Author: Cheryl

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalm 46:1-3

While in the hair salon this week, I prayed over a woman who unexpectedly received tragic news about a family member. I didn’t know the woman but recognized her because she lived in my old neighborhood. But as the inconsolable cries continued, the Holy Spirit prompted me to take her hands, encourage her to breathe, and pray. The details surrounding her family member were very complicated, and it was a vivid reminder of God’s sovereignty in our lives and that He is in charge of all the details, no matter how complex. Psalm 46 assures us that God is always with us, no matter how complicated or tragic the circumstances are. The command “Be Still” is just that, a command. It is a physical command as well as a spiritual command. The God of the universe designed our bodies in such a miraculous way that by merely stopping to breathe, it stills our minds and our bodies so our focus can be centered on Him. When our emotions and bodies are racing, our focus is everywhere but on God. Stopping to breathe and be still is vitally important in times of stress, grief, and the struggles of life. In this Psalm, we learn God is with us in the worst of times, and through it all, we are commanded to lay ourselves down, be still (breathe), and know He is God.

This prayer is titled God’s Complete Control, written by Pastor Chuck Swindoll. The prayer emphasizes the importance of acknowledging God’s sovereignty and reminds us that God controls all aspects of our lives and circumstances.  Take a moment to be still, breathe, and pray this prayer.

Quiet our hearts, dear Father, and in so doing, remind us that You are sovereign—not almost sovereign but altogether sovereign. Nothing occurs in our lives that has not been masterfully planned and put together by You, our eternal God. As we cast our cares upon You, knowing You care for us, release our stress. We entrust our concerns to You today . . . large and small, new and nagging. We long to experience peace-filled living by stepping off this treadmill called pressurized living. We pray that Your mighty presence would take the place of the stress, the demands, the struggles, the mess we’ve created. We ask that You give us Your shalom —Your peace—like we’ve never known it before. We deliberately choose to trust You and to rest in You. In the name of Jesus. Amen. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture, taken this weekend by Mike Garrett, is of the majestic mountains in my WV hometown.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. 1 Peter 1:8

The ceremony was simple, solemn, and powerful. The Star Spangle Banner, played by a lone saxophone, pierced the quiet morning as the flag was raised to full staff, and as the flag was lowered to half-staff, Taps brought visible flowing tears from all of us. The flag was not just any American flag. This flag has flown over all three 9-11 memorial sites, and every day of the year except on 9-11, it is securely encased and displayed in the clubhouse of our new community. Many of our neighbors are retired police officers, firefighters, first responders, and military. The flag was carried and posted by retired New York City Firefighters and First Responders who ran toward the burning towers on that fateful day. The ceremony concluded with a NYC firefighter employing us to “never forget.”

Sometimes, I think we do forget. We go about our lives and unconsciously forget the price paid every day for the freedom we enjoy in this country. I think the same can be said of our salvation. I learned a new term this week; at least, it was new to me. Jared C. Wilson states gospel wakefulness means “treasuring Christ more greatly and savoring his power more sweetly than before.” He maintains that while it can be simultaneous with conversion or subsequent to conversion, for most Christians, it is a gradual process. But in all cases, gospel wakefulness is the sanctifying work of the Spirit. He describes his gospel wakefulness journey as coming to a place where “even though I am still subject to the ebb and flow of external circumstances, I am confident in Christ, at peace in Christ, worshipful in Christ, all in radically different ways than I was before gospel wakefulness. It is a lasting, enduring change, because it was not brought about by a dramatic worship service or some other temporary emotional impact but by my coming to the very end of myself and all hope and finding the saving arms of Christ, the only unmovable object.” Gospel wakefulness is not to be confused with salvation; it’s a deeper discernment, affection for, and consciousness of the cost of redemption. The supernatural cognizance, the “inexpressible joy” of the absolute gift for an undeserving soul then permeates our daily lives.

We have been commissioned to share the gospel and are urged to pray for a revival in this country. But I maintain that gospel wakefulness must be present to do either. We must yearn to be mindful of Christ’s sacrifice for our salvation daily. It’s more about the yearning than even the gospel wakefulness. With the hunger comes the wakefulness. “As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1). When our souls are awakened, stirred, and reminded, we must share. It is a natural occurrence of the overflow of joy.

Wilson’s book states that “the quantum leap of gospel wakefulness occurs in the midst of profound brokenness.” 9-11 profoundly broke many lives. Those who were there and those who lost family members will never forget that day. It will never be just another Monday for them. We must never forget that Christ died for us, He saved us, He set us free. As a son or daughter of the Most High God, it will never be just another Monday for us, either. Our lives are changed forever, and we must never forget. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.     

