Month: January 2020

….you’re not in control🤦‍♀️

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7 

I actually think chariots and horses seem a little less trustworthy then the things of this world than I choose to trust in but I’ll go with this for a bit.  Here in Psalm 20 we have a group of people with the Lord as Commander-in-Chief over the anointed king-general and all the soldiers going into war.  So, in contrast to current day war counsels, these people gathered with the Lord in prayer before and after battles. They offered prayers, confirmed their confidence in God as their victor and reaffirmed their dependence to Him alone.  The people placed their hope that the Lord himself would uphold and sustain their efforts and be powerfully present throughout the war.  In this Psalm, the people are declaring that some warriors trust in their transportation and their weapons to gain victory but WE, GODS PEOPLE, TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Well, I’m not in a war battle with horses and chariots.  But I often try to trust in the things of this world to win the battle for me and for those I love.  Work harder, save more, make more, keep your house orderly, spend less, drive less, eat less, exercise more, get stronger, don’t give up…

These are the mantra’s that go through my mind when life gets tough and the battle is raging. Its not that they, in and of themselves, are bad mantra’s. But I have almost always defaulted to trusting in horses and chariots FIRST, then going to the Lord Commander in Trust.

Until…..2020.

Fortunately, unfortunately, I’ve been given the opportunity to TRUST GOD right out of the gates this year.  I’ve been given a few circumstances that have brought me to a place where anxiety rages, my mind reels and my stomach turns.  So, I’m in a battle to turn from the “WHAT SHOULD I/WE DO TO FIX THIS” toward “We/I TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD”.

Sure, in the past I eventually got there…to the I TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD part but it was always through the “WHAT AM I GONNA DO” swamp first.  God is training me to go to I TRUST FIRST and ya know what I’m finding out…..the swamp seems dryer and less boggy!

So yes, the problem with trust is that you’re not in control.  But the beauty of trust is also the same, you are not in control.  There is a freedom and comfort that comes with faith and trust in the GOD of the universe, the Lord of all, the Giver of Life and the Giver of ALL GOOD THINGS.  How about we all take a moment to TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD today?

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

**Take a Listen** 

Let this be our prayer today and all days!

TURN IT UP!!!

What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. – James 4:14

Embarking on this year of TRUST has already been challenging.  You see the biggest idol of my heart is people pleasing and my children.  There I said it!  Brad Bigney in his book Gospel Treason writes “An idol is anything or anyone that begins to capture our hearts, minds, and affections more than God.”

side note: Fortunate for me, a group of us are going to be working through this book starting next Monday! If you’re in Central Oregon and want to join us, send me a message😊

Anyhow…What is your life?  Do you know that it is but a mist that appears for a small time and then vanishes?  Why then do I get all caught up in anxiety and fear over the here and now?  Is it about the quality of my TRUST in God?  Is He not the author and finisher of my faith and life?  Isn’t he the one that GAVE us all the life we get to live and wrote the story He purposed for us?

Indeed He is.

God is Over all and Through all and In All.  Ephesians tells us this, over and over and over again.  I believe it.  I believe He is sovereign and I believe He is ALL good. The question is do I really believe He is All good when things fall apart and don’t turn out the way I think is good?

Do you BELIEVE Him?

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. – Hebrews 11:13

Aw the great greats of the Faith in Hebrews 11….How do you think they navigated the trials of life when they didn’t receive that which was promised and didn’t have outcomes that looked like something they accounted as good?

THEY DIED IN FAITH.

But they didn’t die a death to nothing.  They died to resurrection with Christ. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. John 11:25

God is good in your trials. period.

God is good when things seem like they are falling apart. God can be trusted. Your job is to believe Him. You must rest in faith that He is working for you, even when you can’t see Him or feel Him. You must be confident, through faith, that He will not ultimately let you down. And most assuredly, you must have your sights set on eternity…past the mist of this life and toward that which is promised to those that believe!

What captures your heart, mind and affections more then God?  The lose of a job, the worry of your wayward child, wanting more money, wanting more or better love…?

If our life is just a mist, I think it would be prudent of us to take down those idols and return to the God who gives us breath.  To rest in His goodness and trust in His love.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; IN HIM my heart TRUSTS, and I AM HELPED. Psalm 28:7  *Theme verse of 2020

Trusting HIM,

Tracy❤

 

If you’ve been following me long enough you know that each year I place a stamp on the year that guides my focus and gives some definition to what God is doing in my heart.  When I do this some neat things happen.  Like 2010, the word was restoration.  My life had taken some turns that were concerning and uncomfortable.  I wasn’t really sure of what was to come and then in July, I met Mr. Paul and God redeemed and restored that which was lost.  In January of 2015, Isaiah 32:18 defined my year, “Then my people will live in peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places.”.  We had NO intention of moving and had NO idea that in December of 2015 we would find that “peaceful habitation” up here on Gift Road.  Then, of course in 2017, my heart was set on Abiding in Christ.  Abide…the thing you want to be doing and settled into when you find your husband lifeless from cardiac arrest!

Usually, the word comes late in December and the soil is made ready to plant the seed, but not this year.  I haven’t really been moved one way or the other and even considered giving up the tradition of a word.  I decided to wait and be patient and consider that perhaps the word would be one that was convicting and stretched me in ways I wasn’t really open to and so I waited.

2019 the word was Behold and I really did BEHOLD…I studied God’s attributes and I gained a bigger perspective on WHY we are all here and HOW this thing of life works itself out and WHAT our focus should be on!  It’s was a good year.  Jen Wilkin’s, “None Like Him” got it going and AW Tozer’s, “Knowledge of the Holy” capped it off.

If you’ve spent time with me this last year you know I’m bound to preach to you about looking to God and not your circumstances. I’ll surely tell you that what you are experiencing is temporary and that GOD is Sovereign over all things, even your sin or the sin done too you.  You would probably say that I have strong faith in God and you might have even heard about my hang up that maybe I don’t really rest in the fact that God is Good.  Because most times God’s ways are higher than my ways and they don’t always look good or feel good…so, whereas I have faith that can move mountains, I sometimes fear that the mountain will move right on top of my house and crush us all.

Well, parenting is not for the faint of heart.  If you have an infant you know that the nights are short and the days are long and although the squishy is cute and amazing, you are a walking zombie and have moments where you wish you could put the squishy in a kennel and walk away for a day.  Or if you have young children you are about to loose your ever-loving mind if they ask you for another snack or if you have to break up another fight! Not to mention you brave parents of teens, who are being pushed around by this world of technology!!  Can I get an AMEN??  but moms and dads of adult children….you got it easy right?  I mean they are adults, they got this, your work is done.  Brush your hands together, sit back in your bark-a-lounger and sigh with relief.  Haha, well if you haven’t made it to this stage of life yet and you think that way, you will be rudely awakened.  I actually think these are the hardest years.  Especially, if you are a fixer and people-pleaser and lover of comfort.  Its not very comforting to watch your children struggle in life, lose jobs, have difficult relationships, want things you can’t give them, navigate disappointment on their own and the list goes on…

So, what does this have to do with THE WORD of 2020??

My husband said to me the other day “there are some things you can’t fix and there are times when you have to get out of the way and trust God”.

Thanks Mr. Paul.  You are right, its time to put my faith to the test and rest in GOD.  HE is over all and works in all and through all!

The Word of 2020 is TRUST!