Always Loved

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

 Romans 5:8

In 2024, Suicide was responsible for 48,824 deaths in the United States alone.  Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death overall and the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.

Globally, the World Health Organization estimates 727,000 people die by suicide each year and that it is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.

The leading cause of suicide is untreated depression with approximately 90% of individuals who commit suicide are because they are depressed.  The top 15 reasons behind suicide today are:

•Mental Illness                

•Trauma                            

•Bullying

•Personality Disorders

•Drug Addiction

•Eating Disorders

•Unemployment

•Loneliness

•Relationship Problems

•Genetics or Family History of Suicide

•Philosophical Desire/Existential Crisis

•Terminal Illness

•Chronic pain

•Financial Problems

•Prescription Drugs

To sum it all up, suicide stems from HOPELESSNESS.  A feeling that there is no way out and that you are all alone.  To think that you are not loved.

Friend, I want you to know that you ARE loved!  You always have been and you always will be.

You are loved by the One Who truly knows what Real Love is; and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  Words of Jesus, John 3:16

When I read John 3:16, I insert my name where it says 'world.'  

For God so loved TRACY, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but everlasting life.

He loves you too.

Turn from your sin...

    And turn to Christ...

        He is here waiting for you...

            But that's just me!

If you, or a family member or friend are suffering from suicidal thoughts, there are people who can help you.  You can dial 988 and speak to someone who can help you right at this very moment. Reach out to a friend, your Pastor, someone.  

Choose Life.

"You have always been perfectly loved."  Rachael Lampa

Let It Be

 "Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!" Job 6:8

I can relate to Job.  When a trial comes my way, the first thing I ask God for is to remove the trial. Trials hurt.

I'm sure when most of you read the title of my Blog this morning, your thoughts turned to a song recorded by the Beatles years and years ago, but it's actually a song that I recently heard on Christian Radio. I heard it as I was driving home from the airport and the words reminded me that Jesus went through everything that I would ever have to go through...and more.  Jesus was tempted just like I will be tempted, and He never sinned.  Jesus never resisted the Will of His heavenly Father, no matter the trial.

He even went to the Cross for me.

When I'm in the midst of a trial, when I'm going through a hard time, do I resist the Will of my heavenly Father, or do I tell him, 'Let it be.'  Let me go through this trial so that I can be more like You.  Do I resist the Potter's hands in my life, or do I let Him mold me into His image no matter how painful the trial may be. Can I be like Job, who praised God for allowing him to go through something that would make him more like his heavenly Father?

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10

Albert Barnes interprets this verse into two main principles:

God's Omniscience and His Refining Fire.  Job had total confidence that God saw him even in the dark. Even when others didn't understand what he was going through, he knew that God understood what he was going through.  Barnes also compares suffering to a crucible where fire burns away impurities. Just as intense heat purifies gold to make it more brilliant, Spiritual testing serves to purify the believer's character.

But we don't always remember that during our trial, do we? We just want it to be over.

Job had such a complete trust in His God, that even when everything and everyone had been removed from his life, to include his health, Job could still say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him:" Job 13:15

Lord, let me have the same faith and trust in my trial as Job did in his...

    to know that you have a purpose and a plan for me...

        and to know that you are molding me into your image...

            But that's just me!

"Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:" Job 11:16

Father, Let it Be

Sidewalk Prophets 2025

"I am a well, barren and dry,

Nothing left but emptiness on the inside,

I am a rope, burnt at both ends

Getting shorter every day and wearing thin,

If there's a purpose for the struggle that I'm in,

Father, let it be, help me to believe,

Jesus tell me stories of the times you felt like me,

Spirit, let me see the forest through the trees,

Help me understand these are the plans you have for me,

If it's your Will, God, let it be.

Here is my soul, desperate for you,

Praying the promises you made were for me too,

Here is my heart, torn but alive,

Beating, searching for someone to hear my cries.

Oh, I can feel you moving, I hear you calling me,

'fall deeper into my arms,' that's where I long to be,

You made the stars, You call me by name,

When I'm weary, You still hear me, so I'll pray,

Father, let it be, Help me to believe,

Jesus tell me stories of times you felt like me,

Spirit, let me see, the forest through the trees,

Help me understand these are the plans you have for me,

Give me patience and the strength to let You lead,

If it's your Will, God, let it be."

Do You Love Me?

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?  He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.  He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  John 21:15

Most of us have heard the famous Sonnet written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning that was made popular by William Shakespeare, "How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways," but it was a question asked by Jesus to Simon Peter more than two thousand years ago.

It's a question Jesus is asking His Believer's today.

My Pastor, Josh Fryman, reminded us of this question the other night and I have to say, the Lord pierced my heart. How devastating that would be if Jesus had to ask me if I really loved Him!  

For Simon Peter, it was a question that needed to be asked because his actions and speech did not reflect his love for his Lord.  Remember, Peter had just denied Jesus three times.

It's easy to say that I love the Lord, but what types of things, other people or activities did I put ahead of my Saviour this week?  

Did my life show how much I love my Lord this week, or did my life show how much I love myself?

Does Jesus wonder if I love Him as much as I say that I do?  Would He have to ask me, "Tracy, do you love Me?" like He asked Simon Peter?

It's easy to tell someone that you love them by your words...

    but love is proven by what you do for them...

        But that's just me!

Peace

 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:7-8

People are searching for peace in the world.

They are searching in the wrong places.