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as He brought them safely into harbor! Psalm 107:28-29

It wasn’t the first time I had to take shelter in the innermost room of the house. As we sat hunkered down in the hallway bathroom, listening to the weatherman on the TV just outside the door describe “rotation activity” all around us, I had an eerie déjà vu moment. We lived in Kansas, not once but twice, and living there schooled me quickly in tornado preparation. And that was the major difference between then and now. I wasn’t prepared this go around.

Just weeks earlier, I attended the hurricane preparedness class. Get a kit, make a plan, and be informed is the Red Cross hurricane readiness axiom. And I had done none of that; now, Hurricane Idalia, which hit Wilmington as a tropical storm, had arrived.  

It seems logical to prepare ahead of time for hurricanes and tornados, especially when you live along the coastline. How about the storms of life? Should we prepare for the times that send us into our innermost rooms in fear, pain, and suffering?  I believe it is vital to prepare our hearts and minds for the inevitable storms of life. The fierce winds can blow us over if we are not ready, firmly rooted in our Christian beliefs, and have an intimate knowledge of God. But how do we prepare for life’s storms? Just like gathering hurricane supplies, there are practical ways to prepare ourselves. I believe, first and foremost, to be students of the Word.

As fall descends upon us and school starts, it is a great time to commit to a Bible study or a reading plan. We should study what the Bible teaches about trials and suffering. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). God’s word brings light into the darkest of situations. It is our anchor when the storm is rocking our world. We must study what scriptures teach us about God, who He is, and His character. Deeper still, we need to know God and trust Him. And that deeper relationship will develop only by spending time with Him, in His Word.

Trusting God and affirming His sovereignty plays a significant role in facing a storm. Do we believe He is in absolute control over everything that touches our lives? Do we truly trust that He has only good intentions? Do we firmly believe that our pain and suffering can be used for our transformation and His glory? Is our hope solely on Christ alone? We can make the kit and the plan and be informed, but are we fully prepared and ready without these assurances?

Developing our prayer life during the calm seasons is also essential. In turbulent times, praying should be just like breathing. Prayer will not be our go-to comfort if we grapple for words or feel awkward.  Trusting God with all things through daily prayer prepares us to turn to Him in the storms.

I have plenty of excuses for not doing something to prepare for Idalia. None of them is a valid excuse. At the very least, I should have stocked up on bottled water and filled up the gas tank (several stations ran out of gas). It can be frightening when we are unprepared for nature’s or life’s storms. It is during the times of peace and calm we must disciple ourselves in the Word and prayer. We must pray for and pursue a faith that courageously confronts the devastation the storms leave behind with a solid trust in God, a faith that says, “It is well with my soul.” And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.    

Since moving to North Carolina, the little church I have attended is doing a summer series on the Psalms. Unlike any other part of the Bible, the Psalms bring comfort, guidance, and wisdom into our lives through Hebrew poetry and song. They illuminate the greatness of our God, affirm His faithfulness to us in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His word. The book of Psalms expresses worship. Throughout the many pages, we are reminded who God is and what He has done for us.

Moving is never easy. We have moved seventeen times, and the process has never been effortless. It isn’t easy physically, emotionally and spiritually. Some moves are more challenging than others, and this move for me has by far been the hardest. A part of that is because I’m older, and the physical demands are more taxing on the body. Also, I left a place that holds beautiful memories, a place close to home, surrounded by supportive and praying friends, and my list can go on and on. Even though my body hurts, my heartache has been the most painful. And I have lamented my pain to God, family, and friends.

In Psalm 116, the psalmist professes, “I love the Lord for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” God hears our prayers and comforts us in our anguish because “He is gracious and righteous, our God is full of compassion” (vs. 5). The psalmist then goes on to ask an interesting question. “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?” (vs 12).  Christians know that we can never repay the Lord for our salvation, but the psalmist encourages us to give the Lord recognition by lifting up “the cup of salvation” and calling to Him. Then he goes on to say, “I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do, and I’ll do it together with his people” (vs 14, The Message). In verse eighteen, he repeats this promise to God and adds that it will be done with thankfulness. There are no conditions attached to this repayment for the psalmist. He doesn’t promise to fulfill his commitment or be grateful only if life goes his way and events like moving don’t get in the way.

