July 12, 2008
Exactly my thoughts!!!
(blog entry from Internet cafe...)
Is God Sovereign Over THAT?
God has been reminding me that since He is Sovereign over all, then He is Sovereign over what family I was born in to. That might sound a little simple, but when you think of how easy it is to "go down the road" of reflecting on the past and holding on to those things that have been hard, it is easy to get into them mindset that there was some kind of mistake along the way! To look back over the years and remember those things that have been hurtful, or not handled correctly, can cause me to become tempted to give into bitterness and resentment.
There was a time that much of what I did as a parent was done with the attitude that I wanted things to be different for my children than they were for me. If I am not careful my focus can be on "how I'M going to do it 'differently' rather than "How does God want me to do it?"
God has been changing my perspective on this, and I am so grateful. I find that if I am focused on God, rather than what I perceive to be the "mistakes" that were made in my own childhood, I experience such peace! As I look back over the years I can learn so much. I can learn from the good and I can learn from the bad. I can be a better mom as a result of the good, and as a result of the bad. There are lessons from both. It is so encouraging to know that God uses both the good and the bad in our lives, and that they can both serve to make us better if we can see them as God sees them. Not only is it encouraging and freeing for me personally but it encourages me to know that my children will be able to look back on their lives and see the good and the bad, and that God will use it ALL for their good.
As easy as it might be for me to slip into "remembering" and use THAT as my standard for what I do, I am praying that God would constantly remind me that the only standard I have is His Word. If I seek His face and do things the way He tells me to do them, that will be enough.
"Thank you Father, that Your Word gives me everything I need for life and godliness, and that when I focus on YOU I can be confident that YOU will help me to be the best mom I can be! Thank you that YOU show me such mercy when I "mess up" as a mom. I pray that I would see my own parents through eyes of grace!"
Posted by tracey at 08:38 PM | Comments (1)
June 28, 2007
Thought for the day...
Appreciating Our Past
It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and unhappiness. But it is much more healing to look at ourselves and our past in the light of experience, acceptance, and growth.
Our past is a series of lessons that advance us to higher levels of living and loving. The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us necessary lessons.
Some of us have emerged from the most painful circumstances with strong insights about who we are and what we want. Our mistakes? Necessary. Our frustrations, failures, and sometimes stumbling attempts at growth and progress? Necessary too. Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly the experiences we need to, to become who we are today. Each step of the way, we progressed. Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is mistaking that for the truth.
Today, God, help me let go of negative thoughts I may be harboring about my past circumstances or relationships. I can accept, with gratitude, all that has brought me to today.
~ from inspirational positive thoughts ~
Posted by tracey at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)
May 27, 2007
Lest We Forget
~ "Most people are bothered by those passages of scripture they do not
understand, but I am bothered by those I do understand" ~
- Mark Twain
Posted by tracey at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2007
God's Coffee
(From an email...and is this ever true!)
A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective
careers, got together for a visit with their old university
professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about
the endless stress of work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the
kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an
eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal -
-some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite.
Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh
coffee...
When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand,
the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently
address the small gathering...
"You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were
taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While
it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves that
is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems...
Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee
In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink.
What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you
instinctively went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each
other's cups...."
"Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position
in society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain
Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change
the quality of the Life we live... "Often, by concentrating only on
the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us... God
brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!"
The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just
make the best of everything...So please remember:
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care Deeply.
Speak Kindly.
Leave the
Rest to God
Posted by tracey at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2007
Easter Blessings!
Posted by tracey at 08:28 AM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2007
~ He Does Exist ~
Another great email to share...
What a great explanation this is!
This is one of the best explanations
of why God allows pain and suffering
that I have seen. It's an explanation
other people will understand.
A man went to a barbershop to have
his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work,
they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things
and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on
the subject of God, the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?"
asked the customer.
"Well, you just have to go out in
the street to realize that God
doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists,
would there be so many sick people?
Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither
suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine loving a God who
would allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment,
but didn't respond because he didn't
want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer
left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop,
he saw a man in the street with long,
stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed
beard.
He looked dirty and un-kept.
The customer turned back and entered
the barber shop again and he said
to the barber:
"You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?"
asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber.
And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed.
"Barbers don't exist because
if they did, there would be no
people with dirty long hair
and untrimmed beards,
like that man outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist!
What happens is, people
do not come to me."
"Exactly!"-
affirmed the customer.
"That's the point!
God, too, DOES exist!
What happens, is, people
don't go to Him
and do not look for Him.
That's why there's so much pain
and suffering in the world."
Posted by tracey at 07:14 AM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2007
Amen!
"Heavenly Father,
We come before you today
To ask your forgiveness and
To seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says,
"Woe to those who call evil good"
But that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium
And reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and
Called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness
And called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn
And called it choice.
We have shot abortionists
And called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline
Our children and called it
Building self esteem.
