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Tammy Chandler

The Faithful Fridge

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing, Matthew 24:45-46.

We were having dinner with friends of ours recently, and as the meal was being prepared, the wife said, “I have to run out to the garage to get some things from the fridge.” There was a perfectly good-looking fridge in the kitchen, so I raised my eyebrows in surprise. She noticed my look, laughed a bit, and then said, “That one doesn’t work, I will be right back.” After she retrieved the items from the garage refrigerator, she explained: “The garage fridge is our old one. It didn’t match the kitchen, and I was so happy to get this new one that matched with all of our other appliances. But, this one doesn’t work. We’ve been talking with the company for the past three weeks, they have sent repairmen out, and we’re still waiting on the part to fix it.”

She went onto explain about the issue with it, the part they needed, etc. But then she said something that stuck with me, “My old fridge wasn’t pretty, but it’s faithful.”

According to the world’s standards, we may not be pretty. Our directives on how to live from God’s Word don’t match with the world’s sinful pleasures, and we don’t match with the world’s lifestyle choices and perspectives. Their pretty fridges of accepting sin, and “anything goes” don’t make for a working kitchen. They would love nothing more than to delegate us to the garage—keep quiet about your beliefs because your lifestyle is ugly and old-fashioned. But the world needs our faithfulness to our faithful God. We may not match their worldly décor, but the world needs us to work—they need to see that God keeps us going and that we have hope.

My friend had to return the condiments and such to the faithful fridge after dinner. As she walked out for the trip across the driveway to the garage, she said, “I miss my old fridge being in the kitchen—at least it keeps working.” I hope we don’t retreat away from being faithful in our everyday lives, that we bring glory to the One who keeps us faithful, and that the world misses us when they try to delegate us to the garage. Keep being faithful, keep working in God’s power and the leading of the Holy Spirit today, and let the world see the faithfulness, even if you don’t match their décor.

Thought-provoker: Are we doing our best to fit into the world’s décor, or is it more important to us to show the faithfulness of God?

Dear Lord, thank You for the example of the faithful fridge. We will not fit in the world’s décor, and that’s okay, because our work is to show them You. Thank You for the power to keep being faithful because You are an awesome God! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The New Rug

 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.2 Timothy 2:21-22.

I have a new rug in my office area at the house. It grounds my desk in the small space and brightens up the room. It is a blue and cream floral pattern and my favorite part is how soft it feels under my feet when I am working at my desk.

Our dog, Ava, has developed a sensitive stomach as she has gotten older. We have to be careful to keep her on a special diet and not let her get “human” food. We don’t deliberately give her things she shouldn’t have, but sometimes she finds things that have slipped to the floor, and they cause her digestive discomfort.

Well, at five thirty this morning, her discomfort became my cleaning project. She discarded her tummy contents onto my new rug in the office. The noise woke me, and I immediately went to care for her, and my rug. Once I knew she was okay, I tackled cleaning the rug. It didn’t take long to remove the stain because I started on it right after it happened, and I used the cleaner the manufacturer recommended. After a few minutes, the stain was gone.

What if we were as diligent about the stains of sin and pursuing cleanliness in our spiritual lives as I was about that rug? What a difference it would make in our lives and testimonies if we took sanctifying our souls as seriously as we do keeping the physical things nice in our homes. The Creator of us has told us what to do when a sin-stain happens. Just like I used the manufacturer’s recommended cleaner, the Word tells us: ^“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). We would be wise to go to Him as soon as we recognize the stain sin has made and let Him cleanse us.

Another product I use on my rug is a stain inhibitor. It protects the fibers from being stained when things happen. Our passage today tells us to flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. When we do this, we help to keep sin from staining the carpet of our testimony. After all, nobody wants a dirty carpet in their life office. Thankfully, our dog showed me the importance of tackling the stains and applying inhibitor to help keep them from happening in the first place. May we be diligent in doing the same in our hearts and lives today.

Thought-provoker: Are we living and growing in the sin-inhibitors of righteousness, faith, love, and peace? Where do we need to apply confession for forgiveness and cleansing today?

Dear Lord, thank You for the reminder to keep the rug clean in our hearts and lives today. Help us to apply both confession and sanctification as we walk with You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Two Roosters

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

Our daughter-in-law incubated and hatched some chicks for me, and among them were two roosters. As we watched the flock grow, both roosters developed beautiful plumes and were very attractive. They were both big, strong and impressive. But, they were very different.

