Encouraging Tools for Brave Moms

Loved Skinny Copper Cuff

Hello friends!

This Sunday we will celebrate Mother's Day and I am not sure how many of you are mothers but you probably have a Mom who raised you right? Moms are brave because they are fighting the battle for our children.
Motherhood for me was something far off and never did I desire to be the mom. It wasnt until I married that I had the desire and maybe it was a combination of emotions at the time but my husband and I began our family very soon after our marriage. It is now that I can say that motherhood was a blessing. For years in the trenches of youngsters I couldnt have given you one bit of encouragement or advice I dont think. It was hard. It is with age comes wisdom in parenting.  Anyway motherhood was a gift from God. I realize not all women will be a mom like they hoped or maybe they have lost the baby they prayed for. We can still mother in so many ways.  If I know anything it is that God provides.
 It is with the strength of my Lord that I have raised my children, two adults and one teenager. I can not say a word with out praising God my Father for providing for us and loving us.  Prayer is the one tool not only moms use but we as believers must use it daily as well.
Our families are battle grounds for satans attacks so be on guard.  I thought I would share some of my favorite tools that maybe you can use to declare truth over your family as a mom.  And maybe you get an idea or two for gifting them :)



-Well Waterd Women 
 This is a company that believes as I do putting the Word before the world can change your day and life. It will be a practice that changes you for your family.  They have great free study resources as well as beautifull tools like my favorite prayer journal

-Find Wonderous Things
This company has my favorite bible tabs I use in my bible as well as beautiful journals and tools.  There are some free resources as well to encourage your heart. I love the declaring truth printable. 

-Risen Motherhood
This company of women is also an excellent resource for encouragemnt in the study of God's Word not only for you but teaching it to your children. If you have small children you will want to check them out! I love that they have free bible study guides HERE  You can use these to learn if your new to studying the bible. They have a podcast as well so you can get in some parenting encouragment during the day.

-Tokyo Blossom Boutique
This company is a fun boutique that creates cute and practical gifts for mom. Julie is the owner and she creates the cutest coffee cozies HERE and tote bags HERE  As a mom I use totes all the time and carrying all the coloring books and essentials to church. Moms need a tote.

Well I hope you found something helpful in some of these places I mentioned.  I would love to hear any resources you would like to share with me in the comments. 
I pray each of you have a blessed week celebrating you mom and family as a Brave Mom!

your sister in Christ,
trACy

Does my life show my faith?

Hello friends!


April was a blast with you guys. We started the study of the letter of James together in our online bible study group.  We are still going through it and we are currently on chapter 4.  When I first began this study with you I told everyone God knows why we are are studying together and has plans for each of us and I am seeing everyday the work He is doing in my life daily. I think some of you can too, right?
I mean "walking by faith" has a whole new meaning for me today than it did yesterday.  As I am growing in maturity with God, I can see the changes God is making in me with my mouth and actions. Am I hiding Christ in my life anymore?  Am I 'snapping" when the kids are not acting the way I think they should? or spill the dressing all over the floor I just mopped?  You see these are just a few of the things I use to do in my life.  I am not saying I am perfect at it but the difference is that as a believer we keep trying to do better the next time.  Even with my husband I am more conscious of the way I speak to him.  Sometimes the ones we love are the very ones we hurt the most. I know God loves me in my worst self so I must love them at their worst and show forgiveness.

The wisdom and teachings in the letter of James has opened my eyes to how much I use to seek outside wisdom before ever seeking God first. I am sad that this was true of me and it took several devastating life trials for me to turn back to Him.  I would just pull God out of a box whenever its was my last resort for help.  Prayer is the key that unlocks the power of the Spirit to help us and if we ask with a right heart God answers and gives generously wisdom and help to those that ask.  (James 1:5, James 4:7-8)
What is spurring you on this month? Are you studying with me too?



On to SHOP NEWS:

I have a few new bracelets and several colors in the shop that I want to share. The last few weeks I have been busy knitting up new colors and stamping. I love these Spring colors that hit the shop recently.
Who needs Mother's Day gift ideas?  These are beautiful reminders for Christian Women.

