Forging Relationships in Christ

 

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:6-7‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

I relate building relationships to forging hot steel metal into a sharp cutting knife. It is a hard, labor intensive but an absolutely beautiful job. We as believers are called to build relationships. We are to build upon Him. It is the very foundation we must walk on in life in order that we can stand with any endurance. 

Let’s be honest relationships can be hard and it’s easier to just not try because things just may get messy and you could get hurt. You might be right. I have had people walk into my life and then out. It hurts every time and it never gets easier especially inside the church body. 

The good news is that God never leaves us just because others decide to move on. He gives us wisdom to strengthen our faith and he will bring along side us someone else who will encourage us. God never says to stop doing kingdom work so as sisters in Christ let’s keep forging a beautiful relationships with one another being knit together in love! (Col 2:2) 

Blessings 

Tracy 

Love Like Jesus

 

“Don’t should on me.” 

I heard this said by a young mother once. She had her first child and she had all kinds of unknown people approach her with what she called “shoulds.” You probably know this as well. When people whom we don’t have relationships with try and tell us what we “should” be doing or how to do it. Life is hard and God doesn’t want a list follower but a relationship with a Christ follower. He said love is the greatest commandment. 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:37-39

What if we loved people instead of putting 

our “shoulds” on them? 

You know that first reaction to someone who we think isn’t doing life the way we think they should be doing life and especially the fellow believer in our church. 

I am guilty of the side eye too but did Jesus do that to the woman at the well? Or the adulterous woman the people wanted to stone? No. He first of all knew who they were and loved them in-spite of their sin. He told the woman at the well to go and sin no more. He also states that the one who is without sin is the one who should cast the first stone at the adulterous woman. Jesus loves us first. It’s when we know this love from Jesus and see it from our fellow believers we can be drawn back to him. No amount of “shoulds” will ever draw someone to us or to Jesus Christ. 

Sometimes I need to step back from my own self righteousness and remember that God wants me to first get to know people and love them as he does. God loves us. It is then that his love will draw them back to a life of holiness. Our attitude as a professing Christian is the very thing that will either draw people towards Christ or push them away.  

God didn’t push people away but he drew them in. That is the “should” that I need placed on myself today. 

I should want to get to know people before I think anything else about them. 

I should love like Jesus everyday. 

Choosing Home Colors

Magnolia Colors

PPG Interior Paint 

I have a love hate relationship with color. I love it but when it comes to my personal style and my home I default to neutrals. Always. 

I guess because it’s safe. So after much debate with my husband and inside of my head, I finally settled on paint colors for our fixer upper home. 

The Kitchen 

I am definitely stepping out of my comfort zone with a green kitchen. I have only had a white kitchen for the past 7 years and I wanted to change things up. I love antiques and old world style. The blue green I chose will be a change to the white washed modern kitchens of today. I am going with a cream white wall to make the color pop. My color inspo was from here on Pinterest

I chose Farrow & Ball Smoke Green for my kitchen cabinets and the walls will be One Horn White by Magnolia Colors home line. 

Interior Walls Minus Bathrooms 

All the walls in all other rooms will be Greyhound by PPG Interior Paint  .

Greyhound is a soft neutral but not the typical gray maybe more griege. I really like soothing walls. 

The trim and doors will the True White by Magnolia Colors . I am so excited to see everything in the house get a fresh coat of paint. It will look like a totally different place the next time we walk through it. 

My floors are hardwood except for 2 rooms. The choices of stain are as numerous as paint so choosing the color has been a tough choice as well. I think we will go with a dark shade but I will update floors later. 

Looking forward to change 

There is so much change happening in the house but good change. We have removed all the popcorn ceilings and even an old communicator board system through the home. Lots of dry wall patching and new floors coming. A new life is being breathed into this old fixer upper and I know it will be home soon. 

Removed 8 speakers from an old communication system in the house today. Out with the old and in with cell phones. LOL

These things must of been all the rage back in the 70’s? Did you have them? 

