PEACE

The adrenaline rush.

I’ve had a lot of adrenaline coursing through my veins lately. Life is messy. If you have people in your life, you will feel the feels, no doubt about it. People tend to do what they want instead of what you want. Imagine that.

When I was a young teen, just starting to think about the vast future ahead of me and way before my dreams became foggy because of poor choices and circumstances, I asked a trusted adult if he knew of any jobs I could do where I didn’t have to be around people. He said he didn’t know of such a job.

Fast forward to 2020 with the “pandemic” and its restrictions and quarantines, and the resulting abundance of office and teaching jobs that became remote. It was an introvert’s dream come true! Until it wasn’t.

Truthfully, even introverts sometimes get tired of being alone, and there’s a reason. We weren’t made to be.

Safety from people doesn’t protect us from ourselves, and we are our worst enemy.

We need to support and remind each other of God’s presence in our lives when the times are tough, or we are afraid and losing focus. We need loving rebuke when we can’t see our sin or are making excuses for it. We need encouragement to keep going when we are weary of the rat race, the world, and its happenings. We need love, especially when we don’t think we do. More importantly, we need to give love to others.

God sends people to us for a lifetime or for a season to provide for our needs, whatever they may be. We may not know what our needs are, but He does. So when you feel like you can’t take any more of certain people and the pain and trouble they bring to the table, remember that God put them in your presence for a reason, which wasn’t necessarily to make your life easier. God is the author of relationships. HE is your everything; not family, not friends, not church. Only He can provide the lasting peace you are craving to replace the spite of the world.

Read His love story and lean on Him.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
 For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.

 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[b]
 Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
 But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant peace. Psalm 37:1-11

Reflection: Is anyone trying to steal my peace from me? How can I remember to lean on the Lord when I get agitated?

FREEDOM

Last night, I started commenting on a social media post asking what people thought about the movie “Sound of Freedom,” and it disappeared. The post had only been up for two hours and had only 99 responses, several of which were disturbingly mocking. I wonder if the forum deleted it or the author did, but here is my comment.

Check out the current statistics on http://www.missingkids.org, the website of The National Center For Missing And Exploited Children.

Trafficking has been going on for ages. I think of Johnny Gosch, the young boy delivering newspapers on his bike early in November 1982 in Des Moines, Iowa. He just disappeared, leaving his bike and newspapers behind. His mother started a web page dedicated to finding him, and his disappearance was instrumental in starting the practice of putting the faces of missing children on milk cartons. Whatever happened to that?

There was a televised documentary about the case, and several “sightings” were reported, but despite the clues and strange occurrences over the years, his family never got closure. He was 12 years old and has been missing for over 40 years. It is still an open case.

Thousands of missing kids and teens have been in the United States over the years that the media haven’t reported. Trafficking and organ harvesting is a worldwide money-making industry that is now exposed in full force, so it’s no big surprise the people most likely to profit are trying to suppress and politicize the movie. I hate to guess at the motivations of the average critical person.

If you haven’t seen the movie, please do so. Pray for all the people who are missing in the world and for their families.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Reflection: How can I use good to fight evil? How can I protect myself and those I love?

FRYING

A melting pot is a metaphor for a society where many different types of people blend as one. Some countries primarily consist of people of the same race, religion, and culture. America has traditionally been called a melting pot. The term “as one” is an important distinction because it does NOT describe what is happening in our country today.

When many different elements come together with no intention of blending toward cohesion but rather each element fighting to overtake the other elements, you have a recipe for complete failure. It reminds me of a rescuer jumping into the pool to save someone who is drowning, and they, in their desperation, pull the rescuer down with them. They are both lost.

When we get on a plane, the flight attendants tell us how to use air masks in an emergency. We learn to put our masks on first before we help someone else. It’s the best way to increase the chances of both surviving.

Hatred is covering people’s eyes. It’s the saddest thing ever to watch colors clashing, genders pushing, churches dividing, children suffering, neighbors fighting, and families being destroyed. The United States of America is no longer a melting pot. It’s oil and water on a hot frying pan.

