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Deep Calls Unto Deep

In nature, when there’s a storm raging on the surface of the water, down deep the water is always calm and undisturbed.

When life surrounds with conflicts and commotion, the trials and tribulations engulf us, we may start to feel overwhelmed, then anxiety begins taking over. In times like these, we must dig deep to find the Spirit of Peace within us.

We can take ourself aside, find a quiet space and get in touch with The Holy Spirit who is able to bring us the peace that is without human understanding. He is always there waiting for us.

When we abide in the Spirit our peace isn’t swayed by the fluctuating storms of our outer world.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ~ John 14:27

 

Image credit: nexusplexus / 123RF Stock Photo

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Making a fresh start!

 

website remodel

Hello!

Welcome to my new WordPress website! I’m very excited to be redesigning my ministry site and vision. Your prayers are appreciated as I learn this new platform and get a fresh design in place.  Hopefully, it be up and running before too long. Until then, all of my content from the last eight years is still available on my original site:  http://reachinghurtingwomen.blogspot.com. I will continue to post columns there as well. 

Blessings… Tamara

Image credit: 123rf.com

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Ministry Update…

Been a little hectic these last weeks… As Mimi, I’ve been helping my son get his wife and kids prepared and on the plane to Latvia for their Summer vacation with family and friends. Personally, I’ve been offline finishing my online seminary classes; final exam taken and ordination papers are now headed this way!

Tomorrow, Bill and I load up the car for a road trip to North Carolina for the Exodus Freedom Conference. This is a conference I’ve been wanting to attend for several years now but have been unable to make. Needless to say, I’m very excited! I hope to post a blog from the conference at some point.

When we return, I’ll get back to work writing. My goal is to have my autobiography completed by the end of Summer and ready to publish by December. Even though I’m about half finished with my book, it’s been over two years since I’ve worked on it because of our many moves.

In other ministry news, we will be setting up our 501c3 status in the next weeks and months and seeking God’s guidance for ministry board members.

I appreciate your prayers for all these concerns. Thanks for supporting this budding ministry. Blessings…

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Who Do You Think You Are?


As recovering addicts we sometimes experience slips, maybe even a full relapse, falling back into our addiction. When we do, it’s easy to justify our behavior by thinking or saying, “That’s just who I am.”  
If that’s who we think we are – that’s who we will continue to be. 
We must take a hard stand, placing strong boundaries on our thoughts and the words that come out of our own mouth.
By taking a proactive approach we not only protect ourselves, but we take charge of our potential destiny.
Our thoughts and words can curse us.

Take a moment today… examine your thoughts.  
Are they thoughts that will eventually lead to your destruction?
Delete the old words from your memory by speaking new words over yourself.


Write down the negative thought. Then turn it into a positive thought and write it down. Post it where you can see it on a regular basis and speak this over your life. 

 

It’s critical that we know who we are in God’s eyes. 
Dig into God’s Word and see who He says you are!

 

Then use the words of your mouth, with God’s help, to create a healthy life today and for the future!  
I will think only on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy! (Philippians 4:8-9)

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Where Have You Come From?

While reading a devotional recently God reminded me not to forget where I’ve come from; to remember all He has graciously brought me through.
I’m not talking about the horrible life of sin and self-destruction from years past, although that’s definitely something I never want to forget. I’m talking about the fresh, even seemingly small victories.   
I believe it’s critical not only to our future successes, but the successes we are currently walking in, that we remember what God brought us out of and remain grateful at all times.
Today I’m struggling with, what may seem like a silly problem, but I’m grateful even for the struggle because it is visible evidence of God’s blessing on our lives…
After living in a hotel room for the last year and a half with basically nothing to maintain, I’m having trouble transitioning back to the real world and the daily routines of running a home. Our new house is easily 10 times bigger than our little hotel room, and honestly a bit overwhelming.
I pushed through October’s move in, buried with boxes to unpack. Then came the holiday hustle… shopping, decorating, entertaining and house guests. I was running a marathon and literally lost 15 lbs!
Now that all the celebrating is over and the new year brings normality of life, I find myself hibernating in my bedroom, not living in this beautiful house God has given us.
In fact, when my best girlfriend from New Orleans was visiting in December, I told her I wanted to decorate our master bedroom like a hotel suite; with a beautiful TV console/dresser, a love seat sofa and a small table with chairs next to the fireplace. Laughingly, Whitney said, You can take the girl out of the hotel but you can’t take the hotel out of the girl. So true.
Some friends in one of my small groups prayed for me last week, so today I am doing better. 
I’m determined:
When I start to feel like everything is too much to handle…
I will stop and praise God for all He has done for me and my family.
When I beat myself up for not having the projects planned 2 years ago completed right away…
I will thank God for the resources to do them and trust His perfect timing for each project.
When overwhelmed with organizing drawers and cabinets…
I will thank God for the opportunity to give items away that can be a blessing to others.
I will take everything one day at a time.
He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. -Psalm 107:7-8
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Summer Update…

A quick note about what’s going on this summer…
 
My husband, Bill’s been on the road for the last month gathering investors for our new company’s second round of funding. 

Needless to say, it’s been tough on us with him going back and forth between Texas and California every 2-3 days.

So…
 
For these next few weeks, I’m traveling along to help support him and be available for dinner meetings with board members, advisers and investors.
 
It’s a bit grueling and I sure miss our kids and dogs back in San Jose; but I’m thankful for this incredible business opportunity, the investors that are coming on board and that we’re able to do this together!

