A Grace Filled Heart Changes Us

 Grace never looks for a reason; it only looks for an opportunity. ~W. Wiersbe 

Happy Monday friends, It’s cool here and I am taking in slow breathes of grace today. I am wrapped in a sweater and socks but also intentionally sitting in the sun in any other season this would be crazy. LOL 

Today’s opportunity is to listen to God and wrap my mind around what He wants of me. As much as I look forward to new seasons, I also seem to dread change sometimes? Isn’t that’s an interesting thing about people?  

God is who and what will never change in our life. We are dependent on an unchanging and all sufficient Savior. This revelation of God brings about thanksgiving and a heart for giving. A grace filled heart will desire the things of God and will be a grace giver with everything given to her. 

Hope In Every Season

 “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:18‬ ‭NLT

Everything feels so heavy. The prayer requests for the sick and hurting. The natural disasters and civil disruption around the world we see happening. It’s too much. It’s all too much for my heart most days. My heart aches and feels helpless yet I know there is hope. I hear the prayer requests and pray. My prayers can seem so small but I don’t want to underestimate the power of prayer. I believe our prayers bring down the power of God upon our lives. In my flesh I want to do more than pray because it seems too small. Yet this simple act of obedience makes a huge impact in the kingdom. God wants His children to pray and be alert.‬‬ 

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

‭‭Micah‬ ‭7:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is hope in every occasion even if we are blinded by those circumstances. I know His goodness is here. I want to feel it. Don’t you? I don’t want to stop praying in the highs of life to only be found one day at the lowest searching for God.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today my prayer is that I will rise to the occasion fighting in prayer for others. 

Pray without ceasing. 

Pray with a trusting heart. 

Pray with my sisters in Christ. 

Pray for those needs and requests around me daily! 

What Does Worship Mean To You?

 

Worship

It is something I do on Sunday morning attending church. I believed this was all worship was for a long time. It was the whole service of good music and atmosphere that we received while attending. And boy if I didn’t like it then well I stayed. My husband is the pastor so I couldn’t leave for another church. Ha! But this mentality of leaving one church seeking better music I have seen it happen. Again, do we think worship is just the music and atmosphere? 

This week as I sat in church like many Sundays I sang hymns and praise songs thinking,”is this all there is to my worship of God?” All week do I just wait for Sunday at my church to sing a song to worship the holy God? I have been in churches where the people sang with hands lifted high and loud voices and were it was the opposite atmosphere. It was quiet and calm. The message was presented along with other usual Sunday liturgy. Yet I still wondered how we as believers worship God. Obviously there is more to church attendance than this element yet it is a big part of why I see people leave a church. The music or worship. For me as God revealed more and more of himself to me through His Word and as I have received His mercy it became clearer to me that God was so much bigger than what music was played on Sunday morning, or how I felt about the order of service was presented. I attended a corporate worship service to honor my Lord. 

Jesus wants my response to be here I am Lord! Use me for your glory. I am suppose to respond to His Spirit in all things in my life. Praise hands or not but with open hands and heart to share His love with others at my local church. Worship to me is being faithful to respond to God everyday. If we believe in a holy God then we will want to bow down and serve Him. Let our worship not just be about observing on Sundays for what we can receive. Let our worship be a response to the faithfulness, mercy and love God shows us daily!

God reveals himself and presents himself everyday to us and we have everyday to respond. 

Are we actually living our life in intentional and corporate worship of God? 

Tell me what God has taught you about worship?

Blessings 

Tracy 

Social Media And My Mental Health

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Social media depletes me. 

Every time I open an app or turn on the tv I hear stats, facts, and all the opinions on matters at hand in the world. Right now I have mental fatigue from it all. It makes me sad that our conversations navigate to defending which side you land on healthcare, masks or how we raise our children. There is so much lack of grace in our actions and words toward others when faced with these decisions. I think we are doing the best we can with the information given. Everyday is something new and devastating news seems to be the norm. The media really hasn’t changed over the years. It continues to censor, sensationalize or only highlight the worst. It creates reactions from us when we watch or listen. The posts liked or followed the most these days are the ones focused on the negative or debunking the opposite party. It’s madness out there. One is focused on helping the cause by causing righteous anger yet pride is dripping off their tongues. 

I have to shut it all off. My mind can get flipped upside down and become filled with complacency about everything. I have to come to God with my prayers and seek Him for guidance. The mind is the first place that gets attacked and I need more Jesus than what others are saying to me right now. 

I am saddened that we feel the need to shame others for their choices over health related matters today. It’s something I am seeing more and more but do we do that when we share the gospel? Do we shame our friends who never come to church and expect them to join you on Sunday? Or do we invite them for dinner with a genuine heart to get to know them? It’s relationship that Jesus speaks to us and He speaks to others through our words. 

Jesus drew people to himself by his words. Jesus spoke with authority yet never shamed anyone for their lack or sin. 

Jesus had mercy on others through his words. He healed with his words not condemning anyone. Jesus wanted to share hope by his words and not fear. 

I had these thoughts running in my head today and they were convicting me. No matter how much I believe my decision is the right one I never want to condemn or shame you for yours. Our voice matters yet I myself always want to speak with humility and grace filled words in order to draw you toward Jesus in all things. 

