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Devotions
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My Rest Is In The Lord
"May Your unfailing love
rest upon us O Lord, even as we put our hope in You." (Psalm 33:22 NIV)
The other day I had to transfer a video tape to a DVD via my computer. While it was not an easy task
to me, I found the trouble was for a reason. As I was recording, I had to listen/watch the tape. It was an interview
with 8 African American men and woman that either went to a segregated school in Rock Hill (Rosenwald/Carroll School) or taught
at this school. As I listened to the people talk, I was trying to think back to those times, probably somewhere in the
early 50's or 60's that they were speaking about. Oh my how time was so tough then, people were so poor.
But as I listened to the people talking I was thinking how we need times like that again. People had so much appreciation
for what they had and what they faced! Children were children. Prayer was still apart of not only the home but
of school! They sang hymns in school to start out their day! It is my guess that most people today don't even
pray before each meal. How can we not thank God for the food He has blessed us with? Their are people who are
not as fortunate as us to even have a peanut butter sandwich. Really.
I was reading
this verse of scripture and I was thinking about those times, about how Jesus was all people had ~ literally. Why don't
we think that today? Why aren't we thankful each and every day? I love this verse and I am so glad that God
gives us reminders of His unfailing love in the wee hours of the morning. If we would just learn to rest in the arms
of the Lord, not try to handle every situation on our own God will speak ... be still and listen. Be humble and come
to him. I find comfort in the Psalmist David's words ...in verse 20 and 21 of chapter 33 ... "We wait, in hope
for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy name."
I love the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir ... in the spring I am planning on going to their church in person,
but fr now each morning I play a CD of their music. Each and every day, the Lord just touches my heart through their
music. As I lay awake this morning a song of theirs plays in my mind ... it is Psalm 121 (a scripture my mother showed
me in 1994) ...
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker
of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches
over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither
slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade
at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Your help comes from the Lord ~ He is your rock and He is your Salvation! Trust in Him.
Lift up your petitions to Him right at this very moment, change your life for Him today and share a word of testimony
with those around you to encourage them in Jesus name! I love you all, have a Blessed Thursday today and know that Jesus
loves you! Count your blessings and turn your worries over to the Lord. Love, Tracy
We Must Have A Life WITH Discipline
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces
a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11
NIV)
The Message words this it like this (verse 4-11): "In this
all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all
that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God
regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed
by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating
you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't
punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves.
Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's
training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is
best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's
going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature
in their relationship with God. Grow in the Lord ... grow in these hard times. Turn to Jesus, your Savior
for the answers you seek. I love how the message puts this verse, it was an unintentional find today - but relevant
to so many of our circumstances. It was God's answer to prayer and the only thing needed to be said today.
I am praying for each and every heart to be opened to His Word just for you. Count your many blessings
and lean on His everlasting Word. Love, Tracy
Look No Further....
"Wherefore putting
away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let
not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather
let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no
corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let
all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians
4:25-32 KJV)
I was reading this verse this morning and I am reminded of
all the times we need to practice what we "preach" (especially me). It is funny how each one of us can read
this word above and get something entirely different from it. That is the Holy Spirit working in our hearts. I
try not to go to bed angry, but that doesn't always work - and who is it hurting? The person I am mad at?
No, they might not even have a clue, it hurts me because I am losing sleep. I try not to speak badly about another person,
but do I sometimes - yes. Don't we sometimes get caught up in it even though we know we should change the subject?
The Lord puts these verses in the Bible to teach us. To show us
the path we should take and the path we should stay away from. It is how we grow as a Christian. People see that
who are around us and then they desire the same walk. I have heard this said ... our walk with Jesus is just that ...
it is a walk. We shouldn't try to rush through it. We shouldn't be like a child and "sin"
now and take the consequences later. There might not be a later. Take each day like it was your last. Make
a difference for Jesus. If something bad happens in your life, look for the rainbow! Jesus promised us a rainbow.
I love the hymn that goes ... praise Him,
praise Him, praise Him in the morning, praise in the noontime, praise Him, praise Him ... praise Him when the sun goes down.
Continually praise Him. He loves you and His desire is for our hearts to draw closer and closer to Him each day.
Soon and very soon He is coming to take His children ... are you 100% sure that when that day comes you will be meeting Him
in the air? Something to think about. If you could not answer YES without having to think about it, open your
Bible to the book of 2 Corinthians 6:1-2. Today is the Day of Salvation ... then Romans 10:9-13 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:9-13;&version=9; I heard this the other day, the only thing you have to be when you die is ready. That is good. Have nothing
unsettled with the Lord or others in your heart. My husband turned 44 the other day ... where does the time go?
