The last few weeks have been hard; really hard. My heart has broken for a number of people that I care deeply about. It seems to keep coming......the news.....the dashed dreams.....the frightening words by a physician.......the end for some. I have tried not to reel at it all. I have tried to stay centered and ask the Lord, "what do I glean from all this?" 

Have you been there? I feel as though I could easily turn to despair; wondering; questioning. But the beauty of a relationship with Jesus is......He doesn't let us fall into despair. He holds fast to our hand and reminds us, "My ways are not your ways; my thoughts are not your thoughts." He assures us with a whisper, "Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." Isaiah 41:10

As I have been able to rest in the Word, I have been able to focus a bit more on what I need to learn from all this. This isn't rocket science or anything new for me or you but I want to share the two areas He is encouraging me be "mindful of" in the coming days: 

1. Have an eternal mindset: This is not our home - we are just passing through and our goal is to take as many with us as possible. My calendar, day, friendships, marriage, parenting, words, and actions all need to be filtered with eternity in mind. Ask the Lord to help you with this mindset and that it is at the forefront of every interaction.  Then at the end of the day we can evaluate and ask ourselves, "What did I do today that pulled others toward Him?" 

2. Spend just a bit more .........: You fill in the blank. For me, it's to slow down and spend just a bit more time in every interaction. A bit more interest, a bit more empathy, a bit more of a linger in my kiss with Kevin, a bit more time to truly appreciate the joy in my children's silliness or play, a bit more time when I ask "how are you?" 

You see, the truth is, life is brief and it is so easy to get focused on "all that has to be done" or striving for what I have calculated as "success" that I miss the beauty in every day and the relationships that God has placed in my path. So today, spend some time seeing just a bit more of His beauty in every little detail....a sunset, a baby, giggles, wrinkles around the eyes (from all the smiles), or just the presence of your loved ones around. 

Please help me out this week.......share with me what you spent "just a bit more" on in your life......it will bring joy to my soul. 

Live Well, 
Tracie 

One of my favorite realities of the Word is the way sowing and reaping affects our life. 

What we sow, we will reap. This is truth. 

It's not some interesting philosophy or something that works for some and not for others. It's true for us all. It shows no favoritism.

What you sow in this life......you will reap. 

If you sow anger, you will reap anger. If you sow compassion, you will reap compassion. If you sow your tithe, you will reap provision and blessing. If you sow kindness, you will reap kindness. If you sow a smile, you will reap a smile. If you sow unforgiveness, you will reap unforgiveness. If you sow forgiveness, you will reap forgiveness. 

What will your harvest look like? What are you sowing? You have full control over your seed. You can keep it to yourself, or you can disperse it generously. 

Are you sowing patience? Love? Irritability? Moodiness? Fear? Unkind words? Life giving words? 

I'm looking at my life today and asking myself....what am I reaping? Because what I am reaping gives me a good sense of what I am sowing. 

We all have our "off" days....we are busy, don't feel well, tired, need a mental health day....the list could go on and on. But for the majority of my life, I want my days to be days of sowing good, solid, seed. Seed God can use in His Kingdom. 

Won't you join me in sowing some good seed this week? The harvest will be well worth the work of the planting!

In Him,
Elizabeth

People need to matter, to be significant, to be noticed. We all do.

Honestly, our time and attention speak value to those around us. Isn't that what you desire from an interaction....someone's full attention? I do. I know there have been times that I have made my family and others feel as though they are not nearly as important as my agenda, my work, my housework, other people etc. I have attempted to multi-task while using the phrase, "go ahead, I'm listening." All this does is send the message that they are not worthy of my full attention. That is not a message I want to receive nor send! I want those around me to know they are significant to me.

We are so busy getting through our day/agenda that we often miss those around us. We miss an opportunity to notice a need, give a hug, or just share a smile. Often our attention is so focused on what's happening in social media (text, facebook) that we miss what's truly happening right in front of us!  Jesus often stopped "while on his way" to love on others. He didn't allow his agenda to blind him from the needs around him. He would stop, listen to the need, and minister immediately to the person.

I hope I spend my day looking for those "Jesus" moments where I can stop, listen to a need and minister immediately to those around me. To really look like a Christ follower. Showing people that they are significant, that they matter in this world.

Here are few ways to show others they have value: 

• When your spouse walks in the door - stop what you are doing, greet them with a kiss and give them your full attention
• When your children address you - stop what you are doing, position yourself at their level (get down to their eye level) and listen 
• Watch for those who look as though they need a "Hello" or a "How are you" - just give them a minute of your time, eye contact and a genuine smile
• When you ask "How are you" - mean it and be ready for a real answer
• When someone tells you a need - don't just give the "I'll pray for you" - stop and pray right there
• When possible, address people by name every time.....that's why they wear name tags

So my challenge to you and to me this week......slow down, put your social media away long enough to "be" with people, to share life with them, and to minister along the way!

Live Well,

Tracie

Romans 12:15 
 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."

If you are like me, you know many people in your life who are suffering and also many who are celebrating life's goodness.

The Word instructs us to "rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn." In doing this, we could be bouncing back from joyful congratulations to crying alongside a hurting friend. 

What a blessed life to live though. Being able to laugh and celebrate with those wonderful life "happenings".....a birth, a new job, a marriage, a new home bought, a miracle of healing or financial provision. Yet at the same time, being able to pray with, cry with, and wrap loving arms around those who have suffered great loss, experienced tragedy, received a diagnosis, or are walking through an illness. 

Both opportunities are a gift from the Lord. It's why we are on this earth. We get to rejoice when great things happen to other people, celebrate with them. We get to mourn when tough times hit other's lives, feel with them. 

