Author: Tammy M Cardwell

Living Your Witness: The Quiet Power of Influence

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Do you ever think about those who have especially impacted your life?

For me, while untold numbers of people have helped me grow, three people stand out, people who have left eternal marks on my soul and had a definite impact on the direction my spiritual walk has taken. What strikes me about all three is that they weren’t preaching at me. They were simply living their witness.

Three People Who Changed My Walk

The Best Friend – Joy in the Spirit
Marilyn, my best friend, never tried to “sell” me on anything. She simply shared her excitement about what God was doing in her life. I’d been saved years earlier but wasn’t actively living like a Christian. I was what I call a “cultural Christian” at that point.

Her joy stirred a hunger that made me face my mostly in name only Christianity and recognize its inadequacy, how little it satisfied me. She expected me to get excited too, and I did.

The Stranger – Baptism in the Holy Ghost
At a Christian Student Union meeting Ms. Jeannie, a woman I’d never met, taught me about and led me into the baptism in the Holy Ghost. She was our speaker that night and I could tell she was like my best friend in that she had “it.” In spite of my introversion and insecurity, I’d gathered my courage and asked her, “What is the baptism in the Holy Ghost?”

The conversation we had, and the prayer we prayed, changed my life forever. And I’m happy to be able to report that she became a dear friend and is still a vital influence in my life.

The Evangelist – Intimacy with God
The last of my three, Jesse Duplantis, is an evangelist. His messages are always great, but his almost casual references to his conversations with God made me hunger for that kind of walk:

“I want that type of relationship with You, God!
You’re no respecter of persons.
I want that intimate relationship too!”

So I got in the Word more, prayed more, and focused on listening for His “voice,” God speaking directly to my spirit. Over time, that intimacy became my reality – and I love how we talk to each other all day long.

The 1 Thessalonians 5:17 command to pray without ceasing? This is it. Yes, I have a set time that I know I’ll be praying, talking to God about things that matter to us both, but the conversation doesn’t stop there.

The Quiet Power of Living Faith

Other than Brother Jesse, these are normal people you’ll most likely never meet, but their influences in my life still affect how I live and what I share with others.

And those key people reached me not through preaching at me, but by letting me see the reality of God in their lives, by giving me glimpses of possibilities I’d not imagined.

They also taught me one of the most important things about sharing the Gospel.

We start by living it.

Marilyn, Ms. Jeannie, Brother Jesse…
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
Philippians 1:3

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

What Do I Say?

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

I was in an uncomfortable position, recently. (Understatement Alert)

I’d received a message – heartfelt, pain-filled, and laced with anger – that I knew I needed to respond to. But I didn’t know how.

So, I waited.

I’ve learned that, when my heart is stirred like it was at that point, my first reaction is not usually going to be the best one. In this instance I wasn’t even being asked to respond, not directly, but it was clear I was expected to. So yes, I waited.

I waited until I’d had time to step away from it, to breathe, to do other things and give God a chance to speak. Interestingly, He used TikTok, of all things, to remind me of truths I already knew, but hadn’t put together to apply to this moment.

When God nudged me, letting me know it was time, I returned to the message.

Before I started typing, I prayed:
“You’ve got to give me the words. I can’t do this without you.”

I knew the direction He wanted to go. I knew my heart was in the right place. I just didn’t trust myself to get it right.

And God did what He always does.
He gave me the words.

They sounded like me: If you read them, you’d know I wrote them. But I only typed what He told me to say. Even a part I initially left out, feeling like it would be “too much,” He had me go back and add, and I’m glad I did.

Because I waited.
Because I listened.
Because I trusted.
He gave me the words.

I Knew He would.

I learned this lesson long ago, before my first experience as a conference speaker. I’d done everything I knew to do. I’d researched, studied, prayed, outlined… But I was still unsure of myself. 

As I’d talked to Him about it, God had reassured me:
If He gave Moses the right words, He would do the same for me.

And He did.

My workshops went well, and I’d learned something new and vital. What God did for Moses He really is willing to do for me.

And for you.

He created us. He knows our strengths – and our weaknesses. He understands our messy emotions and our tendency to speak when silence is the better choice – or to hesitate, remaining silent when someone needs hope.

He knows how much we want to represent Him well – not misrepresent Him!
He knows we want to make things better – not worse!

