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Devotions
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One Voice
"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that
ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there
was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?" Isaiah 43:10-13 (KJV)
I was giving a short testimony of my life the other day and I was telling
this couple about what a burden it is in my heart for people who hear the word of God yet don't get it. They run from
everything God has for them and try to live for the world. People misinterpret the saying "live life to the fullest."
That saying to me means, make the most of every moment you have. As a Christian it means every opportunity you have,
every door that is opened give God the Glory. Many people take that statement and they live as they please. A
life that is pleasing to themselves. You are going to find that happiness lasts only for the moment.
In
this verse of scripture the Lord tells us He has called us to be His witness. To go out and share a word of testimony.
All week I have been sharing with you the life of our friends Steve and Sandra and the deep valley they are in. I don't
think it can get much deeper than the loss of a child. Through it all - Jesus has been glorified. It is by God'd
Mercy and by His Grace that they are facing each day and they have praised Him through this storm! I was looking up the words
to the song
Praise You In The Storm
I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped
in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen," and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And
as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No
matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I
will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My
strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You?
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The
Maker of Heaven and Earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The
Maker of Heaven and Earth
With these lyrics were some verses to encourage you and raise you up in the storm. I pray
that they encourage your heart and lift you up today. Have a Blessed weekend ~ invite someone to church with you this
Sunday!
Love, Tracy
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28, NASB
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our
inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far
beyond all comprehension, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things
which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NASB
"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence."
Psalm 42:5, NASB
"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come? My help comes
from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:1,2, NASB
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD."
Job 1:20,21NASB
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we
do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you,
O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18 NASB
Understanding God's Word
"Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed
that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one
comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who
hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They
fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. The seed that fell among the thorns
represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure
of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand
God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" Matthew 13:18-23
(NLT)
I read a number of different translations of this verse and I think the New Living Translation puts it in
the simplest of terms for us to understand. If we are not in His Word, studying His word it is hard to understand the
meaning of Scripture. In this passage in Matthew, it is talking directly to us ~ we  are the seed planters. We are called to throw out seeds to all that surround us. Gospel seeds. It takes
a lot of fertilizer for seeds to grow. It takes determination and dedication. Just like with a Christian,
you can't just throw the seeds and expect to have spiritual growth. You have to read the Bible, talk to other Christians,
attend Bible studies. You can't just be a hearer of God's Word. We are called to be "doers"
Just yesterday, at Lindsay's funeral, our Preacher threw out the seed. 40 people (a combination
of adults and students), said yes, I want to be a doer of God's Word ~ I've been living for myself and
I want to start living for Jesus. I realize that doing it on my own is getting me no where. Revival in a Church
starts one heart at a time. We have to have revival in our own hearts before revival can start in a church or in a school
body. We have to have the dedication and determination to be a better Christian - not just a better person, for the
Lord. Are you determined to be dedicated?
Start planting the seeds today - I just did. Then keep watering and fertilizing - the growth will
be tremendous. Have you given any thought to when He is coming back? Does that scare you or are you ready?
For a Christian our sins have been judged already, Jesus paid that debt at the Cross for us - but we will still face judgment
on the opportunities that the Lord gave us to lead others to Him and we just turned our heads not wanting to "offend" someone
or selfishly not making time. Are we ashamed of Jesus? Just a thought. Don't be ashamed. Don't think
"Jesus will understand." Because He does not ask much of us in this life. Don't be ashamed to plant seeds and
once you do - don't forget the water.
I love you all, please continue to pray for Steve and Sandra and their sons Matt and Winston. The
Lord has just been glorified in this whole tragedy through them and people are watching. It has already impacted many
lives. And friends ... wear your seatbelt! Have a blessed day.
Love, Tracy
I Can Do ALL Things ....Through Christ!
"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again;
wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and
in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with
my affliction." Phillippians 4:10-14 (KJV)
So many thoughts going through my mind this day. As my thoughts drift from my friends who lost their
daughter, to the other family who is begging for a girl to fight for life the Lord brought Phillipians 4:13 to my mind ...
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. That is the only way either of these families can face tomorrow.
I was talking to Sandra yesterday and one of the songs that will be sung at Lindsay's funeral is Because He Lives.
She said "the reason we picked that was that is the only way we are getting through this." WOW! Read
the words penned by Bill Gaither ...
Because He Lives
by Bill Gaither
God sent His Son - they called Him Jesus,
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived
and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Chorus:
Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
2. How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater
still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
3. And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final
war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory - and I'll know He lives.
Verse 3 is how Steve and Sandra will face each day - knowing one day they will cross that river of Jordan
too and see the sweet beautiful face of their daughter again. And verse three is how Peggy and Bruce Melton will get
through each day - No matter what you face today you too have that assurance if you have trusted Jesus Christ to be your
personal Savior. You don't have to wonder if you will ever see your loved one again - you can know beyond a shadow of
a doubt just by repenting of the sin in your life - confessing it to Jesus and trusting Him and Him alone to take you through
this life to life everlasting. We are not meant to face this life alone. Because He lives - you can face tomorrow
and the next day and the day after that! He knows everything about you and Jesus loves you! Come to Him today.
Come to Jesus! Have a Blessed Day!
Love, Tracy
In The Midst Of A Storm
Psalm 23-KJV
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup
runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for ever."
We all know this scripture, maybe you don't know the words by heart, but I am sure when you started
reading it the words came to you. I was sitting in Sunday School thinking about this scripture yesterday. In an instant
a wet road changed my friends life forever. Saturday night their 17 year old daughter went to the store for a tube of chap-stick
and about a mile from their home, on a wet road lost control of her car and was killed. She was not wearing her seatbelt
- devastation. Not only their 4 lives changed, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends - changed forever. In
an instant. Please pray for their families - Steve and Sandra Craven, their sons, Matt and Winston, Lindsay's grandparents
- Becky and Jack Cannady and Mrs. Craven - many aunts and cousins, I don't know all their names but the Lord does. There
was also another girl in the car (she was 15 or 16), as far as I know she is still in critical condition with a severe brain
and lung injury and many broken bones. Her name is Pressley Melton. Please lift her family up in prayer today.
As
I sat in class I thought about their valley, I thought Oh Lord this is such a deep valley - We prayed for Steve and Sandra
and the days ahead for them with Lindsay's funeral service. The Lord's answer to prayer is this: "Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
The
Lord is always with us and even when we are in the valley and even when we have to bury someone we love He is with us. He
will send people in our direction to love and comfort us when we have no strength to even stand. He will give us the strength
to face each day. He will give us the peace that we need when we don't understand.
I hope you all have a blessed day
today. Love, Tracy
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| Devotions |
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| by Tracy Beckham |
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