Archive for the 'Smitten by Holiness' Category

12-31-1969

Smitten by Holiness

I am married to my best friend so he has long endured the excitement I gush over people, especially holy people~ I call it Smitten by Holiness. Some people get excited over new things, cars, houses, jobs or places; I get excited over people. I am always enamored in seeing how God’s gifts manifest themselves through people, so much so that I can’t contain my enthusiasm. I have friends who are talented artists, writers, singers, cleaning specialists, ministers, athletes, therapists, volunteers, teachers, moms and dads, truck drivers, theologians, actors, newscasters, medical professionals, organizers, biblical scholars, lectors, priests, business associates, chefs, fitness enthusiast… all of it! Nothing brings me more joy than to see how God uses each person’s gifts for Him. Brett has often warned me not to put people on pedestals; my own belief is not to have expectations or presuppositions of people; I accept all humanness. To me, our imperfections only exemplify God’s radiant light that much more; a beacon that illuminates God at work in each person, not because of ourselves, but rather, in spite of ourselves.

This past Friday evening I got that butterflies in my stomach, heart racing, palms sweating feeling. It was like that first crush when blood pools to your face without consideration that you might be trying to conceal your insides. My friend, Jessica, invited me to a workshop given by Brennan Manning. I have been smitten with Brennan since the first book I read by him, The Ragamuffin Gospel. Later, I was reminded of how much I resonant with his message when reading another of his many books, Abba’s Child.

Truly a prophetic story teller and textual artist, he encapsulates God’s message in the simplest terms ~ God loves us, deal with it! Now, Brennan might use other verbiage, but I think he would agree his message is surmised in such simplicity. In first seeing him in person, my legs took on a mind of their own. I gently approached him and asked if I could shake hands with a saint. He smiled and I received the gift of an intimate conversation given by He who creates us. I know I am a happily married woman, but I confess, we had a moment, and in that moment, I felt God’s love radiate through him and reflect onto me. I felt the warmth of the Holy Spirit and the hug of The Creator through this prophetic saints’ holy presence.

The awesome thing is, is that Brennan didn’t talk about his life as a saint, his worldly achievements, or accolades, his newest book, or most recent award… instead, he talked about his brokenness, his struggle, his spiritual emptiness, those things that first drew me to him~ things I most relate to. Through his willingness to honestly share his journey, it revalidated the unyielding message of God’s love for us; in our messiness, our imperfections, our faithlessness, our infidelities, our sinfulness, and our darkness ~ He just loves us, and there is nothing we can do about it.

If you haven’t read anything by Brennan Manning I highly recommend any of his books, and if you have the blessings of hearing him speak or meeting him in person, please tell him hi from Smitten in Las Vegas . And, most importantly… as you read these words right now, I hope you will allow yourself to bask in the warmth of HE who is the greatest of all love, the giver of your gifts; He, who is completely, madly, passionately, radically and unconditionally smitten with you! Let Him love on you right now!

Blessings, Love, Light and Peace be with you,

Tammy

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