Answered Prayers and New Beginnings

Goodness where do I even begin? 

So much has transpired for my family and some days have been a blur. As I sit on the couch typing this post on my phone we are living with my daughter. Pretty much everything I own including my computer and ipad are packed and stored away.  Let me just start with why I am living out of bags right now. 

At the end of last year my husband and I felt God leading us to sell our Diamond Grove home. It wasn’t a decision we made lightly because we knew it would put us in a position of debt free living. It was a desire and prayer for my husband and I. We had some debt that had been lingering over us still and we have tried to follow Dave Ramsey over the years with some success but still had not cleared every debt from our budget except our home. This would required some sacrifice and like most people giving up things we really enjoy or love it is hard. I had grown to love the homestead we had built at Diamond Grove. Seven years of hard work in marriage, ministry, parenting and many hours of sweat equity put into building a homestead. I grieved many days yet I surrendered to God’s plan and we left Diamond Grove behind. 

I know that God moves us from one season to another all the time and I needed to move forward. I needed to see where God would take us. So we did for the interim. We moved to town in a beautiful suburban home where I immediately built a garden with 2 huge raised beds and containers with all the things. My heart was full of grief for a few months but also bursting to plant a garden. I prayed, painted and journaled everyday for God to guide me through those months of grief. I need to add that during this time we began fostering my 2 beautiful grand girls. A sacrifice for the family but we know God is answering prayers and guiding even still. So through any heartaches of grief for a farm again I have so much to be thankful for. 

I know it may sound insignificant for me to grieve such loss when there are much more significant things in life to grieve but this was my grief at the time. I was heart sick but grateful for being debt free except for our home and we actually put down a nice down payment. 

God answered my prayer and has blessed our family through much sacrifice. 

After 6 months, I had surrendered to this season of busyness with young children again and living in town amongst the hustle and bustle. Until this property was sent to us (by text not literally) and we knew it was from God. A fixer upper home and 4 acres of land. Our friend thought we might like to look at it. Prior to this happening we had resolved to stay put for a few years and just wait but God had another plan. My husband saw the property and said, “Tracy I know this property is suppose to be ours.” I was shocked that in 6 months we could be moving again. We weren’t settled to stay forever in town anyway so we immediately looked at the property. We knew God could do anything. We were just waiting. I was so excited. I knew this fixer upper on 4 acres was my answered prayer. We made the offer and out bid 2 other offers. Crazy stuff. As of this post the housing market is crazy and selling fast! God is good my friends. He was taking me back to a good land. A place where my heart was longing for. 

So the story is yet to be told of this fixer upper homestead we hope and pray God uses to bless as much as the last. There is endless possibilities with God and I know He hears the desires of our hearts because if He puts them there He will follow through.

Thank you guys for following along and stay tuned for more updates on my fixer upper and farm soon! 

Here are a few pictures of the kitchen. Are you ready for the avocado appliances? More to share soon! 

 

In The Morning When I Rise

 

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Lord is the Great Shepherd. We are his sheep. As a working mom of three I didn’t often think about having a guide as I guided my children in this life but I do. 

Jesus. 

God is with his children everywhere and guides us if we will follow him. When we listen to His voice He will move us toward Himself everyday. The Word and truth is waiting. My children didn’t always listen to my voice as I too have ignored Jesus many times. It doesn’t usually go well when we have to learn the hard way in life but our loving father and shepherd is always there waiting at the door when we come. 

Will we rise and meet our shepherd? 

“In the morning as I rise

I see Your beauty shining down on me from the sky

In the morning as I rise 

I hear Your voice singing over me outside my window 

In the morning as I rise

I can feel the Spirit gently moving in me 

In the morning as I rise 

You are always with me. 

In the morning Lord guide my steps to thee.”

~Tracy Lane 

Lessons Learned In My Kitchen

Happy Saturday! 

