Greetings Family!

I am enjoying the much needed summer vacation from school “busyness” during this hot July. My family and I are traveling and relatives are visiting this time of year making weddings, family reunions and cookout gatherings the number one priority. But beware of the clowns! “Clowns” was a name that my dear old Dad loved to call people whenever he got frustrated or anxious about a situation. He always would label people as “clowns” to make a point of how ridiculous they acted or sounded in a particular discussion or disagreement that he was involved with. I used to think he was just angry with not getting his way or people not agreeing with his point of view, but believe it or not as I grew older and wiser in my walk with Christ I have found that maybe there was some truth to what he was saying.

” I will go with you and give you rest.” (Exodus 33:12-14)

Hey Family,

For the past two weeks, I have had a bad cold and cough; I had a chance to join my family in celebrating my nephew who got married recently. It was a beautiful time to congratulate the new couple and to convene with my children, and my siblings. We drove to Maryland despite the tropical storm that we encountered along the way from North Carolina. It was a little bittersweet as my sisters and brother and I reminisced laughing and joking about what our parents would said and how they would have reacted at my younger nephew becoming a new husband. But I loved having my family to enjoy, and my children, now young adults got a moment to spend with their aunts, uncles, and cousins. By the end of the evening I started to feel a little under the weather and decided to call it a night and go back to the hotel. My husband helped me into bed along with some vapor rub that I ended up swabbing all over my throat. The cough that I initially had coming down for the trip had progressed. I donned a mask during the ceremony, but to no avail. By the morning, all I wanted was a cup of tea and choked down a piece of toast. I wasn’t feeling well at all. By the time we headed on the road back to Charlotte, NC., I had been dozing in and out from fatigue. Once pulling into the driveway, all I could think of was making a pot of soup and heading to bed. Arriving to work the next day was a blur; I had lost my voice, and strained to talk. Everyone felt sorry that I had no voice. Thankfully, my assistant took the reins with the classroom and we made it through the day. As the days went on, I knew I should go to the urgent care office to seek some medical attention. I just needed to make it through the week. Finally, by Saturday, the over the counter meds and the home remedies had been ineffective. The nurse practitioner that treated me suggested we do a chest x-ray after she teste me for COVID. As I was waiting for the results, I remembered what my husband said to me that morning, when he saw at how peeked and pale I looked. He said “REST; you need some REST.” Duh, yes I know. But why did the word REST keep sinking in my spirit? My sister texted me that morning “Tanya, you need REST.” I had to admit, I have had a lot to contend with since the school year began; My assistant is still quite new, and leaning on me to teach her several things about our workplans, I have been working hard to be intentional with teaching my little ones behavior skills in class, we are still in the beginning stages of getting new students and I have had physical ailments (tendonitis in both my shoulder and my ankle) that have distracted my sleeping pattern. God gave me this acronym for REST: R ealize- Every- Situation- is- Temporary. God told me this is a temporary situation. The Practioner advised me that I had bronchitis; She would send over some steroids’ to help the inflammation in my chest and relieve the coughing. I just needed to rest.

God can allow affliction to show us when we are unbalanced and in need of rest. I am learning that He can use anyone ( even my loving spouse) to remind us of this. Psalm 119:71-72 ” It is good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. ” (NIV). The Lord reminds us every day how important it is to rest. ” So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18. (NIV). There is always a timetable when we are in illness, distress, feeling frustration or the hustle and bustle of the world around us. God is telling us to focus on Him and he will take care of things. I was trying to manage everything with a permanent mindset. I forgot God has it covered. How much have you taken on thinking your circumstance is impossible? Are you afraid to put the throttle in His hands to the point that you forget to rest? ” REST in Him…REALIZE EVERY SITUATION is TEMPORARY R_E_S_T!

Be Blessed!

“Then he asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ Matthew 16:15

Greetings Family,

So, Saturday, instead of going out to celebrate my birthday, my husband and I attended a Home Going celebration at our church of a very dear and well-loved man who served as our Deacon for 22 years. His wife had preceded him in death several years prior, and his children although saddened insisted that all the congregants wear bright and happy colors to celebrate and not mourn. I loved this sentiment. I listened to some of the friends and other relatives come up one by one and speak about the memories and his overall character. They shared how jovial and how upbeat a man he was, always telling jokes and putting a positive yet humorous spin on life’s circumstances.

As I was hearing the family and their words of endearment, I began to wonder about my own life. “What are people saying about me right now, and what will they say after I’m gone? As human beings we build a reputation for ourselves over a lifetime. Some people establish a reputation for being shrewd, harsh, some kind, or meek, others vicarious or free -spirited. Whatever reputation you’ve developed, it has become a part of you over a period of time. People have watched you, and saw how you carried yourself. They have watched how you engage with others, and how you communicate; even how you respond to individuals.