The good news is…

He’s willing to help.
Not just with strength.
Not just with courage.
But with the very words we need to say.

Left to our own devices, we might make a tense situation even worse.
We might miss an opportunity to bring peace, healing, or truth.

But with God?

With God, yes.

We can know what to say.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

The Weight of the Calling: A Reflection on James 3:1

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Every time I read James 3:1, I pause and examine my heart and motives.

I’ve never claimed to be a teacher; I’m not one. I’m merely someone who shares what she learns as she learns it – what God shows me as He helps me understand it.

James 3:1 is a strong warning:

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” (KJV)

Most modern translations use the word “teacher” instead of “master,” which is another reason I don’t claim to be a teacher. I’ve certainly not mastered Scripture well enough to teach it!

This verse hits me harder now than it ever has. Reading Rick Renner’s Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude has given me a deeper understanding of this verse than I anticipated.

The one verse warrants two whole pages in his book. He has a lot to say and it’s all important. For brevity’s sake, I’m limiting myself to sharing just two points here. They’re things we should already know, but still…

There is no room for ego and pride in ministry.
At any level.
Period.

Whether one is a Christian or not, ego and pride are the most common culprits when it comes to desiring labels, titles, and recognition. Actually, let’s get real; they are the culprits. Whether we admit it or not.

Renner writes, “Humility serves as an unmistakable hallmark of any great teacher, and all genuine ‘masters’ have first been mastered by their own submission to truth.”

I saw this humility in action once when a guest minister arrived early and saw us setting up tables in the foyer. He didn’t miss a beat but immediately jumped in to help in spite of our efforts to stop him. He was our special guest! That didn’t matter to him. I wish I could remember exactly what he said as he picked up his end of a table. All I can tell you is that it made a huge impact on us.

Like Jesus did when He washed the disciples’ feet, this man demonstrated true servant leadership. He wasn’t chasing acclaim – he was living his calling with humility. Even those who rarely see him could tell it, and you know God noticed! Because…

God is always watching.

If someone sets themselves up and declares, “I’m a Christian teacher,” they really need to consider the magnitude of their decision. God, who cannot be deceived, sees every word, every motive, everything we hide in our hearts. We may fool man, but we can’t put anything over on God.

James doesn’t pull punches. In the NET this verse reads:

“…because you know that we will be judged more strictly.”

That’s heavy! Imagine James – the brother of Jesus – saying, “If I mess this up God is going to come down on me – HARD.”

But James didn’t write this to scare his readers. He wrote it because he cared. He wanted to protect them from false prophets and teachers; he also wanted to protect them from the self-deception of pride. He was trying to help them count the cost of leadership.

Renner’s notes unpack what it meant, in that culture, to be a teacher, master, or revelator. It required a level of preparation and knowledge that few were willing to pursue – study that took years, even decades. It still requires such effort today.

Do you feel called to the ministry?

Then prepare your heart. Study like never before. Live close to Jesus. And check your pride at the door.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

If you haven’t read it already, you may want to check out my review of the Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude.

Message Cards: A Simple Way to Witness

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

Sunday’s post on tipping and my latest project come together for this one.

As Christians, we have Good News worth sharing, but the thought of stepping out and speaking up can feel overwhelming. Trust me; I get it. I’m a serious introvert (if you’ve never picked up on that) and sharing Jesus used to intimidate me in a big way. But I discovered that it didn’t have to.

A Missed Opportunity and a New Idea
Many years ago, I realized I was missing a golden opportunity. I ate out frequently and wanted to share Jesus with the servers I met but was too shy to speak up. I am a good tipper and I soon decided I needed something I could leave with my tip.

Note:
If you don’t tip well,
you might want to check out my recent post,
Don’t Let a Bad Tip Ruin a Good Witness.

I settled on what I call message cards; I designed and ordered them fairly inexpensively from VistaPrint. My message was simple: “God loves you so much He asked Jesus to die for you. Jesus loves you so much that He did. John 3:16” After some thought, I decided to include my URL so people would have somewhere to go if they had questions. These little cards became a quiet way for me to witness without feeling awkward or pushy.

I prayed that each card would reach at least one person, then I left them with tips, used them as business cards by jotting my number or email on the back, and at one point even stapled dollar bills to a bunch of them and hid them in products in stores – coat pockets, wallets, etc. (I’m not necessarily advising this, but it was fun!)

