Labels: faith, Jesus, roots

I've spent a lot of years struggling with the fact that "I am what I eat."

I've always had a weakness for sweets, a love for breads, and a desire for diet pop.

About five weeks ago, I gave up pop all together.

It hasn't been the easiest transition, but I'm finally learning to love water..........

About two weeks into my "no-pop life,"

mom introduced me to a blender called The Magic Bullet.

You literally fill it with your favorite fruits and vegetables and within seconds have a delicious drink.

 

At this stage of the process, it doesn't look  very promising........

And it doesn't look much more promising when the lid is screwed on tight.

But the final product truly is a delicious drink that has become mine and Olivia's new morning ritual before school.

If you want to know the exact ingredients we place in our smoothie, email me at tammynischan@yahoo.com.

The reason I share this, though, is not because I trying to transforming my blog into a health blog even though that might be a great idea.

I really shared all of this to make a comparison to our physical life and our spiritual one.

The saying, "you are what you eat," runs much deeper than the food we consume.

Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life in John 6:35,

"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

In Hebrews 5, we are warned that as we grow in our Christian life we have to live on more than "milk" so that we can learn to distinguish good from evil.

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

 

Paul wants to teach the Corinth church more than he can, but he explains why he can't in the beginning of chapter 3 of I Corinthians,

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly......

Today, I challenge to look at both your physical and spiritual lives.

Where would you put yourself on a scale of 1 to 10.

I have a long ways to go in both areas, but I am feeling challenged lately to move up the scale in both.

I want to be balanced.

I want to physically and spiritually fit.

I want to grow closer to God from the inside out.

I want to be able to handle the hard teachings.

In order to do this, I have to give up some things..........

maybe it's time with some people who seem to pull me away from the person you want to be,

maybe it's things I think about when my mind is idle.

I want God to make very clear the areas of my life where He wants to step in and push other things out.

I'm ready to go up another level.

I hope you are too!

I love you all!

Have a wonderful Monday!

 

Labels: Bible, faith, health, Jesus, spiritual

When you hear the words "duct tape," you probably don't think of something as cute as a hair bow, but at the school where I teach girls are making cute fashion designs with assorted colors and styles of this heavy-duty hardware supply.

As I was looking at some of their creations the other day, I thought to myself, "If humans can take something like duct-tape and create something cute and useful, why are we surprised when the Bible says that God makes all things beautiful in His time?" God longs to take every practical part of us and use it for His glory.

Yesterday, Olivia had a good first day at my school. The girls welcomed her with open arms and the teachers embraced her with love. It was a hard day in some ways. She was nervous about the new schedule, the new work. Shew..........what a journey this has been.

By the end of the day, she had made some new little friends that I know will be a blessing for these last six weeks of school.

God is going to turn a duct-tape kind-of spring into a beautiful hair bow for Olivia, and I am thankful.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

If you feel like you are in a duct-tape season, remember this promise.

We are waiting, trusting, and learning as we continue to cling to Him for our daily strength.

Praying for you today as you do the same.

Thank you again for every prayer.

I love you all so much,

Labels: clinging, faith, God, peace, thankful, trust

Everything seems better when the sun is up, doesn't it? The neurosurgeon on-call came to see Nick this morning and explained that post-op seizures are not "shocking" to them like they are to us. He was very calm. He asked Nick what his phone number was and where he was and Nick could answer both questions easily. Nick does have a fever of 101.4, so they want to take a look at this for a day or so. He still isn't what I would call "my old Nick," but they have him on two medicines which can cause him to be a little sluggish and we think that may be part of the reason. I did ask him what he would say if I shared a "shout out" in an email, and all he said was, "I WANT TO GO HOME!" That made us all smile! Thank you to everyone who has sent encouraging emails and words of prayer. Scriptures always mean the world to me too! They always come at the perfect time! Thank you to everyone who is helping out with Todd and Olivia! Thank you so much!- Ignored: I am heading back up to Nick's room, but I wanted to send a quick update while I was out. Thankful, Tammy and Tim www.nick7-11.zoomshare.com

Labels: cancer, faith, hospital, Nick

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Thank you for your prayers and all of your emails of encouragment....I am sorry I can't reply to all of them right now. I slip out to send an update and use a computer that can only be used for a limited time, but I read EVERY email that is sent and they make me smile!