We have abused power
And called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's
Possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air
With profanity and
Pornography and called it
Freedom of speech and expression.
We have ridiculed the time
Honored values of our
Forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God,
And know our hearts today;
Cleanse us from every sin
And set us free.
Amen!"
Posted by tracey at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2006
Are you cold?
~ I received this in an email recently, I am not positive that is was albert einstein that said this, but I loved it just the same! ~
A Professor asked his students if God created everything.
A student bravely replied, "Yes he did! God created everything?"
The professor answered, "If God created everything; then God created evil. And, since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."
The student became quiet and did not answer the professor's hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.
Another student raised his hand and said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"
"Of course", replied the professor.
The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"
"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?" The other students snickered at the young man's question.
The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero(-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."
The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"
The professor responded, "Of course it does."
The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use
Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"
Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world! These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down. The young man's name -- Albert Einstein
Posted by tracey at 08:48 AM | Comments (0)
June 03, 2006
The Heart
(from an email)
"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began,
"I'll open up your heart..."
"You'll find Jesus there," the boy
Interrupted.
The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I'll
Cut your heart open," he continued,
To see how much damage has been
Done..."
"But when you open up my heart, you'll
Find Jesus in there," said the boy.
The surgeon looked to the parents, who
Sat quietly."When I see how much
Damage has been done, I'll sew your
Heart and chest back up, and I'll plan
What to do next."
"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The
Bible says He lives there. The
Hymns all say He lives there. You'll
Find Him in my heart."
The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell
You what I'll find in your heart.
I'll find damaged muscle, low blood
Supply, and weakened vessels.
And I'll find out if I can make you well"
"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives
There."
The surgeon left.
The surgeon sat in his office, recording his
Notes from the surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged
Pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration.
No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy:
Painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:, "
Here he paused, "death within one year."
He stopped the recorder, but there was
More to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.
"Why did You do this? You've put
Him here; You've put him in this pain; and
You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"
The Lord answered and said, "The boy,
My lamb, was not meant for your
Flock for long, for he is a part of My
Flock, and will forever be.
Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and
Will be comforted as you cannot imagine.
His parents will one day join him here,
And they will know peace, and
My flock will continue to grow."
The surgeon's tears were hot, but his
Anger was hotter. "You created that
Boy, and You created that heart. He'll
Be dead in months. Why?"
The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb,
Shall return to My flock, for He has
Done his duty: I did not put My lamb
With your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another Lost lamb."
The surgeon wept.. The surgeon sat
Beside the boy's bed; the boy's
Parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and
Whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
"Yes," said the surgeon.
"What did you find?" asked the boy.
"I found Jesus there," said the
Surgeon.
Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me,I will be ashamed of you before
My Father.."
Posted by tracey at 05:27 PM | Comments (0)
May 28, 2006
In Remembrance and Honor
Lest we forget...
Posted by tracey at 09:44 AM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2006
The Holy Alphabet
A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
Posted by tracey at 07:34 PM | Comments (0)
March 09, 2006
Ten Things
GOD WON'T ASK ON THAT DAY.
1... God won't ask what kind of car you drove.
He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.
2... God won't ask the square footage of your house,
He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
3... God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet,
He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.
4... God won't ask what your highest salary was.
He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
5... God won't ask what your job title was.
He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
6... God won't ask how many friends you had.
He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
7... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived,
He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.
8... God won't ask about the color of your skin,
He'll ask about the content of your character.
9... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation.
He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
10... God won't have to ask how many people you forwarded this to,
He already knows your decision.
Posted by tracey at 10:51 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2006
God is like....
(You never know if these emails we randomly receive are actual and true, but this one was too cute to pass up and considering it was suppose to have originated from a group of children, I'm willing to bet it is so! Enjoy.)
A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God.
Here are some of the results: scroll down.
God is like..
BAYER ASPIRIN
He works miracles.
God is like...
a FORD
He's got a better idea.
God is like...
COKE
He's the real thing.
(This is great)
God is like...
HALLMARK CARDS
He cares enough to send His very best.
God is like...
TIDE
He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
God is like...
GENERAL ELECTRIC
He brings good things to life.
God is like...
SEARS
He has everything.
ALKA-SELTZER
Try him, you'll like Him.
God is like...
SCOTCH TAPE
You can't see him, but you know He's there.
God is like...
DELTA
He's ready when you are.
God is like...
ALLSTATE
You're in good hands with Him.
God is like...
VO-5 Hair Spray
He holds through all kinds of weather.
God is like...
DIAL SOAP
Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?
God is like...
the U.S. POST OFFICE
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.
Posted by tracey at 10:18 AM | Comments (1)
December 22, 2005
The Reason for the Season
"Fear Not," said the angel, "For I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in Bethlehem - a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."
"And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
Posted by tracey at 08:49 PM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2005
Jesus Take the Wheel
I heard this song today and just loved it!'