These little cards were affordable and easy to hand out, but potentially powerful.

Time for an Upgrade
I recently realized my supply was getting low, and also that it was time for a new look. I had an idea of what I wanted them to say, but no design skills, so I turned to someone I trust implicitly: my son Terry, the owner of PixelDripStudio. He’s working on my website redesign, so he knows my branding (which he also created) and my heart.

I scribbled two lines on the back of one of my old cards and told him, “This is what I want to say.” After asking several questions to help refine the idea, he got to work… and he gave me more than I was expecting.

Watching him work was a joy (If you’re a mom, you know), and I’m proud to be able to share what he created. As silly as it sounds, I’m particularly delighted with the gloss accents! You’ll see them better in these two smaller pictures.

My message is two-fold.

1. John 3:16 is Personal
Yes, God sent Jesus “for the world” but, specifically, He sent Jesus for you. He was thinking of you when He asked His Son to become one of us, to live without sin, to show us how to live, then to give His life – knowing exactly who He was dying for.

…and…

2. Jesus Chose the Cross
Sometimes we gloss over Gethsemane, choosing to pass by the pain, but we shouldn’t. Read Luke 22:41-44 and you’ll see that Jesus was under so much torment in the garden that He sweated drops of blood. (Yes, it’s a real condition! Look up Hematidrosis.) Our Savior knew what was coming, what He would endure. He had every right to back out, but He didn’t. 

“Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.”

He chose the cross. He chose you.

This is the foundation of every piece of encouragement and advice I offer here and in my newsletter. Jesus’ love for us, for you and me, is beyond comprehension. The more I think about what it cost both God and our Lord to free us from bondage to sin the more in awe I am.

The Takeaway
These new cards carry my heart, and my contact information for those who have questions. They present a message that matters and they let me share Jesus without saying a word. 

Evangelism doesn’t have to be scary and hard. It can be as simple as handing someone a card.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Don’t Let a Bad Tip Ruin a Good Witness

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

More and more lately, I come across social media reels from non-Americans asking why we do certain things. One common question is, “Why do Americans tip their servers?”

It’s a fair question, especially since it seems we’re the only nation, or one of the few, that does it.

The answer may surprise you.

Here in the U.S., the federal government classifies servers as “tipped employees.” Depending on the state, this means restaurants can pay their servers as little as $2.13 an hour on the assumption that tips will make up the rest of their pay. Yes, really. Tips are the bulk of their income.

That young person who brings out your steak and refills your tea? They literally depend on your tip to help them pay rent.

This is where I pull out my soapbox; as a Christian, this is an issue I feel strongly about.

A Conversation I’ll Never Forget

Several years ago, a devoted Christian friend, one who was also a server at a popular local restaurant, shared something that’s stuck with me ever since.

She told me no one ever wanted to work the Wednesday night closing shift.

Why?

Because every week a large group from a local church would come in minutes before closing. They’d order big meals, linger over their food, make demands long after closing, and then leave without tipping.

Like I said, this wasn’t a one-time thing. It happened week after week.

Everyone at the restaurant knew exactly which church these people came from, and that church’s reputation took a serious hit. Even worse, their bad behavior hurt the reputation of Christians in general.

That was when my friend taught me a phrase I’ve never forgotten: “Church People”

It’s what the servers she worked with called “Christians” who showed up with entitled attitudes and left no tips. Some even “preached” to their servers about Jesus, but they didn’t act much like Him.

A Higher Standard

The world will do what the world is going to do. I get it.

But Christians are called to a higher standard.

When I hear someone who claims to follow Jesus say, “I only tip if I get exceptional service,” it makes my stomach turn. It’s a good thing God doesn’t hand out grace using that standard!

If we want others to see Jesus in us, we must walk like Him. We should be the kindest, most generous, most appreciative customers in the building.

Yes, even if the service is slow.

Even if the food isn’t great.

Even if we’re hangry.

It is possible to deal with issues in love rather than entitlement.

Because our witness isn’t just about the right religious words coming out of our mouths. It’s about how we treat people, all people.

So… Please…

If you’re going to be rude and demanding…

If you’re going to skip the tip…

Don’t tell your server you’re a Christian.

Don’t write a Bible verse on the receipt.

Don’t wear your Christian t-shirt to the restaurant.

Don’t ruin your witness over a few dollars.

