Word-Filled Thanksgiving!!!!

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving thanks.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the

LORD is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people,

the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His
faithfulness continues through all generations.

“I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship You. O, my soul rejoice. Take joy, my King, in what You hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.”
I think there is a verse that says if we were to name all of God’s blessings it would take us the rest of our lives. I began thinking, we so many times are thankful for our families, our homes, our jobs…

But, do we really stop and thank Him for everything??????? Like, as I was pondering, I have never stopped and thanked God for the inner workings of my body. I don’t have to think about breathing, my body just does it. I don’t have to worry about digesting my food, my body knows how to do it. I thank God for His genius, for creating my body to work so magnificently, without me having to even be aware of what’s going on!

Thank You, Lord, that You created me. You breathed life into my body. You formed me. “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” You created my personality. You gave me a sense of humor. Before the foundation of the world, You knew me and created me. (WOW!) Thank You, God that my body does work the way it is supposed to. Thank You that I don’t have to be concerned with how to breathe, how to pump blood through my arteries, how to hear, how to taste….

Thank You, that I am created in Your image! Thank You that I was not created as a dog or a cow, but I was created in the image of a perfect, wonderful God. Thank You that You are good God, that there is nothing evil in You. I am created in this goodness.

If that weren’t enough right there, You also blessed me with free will. I am not just a robot, a puppet. When I watch my kids play with toys, they make the story up, the “characters” say exactly what my kids speak. Unlike these "puppets", I have a voice. You have given me a true life, not just an illusion. Not just going through the motions. For better or worse, I am able to make choices and live.

If that weren’t enough, You also gave me emotions, and blessed me with experiences to feel every possible emotion. I have laughed and cried and screamed and worried and loved and hated…. If it weren’t for disappointments, I would never have known such victory. If it weren’t for such sorrow, I would never had know the true depth of joy. If it weren’t for times of fear, I would never had the opportunity to trust. Thank You, God, that I have experienced all You have to offer.

If that weren’t enough, You also have given me You to worship! You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ to be my Savior. Not only does He save me from the fires of Hell, but He saves me from the pit of depression, from a life of mediocrity, from a life without passion and purpose. Because of my relationship with Jesus Christ, my life has meaning. I experience true joy!

Thank You, God that You were not just satisfied with being my Creator, but that You are my Friend, my Comforter, my Redeemer, the Bread of Life, the Living Water of my life! Thank You that You love me so much You want a relationship with me!!!! I think of politicians. They want to call me “theirs.” They want me to belong to them. I am their vote. But, they don’t want a relationship with me. You call me by name, I belong to You, but that is not enough for You! I am part of Your family. I am One with You! All this because You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ into the world to be the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God, to be my atonement. Because of His promise, not only do I have an abundant life here, I have a glorious inheritance and the promise of spending eternity with You!

If that weren’t enough, You then sealed me with the Holy Spirit!!!!! You want to dwell and abide within me! You are the Counselor that guides me and leads me. You are my greatest intercessor. “In my weakness, the Spirit Himself intercedes for me with groans that words cannot express.” I am sealed- nothing can enter me! The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in me!!!! You don’t leave me alone to “fend for myself.” All the help I will ever need is WITHIN me- Your Spirit!!!! And, I have the fruit of that Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.

If that weren’t enough, You have blessed me with a family. A wonderful husband, 5 beautiful children, wonderful parents, Brian’s parents….. But, I have another family as well- my family in Christ, the Body of Christ. I have a family that if I needed something, I could call. A family that understands my journey in faith. Hands and feet at my local church, women in my small group, close friends I have met on the Internet, and fellow bloggers sharing journaling their walk online. Lord, You have crossed my path with so many other Believers who encourage me. Teachers like Beth Moore and Joyce Meyer, Lisa Bevere, Joel Osteen who challenge me and bring the Word of God.

Oh, and if THAT weren’t enough, You bless me with Your Word! It is alive and active in me!!!! It holds the answer to every question I could have. It teaches me, encourages me, draws me near Your heart, reveals Your heart to me. It refreshes my soul. It tells me so much about who You are. It has everything I would ever need!

Blessings to all....and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The most wonderful time of the year!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I pray you will be richly blessed as you focus on His bountiful goodness in your life.

As we approach the Advent season and begin thinking about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I want to encourage you to take a look at Him again through the Gospels. I am trying to read the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in this Christmas season. I began today in Mark and again am so blessed as I see the compassion and love of Jesus as He heals all who come to Him. I hope you, too, will take time everyday this Advent season to prepare your heart for Jesus, pondering His life, love, Words, and sacrifice.

Be blessed!

Lord, give me an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE!

Please join me today at Laced with Grace to chat about gratitude as we prepare our hearts for THANKSGIVING! Simply click here to read this devotion....

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!

Dear Lord, I am so thankful today for your grace! Thank you, Lord, that you have done all the work necessary for me to walk in liberty, joy, and peace! Thank you Lord that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me! Thank you Lord that by your grace, by the blood shed at Calvary, I can walk in victory! Lord, you have given me everything I need and have accomplished every work needed. Jesus said, "It is finished." Jesus, you have done it all already! I am a new a creation! I am victorious! I am an over comer- more than a conqueror! Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus. Thank you, Jesus for "the joy set before you, you endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Thank you, Lord that you did not give me a spirit of timidity or fawning fear, but a spirit of love, power, self-discipline and sound mind. Lord, thank you that have blessed me in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ! Thank you that I am your Beloved. Thank you that you are my God.