Christian growth

Why the Word? Light for the Next Step

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment
Open Bible with ribbon bookmark, titled “Why the Word? Light for the Next Step,” representing a Christian teaching series on staying in Scripture.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105 (NASB2020)

I live on my sister and brother-in-law’s property and spend a lot of evenings in their home. If I forget to turn the porch light on when I head out the back door, I’m left either cautiously feeling my way or turning on my phone’s flashlight. It’s either that or risk a nosedive I don’t need.

Becoming a student of the Bible is like me turning on my phone’s light. If I didn’t realize my phone even had a light, I’d be stumbling around in the dark. If I know my phone has a flashlight and I choose not to turn it on, I may still be stumbling around in the dark!

It occurs to me that I may be “preaching to the choir” here, that you may love the Word of God and, like me, can’t get enough. Sadly, if that is the case, we’re in the minority. While over two thirds of American homes have a Bible, a little over half of America’s Christians hardly ever read it—if they read it at all. 

Which, of course, is why I’m doing this series.

Back to the point. If you’re not getting into the Word, you don’t know what you’re missing. I mean that literally. Going back to my phone as an example, there is a lot on that thing that I don’t know about, and I don’t care about what I don’t know about. But, every once in a while someone will point out something amazing that I’ve been missing and I get excited.

God’s Word is very much like that, except that it has worlds more to offer than my technological toy. This is one book that no one will ever fully grasp. Why? Because, as Hebrews 4:12 says:

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Word is alive, so every time I read through it (which I’ve done fifteen times if I remember correctly) I see things I’ve never seen before. This may mean I literally don’t remember having read them, or it may mean I see them differently, apply them to my life differently, find a deeper meaning than I was able to before. As I read, I grow, and as I grow, the light grows brighter.

And the brighter the light, the easier it is to see the right path.

I have no idea how many times God has used Scripture, either by reminding me of it or leading me to it, to help me navigate this life. He’s given me direction through the Word. He’s shown me clearly why I don’t need to see what’s lying in wait down the road and just need to trust Him. He’s constantly using the Word to help me grow closer to being the woman of God he has called me to be.

Have you heard the idiom about “seeing the light”?
Pull out your Bible. That’s where you’ll find it.

Stay in the Word—and let the Word stay in you.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

From Perseverance to Prepare: My Word for 2026

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment
Field of stars with the word Perseverance and its definition

I’m not one of those who intentionally comes up with a theme or word for the coming year, but for the past several years God has given me one, and last year’s was perseverance.

Oh my, did it apply!

In 2025, I got to exercise perseverance in ways I’d never have expected. One of the biggest involved self-education. They say it’s important to keep learning new things if you want your mind to stay sharp, and I have been – or I’ve been attempting to.

Learning Spanish hasn’t been easy. In fact, I gave myself a break last month, though I fully intend to pick it back up this week. No, I don’t have a literal need to learn Spanish, but we have a large Hispanic population in our area and in my church, and I want to be able to talk to them in their language. It’s been a struggle, and those who are helping me are having to be very patient, but I’m trying.

And then there is technology and apps. I do not like learning new technology; it’s why I keep my cell phones until I have no choice but to upgrade. But this year?

Whether I’ve been at work or at home, I’ve had a list of things I need to learn. I’m making progress in all areas, including surprising progress in TikTok, which is an app I never even remotely intended to use for more than scrolling.

And then there are finances. I want out of debt! I’m working on it, intentionally making good choices as much as I can. I got slammed financially a few times this year, but I’m still persevering and am determined that the day will come when I will be able to say I’m completely out of debt.

So yes, perseverance is still a word I’m leaning on, reminding myself of. It’s like learning a new language – once you learn the word you keep it in front of you, continue using it so you don’t lose it.

I did learn perseverance in a whole new way in 2025, and I plan to keep on walking in it.

And what, you ask, is my word for 2026?

God gave it to me at the last minute, so to speak, in our New Year’s Eve service at church. It’s prepare. I know part of what God meant in giving me this one. We’ve talked about it and He’s told me to prepare both to level up spiritually and to share Jesus more. There’s more coming, I know, but He’s gracious in that He only tells me what He knows I can handle hearing. He’s good about that. In the meantime, I’m leaning on Proverbs 16:3 for this one. In the NLT, it reads:

Commit your actions to the LORD,
and your plans will succeed.

I’m looking forward to great things in 2026. I hope you are too!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C