What about PRAYER?????

Yay! Week 5 of our Bible Study is up and ready At the Well! Please join me this week where we will be sharing about PRAYER.

Do you have questions about prayer?

Does God "answer" prayer?

HOW do I pray????

I hope to see you over At the Well!

I need some time...ALONE!

Are you tired this morning?


Are you full?


Do you feel exhausted already from shopping, decorating, preparing for Christmas?


Take some time to slow down....and be alone!


As I was reading from Mark this morning, I noticed some things about Jesus. He took time to be ALONE! He took time to pray. He purposed to get away from all of the people (including those closest to Him) and spend some one-on-one time with the Father.


In Mark 6, Jesus says to His disciples, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Don't you LOVE that? Jesus, who is God incarnate needed to get SOME REST! He recognizes that these earthly bodies are not perfect. We need to take care of our physical bodies and rest them. The SuperMom in me just doesn't get that.... I push and push and push UNTIL I crash and burn.... Then, I get the rest I DON'T like- the crabby, just yelled at my family, feeling lousy, got to go to bed, feel a cold coming on- REST! Before I crash and burn, I need to follow the example of Jesus...and purpose to REST.

As I continue to read on... I see that all the people ran ahead of Jesus. He had been taking a leisurely boat ride to the solitary place, but the people all ran on land and made it there first.

I love that when Jesus saw them, "He had compassion on them." He didn't turn them away. Instead, "He began teaching them many things."

AND THEN...to again show His love and compassion, He FED THEM! They were at this solitary place (remember Jesus wanted to go to a "quiet place" and rest??) where there were no stores to buy food. The disciples tell Jesus to send the people away so they can eat.

But, Jesus wants to feed them. And, I love that He tells His disciples YOU give them something to eat. They think He is crazy....but Jesus has a lesson for us in here as well. Earlier, it says Jesus has compassion on them because they are "like sheep without a shepherd." The message is for us, along with His disciples, to FEED HIS SHEEP, FEED THE LOST. (John 21)

So, Jesus performs this beautiful miracle of feeding over 5,000 people with just five loaves and two fish. He satisfies the people....first their spirits by teaching them, then physically by feeding them. This story in John 6 includes Jesus teaching afterwards that HE is "the Bread of Life."

Some things I notice about "Quiet Time"...

Miracles happen in quiet time.

I am taught "many things" during quiet time.

I am fed in quiet time.

And then, IMMEDIATELY Jesus "made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd." Mark 6:45

I love the word "immediately." Jesus knew that He needed to be filled as well. He doesn't wait and teach one more principle. He doesn't tell one more story. He doesn't heal one more person. He immediately dismissed the crowd....

After leaving them, He went up on a mountainside to pray. Mark 6:46

Jesus knew the importance of getting alone with the Father. No crowds. No disciples. Just Him and the Father. Maybe to worship? Maybe to thank the Father for the amazing miracles? Maybe just to sit in His presence and be filled.

I know that I also need to do the same thing. I need to go ALONE to a solitary place and sit before the Father and BE FILLED.

Father God, thank You that You sent Jesus not only to be our Savior (like that isn't enough!!!), but also to be an example for us. Help me each day, especially when I am spent, to remember to sit before You and be filled. I love You Lord. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

How do I slow down?!.....Word Filled Wednesday

"He will quiet you with His love." Zephaniah 3:17

Well, how do we slow down?!

I was once preparing for a talk called "Don't Waste Your Life!" when a dear friend asked what the topic was about. I told her it that it is about God's plans for us ( and how they are very different from our own at times!), our relationship with Him, and the busyness of life. She then said, (and I love this!) "Well, are you going to tell me how to NOT be busy or just that I am too busy! Because I already know that!"

I can relate to her frustration. Sometimes we get caught up in the "busyness trap," and we don't see a way out! We know we are not feeling at peace, but don't know how to slow down. Sometimes we are looking for a "magic formula" or some "secret."

