He Will Neither Fail You Nor Forsake You-Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

“God will not protect you from that through which he can perfect you”………this is something I heard this last week and thought how true. God continues to challenge me spiritually the longer I walk with him. The trials become longer and harder but this is for my growth. This is all part of spiritual maturity. It is about teaching me to live off what I know and not what I feel. It is about me having faith and God not having to give me “a sign” every time he desires me to move. I can remember when I moved according to the feelings and when I always felt him around. Over the past 6 months………….I have felt very little (if any) of his presence and I have stepped out in true faith. Faith is moving when you can’t see what is ahead. I feel like faith is like walking in the dark with steady steps. You don’t know where you are going or what is beneath you but you trust and walk. I can say that over the past 6 months, my faith has grown. I am starting to see the fruit of the trial!

No matter what you are facing, remember the God has a plan and a purpose. No matter what you feel, remember God is with you. No matter what, remember your steps are ordered of the Lord!

Traci

The Blessings We See- Luke 6:45

For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45

Let me first say that I picked today’s scripture because I am reminded that what we feel in our heart will come across in our actions and words. For this reason, we must continually keep check on our heart and our minds to keep ourselves free of bitterness, pride, and negativity.

Friday and Saturday both proved to be very frustrating days. Saturday became a day to be thankful despite much frustration in my life! I found myself walking down our dirt road (for exercise) just frustrated at God, people, and various other things. I was up at 3:00 am Saturday morning unable to sleep which has been my monthly routine for the past 3 or so months! So I pretty much stay ill all the time……………..well, most LOL and I have no rationale to cope with things without getting extremely aggravated because I never sleep and even when I do, it is not good sleep. Let me say right here…..anger is not usually an issue for me. Feeling this way is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyways, my husband approached me as I was walking with a puzzled look on his face like what are you doing. I managed to smile and act ok until he started talking and then I just started crying……….yes, still walking down my dirt road. He knows why I was frustrated and one thing that I immediately said was “I am just going to run…if I have to have surgery again, who cares…..my knees hurt when I do nothing so why not at least be running.” I am sure at this point he wanted to pull his hair out but he instead, he did what he always does. He made me laugh to the point that all my frustration and tears were gone. Then he acted crazy and made me laugh some more. Oh, and then I pulled up my shirt to tell him the abs were coming eventually….maybe….or not ……. and may be never and he laughed. He then pulled up his shirt and made me laugh……… by his general funny demeanor and the fact that he does have abs almost always year round. All of this was while exercising, laughing extensively, and keeping the heart rate up. Well, I was kind jogging at this point until I remembered what surgery was like and that I never wanted that again……after that memory….I decided to walk. Anyways, I feel like I was reminded of the biggest blessing in my life….him! I am forever thankful to God for bringing us together. He is:

• The only guy who would ever get me on a motorcycle and the only guy I would trust to drive!

• The only guy who can make me laugh when my heart is hurting. I remember the day we were in the doctor’s office and we were waiting to hear that we had lost the pregnancy…………he made me laugh at by showing me his stomach rolls. Yes, at one of the hardest times in my life…………he made me laugh!

• The only guy who loves me in with messy hair and cut-off shorts while holding a 80 lb. wet dog in my lap! He somehow found that attractive…………….men, God bless them! And the dog…………well, we took him to the creek and he is our baby and so sweet and I couldn’t move him or move period so I just sat there on the old tire, in the back of our truck, with an 80 pound dog in my lap….riding down the road!

• The only person who can make me chill with my OCD personality!

• The only person who can make me stop and enjoy life! The only person who make me laugh while crying!

• The only person who can tolerate my excessive, expensive love of fashion and fitness….our living room is a mini-gym and I have already outgrown the new closet he built me last year!

• The only person who can give me a simple kiss on the forehead and turn my day around with just that…no words, nothing………..just a kiss!

• The only person that I want to have kids with.

• The only person that I look forward to growing old with. • The only person who knows what I am thinking before I think it…..of course, I deny when he is right.

• The only guy who knows which of my “no’s” really mean “yes” and vice versa. This is one of my favorite things about him!

• The only person who convinces me to drive all 10 of his old cars and trucks….ok, not 10 literally but almost! He always wants me to drive them…………..I think he takes pride in that LOL! Again, men…God bless them.

