Waiting for The Lord
"Be
patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,
and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts:
for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the
judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example
of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of
Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. But above all things, my
brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your
nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." James 5:7-12 KJV This is how the message puts verse
10-12 - "Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything,
and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course,
of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares,
cares right down to the last detail. And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don't add words
like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don't show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just
say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can't be used against you." There is so much competition in the world today. People think they have to be one up on someone else.
Even as Christians, we can sometimes just forget what our mission is and get in the world. We can get caught up in talking
about other people, we can become bitter and vengeful, we can push our children to exceed beyond our friends children.
We feel bad for our children if they are not in the "in" crowd. Honestly, I don't want my children in
the "in" crowd. My wish for my children is the innocence of my childhood, When I was 13, I didn't
know a lot, I was so naive. I certainly did not have a boyfriend! Neither did the popular girls. Life was
about riding bikes, cheerleading, sports and just being with friends. It was the start of crushes that did not turn
into boyfriends until 16. I see so many parents today that let their kids date at 12 and 13 - it is sad. They
are robbing themselves of childhood. Who cares if her best friend has a boyfriend. Keep your kids innocent
today. We worry more about what we have materially - then spiritually. If we just believe
in Jesus and don't have a personal walk with Jesus - we've got a problem. It is my prayer that each day we get up that we desire a closer walk with the Lord. That each day we start
thinking about what will be and not what was. Yesterday is gone, today is a new day and can be a new day in Him.
Sit your family down and say - today is a new day. Today we start walking with Jesus. Don't be to proud to
take a stand. I love this song by Matt West - Called Next Thing You Know. Click on the following link to read
the lyrics. Matthew West - Next Thing You Know (Thirteen)
From the album History Do
you have a Thirteen? I hope you all have a blessed Thursday! Love, Tracy
Working Through The Valley
"How amiable are thy tabernacles,
O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out
for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still
praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing
through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every
one of them in Zion appeareth before God. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold,
O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had
rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and
shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts,
blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." Psalm 84 KJV I love the last line of this verse ... blessed is the man that trusteth
in thee. So many recent events have us all on our knees. We are broken hearted for some friends and we
are rejoicing for the miracles in the lives of other friends. The bible says "...in this world you will
have trouble, but, take heart, I have overcome the world..." I love that one word - BUT.
We will have trouble. I don't know why some people seem to always be in a valley or why death comes to young -
if we knew the answers we'd be perfect  and that is impossible, only Jesus is perfect. The only answer I do know is Jesus. The troubles and valley's
of this world are only temporary. They may seem like forever, but one sweet day Jesus will come again
and the valley's for a Christian will be gone. Isn't that awesome! What a day that will be! We sing
this song at church ... read the words - they are so true! Have a great Tuesday! Please continue to pray for Presley
Melton (I will have an update later today). Also for Steve and Sandra Craven (Matt and Winston) and for Bobbie Hanlon.
Great news ... Garnet is off the respirator and is on the road to recovery - PRAISE GOD! WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE by:
Jim Hill There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky,
no more tears to dim the eye.
All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that
will be. Chorus
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon
His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised
Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be. There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens
to bear,
No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;
And forever I will be with the One who died for
me,
What a day, glorious day that will be. Chorus
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day, glorious day that will be!
Where Can We Go?
"Wherefore I also, after
I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention
of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the
hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness
of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he
raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power,
and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And
hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the
fulness of him that filleth all in all." Ephesians 1:15-23 KJV Is your prayer
each day for the Lord to open your eyes to His Word? To open your ears to what your hear? To live as He designed
you to live on this earth? Is your desire each day to learn more and more how to have a closer
walk with Jesus? Are you hungry for His Word or do you find yourself becoming indifferent? I was telling someone the other day about how a few years ago I seemed so much more hungry to search and seek His
Word. How that made me feel horrible that the hunger was not what it once was ... but as we spoke I just began to realize
that my hunger had not changed ... my dedication had. At that time in my life I was not working so I made time with
the Lord a priority. Now, working full time and my children with busy schedules I feel like I am giving my
bare minimum to the Lord. My prayer today is for my time to open up so that my devotion time is just spent in thoughts
of Jesus and not what I have to get accomplished that day. When we wonder where God is in our lives sometimes, have
you ever thought that Jesus is thinking the same thing. All He has given so we may live life eternal with the Father.
The truth is, most people just think about here and now and don't want to think about that. Most people are "I
will cross that bridge when I get to it" thinkers. Just living in the moment. We had a speaker at church
yesterday and to people who know of him he is famous for this line ... "think about this." So, think
about this ... think about what is happening in our world today, it is really exciting to realize that soon and very soon
our King of Kings and Lord of Lords will be coming for His children. Are you ready? Are you doing all He has asked
you to do? Are you being all He asked you to be? I
hope you all have a great Monday, please remember Presley Melton (I think her surgery is today) and the Melton family in prayer
as well as the Craven family. Also please continue to remember Garnet McKeown and Bobbie Hanlon. Thank you
all. Love, Tracy
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