I’m trying to end this on a hopeful note! All I can say is Jesus is the answer, just as He always has been from Alpha to Omega. Jesus is our Savior, Protector, Advocate, Healer, Teacher, and Intercessor.

Come to him in repentance and praise! Forgive those who trespass against you so you may be forgiven by your Father in heaven.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Reflection: Who do I need to forgive? How do I go about doing that? Am I protecting or hurting myself?

HELLO

He said “Hi, Tamra”.

“Do you remember me from math class?”

Here I am in Costco on Monday, looking at refrigerated dog food, when my thoughts of “Will they eat chicken? Is this actually cheaper? I wonder what it smells like?” is interrupted by a man coming up behind me and asking if I remember him.

I don’t know what my face looked like, but I’m sure, based on the look I had on it, he and his wife were positive I didn’t.

They broke up laughing. He handed me the Costco card I had dropped out of my back pocket when fishing for my phone earlier. I told him I knew I hadn’t had him in a MATH class. We all laughed as he said he had probably copied off me. I was thankful he found my card and returned it to me. All’s well; ended well.

Today, as I scoured the birthday cards at Walgreens, I heard a small, soft voice behind me say, “Tamra?”. My first thought was, oh, no, not again. I turned around to see the back of a lady pushing her cart past me. I cautiously said, “Yes,” as if I were answering a trick question. The lady turned around to reveal my church friend, Vicki, who said she didn’t recognize me because I don’t usually wear my hair in a bun. Never mind the fact I was, for the first time, wearing new eyebrows I painted on with stencils and a shirt that had little holes worn in the front. Isn’t that how it is when we try to sneak out looking less than our best? I tell ya’.

We had a great conversation for a few minutes, standing in the greeting card aisle at Walgreens. Later, I had to smile at how sometimes hearing our name can bring such worry and joy simultaneously. Worry because we don’t expect anyone to know us, and joy because someone knows us where we are. In the city, that rarely happened, but here in a small suburb, it can, even if unlikely.

Have you ever felt that way about God? He sees and hears all, and yet, He loves us as His children. We aren’t always at our best; He knows that and loves us just the same. Sometimes He surprises us with His presence in the most amazing ways, leaving us comforted and reminded of His sovereign grace.

He knows our name, and we smile.

Adonai answered Moses, “I will also do what you have said, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17

Reflection: How do you feel when someone says your name? Does it give you warm fuzzies or send cold ripples down your neck? Why?

NEIGHBORS

Things happen.

We’ve lived in our neighborhood for almost three years, and for the first two, our mail and packages kept getting misdelivered. It didn’t matter if it was by USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon. Granted, our neighborhood wasn’t located on Google Maps, which was part of the problem. A few of our packages were delivered to the subdivision a mile up the road, never to be seen because the receivers decided they could use $80 worth of wild bird food and dog food.

Another factor was the city decided to name the parallel streets in our subdivision by the same name, with the only difference being Street, Court, and Place. We soon found out our new neighbors on the next street had the same house number as ours, which added to the delivery confusion because their address was identical except for Court instead of Street. This delivery circus is how we met John and Carol.

A careful glance at the homeowner’s names and addresses revealed the problem, and we spent a year and a half delivering misdelivered mail and packages, and redirecting guests to each other’s homes. In the process, we became friends and enjoy each other’s company as part of our extended Christian fellowship.

We’ve told many people the story of our mail and package switcharoos and chalk it up to divine intervention because none of us believe in chance. The errant deliveries have nearly ceased, but our friendship with John and Carol, developed while working out the kinks, made it worth all the trouble.

God is in control.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28

Reflection: Recall a time when something good came from an inconvenience. What purpose was served? Did you recognize the role God played in the circumstances?

LAZY

Disclaimer: Don’t read this if you aren’t ready to hear the truth in love.

Christian, don’t be so focused on being a “work in progress” that you don’t progress.

It’s great when you can admit you aren’t perfect, make mistakes (sin), and make the necessary adjustments in your life to change.