We were just 26. I have a brother 53, a sister 52 and another sister 51 ... where did the time go they were just turning
40. Don't just let time pass you by. Make the most out of every single second God gives to you. Life
is a gift!
I hope you all have a blessed day.
Count every blessing God has given to you and I am reminded this morning to count my thorns too (thought I would share that)!
Sometimes it may seem like we have more thorns then blessings ... but eventually those thorns may become blessings.
Love, Tracy
Do you Hear From Heaven
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will
heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." (2 Chronicles
7:14-15 NIV)
This verse is so simple, yet we make it so difficult. We carry the burdens of this earthly
life with us each day. God made it so simple for us, by giving us the gift of Jesus Christ - all we need to do is lay our
burdens down. To just call on the name of Jesus. There is no other name that can do what He can do. Sometimes the results
are not evident right away. Maybe we don't get an answer because we have sin in our lives and He is not hearing our prayers.
His Word tells us to come to Him with a clean heart and He will hear our prayers and petitions. Ask Jesus to renew your spirit
today. To cleanse your heart from all unrighteousness and you will begin to hear from heaven again. Don't wait until the
end when it may be too late. Not only that, look at the time you are wasting carrying all those burdens! Give your heart to
Christ today. Let the healing begin. Let us humble ourselves. Nothing we've done is too horrible for the Lord to forgive
us. unless we don't ask His forgiveness. For some reason, my son was having a rough weekend. He was running his
smart mouth, picking on his sister and just a challenge every second. In the afternoon we were alone in the car and
I finally had the patience to talk to him, I said Joseph I am not sure why you are behaving this way, but it is unacceptable
to talk to your parents this way. It is not pleasing to God and it is not pleasing to us. I am not going to talk to you until
you talk to God and ask Him to forgive you. I got out of the car and went into the gym at Church where Jenna had practice.
About 30 minutes later he came in and sat next to me and said, Mommy I am sorry for the way I am acting. Now that may
not always work with a 12 year old, but it did yesterday and his behavior improved for the rest of the day.
I
said all that to say, that even in the smallest of circumstances, our attitudes, God is there to help us and guide our steps
... if only we will seek Him.
I hope you all have a great day today. Count all your blessings ~ you and
I am so blessed! Love, Tracy
Feeding the Sheep, Not Your Own Need "So when they
had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He
saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time,
Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him,
Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou
wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither
thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith
unto him, Follow me." (John 21:15-21 KJV)
Whenever I am reading this verse I think of my name where the Lord is speaking to Peter. Won't
you and I feel terrible on the day we face Jesus, when He reviews our lives and comes to the parts where we were
not serving Him and encouraging others in their faith? There are days when we are the ones that need to be encouraged,
but leave that to the Lord, He will send someone in our path. Most times when "I" am trying to encourage someone,
I am the one who is blessed by something God has reminded me that He has done in my own life. Bringing me out of a valley.
Our love for Jesus should be evident to those around us!
I believe the Lord understands how we fall so short sometimes. I don't believe that the Lord punishes us when
we stray. But, He may allow something to happen in your life to grab your attention.
Are we feeding the sheep around us? Are we a witness to the Glory of the Lord
in our lives or the despair. Look at your life today, examine the journey your are on and determine what it is that
the Lord is saying. Open His Word, it is so encouraging and it will bring you from the valley ~ you will have
peace in your heart when you are seeking Jesus.
I
hope you have a blessed day today, please continue to pray for the Wilkerson family, Beach family and Byers family.
I have a special unspoken prayer need (the Lord knows what it is) please stand in the gap with me for this special need.
Thank you! Love, Tracy
Trusting In The One Only
"But
do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day.
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar;
the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed
in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of
God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in
the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
(2 Peter 3:8-13 NIV)
The Bible tells us, we will not know the day or the hour that
Jesus will come again. Just to be ready. Are we ready for that day? I like the part of that verse that says "to the Lord
a thousand years is like a day and a day is like a thousand years." Time. No concept of time. Here on earth we are consumed
with time - or should I say lack of time!! Heaven is nothing but time! Endless time talking to Jesus.
I was thinking about my Mother and Father yesterday, I do most days, I was
just recalling how quick their deaths came upon them. Then I started thinking about Jesus and when He comes back again. How
quickly everlasting life will come for those that remain when He returns. The Bible says, "in a twinkling of an eye" - a blink and we're gone. That is a hard
to concept!
