He Loves Me! Yea, Yea, Yea!

Do you know how the Lord feels about YOU?

You are so precious to God. He loves you so much. You see, He loves the world, and you are included in that, but Sister, He loves YOU.

“The Lord Your God is mighty to save. He takes great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.”

God woos us, He whispers to us, He never gives up on our love.

He desires YOU.

He wants a deep relationship with YOU.

He wants YOU to be completely abandoned to HIM, head over heals crazy about Him!

We are His beloved and He is the lover of our souls. You may have never experienced this love relationship with the Lord. This may all sound very new, and a little strange to you. Or, maybe you feel unworthy of His love. Maybe you have felt this love once, but have left it grow cold over time.

Or, maybe your heart is soaring in agreement right now because you ARE experiencing this intimacy with God.

Now matter where you are, God is calling you to Him. He meets each one of us exactly where we are, and it doesn’t matter if this is all new to us, or we have believed it for years. God wants each one of us to go deeper in Him today. Friend , it is not an accident or a coincidence that you are reading this today. He has called you by name and placed this desire in your heart to know Him more.

Do you know the bible is a love letter written to you? How God expresses His love for us, all through it, both the old and new testaments. When you are reading it, He is speaking directly to YOU?

A few summers ago, I was cleaning out our basement, and I found a box of old letters and keepsakes. As I began to read the letters, I realized that they were love letters my husband had written to me before we where married while we were living apart. He was in college, and I was still at home in high school. These letters were so sweet as he professed his love for me and told me how much he missed me and longed for me. He made promises of our future and told me how he wanted to take care of me.

When I began reading them, I was shocked. They were from so long ago, I had no memory of ever reading them! I am sure at the time, I read and reread them, hanging on every word Brian wrote. But, 20 years later, I forgotten the sweet words he had written to me.

Oh, friend, how I want to encourage you to read God’s love letters every day! In His Word, God professes His love for you. He reminds you of His promises. He tells you how much He longs for you when you apart and He declares He wants to care for you! Don’t ever let time slip by so that you forget the sweet words He has written to you! Store them up and cherish them within your heart.

How my heart longs for all of you to be WILD for God..... passionate, hungry for more and more and more of HIM! I pray that you be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God! I pray that you continue to press on in Him!

Use that razor, girl!

I wrote this devotion for Laced with Grace last week, but just HAD to share it with you here as well!

OK….it is full-fledged shorts weather here in Iowa. Time to break out that razor and give those winter legs a good shave.

As I was tackling those last stubborn hairs that just don’t seem to want to get OFF, I thought about how God’s Word compares itself to the sharpest razor.

“For the Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from Him. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes.” Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT

Have you ever tried to shave with a dull razor?

I don’t know about you, but my legs tend to end up looking like this. Not a pretty picture.

My razor HAS to be sharp to effectively shave my body WITHOUT leaving little cuts and wounds. God’s Word has to be sharp to effectively reach those areas that we tend to hide away…..pretending they don’t exist…..hiding from the truth. The NIV puts it this way, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

It gets in there! “Dividing between joints and marrow.” No hiding from His Word. It penetrates our very being. It searches our motives and intentions.

Why?

It has power to CHANGE us.

It refines us.

Grows us.

Frees us.

Softens us.

Convicts us.

Encourages us.

God’s Word is ALIVE and ACTIVE and WORKS within us!

And, I have found that it is ONLY His Word that cuts cleanly without cutting me. When I try to follow MY word or the WORLD’S words, I find myself with a cut-up spirit, full of band-aids. Kind of like using a dull razor.

Lord, thank You for Your Word that PENETRATES deep within me. Thank You that even when I try to hide from you (and myself), Your Word gets right in where it needs to go. Give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I might know You better and open the eyes of my understanding to fully comprehend what You are teaching me. Lord, I believe that Your Word is ALIVE and ACTIVE in me! Thank You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN!

Use that razor, girl!

Yes, it is that time again......

SUMMER= SHORTS = SHAVING!

Hop on over to LACED WITH GRACE today to read how razors relate to the Word of God! Click here to read the devotion....

What are YOU learning?