Have you heard it? By Carrie Underwood. I've never heard of her before, but like some of her other stuff too that I found on the internet.
Great song and it is oh so true!!!
Chorus
"Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
'Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel"
Posted by tracey at 12:14 PM | Comments (0)
September 11, 2005
The Loss of GREAT Woman...
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."
~:psalm 116:15:~
I received bad news today that someone was sick, very sick and than later tonight I got word she had passed. Devon was devastated, I was shocked and dismayed.
Her name was Barbara and Barb was a great person, friend, nurse, mother and grandmother. Oh how she loved her kids and grandkids. She often spoke of her mornings "frogin" with them when she would take the little ones over by a pond near her home and they would look for frogs half the morning.
She was a jokester, always smiling, laughing, bringing cheer. She was a great friend and confidant and co-worker. I learned alot from Barb during those endless hours of the night shift, a shift she had worked for nearly 30 years. Barbara loved her patients too, there was nothing she wouldn't do for them and make them laugh, she could always do that! I will always fondly remember in the early morning hours how she would sing to them and you would hear all over the floor, singing away and the patients LOVED it! Having known Barb and working with her was truly a great blessing.
God, I loved Barb and when she retired 8 years ago we missed her so much, I missed her so much!
After her retirement I would drop in occasionally to say hi, we use to get together once in a while, the girls and Barb, and have breakfast together to talk and laugh. Barb never drove so I would always pick her up on our outings and after breakfast she would always like to run to the local pharmacy to pick up a few things and we would always go.
When I got sick a few years back with my MS, Barb was the one to give me my first Avonex injection.
She was always giving me clothes too, bags and bags of clothes, sheets, towels, all things that her grandchildren had outgrown.
Barbara, what a special lady she was and I will miss her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I give you this one thought to keep --
I am with you still – I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone –
I am with you still – in each new dawn.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
~In Loving Memory ~
Barbara Marcotte
1932-2005
Posted by tracey at 08:54 PM | Comments (1)
August 31, 2005
Book of the Bible
Found this over at Geannie's and tried it out.
Here is my result.
You are Proverbs.
Which book of the Bible are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by tracey at 08:10 PM | Comments (1)
August 26, 2005
It Depends on Whose Hands it's in.
A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.
A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Venus Williams' hands is a championship winning.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy
A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will
produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.
As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams,
your families and your relationships in God's hands because...
It depends whose hands it's in.
This message is now in your hands.
What will YOU do with it?
It Depends on WHO'S Hands it's in!!
Posted by tracey at 09:43 PM | Comments (1)
July 10, 2005
And He gives you Peace
How appropriate that I would go to church this morning and the sermon was on peace, peace from above that we can only feel through Him.
I prayed hard today that I would be able to feel that peace, that feeling of love that has to be through actions and not just words. I prayed for the anxiousness and worry I've carried for so long would subside. I prayed hard...
The afternoon has turned out nicely, it's a little warmer than I had expected, but the humidity is down.
I still haven't been able to get a hold of Val yet. I've emailed and left messages on her cell. I may try her boyfriend tonight. I picked up some sympathy cards yesterday and want to get them in the mail tomorrow.
I just can't believe this has happened to her and her family. Her parents must just be devastated, beyond devastated. It truly is an unfair world we live in, but like the preacher said today, the best is yet to come where there will be no more pain, no more tears, no more death and I know Pam has gone home...
Have a great weekend everyone!
Posted by tracey at 03:31 PM | Comments (1)
July 09, 2005
Closer to him
I sit and ponder tonight what has brought me closer to God because I do feel so much closer to him. Lately I have had to deal with some pretty awful things that have happened in this life. Some personal, others not so personal, but indirectly, they have affected me.
I often find myself thinking about things, life, people, the actions of others, why some people act the way they do, treat others the way they do, hold onto anger and hatred and sorrow the way they do.
I wonder why we do this? I wonder what makes us feel the need to do this? Listen to the news, any night of the week, hear about what's happening in our world, the tragedy, the suffering, the loss of lives, famine, disaster, bombings, murder and the list goes on and on. To me there is more than a fair share of ugliness in the world and I truly don't believe this is how it is suppose to be or should be.
I wonder if it's our hearts that get broken somewhere along the way or maybe our spirit that makes us act so. I think more though, that it is the evil in the world that has been there since the beginning of time. It fuels us, it intrigues us it makes us ugly and so I find myself praying more, listening to people more without interuption, I find the good in things that use to make me sour and I try to feel what others are feeling, understand it and accept it.
Feeling closer to the Lord has brought me a lot of inner peace, peace I have never felt before. I feel stronger and wiser and more able to face the days. I am not so quick to anger or find fault and when I feel these twinges poking, prodding, trying to make their way through, I simply stop, take a deep breath and say a prayer...
Becoming closer to him has given me the ability to do this and I am thankful for that change in me!
~ Come near go God and he will come near to you. ~
~:james 4:8:~
Posted by tracey at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)