Are we doing everything we can to
prepare our hearts for that day? Are we praying for our children and our families to grow closer to God? Do we pray that the
Lord will strengthen your relationship with Him so that you can encourage others to do the same? As each day goes by the day
and the hour gets closer. That is one of God's promises. God's Word tells us to live in this world - but not to be
of this world. Meaning don't get caught up in materialism. Living in this world, encourage others each day to turn to
Jesus for guidance and for direction. He will provide all the blessings we need to get through day by day. He will carry us
through the valley's of our life. Don't ever forget your valley's! Always, always give a word of testimony of
what the Lord has done - giving Jesus all the glory honor and praise! Because He is what brought you through. He loves you.
Pray for those around you ... but don't avoid your circumstances. Ask the Lord to guide your ways and
protect you lives. Open the eyes of your heart to hear and see what He has to say. I hope you
all have a blessed Wednesday. Love, Tracy
link
February 15, 2008
With God ... All Things Are Possible
"When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying,
Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible;
but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:25-26 KJV) I
love how the Message puts verse 26: "Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance
at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
We try everything to fix our situations of our own will - then when we finally release
it and give it to the Lord isn't it amazing how things just come together?! It might not be as we expect it, it
may take years and it might not even be the way we want it - but nothing is a surprise to the Lord. He knows every hair
on our head. No matter what you face today that seems impossible, know that everything
is possible for the Lord. This does not mean go out and play a million dollar lottery and think that the Lord will give you the winning ticket!
It means when you face a storm the Lord will see you through it and He will provide all you need. Praise Him in
the storm. Jesus will provide a way. His way is the only way.
I hope you all have a blessed Friday. Please continue to pray for Brien
Wilkerson. Have a great weekend, invite someone to go to church with you this Sunday, if you don't go to church
pray and ask the Lord to guide and direct you to where you need to be. Love, Tracy
February 14, 2008
Don't Give Up
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season
we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who
are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:7-10 KJV)
Through this devotion, I have a lot
of people contact me on a daily basis so I get to speak to people with all different church backgrounds, from all different
parts of the country ~ with all different hurts. Most of us, just don't understand or cannot accept that God
can love us so much and that He will forgive us for whatever we have done in our lives. If we only come to Him.
But , really, it is that simple.
I
read this verse today and I was thinking about "reaping what you sow." So many times used in a way of condemnation.
We can really look at that in a positive light as well ... if we are sowing the fields for the Lord. Planting seeds
in the minds of others, telling them "the good news" we will also reap what we sow! Telling others about all the
blessings God has bestowed upon our lives. Each one of us has a story. Did you ever talk to someone and no matter
what they always complain. Their life is always gloom and doom! They can never see past the valley they are in.
Whenever I get like that, God always sends me of reminder of His goodness and grace. His love for me.
I like this verse in Colossians 4: 2-6 (NIV) "Devote yourselves
to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim
the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you
act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone." What a wonderful reminder to each of us today!
When we get to Heaven, not only will we hear from the Lord about those
we have told about Jesus, we will hear from those we did not even know heard the Good News - just through our actions.
My Mother always used to say, actions speak louder than words. What a true statement. What are your
actions saying to the people around you today? Can they see that you love Jesus?
Please continue to pray for Brien Wilkerson, Shirley Robinson, the Byers and Beach
families and others in your own circle of friends that need prayer. Are you counting your blessings? Have a great
day today! Love, Tracy
For His Glory "My son, forget not my law; but let thine
heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy
and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour
and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise
in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."
(Proverbs 3:1-8 KJV)
Most of us have
a hard time understanding, at the time, why certain things happen in our lives. We try and try to figure out why
we seem to always be in the valley. The Lord knows that we will struggle with that. Most people even know
verses 5 and 6. "Lean not on your own understanding and even when you don't understand, know that God is in
control!" I can look back over the times in my life when the valley's were deep, that God was working in my
life. I could not see that then ... but now, removed from that particular valley it is all so clear.
When we are in that valley, one thing you can learn is that God is also
working in your life. He is speaking to your heart ... can you hear Him? I hope you have
trusted Christ with your life today. I pray that you know that He is your Savior and whatever valley you face today
HE IS YOUR ROCK! Don't depend on yourself and your own thoughts and ideas ~ turn to Jesus! Pray
to Him that He will show you the way, that He will comfort and guide you.
