I was reading different translations of this verse ... this is how the Amplified Bible put it, "Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds."

In our lives I think it is so easy to take our eyes off the cross and onto our circumstance.  We think and we wonder how we got to this point or why nothing ever seems to go our way, but did you ever think that maybe we just try to hard to create our own path?  I can think of many times in my own life that I headed down a road that the Lord did not plan for my life, my prayer life was not what it should have been and I was left thinking "how am I going to figure this out."  When finally I realized that I was not trusting God with all that I have and all that I need and I change and get on my knees and lay it all down at the foot of the cross, only then do things begin to turn around.  I don't have to figure it out on my own.  Jesus will show me the way.  He will show you the way.  Trust in Him and know He knows your journey.  Whatever journey we face today, we are not facing it alone.  No matter how BIG the circumstance, or how small the circumstance, Jesus is with you.  Keep your eyes on the cross.

I hope you all have a great Tuesday.  Please remember Kim Bartley and her family in prayer, her father was killed yesterday in a car accident.  I think her brother is serving overseas right now.  Be Blessed.  Love, Tracy

The riches of God.  Can you imagine the day that you are facing Jesus?  Have you ever thought about that day.  Some of us are really excited about that day.  To be with Jesus forever and ever.  Some people are not looking forward to the day that their "life" is over and some may not even give it a thought.  Without Jesus ... we are nothing.  We just exist.  But with Jesus - we are everything!  I don't know how people who do not serve God face a tragedy or a trial in their life.  Even with God, when I face a valley I can get very weary.  I try to figure out my circumstances on my own and see no end in sight.  But with Christ, all things are possible - for His Glory.  Sometimes we create and still up a mess of a circumstance.  We make mistakes, but if we don't turn to the Lord and change our ways it may never get better. 

I was watching a movie yesterday - it was not a very good movie, but the end message said it all.  It was about miracles and this lady believed that God was using her son that was in a coma to heal people.  A friend of his who was hurt by the church in her early years believed that this lady was using her circumstances to make money from the donations people gave.  When she confronted her sick friend he awoke from a coma.  The movie was far fetched - but many people cling to these hopes and signs instead of just clinging to Gods Word.  But at the end of the movie the boys mother had a great line, she said - well he performed the greatest miracle of all - an unbeliever - now believes! 

What will it take for us to realize that Jesus loves us?  We see many miracles performed today.  The Lord uses many circumstances in peoples lives to show us that He loves us.  Even in a tragedy the Lord continues to use us.  On Saturday night we went to a benefit for a four families in town.  A man that works for our school district has a family band (www.hudsonfamilyband.com).  This family is blessed.  8 Children - all have musical talent in one form or another.  God used them this Saturday night.  The 4 families, all brought together by accident - or was it?  I thought about my friend as I sat there.  Touched by tragedy, the loss of her only daughter, yet she is lifting the others up by her walk.  The other families, the Meltons, whose daughter Presley faces more surgery - but is literally a walking miracle!  The Hobbs family, their daughters accident claimed her life - due to a man driving drunk at four o'clock in the afternoon. And the Treynor girl and her family still healing. All four families each one experiencing the same reason for being there - yet all on their own emotional journey. The Lord has brought these families together for a purpose and it is evident to me that He is sustaining them through this time and using them to hold and encourage each other.

 The choices we make can change our lives forever.  Have you made a choice to serve him today?  I hope you all have a great Monday!  Think about where you are on this journey and what changes you can make in your life to serve Christ.  Love, Tracy