I wish I had a "secret" to tell you. There is no "magic formula." We all know in our hearts what we need to do, but we struggle with doing it! It is so simple- we need to begin taking things OUT of our schedules instead of continuing to put them in! I heard some sound advice from Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life) once- anytime you add a new activity to your life, you need to take something away. I know, I know, it sounds too simple. Then, your next question is HOW?! How do I remove "stuff?"

The first thing we need to begin doing is PRAYING about what God's will is for our lives. Now, we are really good at doing this when some big catastrophe comes up, or we have to make a huge decision, but we forget about the "little" things. Maybe we just don't want to "bother" God with the "trivial" stuff. Or, maybe we really don't want God's input into our activities because deep down we know He will tell us to let go of some things. Maybe we have just never thought about before!

Jesus was a busy guy here on earth! He WALKED (no cars to get Him there in a matter of minutes or hours, it took days!) the land, healing the sick, casting out demons, performing miracles, teaching the people, and ministering to them. But, I never saw Him stressed about His workload! Why? Two things. First, He got away OFTEN to pray! As busy as He was, He met with Father continually. And, the second was He always did the will of the Father.

I am sure that while He was on earth, Jesus could have healed many more. He could have taught more. He could have done more! But, He sought out God's will for Him, and when God said, "Go to the next town." It was time to go! In His obedience, He followed the Perfect Plan, doing exactly what He was meant to do.

How many times do I pray about my kids' activities? Now, I am pretty good about praying for God's will in my own activities (learned that the hard way!), and I seek out His will for what I am doing. I always tell people I need to pray first before I make a commitment. (Like I said I learned that the hard way!!!!) But, with my kids, I just barreled ahead, signing them up for all of these activities because, my goodness, if the girls don't dance, they will be deprived, or if Andrew doesn't play football, well, ALL boys play football. And, if you don't play soccer, you can't live in America!

God has really been dealing with me in this area over the last few years and it has been so LIBERATING! (Both for me and for the kids!) It started one spring when both girls were in dance and Andrew was busy with scouts and basketball. The girls were also playing soccer. A typical Saturday was two soccer games and a basketball game before noon. Well, the girls were supposed to get dance recital pictures taken, (different times) and Andrew had to do an activity for scouting. I was freaking out, wondering how I was going to pull all of this off, because they were at different times. The Holy Spirit spoke directly in my heart, "Tracy, you don't HAVE to get the dance picture! You'll take plenty of your own pictures. They just had soccer pictures done and Spring school pictures. Just because it is written on someone's calendar, it doesn't mean you HAVE TO DO IT!"

Freedom!!!!!!!!!!! I never realized until that moment that I didn't have to do these things!

I don't have to go to that meeting, just because they are having it? I don't have to sign the kids up for this, even though "everybody" else is?!

The climax came the next fall. I had already decided that we would take a break from dance. The girls weren't "in love" with it as much as mom anyway! So, we decided we would only do soccer for them, with church on Wed. nights and Indian Princesses once a month. Well, mom missed the deadline to sign up. I immediately felt guilty and horrible. I rushed to the YMCA with my check, hoping to still get in (it was only one day after the deadline!). They wouldn't take my money, but they did put me on a waiting list. Then, I felt a leading to pray. I realized I hadn't really sought out God's will in all of this. I know He has plans for my children as well as me, and I needed to seek Him out in all of this. Well, I prayed that if it was His will that they do soccer, then He would open that door. But, if it was better for the girls not to play in the spring, that He would close the door. I surrendered it to Him and asked Him to be over it.

Well, the girls did NOT get on a team (hallelujah!) and it was wonderful! They were so happy! They were able to play (like kids!) after school and our Saturdays were spent as a family, doing some chores, running to Target for our groceries, and then having fun! They just needed a break. They both are playing again, but it was a season where God's best was that we didn't do it.