Please continue to pray for Brien Wilkerson (accident), the Beach and Byers
familes, Shirley Robinson, Steve Broome and the so many others in need today. Be blessed by all that God has blessed
you with! Love, Tracy
Knowing The True Way
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know
my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
(Psalm 139:23-24 KJV)
I try to make this my prayer each day. It is so easy to get caught up in our day to
day circumstances and take our eyes off the Lord. But knowing that each day that I wake up is a new day and we have
new opportunities to grow and share our faith is amazing. Each day the Lord provides us with is a new opportunity to
do things different ... to live differently. You may have been focusing on your circumstances yesterday - but today
is a new day! Pull your chin up towards the sky and say OK God, I can do this ... with You Lord ... I can do this!
And you can ... and you will!
Have you ever thought about your days and what you do each day? Do you start each day off in the Word of God?
Have our days become so full of stuff that we find we have to "make time" for Jesus? Maybe
even only for 45 minutes on Sunday morning? Someone told me once "you have to schedule time for you."
Boy, we are way too busy if we have to schedule down time!Some people like a life like that. Hustle and bustle always
going somewhere. I used to like that life ~ for about five minutes! But that life just passes us by and we've
missed so much. And sometimes when you have children you can't help a life like that. We need to slow down
and enjoy what the Lord is giving us.
I was reading an old e-mail I had received from someone I went to Elementary school with. It said, "I
didn't amount to much in life, but I am happy and I have no regrets." Really? Oh my goodness I found
that so sad that they felt that way about themselves. Not amounting to much. God gives us so many opportunities
to amount to a lot (and I am not talking about material possessions). Each day is a new opportunity. People are
searching and searching to "just" be a good person. Is that all we want out of life ... just to be a good
person? Where does that get us? When we turn to Jesus and we testify to those around us as to what He has
done in our lives, we are not only encouraging others around us, but we are reminding ourselves how awesome our Lord
is!
"Search
me O God, know my heart. Try me. Know my thoughts. If there is any wicked in me, lead me in the way everlasting!"
What a great prayer of David.
I hope that
today is a new day for you and that you will make this day the start of your new journey to serve the Lord. The past
is the past ... a bright future is ahead serving God. No one is meant to spend this journey alone. I hope you
have a great weekend. Invite someone to church with you this Sunday. Please continue to pray for those around
you. Love, Tracy
Time ...
"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is
with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up. (2 Peter
3:8-10 KJV)
It seems like lately so many young people are dying. The older I get, the
more aware I am of how precious life is. The truth is we just don't know how long we will live. When we were young we
thought we were invincible. I think many young people think they are going to live forever. One of Scott's grandmothers
lived to be 102! It is hard to imagine living that long, but imagine all you would know and see in that span of time. My sister
and I were talking yesterday about her baby. She is almost 1. The year went by so quickly. I am finding that to be true now
too - time flies by so quickly. Here it is February 5th ... weren't we just celebrating Christmas?
Do you
ever think about your mission in life? What God has planned for your life. Not your plan, but God's. Do you ever think,
"Am I doing what makes the Lord pleased?" Am I doing things that are pleasing in His eyes? Is this where He wants
me to be? Can I be doing more to help others see His Glory? Am I faithful? Do I pray for others? Do you find your prayers
are mere words or are your prayers a conversation with God? Are they full of your desires and wants? Or are you sincerely
humble?
I hope today that your relationship with the Lord becomes more and more with each day
you wake up. Pray for your family and friends, pray for your church. Keep a sheet of paper by your bathroom sink and when
you get up in the morning pray for the names on it. Ask God to reveal His truth to you. I hope you have a great day, please
continue to pray for Steve Broome, Shirley, Terry Murray, as well as the Beach and Byers families. Count your blessings ~
not your worries. Love, Tracy
Pray to Forgive!
"And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat
to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five
hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore,
which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto
him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this
woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped
them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss
my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I
say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth
little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves,
Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath
saved thee; go in peace." (Luke 7:40-50 KJV)
I love the book of Luke. When I look at this
verse and see how it will apply to my life today ... I have to think about how judgmental I can be sometimes when it
comes to sin. What we don't see or can't understand in our minds that to the Lord, a sin like murder is not
different from adultery, telling a lie, stealing etc. They are all the same to the Lord. When someone who commits
murder later comes to Jesus with a repetitive heart he/she is saved and forgiven - they are set free from the bondage of that
sin. It is like that verse, where Jesus says, "you are forgiven, go and sin no more." That is what repentance
is - not committing that same sin again. You can't just say, Lord I am sorry and not mean business with God.
He knows our hearts.