We don't feel alone!

Nick has slept all morning. After our trauma this morning with Nick's IVS, I am thrilled to report that his antibiotic continued to go in smoothly with the heating pad and slower pace. When Dr. Kosnik (Nick's brain surgeon) stopped by, I asked him about Nick's IVs and he told the nurse, "Pull them out." I love that man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also love our nurse! Super Donna is back from last night, and she is hilarious! She has kept us laughing.

Earlier another doctor came in while Nick was sleeping and saw our little signs hanging on Nick's bed that said, "Nick is 13!" AND "Happy birthday, Nick!" She made a sad face and said, "It's his birthday." I just nodded. Then I kind-of grinned and whispered, "Not really...we just did that for sympathy." And then told her I was kidding. She started laughing, and mom said we should have a basket for gifts. She thought that was so funny and told Donna to get a bed pan! Donna went and got the oldest bed pan style she could find and the doctor taped Nick's sign to it and Tim threw in a couple of dollars. Then Donna went and got a dollar to put in it! It was so funny!

As the doctor left, she said, "Can I get you anything?" I just said, "An audience!"

Oh, what a nice break from all of the tears yesterday!

Nick now has one IV out and as I left to send this the other was getting ready to come out. We ordered breakfast and after he eats we will go down to 3TS. I'll let you know the room number when I find out. Last night, Nick was eating a bowl of cereal and said, "I don't mind being here with the free food...it's good." We cracked up. Dr. Kosnik said that Nick looks good!

He is pleased!

I need to get back up to the room. Keep praying!

Keep those thumbs up! We love you all so much!

Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength! We just keep waiting!

Labels: cancer, faith, IV, Nick, prayers, surgery

First of all, THANK YOU to everyone who posted such encouraging notes to me. I was blessed as I read each one! When things slow down I will visit with you more. I am in the ICU waiting room and wanted to post a quick note to let you know that Nick's surgery took 5 hours and 15 minutes, but he did great!

The doctor was able to remove the entire tumor as well as another tumor that had grown under his scalp just beyond the internal tumor. Whew! His head has stitches from one ear up over his head and down to the other again.... it just breaks my heart.

However, NICK IS AMAZING!!!

Only five hours after the surgery was complete, he had eaten an entire chicken and cheese quesidilla! We can't believe it! He keeps slowly lifting his head and turning it from right to left to show us how strong he is! It is precious.

As we face the next few days, it is certainly a faith walk. We just don't know what the future holds....but then again,

WHO DOES!?!?!? I have to keep reminding myself that today is all ANY of us are promised and that we must cherish each day and live it for God! Yes, I have cried...A LOT....today, but I know deep within my heart that God loves Nick and He loves me.

Oh, thank you for your prayers! Thank you so much!!

Please continue to pray for our little man!

Blessings, Tammy

I love this quote someone gave me on a little pillow - "Faith begins where reason ends." Our ability to reason through this ended LONG AGO!!!

Labels: cancer, faith, Nick

In the Beth Moore Bible study we are doing in Sunday
school, we are being challenged to memorize Psalm 121. The day that my devotions focused on this particular chapter, I had the chance to ride in a tram up a beautiful mountain in Gatlinburg, TN, with my mom and dad and three of my kids.

I couldn't help but think of this beautiful passage as the tram rose higher and higher and the view became more and more beautiful!

1 I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.
5 The LORD protects you; the LORD is a shelter right by your side.
6 The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life.
8 The LORD will protect your coming and going both now and forever.



Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me from a tram in Gatlinburg. Thank you for allowing me to literally raise my eyes towards the mountains and be reminded that my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth!

Labels: earth, faith, heaven, help, Lord, mountains

Labels: cancer, faith, love, Mike Furrey, NFL, thankful