Jesus promises that His burden is light. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, (remember- Jesus prayed and spent time with the Father, and obeyed the will of the Father) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” If we are not experiencing peace, then something is wrong. Isaiah says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” If God has truly called you to everything you are doing, then He will equip you to handle it all! Let us seek God and ask Him what we should be doing with our time.

"My soul finds rest in God alone."

I pray that you will experience the peace that passes all understanding as you continue to seek Him out- above all!

My prayer for you today (from Psalm 20)
"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress (when the washer has broken down, when you are feeling sick, when your child has failed a test...)
May the name of God of Jacob protect you.
May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
May He remember all of your sacrifices. (Selah- think on this...)
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the Name of the Lord!
May the Lord grant all of your requests.
We trust in the Name of the Lord our God."

Blessings!
In His grace, love, joy, and PEACE,
Tracy

Please visit Lori at All You Have to Give for more inspiration!

Lord, I need You

Oh, Lord, how I need You. How how I want to be purified in You, by You. Lord, I want to pour out all of me and be filled with You. Lord, create in me a new heart.

Less of me. More of You. Less of me. More of You.

NONE of me. ALL of You.

Lord, I give myself anew to You today.

Lord, I give my day, my time, my all to You.

I love You, Lord

Are you BUSY?

Martha.

Mary.

You know them....

These sisters both dearly loved Jesus, and were dearly loved by Jesus. He came often to visit and teach them. As the story goes, Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus while Martha was preparing a meal for them.

In fact, the Bible says, “Martha was distracted by her many tasks.”

Ever been distracted with your MANY TASKS?

You know, I’m sure Jesus would have been happy with peanut butter and jelly, but Martha must have been putting out quite a spread.

I’m the same way- when company’s coming, I dust the lampshades, clean out the closets, prepare at least 12 different appetizers, put out the matching napkins and plates.

Well, there is our Martha, “distracted by her many tasks,” and getting irritated at her sister.

Can’t you picture her in the kitchen, having a “pity party,” talking to herself, listing all of the things she is doing WITHOUT any help? As she is working, she is getting madder and madder that she is the only one doing these tasks. I picture her slamming the cabinet doors, banging the dishes down. Sighing loudly, you know, the “Huhhhhhhhhh,” thinking that if Mary and Jesus hear, maybe they will get the point?

Finally, Martha explodes!

She comes to Jesus, whining, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Now, take a step back, and look at what Martha is doing- she is making a meal for JESUS.

She is serving the Lord.

She is doing a “good” thing. Like, Martha, I can fill my life with so many distractions- sometimes very “good” things, and like Martha, I get overwhelmed and frustrated, and I begin feeling sorry for myself, and I, too, usually explode. “Don’t You care, Lord? I’m doing this all by myself! Make Brian help me.”

What does Jesus tell Martha?

He says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”

How many times when I am banging doors, slamming dishes, and sighing loudly, having my own pity party, feeling sorry for myself, complaining that life is not fair, do I hear my Lord whisper to me, “Tracy, Tracy, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.”

The ONE thing that is needed is getting to feet of Jesus, like Mary. It is putting everything else aside and spending this close, intimate time with Him. ONE thing, only one thing!

You see, when you are at the feet of Jesus, you hear his voice. You are still and quiet and listening. You are in a posture of looking up.

He will whisper to you what is important, what His will is. You may find that His priorities for you are much different than your own. You begin to hear and understand, and begin to ask, “In light of eternity, what really matters? What is really important?”

And, notice what Jesus says, “Mary has chosen what is better, AND IT WON’T BE TAKEN FROM HER.”

Don’t skip that message from Jesus. You see, Satan loves to attack us in this area. He tries to make us feel guilty for being unproductive. We think, “We got to get up and get some work done! There is laundry, there are dishes, there are bills to pay!” But, Jesus is telling us to not be distracted by these things, that it is better to sit at His feet, and when we chose to, it won’t be taken from us.

