Tuesday With Teri

Devotions from lessons I'm learning from God

A 6/7 kind of Peace December 7, 2025

Filed under: devotionals — tlmiller82 @ 3:05 pm
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I know, I know…these two numbers, frequently and enthusiastically uttered by youngsters everywhere these days, may trigger adults to roll their eyes like teenagers and wail at the absurdity of it all.  But for me, this combination of digits evokes a remembrance of PEACE, God’s peace, the peace we pause and contemplate this second week of Advent.

I can’t stop the echo of my granddaughters giggling as they chanted these numbers at any opportunity during their last visit here. Stay with me on this, I promise not to use those numbers again, at least for a little bit, but trust me, I think you will eventually agree these frustrating digits are very important at Christmas!

This week, as we look forward to the coming celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we consider the promise of peace in His birth, life, death, and resurrection.  It may feel as if this “peace” is in hiding some days.  Life in general, personally/locally/nationally/worldwide, can often feel decidedly unpeaceful.  Often, we have the wrong expectation of peace.

Peace is not always a lack of striving; it is not always the absence of chaos, and it may not always be found in silence.

In John 14:27, Jesus shares His peace is much more than these things…

”Peace I leave you; My peace I give to you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 

A peace which enables us not to be troubled even in troubling times is difficult to grasp…it is the calmness in your heart when calamity rules the world around you.  It is the assurance one feels knowing Who is in control when you feel most out of control.  It is the deep anchoring of your soul when your surroundings press against you.  At times it is hard to explain this seemingly unjustified peace, it can be beyond our comprehension….and here we are…brace yourself.

  You see, when we feel most unpeaceful, anxious, downtrodden, discouraged, there is a verse that speaks to this….

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6&7

6&7…that battle waging in our heart…God says, “I’ve got this”.  6&7…unsettled uncertainty in things you can’t control…God says,”Bring it to Me.”  6&7…that war of worry weighing down your thoughts and robbing your joy…He offers a peace that will guard our hearts and minds.

Friends, may this week be filled with 6/7 reminders of God’s peace, gifted to us through the birth of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection would allow us forgiveness and a peace that surpasses comprehension.

 “I have said these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

Unwrapping Peace December 7, 2024

Filed under: advent,Christianity,Christmas,devotionals,life — tlmiller82 @ 10:57 am
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This week of advent, Peace, has been a gentle reminder of the profound peace offered to us by God. A gift that stands out amidst the clutter and chaos and waits to be opened.

Recently a friend shared a conversation she had with her husband.  Apparently, he had a history of questionable gifting.  This year she decided to give him some not so vague guidance for his efforts.  It was a lighthearted story, but I also recognized that this small communication was actually quite huge.  Instead of letting herself grow hurt or disappointed in his gift, she was honest with him.  It is not that material things are of importance, but being able to communicate even in the little things matters.

Too often in the earlier years of our marriage I kept my husband in the dark.  Perhaps due to my exposure through magazines, TV, movies and books which glorified grand gestures, thoughtful gifts or met expectations that all happened spontaneously, without being discussed…. I somehow expected my poor hubby to just KNOW what was on my mind, what I expected, what I needed.  God bless him for navigating that landmine filled time in our lives.  He was literally living in a hit or miss reality, guessing what I wanted or needed him to do or say at any time.  Learning to communicate in a healthy way has made all the difference in our lives.

Communication brings us into a closer relationship

 A closer relationship brings confidence

 Confidence creates trust 

Trust brings peace of mind and heart

Honest communication can be hard even in the best relationships.  Sharing our thoughts, needs, burdens or hopes, and listening with care to those of others, can be a very vulnerable endeavor.  I have come to realize prayer is this kind of communication.  Oh, God doesn’t need me to tell Him my thoughts, needs, burdens or hopes…He knows my heart, He created my mind…but prayer is the communication that brings peace.

Communicating with God leads to communion (a close relationship) with Him

Communion with God brings confidence

Confidence creates trust…and when we truly trust in Him we know peace.

Prayer is not fancy words, it is not a “wish list”, it is communicating your heart with a God who loves you and wants a relationship with you.  

Prayer is the gift wrapping that opens our hearts to God’s gift of peace!

 May we all, through prayer, unwrap the peace that comes from knowing Him, and in knowing Him, confidently trusting Him.  

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ.” Phil 4:6&6 (NLT)

 

“It Is What It Is” December 16, 2014

Filed under: devotionals — tlmiller82 @ 7:23 pm
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This is the third week of Advent.  Each week, four leading up to Christmas, we pause in remembrance of the birth of our Savior.  In some households a candle will be lit in recognition of each of the Advent themes.  This week we light the candle of PEACE.

“It is what it is”. I am not sure exactly when I heard this phrase for the first time. I do not recall what it was in reference to, but it made me feel uncomfortable. Since then, I have heard these words uttered countless times and each time it made my heart ache. I had only heard “It is what it is” in negative contexts I suppose. It was often spoken with a breathy sigh, a resignation of a plight, or a settling/acceptance of a bad thing.

I get it. I know there are times in life when there is just nothing anyone can do, and as one of my friends once said, “Sometimes you just have to put your big kid pants on and deal with it.” Still, it just does not feel right to proclaim a situation as beyond change, even if it is true.

I was not a fan of “it is what it is”, which is why I found it odd, that when considering the topic of “PEACE” for our advent devotion, I could not get this phrase out of my head. I had written it down as a passing thought in my notes last week. It was even scribbled in the margin of a shopping list I made a few days ago. The words kept bouncing around in my head like that ping pong ball in the old Atari games.  At first, I thought of it as a good example of resignation/hopelessness. I thought it would be a good intro into the topic of “HOPE”, but that advent theme has already passed. I had been asking God for something to share about “PEACE”.   I was sort of hoping for a scripture to roll into my life and present itself, not a negative tinged “It is what it is.”  What could THAT have to do with PEACE, God’s PEACE?

I looked the phrase up on line, seeking to find its intended meaning. Of course there were many ways it can be utilized, but for the most part, it has come to mean the following concerning situations:

Inevitable, unchangeable, unstoppable, out of one’s control, and my favorite, “C’ est la vie” (such is life)

Suddenly the phrase that was at once zinging around in my head in negative connotation, came to a complete stop and stood glaring out at me as if in neon lettering. “It is what it is.” is not always about settling for less of a thing, or accepting a negative situation… it is a confidence that when something is not in your control, you will still be okay. It is a knowing that while something is unchangeable, you are capable of moving forward.   We may not control our circumstances, but we control how we respond in our hearts.

At Christmas we are especially mindful of the year round truth that is this:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

This is God’s PEACE…in Him we do not strive for perfection, nor do we sit condemned from our sin. In Him we find grace, unearned favor, forgiveness and life. God’s PEACE is being settled in the midst of unsettling times. We face unchangeable things, unstoppable events and we may not have control, but our God is UNCHANGEABLE, UNSTOPPABLE and always in CONTROL.

“It is what it is” once caused me to envision someone throwing their hands up in defeat…now, when I think of this phrase, instead I envision someone dropping their burden, tossing their hands in the air and falling back into His capable arms.

“For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah9:16)