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 

Finding Security

As I think about my security, I admit by nature I fall into feeling secure when my health is not in jeopardy, money is coming in to pay my bills, and all my children are doing okay.  I think a lot of us can relate to this. Right? ⁣

But when any of these things change which for most of us it has or it will at some point, my security seems lost.  It’s not.  I have seen God’s faithfulness in my own family and God always provided. Our human comfort levels are challenged but we grow closer to God through these times of trials. 

 The security Jesus Christ provides is wisdom, guidance in this life and an 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 in His 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴.(Deuteronomy 33:27)  I know I love to sink right into those arms when my “feelings” have a hold of me.  God wants us to 𝘥𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 in Him not in our circumstances. ⁣

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If you need to find that security again or if you like me have found yourself finding security in the wrong things at times. ⁣

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𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 ⁣

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•𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 (John 10 is a great chapter) ⁣

•𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲? ⁣

•𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲⁣

•𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 ⁣

⁣

Bless you today friends

💛 Tracy 

P.S. You can find me on Instagram and say hi! 

Eat God's Word Everyday

Are you eating with Lord?

Hello Friends!


Are you hungry?   I mean hungry for something that lasts forever and can never be taken away. The love, joy, peace  and forgiveness that can only found in Jesus Christ. We all have sinful desires and each of us can easily seek the things of this world to fill us up, to give us temporary satisfaction but it will disappoint or even send us down a path of destruction.  This hunger can only be filled with Jesus.  We were created to want something more.  We were meant to be His image bearers. This is why we as Christ followers need the Word of God to drink and eat of His Word.  How can we reflect Him if we aren't looking in the mirror of the Bible. 

So our provider of everything is waiting to feed His children not only physically but spiritually.   
God has equipped us with His Word so that our "eyes would be opened to recognize Him" daily.  I am praying that we would not be "slow of heart to believe" but keep His Word close so our "eyes will be opened". 

I am reading through the bible in a year. I don't know if you are taking this challenge this year or not but just this one act of obedience has changed my life. You see I use to never be confident about what God's Word said because I didn't know what it said. I was not reading it to really dig in and learn. Sometimes I read the Bible out of obligation or because I needed something and on Sundays it would be like a crash course from sermon notes.  Then I realized if I wanted more confidence in Christ and have true growth in my walk with Christ I needed to learn what God's Word said for my self. So I started reading and writing scripture daily. The writing really helped my mind see the words and then reading them helped me memorize them. I have even written scripture on my hands to give myself truth to focus on during my day.  Try it for yourself and see God change your day and open the eyes of  your heart throughout your day to see His abundance and recognize His work all around us. 

I want to challenge you to read scripture everyday too.  I think we can all relate to being lead by emotions and our own strength. It is through God's Word that we can distinguish  between lies of this world and truth. This is were we will grow roots so we can stand firm in our walk with the Lord and truly be Spirit lead through our days. 

I am rooting for you this year to get started reading through God's Word for the first time or continue on in the faith my friend. 
I shared more here on this  Facebook Live Video  about being lead by the Spirit if your interested.  I hope to keep encouraging  you guys so go ahead and leave me a comment whether you are joining me or if there is something you would like to hear more discussion on.  Walking this Christian life isnt easy and we must rely on Christ to do it. 


"But you beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit." Jude 20



Grace to you! 

trAcy 




  

God Goals for Every Woman

Reading through the bible this year with you!

Hello friends!

A new year has begun and new goals are written down. Do you write down your goals or maybe you call them big dreams?  All I know, is that I use to be horrible at doing it. I mean actually writing down anything.  I have heard if you don't write down your goals they are just dreams.  That made sense to me because when I have ever wanted something in life I actually set a goal or plan to get it done.  It isn't always easy.  It can scare you and excite you.  This year I have realized somewhere along the years of parenting, I lost what I wanted to be as a woman. You know besides a good mom to the kids and wife to my husband. Those are good things but hey the kids grow up and  leave the nest. My husband and I have made a great team over the last 23 years and He is the dreamer who always encourages me.  I usually am the one who shrinks back in fear instead of dreaming big and going for it! Remembering where my identity lies has brought me back to the character of God these last few weeks and who He says I am.  That is important because when all else fades in this life what have I done with it. Have I become who God says I am?

So this year I wrote the goals down and for the last two years as   handmade knits by trAcy has grown I was able to cut back on the hours of outside work and work from home on this business God has built for our family.  I dreamed a long time ago about a business but never wrote it down or worked with God on it until about two years ago.  He gave me the vision and dream of owning my own business and I jumped in and did it.  I didn't know it would touch so many women's lives but it has. You guys send me emails about the seeds planted by wearing your bracelets.  God's Word tethered to your hearts all day which is exactly what I envisioned. That is exactly why I create my hand stamped and knit bracelets. He has shown His strength and faithfulness through my fear and what I saw as weaknesses.  I didn't know I could speak on FB Live Videos and share about Jesus and the gospel. I learned to let God's voice be bigger than the voice of the enemy.  God is truth and Satan is a liar.

He uses me and my knitting to pour out His love. How much more can He use you friend! What talent or tools has He given you to use?  I have learned we need only to look in our hands and see that He provides the rest. You just do the work of serving the kingdom.
Jesus gives us His Word to change us from the inside out and I want to share that and be an out pouring of His grace, mercy and love to other women.

What are your goals this year? What dream do you have for a better woman this year? Are you waiting for perfection because Jesus says come as you are. It is Jesus who does a good work in and through us. Remember that!

Okay, this is probably longer than I thought I would chat about this subject. Please share your thoughts and lets cheer each other on this year!

You can always find me over on the socials too!
Facebook and Instagram

Bless you friend!

trAcy

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