Walking In Your Gifts

Check Engine Light- What does your dashboard say?

Well, it began as a task full day of errands and time with a friend. I turned the ignition, the dashboard lit up, and there it was- the check engine light. This is a light that brings me more angst than the twirling blue lights that may pull me off the road for some infraction.

So, I went back in and shared this critical news with my husband, my go to buddy for help. He checked the oil, he put in oil, and off I went. Check engine light out=PEACE.

But no, as I prepared for the second outing with a friend, there it was again- check engine light. After calls, internet search, and a drive to the local auto store that offers free diagnostic, I discovered it may be the camshaft sensor. Then the question became- can I still drive without damaging the engine? The answer was yes, as long as it is not a blinking check engine light. So, I filled up the tank with gas and began a beautiful day with a friend. Surprisingly, the light went out again. There was PEACE long enough to enjoy the day. But, when my husband went out in the evening- there it was again- check engine light. He took it to a mechanic- for now the light is out— PEACE.

There is a plethora of dashboards that provide a quick glance of the key performance indicators of work performance, personality traits, world global happiness, etc.

In this year, 2025, what does your dashboard say? Is your check engine light on?

Over the years my dashboard has been consistent through various personality themes.

In 2025, I will reassess and regain focus. I think I will take the Living Compass Assessment again. The no-cost assessment that will check my alignment in areas that matter most to me.

As I complete the Bible study of Romans, it is my goal to be known like the 20+ individuals mentioned in chapter 16. They all labored, welcomed, and walked in their calling to be one with Christ. May 2025 be a year that speaks to the sentiment of the closing verse- “to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen”

May you have a year of PEACE. And when your internal check engine light sends a message— seek the only wise God to fix it.

Always grateful,

Thrifting for my sole. Do you enjoy a good bargain or paying full cost?

I enjoy the thrill of finding a good deal in a thrift store or auction. There is usually some thing I need for the house, for my wardrobe, or just for fun. Most of the time it is just a want, which makes the joy of thrifting so gratifying.

In my hunt for boots, I walked into one of my favorite thrift stores. I walked each aisle searching for the ideal boot to wear with jeans. There they were, $5.00!!! These are the perfect leather, ideal heel, and perfect tone for jeans.

My hunt was done. I went to the front of the store, paid for my “new” boots, and admired them more once inside the car. I thought, where and when will I step out into the world with these very comfortable foot coverings. The day came when I put on my boots to head into the world. Something strange was happening as I walked around the house. I asked myself, what is that noise? I walked around the house a bit more. The sound was still there.

I went on with day, admiring my bargain found boots that made my jeans look richer in color and style. Little did I know, with each step I took the soles of my perfect boots were breaking apart. Breaking apart under the pressure of my body, breaking apart against the hard concrete, and breaking apart due to dry-rot.

The disappointment didn’t last long. I searched for a cobbler in the area. There were 3 with the old age craftsmanship to repair my bargain boots. I was excited to enter the shop and have my boots repaired. The disappointment surfaced when I was told the cost to repair my $5.00 perfect pair of boots. One hundred twenty dollars! Very exciting for the cobbler; very sad for me.

I’m not sure why I still have these sole torn boots sitting in my room. I guess it can be hard to let go of all the plans I had for these perfect boots.

This is yet another reflection for me as I walk this journey of life. My mind has planned, and my body is prepared to do so many acts to make a difference in this world. But there are times when I go out and find my mind hit with hard concrete disappointment, hit with the dry rot of inconsistent motivation, or the hit with the cost of sacrificing for others.

So, as I contemplate the cost to follow my dreams and the cost to do the Lord’s will, I recall the words of Brandon Lake’s song that pleads-“So come on my soul, oh don’t you get shy on me”.

And more intently, Psalm 43:5 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior, my God”.

Do you find yourself thrifting or do you pay the full cost?

God gave all in his son Jesus. He paid the full cost so we may live a life with peace in Christ.

Praise the Lord and Hallelujah

Always grateful,

Winter & Simmering Foods

This is the time of year when putting on a pot of homemade soup brings me good nourishment and good eats. How about you? What foods do you allow to simmer until perfectly done?

After pondering for a week on what soup to make, I pulled out a 1 lb bag of dry fordhook lima beans. The really large lima beans. I followed the directions: rinse- add to boiling water and let sit for an hour-drain. Begin again- bring salted water to boil with beans-then simmer for 1.5-2 hours, or until tender.

This seem like a less than tasty meal. So I improvise by adding more salt & pepper. Sometime later, I add the leftover rice from the refrigerator. Then, oh shoot- I need to add the meat. So I pulled a piece of left over meat from the deep freezer, dated 11/2023. An hour later- the taste test. Somethings missing. So I added some rosemary, crushed red chili peppers, a couple table spoons of butter. It was beginning to taste just right. But wait- I need to trim the meat off the bone and simmer until just right.

