Tracy’s Thoughts Day 21

Happily Ever After 🎉

Wow, day 21! We did it, after today our 21-day journey is complete, at least for now. Thanks again to everyone who has followed along, left your wonderful comments and just encouraged me to pieces not to mention read my thoughts. It meant a lot!!!

As I’ve been sharing my thoughts, it has occurred to me, we have covered the gamut, from Genesis to Revelation and several places in between and to be honest this one is the hardest. So here I go.

In so many stories take Joseph for instance, although faced with some unbelievable challenges God showed up and the dream he was given was fulfilled; in the end, his family did bow down to him. Noah built a boat, He’d never seen rain but ok – family saved not to mention all of the wildlife. (Mmm here’s a thought why didn’t God just create another batch of animals? Noah wouldn’t have needed nearly as big a boat. Lol) Then you have Abraham, father of many nations, he finally did have a couple of sons and the promise did come to pass just not in his lifetime. Daniel wouldn’t worship the king was thrown into the lions’ den, but God shut their mouths! These are just a few, I’m sure you’re thinking of others. In every story we see the hand of God moving. Just like He’s moving in our lives; He is you know. Let’s read these awesome verses in 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:6-8‬ ‭NLT “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.”

Just like those Bible friends I’ve mentioned and so many more; we are like fragile clay jars but when Jesus puts us together and shines His light through us we are unstoppable because we have His power working in us. We might face some furnace experiences like Daniels friends but we can come out not even smelling like smoke. Remember the promise is to the overcomer, we will have our happily ever after!
Let’s pray, Lord thank you for a good start to a wonderful new year.

Thank you that we can count on you to fulfill your promises. On those days when we are discouraged help us to remember that you won’t leave us or forsake us. Let us see through your eyes expecting you to do something awesome as we travel this journey with you. In Jesus Name Amen💗

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 20

Lead Forward 🐾

Have you ever played pin the tail on the donkey? It’s the old game where there’s a paper donkey on the wall, blindfolded you’re spun around and the goal is to take the paper tail you have in your hand and place it on the appropriate spot on the donkey. Fun isn’t it…? Now, there are always a few of us who get so turned around they have to be steered on course, lest true trouble occurs and someone besides the donkey gets pined. Ouch!

Just like in the game, sometimes we have to be steered in the right direction and that is what I appreciate about Gods Word. I was reading today in Isaiah 58 they were fasting, but not for the right reasons. I can tell you this gal really likes food, on the other hand, my husband is not a “foodie” don’t get me wrong, the man likes to eat, but he doesn’t just relish in the taste of food like I do. Anybody say amen? If I’m going to fast I want it to count. The people back in Isaiah were making it solely a religious act; fasting to please themselves and The Lord was NOT impressed. Verse 6-7 tells us what kind of fasting He wants – “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” The Lord follows with a promise in verse 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.”

Here’s my thought, it’s our godliness that leads us forward, but The Lords glory has our back. We never have to fear going on the wrong path when we are truly seeking God. It’s the Lord that will direct our path. It’s only when we start seeking praise from man, good ole pride rises up and then we have sinned. It’s not hard to see what’s in the middle of pride and sin – “i”.

Let’s take the blindfold or blinders off and let’s continue to be guided by godliness and receive all the blessings God has planned for us.
Let’s pray, Lord, sometimes when we read what you want from us we can get a bit overwhelmed, but I’m reminded we only have to do what you set before us. Let us not close our eyes to the needs of others but give us a willingness to do what we can. We love you and thank you for continually guiding us and restoring our strength. Amen

ps Finish reading the rest of the chapter – great stuff!

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 19

Red Hot 💗

I’d like to start off this post and encourage everyone who’s been joining us on this 21 days of prayer and fasting to ask the Lord is there anything He might want you to continue doing. Maybe you have cultivated more time in the Word, or Prayer. Maybe more vegetables and less junk… As for me, I definitely have spent more time studying The Bible, not just reading and I have all of you to thank. Your love and support have kept me digging in. Thank You!

