Where Do You Stand? "And when we were all fallen to the earth, I
heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee
to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But
rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both
of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from
the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified
by faith that is in me."
(Acts 26:14-18 KJV)
My time got away from me this morning. I started reading Acts
21 and got all the way to Acts 27 reading about the imprisonment of Paul. I'd like to think that we'd all go
to those lengths to share the Gospel. But I don't know today if just anyone would. I have gotten in a few
"discussions" with family before and ended the discussion by agreeing to disagree. In some ways that is what
should happen, being argumentative about the Gospel is not sharing the Good News - it is more like turning someone off to
it. But sharing His Word lovingly, showing God's Word ~ what is Truth, and praying that people will see
His Word as Truth and place their Faith in Jesus. That is how we should witness.
God is so good to us. Yes, we have times that we
are in a valley and we may even wonder sometimes "where are you Lord?" But it is in those times that Jesus
is trying to draw us closer to Himself. When you feel yourself in the midst of a valley, call out to Jesus, ask Him
to reveal all you need to know to grow closer to the Lord and ask Him to give you the courage and boldness to share His truth
with everyone that crosses your path. I am praying for your boldness.
I hope you all have a great Thursday. Please continue to remember
my Friends Mother in Law, Rita in your prayers as well as Ruth Graham (wife of Evangelist Billy Graham) who is near death.
I watched a little story they did on her on the news last night ... wow, what an amazing woman. Have a wonderful
day ... are you still counting your blessings?? Love, Tracy
You Are Blessed
"When Jesus saw his ministry
drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at
a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: "You're blessed when you're
at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. "You're blessed when you feel you've
lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. "You're blessed when
you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of
everything that can't be bought. "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's
food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,'
you find yourselves cared for. "You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put
right. Then you can see God in the outside world. "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate
instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.
The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. "Not only that—count yourselves blessed every
time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too
close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though
they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have
always gotten into this kind of trouble." (Matthew 5:1-12 The Message)
I was thinking about how blessed we are today. I
am planning a trip back to New Jersey for
a few days and my sister and I have been reminiscing about family BBQ's when we were growing up. What great traditions
our families had back then. Everything, I mean everything ~ revolved around family. Today, because of distance,
I only see my family once or twice a year. My children don't get to have the same traditions I had growing up.
Even with their cousins here. Everyone stays so busy these days. We are blessed to have each other. I can
remember when Saturdays were days for yard work and Sunday was family day. Now people work on Saturday and after Church
on Sunday we run ... run ... run.
I love verse 3. In NIV it reads - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is in the kingdom of Heaven."
The Message words it ... "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more
of God and his rule." Do we get it? Less is MORE! The more we have the more we want. The less
we have, the closer we grow to God because our desires become different. Our prayer life becomes different. As
we get older, our desire should be to grow closer and closer to the Lord. Getting back to the family values we grew
up with.
Please remember
my friends Mother in Law, her name is Rita and she is in the final stages of cancer. My friend will be traveling to
New York today to be with her. Have a great Wednesday. Love, Tracy
Yes, Jesus Loves
You!
"And therefore will the LORD
wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is
a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious
unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. And though the Lord give you the bread
of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall
see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn
to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:18-21 KJV)
I Love to read different versions of the Bible, this is how The Message
worded this verse; "But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering
strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around
for him are the lucky ones. Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you'll find it's grace and
more grace. The moment he hears, he'll answer. Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he'll
keep your teacher alive and present among you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever
you wander left or right: "This is the right road. Walk down this road." You'll scrap your expensive and fashionable
god-images. You'll throw them in the trash as so much garbage, saying, "Good riddance!" (Isaiah 30:18-22
The Message)
Have you noticed ... God is not finished with us! We want everything to happen in our timing. The Bible say,
But wait ... I love that verse ... Oh yes, people of Zion (citizens of Jerusalem), your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you will find
it's grace and more grace! This is the way ~ walk in it. That is an awesome word.
I can't wait until our time of tears are over. Well, I can wait, because the Lord is not done with me ... but you
know what I mean. I wonder sometimes about what Heaven will be like. I honestly think the Lord will just erase
any sadness we faced on earth. We will only know joy. Our "days" will be spent in awe and wonder
of Him. Aren't you just so thankful for His Grace?!
As you have gotten up today, have you thanked the Lord for just another day? Have
you thanked Him for giving you another opportunity to share His love with someone and another opportunity to just encourage
just one person? That is life. Opportunity. What are you doing with your opportunities? Do you have
a special prayer and quiet time? You need that. Even to just take an old note book and write three lines of prayer
or three lines of blessings. Pour out your heart to Jesus. No matter what we face each day the Lord will embrace
us. He is my encouragement. He is my ROCK. Without Jesus I have nothing, with Jesus I have everything -
even if I feel I have nothing!!!
Remember this little song ... Jesus
loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong. Yes,
Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! This I know, As He loved so long ago, Taking children
on His knee, Saying, “Let them come to Me.” Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The
Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give Light
and love to all who live. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! Loves
me still Tho' I'm very weak and ill; That I might from sin be free Bled and died upon the tree. Yes, Jesus loves
me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! He will stay Close
beside me all the way; Thou hast bled and died for me, I will henceforth live for Thee. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus
loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
This is a little history on the hymn (poem) ...Jesus
Loves Me is a Christian hymn written by Anna B. Warner[1] and David Rutherford McGuire. The lyrics first appeared as a poem in the context of a novel called Say and Seal,
written by Susan Warner and published in 1860. The tune was added in 1862 by William Batchelder Bradbury who found the text of "Jesus Loves Me" in a book, in which the words were spoken as a comforting poem to a dying
child. Along with his tune, Bradbury added his own chorus "Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus Loves me..." After publication
the song became one of the most popular Christian hymns in churches around the world. An Anglican priest, David Rutherford
McGuire, rewrote the second and third stanzas in 1971 to communicate verses Matthew 19:13-14.[2].
I just found that information interesting. William Bradbury found encouragement in this song,
which was a poem written to a dying child. Jesus
loves you, He is your encourager!
Have a great Tuesday. Encourage someone with His word today. Love,
Tracy
Monday AM
Our Prayer Time "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." (Psalm 61:1-3 KJV)
This
is one of my favorite Psalms. The verse goes on to say ... "I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will
trust in the covert of thy wings. 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." I will abide in thy tabernacle forever. I think today, there
are not many that fear the Lord. We live in a society that is me first. We "serve" God on Sunday, then
forget about Him until we get into a pit. Many of us get so involved in our day to day activities we even forget to
pray in the morning. We get up, we get ready for our day and just get moving. Oh how important it is to spend
our earliest moments with the Lord, before we are too involved in our day and then we don't have "time" for
him.
This is a great
prayer to start each morning. Place all your faith in Jesus today and He will be your guide ... He will light your path
and He will see you through anything you face and you will become stronger and closer to Him if you just trust in Him.
I hope that you start each day in His word. If you haven't in the past, I pray that through reading this or through
the Lord just tugging at your heart that you decide to start.
Have a great Monday. Love, Tracy
FRIDAY AM
Find The Joy
"Then will I ever sing praises to your name and fulfill my vows day after day" (Psalm 62:8
NIV)
Praise His name today ... restore the joy of your soul, by counting
your blessings. Lift up your petitions to the Lord and place all of your faith in Him and in His Word and trust that
Jesus will guide your steps.
I pray that you feel His presence today. Have a great weekend. Invite someone to church with you this Sunday
... if you do not go to church, pray that the Lord will guide and direct you where you need to be. Love, Tracy
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