The Absence Of, For the Presence Of

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever more." Psalm 16:11

I had a CT scan this past week and the results revealed some concerns.  Enough to repeat another scan in four months.  But a wonderful thing happened when I heard the results from my doctor:  I had no fear.  In times past, my health has caused me great anxiety, worry, and fear.  In times past, I would meditate on my health concern most of the day and well into the night.  But not this time.

What changed?

I exchanged my fear for the presence of my Saviour.

My pastor, Josh Fryman, said something recently in one of his messages, that I have played over and over again in my mind.  He said, "You have heard that the absence from worry brings contentment, and that's true, but to have the absence of something, you must have the Presence of Someone, and that Someone is Christ."

It's true.

The absence of fear in my life is a result of having the presence of God in my life.

The absence of worry, anxiety, stress, and you fill-in-the-blank, is a result of having the presence of God in our lives.

I've wasted too many years worrying about things that I cannot change.  I refuse to do so this time around.

I'm choosing the absence of fear...

    And seeking comfort in the presence of my Saviour...

        But that's just me!

"I Know It's Hard"

"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

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Psalm 119:71

As a parent, we have all had to allow our children to go through hardships that would build their character; to mold them, shape them and to teach them.  To train them 'in the way that they should go.'  Proverbs 22:6 It wasn't always easy, but it was for what was best for them.

As adult children, there comes a time when we have to do hard things for our elderly parents.  I have a friend right now who is currently moving her mom into a Nursing Home.  It's breaking her heart, and yet at the same time, she is aware that her mom needs round -the- clock care and that her mom will be safe in her new environment.  In her email to me this morning, my friend wrote, "I honestly don't like this!  I know this is not easy for her, but she puts on a brave face.  I keep reminding myself she is in God's loving hands, and He is her Good Shepherd."

In my reply, I wrote, "I know it's hard placing your mom into a Nursing Home, but deep down it's the right thing to do and it's at the right time.  She needs care."

But then I began to wonder something.

I wonder if our Heavenly Father thinks that way at times?  Perhaps He is thinking, "I'm allowing something in your life right now that you don't understand but just know that I'm allowing it because it's what is best for you and it's because I love you.  It's going to be hard, but remember, I will be with you every step of the way."

There are going to be hard times in this life...

    But as children of God, we can be assured that it is what is best for us...

        And we can know that God is with us...!

            But that's just me!

"Hard times are purposeful tools for spiritual refinement rather than random suffering.  Whenever God means to make a man great, he always breaks them to pieces first.  Hardship is seen as the soil where strength, humility and faith grow."  Charles Spurgeon

"My Treat"

From time to time, I like to treat ladies from my church to soup and salad at the Olive Garden.  It's a time when I can treat my special friends so we can catch up with each other, it's a time when I can treat ladies that I would like to get to know better, and at other time's it's because I know that there is a dear lady who just needs some special time of encouragement.  It's always a 'treat' to 'treat' and it's also a 'treat' to be 'treated.'

I read an interesting account the other day from Matthew 17:24-27.  It tells us of a time when Peter and Jesus were in Capernaum at the same time that the temple tax was due.    A person collecting the tax had approached Peter and asked him, 'Doth not your master pay tribute?'  Jesus knowing how Peter answered the tax collector, went on to ask Peter another question, "What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?"  Jesus is asking Peter if an earthly king taxes his own children or 'strangers,' those outside of his immediate family.  Peter answered correctly; the tax is for strangers.  Jesus is showing Peter that as the Son of God, He is exempt from paying a tax for His Father's house, because God's children are free.

But this is what I found so beautiful in this account.  It's verse 27.  Jesus says, "Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

Jesus not only paid a tax He didn't owe, but He paid the tax that was owed of Peter.

Isn't that just like our Saviour?  To pay a debt He didn't owe?

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 6:23

Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross of calvary...

    He didn't have to, but He did...

         For you, and for me...

            Have you accepted His free gift of Salvation?  

                But that's just me!

Alway with Grace

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6

At 5:30 in the morning, I'm not always aware of how my words or tone will sound, but I was reminded of it this morning by my gracious husband.  As I groggily made my trek to the bathroom to empty out the water canister of my CPAP machine, I did not turn on the light.  My husband came around the corner and saw me enter the bathroom, so he reached in and went to turn on the light, but before he could I said, 'Leave the light off.'  As he retracted his hand, he said, 'I was only trying to help you, you didn't need to snap at me.'  I told him that I didn't snap at him, but he said, 'No, but it was negative.'  He was right.  I rejected his kindness towards me with negativity, and it didn't matter how early in the morning it was; he did not deserve to be spoken to like that.  

After I finished my devotions this morning, and I looked out the window to watch the rain, the Lord told me to spend more time in His Word.  As I prayed to be directed to words the Lord wanted me to read, I began to turn to Philippians, but as I was turning there, I saw a highlighted verse in Colossians.  The one on top of this page.  I stopped and read it over and over again.  This is what the Lord wanted to remind me of this morning.  My speech.  My tone.  My words. Are they graceful? Do they heal? Or are they unkind and hurt?

Albert Barnes interprets this verse this way:

"Let your speech always be gracious-" Christian conversation should be kind, courteous, and humble. It should be entirely free from bitterness, uncleanness, and gossip, and should reflect the mild, affable spirit of Christ Himself.

"Seasoned with salt-" This prevents corruption and adds flavor. Just as salt keeps food from going bad, our speech should be pure, wise, and edifying. It should be lively, engaging, and spiritually savory rather than dull, vain or corrupt.

"Knowing how to answer-" Having a grace-filled, 'salted' heart prepares you to respond appropriately to everyone you meet. Whether someone is questioning the evidence of your faith, discussing daily topics, or treating you with hostility, a heart rooted in piety allows you to reply with wisdom, gentleness, and integrity rather than foolishness or rash anger."

"Thank you, Lord, for the reminder today..

    To be gracious and kind with my words...

        no matter what time of the day...

            But that's just me!

"Grace and salt make an ideal combination." Robertson

No Expiration Date

"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints."

Revelations 5:8

"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" Psalm 56:8

"And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." Acts 10:4

By Law, there are 'Best By' dates, and 'Expiration' dates on most of the products we purchase today.  Even if the product doesn't ever expire, there is often an expiration date on the label of the item.  If you are like me, you've probably had to throw food items away because they had been pushed to the back of your kitchen cabinet and have long been forgotten.  (I have since wised up and incorporated a colored sticker system.  Each color reveals the year the product expires.  As I unload my grocery bags, I place the appropriate colored sticker on my item before I place it into my kitchen cabinet.  I no longer have to search the item to find the expiration date, I simple see the color of the round dot I placed on my item to know how soon I need to use it!) 

But back to the subject on hand...

We recently had a visiting speaker come and preach at our church.  Evangelist, Fidel Hughes, reminded us that our prayers never expire.  My ears perked up at such a thought!  He used the example of children coming to Salvation in their adult years who mentioned the fact that their parents had diligently prayed for them throughout their entire lives.  Even after their parents went home to be with the Lord, the prayers prayed on their children's behalf were still before the Throne of God.  Never forgotten.  Never out-of-date.  Never expired!  What a mighty God we serve!

To know that God keeps each prayer I pray...

    Causes me to pray all the more...

        But that's just me!

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."