On Wednesday’s we’ve just started the book of Revelation; last night, we read chapter 2 and examined the church of Ephesus. They had so much going right, hard work, patient endurance, no tolerance for evil and the people who were trying to mislead others. But look at vs 4 NLT ““But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!” Vs 5 says Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.

Here’s my thoughts, how sad to do everything that looks good, only to have the Lord say “look how far you’ve fallen”. Think about it this way, remember what it was like when you started a wonderful new job; you arrived early, you wore your best clothes, you really focused and tried your best, it might have been challenging but you loved it. Fast forward several years, you have tasks that you do every day without much thought, sometimes you drag in a little late, maybe a little messy, now your still a good employee but you’re not quite as enthusiastic. I bet you’ve got the picture. How easily apathy can creep into our lives even for things we love! That’s why I think Hebrews 3:13 is so important, here it is in the Amplified Bible “But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today” [and there is an opportunity], so that none of you will be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [its cleverness, delusive glamour, and sophistication].”

This year let’s start a revolution on encouraging each other. The Bible says to fan the flame 🔥 Let’s help each other keep their love for God RED Hot! I want to be victorious and get some of that fruit from the tree of life.

Let’s pray, Lord we admit that sometimes we let things crowd you out, but we don’t ever want to lose that spark that we had when we first believed. Help us to rekindle that spark and let it become like a bonfire, burning up everything that you don’t want in our life and spilling over to help ignite our bothers and sisters. We love you and thank you for all that you are continually doing in our lives. Amen

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 18

When Your Plans That Don’t Pan

Have you ever had a day when everything you planned to do, just didn’t materialize? Or maybe a week or even a month… oh, my! For me yesterday was just one of those days. I finally had squeezed out a little time to catch up on some much behind paperwork when – snafu the website went belly up. Well not totally, but enough that it wasn’t functioning. Thank you, Chas, for giving me the heads up. Finally fixed that when, unexpected visitors, unexpected hospital visit and before you know it the day was gone! My plans didn’t pan (out).

That my friends got me thinking about Jonah. His plans were NOT to go to Nineveh! He didn’t like those people, you might even say he was a bigot, and he sure didn’t care if they were destroyed, or maybe he wasn’t hot on the message he had to share. I know I wouldn’t want to stand up in any town and tell people they were wicked and would be destroyed! So, Jonah caught the next ship to “the opposite way”. But God had His plan, and He used a storm and a great fish to get Jonah’s attention. Wouldn’t you know, behold the king ordered everyone to pray, repent and fast, even the animals had to fast! God in His mercy changed His mind and the town was spared.

Now look at Jonah’s reaction in Jonah 4:1-4 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry.2 So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” Wow, sounds like someone was a little mad about the change of plans!

Here are my thoughts, how many times do we get upset when our plans change? I know I’m guilty. Jonah missed a great blessing by not being thankful for the city and its inhabitants being spared (I bet those people would have given him gifts of thanks, after all, without the message they would have been wiped out) instead he was more worried about his plan than Gods plan.

So, if today doesn’t go just like I plan, I’m not going to worry about it; you never know, God just might have a bigger plan!

Let’s pray, Lord I thank you that we can learn from Jonah’s example. Help us to remember that your ways are higher than our ways. Help us to be more like you, slow to anger and full of unfailing love. In Jesus Name Amen

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 17

Pass The Mustard

Today is the day that The Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad when I can eat a steak🙃 oh my did I just say that! Well if you’re on our 21-day journey and maybe you’ve decided to go on the Daniel fast you probably can relate. Here’s a tip, try something new to eat, maybe some vegan recipe you saw online. Who knows maybe when the 21 days are over you’ll have broadened your cooking skills.

