Tracy's Blog

One of the important insights I have gained while working with women who have left abusive relationships is that we need to not have an abusive relationship with ourselves.  We can separate ourselves from anyone who treats us cruelly but if we disrespect ourselves, mistreat ourselves, or speak harshly to ourselves, we are still not free of abuse. What does this have to do with this blog?  with Lent? Well, the flip side is also true.  If we treat ourselves like Scripture commands us to treat others, then we will have a godly relationship with ourselves.*  Recently, when I read instructions about how I am to treat others, I ask myself: do I obey this command toward myself?  Today I have one verse I want to focus on: 1 Thessalonians 5:14 "And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone." (NIV) I love this verse.  I love it because Paul is so realistic - p...

My spiritual director shared Zephaniah 3:17 with me last week as we were entering into a time focused on God. One line caught my attention: “With his love he will calm all your fears” . I really liked the idea of this and is sounded new and fresh to me. I didn't remember that being part of the verse. Why? Well, because she read it in the New Living Translation and I was used to thinking about that verse from an old Bob Fitts chorus: The Lord our God is with us He is mighty to save. His delight is in us He renews with His love. The Lord gives praise and honour Taking all of our shame. He rejoices over us with singing. He rejoices over us with joy. (I suspect that there are a few readers who are singing along with me now!) In the song, the line is translated “He renews with His love”. While I like that idea too, it got me curious regarding the various translations. Here are four translations: New International Version “ The LORD your God ...

What if I have nothing to say? This was the question on my mind today as I sat down to write a blog. Somehow Tuesday had come and gone and I hadn't even thought about writing. Yes, yes, there were many things going on this week – Grad Fashion Show 2017 and Festival du Voyageur Concert to name two unusual evening activities – but that wasn't the main issue. The main issue is that I wasn't ready to write anything. I didn't have a message. I didn't have a story to tell. What was I to do? Well, when I don't know what to do, I pray. So I prayed, right there in the middle of Tim's Tae Kwon Do class. Sitting on the gym bench with my back against the cold concrete wall. I prayed and I asked, “Lord do you have anything for me to blog this week?” The answer came immediately. This is what I heard in my heart: “ Of course Tracy. Tell them about My love. Tell them that there is nothing that can separate them from Me. Tell them to be strong and ...

This week I read the following quote and it has stuck with me: "Take time to meditate and to worship, until the light that comes from the throne of God has shone into you, and you have seen your union to Christ as the work of His almighty Father.  Take time, day after day, in your whole Christian walk, with all its claims, duties, needs, and desires, and let God be everything." (Andrew Murray,  Abiding in Christ , page 44) Our lives are busy. That is pretty standard in our culture.  As Christians, we may find that there is never enough time to do everything we would like to do as so many needs surround us.  That's why this quote stood out to me.  Because it acknowledges the many "claims, duties, needs, and desires" we have and yet calls us to the quiet, to time with God everyday.  And not just time that results in checked-boxes. Read my Bible.  Check. Prayed for my friends. Check. Wrote down three things I am thankful for.  Check. All thos...