I would like to invite you to participate in a new meme on Fridays hosted by my dear Sister, Gina from "Chats with an Old Lady." Gina is challenging us to be in His Word on (hopefully) daily basis, come together, and share what God is teaching us through His Word. If you haven't been over to Gina's blog, please stop over ASAP. She is "Proverbs 31 woman," full of wisdom with a humble heart, seeking the Lord with all of her heart. She shares what she is learning openly and honestly. I am very excited about this new meme encouraging us to grow in His Word and share what He is teaching us.



I have been studying the book of Jonah and really enjoying it! I am on chapter 1, taking it very slowly and finding SO MUCH truth in each verse.



Jonah Flees From the LORD

1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."
3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."
7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"
9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."
10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"
12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you."
13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.
17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.



Boy, as I read about Jonah's rebellious heart, I see myself. God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh to "cry against it." Does Jonah obey? No! He rose up to flee to Tarshish- the opposite direction to Ninevah.



Oh, Lord, how many times when You tell me to do something do I do the opposite? How many times "do I flee from the presence of the Lord?"



Well, Jonah found a ship to take him to Tarshish, relaxed a bit, went down into the hold of the ship, and....FELL ASLEEP!



I blogged about this on Wednesday for Word-Filled Wednesday. Please take a moment to SCROLL DOWN to WFW to read about sleeping through the storm.....



When Jonah wakes up to find a storm raging around him, the crew cast lots to find out "on whose account this calamity has struck." Of course, the lot falls on Jonah.

Jonah confesses....and then takes responsibility for his sin.

He tells the crew to throw him overboard so that the sea will calm.

I love this part of Jonah's story. I love that although Jonah made many mistakes and rebelliously runs away from God, he takes responsibility and confesses his sin.

My prayer is I have a repentant heart, willing to confess my sin...willing to take responsiblility for my sin. May I say, "throw me into the sea!"

Other things I learned through this passage:

God wants to do great and mighty things through US. He tells Jonah to go to Ninevah, a great and wicked city. Jonah had the chance to be used in a great and mighty way by God- to help save a GREAT and WICKED city.

Oh, Lord, how I want to be used mightily by you!

I see that God CARES about disobedience. He "follows" Jonah and sends a storm to get Jonah's attention. God isn't content to turn his head and ignore Jonah's rebellion. (I wonder how often I get lazy and ignore my children's disobedience because it is easier.)

I also see that God is FORGIVING. He doesn't allow Jonah to drown, but sends a whale to swallow Jonah. He gives Jonah another chance to obey His command.

I love that Jonah is the whale 3 days. Jesus is in the tomb for 3 days. I love that the WHOLE bible, Old and New Testament, points to JESUS!

What is God teaching you through His Word? Won't you please comment and share. Or....maybe you would like to post about it. Either way, please visit have a "chat with an old lady" and visit Gina's blog for more on His wonderful Word!

Feed on the Word Daily

Fill up on the Word daily!!!

Oops! Abigail you're not supposed to really EAT the Word!

Abigail likes to eat Kleenex and paper. When I came into the family room, I found my bible with some of the pages ripped out and her chewing on something. I didn't figure it out that she was eating my BIBLE until I found this page!

AAAAHHHH!!!!!!

But, how can you be mad at this cutie???

Oh, Lord your Word fills me and sustains me! I will be filled as with the richest of food.

Thankful Thursday

Father God, I thank you! Today I want to thank you for your glorious Word! How precious it is! How alive it is! How it cuts right to my spirit! It fills me with life, with energy!

"I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your Word.....your statues are my delight; they are my councelors.

...your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart."-Psalm 119

I love the Word and am so thankful that God has given us the beautiful gift of it. And, thank you, Precious Father, you have given us the Holy Spirit that teaches us in the Word!

I have recently begun listening to the Word on CD and DVD. I have "The Gospel of John" on DVD and watch it often, either for our movie time, or just putting it in while I am working around the house. I don't always SEE the movie, but I hear the sound, and I am mediatating on the Word. It is awesome. This movie is actually word for word the Book of John. It is amazing that when you hear the Word SPOKEN, you can actually hear things that you may have missed reading it. I'll give you an example. I had read verse 8:58 before but did not "get it" until I heard it said by the actor playing Jesus. I was in my closet putting away clothes, had the DVD on loud in the bedroom, had to stop what I was doing and rewatch that part.

