Tracy's Blog

The steadfast love of the  Lord  never ceases;      his mercies never come to an end; 23  they are new  every morning;      great is your faithfulness.       Lamentations 3:22-23 New. Every. Morning. Every . Morning . Always there.  Always available.   Not just on the days when you wake up on the right side of the bed.  Not only when you are praying or reading the Bible. Not dependent on what you did last night - or didn't get done - as the case may be. God's lovingkindness and compassion never stop radiating from Him.  There is a constant flow of His mercy and love from Him to us because this is His character and He is faithful.   God is trustworthy... which means He can be trusted.  I know that is basic but sometimes we need to be reminded because  He is also unpredictable and completely free and His ways are not our ways.  I have a suggestion for you: tom...

One of the problems with writing one's thoughts out and publishing them on the internet is then one need to live by them!  Read: "one" = me and "problem" =  accountability.  This, of course, is a good thing but I was sort of surprised last week when after writing all about being content in Christ in every circumstance, I found myself discontent.  I still can't quite put my finger on the issue but I have a few thoughts.  But first, the passage from Philippians 4: 10  I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content  whatever the circumstances.   12  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,  whether living in plenty or in want. ...

On January 1st, our family was travelling from Alberta to Manitoba.  It was a 15 hour trip and it was a Sunday so we decided to have "car church".  Or that is what I called it anyway.  We prayed, read Scripture, reflected on the Scripture and sang a hymn.  It was a great way to start 2017.  The passage we reflected on was sort of chosen at random but it stuck with me.  Philippians 4:10-13 10  I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content  whatever the circumstances.   12  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,  whether living in plenty or in want.   13  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. ...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and Blessed Epiphany!  I know.... if I am greeting you like this, it has been way too long since I last wrote.  But here I am with a renewed desires to blog regularly. Yesterday I took down our Christmas decorations.  As I put away the star that hangs in our kitchen window, I thought about the star that led the Magi to Jesus.  The theme of light in the Christmas story has drawn me this year.  I think that for next year, I might focus on a few more lights and star decorations but I am getting ahead of myself.  Now that we are in the season of Epiphany, we continue to focus on the light God has given. Isaiah 60:1a says, "Arise, shine, for your light has come...." (See here  for the current lectionary.  You can just hold the cursor on the reading and a text box pops up with it.) Even though the Christmas season is over, it is still a time of rejoicing: the Light of the World has come!  This is such goo...