Bless The Lord, O My Soul "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The
LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:18-19 KJV)
The Message puts it this way-
"Though the cherry trees don't blossom
and the strawberries don't ripen, Though the apples are worm-eaten
and the wheat fields stunted, Though the sheep pens are sheepless
and the cattle barns empty, I'm singing
joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail,
I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain! I like that
last line" ... I feel like I am KING OF THE MOUNTAIN! Did you ever
feel like that? Life is just going swimmingly, you are on top of the world and then, in a moment of weakness, you are
caught off guard and you find yourself in the lowest valley. We question and say "oh God why"?
I've been there many times. In reflection, I know that I have
not always praised him in the valley. Sometimes I even get mad when I am in the valley. Why Lord, what did I do
to deserve this? I have thought that many times. It is not what we do to deserve the times we spend in the valley's.
Sometimes it is not even what we don't do. Every one of us we experience a low valley, for some it may be a death,
for some it may be depression, for some it may be marital problems and for some it may be financial problems. But through
it all ... Jesus is with us, wanting us to draw closer to Him. We sing a song at church ... Whatever it takes to draw
closer to you Lord. One night we were singing that song and I was meditating on the words I was thinking in my mind.
Can I really say that Lord? Can I really say, if I have wandered far Lord, take my house, take my dreams, take what
is important to me to draw closer to you? The Lord just really grabbed my heart that night and said, I gave it all to
you Tracy and whatever it takes to show you the way I will do it ... because that is how much I love you. Wow.
Whatever you are facing today,
know that the Lord loves you and whatever it takes to draw you closer to Him, whatever it takes to grab your attention, if
you are facing the lowest of valley's or you are KING OF THE MOUNTAIN, praise His name. Even when we don't understand
what it is we are facing and even when we question why ... Jesus is the answer. God has an amazing plan for your life.
Trust Him and He will guide you through it. Have a great weekend. Invite someone to church with you this Sunday.
If you are not going to church, pray that the Lord will lead you to a church that stands on His Word. Count your blessings
... because the Lord has overly blessed us! Love, Tracy
Wherever We Go - He Is There "Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Amen."
(Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)
Last
night I was looking through my Bible and next to this verse I had written a
few notes ... 1- Every Christian life needs
a model of a Christian life, people watch us, how we act and react. 2 - Christ expects every Christian to continue this
life long learning process, we don't just become a Christian then we are done. 3- Christ calls us to go and invest
our lives in making disciples. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 6:8. When you read that verse what does it
say to you? "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will
go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." Are we quick to say, OK Lord, wherever
you want me, whatever I need to do - send me there, use me there.
I read an article in the newspaper yesterday, I sent it to a lot of you because it was about one of our Schools and
how they came together after the loss of one of their students. It made me cry when I read it, it was a sad story about
a little 7 year old boy who's mother shot and killed him. What a sad, disturbed life she led to do something
like that. But what made me emotional and touched my heart was the love and support of the students, teachers and administration
of the school. As I was reading the story, I thought about the boys Dad and how that must have touched his heart.
It was a perfect example of this verse! Maybe each of those people did not even realize they were doing the work of
the Lord, but the Lord used them through a deep deep valley to touch the hearts of many I am sure.
Just by making a card, writing a note, saying a prayer, saying a kind word, just by letting
someone know that you love them and care about them - that is living the words ... Here I am Lord, send me! Use me Lord
to help touch or heal a broken heart. Give me the words Lord to encourage others in Your name. Is this your prayer
today? Are you willing to give all that you are to Jesus?
I hope you
all have a great Thursday. Let's continue to remember the families at Virginia Tech in prayer, specifically those students and teachers who witnessed the
act of this disturbed young man. I am sure their lives are changed forever. It is just even more reason for each
one of us to count our blessings ... because we are so blessed! Love, Tracy
What Is Your Fruit? "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told
you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying
one another." (Galatians 5:19-26 KJV)
As I was reflecting this morning, my thoughts went
back to yesterday. A few different times in the day I heard a similar thought from different people. Our children
act and react to how they are taught in the home. After about the third time I heard it I said to myself, OK self ...
the Lord is trying to tell you something. Marriage can be challenging at times, but parenting, oh my goodness - it is
the hardest thing I have ever done! Some people can make it look so easy. Some people say oh, they are just at
a hard age. HA. It is just parenting. Because sometimes you are not just parenting your own children. They
do learn what we teach them, but most children spend 8+ hours with someone other than their parents each day. They are
in school or in daycare more than they are in our care - so we spend the 4 or 5 hours we have each day trying to reverse what
ever things invaded their minds that day. No matter how old our children are ... parenting never ends. Our
guidance is always needed, a parents advice is always treasured. We have to make sure we are on our knee's before
God seeking His way before we guide them.