Gratitude journals are trendy; even if you don’t record them, gratitude should be a part of our prayers and daily life. It’s easy in times of distress to get bogged down with the negative, but the psalmist reminds us that gratitude is what we can return to God. He goes one step further than writing it in a journal. He tells us to express it in the “presence of all his people.” Telling others how God has blessed us, in times of trial especially, is our witness. Everyone knows that life is hard, but they need to hear how God is there with us every step of the way.  Moving has been challenging, but I’m blessed to live closer to my daughter, attend church with her, be close to friends, and live in a beautiful home and neighborhood. I am using this platform to profess those blessings to you because I admittedly have not done well with publicly expressing gratitude during this transition time. God has been with us every step of this journey. He has provided praying and supportive family and friends, and He deserves the gratitude and the glory. “In the house of the Lord in the heart of Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!” (vs 19). And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.    

“By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” Job 26:12-14

We found parking and a great spot even though we were getting our beach day off to a late start. The sun would occasionally peek through the overcast skies with a slight breeze blowing, a perfect day to be at the beach. We had been there a couple of hours when I noticed the family next to us packing up their beach gear, and I overheard the lady say she wasn’t going to stay and get struck by lightning. I wondered where she got her weather intel because the sky was cloudy but didn’t look ominous. But a few minutes later, the shrill lifeguards’ whistle sounded, and they were exiting the beach also. When the lifeguards leave their stand and head for the parking lot that is your clue to start packing. The sky, in just a few minutes, had grown intensely dark. As we hurried to our car, the lifeguards were just ahead of us, and we could hear a voice on their radio urging them to take cover immediately. It started to rain, and the thunder in the distance was getting closer. When we crossed the bridge to come off the island, the rain was coming down so hard it was difficult to see. I pulled into a parking lot to wait out the storm for safety. As we sat in the car and watched some of the most ferocious lightning I’ve ever witnessed, the thunder’s roar was even fiercer and, at times, shook the car.

Job’s reply to his friends in Chapter 26 is marked by the many questions he asks of them in his response. He is describing the wisdom and power of God and asking them to contemplate his questions regarding whom they believe God is and who He really is. I pondered this verse from my devotional this week and thought about how God manifests Himself in his infinite wisdom in a gentle whisper. “After the wind there was an earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:11-13). So often in our lives, we look for the thunderous answer, the loud clapping approval, and the deafening assurance. But God speaks in whispers to our souls. And I believe it’s because, as I experienced while sitting in my car during the storm, cowardly cringing at each lightning strike and roaring thunder, my mind was obsessed with the storm’s power. There was no conversation or thoughts of anything else. The power and intensity were consuming. If God were to speak out in thunder, who could understand Him? We would be so fixated and overwhelmed by His power that the words would be lost. Instead, what we see of God and what he reveals to us about His nature is gently whispered in our hearts. A brush of His breath bears the same clarity as words fully spoken in a thunderous boom. Be thankful for His whispers and realize they are just the beginning of all He is and does. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.   

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

I was browsing the design center for the perfect rug when I noticed a signup sheet for a painting class lying on a table. This store has beautiful furniture, carpets, anything you need for your home, and a furniture painting studio. They specialize in giving unwanted furniture new life. I find furniture transformations fascinating, but I have never painted a piece of furniture. I decided it would be a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, meeting new people and learning about my fascination. I wrote my name in the last available slot.

The class required that I bring a piece of furniture from home. In our recent move, I have downsized our furniture collection considerably. But I had a small plant stand pegged for the Salvation Army that would be a perfect practice piece. It was severely scratched, the wrong color for my current décor, and held no emotional attachment. I couldn’t even remember when or where I bought it. Before Jesus enters our lives, we can feel the same. Unwanted, severely damaged, unworthy of transformation, and disposable. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). We bring nothing to the table for our salvation and redemption. Jesus did it all on the cross. An unsaved person riddled with scratches and dents is no different in the eyes of our Lord than the unsaved one who considers themselves perfect. All need transformation. 

The first coat of paint barely covered the deep brown color and scratches. The old personality was showing through the new paint. It reminded me that our faith walk is a journey of sanctification. Jesus’s death on the cross entirely and wholly justifies us. But our old personality can resurface unless continually covered with the Word, submission, and prayer. If our times with the Lord are few and far between, just like the thin coat of paint, our flawed self can outshine the Jesus in us. It was difficult to completely cover the furniture’s flaws with the roller and brushes I used. I was getting frustrated and discouraged. Then the instructor showed me a different brush. She demonstrated the mop brush, saying, “It’s like spreading butter, smooth and soothing.” With the new brush, the paint glided on and covered the piece completely. How often do we use the wrong tools in life? We rely on our own wisdom and judgment, listen to wrong sources, and fill our time with fruitless tasks. All of which leads to frustration and discouragement. But it’s like butter when we seek sanctification through His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to cover us and guide our lives. Even if the days are not smooth, we have the soothing knowledge and hope of Jesus’s saving grace. Using the right tools is transformational in any of life’s situations.  And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.       

But ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that this has come from the hand of the Lord. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being. Job 12:7-10

I love it when God and the beauty of His nature stop me in my tracks. During a moving season, it is easy to get caught up in the snare of busyness. What rug color, which knickknack, will it be curtains or blinds, and the list goes on and on during a move or times of transition. Moving, retirement, new family obligations, or a thousand other things can draw us into the trap of busyness. Busyness in any form takes our daily focus away from God. The enemy loves the excuses we use to justify our lack of Godly mindfulness. My special place where I met the Lord each morning is gone, my schedule has changed and finding the right time for a quiet time is complex, or the enemy’s favorite, in my case, that my office where I write isn’t as secluded and cozy in my new home. And it just doesn’t “feel” right. And then you step out your front door, and God in nature snaps you back to where we need to find our rest and wholeness away from the busyness of life. All the lies the enemy uses are washed away by the creation’s flood of beauty.

Josie and I pass the small pond just steps away from our new home every morning. And every morning, the Lord shows me a different scene. Geese quietly floating, ducklings scampering along the banks, or the sun gloriously breaking through the clouds. It begins my day with a reminder that this new day is a gift and God shines through every minute, every second of it. He wants me to pick the right rug color, but He also wants me to ask His opinion. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.   

Good Morning,

The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. Isaiah 58:11

Hello from North Carolina! The past several weeks have been eventful with packing, moving, unpacking, new house projects, and getting semi-settled. And it has been filled with many goodbyes. I was reminded by several friends of the C.S. Lewis quote, “Christians never say good-bye.” With the hope of eternity we all share as Christians, it is true that we never say goodbye on the spiritual level. But in our humanness, goodbyes are a part of life here on earth, and they are hard. They are hard because we were never meant to say goodbye. We were created to be in relationships with people. In the beginning, God created Adam and placed him in the Garden, filled with everything Adam needed except that he was alone. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Gen 2:18). From that moment forward, goodbyes have been painful.

As painful as it is, it is important to say goodbye. The military has a tradition called a “Hail and Farewell” for a unit’s incoming and outgoing folks. It’s more about the folks leaving because it is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize their contributions to the unit. The same should happen on a personal level as well. When life calls us to part from friends and family, it is important to tell them how much you will miss them, how much they contributed to your life and to be thankful for the time the Lord gave you together in close proximity. The people God puts in our path to do life with are never accidents. They are one of the many blessings from God.

Some of the best times in life happen in our relationships with people. “It is truly wonderful when the people of God live together in peace. It is as beautiful as olive oil poured on Aaron’s head and running down his beard and the collar of his robe” (Psalm 133:1-2). In Biblical times, bathing in oil must have been beautiful, but in my life, beautiful looks like having lunch with a friend, laughing and hanging out with family, or a phone call or text message for no significant reason other than being connected.

Jesus didn’t get a Hail and Farewell party, nice cards, and warm hugs. His disciples ran away from Him, a close friend betrayed Him, and another denied that he knew Jesus. He was tortured, humiliated, and eventually murdered. And for what? He did it so we would never have to truly say goodbye. No matter where life takes us, Christians do not have to say goodbye because we know we will all be together in heaven someday. But for now, on this earth, hug your friends and family, cherish your time with them, and be thankful for the blessings they are. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.       

The picture was taken on my last night in Virginia. I noticed this little piece of paper on my friend’s refrigerator before leaving for NC the next day. It helped slow the tear flow and reminded me of the many friendship blessings God has given me. I love it when God reaches down to comfort us with an unexpected source, just as Isaiah promised in 58:11.     