Sourdough baking was intimidating to me for years. I use to think it was too hard for me to figure out but I tried it one day and then again and again. That was the trick was to keep trying out the recipe. I like a challenge and this year has been that for me but the joy it has brought to me has far out weighed the do overs. Sometimes the kitchen is where I find creativity and see God bring joy to me. There are many things we don’t get do overs in life but I like that in the kitchen if I keep going back to the recipe and trying I can get something created like these bagels:) 

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Following God will always bring us to goodness if we keep following His Words. It may take us awhile to get there because of our own selfish paths we follow before we realize Gods recipe is far better and will produce something good. 

Thank God for do overs and His mercy. Lessons learned in creativity are great if we keep following the One who created everything.

*If you are interested in a easy beginner sourdough bread book. This is one I enjoy using Artisan Sourdough Made Simple 

Happy Baking friends! 

Tracy 

Nothing Is As Good As The Good Shepherd

 

I keep putting off writing. I have this overwhelming desire to write each day but never do anything. I desire to write yet I still procrastinate because nothing is good enough. I put it off because I don't have the perfectly formulated plan or good enough words at the moment. Honestly maybe it is fear that holds me back but mostly I keep thinking I don't have a good enough blog site, enough readers or the perfect words. You get the idea, don't you?

The end of December 2021 I moved into the city limits of my small community. No more country scenery with animals or 1/2 acre garden beds to tend to. I have mourned the loss of living in the county but in the last three months I have seen the abundance of good in moving to my new home. It has allowed my husband and I to become debt free, we are in a beautiful home that has a lot of character that actually reminds me of a English Cottage and I will still have a raised bed garden to tend to. The scale of my new garden will be much better for my aging back and still satisfy my longing to grow food. It has been a journey these past few months and God is reminding me that following His calling doesn't keep us in our comfort zones. When my husband and I decided we were to move it was not comfortable. If you have moved ever moved your family you know what I mean. So all this leads me to my feelings of not good enough. He moves us to walk by faith and that is never easy. It is uncomfortable and writing is taking me out of my comfort zone.  

Why do I feel this way if I know God moved me from a good place to an even better place? 

 He moved me from a good and comfortable place to use me. I am not saying where I am now is not good or comfortable but God knew what I needed. There are things I think I lack when I compare my writing or blog to others but God uses us where we are to grow us like the garden grows. Seeds breaking through the ground towards the light. Little by little the outer shell is broken and then we grow. We need practice doing anything. I need to practice writing and do it whether or not anyone reads, comments or gives a thumbs up or a heart. LOL. 

My goal is to keep my focus on the goodness of Jesus not focus on what isn't perfect or good enough. I believe in the confidence of Jesus, I call it Christ confidence.  Things change and God has shown me over the last few years as the world around us has drastically changed but He never does. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) My mind is where satan can easily find a way to sabatoge my confidence. I don't want to allow Him to snatch my joy. Staying in The Word keeps me able to hear Jesus speak to my spirit. I need that to stay this course. I am thankful for His security and abundant love everyday. (John 10:28) I saw this quote from Phylicia Masonheimers blog this week and it really spoke to how I feel. "May His abundance never scare you" Yes and Amen! I am not ever going to feel good enough but Jesus is! He is the reason I am here writing now. 

This has encouraged me just getting these thoughts onto the screen. I want to continue to encourage you that our eyes can be blind to the work of God around us if we are too focused on ourselves. This self centered view I have had for months has paralyzed me from doing anything. I said at the beginning I have been putting off writing because nothing felt good enough. Well, I stopped seeing myself and started seeing that God is good enough. Jesus came to earth as the Good Shepherd to share the gospel with people who saw Him and some who did not. I am grateful He has given my heart eyes to see Him and ears to hear Him and His Word to share with you. 

Share with me what is holding you back from doing something God is calling you to?

Bless you friend

tracy 

God Can Heal Us Through Prayer

 

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

God can heal us through prayer. God reminded me this week that I was holding onto something that only He can heal in me. I have a bad habit of holding onto issues and letting them sit inside me like an overflowing closet and when the door does open it just may spill out and make a mess. The good part of this opening up in prayer is that God can take those issues and begin to heal my heart and mind from them. God teaches me something every time in prayer whether it’s about His love towards me, His generosity, or how patient He is with me.   