None of us want to feel alone in the happy times or the hard times. We want to "live life" connected to other people. 

Sometimes we shy away from rejoicing and mourning with others. Why? Are we envious when good things happen in other's lives? Do we wish it was our "good news"? Maybe. Do we not reach out when others are hurting because we are uncomfortable? Are we too busy? Shame on us. Putting ourselves, our life aside, to reach out to another hurting person is exactly why we are here. 

So look around....who needs to be rejoiced with? Who needs someone to mourn with? They are all around you.....open your eyes, open your heart, open your arms and start to do Romans 12:15!

In Him,
Elizabeth

We all have "stuff" going on in our lives. We all have situations that are affecting the way we filter each encounter that we have with others. Sometimes our "stuff" can really get in the way and our actions and words are sharp, hurtful, or apathetic towards others. When this happens we all want others to extend a bit of Mercy our way. 

Mercy is not getting what I deserve. Honestly, when I respond in this manner I deserve to be cut off, for the other person to respond with the same type of tone, or to receive the consequences of my actions.  

It's interesting that we always want others to extend mercy to us but we are so quick to provide consequences and judgement to those who have "wronged" or been hurtful to us. It's that egocentric thinking that it's all about me. Instead, as Christ followers, we are called to think of others above ourselves, to humble ourselves and serve others, to extend the same mercy we have received from the Father. 

That all sounds good sitting in a pew; it's a lot harder to work out in the messy-ness of life. 

Just as you and I have a story, our "stuff," so does everyone else we encounter. Maybe it's the one who checks you out at the store who is barely making the bills, a co-worker who's home life is falling apart, the loss of a loved one, someone on the phone who fields complaints all day, maybe it's your spouse or children (we don't know what they encounter all day long and the deepest parts of how they are feeling). 

Instead of being so quick to judge a word or action, instead of being so quick to believe they intentionally meant to be rude or hurtful.....how about responding with mercy and little prayer for their "stuff." "Lord, I don't know what they are going through, I don't know their "stuff" but you do. Please help them through it today." It's that easy to give the situation and that person to the only one who can really bring about change and hope in their lives. 

So, today I challenge us all to practice Mercy. His Mercy.....extend ourselves and the Love of Christ to those who are hurting, tired, disappointed and have "stuff" that only He can carry. 

Live Well, 
Tracie 

What distinguishes a Christ follower in this world? In the midst of all the misery and contempt for God in our current culture, what makes us different? 

Rebellion and contempt for God is not a new thing. It's been going on for centuries. The first example of it was the Israelites. They were the most ungrateful, discontented, inconsistent people I have ever seen. And they were God's people. 

They were given freedom, food, shelter, fire to travel by night, a cloud to protect them during the day, and a wonderful leader in the form of Moses. 

Yet they were never happy or grateful or satisfied. 

As I read in Exodus, I find Moses to be the most patient man on the planet.

He went to bat so many times for the nation of Israel. They would complain or sin against the Lord and He would be ready to wipe them completely off the map, and Moses would fast for 40 days and nights and beg God to remember why He brought them out of Egypt.
 
He would plead for their lives. 

God would listen. 

In Exodus 33:12, we find Moses, once again, talking to the Lord. He is pleading with the Lord to teach him His ways and to be with him and the people. The Lord assures Moses in verse 14 saying, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Moses responds saying, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

Moses understood the power of God's presence. It was the one thing that made the nation of Israel different from all the other nations on earth. 

It's the same today.....God's presence in our life is the one thing that makes us different. Not better.....different. Redeemed. Forgiven. Loved. 

His presence in our life should make a difference. Kindness, love, compassion, joy, consistent mood, genuine care, smiles our faces, acknowledgement of someone's pain, an encouraging word, a prayer offered...on the spot. These all speak of God's presence being active and alive in our life. 

Let's let God know.....we need Your Presence! Let's be vessels where He feels wanted and welcome and comfortable taking up residence. 

Use us Lord....for You and Your glory only.

In Him,
Elizabeth

This may be a bit bold for some of you but I believe God wants to be the God of every area of my life; which includes the bedroom and intimacy with my Man. You see, He created this gift of intimacy.....it's His idea; don't you think He's OK with being consulted on it when a little guidance is needed or maybe a big "Thank You" when it's going really well? 

If you are wondering about this.....spend a little time in the Song of Songs written by Solomon and really see where His heart is on this matter. His heart is evident when God places an entire book in the Bible that reads as this amazing love story and is very detailed in how they loved each other and appreciated each others' bodies and spoke to one another. 

I also firmly believe this is an area where the enemy loves to play games and it's an easy foothold for him to make rough waters in a marriage. We need to guard our marriages against apathy, weariness, business, and a wandering eye. The easiest and quickest way to combat these things to keep them out of the bedroom is prayer. 

Yes, I mean it......pray about your intimacy or the lack of it. Ask the Lord to take over, to help you be engaged, to bring back that fun/flirty girl you used to be in the early years. Ask Him to guide you in your daily routine to make sure you aren't too tired again this evening. When you are being pursued and you feel like "I just don't have this in me tonight!"......stop and ask the Lord to help you love this man of yours the way He intended. I promise you, He will show up and help you EVERY time! 

There is nothing more powerful than the connection we have when we are consistently intimate with our man and when we both are filled with this kind of love. Consistent, passionate love between you two will create an impenetrable shield around your marriage that the enemy and this world cannot tear apart.  

My challenge for you this week.....pray about your intimacy and ask God to make it stronger and more vibrant than it has been in years. Go ahead, it's His gift.....His idea and He desires for you to live this part of marriage to the fullest! 

Live Well, 
Tracie