Today, I find myself thinking about mustard, ok no not the condiment, the seed. In Matthew 17 the disciples were mystified why they could not cast out a demon from a tormented boy. They knew they had the authority and it was what they were supposed to do, but they had no luck. I love the father’s tenacity in this story, he wasn’t giving up, maybe those disciples couldn’t do it but he’d bring him to the head guy! Wallah, boy healed. Here was Jesus answer in Matthew 17:20 “ You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ””

Now, I’m familiar with mustard seeds if fact my mom loved to make homemade pickles and that was always one of the ingredients she added. I know they are small but why not a poppy seed it’s smaller? It only took me a few chapters back for my answer Matthew 13:31 “Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” You won’t find a bird making a nest in a poppy…

Now here are my thoughts, if Jesus said all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed; and a mustard seed starts out small but grows really large, could that be what Jesus wants us to do with our faith? In Mark, we have a little more detail about the father. When the father asked Jesus if he could help Jesus said, “ What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Right there in front of everyone, he healed the boy and I bet all unbelief was removed!

Today let’s take that little seed of faith, water it, nurture it, guard it against anything that would steal it and let’s expect it to grow! I don’t know about you but I have some mountains that need moving!!!

Let’s pray, Jesus we ask you, just like the boy’s father, “we believe, but help our unbelief”. Lord we know without faith it is impossible to please you and above all else that is our desire. So help us to nurture all you’ve put within us, and we rejoice because those mountains are moving in Jesus Name. Amen

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 16

The Name Above The Rest

A few days ago I mentioned how several times in the Bible names were changed. I also brought up the fact that God has several names for us, all good I might add. Today, I want us to think about a name that is above the rest!

In John 16 Jesus was giving the disciples some insight into what was to take place. Look at what verse 23 & 24 says, “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” Now, the disciples had already asked him how to pray and he gave them what we know as the Lord’s Prayer but now we see he is telling them to ASK using his name. There is power in the Name of Jesus! But we must ask if we want to receive. I always have this thought about asking, If I have electricity but I don’t plug into the source, it does me no good!

When our middle son was growing up he was a sensitive sort of child. If he perceived that something he wanted might cause financial hardship, he just wouldn’t ask. (On the other hand, his older brother never had any trouble asking.😂 He would be our example of yesterday’s persistent widow.) The problem was the child that didn’t ask would sometimes miss out on opportunities, because his perception was wrong. All he had to do was ask! I wonder how much we are missing in our lives because we simply don’t ask. Do we really know how powerful that name above all names is? Let’s not miss out. I read a quote today that said, “God wants prayer to be your steering wheel, not your spare tire!” Let’s let God guide our life in prayer, not just turn to Him when we get a flat!

Ps, That middle child did grow out of the not asking stage. Lol

Let’s pray, Jesus today we want to come to you not just when it’s the last resort but anytime we need you. I thank you that you care about every little thing going on in our life. Let us have a fresh revelation of how truly powerful your Name is. In Jesus Name Amen

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 15

Who’s The Boss

Day 15, that feels so good to write. 1 more week to go, I can almost smell the coffee, thanks to my friend Chas💗! To be honest, today I felt like my thought tank had run dry. Have you ever had a time when you sit down and pray and your mind takes a detour to something else? I have both hands in the air! But I’m here to report God is faithful, so here we go.

I love the devotional book, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Sometimes when I hit those dry patches, I’ll see what JC has to say. Today here’s what I read, “Approach this day with awareness of who is boss. As you make plans for the day, remember that it is I who orchestrates the events of your life. This got me thinking about Joseph’s life. Favored son, has a wonderful dream, shares it, gets thrown into a pit, sold off into slavery, starts to get ahead, gets lied on, thrown into jail, interprets dreams, forgotten for years, then FINALLY deliverance happens and he’s exalted to just under the King, Dream fulfilled! Wow, Joseph’s life makes ours look pretty boring – but I’m good with boring and I bet you are too!

I believe that Joseph is a good example of someone who lived with the awareness of who the boss was. In fact, my favorite part of Joseph’s story is when he comforts his brothers and tells them you might have meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. How many times in our lives do we fall into the trap and lose hope? We think this time no way could it work out for our good – then oops we decided to be the boss. I have to remind myself He is God and I am not, oh thank heavens I am not! If I’d been God those brothers would have just starved to death for selling off little brother! Hey, wonder what they used the money for? … oh, that’s another thought 🙃.

Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Let’s think about that next time those creepy Thoughts creep in.
Let’s pray, Lord I thank you for your plans and purposes for our lives. No matter what comes our way and any seeming obstacle that try’s to thwart what you have in store for us, help us to live like Joseph lived and be able to say God worked it out for good! Amen

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 14

I’m Not Home Yet

21 days…in my mind, it really didn’t seem very long, and for all intents and purposes, it isn’t. So if you’re like me and feel a little unmotivated, remember you have a little over a week left! Keep your eye on the prize, I don’t mean whatever you might be abstaining from, but the whispers that are coming from The Lords’ voice. 💗

Today, we will hold a memorial service for a sweet sister in Christ, Linda Lamb. It’s hard when we lose someone we love to our heavenly home especially when it seems to come out of the blue. Linda had been in the care of a rehab center for just over a year battling a wound that was being stubborn about healing, but in my mind, she’d be back with us pretty soon. After all, her seat was getting dusty. You see, for years Linda has sat behind me at church, the second row from the front on what we affectionately call the west side (at least, I think that’s right, I’m a little directionally challenged). Smiling, singing, and keeping Samantha on the right track, or maybe it was the other way around Lol but always there. Linda was quick-witted and such a servant. We once had a need in our resource room and she happily accepted the responsibility, coming to the church as need arrived in order to make CDs for those who wanted them. Then, when we had a few other ladies that needed a ride, she formed a carpool. She was just that way, did what she could without any fuss.

Mmmm reminds me of what Jesus said, If you want to be great, you must become the servant. Linda, I know is great and she’s finished her race – hey girl save me a seat, I’ll see you soon!

I leave you this refrain that I can’t stop thinking about from the song by Building 429 Where I Belong: All know is I’m not home yet, this is not where I belong, take this world and give me Jesus, this is not where I belong.

Let’s pray, Jesus thank you for helping us remember this is not our home. You’ve gone to prepare a better place for us. Even if we live to be 110 this life is still just a breath when compared to the eternity we will spend with you. Help us to daily live with this in mind and be your servants. Amen

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 13

 Never, Never Give Up!

If that title sounds a little like Winston Churchill, your partially right. Before, we started our 21-day journey we went to see the movie, The Darkest Hour. At the end when Winston quoted that famous line, cheers erupted and hands went to clapping. Everyone likes a story of perseverance that leads to victory. That leads me to my thoughts today.

In Luke 18 Jesus starts his day with a parable of the persistent widow. At the very beginning he tells us the reason for the story and here it is, “that they (and we) should always pray and never give up”. Now that’s simple, pray and don’t give up. In the story we find this little widow who is seeking justice, things are not going her way. But she’s not giving up! I have a feeling that in the mind of the judge her case was just some little something that he just didn’t think he needed to waste his time on. But, because she kept pestering him about it, he finally granted her justice. I love in the parable Jesus says, “so don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to Him day and night.” God is willing to answer us, but we have to do our part and cry out.The widow wanted justice, and she wasn’t going to stop until she had an answer. How many times do we throw up a half-hearted cry for something, and then move on with our lives. Ouch!
Here’s something I find interesting, at the end of the parable Jesus goes on to ask this question, “But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?” Hmmmm I think that might be what Jesus is asking today when the battle rages, and it’s looking like your darkest hour, are you going to quit, or are you going to fight – fight through prayer. Even when it seems like you have prayed and prayed, don’t quit, your breakthrough might be right around the corner. We shall never, no never give up!