One rooster, the bigger, stronger one, was very kind to his hens. He would seek out food for them, cluck to them, and protect them from danger. He led his hens with grace. The hens would follow him and he watched over them. These hens grew large, their feathers—while not as bold and colorful as his—were pretty and shiny. These hens laid eggs regularly and lived in peace. They clucked happily, rested well, and were healthy.

The other rooster, the smaller one, was very aggressive toward the hens. He didn’t look out for their welfare, in fact, he went out of his way to make their lives miserable. He wouldn’t share food or treats he found them, he cawed at them instead of clucking, and if one of the hens got too close, he would pluck feathers from her head or back. These hens lived in constant fear, their feathers were disheveled or missing, their egg laying was hit or miss, and they were restless and unhappy.

God, our good, heavenly Father is so different from the evil prince of this world. God knows how to love, extend grace, and offer peace (James 1). Jesus came as the Savior to make a place for each of us in His kingdom. He promises the Holy Spirit will be with us—giving us protection, supplying our needs, and strengthening us to be healthy ambassadors for Him in this world. The devil promises misery, and he delivers. He is the father of lies, murders and every evil imaginable (John 8:43-45). While God extends grace, the devil offers grief.

The hens had a choice. Those who followed the good rooster were safe, even though dangers are ever present about the coop. They knew their rooster would defend them, protect them, and be present for them. The other hens were not so blessed. Their rooster would allow them to be attacked, harmed, or even killed before he would even notice their plight.

So which rooster would you want to follow? It’s pretty simple to see the contrast when it comes to the birds. Follow the good Father who wants to love, protect, and grace you today. The other rooster just isn’t worth it.

Thought-provoker: Are we following the good, good Father of love this day, or have we traded His peace for the devil’s deceptions?

Dear Lord, thank You for the example of the roosters that shows a clear contrast between what You offer those who love and follow You, and what the devil destroys. Help us to choose You today, in every way, and be examples of the love and grace You bestow when we choose to follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Waffles

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Titus 2:1-5.

Waffles is my oldest hen. She has been with me for seven years, and she was about two when I got her. This is a very old lady in chicken years! She can no longer lay eggs, but she is a wonderful matriarch in the flock. I have introduced three sets of young pullets into the flock during her years and each young hen was graciously taught by Waffles. She teaches the young ones to hunt worms, to find treats in the grass, to hide from hawks and to find shelter during the storms. She is not aggressive, she is patient, as she leads by coming alongside. She eats with them, spends time with them and they, in turn, respect her and follow her lead.

Titus encourages older Christians to be the “Waffles” in their circles of influence. He admonishes them to set a good example, be grounded in their faith, and teach good things. Teach the younger ones how to hunt the Scriptures for answers to their life questions and desires. Teach them to find shelter in prayer and encouragement when the enemy flies overhead. Teach them to run to their true Refuge in Jesus Christ when the storms of life come. Just like Waffles, mature Christians need to be patient and not aggressive. Hen-pecking does little to promote sound Biblical truths and obedience to God’s principles. Most hens avoid hen-peckers, and young Christians will too.

If you are a mature Christian, be willing to spend time with the younger ones. Waffles spends hours upon hours with the younger hens. They learn from her, but they also enjoy being with her. And she enjoys them as well. I think Waffles stays young at heart because of all the time she spends with the younger hens. And I think the younger hens become wiser and safer from all the time they spend with Waffles. Together, they all make for a healthy flock of chickens.  

Thought-provoker: Do you see in your life where you are like Waffles to others? Are there others who have invested in you? Have you shown your gratefulness to them for the time they have spent with you? Are you willing to commit to spending time with someone else for the good of God’s flock?

Dear Lord, thank You for Waffles—someone who comes alongside and leads us closer to You and Your ways in love, not out of obligation. Help us to see who we can touch with this kind of love today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Farm Mud

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Romans 6:1-2

One thing is inevitable on the farm: rain makes mud. While I am always grateful for the rain that helps the grass, flowers, gardens and fields to grow, I have to be careful about my attitude toward the mud.

When we first started farming, I would just plow through the mud. It was everywhere, so I thought the best way to deal with it was to just get ankle deep and struggle my way through it. Sometimes, the mud was so thick, my boots would get stuck and my foot would slip out of one and I’d be hopping around trying not to fall and get my foot back in my boot without getting my sock gross and soggy. I would have to wash my boots off again and again, and my jeans kept getting dirty from the mud splashing up on them as I trudged through the mud.