Ladies, look how busy Jesus was! He spent His days healing crowds of people, teaching, and ministering. But, the Bible says that He got away often to be alone with the Father. Jesus made it a priority.

Serving Jesus, like Martha, was a good thing, but the best was sitting at His feet.

How do we get at the feet of Jesus? How do we deepen our relationship with God?

Just as in the same way we spend time with our loved ones- spouses, children, and friends- we need to seek out God to spend time with Him. Jeremiah says, “When you seek God, you will find Him, when you seek Him with all of your heart." And, James tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Prayer is our way to draw near to Him. And, what is "prayer"? Simply TALKING to God!

Through prayer and bible reading, we get to know God.

Oswald Chambers says our spiritual lives, which are nourished by prayer, will suffer if we don’t pray. He says, “When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished.”

Have you been fed lately?

Pray for our Nation..

I have updated this prayer. The original one that was sent via email was not actually from Billy Graham, but another minister addressing his state legislature. It was also very convicting! But, this prayer was given at the inauguration of Richard Nixon.

A prayer from Billy Graham:

Our Father and our God, Thou hast said, "Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord." We recognize on this historic occasion that we are "a nation under God." We thank Thee for this torch of faith handed to us by our forefathers. May we never let it be extinguished. Thou alone hast given us our prosperity, our freedom and our power. This faith in God is our heritage and our foundation! Thou hast warned us in the Scriptures, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" As George Washington reminded us in his farewell address, morality and faith are the pillars of our society. We confess these pillars are being eroded in an increasingly materialistic and permissive society. The whole world is watching to see if the faith of our fathers will stand the trials and tests of the hour.

Too long we have neglected Thy word and ignored Thy laws. Too long we have tried to solve our problems without reference to Thee. Too long we have tried to live by bread alone. We have sown to the wind and are now reaping a whirlwind of crime, division, and rebellion. And now with the wages of our sins staring us in the face, we remember Thy words, "If my people who are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Help us this day to turn from our sins and to turn by simple faith to the One who said, "Ye must be born again." So we pray, O God, as we enter a new era, that we as a nation may experience a moral and spiritual restoration. Thou hast said, "Promotion comes not from the east nor from the west, but from Thee."

We acknowledge Thy divine help in the selection of our leadership each four years. We recognize, O Lord, that in Thy sovereignty Thou has permitted Richard Nixon(LET'S CHANGE THIS TO BARACK OBAMA) to lead us at this momentous hour of our history. We beseech Thee that he will have Thy divine guidance and power daily. Help him as Thou didst help Thy servants of old. Our Father, we know his burdens and responsibilities will be overwhelming. He will hold in his hands the destiny of more people than any man in history. O God, our new President needs Thee as no man ever needed Thee in leading a people! There will be times when he will be overwhelmed by the problems at home and abroad that have been building up to the breaking point for many years. Protect him from physical danger. And in the lonely moments of decision grant him an uncompromising courage to do what is morally right. Give him a cool head and a warm heart. Give him a compassion for those in physical, moral, and spiritual need. We pray that Thou wilt so guide Richard Nixon (BARACK OBAMA) in handling the affairs of state that the whole world will marvel and glorify Thee. O God, we consecrate Richard Milhous Nixon (BARACK OBAMA) to the Presidency of these United States with the assurance that from this hour on, as he and his family move into the White House, they will have the presence and the power of Thy Son who said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." What we pray for President Nixon (P. Obama and J. Biden) we pray for Vice President Agnew and members of the Cabinet. May they be given a wisdom and a courage that is beyond their own. Bless them as a team to lead America to the dawning of a new day with renewed trust in God that will lead to peace, justice, and prosperity. We pray this humbly in the Name of the Prince of Peace who shed His blood on the Cross that men might have eternal life. Amen

How Do I Pray...I'm at Laced with Grace Today

Have you wondered if there is a "right" way to pray? Have you ever felt like you just didn't know how to or what to pray?

I'm talking about this at Laced with Grace Today. Please visit me there to read about it.