Let’s pray, Jesus today I pray you give us a tenacity for prayer that we have never had. We are believing that when you come again that you will find us full of faith. I thank you for restoring every one of us who have felt like giving up. I thank you today that you are answering our prayers quickly, and I am reminded that nothing is impossible for you! In Jesus Name Amen
Ps, If you’ve been thinking of giving up on the 21 days of prayer and fasting, I have four words never, never, give up! 😇

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 12

What’s In A Name

As you travel through Genesis you go through many interesting places and run into many interesting people. Several of those places and even people have names I find hard to pronounce. I guess I shouldn’t find that unusual, I’ve traveled quite a bit and I’ve found many cities hard to pronounce. In fact, some people not from around here would find some of our cities hard to pronounce (look at Mineola). Somehow, it just seems a little different in the Bible. Maybe it’s the fact that there are several incidents where God himself changes people’s names. It could be confusing.

Have you ever had a friend or acquaintance, maybe someone you have known in school, you meet up with them again and they no longer go by the name you have always known them by? A lot of times those old friends just let you keep calling them by their old name; but they clearly have a new name. In fact, the old name just doesn’t seem to fit them anymore. I have a friend who recently adopted several children. These children have suffered both physical and emotional abuse. When she adopts them she not only gives them her last name but each child received a new first name. She wants them to know their old abusive life is over, it’s a new day, they have a new life.

I saw this very example while I was reading today in Genesis 35 with Benjamin’s birth. Poor Rachel, having a terrible time in childbirth names her newborn Ben-Oni which means son of my trouble. That was an appropriate name, after all, with this birth Rachel dies! But I love Jacobs wisdom, he quickly overrides his wife’s choice of names and names his newborn Benjamin which means son of my right hand.
Here’s my thought, how many of us need a new name? No, not literally but figuratively. Maybe there were words that have been spoken about you since you were a child that need to go out of your life. Words like, their such a clutz, not the brightest bulb on the tree, if they had a brain they’d be dangerous, their afraid of their own shadow, or they wouldn’t know how to come out of the rain. These words are not really meant to define us, but unfortunately sometimes they do. I’m sure Rachel really didn’t want people to think every time they saw her son – yep that’s the boy who caused all his mothers trouble now she’s dead. What a name! As bad as we wish it weren’t so, words and names carry weight. Here’s the good news we don’t have to let those name define us, God has given us some new names like, redeemed, chosen, forgiven, friend, masterpiece, treasure the list goes on and on.
So, today, regardless of what your parents might have named you or nick-named you; let’s remember what God’s named us, His name is the one that counts!

Let’s pray, Lord we thank you for the new names you have given us. The next time we “hear” anything contrary to what you say about us, let us quickly recognize it for what it is and replace it with what you have said. Also let us be mindful of the names we give others, even in jest. Help us to only be life givers in thought, words and deeds. In Jesus Name! Amen

Tracy’s Thoughts Day 11

Thoughts

We have officially hit the half-way point in out 21 day journey. That feels so good! I want to encourage anyone out there who maybe joined late, that’s ok, go ahead and start. One thing I’ve learned in my walk with The Lord, He’s always there to meet us right where we are 😇.

I told myself (and my husband lol) that if I didn’t have any thoughts, ok don’t laugh, I would just post a psalm or something from Gods word. After all, His Thoughts are far greater than our own! Then, I had a thought, let’s look at what God has to say about Thoughts, so here we go. I’m sure you’ll think of a few more.

Psalm 94:11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile. The amplified says they are only a breath.

Here’s a good position to have – Psalm 139:23-24 NIV “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Here’s some God Thoughts toward us – Jeremiah 29:11 AMP “For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “Thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”

Unfortunately more times than not our thoughts really aren’t worth having. Let’s be honest, a lot of the time they are filled with worry, fear, self-doubt, what ifs and a whole host of other nonsense. I think that’s why it is so important to renew our mind with Gods word after all, there is where we really know the heart and thoughts of God.

Let’s pray, thank you Lord that through your word we can get to know your thoughts toward us and that day by day you can help us think more like you. Help us to see the world through your eyes and help us to renew our mind by your word. Your word says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he, we want to think what you think and nothing less. In Jesus Name. Amen