Tracy's Blog

Christ is Risen!  I hope that you've had a meaningful and joyous Easter weekend and that this season of Eastertide (from Easter Sunday until Pentecost Sunday) is blessed.   I've been in an "Easter" mood and mode this week: grateful for God's forgiveness and the power and hope of the Resurrection as well as celebrating the freedom we have in Christ. (Yes, that means I've eaten a fair bit of chocolate!) Today, however, a heaviness settled on me.  I still don't know exactly what it was about but I took it as a prompt to get alone with God.  During that time, I focused on a repeated phrase in today's Gospel reading, John 20:19-31 :   "Peace be with you."  I love that Jesus' first words to His disciples after His resurrection are words of peace.  The gospel is about peace: with God, others, and ourselves.  The barrier of sin is removed and we are free to love and be loved.  It really is marvelous!  I had an interesting image come to mind ...

It is Holy Week.  As we making our way to Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Garden with the Empty Tomb, a phrase keeps repeating in my mind, "forgiven and cleansed".  Friday we will remember what Jesus has done for us - the pain, abandonment, and physical torture He suffered, how He laid down His life.  Sunday, we will celebrate the power of life over death and the victory over the grave.  As we do this, let us take to heart what it means for us. We are forgiven - our sins no longer are held against us.  There is nothing separating us from God. We have peace with God. And cleansed - not only is there no punishment for our sins, but the stain, scum, and stench of them are removed as well.  We have been washed and made pure. Sound too good to be true?  Hear it from God's Word: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 (ESV) "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since...

Rivers, or specifically the Red River, has been on my radar a lot this week.  In fact, the Red is  the focal point of life in Selkirk right now. Why?  Because the ice started to break up, melt, and move last week. This impacts life here.  A road over in East Selkirk flooded which means that the main bridge connecting East Selkirk and Selkirk is closed and people have to drive a 10 km detour. Some years people houses are flooded resulting in thousands of dollars of damages or even to the point of being "lost". Here is a picture of the river and the flooding near our house from Thursday, March 30th.  Huge pieces of ice came up onto the banks and water flowed onto the grass. And here is what that same area looks like today. (April 3)  There ice and debris in the middle is actually the edge of the river.  Now that the river is flowing, the flooding will go down and life will get back to normal. This morning, another river came ...

Yes, you read that title correctly!  Here we are in the middle of Lent and today (March 25th) is a Holy Day that points us to the Incarnation: The Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We usually read the Gospel account of the Annunciation during Advent as we are preparing to celebrate Christmas and we are swept up in the amazing truth that God became human and dwelt among us.  But Mary wasn't pregnant for only a few weeks.  March 25th is 9 months before December 25th and it is the date that the Church has designated to attend to the miraculous and glorious event of the Annunciation. As you read the passage, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you.... in your place of need.  You may want to read it slowly, two or three times.  Let the words so familiar in another season of our lives bring hope and perspective during this season of contrition and repentance. peace and grace, Tracy Luke 1:26-38 (ESV) 26  In the sixth mon...

Lent is a time for self-reflection.  To become more aware of the habits and patterns of our life and see what they point to: trust in God or reliance on self/something other?  A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about 1Thessalonians 5:14 and challenged myself to self-examination to see if I was "reading" myself wrong and therefore not dealing with myself as the verse encourages us to treat others. ( Click here for link to that blo g).  So, what did I come up with? Well, the first thing is that the NASB translation has stayed fixed in my mind: "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone." I found the word "unruly" spoke to me in a way that lazy doesn't.  For years I accused myself of being lazy but later realized I wasn't lazy, I was anxious, fearful, or discouraged.  I was fainthearted. Encouragement was what I needed not admonishment or warning.  I now find it hard to discern ...

Not the carbonated beverage, our dog.  Now if you've read my blog over the years, you might be surprised at the title.  Pepsi has appeared in these blogs as a source of frustration (see January 15, 2014 ) but today he is a source of insight. Our weather here at the moment is spring-like: +3 degrees and melting.  This means the sidewalks are slippery  in spots as ice is melting but not completely gone.  We were just out for a walk and I slipped on the ice.  A quick scene flashed through my mind which included a trip to ER and a wrist cast.  But that didn't happen.  Instead, as I was falling, Pepsi's leash became taut providing a stabilizing force for me and I was able to gain my balance.  Whew!  Then as I walked, I began to think how this can be a picture of the spiritual life. Seasons change in our lives.  Even in our spiritual lives, we move through seasons as God works in different areas to continue to sanctify us.  Duri...

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...