As a teacher, I am privy to different types of reputations based on how we interact with our students and their perceptions of us. Children are unique and special creatures. They are also visual. They believe what they see. Children will watch you intently and they pick up your spirit very quickly. In Matthew 16:15, when Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples what was his reputation there. “who do people say that the Son of Man is?” he asked them. The disciples replied to Jesus based on what others were saying, but he asked them “who do you say I am?” meaning what do you see for yourself? What kind of reputation do you believe I have?

People will always believe and depend on the reputation they hear from others. If you are a believer, you must learn to think for yourself based on your circumstances. Has Jesus been their late at night when you were sick, or in pain, or worried about your children? your job? how you were going to pay your bills? Will you represent the humility of God? the compassion of Jesus Christ? the faithfulness that comes from the Father? what have you decided your reputation is going to be? My kiddos watch me in the classroom everyday. They watch how I teach, how I hug another child, how I drink my tea, how I talk to others, even how I eat my lunch (Salads are always the subject of their curiosity). In all that I do, I must represent the love of God if I am his representative.

Let your reputation reflect your heart and the sacrifice Jesus has made for you; If you believe in his everlasting Love, let your reputation tell people who you are; “Who do you say I am?”

Be Blessed!!

“Build your Faith on the integrity of God’s word.”

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.. Proverbs 16:3

Greetings Family,

It seems like forever since I have reached out to you all! I have to say it’s been an eventful year! First I want to thank God for his Grace and his overall Goodness in my life! I am not a perfect pet, and I whine and complain like the next creature, but I am learning throughout these years that the steps to faith are truly built on trusting God and his word for my life. I am learning to be patient, and wait. Waiting on things are extremely difficult in this time and this age that we’re in. Everything is built on instant gratification and constant distractions; how to generate passive income fast, how to own properties with other people’s funding, to running off to exotic islands on cheap flights, to becoming an overnight success as a chef when your salmon recipe goes viral! Whew! It happens so fast! Getting married after dating each other for 3 months! we’re moving at a fast rate in life. Unfortunately I have found once I reached my fifties, the pace became not only fast, but with an anxiety attached with it. I felt like I had more yesterdays than I had tomorrows. I literally started to panic! where should I be at this point? My children are adults now, with their own lives, and here I am still waiting to discover the undiscovered me.

So what do you do when you get that feeling that life is passing you by? especially when you embark upon your fifties? And you will feel it, trust me; at some point in your journey of growth, panic seeps in and the distraction of watching others obtain and acquire good fortune or fame will start to rattle your cage of awareness; What will you do? I remember the scripture in Phillipians 4:6-7(MSG) ” Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down . It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” I promise you this scripture will help put you back on track to a peaceful and purposeful journey emotionally, mentally and physically. When we focus on faith and not on the “fads” in our society, we can see that God has already taken care of things. No longer do I depend on my emotions to put me in a place of urgency or despair. Immediately, my anxiety started to quiet down and I stopped giving power to it. I am not saying that it doesn’t flare up now and then when I see something attractive (like a new outfit, or a scenic view of an exotic resort that I’d like to visit), but I can rest in this scripture to put me back into balance knowing that God is working on making me whole and healthy and happy in the life I already have at 50+. Amen!

Hey Family,

Today is the day we remember our Military soldiers., our War Heroes, and our forgotten Veterans. But it may mean something else to others. Today may also mean a day that we are recovering and trying to recapture a moment that we lost in this pandemic. A time where people were gathering together to jumpstart the summer season. Barbeques, and Beach parties, Family cookouts, and baseball games.

I have chosen to remember my Dad. He was an Air Force Veteran. He passed away earlier this year due to COVID related pneumonia. Although Dad’s health had been declining for a while, we never expected that her would leave us so soon. However, I am inclined to remember our last Memorial Day before the world changed. We decided to purchase a bird feeder, and sit out in the back yard bird watching. He loved to watch how they would gather to eat from the feeder, and sprinkle seeds down onto the grass for the larger birds. Dad’s day always started off with a cup of coffee and a donut or some form of pastry. It wasn’t a day that passed that he didn’t have his coffee. One cup early in the morning and another by lunchtime. By the time dinner came around, he was ready for his “Memorial Day hot dog” which consisted of chili, coleslaw, mustard, and chopped onions. Dad always said it reminded him of the holiday dogs he ate in the military in the canteen. Then the stories began; His days as an Airman First class stationed in Texas, his love of music, and the hobby of bird watching. My Father was an amazing man. He was a Historian, an Artist, a Musician and a Story Teller rolled up in a Conductor’s uniform (He retired as a Long Island Rail road Conductor).