It’s another thing to admit you’re a jerk and expect everyone else to accept you as you are because you have no intention of bettering yourself.

Progression is hard work, but do yourself and those around you a favor.

Have faith the Lord will help you.

I say this as someone who still struggles with all the things that make a Christian authentic. I say this with understanding and love,

Don’t be lazy with the new.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Reflection: Are there any old behaviors and beliefs I’m holding on to even though I’m born again? What is holding me back from laying them at the foot of the cross forever? Am I really born again?

HEALTH

I have always been low maintenance.

No mani-pedis or expensive hair treatments. No fancy makeup. I have carried the same purse for months. I love jewelry, but most were given to me as gifts or inherited from my Mom’s vast costume jewelry collection. I had never had a massage until my sons gave me a spa gift certificate for my birthday a few years ago. It took me three years to use it, just before it expired. I chose a facial treatment, and it was a lovely experience.


Then, to celebrate our twenty-second wedding anniversary, my husband and I decided to spend a few days in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and he arranged for us to have a 1-hour couple’s massage. Having previously had a facial massage, I was good with that. I wasn’t sure about a full-body massage with a stranger, however. But I almost fell asleep with my husband on a table next to me, in a darkened room with relaxing music! It smelled good, too! It was luxurious, and I’m glad we did it, but once was enough for me.

I do love clothes; new, old, or used, I don’t care. My latest thing is watching YouTube videos of women who show you how to dress to look your best with what you currently have in the body department. You can look thinner without wearing a tent or what looks like old pregnancy clothes. That reminds me. Remember “smock tops” from the 1970s? Mine had pockets. I remember my mom shaking her head at the thought of pregnancy wear being in style for young women. I loved them because they were a comfortable respite from the tight, hip-hugger, bell-bottom jeans we used to wear.

In addition to wanting to look my best, I try to keep healthy because I know my health is an investment. I won’t get rich off it, but I will most likely prosper with a better quality of life in my old age. There are some things we have no control over, but most of us know what we can control, such as what we eat, how active we are, how much sleep we get, and how we nurture our thoughts and attitudes. What about our spiritual life?

Did you know a study conducted at Harvard University concluded that a rich religious faith is linked with better health outcomes and is an essential part of whole-person care? In fact, spiritual practices can lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and lessen the effects of mental illnesses. This consensus goes beyond organized religion, but because I’m a Christian, I focus on what is in the Bible.

And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. Acts 3:16 (Faith always receives, never gives. God is the giver. Affects spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (God’s grace and power are worth more than worldly things. Affects spiritual, emotional, and mental health)

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 (Pray before you sleep. Affects physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health)

Those who find rest in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 (Our security is in Him. Affects our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health)

Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. Jeremiah 33:6 (Realize Christ is the cure for sin. Affects spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health)

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. Genesis 1:29 (Eat fruits and vegetables except for the Tree of Life. Affects physical, mental, and spiritual health)

“Since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?””Since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” Mark 7:9. (Don’t stress. We can eat anything. Affects our physical and mental health)

“Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25. (Don’t worry. Affects emotional, physical, and mental health)

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33
( Put God first in your life, and He will provide. Affects emotional and mental health)

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 1 Timothy 4:4. (Practice gratitude. Affects mental and emotional health)

Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 1 Timothy 3:3 (Drink in moderation. Be kind. Don’t be greedy. Affects physical and mental health)

And last but not least, I end with John 3:16, which says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (Affects spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health)

These are just a handful of verses that guide how to live a healthier life here on Earth. But the eternal benefit outweighs them all. I pray you regularly consult the greatest whole-body physician there is…YAHWEH.

Be healthy.

Reflection: What can I do to achieve whole-body health? Ask God to reveal what He wants you to do, and for wisdom and courage to follow through with His help.

VALUE

The advice of “don’t neglect the old while you strive to attract the new” has several applications in life.

It’s like companies offering incentives to attract new customers and then increasing rates for customers whose contracts expire. I’m not too fond of that. It’s messed up.