The decisions that we make each day don't only affect us, they affect everyone around us. Only the Lord knows what our days are ... I hope with each day we desire to draw closer to Him, I pray with each
decision I make that it is something that will not only be pleasing to God, but will draw me closer to His Word and that I
am a better example for my children. I hope that if someday I am faced with a valley that I do not harbor bitterness
in my heart and that Jesus' light will shine and I can show love and forgiveness. Life goes by so quickly.
Let your light shine for Christ. I wonder sometimes, it seems like one day I was 24 and the next I was 42!
Where has the time gone and what have I done for the Glory and Honor of Christ?
I hope you all have a great midweek. Please continue to pray for
the sick and for those around you in the valley. Please pray for my cousin Richie who is in the hospital and my sister
Sue as she is recuperating from surgery replacing her pacemaker. Count your blessings, name them one by one ... count
your many blessings and see what God has done! Love, Tracy
Grace, Mercy and Peace "To Timothy, a true son in
the faith; Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Timothy 1:2 NIV)
How we pray for others is important.
I was reading in one of my devotionals this morning about our prayer life. It was saying there was no better way to
pray for someone, then by reading scripture and talking to God. Paul often asked for specific gifts for those he cared
about. The writer writes this, "on Timothy's behalf, Paul requested, grace, mercy and peace.
Grace: the unearned gifts we receive from our Heavenly Father.His grace blesses
us with the riches of Heaven, His grace brings us peace in troublesome times, His grace brings us good things every
day. (1 Timothy 1:14).
Mercy: Mercy is God withholding
the punishment we actually deserve because of of sinfulness. God is long suffering and He will delay giving us our punishment
so that we have every opportunity to repent and receive HIS salvation (2 Peter 3:9).
Peace:
is the state of mind and heart we experience when we are confident of God's grace and mercy towards us. Peace comes
in knowing that God's grace will sustain us, even in our most difficult crisis (Philippians 4:7). God assures us,
that even when we fair miserably in our commitments to Him, He will show mercy upon us and this also gives us peace.
The peace that God gives us is very different from the peace the world has to offer. John 14:27 say
this, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts
be troubled and do not be afraid." The peace that God gives goes right to your soul ~ offering Grace ... Mercy
... and Peace!
How are you praying for those around you? Perhaps there could be no
better request then simply asking God for an abundance of His Grace, Mercy and Peace upon their lives. Count every
blessing the Lord has given you, each day that passes is a gift from God. Please continue to pray for Steve Broome,
Shirley Robinson, Terry Murray, the Byers and the Beach families and I have an unspoken request - the Lord knows the specific
need. I hope you all have a great day. Love, Tracy
My God, My God, Your Beloved Needs You Let Those who
seek Yo rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified!"
(Psalm 70:4 NKJ)
I was late getting up this morning, just relaxing
listening to music starting my morning prayers. I was listening to this song that starts "My God, My God, your
beloved needs you..." Isn't that our prayer everyday? Some of us so deep in the valley saying where are
you God? He is there, He is calling you ... He is answering you. Sometimes, actually most times - when you are
so down in despair, we are calling out but maybe not to the Lord. And we are not hearing His voice, because He has not
said what we want to hear.
I know and believe with all my heart that the Lord knows the
full picture of our lives. The Bible
says that He knows every hair on our head. So when we face our valley's and our mountaintops, nothing is a surprise to
God. It may catch us off guard ... but not God. And yea, God could heal the sick, enrich the poor, take away the
pain and suffering - and He does do that, just sometimes the healing is not going to take place on Earth. If a
person walks with the Lord, that healing will take place in Heaven. No more sorrow, no more pain, no more valley's.
What a day that will be.
In these days, the Bible tells us there
will be suffering, but with each day we face when we turn to the Lord we become stronger and we will get through it.
We learn to grow in Him and in His Words we find comfort. If we don't we are not listening and we are not open to
living for Him, only for ourselves. I am praying that we are listening for God's voice in our lives. It is
not all about us - it is about what we are doing for the Kingdom of Heaven. What do you do everyday. I could just stay in bed 45 more minutes
every day ... but then I would miss out on a Word God had for me this morning. Do I get down and in a valley sometimes?
Yes I do. But each day I am thankful to Jesus for one more day! I know He loves me and each day I have people
that He sends in my direction to encourage me and lift me up - for His glory. Don't get lost in your circumstances,
turn your eyes upon Jesus. He loves you!
Have a great Friday
and a nice weekend. Invite someone to church with you this Sunday. If you are not going to church, I
am going to pray that the Lord won't let you sleep and you get up and find a Gospel preaching church
:-)! Don't be ashamed. Count your blessings - not your worries. Please keep praying for others
around you. Love, Tracy
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| Devotions |
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| by Tracy Beckham |
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