I hope to get an actual blog column written in the next day or so.

Blessings… T

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Struggling to Focus

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted a blog, so I must apologize for my silence.

I was sick for almost two weeks; during that time and since, I’ve been having technical difficulties with my computer.

Now that the sickness has subsided and my computer is pretty much back to normal, I hope to get my writing schedule in sync too.

These last few days I’ve been a bit overwhelmed with the task at hand…

So many books I need and want to read. So much to say to the many women who need reaching. I feel like I’m running behind. Getting discouraged because I don’t seem to be making any real progress.

One of the books I’m currently reading is You Were born for This: 7 Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles by Bruce Wilkinson; best known as the author of The Prayer of Jabez.

During my most recent slump- today, I read:

“If you’re determined to serve people for the sake of people, you’ll eventually burn out and quit…. you’ve been called to serve God–and that’s always worth it. But one of the ways you serve Him is by serving others. You have to keep your eyes on Him, because otherwise you won’t last. Once you’re focused on serving and pleasing God, the rest becomes irrelevant.”

It dawned on me–

Why am I doing what I am doing?

For the hurting women; for the head knowledge from all the books I read; or because I’ve been called by God to serve Him in whatever way He wants to use me?

Joyce Meyer aptly puts it this way: Frustration=Works of the Flesh

In other words, if I’m getting frustrated maybe I’m trying to do something in my own power and strength not depending on God’s guidance, strength or power to get me through.

Today, I will re-access my goals, back up a bit and prayerfully see where God leads me from there.

The main thing I want is to be available to be used by God; if I’m overwhelmed, out of focus or discouraged, I’m certainly of no use to Him or anyone else for that matter.

I appreciate your prayers as I labor to rest in the Lord, to keep my focus on Him and not the tasks at hand, to know that He will bring about what He wants me to do in His perfect timing.

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Review: FREE BOOK by Brian Tome

Reviewed by Tamara Mapp

Posted February 26, 2010

Free Book by Brian Tome

Thomas Nelson, February 2010

230 pp., $14.99

I recently joined a new kind of book club: BookSneeze. As a member I receive a free book in exchange for an honest review on my blog. Upon joining it didn’t take me long to choose Free Book by Brian Tome because I agree with every word in the subtitle:

“I am a fanatic about freedom. And I’m fanatical about coming at you hard in this book. I’m tired of seeing people beaten down by the world’s systems and by religion. I’m sick of seeing people live safe, predictable lives while their God-given passions die. I hate the assumption that getting close to God means more rules and restrictions. No more. God’s offering real freedom. Get yours.”- Brian Tome

Brian takes a little different approach to the subject of freedom. You may not agree with everything he says; but give him credit, he passionately covers all areas of life & how to walk out a life of freedom. This was an excellent book. I highly recommend it for those who are serious about living Free!

Here are a few of the topics he discusses:

  • Be Void of Fear – cast off whatever hinders you; go after the grand adventure of experiencing God while you experience all of life.
  • Be Who God Designed You to Be – live free of condemnation & others’ concern; develop a healthy conscience; not allowing your past to taint your present or future.
  • Jesus: the Ultimate Freedom Giver – freedom requires a decision to follow someone; it’s about the one who’s leading you and the way you choose to follow.
  • Ride the Forgiveness Freeway – staying free means going with the flow of forgiveness; the more we give the more we receive.
  • Live an Unbalanced Life – instead of over committing & striving for balance in multiple areas, throw your weight behind one focused effort; push to experience the fullness of God’s blessings.

Don’t go through life burdened by strongholds and fear; struggling with relationships or finances.



Experience the grace and truth with which Christ brings us True Freedom!

Read Free Book by Brian Tome.

I review for BookSneeze

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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From Uh-Oh to Awe!

Slogan writers and even we as a culture haven’t come up with a name to call the 2000’s decade. The 1900’s were popularly called “The Oughts”, so some want to call the 2000’s “The Naughts” in reference to how badly the decade went. Other’s refer to it as “The Oh-Oh’s (00’s) a pun to “The Naughts.” I personally will call it “The Uh-Oh’s!” Since I started the 2000’s making many bad choices, some I’m still paying for.

Fortunately, God allowed me to learn from my mistakes. I’ve been able to turn my mess into my message and create a ministry for women struggling with the same issues I had. I regret many of the things I did in the first half of the Uh-Oh decade, but if I hadn’t been through those experiences I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I don’t want to forget those years and what God delivered me from; the darkness, the loneliness, the emptiness; so I can fully relate to those who are still there today.

After hearing a visiting evangelist speak about 2010 being the year of restoration, I did some research on the meaning of the number ten. The Biblical the number 10 deals with completeness that happens in a divine order or completed during a course of time. There’s nothing left wanting in the cycle the number ten has just completed.

We were estranged from two of our adult children for most of the Uh-Oh years. Our youngest son recently returned not only to us, but to the Lord. We’re expecting to see full manifestation of a vision God gave me 3 years ago, both our sons and daughter standing together with us, one in Christ.

Yes, it’s a new day, a new year and finally a new decade! But it took the second half of the Uh-Oh’s to get here! Praise God the hardest part of recovery is behind me and my family.

We’re believing for complete, divine restoration of our family.

Until that time comes, we labor to rest in the Lord… in awe…

QUESTION:What are you believing God for during this upcoming decade?