A few years into farming, and a friend of mine made a comment that changed my whole view. “Why don’t you watch where you step?” was all she said. Made a lot of sense, once I stopped and thought about it. If I were more careful where I stepped, I wouldn’t have to deal with so much mud aftermath. I started picking my way carefully through the paddocks and barn lots. I noticed my boots and jeans didn’t get so dirty, my boots stopped sticking in the mud and my jeans weren’t getting stained anymore.

Mud on the farm can be a lot like sin. It’s everywhere—all around us in the world. In fact, Paul said that if we were to stay away from all the sin in the unbelieving world, God would have to take us out of this world (I Corinthians 5:9-13). But, should we just trudge through the sin-mud in this world and let it get all over us? (I think we know the answer to that). No. We need to start taking my friend’s advice and watching where we step. We don’t keep plowing through the mud, trudging ankle deep and splashing it everywhere, and then hoping the hose of forgiveness will get the mud off. Instead, we grow in grace by watching where we step. We don’t go to those places where we know we are tempted to sin—whether it’s a physical location or a place in our own minds. We show grace changed us by living differently.

Today, we need to show that grace has affected us, God’s grace has changed us, by watching where we step.

Thought-provoker: In what ways are we still trudging in the mud of sin? Where do we need to apply grace by changing where we step?

Dear Lord, thank You that grace means we aren’t stuck in the mud because of Your sacrifice and forgiveness. But, today, help us grow in Your grace and refuse to trudge back into the mud by watching where we step. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Stones

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.”  And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11

There are rocks everywhere around where we live. If we are putting in fence posts, we have to dig up stone. When we trail ride, we go over and around rocks. Some are in the ground, some are sticking up out of it. Some are so big we need equipment to move them. Others are small enough that they fit in the palm of a hand. They are all hard and feel permanent.

In our story, the leader brought stones with them. Those stones were hard and were planned to be used as a permanent solution to sin. Once she was dead, there was no going back. They would use the law to justify their actions, and they were ready to trap God Himself with their tactics.

Jesus had other plans. His solution was grace. Grace supersedes stones. Man wants sin wiped out—and the sinner taken with it—grace separates the two. Jesus went to the cross to wipe away the sin, but He keeps the sinner intact. Jesus shows that love is superior to the law, not because we don’t need the law, but because the law destroys the sinner as well; we need His love to keep us from death.  

Grace also comes with a new directive: go and sin no more. Now that her life had been rescued by grace, she couldn’t keep living the same way she had before. She was to go and be different. Some say “sin no more” is impossible, but it wasn’t impossible for this woman to stay out of adultery. He didn’t tell her “go and be perfect,” He told her to walk away from her old life and live such that people knew she had found grace. She stepped out of the darkness and into His Light, which is the verse that follows this story in John 8 (see John 8:12). She doesn’t get to stay the way she was; grace made her shed those sins and walk in the newness of His Light.

We are all “that woman” before Christ intervenes, covers our sins with His blood, and gives us a new direction when we accept what He did for us through faith. We need to live differently because of the grace He extends to us. Stones remind us that human methods are hard—we prefer to take out the sinner with the sin. Grace separates sinners to a new way of living.

Thought-provoker: Where do we see God’s grace extended in our lives today? How do we need to live differently so others see that grace?

Dear Lord, we are so grateful for Your grace that separates the sinner from the sin and gives us the opportunity to go and sin no more! Help us to live so differently because of the grace You have extended to us. We love You and thank You that grace supersedes stones. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Run-To

Psalm 107:29a, “He calms the storm.”

We recently had storm damage at our farm. No worries–all the animals and humans were safe, but the run-to that the horses use for shelter from the sun, wind and rain was uprooted and flipped over. I was out at the barn working when it happened, so I saw the run-to flip over. This outbuilding, a three-walled, roofed shelter that was supposed to provide protection, went up in the air and was flipped over on its roof by the wind. I saw it happen, but there was nothing I could do. The straight-line winds were stronger than the shelter and over it went.

It made me think of all the things we build in our lives to protect ourselves. We build shelters for our emotions, we build walls, we build prisons–places that were meant to protect, but have actually imprisoned our hearts. Why do we do this? To protect our hearts from hurt and our souls from pain.

What I realized watching that shelter go over is that our walls are no match for a storm. Our shelters are pitiful in the face of life’s great winds. We need to find our refuge in the God who calms the storms, not in a shelter that still feels all the winds and rain when the storms come. God is the only refuge that will stand when the storms come. He is our Rock and our Redeemer; He is our Refuge (Psalm 18).