Let’s do better.

Let’s not be known as “church people,” but as people who show the love of Jesus one generous tip at a time.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Tip Challenge:
The next time you eat out, leave your server an extra generous tip just because you can,
and say a prayer for them as you lay it on the table.

The Accidents that Didn’t Kill Me

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Have you ever stopped to count how many times God has rescued you? That is, have you considered how many times He’s rescued you that you know of?

“Rescue” can mean many things, but right now I’m thinking about times when I know beyond doubt that I would not have survived without divine intervention.

The first was when I was around 8 or 9. We were enjoying a day on the water when our boat hit a submerged log. When I came to, I was in my stepfather’s seat and he was in the water.

It is a heartbreaking thing to be completely helpless while watching a man drown.

Years later I realized something terrible: It should have been me. My sister and I were sitting up on the inboard motor and should have been thrown out of the boat, but we weren’t.

Another time I was driving down a mostly empty highway on a sunny day when a dump truck driver decided to cross the road in front of me. He said he didn’t see me, but let’s not go there.

I swerved just enough to slam into his rear wheel.

Had I instead gone between his wheels…? 

Then there’s the more recent wreck I can’t even let myself think about. It, too, should have killed me – and not just me.

And these are the times I know God had His hand on me, His angels looking after me.

I can’t help but wonder how many more there have been.

A demon once told my sister, “We’ve been trying to kill you for years.” Given the things that have happened to her – starting with the fact that she was sitting beside me on the day our stepfather died – I have no trouble believing it.

I don’t think we give God and His angels enough credit. We may wonder why certain bad things happen, but in reality… How much worse could it have been?

I often pray Psalm 91 over myself and my family. Verse 11 assures me, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”

I’m living proof. Maybe you are too.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Wake up, Church! The Alarm Has Already Sounded

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Imagine you’re the boss of a large company and one day while walking around the jobsite you discover some of your employees asleep. Perhaps you’re a merciful person and, after waking them up and warning them not to repeat the offense, you move on.

But they don’t stop taking naps while they’re supposed to be working.

Someone else catches them at it again, sleeping right out in the open as if it were perfectly acceptable and they had no reason to be concerned about anything. But once more they get off with a warning.

Then a day comes when something goes wrong in their area and a raging fire breaks out. Perhaps it happens because of their inattention, perhaps not. Regardless, they’re so sound asleep they never hear any alarms, never have a clue until it’s too late, and they perish.

Because they were asleep.

Does it sound like something from a movie script? Maybe, but I’m sure similar things have occurred. Probably more than once. If, like me, you happen to live surrounded by chemical plants, you know what I mean. I’ve heard stories all my life.

I was thinking about one such story this morning and, as He often does, the Holy Spirit led me in a spiritual direction. Consider the same scenario…not in a company, but in the Church.

I thought about those sleeping employees and how they had been lulled into complacency. I mean, if you’re obviously sleeping on the job and not trying to hide it, you must feel like such behavior is ok. Why? Who did you see doing the same thing? Have you convinced yourself you’re above the rules? Or have you just stopped paying attention?

The truth is, we see the very same thing happening in the Church today. I’m not talking about sleeping in the pews; yes, this happens but is nowhere near as dangerous as what I’m referring to. I’m talking about the large percentage of the Church that has been lulled into complacency and is asleep on the job.

How many think they’ve “got it covered” just because they showed up? They fill their pews on Sunday morning and believe that’s good enough. But it’s not!

Romans 13:11 (NKJV) warns us,

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

In Revelation 3:1-3, to the church at Sardis Jesus says,

“…I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead… Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain…”

And in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 we see the clear warning,

“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”

Complacency is from the devil. I mean that literally. God leads us in peace. The devil can’t copy peace. The closest he can get is complacency, and he uses it skillfully. He distracts the Christian from what he needs to be doing, encourages him to get comfortable, and drapes a shroud of complacency over him to lull him to sleep.

When I had that thought this morning, alarm bells went off: The Ten Virgins!

In sharing this parable in Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus made it clear that we can’t be complacent. In verse 13, He says,

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Unlike the five foolish virgins, we must be prepared so that we’re ready to move the instant we hear the alarm. The consequences of failure in the parable were huge to those women.

And they can be huge to us.