Then there’s the spouse, tired of the mundane life of maturity, who goes looking for adventure while neglecting their family and mate, the loves of their life, at home. Loyalty goes right out the window.

What about the corporations slowly weeding out seasoned employees to replace them with young people who will work at a starting salary? They will hire two new people to do the work that one well-trained employee did.

I have gray hair. I’ve had it since my early 30’s and dyed it until I was 53. I love the freedom from having to color my roots every two weeks. However, I quickly discovered how biased some people are about gray hair. I’ve had strangers tell me they know of a great salon where I can get it colored. I tell them I’m free from that and love it. After I quit dying my hair, the senior discount was offered before I even qualified! Now, I no longer have to ask for it. I have conflicting feelings about that!

The young are our future, but that doesn’t mean the aged have no value. Even the most infirm have something to offer if nothing more than a lesson in humility.

What is it about the shiny new penny that is so attractive? It takes a hundred to amount to the worth of one tired old dollar bill, yet the shiny coins go in for the win to fill the jar. And after a while, when that jar is full, its contents are emptied, sorted, and traded for crisp new bills.

It’s something to remember as we trudge this life, getting older at every step. Some of us are old and wrinkled, with dog-eared wisdom and resources. Others are fresh, bright, and shiny, with new ideas and energy.

Note to self: Everyone has value. Love people. Period.

For those who can’t understand that, I’ll be praying for you. Someday, God willing, you will understand.

Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you. Deuteronomy 32:7

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack–that there may be equality. 2 Corinthians 8:14

Reflection: How do I feel as the years go by and I see a new wrinkle or get a new ache or pain in my body? What can I do to show honor and love to a senior citizen?

SAUCE

I am on a quest.

I’m looking for the perfect authentic Italian pizza sauce recipe. Of course, I googled and found a recipe that listed all the ingredients I shouldn’t put in my authentic Italian pizza sauce because these ingredients are what Americans put in to suit their taste for Americanized Italian sauce. These ingredients include:

Inferior quality tomatoes (I have homegrown, not inferior ones!)
Tomato Paste
Sugar or any other kind of sweetener
Italian Seasoning (It doesn’t exist in Italy)
Garlic Powder or Garlic Salt (I use fresh)

The sauce is not cooked, and I think, “Whaaaaaat?”.

So I made my simple, authentic pizza sauce and bagged it up to freeze for future pizzas. Then I remembered I have an authentic Italian friend, and I could have run the recipe by her for approval BEFORE I actually made it!

Isn’t this how it is in our Christian walk through life on earth? How often are we perplexed about something and do a little Googling or take a social media poll to find the answer that best suits our dilemma or the one we want? We take the wheel, and off we go. Later, we remember the Lord, usually after our driving has caused a wreck.

God wants to be involved in all the decisions of our lives. He wants to be first in our minds and hearts before all others. The Bible is His love letter to His children, full of hope, love, direction, discipline, and wisdom. God will always provide the perfect answer.

Seek Him first.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Reflection: How do I remind myself to pause and seek God’s help before going to someone else?

SERVING

I had an epiphany recently. Let me tell you about it.


For several years, I’ve been praying that God would tell me what He wanted me to do to serve Him. I’ve been plugging along, doing odd and end jobs at church, and feeling an emptiness inside that I couldn’t explain to myself, let alone anyone else. I just knew God was preparing me for a ministry that was perfect for me, and I waited and grew more frustrated as I saw other brothers and sisters, including my husband, flourish as they served.

I pleaded to the Lord to make his will known to me so I could best serve Him. I prayed for a clear answer that I could understand without a doubt. I waited and waited some more.

Recent events automatically brought specific phrases to mind. I’ve always struggled with memorization, which showed in my school work, but I have a good memory for experiences and feelings, and with enough training and repetition, I learn what is close to my heart.

When I found myself speaking the words I knew had been planted, I understood what God had been waiting for me to “get.” Imagine that! I thought I was waiting for Him to answer my prayers when He was waiting for me to understand the answer He had already given me.