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

Leaving town and driving south on Interstate 95 last Thursday triggered memories of the movie Deep Impact. It is a 1998 science fiction disaster movie portraying the attempts to prepare for and destroy a gigantic comet set to collide with Earth and cause a mass extinction. The comet is named for Leo Beiderman, the teenage astronomer that discovered it. To cut to the end of a very long and intense movie, the diversion attempts failed, but it was successfully broken into pieces. But a large chunk lands off the coast of North Carolina and causes a massive tsunami. In the final scene, Beiderman and his family climb the Appalachian foothills to escape the catastrophic tidal surge. They reach the top and turn to look back. All they can see is the haze caused by the gigantic waters, but as the water rescinds, the sun breaks out in full glory, and it’s a happy ending. When we reached the rest stop at the North Carolina/Virginia border, people all around, myself included, were standing, marveling at the beautiful blue sky and breathing the clean air. Due to Canadian wildfires, many of us were driving south to escape the worst air quality ever recorded in Washington, DC. The air was dangerously smoky for several days, and the haze blocked the sun. Like in the movie, we were trying to outrun nature’s fury and look for a visible sun in the sky.

It struck me how ironic that we were smack in the middle of another potentially deadly historical event. First, the pandemic, and second, code Maroon air quality. June 8, 2023, is now recorded as the day the DC area had the worst air quality in the world. The whole experience was another vivid reminder of the fragility and vulnerability of humanity and that we are not in control. The meteorologists blamed the wind for pushing the smoke into the northeast. “For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind and declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness and treads on the high places of the earth, The Lord God of Hosts is His name” (Amos 4:13). The wind may have been the vehicle that pushed the smoke. Still, humanity always needs to be mindful of the Driver of the vehicle.  

Life is fragile, and even the non-Christian can agree with that, but it’s where we find our stability in the face of powerless control of our lives that differs greatly. At the end of the day, whether the sun is shining or hiding behind the haze, He is all that matters. He is the One that puts the wind in our sails. He calls us to rise each day ready to receive His fresh mercy and sustaining grace no matter how fragile our lives may feel or be. Life’s fragility reminds us of our intense need for God’s power, promises, and salvation. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.       

“Don’t be foolish. A seed must die before it can sprout from the ground. Wheat seeds and all other seeds look different from the sprouts that come up” 1 Cor 15:36 CEV

A dear friend recently gave me a book called Listening to the Language of the Bible. When I expressed my thanks, she said she thought it would be “right up my alley.” She reminded me of my love of words and their meaning. Not that I had forgotten how much delving into the original meaning of words excites me, but sometimes different seasons of life can undoubtedly sidetrack us, and I’m in one of those seasons with a lot of side roads!  The Bible was written in languages and cultures very different from our own. Much study and time by numerous scholars has been devoted to translating the nuances of Hebrew and Greek. However, digging a little deeper into the translated words and phrases can bring wisdom and rich new insights.

My devotional time has led me to the book of John. In chapter twelve, Jesus predicts his death. Jesus replied (to Andrew and Philip), “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds (John 12:23-24). I’ve heard many teachings on this verse, but with my mind tuned to the actual words of the passage, I decided to dig a bit deeper. As a farm girl, the concept that a seed must die to produce anything makes sense to me, but does it defy the law of biogenesis (I’m also a science girl!), which tells us that in nature, life comes from life. So what exactly did Jesus mean? Did He contradict the scientific law?

In the Bible, the word death or die can mean different things, depending on the context in which it is used. Death in the Bible means separation. Spiritual death occurs when we sin (Rom 6:23), and James tells us, “Anyone who doesn’t breathe is dead, and faith that doesn’t do anything is just as dead” (James 2:26). Sin separates us from God, faith apart from obedience is dead and our physical bodies die without breath. But plant life was not created in the image of God and did not have a spirit, so Jesus is not talking about death in the same way humans die.

Keeping within the context of the scripture, for the seed to fall to the ground, it must separate from the stalk. It no longer receives nourishment from the stalk, so it is not growing or being nurtured; it is slowly decaying, lying dormant until it gets nutrients from the soil to sprout and grow into a new plant. When the seed sprouts, the outside seed hull is separated from the budding plant, and the seed (hull) dies.  And that is precisely what the word “dies” means contextually in John 12:24. It means decaying. Seeds lie dormant and decay over centuries, so Jesus did not defy the law of biogenesis in His teaching. In context for us today, Jesus was the seed that had to die and be separated from His physical body and His disciples for His kingdom to grow. He could not remain the single seed. He had to die to produce many seeds. While hiding in the upper room (John 20:19), the disciples were decaying to fear until the nourishment of the Holy Spirit breathed new life into them, and they were emboldened to go out into the world to plant seeds. We lie dormant until someone comes into our lives with the Good News that gives us life. Just like the seed, the process of dormant, decaying, and death must happen for us to receive a life that never dies. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.  

The picture is of the Jezreel Valley or Valley of Megiddo, Israel, where many crops are grown.