The parable of the ten virgins has long been thought to be a reference to the Rapture of the Church, a warning that we must stay prepared if we don’t want to miss that call. Those who study End Time prophecy are well aware that Jesus’ return is unimaginably close, especially given the most recent events in the Middle East.

Don’t let the devil drape you in complacency. Put on the cloak of a warrior and stand up. Keep your eyes on our Lord and go where He leads.

Stay in the Word, stay in prayer, and keep sharing Jesus with everyone you can. Pray for the salvation of those around you. Yes, even pray for your enemies. God doesn’t want anyone to go to Hell, and neither should we.

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

1 Timothy 2:3-4

“…God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Don’t let complacency be your downfall.
Stay awake. Stay prepared. Stay in step with the Spirit.
The time is short – and Eternity doesn’t wait.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Amir Tsarfati’s Biblical Case for Israel: My Take

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

Given the global tension regarding Israel,
Amir Tsarfati’s new book couldn’t be more timely.

I have questions…

Do you believe the church replaced Israel in God’s plan?
Do you believe Israel shouldn’t even exist?
Do you believe Israel is God’s chosen nation?

Regardless of your answers, The Israel Decree may be just the book you need – even if you’d rather not risk being swayed in your thinking.

I don’t generally review books I’ve not finished, and I’m only about 2/3 of the way through this one. However, I’ve studied the topic before and can confirm that everything I’ve read so far is accurate and comes with a depth and clarity that can’t be denied. In fact, I’m so impressed with this book that I’ve already ordered several copies personally.

The Israel Decree’s subtitle is “Understanding God’s Unbreakable Covenant with His People and Their Land,” and understanding is exactly what it provides. In less than 120 pages, Amir Tsarfati answers every challenge that has been offered against Israel’s right to exist as a nation.

Tsarfati tackles every challenge head-on, whether it regards modern politics or ancient prophecy. His arguments are meticulously documented and scholarly, but highly readable; you are left with the impression that he’s speaking to you personally.

If you have a question about Israel’s relationship with God and her right to exist as a modern-day nation, I can almost guarantee he answers it here.

Will those who oppose Israel take time to read it with an open heart? I can only hope.

God told Abraham, regarding his descendants, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

Those verses alone are enough for me to support Israel, but they just scratch the surface.

Whether you lean toward replacement theology, question Israel’s right to exist, or simply want to deepen your understanding of God’s covenant with His chosen people, this short book will challenge and equip you.

Pick up a copy of The Israel Decree today and come away with a greater understanding of and appreciation for God’s unbreakable promises.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Reading Scripture in Context: A Guide for Growing Faith

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Ronnie Trice, my pastor’s father, often said about reading the Word, “When you see ‘therefore,’ you need to see what it’s there for.”

I’ve never forgotten this instruction, but I must confess I sometimes forget to act on it. Little transition words like “so,” “then,” and “for” might seem insignificant, but they carry a lot of weight. And, sad to say, they’re all too easy to ignore.

Take the word “if.” It indicates conditions. That’s important when we’re talking about the promises of God. We get excited about God’s promises, and we should! But we too often overlook the conditions that come attached.

Let me give you a few examples.

John 15:7 (KJV)
Promise: “…ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Condition: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you…”

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
Promise: “…will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Condition: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways then…”

1 John 1:9 (KJV)
Promise: “… he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Condition: “If we confess our sins…”

These aren’t hidden messages. They’re right in front of us in black and white (or red and white, if it’s Jesus talking), but we miss them when we skim the words or focus only on the parts we want to see.

Recently, I was reading from the Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude (RIV). In this version, Rick Renner takes the original Greek and brings out the meaning in a way that is both faithful to the text and alive with first century understanding. It made me appreciate transition words all over again.

Take a look at James 1:23. In the KJV it reads:

“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.”

The word “for” is small, easy to skip over, but it’s crucial to the message. It ties everything back to what James has just finished saying and leads into what he has to say next. In the RIV, that same passage begins like this:

“You need to understand that if — as I’m certain is the case concerning what I’m about to say — anyone finds himself among those who merely show up to hear the Word but are not committed to putting it into practice…”

In other words, James was alerting his readers to the urgency of both what he had to say and how it all fit together.

What had he just said?

The end of verse 22 (still in the RIV) makes it crystal clear.