It’s okay to shut it all off. 

Let us keep fighting in prayer and listen to God today friends. 

The Unseen Servants

 

Custom Hand Stamped Knit Bracelets

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s been on my heart for a little while to describe how I see the people behind the scenes. The person who does all those things we think just happens or maybe not even think twice about. In the hurried world we live in it is easy to miss them. Although the unseen are not unseen at all. There is a kingdom beyond this earth and our Heavenly Father Jesus sees it all. He sees everything. 

Have you seen them? 

Unseen servants are among us. 

Filled with grace and truth working, speaking, and losing themselves in the heart of Jesus. 

Their eyes see the needs among us. 

The gospel is planted with every act of love, kindness and service. Our eyes may miss it because they are not in need of any adulation. Our churches function by them. Doors are unlocked and locked daily. Lights are replaced because of them. Transportation is provided by them and a helping hand is always there. A welcoming spirit is in them. A friend is there for us. 

Have we seen them? 

Unseen servants are among us. We may miss them in our coming and goings.  Sometimes our inwardness can turn our focus on selfish desires rather than seeing what is good. 

It is the unseen servant that is working for the good of others and the glory of God, Jesus Christ. 

Have you see them? 

We will see them when we seek to be a servant of Jesus Christ.  

I hope this was encouraging and thought provoking for you today. May our hearts serve others like Jesus. 

Blessings 

Tracy 

God Sanctifies Me As A Mom

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As I think on how Jesus has shown me how He saves. Saves us as parents from the emotional roller coaster and struggles of parenting our kids. Saves our kids from the inner struggles they deal with and bad decisions. God sent Jesus for us.  Here are two mothers who had to let go and let God. 

Moses’ mother had to give her son up to save him from being killed. God took care of him. 

Hannah had to give Samuel back to the Lord. God took care of him. 

Both of these mothers loved their kids but were faced with letting go of them. Giving them to the Lord for protection, saving, and ultimately using them for the kingdom. 

I saw this as a hard ask of me when my kids started growing up. I had always controlled everything from what the wore to what they eat. I saw the instruction and discipline I taught them as good but I couldn’t control their every decision forever. I know for me letting go wasn’t easy. If you know me I like control and while your kids are young you can hang onto their shirt tails but not so much as they grow older. Ha! I learned along time ago with my strong willed child and even with my easy going child I had to let them go into the hands of Jesus for guidance and protection. I couldn’t save them. I couldn’t continue to make their decisions no matter the mistakes. God is ultimately in control and we only have these little people and teens for a little while.

Isn’t that just like God to show us as parents how He loves His children just the same. God sent His one and only son Jesus to save us. Jesus doesn’t make our decisions for us but guides us as we follow Him. We are used for His glory.  

My prayer is for the parent who is coming to grips with letting go of those babies graduating school this year. I know it is an emotional time but exciting time in life. 

My prayer is that we will be role models that our children will see Christ in us because they don’t stay little for long. 

Lessons In Serving My Local Church

  

  Grace and Truth Hand Knit And Stamped Bracelet 

I had to keep the church nursery again this week. My heart was already weary from a busy week of work and taking care of my own kids. Now I was asked to do one more hour of service at church. Our church was small and the volunteers were even smaller in number. 

I can remember as a mom of littles being absolutely tired of chasing my kids at home much less taking them to church and do it in front of everyone. I saw it as one more place to find myself struggling to keep up. I was struggling to see the importance of serving in the midst of my own struggles at home. I didn’t think I had it me but I would go and you know what I leaned? 

God met me there and equipped me every time. It never failed that someone would always show up to help ease my weary heart and rally my own kids. I would then be encouraged to keep the nursery and later on teach for that one hour in our church. 

I eventually saw that time every week as holy ground that God used me to serve. I learned so many lessons for my own heart. I learned serving God isn’t easy but when I show up He always does too. 

Serving has shown me what the heart of Jesus looks like. Jesus was a servant and if I want to reflect my Savior then my heart had to learn how to reflect His. As I looked around at those serving my family they were showing me how to be selfless because they weren’t exempt from bad days and struggles either. They loved me and my family well. Kindness and grace filled their words. They reminded me that I was doing the best I could as a mom. Not to mention the countless prayer warriors God sent my way. So no mater the size of the church it needs more servants for the kingdom. 

Today I want you as a mom to be encouraged you are doing your best. The days can be long and tiring but the Lord refreshes the soul. (Psalm23:3) Jesus will equip you to serve not only your family but in your church body. 

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,”

1 Peter 1:3 

Surrendering Control to God

 

I surrendered to God’s call to save my soul when I was a teenager. I believed Jesus could send me to heaven but I ran from His amazing grace for a long time. I had not surrendered every part of my life to Him. Crazy to say that out loud yet how many of us can say this as well? I still wanted to live by the worlds standards. 

I needed to learn how to surrender my will to Gods will. I had to learn my belief in Christ meant that I was to walk in His Spirit, trust His ways and those ways are better than my ways.  

