Tracy's Blog

"Why did I say that?"  This is what ran through my minds seconds after I said it.  We were talking about the need for both love and discernment in our Philippians Bible Study and I made a statement that love "is willing to do whatever it takes".  "But I don't believe that anymore," I thought to myself.  The conversation moved on and so did my thoughts.  It wasn't until later in the day that I returned to my questions about what love is willing to do. Let me rewind.  In my late 20's, I was convinced that loving others meant "doing whatever it takes" to help them.  Love is to be self-sacrificing and Jesus had said, " greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends " (John 15:13 NIV).   I assumed this meant if I just gave enough, things would get better.  And when they didn't, I grew anxious.  Somehow I knew I wasn't living the kind of love Jesus was talking about but I wasn't sur...

" I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. " Phil 1:3-6 Thanksgiving weekend has passed and I hope each of you were able to enjoy some time with others around a table.  Our table was small with two of our children away at university and my husband and father-in-law on a trip.  But Tim, my mother-in-law, and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner.  I believe that gratitude to God can be experienced whether we are with many others or a few.  It can even be experienced when we are alone! I like Apostle Paul's model of thanksgiving from Philippians 1.  First, we need to direct our thanksgiving to God.  It is from Him that all gifts come.  Second, we need to remember.  We need to reflect and think ...