So much of the Christian life is learning the character and attributes of God and letting Him refine those attributes in us. So my prayer for you and me is to not carry around what God can heal in us. Give it to God in prayer. 

“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.”

John 14:2

Bless you today friends! 

tracy

Lessons About Church Family

 

 (My rainbow sparkly socks we knits with hand dyed yarn from Fibernymph Dye Works Yarn 

The Winter time is when all my hand knit socks get worn most!)

“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:9

Hi Friends! 

Currently a Winter ice storm is passing through and it’s just plan ol messy outside. Do you feel the Winter blues?  I never have until the last few years and it seems the dreariness and shorter days without sun light has affected my mood. It’s definitely a time I have to proactively find some light and sit or stand in it! 

Finding light lately has been through encouragement from my church family. I often think about these past 2 years of the pandemic we have lived through and am thankful for people in my life who text to check on me and my family. The food sent when we have been sick at just the right time. It’s those little deposits of encouragement that add up in our life to fill us when we are sometimes depleted. 

Maybe we can think of someone who might need a text to check on them? It’s a simple act of love yet even I don’t do it enough. 

Someone told me in conversation one day they liked being single and alone. They believe God has them right where they are suppose to be. I can understand that. Also, in this conversation they had heard me say church family was a blessing yet they didn’t really see the blessing of a church family at least I don’t think right away. I said, church family aren’t the same as your biological family. Your fellow believers will pray for you and sometimes be there when your biological family can’t be. When our love of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming in our lives we want to be generous to our sisters and brothers in Christ. We will be compelled to help in ways we probably never would with our Christ living in us. 

I guess the point I am trying to make is even though we enjoy being alone or our singleness we still need community, a family whether a church family or biological, and we all need the love and encouragement of Jesus Christ! 

I pray today that you seek those in your community that could use a hug, an encouraging word, or a warm place to stay this Winter. It is this deposit of love into the lives around us that in turn we are taught and learn more about Gods grace, mercy and love towards us. 

Be well ~

Tracy 

“do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of other.” Philippians 2:4 

New Year Same Me

 

Hi friends, 

Let get caught up since we haven’t talked in awhile. It’s already a new year but it’s the same me. LOL 

As you know, I have been rather quiet on social for months between the holidays, sickness and moving to a new home it’s been as you probably can guess exhausting. I have had no mental capacity for anything. My creativity has been lost and honestly I have struggled with depression through it. I am better today. 

As I struggled from the day we decided to move, I kept going on like life as normal yet it wasn’t. I decluttered what has felt like not just my house but my heart. I got rid of so much yet replaced it with new and different things. I have never in my marriage had the peace we feel now since moving. Decluttering my heart from defeating thoughts that just because we move doesn’t mean I can’t garden or I am less because we down sized our home. I know God moved us from a place I loved and frankly I felt like I gave up so much yet gained so much more! We lived for 7 years on a small farm and it was amazing. I had animals and a large garden. It was exhausting at times to care for but so special to see God use me to grow not only a garden but in faith with Him over those years. God restored my heart when I was struggling with kids and marriage. Many tears have been shed over how much God grew me there and our family closer to Him. I needed restoring and He answered many prayers and in answering one simple prayer of financial freedom we have prayed for many years God moved us physically to a smaller place. It wasn’t easy and it felt like He was peeling back one layer at a time which hurt so bad in a good way. The freedom we wanted required something from us and God provided a way. 

We are parents and grandparents and being close to family means so much. It’s family and church family that builds us up in these times of change. God is in the business of restoration friends. Don’t hide away when things get tough. We need community. 

“For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.” 2 Corinthians 13:9 NASB

I can say today that we are settling into our new home. I see big things happening here too. Don’t worry I am planning the garden beds already to be built this Spring. There will be flowers and veggies still! 

Keep knitting, 

Tracy 

#knittheGospelintoyourheart tag me on IG!