Have you ever seen an “everyday miracle?”

I believe we will find “everyday miracles” around us if we just open our eyes to see them. God is so amazing and when I slow down long enough to notice, I find little surprises all around me!  For example, a miracle sprouting up in my driveway.

Can you believe this beautiful petunia?  Yes, it is growing in the middle of the asphalt!  Never planted…never watered or cared for…but still growing and blooming and vibrant!  This flower that grew in my driveway looked better than some of my potted ones planted in fertilized, beautiful, nutrient rich soil!

This petunia teaches me a lesson in perseverance.  

When I first saw it, I immediately thought about Romans 5:4 :
“…we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.” NIV
…and James 1:4 :
” Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

This little seed, wherever it had come from, had persevered through the rock, the lack of rain, and even the lack of nurturing.

Even through trials, hope perseveres!


Persevering with you,
Tracy

Weeping....

".....weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

I love this verse. It is such a reminder that sorrow doesn't last forever....there will be JOY again. The night may be dark. It may seem long. It may bring pain....trembling....foreboding....

but, in the morning, there will be joy.

There will be peace.

There will be comfort.

There will be rest (no matter how un-restful the night had been.)

There will be celebrating.....

REJOICING.

I absolutely love this weeping willow tree. It stands so regally near my home. I took this picture when I was running one morning. The sun was rising beautifully behind the tree. As I thought of the sad tree, the weeping willow, the sun was a reminder that in the morning there will be

JOY.

Blessings!

Freedom!

Oh, Lord, You have freed me from my chains!

Hallelujah!

Thank You, Jesus that You came, not only to forgive me for my sins, but that You also came to free me, heal me, and restore my joy!

When Jesus began His ministry, He proclaimed His intentions by quoting Isaiah 61:1-3

"The Spirit of the Sovereign
Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed
me

to preach good news to the
poor.

He has sent me to bind up
the

brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom
for

the
captives

and release from darkness
for

the
prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the
Lord's favor

and the day of vengeance of
our God,

to comfort all who
mourn,

and provide for those who
grieve in Zion-

to bestow on them a crown of
beauty

instead of
ashes,

the oil of
gladness

instead of
mourning,

and a garment of
praise

instead of a spirit of
despair.

Are you experiencing any chains in your life? Anything that is holding you down, keeping you imprisoned?

A sin that you cannot break free from?

Doubt?

Fear?

Unbelief?

Jesus came to set the captives free- to break any chains that bind us.

Jesus came so that, in a relationship with Him, we find freedom. We experience joy. He wants to heal us, restore us.

Breathe on Me, O Breath of God

Looking over some of my older posts, I found this one and decided to republish it. It is still the CRY of my heart!
Oh, Lord, how I need You. 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. I have a vision of who You created me to be, who I want to be....... How I want more of You. How I want to be more like You, Christ Jesus. Change me, mold me, transform me. Draw me to You, Lord.

Words from "Father, Blessed Father" by the Newsboys

"Will You take what we have
A sacrifice unto You
Then create clean hearts
And, Lord, make our spirits new"
Oh, Lord, take my heart and make my heart and spirit new. There are so many things I want to change. I know You have created me to rise above these things. I am an eagle flying above.....
Take what I have as a sacrifice, I make myself a living sacrifice..... I fall so short, I need You.

"Father, blessed Father,
Lead and guide us for Your name's sake
And keep us in the shelter of Your presence
'Till we see Your face"
Lord, yes! Lead me and guide me. When I am foolishly going my own way, stop me and guide me in the right direction. I want to hide in the shelter of Your wings- in Your presence. Oh, how I long for Your presence..... How I want to see Your face........ I need You, God!

"Let us hear what You say
Let us know Your voice and all Your ways
Take our hands, lead us home
To the refuge that we find in You alone"
Father, I long for Your voice, leading me and guiding me. I know it is in You and You ALONE where I find refuge. Let all the other voices around me become so dim so that I can only hear You.... How I love You, Father!

"All adoration
To our Lord Redeemer
To our Shepherd
Who carries us forevermore"

All adoration to You, my God! I adore You! You alone are worthy of my praise! I am speechless, I can't find the word that would be worthy, adequate to describe my love, gratitude, amazement that You are my Savior. You save me over and over......... Will I ever stop needing to be rescued? Thank You that You are the Shepherd that carries me forever..... I thank You that I am not walking alone, but being carried by You, my precious Lord.