I miss him terribly, but I remember the pride he had in serving. Whether it was his country or passengers on a train, he taught me to do whatever I did with dedication and pride. He taught me to always be ready to help and assist. Thankk You Dad; for your Love, Your commitment but most of all your Service…

” Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services.” Nehemiah 13:14

Hebrews 4:11

“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience…. (NIV)

Hi Family!

Some of you know that I am a preschool teacher. During this time of homeschooling and virtual learning, I am talking with my Pre K team members online and scheduling activities that we can share with parents.. This is challenging to say the least,  teaching from home, but I was led by the Holy Spirit to sit down for a moment and write…God brought to my remembrance, that this specific rest time is apart of our daily schedule each day in class.  We instruct them to be quiet even if they don’t sleep on their mats.   During this time of sheltering that we’re in, God is testing us. We are not to panic or entertain anxiety or fear. The news media,  & social media will fill you up with loads of it. But the Lord said “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. (v9-10)…Take a Breath….

Usually during our rest time in class we tell our little ones that are active and fidgety, that at midday we settle down and be still… In Job 33:33, “Be quiet, so I can teach you how to be wise...(NIV) It is my belief that the Lord wants there to be a rest…He closed schools so we could rest.., he closed businesses, so we could rest; adults, parents, you are in rest mode.., reconnect in this rest with your families, your loved ones, your children…even YOURSELF!!

Our minds are constantly going…but God is in control now…All we can do is rest…ReUp! So in your midday time (12:00) or in the middle of this season we’re in, work really hard to Rest, Reconnect, and Reassess your journey in this life,  reassess your relationship with Christ. Your rest time won’t last long, soon you’ll have to rise up and like my little ones get active again! Back into General population! Why now get active serving Christ?  Know that you’ve been healed, for he said in his word..“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord because they called you an outcast; It is Zion, for whom no none cares! …Behold I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, …(v.19) Out of them shall come songs of thankgiving and the voices of those who celebrate…  Jeremiah 30:17 (ESV)

Be Blessed!

Happy New Year to All…. Trying to be clean in 2018! That’s what my young adult children are saying in this season… (Hope that means personal hygiene has increased immensely). Well, I haven’t blogged in a while so please forgive my rambling… I recently had a loss in my life. My mother died.  Although it’s been hard for me and our family, we’ve managed to put our grieving into a reflective state of mind. My sisters and brother and I wanted to reflect on how amazing she was at listening to others and having such a magnanimous spirit. She welcomed everyone to our house growing up and our life was always filled with laughter, good food and children! Lot’s of children. I guess that is why my life is always geared toward children and family so much. It was the foundation in which my parents reared us in. One of the things I remembered about my mother was the beautiful dimpled smile she had for people. That smile opened the door for communication with a friend, family member or total stranger. My mother had a profound way of encouraging and brightening someone’s day without worrying about her cares. As I explore my path of  Discovery, I am finding that I too carry these traits. My mother wasn’t a church goer, or a Bible toting scholar, but she believed in Christ Jesus, and carried Him in her heart despite the pain and suffering of her illness. It wasn’t until I kissed her goodbye that I began to realize the relationship between being a servant and being an intercessor. God never intended for us to be just merely educated by the  Holy Spirit, but be filled with it. Romans 8:26 says ” In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. The Spirit prays for us. Groans too deep for words. The Spirit prays for God’s people.  We  essentially believe that Prayer is communication with God. Thereby Intercession is thought to be through Prayer. My Mother taught me that you can intercede when you reach out to someone. Through a touch,  a look, a smile, a laugh, a gift, a meal. That is intercession. It touches their spirit. It touches their soul. without the need for words. It has immense healing  properties that one could never comprehend.  I recognized that trait within my Mother, and now it has been bestowed upon me to carry…. My siblings and I sat around the kitchen table comparing the gifts we all have been blessed to have of Mom’s… whether it be her cooking, her capacity for calculating items, her love of Soap Operas, it all came down to her obedience of being a Servant of the Lord…….now it is my responsibility as well as it is for my siblings to bring intercession to others….CHANGING OF THE GUARD…… Be Blessed!   

This morning was the first day of school in my household! Yippeeee!!! (Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to rub it in..) Anyway, as my husband Jeff, whose a school teacher, and our two boys Jalen, and Jason headed out the door, I couldn’t help but reflect on the blessings that God has given us. He allowed […]

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