Tracy's Blog

So I took my own advice from last week and used my breath to help me meditate on Scripture.  Two passages in fact.  The first one was from last week's Lectionary: Psalm 62:5 (ESV) For God alone (in breath) O my soul (out breath) wait in silence (in breath plus paused in silence on out breath) for my hope (in breath) is from Him. (out breath) The second is a familiar verse that came to mind as I was thinking about the challenges of life.  Initially I tried it like this: Philippians 4:13 (NIV) I can do all this  (in breath) through Him who gives me strength  (out breath). But then I found that the impact on my mindset was different if I changed which breath I did with each statement.  So here is a second option: Philippians 4:13 (NIV) I can do all this  (out breath) through Him who gives me strength  (in breath). I prefer the latter because the out breath is a statement of confidence that is based on the empowerment of Jesu...

Last week, our staff team did some First Aid and CPR training.  Before getting into the medical situations and techniques we were to learn that day, we spent some time discussing anatomy and physiology of the human body.  I had the privilege of taking courses on both subjects in university -  but that was 30 years ago.  I haven't been thinking about the body much recently so as we looked at the skeletal, muscular, and circulatory systems, I was so impressed and amazed at how God created us. This past weekend's Psalm in the Lectionary was Psalm 139.  It fit perfectly with my thinking: "For you created my inmost being;      you knit me together  in my mother’s womb. 14  I praise you  because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;      your works are wonderful,      I know that full well."                  Psalm 139:13-14 But do I?...

I awoke to a new beginning: January 1, 2018.  As I started my day, I directed my thoughts towards God and the words of an old chorus came to mind: "Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker." based on Psalm 95:6 I don't know exactly what this year ahead will hold but I do know what I want my posture before God to be - one of worship.  I can't say that worship has been a main focus in my Christian life.  I give thanks regularly and I do spend time in worship but the framework of my life is often structured around other people.  I'm an extrovert, a helper, and have been way too often a people-pleaser.  My desire this year is to give more attention to God: Father, Son, and Spirit.  We will see how this goes! As I was meditating on  Psalm 29 , this past week, I was directed again towards worship. Verse 2 "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness" I was ...