May Newsletter Do-Over

30+Bible Verses for Stress, a giveway winner, and phone wallpaper for you!

Hello, email friend.

Anyone else NOT a digital native? Somehow, I clicked a button before sending the latest article, which created some unexpected issues. I’m not planning to paywall my site and hope you’ll enjoy reading the full newsletter!

Happy hump day!

Blessings,

Tammy

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A carpet of bluebells flanks the western slope of Eagle’s Peak, and the music of the forest soothes me with its unusual cadence. I pause mid-stride and close my eyes. Absorb the chattering of squirrels, the trill of western meadowlarks, and the almost imperceptible hum of honeybees. A shallow brook gurgles with joy as it tumbles over the rough mountain face, and I breathe in the moment. It seems I have captured a glimpse of peace east of Eden–that elusive concept promised in scripture.

What Does Peace Mean?

Throughout scripture, the names of the Lord describe His character. One of those names is Yahweh-Shalom–The Lord Our Peace (Judges 6:24)–and Jesus receives the title as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, entails far more than physical safety. Used both as a salutation and when parting, shalom infers relational peace with God, others, and self. The Lord Our Peace gave Himself in human form as the Prince of Peace that we might be reconciled through the cross and attain eternal shalom—wholeness of relationship—with the Father.

To convey the same meaning as shalom, the New Testament writers used eirene throughout the New Testament. One beautiful definition tells us that eirene means “to join or bind together that which has been separated”.

Peace, then, exists in our Creator and Savior. Yahweh-Shalom, the life-giving Lord, ushers completeness into our lives through the power of Christ’s sacrifice. That which was separated by sin is irrevocably bound by the Prince of Peace.

Biblical Ways to Grow in Shalom

• Pray, Ask, Give Thanks. Philippians 4:6-7 (CJB) reads, “Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.”

  This lovely Jewish translation speaks of union. When we give the Lord our burdens and align our minds with the truth of scripture through prayer, our wills begin to orient according to His.

• Be filled with the Spirit. “Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom.” (Romans 8:6 CJB) We recognize the old nature as sins of the flesh (Ephesians 4:22-32). The laying down of self each day—and sometimes moment by moment—invites the Holy Spirit to His rightful position of headship in our lives. Unlike a world that promotes self-actualization, we surrender life to realize it.

• Bring peace. Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) reads, “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God”. Strong’s concordance reveals that a peacemaker, which is a cognate of eirene, “bravely declares God’s terms, which makes someone whole”. How many in our world long for the message of Peace? And are we willing to share the truth so that those who do not yet know Him can step into restoration and shalom? Eirene?

A Prayer That Invites Peace

Jesus,

I praise you that, as God incarnate, you are the Ruler of Peace. Yahweh-Shalom, you are wholeness, life, and peace eternal. Even when the noise in my life overwhelms your gentle whisper, I can seek shelter in your care for “you are my keeper” (Psalm 121:5). Nothing surprises you, Lord. Thank you for bridging the gap and binding my heart to yours. Today, I kneel before the altar and ask you to give me a “mind controlled by the Spirit” for this is “life and shalom”. (Romans 8:6)

4 Recent Articles and Podcasts

• Inner Healing Prayer

  Listen in on a recent conversation Sue Coral and I had on her podcast, His Heartbeat. We talked about the power of inner healing prayer in my journey to recovery from CPTSD.

  If you or someone else you know lives in the aftermath of trauma, there is hope for healing.

• 30+ Bible Verses for Stress (Crosswalk.com)

  Tears trekked trails down the boy’s cheeks as he shared about his homelife. The threats to personal safety. My heart shattered as I gazed into grown-up eyes in a child’s face.

  Within hours, a migraine beat against my temples. Whispering a prayer for my student, I embraced the invitation of Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

  One of the most well-known Bible verses for stress, the words reminded me that Jesus carries each day’s weight on my behalf, and for every hurting boy or girl. Do you, too, need help as you manage your worries? This article includes more than 30 Bible verses that will redirect anxious thoughts and offer comfort no matter your circumstances.

• 7 Psalms of Penitence to Guide You in Confession (Biblestudytools.com)

  Imagine illness grips your frame. The heat of fever weakens your body and you long for relief. Comfort. Desperate, you beg your companions to draft a series of favorite scriptures on sheets of paper and then hang them on the wall within eyesight. Your eyes caress each word. The verses linger on your tongue. Then, you release a final breath and enter His holy presence.

  Would you choose the seven penitential Psalms as your silent companions during the last days of your life? What about the penitential Psalms impacted St. Augustine and what should today’s Christians know about them?

• Three Role Models in the Bible (Biblestudytools.com)

  Open the pages of either the Old or New Testament, and we discover God’s sovereignty expressed through the lives of unlikely people: prophets, priests, and prostitutes. Foreigners, Pharisees, and failures.

  Like us, the men and women of scripture lived messy, broken lives—yet many exemplify traits worth emulating.

  Those whose lives we study are, despite their shortcomings, people from whom we can learn. This article highlights the lives of three such role models in the Bible.

3 Spring Photos to Brighten Your Day

2 Giveaways and Updates

• The winner of the Hearts in Danger: Christian Romantic Suspense Bundle Giveaway is Amanda M. Just reply to this email, and your package will be on its way! Thank you to everyone who participated.

• A Hope-Filled Spring: Christian Nonfiction Book Bundle Giveaway is still running. If you haven’t entered, you still have some time.

What book would you like to see included in an upcoming giveaway? I’m thinking Christmas in July sounds fun. :)

1 Free Wallpaper Downloadable for May

Peace and grace,

Tammy

P.S. If I can pray for you, please let me know. I would be honored.