I could go on and on about why I love him and why I am blessed to be his wife. He is one of the hardest workers I know which is important to me since that is how my dad and mom raised me to be. Neither my mom nor dad were lazy and they taught me what it was to work hard. I love that he is financially responsible. I love that he has integrity and compassion and kindness. I love how sweet he is with his parents and elderly people. I just love him. Oh, and I love people perceive his as incredibly quite but around me …he is totally crazy and fun.

No matter how your week is starting or even how the past few months have been going, think on one good thing in your life. It is the good things in life that helps us overcome and make it through the bad! I know this has improved my attitude drastically and took my mind off all the negative.

Traci

Your Relationship with God-Ezekiel 14:12

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, if a county rsins gainst me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply an send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, even if these three men-Noah, Daniel and Job- were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Ezekiel 14:12

Today’s word is a reminder that we are each responsible for our own salvation. We can only save ourselves. I see Christians that act no different from the world and it completely blows my mind! I know that being Christian does not make anyone perfect but it should change us to not live like the world. A friend today asked me if I really thought the rapture was going to happen in the next 60 or so years…………..if I live that long, before I die. I said I do. I believe God is going to get fed up with the killing of babies, homosexuality, and having his name taken out of everything while honoring every other religion there is. I reminded my friend of this…………..God is a loving God but he will get enough and when he does………there will be no turning back or making things right. It will be too late. Anyone who thinks God is going to continue to be backstage as the world mocks him is sadly mistaken. When he comes, he will come with might and power. Don’t look at others, this can make you feel as though you are doing ok. God does not judge me by my brother or sister in Christ. God judges me by his commands and my heart. Hold on to today’s word as a reminder that no one can save you. It is only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that you can be saved.

Traci

Fear Has No Place-Isaiah 51:12-13

I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because o f the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?

Isaiah 51:12-13

It is so comforting to know that we know the living comforter! That is the very thing that keeps me still during the trials of life and even in the day to day times when we are being spiritually refined. There is no reason to live in fear of Satan or anyone under his control. We know the comforter who is the creator of the heavens and the earth. We know the one who made the stars in the sky and spoke the world into existence. If you have been battling fear, read today’s scripture and memorize it. Read all of Isaiah 51! He is our protector and deliverer. He is my God!

Traci

A Wrong Turn- Isaiah 46:8-11

Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end fromt eh beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: my purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east, I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.

Isaiah 46:8-11

Ok, I read something Thursday and now I can’t find it. It basically said sometimes going down the wrong road is the journey that you are supposed to be on. That was a sum up….it may have been totally different LOL! I really applied it to my spiritual life lately despite it being totally sports focused. I think many times we feel like we are heading in the wrong direction….as if we made a wrong turn because things are not adding up to what we expected. I just smiled at God thinking that he was reading my mind when I came across this and thinking that sometimes when we get lost, we find our true selves!

God directs each of our steps. As long as we obey him and listen, he will direct us. So if you have the feeling that you have taken a wrong turn, relax and enjoy the journey! The wrong turn is part of God’s plan! What he plans to do, he will do and what he has said will come to be!

Have a great weekend!

Traci

The Heart of Kings-Proverbs 21:1

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Proverbs 21:1

Today’s scripture is a verse I have been storing in my heart and mind! It reminds me that God directs the heart of all, even kings! I love the scripture because it reminds me of his power and strength and that he is the creator of all things! He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think!

Traci

Attitude Check-2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Ok, I am working on 3 devotions a week. I feel like if I try, I can do this.