He has already trained me, equipped me, provided for me, and blessed me with gifts to use. I knew that, but I felt useless and frustrated.

Somewhere in life, I developed the idea that telling others about your skills, training, education, etc., was akin to boasting and trying to make yourself seem important. It didn’t bother me when other people did it, but I couldn’t. I would allude to these parts of my life, but to come right out and say it? Guess what? There is nothing humble about hiding our abilities.

Humility is acknowledging our abilities are God’s gifts for us to use for His glory.

Now I understand. I lacked confidence in the Lord’s provision because I was comparing myself to others. That’s sinful. I repent of that. Right now.

I want to be available wherever He needs me.

I am a trained Stephen Ministry Caregiver. I’ve had 40 hours of training, which I put into practice for three years with women in crisis, such as divorce, death of a spouse, family members with substance abuse addictions, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and parents needing emotional and spiritual support.

I am a trained hospice caregiver. I volunteered in hospice for five years, visiting women in nursing homes, most of whom rarely had visitors. I played music for them, prayed, decorated their room, wheeled them outside, and mostly, was just a friend to them. All of my clients were in nursing homes. My last client, Mary, was a tiny black woman who couldn’t speak but smiled a mile wide when I entered her room. I visited her nearly every Saturday morning for a year until I attended her memorial service. After she passed, I decided I needed a rest.

I rarely mentioned my years of Stephen Ministry or hospice volunteering to anyone for two decades. Why? Was it because I was embarrassed? Tired of it? Didn’t want to get involved? Maybe I felt like a hypocrite because while helping others, my home life was chaotic. Why was it so easy to care for strangers but so hard to have patience with my own family? These are questions I always ask myself, and it’s excruciating. By asking, I’m facing reality, and that’s good because it allows for change.

I sing. I sang at school, church, weddings, and events in the choir and as a soloist. I had a smoking habit that I gave up 20 years ago. My voice was in sorry shape from lack of use and abuse. I went from 2nd Alto with a wide range to croaking frog Tenor over the years. I’m working on getting it back with exercises and soft, slow, and easy practice. If God wills it, it will happen.

I cook. I have served in meal ministry and organized and cooked turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner at church for 40+ people without family nearby. I also served in the cafe and coffee areas. My last full-time occupation was in food service.

I clean. I’ve cleaned toilets in churches, offices, and homes of the infirm. I don’t particularly enjoy it, but it works off stress, and I consider cleaning the Lord’s house part of good stewardship. We can all do our part by cleaning up after ourselves.

As a side job, I had a calligraphy business, addressing wedding invitations to make money when I was a stay-at-home mom. It’s a little rusty, but it’s like riding a bike. It’s not quick work, but it’s unique, not perfect like technology can produce.

We have hospitality. For the first time, we have a home built for fellowship. We lived for twenty years in a townhouse in the city with limited parking and no yard. We love having a house and a yard to share with friends and family.

Lastly, I write. I’ve written during some of the worst times of my life. I look back at some of the poems I wrote thirty years ago and remember my tortured frame of mind then. When we were preparing to move to our current home, I found shoe boxes full of notes and prayers I had written years ago that were all answered; some precisely, and some not exactly as requested, but I know God always knows best.

Ministries are not confined to the walls of the church. The world is our mission field, and abundant service opportunities exist wherever we go. We go where God calls us.

There will always be others who are better communicators and organizers, more meticulous, educated, talented, and better at memorizing! The Lord looks at your heart when doing the tasks for which He equips you. Our best won’t always be good enough for people, but it’s always good enough for God. Always do your best for Him. Don’t try! Do it!

Sometimes, the season for using a particular training is over.
Sometimes, it gets rusty from lack of use and needs refreshing. Sometimes, we’ve allowed overuse to cause burnout.
Sometimes, He provides opportunities to learn something new.
Sometimes, He knows you need to rest.

It’s all okay. Answer the call when the time is right. If you don’t know, then have faith that He does.

Serve well.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Reflection: What are my gifts? Where am I using them? Am I using them to serve the Lord?