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I was taught growing up to be in control of my life. You can do whatever you set your mind to but you must work hard to do it all of which rely on me. Hard work was natural for me. What I wasn’t natural was to rely totally on Jesus. I believed He had my eternity covered BUT the here and now I wasn’t so sure about. I wasn’t surrendering every area of my life. My knowledge of God at this point in my life was what others had told me not my own first hand knowledge of the Word of God. 

I wasn’t living like I believed God. My marriage after many hurtful fights felt hopeless and my parenting felt like I failed my children in many ways. 

My total trust wasn’t in Jesus Christ for reassurance a d healing. 

It was in what I had trusted and clung to for a very long time, control. I would continue for a long time believe in what I could control around me or if I worked harder everything would work out. ⁣

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It was such a turning point in my life when I totally surrendered control to God. I was at the end of myself. I broke down in tears of exhaustion. I prayed to God for help. I felt the weakest I have ever felt yet the strongest I have ever felt in my life. God answered in His time and He healed what felt broken beyond repair in my marriage. He told me I was the parent for these children no matter what choices they make you did the best you knew how. He still loved me and wanted fellowship with me. 

Not having control over situations is a terrible feeling for someone like me who thrived off control. In my prayers I heard God whispering come to me, “I have always been here.” Give it all to me.” ⁣

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When I finally surrendered to Gods authority on my life I received His sweet gift of grace. I listened to the Spirit, I couldn’t get enough of God, His Word and His transforming power. I saw the strongholds fall in my life fall one by one and finally felt freedom standing in the middle of His amazing grace.⁣ You see I was saved at a young age but I ran from surrendering everything to my Savior. As I leaned from reading and learning who God is the people of Israel in the OT I could see myself. I saw my strongholds and heart sickness I lived with for so long. God never gave up on His people then and He doesn’t today.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Today is has been a daily surrender and dying to self and I hope you will join me in this. I would love to hear your stories of surrender and listening to the Spirit. -𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 

Tag me in your testimony  #knitthegospelintoyourheart 

Do you get distracted from bible study?

 

Have you ever noticed when we make plans for bible study or meeting with friends for bible study something distracts us from getting there or even studying? 

I have. We are excited and lay out everything and then things distract us from this precious time together as believers to disciple one another and read scripture. Of course, we may be adding unnecessary pressure to ourselves like having the perfect study time. It definitely can be a drive by through the day because who says we can’t read a little in the morning and through the day as time allows? It could happen at lunch breaks, evenings and mornings. Our schedules are always changing and so can our devotional time with God. 

The beauty and goodness of it is that God always meets with us when we come ready to receive His Word. If we can meet with other believers and become disciples together even better. Jesus called disciples to him because it is better for us to be in community to learn together, walk in our faith together and pray for one another. 

My prayer is that I don’t add conditions to my time with God but just show up where and when I can everyday and that my heart and speech would be filled with grace and truth to share my testimony for the kingdom of God.  

Be a cheerleader for others

As a parent we want the best for our kids. We want them to succeed, reach for their dreams and be the encouragement they need. I want to root on the side line for them and be the loudest voice. What about you?  

Personally, I can remember my mom driving me to all my childhood events as a teen. She did it after work and on weekends. She would drive me to buy the necessary gear and clothes and I realize now all these years later how tired she must of been some days but she was my cheerleader. Did you have a your cheerleader rooting for you planting hope in you? 

My husband often talks about his football coaches being the voice of encouragement to him in high school. His parents were divorced and not always present for the games or practices growing up. He says there were many times the coaches would be that voice in his life to keep moving forward and to do his best. 

Our stories of growing up whether coming from broken homes, blended families or glass houses in ministry can all shape us toward God’s plan for our lives. He knows the outcome and we must learn to surrender ourselves to trust Him. It’s not easy learning this discipline but oh when we do friend God truly gives us peace in our decisions and our personal stories become the testimonies of God’s goodness in our lives. His story brings hope to others. 

God continues to use voices in our lives even as adults to speak encouragement and wisdom to us. I was blessed by this message my sweet husband wrote and I will tell you that it had me weeping.  

“The story isn’t always what we want it to be. 

It’s usually difficult. 

It’s usually uncomfortable. 

It usually forces you to trust God. 

It always produces Godly character. 

It puts your focus on Him instead of you.”

Lots of biblical stories are your story. God makes great men out of all those stories and used them to change the world.”

What is God doing through you? 

What is your story going to be? 

How do you honor God through this? 

Finding My Purpose

 

Last year I lost my purpose for my business and began feeling driven by time and striving toward things that frankly didn’t even matter in the long term. 

As I have stepped back and took a look at how I got here, I can see that I was striving  so hard in business and God isn’t in the striving.  He is in the stillness with Him and in the slow intentional moments. There is hard work that goes into a handmade business but my intention is always to honor Jesus with it. 

Jesus gave me knitting as a outlet of rest in Him but also a creative way to share the gospel through knit bracelets and writing.  Writing was never on my radar but something that I have come to enjoy as part of this ministry. 

I am still creating and knitting bracelets and it’s been a blessing in this season of slow.  I still have a few designs and am taking custom design orders right now. 

Thank you if you are still here following my journey.