Over the past week or so I have been praying about my attitude. I am unsure if it is school and everything going on or if I am just tired of being the better person. And no, I am not always cheerful, etc. but I am a peace keeper. Anyway, I know as Christians we can’t get tired of holding our tongue, smiling when we feel like screaming or even being sympathetic to those who do not extend it to us. However, I have been seeking God’s help on the matter. I have praying or actually just been reassuring God that I want my attitude to reflect his! And you know what this means….the devil is going to use others (Christians and the unsaved) to try to go against this. He has done this over the past two weeks. There was an incident where someone really challenged my attitude. With a smile, I exemplified what pleased the Lord. And let me say right here that I cannot stand for people to make hidden comments that are rude. The only thing that makes me more aggravated than this is for Christians to do it. This could be because I am a direct person. If I have something to say to you, I won’t hide behind anything. I will say it in a nice way but I will not lie. I have always been that way. Again, I would not be rude but I am direct leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Yesterday, I thought something and felt like I failed the attitude test because I smiled while thinking something different (well, it was funny but different). This is not so. Our flesh is always going to be our flesh. It is through our actions that we exemplify self-control and spiritual control over it. Have you ever had something run across your mind and thought “where did that come from?” The sin wasn’t in the thought but the sin is when we act or continue to think upon those thoughts. CHRISTIAN OR NOT, WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS! That means, our sinful desire will always be present and we have to work on spiritual control over our flesh! Let me add, this does not give us freedom to think negative things with a smile. I am just saying that each of us are a work in progress and God will help us become the person he desires us to be. Nevertheless, it takes time and we fail sometimes. Again, we are human. And with God’s loving mercy and grace, we are to strive to be better!

All this to say, check your attitude. Does it exemplify your faith or does it discredit it? The devotion Thursday was on who we are and the testimony we have when our actions align with what we speak.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Traci

Who We Say We Are-Genesis 41:16

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Genesis 41:16

In today’s word, Joseph keeps reminding the ruler that these dreams are messages from God. He even answers with “I can’t interpret dreams, but God has the answers.” Joseph humbly and continually mentions God in the book of Genesis. It took slavery and humbling circumstances for Joseph to discover that all he was, all he is, all he will be are not products of his own character or doing but come only from God.

Wednesday on my way home, I heard someone on the radio talk about the testimony we all have when our actions align with what we speak. I thought how true! So many times our testimony is our day-to-day life. It is how we react and what we say and do. Honestly, I think this is where we miss the bigger picture many times. Either our actions do not follow what we speak or what we speech does not follow our actions such as going to church. Ask God to show you where you need to improve. We all have room to improve! Learn from Joseph that all we have, all we are, and all we will be come only from God! Be grateful and let your speech and actions show your appreciation to the one who created you!

Traci

New Mercy Daily-Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

It is amazing how disobedience to God can bring His will in our lives. Over the past few weeks I have been a little defiant. God gave me specifics on something and I done it for a while but then it got harder with time. Well, this is about the time I decided that it didn’t have to be the specific day or time God put in my heart; it could be an easier day and when I felt like it. Lets say when I don’t listen to God, he has a way of turning my world upside down in a negative way……..a really bad, negative way. He reminds me that it only takes a move of his hand to make my life miserable and to make everything that he blesses turn into turmoil. Today as I practiced obedience, I found he made my world right again. It is amazing! It is like he speaks calmness and things go back to where he originally intended them to be. I am stubborn but I find myself much the opposite when God disciplines me.

And yes, there are times life just doesn’t go as planned but there are times when the anger of the Lord reminds us that he is mighty and he intends for us to do as he leads us to.

Sometimes I think “God, why don’t you make the lost as miserable as I get when I don’t listen to you? They will come to know you fast!” But I am reminded that God gives us freedom of choice. He never forces himself on anyone.

Today I am thankful for God’s loving discipline. The fact that he is willing to take the time to patiently correct me reminds me just how much he loves me!

Thank you Lord for your love and mercy that are renewed each day!

Traci

The Same God- 2 Peter 4:4-10

For if God did not spare the angels whey they sinned but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought eh flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes and made an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless man- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.

2 Peter 2:4-10

I feel like people need to be reminded that God is the same in 2012! I feel like so many times we think “well, God knows that it is different today than it was 40 years ago or even 200; he doesn’t expect us to be as righteous as his word states.” Let me share that God is the same today as he was before creation! He is the same God with the same laws with the same judgment as he was in the beginning of time. He has not and will not change. If anything, I would have to think he is more fed up with the world today than ever before!

I find Christians today with no morals and no commitment to the truth. I have had people that drink, commit adultery, and live in ways against the word of God tell me about how they go on missions trips, etc. Let me share that a million trips to help others won’t save the unrighteous. I love today’s word because it proves that God does not tolerate sin or unrighteousness. The unrighteous will not go unpunished no matter if they are living as the world lives or sitting on a church bench every Sunday.

God does not change. This should be encouraging to the righteous!

Traci