All in all, it was close to 5 hours of cooking and simmering what began as a dry bag of beans to a very tasty meal. One we will go back for throughout the week.

What is your go to winter cozy simmering meal?

Today, I woke up before the alarm and listened to a message from Romans 8:1-17. It reminds me of how warm and tasty it is to simmer on the word of God throughout the day. There is a course readily available on The Great Courses streaming by Dr. Andrew Newburg. The course is titled, The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience. In lecture 9: The Biology of Spiritual Practices, it has been proven through various brain scans that the longer we are in prayer, we progressively experience a deepening loss of self and an increasing bliss.

I have found in my prayer life, the longer I simmer with the Lord the more at peace I become. It may start out as this dry prayer of the basic ingredients of thank you for this day. Then I begin to add the seasoning of my worries- the regret of things I should have done or not done- then I add the meat- the real lack of faith I sometimes experience in the day to day.

What is your simmering prayer to lose yourself and gain increasing bliss?

Thank the Lord for the recipe of his word and his love. Thank the Lord for his grace to give us the time and space to seek him daily. For his love to be there always and to not lose any that call him Lord. For his willingness to pour of himself on this earth and go prepare a place for us, that we may be one with the father.

May this be a blissful winter of simmering in prayer with the Lord Jesus. And good soups:)

Always grateful,

This-is-a- test. What is your Rhythm of Rest?

It’s the holiday season! Time for this, time for that. Time to make space in our lives for others. Where do you find the rhythm of rest?

As I continue to research the chapter of Rest for the upcoming publication of my book, I have found three reports that are very different.

My smart watch- the scientist-the Lord.

My smart watch on Thursday, 11/21/2024, from 8:32 pm- 3:20 am, says I slept for 6 hours and 48 minutes; eighty nine percent efficiency, with an actual sleep time of 6 hours 3 minutes. Too few hours for the doctor recommended 7-8 hours. I was wake 43 minutes (10%), REM sleep 17 minutes (18%), Light sleep 4 hours 15 minutes (64%), and deep sleep 33 minutes (8%).

According to sleep expert Matthew Walker, What Happens to Your Body and Brain if You Don’t Get Sleep, so much can go wrong. Wow, in four minutes and 49 seconds, my whole world of wakefullness has a new perspective. Should I adjust my rhythm to science or find peace in the unique pattern of my body?

I’ve noticed, Thursdays seem to be my catch-up on sleep day. Once a month a Thursday rolls around and I must take a nap well before my normal midnight hour.

What is your rhythm of rest?

I also noticed in my studying this week, that Jesus also had a rhythm of rest. Just after receiving notice that his friend John was beheaded, he withdrew to a remote place to be alone. But the crowds came and he healed them. Everyone ate and was satisfied.

It wasn’t about the body healing or resting. He was more concerned about caring for the people and feeding them. More than five thousand received compassion, healing, and food, according to Matthew 14: 12-23. Then he dismissed the crowd, after sending the disciples away. Then he went up on the mountain to be alone and pray. Well into the night he was alone.

In my day to day rhythm of wakefullness, sleep, and rest, may I remember not all the ills that may happen with lack of sleep, but I have peace in the compassionate care of others.

May this be a holiday season of compassion for us all. Then, when the crowds are gone, we rest.

Always grateful,

If you don’t remember, did it really happen?

Short-term memory can be tricky at times. Its a question of does my mind/brain think this action warrants priority. Or should this action be pushed to the back.

My recent frenzy involved rushing to the local library after I received a late notice on two books. My initial thought- I don’t have these books. So I looked at my stack of books and confirmed, I don’t have these books. So off to the library I go.

The kind person at the library desk confirmed, yes, you should have these books. They were checked out on your card on this date. Then the awesome mechanics kicked in and my mind/brain had this wiring of communication to remind me, yes, you did pick up these books. Remember they are in the car.

So I humbly left the library, walked to my car and looked behind the driver’s seat. There they were, two books taken out three weeks ago. It’s funny, after seeing these books on the floor of the car, it all came back to me. From the leaving the house, to going into the library, to taking the books off the shelf, to placing them behind the driver’s seat. The whole recall was there, now brought to the fore front of my memory.

Do you have these memory gaps?

It is easy for the mind to forget the actions taken when it is clouded with all the rush, multi-tasking, and routine.

Thank the Lord for his wisdom and guidance in preparing us to fill the gaps and prioritize him above the busyness of life. The instruction to remember…

That we read his word daily.

That we take the communion in remembrance of his sacrifice.

That we pray without ceasing.

May I never forget to put him first.

How do you fill the gaps?

Always grateful,