Book stores and library shelves are lined with self-help books, prayers, chants, meditations, crystals, candles, incense, philosophies, opinions, traditions and even superstitions. YouTube has endless videos of celebrities, Guru's, and philosophers who will walk and talk you through any crisis. 

They seem to have all of the answers but leave the Searcher anxious and hopeless.

But God.

How can a person find peace?

It comes from surrendering control over to God.

This peace is securely held in place by faith in Jesus Christ.  According to Albert Barnes, "Instead of fretting over worldly or corrupting concerns, Believers are meant to purposefully meditate on anything that is true, pure, lovey and of a good report.  Whatever is inherently excellent or worthy of praise should be the focus of the Christian's careful consideration and practice."

Today, when I read what to think on, I compared it to what I should not think on.

For example:

Instead of focusing on lies, I will focus on truth.

Instead of focusing on opinions and deceit, I will focus on honesty.

Instead of focusing on the contaminated, or diluted impure ideologies, I will focus on what is pure.

Instead of focusing on what is ugly, repulsive, awful and terrible, I will focus on what is lovely.

Instead of focusing on gossip and fake News, I will focus on what is uplifting, honorable and gracious: good reports.

Instead of focusing on the negative, I will focus on every excellent thing that is praiseworthy.

Focusing on what is good produces contentment...

        Peace in thought, mind, heart and spirit...

            But that's just me!

"No human philosophy can impart peace to the soul like simple, absolute confidence in God."

Albert Barnes

        

My Expected End

 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

I may not know the 'why's' of what is going on in my life right now...but what I do know is that it will bring me to my 'expected end.'  I don't have to worry about whether or not everything is going to turn out OK.  I'm promised that my end will be what God expected it to be; not what I expected it to be.  I know the end of my story will be the fulfilled purpose God intended my life to be for Him.  Every single situation, circumstance and every person I come into contact with, adds to my expected end.

God is in control, and it's all going to be OK.

In context, Jeremiah was bringing a message of national restoration and faithful endurance for the Jewish exiles facing 70 years of captivity in Babylon.  Can you imagine that?

"Ok, heads up!  You are going to be held in captivity in Babylon for 70 years, but just know that God will not forget you, and remember that this is God's 'peace' towards you and not evil.  God has an 'expected end' for you that will give you a future of hope!"

Sometimes things in my life aren't going so well.  Not what I expected.  Not what I had hoped for.

But God will use everything for His purpose, His plan, His glory...,

    and I can rest in knowing that everything will work out just as God intended it to be...

         to bring me to my expected end...

                but that's just me!

Spell-Check

 As an Advanced Reader for Valerie M. Bodden, I have the privilege to read her soon-to-be-released books before they make their way to hard copy printing.  (Her new book, Love that Lasts, will be released on May 28, 2026) She recently told me that she is grateful for my "feedback and eagle eye in catching those typos' before the book makes its way out into the world."

When I mentioned to my sister that I had just finished proof-reading Valerie's new book, she wrote me back and said, "Speaking of proof-reading, I never find any typos in your email to me, but I do in the Bible verses you send each day."  Then she went on to list my typos and lack of capitalization.  My sister was gently reminding me that I probably should proof-read my own work!

And she was right.

It made me instantly think of Romans 2:1

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." 

I was reminded that the very things I criticize or judge in others, I tend to do myself. I need to be less focused on what others are doing or not doing, and be more focused on what I need to be doing or not doing.

It's ok to have an 'eagle eye' to catch typos....

    But when it comes to the faults of others, I should turn a blind eye...

        and extend grace...

            But that's just me!

Have It Your Way

We've all heard the Burger King Jingle, "Have it your way." You can special order your burger with as many ingredients as you want, or as few as you want.  Having it your way can be very accommodating.

Or not.

Sometimes getting what we want isn't what's best for us.  I think of the children of Israel whining in the desert for meat because they were getting sick of eating Manna.  Can you imagine?  Getting sick of eating Angel's Food?  But they did.  So, they asked God for meat, and God gave them exactly what they wanted, and yet many choked on it while it was still in their mouths.  Numbers 11:33

Or what about the time when Israel didn't want Judges to have the rule over them, instead they wanted a King?  No matter the warning from Samuel, they were determined to have a King rule over them.  1 Samuel 8

We all know how well that went!

Have you ever asked God for something....and then as time passed, praised Him for not giving you what you asked for?

I have.

God showered His mercy and His grace on me by NOT giving me what I asked for.  He spared me from the heartache and consequences of a prayer request prayed for in the flesh, and not in the Spirit according to His Will.

I was reading Isaiah 55:8-9 the other day and the Lord allowed me to learn something new.  I love it when that happens!  It says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

We may think we know what we want or what we need, but God knows exactly what we need or don't need.  When I read these verses, I couldn't help but think that when we compare our thoughts to those of God, we are actually bringing Him down to our level.  We try to place God into a contained box, but nothing and no one can contain God.  He permeates every space.  To think that we can identify or figure out the thoughts of God is prideful on our part.  How could we possibly understand His way of thinking when He is a Holy God, Creator God, and we are His creation? How can the clay question the potter?  (Jeremiah 18:6, Isaiah 64:8)    Our thoughts aren't even close to God's thoughts.  So, why do we second guess how God fulfills His purpose in our lives when we know that He works everything out for our own good?  Romans 8:28

How can God speak to me through a verse I've read a thousand times over, and show me something new?  Hmm?  I wonder how He does that?  (wink, wink)

It's not for me to figure out why God is allowing or not allowing something in my life...

    I am to trust Him and know that He knows best...

        But that's just me!