Pray Bracelet

Word Before World Bracelet

Grace Wins Bracelet

These are a few of the newest in the SHOP so check out them before they are gone! The cuffs are all knit with hand dyed yarns so when they are gone they are gone forever. That is just another special quality about these cuffs I love.  

FYI if you have one of my bracelets and want to share your pictures with me please email them and I will share your testimony wearing your bracelet. I believe we can share seeds of faith wearing these cuffs when someone asks you about your words on them. Go ahead share what they mean to you! 

You guys rock supporting what I am doing here at hAndmade knits by trAcy and from the bottom of my heart thank you! 

your sister in Christ,

tracy

  

Am I Trusting God?

Hello friends!

Today was to start of the study of book James for me. I began the study in  Knit the Gospel into Your Heart Group this morning. This is a group just for those who want to grow in God's Word and study together. I would love for you to join too!
Take a look at the video if interested in the group this month? Of course there is incentives because I am a knitter who creates Custom Bracelets





I am amazed at the work God is doing. He has "knit" almost 50 women together from all over the United States and Jamaica to study the Word of God together.  It is certainly not me it is All God's work.  I am just excited that I am walking beside Him and following His lead in this study of James this month.


As I have been studying James the word of God has stirred up in me a desire to better understand this question, "Do I trust God?" I have been tested and recently we as a family have been hit with some sad news about a family members diagnosis of cancer. It was unexpected but really when are you expecting a test from God?

The verse that I have been praying this week is and drawing comfort from is ...

"Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God." Philippians 4:6-7

I hope that through the testing and trials you may face right now or in the next few weeks you claim the promise of God's grace and love during the time.  He is always asking us "Do you trust me?" Will we lean into Him or run away from God.  (HERE is a post about running if interested)

I will leave you with this my friends!

"Man doesn't not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God"
  Matthew 4:4


In Christ,
trAcy

How and Why we Study the Bible?

Everyday with Jesus Bible 

Hello friends!

I did a VIDEO HERE talking about this topic but I want to share here on the blog too.
Have you ever asked yourself these questions, as a new believer or maybe you aren't a new believer just someone who hasn't ever read consistently read the bible to dig deeper in your relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. 
How do I read the bible? Where do I start? What am I doing?

Well, these are questions I had too. When I began trusting God, I wanted to know Him more and the Bible is where we can do that.  My best advise is to just start kinda like just do it!  The bible has alot in there so starting one bite at a time is how I like to do it. You learn while you go and it will bless your life in the doing.

So here are a few truths to start with-

1.  The first truth is that the Holy Bible is God breathed and spoken through the writers who penned it so it is true and without error.  It is God breathed.

 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

We should read it as a lens of who God is. Gospel glasses is fun way to remember how we should read the bible.  We want to know God more and it will teach us how we should be in life.  Christ changes everything!

2. "Eat the Word of God until you are full" or read until you are finished. Meditate on the scriptures you read or journal things that stick out such as promises of God, teaching moments, or words that spoke to you. God's Word should never be a chore but a time of refreshment for our soul.

3.  Learn the context of what your reading. As you start reading and taking notes. Ask questions. Who wrote this book of the bible? Why? all these questions will start to reveal layers of God's Word you might not have known and tell you more about it.  Just start little by little it will amaze you.

4.  Interpretation is finding out what scripture is saying when you might not get it at first. We never want to make scripture mean something it never meant. Scripture is the best interpreter of scripture. We can use cross references in a good study bible (HERE) to help us.

These tips are all to get you started and I hope you find them helpful.  Remember God blesses the time spent with him. We will start to see the Big picture of the Bible and who God is for us. Our time should never be about us but about Jesus and how he changes us.

Storing up God's Word in our hearts will be something we can bank on because there will be times when we will need to draw from His truths to get through life's ups and downs my friend.

Let me know if this helps you and I pray it encourages you to get started studying God's Word.

Bless you friend

tracy