Some Food For Your Thoughts
"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way
they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for
those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. "
A Lamp on a Stand
"No one lights a lamp
and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the
open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks
he has will be taken from him." (Luke 8:14-18 NIV)
I was reading Luke 8:4-18 this morning. My computer keeps logging off so I may have to
type this without providing the verse for you ( you can go to www.biblegateway.com and put the verse in to read it).
The verse
is the parable of the sower. In verse 11, Jesus says "the meaning of this parable is: The seed is the Word of God.
Those along the path are the one's who hear, and then the devil comes along and takes away the word from their hearts,
so that they may not believe and be saved ... they believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away."
This is so true. Many of us do "fall away" because we can't see the big picture - God's masterpiece!
We want to have so much control of our lives because we may feel out of control. Jesus said, He is the way, the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Him. Trust Him with your heart today. Be the seed planter.
Tell others about what He has done in your life. Tell them how the devil has tested your Faith in Jesus, but He remained
Faithful! We are not always going to know the reason that we have to face a certain path ... our journey's are sweet
and even sweeter when we start each day seeking the Will of God for our lives.
As a teen my Mother taught me a lot about serving God. But I did not realize
it until I was much older. I can now look back and see what a seed planter she was for our family. She was tested
and walked through many trials ... but she remained faithful. It is not always an easy walk, God's Word never said
life would be easy, as a matter of fact it is full of places telling us that life will be hard ... but TAKE heart, Jesus has
overcome the world! Last night at Church we were talking about Eve and how things would be different had she just obeyed
God, or if Adam stood up to her and told her not to take the fruit. I was sitting there thinking about that. I
thought, well, God knew it would happen, that is why he specifically said it and warned them. Just like us as parents
warning our children from harm. But ALSO ~ if that did not happen, would Jesus have been created to die for us to cover
sins He never committed? Everything, every single thing, happens for a specific purpose. Seek God's Word and
discover His will for your life.
Be a seed planter,
be a seed grower. Tell others about your journey. I hope you all have a great Thursday. Count your many
blessings and thank Jesus for them. Love, Tracy
In Everything ~ Give Thanks!
I love Psalm 16 (NIV) ...
"Keep me safe, O God, for
in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." As
for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those
will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their
names on my lips. LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary
lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who
counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me.
Because
he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also
will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You
have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures
at your right hand."
This morning I was thinking about some
of the people that I know or have known in my lifetime that have passed on. Some like Scott's grandmother lived
well over 100 years. What amazing things she had seen and experienced in her lifetime. Then there were some like
my Mother and Father who lived until they were in their early 70's; my Mother in law lived until her early 60's; my
sister in laws brother - lived until his early 40's; Melissa Greer lived only until her mid 20's; my friends daughter
into her late teens; a 6 and 7 year old killed in a car wreck; my niece at 3 months. I thought about just these particular
people. A few I didn't know personally, yet they touched my life and the life of many because I got to know them
through the testimony of others. They have touched my heart. What they experienced in life was shared in and after
their death.
Then I started thinking about the people who
don't know Jesus. Many say they know Him - they know who He is, but nothing is personal.
I thought about our testimonies ~ many don't know Him personally, but they get to know Him through our testimony of how
He has touched our hearts and our lives! Even my little niece who did not get the chance to utter words on this earth,
speaks volumes because of the journey that my sister and her husband experienced and still experience today because that kind
of loss never ends. Most of the times I sit back and just say Thank you Lord for carrying them through and thank you
for the testimony you have given them.
I pray that you share a
word of testimony with someone today. There are so many people that are hurting around us. They don't need
negative energy ~ stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on your knee's and thank God for each day you have to walk this
earth and for each opportunity you have to share the Good News ... the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should be counting
our blessings every day and as long as I am sending this Prayer of the Day I will remind each of you of that. I watch
the nightly news every day and I thank God every day that I was born in the USA! If anything you can be thankful for
that ... what horror to "live" in these other countries! We need to pray for these people. I hope you
all have a great Tuesday ~ thank you for your prayers, I am feeling much better today. Please remember Jo Brown and
in prayer and Jackie Chumley (and family), Fred Brown (Jackie's Dad) passed away Friday. Thank you. Love,
Tracy
Look Toward Heaven
"My flesh and my
heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
(Psalm
73:26 KJV)
Look at how The Message words this verse ... "You're
all I want in heaven! You're all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they'll
never be heard from again. But I'm in the very presence of God— oh,
how refreshing it is! I've made Lord God my home. God, I'm telling the world what you do! " (Psalm 73:26 The Message)
I especially love that last line. You are so awesome God, I am telling everyone just
how good you are! We are brag about so much in this world, but we are so guilty of not bragging about God enough!
I was thinking about the book of Genesis, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201:1-10;&version=9;
The Bible says, In the beginning God created Heaven and Earth.
I never really thought about it, but from the beginning of time there was always a Heaven. Actually according to His
Word, He created Heaven before He created earth! I don't know, I just found that interesting this morning.
God knows everything. When we are weak and weary, God knows and He knows why. When we are living
in sin and despair ... God knows and He also knows why. Look at the second line of this verse ... (paraphrase) when
I am tired and I am weary, God is rock-firm - solid and faithful! This is a great life verse ... You are all I want
in Heaven and all I want in earth! Is that your prayer today to the Lord. Is He all you want and need? So
many people think things will make them happy ... yet they are always in search of something. In the end you will find
that things don't fill the void in your heart ... only Jesus can do that.
I hope you all have a great Monday. It is hard to believe that Rock Hill Schools will be out for summer in two more
days. The years are flying swiftly by what are we doing to lead people to the cross? Count your blessings ...
we are so blessed!! Love, Tracy