After the storm was over, my husband got the tractor out, we called some friends, and we turned the run-to back over. The roof is damaged and there are repairs that need to be made, so it stands as a reminder that God is the only refuge that can stand against anything this world throws at us. Anything we try to build to protect our hearts has the potential to be toppled when the storms come. Better to find refuge with the One who calms the storms. Hope you find yourself under the shadow of His mighty wing today.

Thought-provoker: Are we trying to find shelter in our own contraptions today, or are we running to the Rock who is greater than all?

Dear Lord, please help us see that our attempts to shelter ourselves from the storms of life are only going to blow away and topple over. Today, let us find our refuge in You, the One who not only shelters us, but You also calm the storm for us. You are so good! Thank You for Your never-failing, never-ending faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Invitation

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:8-10

In my Christian walk, and though I stumble many, many times, I try to be confident in God’s working in my life and the Holy Spirit’s leading in where and how to minister. But, with all the changes in this recent season in my life, I started to question. Question everything. Am I in the right place? Am I serving where He wants? Are there more changes that I need to make? I felt very overwhelmed, and the enemy started planting doubts right alongside the questions.

I believe that questions are good. How can we learn and grow if we don’t ask questions? But doubts—those are a different story. Doubts are a tool of the enemy to get us to go beyond questions and start us on a path to believing lies. God is faithful, but doubt makes us wonder if He is faithful with everybody else but us, we must be the exception. God is true, but doubt makes us think His promises don’t apply to us. This doubting process usually isolates us and makes us withdraw, because who would want to be with someone who is doubting their very relationship with God?—another lie from the enemy.

What has helped me through this season of life is an invitation. There are ladies at our church who have invited me to be a part of their lives and to hear truth, just by sitting with them over a meal, studying God’s Word together, and walking around the lot at our church and talking about life. They show love by inviting me in. Including me, and my doubts. Just by being around these women, God is showing me the lies of the enemy and how to weed them out. He is breaking new ground in my spirit and giving me direction by including me in a pack of ladies who love fiercely, know how to reach the throne room of heaven in prayer, and who are willing to lock arms and hearts and have a spiritual sisterhood. And I am thankful that they invited me in.

Now, I find myself looking for that next sister. The one who is struggling, the one who has doubts and feels alone, and I hope she will lock arms with me and become part of the invitation to love, pray and be included. If you are in a place in your life where you are reaching out to others, thank you for living out the purpose and plan of community within the church. If you are one who is struggling, know that the invitation is real. Come join us!

Thought-provoker: Am I welcoming others into my Christ community? Do I love and pray fervently, extend hospitality and minister how Christ has gifted me? Am I in need of accepting that invitation today?

Lord, thank You for gifting us to be able to minister to each other! Help us to love fervently, extend Your invitation to love and peace and help us to include those around us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Shedding

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven, Ecclesiastes 3:1.

It’s February, it’s wintertime and it is still cold. Sometimes it is very cold. And yet, my friend Renee pointed out the other day that the horses are already starting to shed out their winter coats. You would think that they would need those extra hairs–especially when it is 20 degrees at night. But every time we groom the horses, they are shedding.

It really makes no sense, and yet God designed those winter coats to do exactly what they are doing. The horses are keeping their undercoat–the fur underneath that keeps them warm and dry, but they are losing the outer hair. Their bodies are being prepared for the next season–spring. God won’t allow them to lose the undercoat until the days lengthen and the temperatures warm up, but He is allowing them to shed the hair that would mat them up, that would tangle and knot, and He is letting them shed it off before it becomes a serious problem.

He does the same for us, dear believers. We think it is a time of dark, cold winter in our lives and we need every layer of protection we can get. But, God in His wisdom, knows that another season is just around the corner, and those things that we are so desperately holding onto to protect us will just become mats and knots in our lives in the next season. So, He allows them to shed. He allows them to be brushed away from our lives, and we need to trust His judgment. He won’t take away what we need, but maybe what we need is less of something that is complicating our lives, and we just can’t see it because of the season we are in. There is hope knowing the next season is just around the corner and there is peace in knowing that He will not take something away without preparing us for something better.

So, let the shedding begin. Trust the Lord as He brushes away those things that we don’t need to hold onto anymore, and know that He is preparing us for a new season of joy and peace, Hang in there, friends, spring is coming.

What things do we need to trust God to shed from our lives, even if it doesn’t make sense in the moment? What new season do we have to look forward to?

Dear Lord, thank You for not allowing the knots and mats that come from holding onto our protective layers. Help us to trust You for what we need, and to trust You to take what we don’t. There is a new season right around the corner, and You have Your hand all over it. Help us to look forward, even if it is hard to understand what You are doing in the moment. We love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.