"Breathe on me
Breathe, oh, Breath of God
Breathe, oh Breath of Life
Breathe on me
Till my heart is new
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Till my heart is new"
Until my heart is new............


Father, thank You. Thank You for loving me, someone so unworthy. You make me new. You wash me clean. I am righteous. I am holy. Not because of me or anything I could ever do... Only because of Your love. Your love, it amazes me. No matter how many times I mess up, stumble and fall, You are there, picking me up, brushing me off, making me clean. How can You love me so? Oh, Lord, I am nothing without You. Thank You. Thank You.

Father, change my heart. Purify me. Take away every impatient attitude. Every selfish motive and desire. Take away my critical spirit. Take away my love of SELF. Take every jealous thought, every ungrateful attitude.

Make my heart like You- generous, gentle, kind, long-suffering and patient. I long to be gentle and humble and compassionate. Help me to react to people the way You would. Help me to be slow to speak, slow to get angry, and quick to listen. Help me Lord, to radiate You, Your love, Your gentleness, kindness, goodness........ I want Your rivers of life to overflow from me unto everyone I touch, everyone I meet. Breathe on me, O Breath of God. Breath on me until my heart is new. Breathe on me.....Breathe on me.........Breath of Life, until my heart is new. Breath on me……breathe on me……….breathe on me………….

Thank you, Jesus!

Spiritual Mothers.....

Let's ponder together these questions:

How can we mentor in ways that are pleasing to God?

How can we be sure the word of God is not maligned in the way we mentor and learn?

One of the most important aspects of mentoring is the motive behind what we are say. Are we mentoring in love, building strong, healthy relationships and sharing authentically, or do we tend to be a self-righteous, bossy "know-it-all" because the attitude of our heart is not right? Do we live what we say? Are we encouraging? Are we trying to point out others' flaws (like Joyce Meyer will put it- are we trying to be "Holy Ghost Jr."?) just for the sake of "being right"?

The most important way to mentor in a way pleasing to God is to LISTEN to God! We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, following His lead. There will be times when He calls us to open our mouths to encourage, but also to rebuke, challenge, train, and correct by His Word (2 Timothy 3:16). But, there will also be times when the Holy Spirit calls us to SHUT UP and just live out our example, loving and serving those we mentor. They will SEE with our deeds. They will learn by our love.

One of the ways to make sure the Word of God is not maligned in the way we mentor is to LIVE what we say. As Titus says, "Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good."

God gave me quite an example over the weekend. My girls and I had a "Girls' Night" because all the boys in our home had weekend retreats. So, my 10 yr. old invited 2 friends and my 8 year old invited a friend and we went off to the Hannah Montana movie. Well, I had purchased the tickets in advance and there was a miscommunication. I thought I bought 5 kids' tickets and 1 adult. The lady behind me and I laughed at how "brave" I was. When we arrived, we running a little late and needed to buy the popcorn and get in quickly before the previews began. The girls were excited and when I handed the tickets to the usher, we were laughing and we didn't notice that I was one short.

But, I noticed in the movie theater. The movie was starting, so I decided to think about it afterwards. At first I kind of brushed it off, thinking that I probably had enough tickets. But, during the movie, I kept thinking it. At one point, I told myself, "Tracy, would you risk losing your anointing, your blessing, your close walk with God for a $6 movie ticket????"

So, as soon as that show was over, we made our way to the manager's desk to pay for the ticket! I told the girls what I had did. What I was showing them was to be honest, even if you "get away" with something. Even if no one else notices, God knows and it is important to do what is right. Living out honesty made much a greater impact than any lecture on honesty ever would. Not to mention, the young girl at the desk who I explained the situation to was "blown away" that a person would actually come up and try to pay for a movie once it was over!

We can't just "talk the talk" but we MUST "walk the walk". And, when we make mistakes (notice I said WHEN not if!), we need to be real and share those as well. Authentic relationships share the struggles and challenges.

One more thought about mentors. Lisa Bevere says she prefers the term "spiritual mothers" instead of spiritual mentors. A mentor wants the person she is helping to do well, but not "too well." A mentor doesn't always want the person to do better than her. Thinking about it in the business world- a mentor wouldn't want the person he is mentoring to do BETTER than him because that person may take his job!

BUT....a MAMA always wants her CHILDREN to do even more than she even did! A MAMA wants her children to have more, do more, be more than she could ever imagine.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

I have written about spiritual mothers here and here also. I hope you have a few minutes to read these as well! Please stop by the well to gain insight and wisdom from many other "Spiritual Mamas". We can learn much from one another!