“These kinds of people make the grave miscalculation of thinking they’ve done all that is required by just showing up. Don’t trick yourselves into thinking that merely showing up and listening is all that’s required.”

Then come verses 23-24 where he talks about a man who looks in a mirror, sees things in his reflection that need to be fixed, then turns and walks away, forgetting all about what he’s seen. James is saying, “Don’t be that person!”

That’s a big “for.”

Of course, this truth holds up no matter which translation you choose. Transition words are like important signposts. They remind us of where the author has been and where he’s going. But here’s the thing: We’ve grown accustomed to reading the Bible in bits and pieces, chapter by chapter or even verse by verse, usually without thinking about how it was originally written.

Did you even know the Bible didn’t always have chapter and verse numbers?

It’s true. The Bible was originally written as continuous text. The chapter divisions we know today were first introduced in the 1200s, and verse numbering came even later. While they undeniably help us find things quickly, these divisions can also lead us to read verses in isolation, and this causes us to miss much of the flow and intent of the text.

Take Romans 8:1 for example.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

That “therefore” is a clue. It tells us to back up and see what led to this beautiful conclusion. When we start at Romans 7:21 and then read through Romans 8:4, we get the full context. In sharing his personal struggles with sin as well as the triumph we have through Christ Paul gives us a message that is only hinted at in Romans 8:1.

And then there’s Hebrews 12:1.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…”

Wherefore? Which witnesses? To answer these questions, you need to back up to the Hall of Fame of Faith found in Hebrews 11. Read about these heroes of the faith, see how they stood through everything in their lives, and you will be encouraged that you too can “run the race set before you.” And to truly grasp the full impact of Hebrews 12:1, I urge you to keep reading through 12:3. It’s all connected.

Experiencing the Bible is about more than reading a verse or two here and there. Don’t get me wrong: Cards and calendars that offer a scripture a day are good, but they are no substitute for truly diving into the Bible. If you want to let His words live in you as Jesus said in John 15:7, slow down, read in context, take it in fully, act on it, and watch it change you from the inside out.

That’s one reason I believe reading the Bible from cover to cover is one of the most powerful things you can do to grow in your relationship with God. When you follow the flow of Scripture, those little words — if, for, therefore, then, wherefore — become keys that unlock deeper understanding.

So next time you’re reading and come across one of them, pause.

Ask what it’s there for.

You might just discover it’s pointing to something life-changing.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

PS: If my references to the RIV intrigued you, you might want to check out my review of The Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude.

Hard-Fought Hallelujah: Choosing Praise in Pain

Tammy M Cardwell4 Comments

The first time I heard these words…

I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt been-through-hell hallelujah
And I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail story-to-tell hallelujah, oh, oh
‘Cause God, You’ve been patient 
God, You’ve been gracious, faithful, whatever I’m feeling or facing
So, I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt it-is-well hallelujah

I knew I was hearing a song that spoke to my life, perhaps more deeply than any other. Brandon Lake’s Hard Fought Hallelujah has touched countless hearts, but in that first listening I felt heard – in a way I’m not sure I ever had before.

If you know me, you know I’ve been there!
During some of the darkest days of our marriage – when I knew that, as soon as we got home from church, he would head out to meet the other woman – choosing to worship God with the congregation gave me strength to breathe, to keep standing, to keep showing up.

Once, when one of my sons was heading in a completely wrong direction and I was alone in the house with the pain, I cranked up the worship and poured my heart out to God.
That was my, “storm-tossed, torn-sail story to tell hallelujah.”
And it got me through.

Here’s the thing.
Thanksgiving, praise, and worship aren’t just for the good times. Anyone can offer up a “thank God” when something goes their way. Unbelievers do it all the time. But when you offer up a hallelujah while walking through hell barefoot in the dark? That’s different.

That kind of worship releases something powerful.
Choosing to worship God not because of what we see, but because of Who He is transforms us.
It alters how we see Him.
It alters how we see the storm.
It deepens our relationship with The One who is always there.

Does the storm leave? Maybe. Maybe not. But we rise above it regardless.

I encourage you:
Bring it!
No matter where you are, no matter what you’re walking through today – bring God your hallelujah!
Let your worship be more than a song. Make it your lifestyle.

If you’ve not heard the song for yourself, you can watch Brandon Lake sing it with Jelly Roll on YouTube.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

PS: Here is an eye-opening video of Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll being interviewed by KLove.