn’t end up with the original vehicle the rental company planned for me, what I had was perfect. We had been contemplating trading our truck in for a small SUV and now I had the opportunity to try one out.

Not for a minute did I think this was an accident or just a happy coincidence. Instead I saw this as a small example of the way that God orchestrates things in my life. What may seem like an inconvenience or a stumbling block may actually be his way of bringing me something better than I had planned. It was also a reminder that in all things, I should come before him and seek his will for my life. Instead of getting frustrated when things don’t go the way I planned I need to stop, take a step back, and let God move.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient, always faithful and ready to forgive. Psalm 86:15 GWT

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