As I read this scripture this morning, and I got to the part of the fruits of our spirit, I get
it. Love them with all your might. Show them peace, show them joy. Show them some gentleness, some goodness
and above all have faith that the Lord will guide you along your journey. I know that this word is sometimes just for
me, but I love when the Lord impresses me to share my thoughts and uses my thoughts to love and comfort others. It is
funny how I am always amazed - yet that is what His word says to do. So when we obey His word ... why are we surprised
when He answers prayer? I hope you know that His worth is truth. No matter what we face the Lord promises to be
at our side and He will answer our prayers. It may not be in our timing, but there is an answer to each petition made
to the Lord. It may not be what we expect, but remember each piece, each petition answered is a part of your masterpiece!
I pray you all
have a great day today, please continue to remember Timmy Quinton, he is recovering at home now. Remember the driver
of the logging truck and his family. I believe it was in the news last week that he is going to be charged (I think
with manslaughter). This is very sad. I can't tell you how many times I have ran a yellow light. A lesson
learned here is to remember this accident as I am driving each day. I hope the Lord intervenes here. I can't
imagine the pain and suffering of the Quinton and Cherry families. We need to just pray for all of them and count our
blessings! Love, Tracy
Hear His Voice "Hear my cry, O God;
attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock
that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy
tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given
me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations. He
shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name
for ever, that I may daily perform my vows." (Psalm 61)
I have to read a verse or two in Psalms every day. The psalmist David just lifts my heart
and places a desire in my heart to serve the Lord more and know the Lord more. I received an e-mail yesterday from a
person I went to elementary school with. It was an invitation to a Casino night. The person (obviously) did not
know me. When I was in my late teens and early 20's had this invitation presented itself I would have been there.
I had an addiction to Atlantic City, not necessarily to gambling, but to the casinos. I thought it was a way
to get rich quick. Often times taking the 3 hour ride by myself - at night and coming back (on a wing and an empty prayer)
in the wee hours of the morning "promising" God if He got me home safely I'd never go back alone again.
Empty promises, because that next month I'd do it again. Then I'd spend a week depressed because I had lost
my $100.00 that I needed for bills. I would then have to ask one of my sisters for money to cover my debts. I
thank God - literally every day for delivering me. I also know that during that part of my life the Lord was teaching
me. Even though I was not paying a bit of attention to Him. He was drawing me. Calling me ... Tracy, this
is not the way. Tracy, trust in me, I am the way, I am the truth, I
am the life. Money and things will not solve your problems, they will not bring you comfort.
When I received that e-mail yesterday it brought back so many memories to my mind. I am so thankful
I am where I am today and I am so thankful that the Lord is still working on my masterpiece and has not given up on me like
I have done so many times. Without each little square in my masterpiece, I would not have learned from past mistakes.
I would not have grown through the valley's and trials. Without the Lord, I would be so lost and lonely. But
with Him I have everything I need. He will supply all your needs. There is nothing that is done quickly ... losing
weight cannot be done quickly, when we gain weight it comes on gradually. There is not a way to get rich quickly (and
still honor God), we have to be smart with our finances and search the word of God and honor God with our money. Our
walk with the Lord is gradual as well. It takes time and it takes dedication to His Word ... daily, if not hourly!
Stick with it, trust in Him and enjoy the journey! Take time to smell the fresh fragrance of His Word :-)
Have a great Tuesday everyone. Count your blessings ... for you
are blessed! Love, Tracy
Don't Get In A Rut!
"And
some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed,
after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto
this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For
the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal
them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And
when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years
in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him." (Acts 28:24-31
KJV)
I hope
you all had a Blessed week last week! My children and I were off for spring break so my schedule was a little off -
but we are glad to be getting back into a routine this week.
I went to a wonderful conference this past weekend. It was a Beth Moore study for Friday evening and Saturday morning. The
whole thing was great, but special piece of it stuck with me and I could not wait to share it with all of you. Beth
was giving an illustration about our lives ... our lives are a colorful masterpiece that the Lord is painting. Each
little piece is a trial or a mountaintop of our lives. It is our journey. Each painted square tells a story.
A story of our life and our journey. If we did not have trials in our life - our journey would not be fulfilled.
What would we learn and how would we grow spiritually? When our lives are over on this earth, that means the Lord has
completed the masterpiece and when we step into Heaven we are His perfect masterpiece! We are complete and we are made
perfect by the Lord. Isn't that a good Word!
It is so easy to get into a rut and feel sorry for ourselves when we are facing difficult times.
I believe in certain circumstances the Lord understands this deep sorrow. I believe when people are faced with the loss
of a child that the Lord is hurting for them as well. I feel deep sorrow for the people in my life that are going
through this. I will never (I pray) know how they feel and I probably never say the right things - sometimes, it is
just better to say nothing and pray for the Lord to touch their lives ~ then to unintentionally say something that is stupid
and hurtful. Even others that are experiencing this same journey will not experience the same emotions. Only the
Lord can comfort you in these dark times.
Our journey in this life is to share His word and His love so that others will be comforted. When your life
feels empty and hopeless, think of the masterpiece the Lord is creating. Know that this valley and this trial are a
piece to His great portrait of you. He loves you and all things are done to glorify the Father and
draw you closer to Him. I hope you can share a word of testimony today with someone who is stuck in a pit. Have
a great Monday dear friends. Count your blessings, list them one by one ... because we are 100% blessed. Love,
Tracy
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