It was when Jesus was in the temple talking the people. He was telling them that if they were from God, they would believe that God, His Father had sent Him. They think he is crazy, or demon possessed and the exchange between them went on for several verses (12-58). They are claiming to be Abraham's children and followers. Jesus tells them if they were truly children of Abraham, they would have FAITH (Abraham is the father of faith!!!!!). Jesus tells them Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing Jesus' day. They of course, laugh, saying how could you have talked to Abraham???? He was dead long before you were even born. Now listen to this, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, the picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid himself..."

WOW!!!!!!!! When I read that in my Bible, I had passed right over it. But, hearing it out loud, you couldn't miss it!!!!! Jesus was calling himself "I AM." Do you remember when Moses talked to God through the burning bush? God tells Moses to go free his people from Egypt. Moses asks, "what is your name? Who should I say sent me?" God answers, "I AM WHO I AM. Tell them I AM has sent me." (Exodus 3). Do you see now why the people wanted to stone Jesus? Jesus was referring to that sacred Name of God- I AM. He was saying, I am I AM!!!!!! Wow! Anyone who says Jesus wasn't controversial hasn't studied the Gospels!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, I may have missed that really cool revelation if I hadn't HEARD it. And, you may be wondering, what is the big deal with that? I don't get it. Why is Tracy so excited anyway???? It is because the Holy Spirit teaches each one of us individually- shining Light on scripture and quickening it in our hearts. Don't be "spoon fed" the Word. Please don't just read blogs, listen to speakers, go to church and hear sermons, PICK UP THIS WORD AND READ IT FOR YOURSELF!!!! LET THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACH YOU AND GUIDE YOU! BE TRANSFORMED BY IT! LET IT BRING YOU JOY!!!!!!!!

So, for my Thankful Thursday, I am so thankful for the Word. I am also thankful for different ways of hearing scripture. Check out:

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Blessings!

Spinning.........

OK, my head is officially SPINNING!!!!!!!

Father God, I thank You that You have given us the wonderful Counselor- the Holy Spirit- to guide us and lead us in all Truth. Father, I pray for a Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know You better. Lord, open the eyes of my heart and give me deep revelation into Your Word today.

Last week I heard a message that used a bit of the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). The message itself was on WORSHIP, and used this parable to illustrate a principle. The parable Jesus taught was that the wheat and the tares grow together and when the harvesters come, they separate the wheat from the tares. Wheat and tares look exactly the same. So, how will the harvesters know them apart? She taught that when wheat has fruit and is ready for harvest, it BOWS DOWN. Its head is heavy, and it bows low. Thus, the harvesters could tell the difference because the tares stood straight up (proud). The wheat was the ones that were bowing. This really spoke to me! (I don’t know anything about wheat or harvesting, so I am taking that “on faith” to be true!). Lord, I want to be humble before You! I don't want to be full of pride (or an ounce of pride!). I want to have a POSTURE of humble worship!

Soooooo, I had a desire to study this parable in length……..that is why my head is SPINNING!

For the past week I have been “researching” this parable, first by reading my three translations- NIV, NLT, and the Amplified. Then, I decided to go online to see what others had to say. Oh, boy! Information overload! I have been reading and rereading!

There are even several blogs NAMED “wheat and tares.” I have read essays, sermons, articles all pointing out different aspects of the parable, and their opinions. One blog used it to warn the “Religious Right” to stay out of politics, separation of church and state, blah, blah, blah, while another essay came to the conclusion that the “tares” were TV. I came to the conclusion that we can use the Scriptures to support our own “agenda,” even when there are two opposite view points! We can “twist” God’s Word around, trying to make IT support what we want to say, instead of asking God to SPEAK TO US through the Word.

So, Father, I pray that You would forgive us from using Your precious Word to “back up” our own political, social, ideological ideas. I want to come to Your Word, with an open and humble heart, asking You to teach me, God. Forgive me for the times I have used Your Word inappropriately. I want to be filled with Your Word. Your Word is LIFE! It is precious and alive. It is part of who You are! Jesus is named the Word. It is one way You speak to us. How You teach us. It is Your love letter to us. You tell us that “all Scripture is God-breathed”. Continue to teach me in Your Word, Lord! Give me discernment when reading/listening to teachers of the Word. Thank You for the Holy Spirit that leads me and guides me in all learning. Thank You that I live in a country that I can freely go to Your Word and check for myself what You say! I love You, Lord! I love You Lord! In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.

I think I will stay off the Internet when reading His Word and stay in my prayer closet!

Blessings to you all!