Tracy's Blog

Last night at St. Margaret's Ash Wednesday service we sang " My Jesus I Love Thee ".   I love that hymn.  I think it is on my "funeral hymn list" - not that I have one written down! The final line of each verse, " If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'Tis now ." struck me in particular.  "If every I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'Tis now" speaks to me of what really matters and what is possible.  What really matters in my relationship with Jesus is that I love Him right now .  In this present moment.  But what about the past??  Yes, loving Jesus in the past matters but that time is now gone.  I cannot change it.  How I've loved Him will impact my present but it isn't my present.  I can rejoice in the ways that love was demonstrated and the fruit I see from it and I  do need to deal with my lack of loving and obeying Him in the past through confession and repentance. ( I am glad to be in the season of Lent to give time and attention ...

We have been experiencing a chilly few weeks here in Manitoba which means that I've been enjoying sitting near our wood stove with a cup of tea to watch a show or read a book.  This is the life, I tell you!  But before I can enjoy the warmth of the flames, the fire needs to be started.  I am not an expert at this and so newspaper is usually involved. Sometimes, as I am stoking the fire, the old chorus, "It only takes a spark" goes through my mind.  Some of you have started humming the tune already and others have no idea what I am talking about.  Here are the words: It only takes a spark To get a fire going And soon all those around Can warm up in its glowing That's how it is with God's love Once you've experienced it You spread His love to ev'ryone You want to pass it on. I believe this song... partly.  I find that it takes more than a spark to get my fire going.  Maybe I just don't have the right conditions.  I think of the wildfire...

"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.  To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you."  (Philippians 3:1 ESV) One short verse.  That is all we had time to discuss at Bible Study today.  But what a significant verse!  It has already impacted me.  Today, I want to share thoughts on this verse phrase by phrase.  Please feel free to join the conversation by commenting on the blog or sending me an email. Finally - This seems like a strange thing to say in the middle of the book of Philippians.  Two chapters down and two more to go.  This is not the final thing that Paul is going to write.... but maybe it has a sense of finality.  My paraphrase/ideas: "The end of everything is..."  "The big deal is..."  "Whatever comes next, whatever happens..."  my brothers - Paul is addressing the church, the family of God.  This "brothers" most definitely includes the sisters in Christ as well. rej...