right now …

By tracie | Published: December 26, 2011

Right now I’m:

  • sitting outside in the cool breeze looking at palm trees and beautiful blue waters
  • waiting for my girls to emerge full of energy and excitement with questions of what today will hold
  • mourning many, many things
  • thankful for new friends at Christmas dinners
  • researching
  • getting ready for the release of my new ebook, 31 Days of Faith
  • fighting the enemy’s lies that my ebook won’t sell, it’s not good enough, and no one cares
  • thinking of a friend on a flight to Dubai
  • praying for unity in my family
  • thankful God has given me a voice
  • deciding whether or not to tackle the 1000+ posts in my google reader
  • wondering if the girls will let me take a nap today
  • thankful my children are rooted in the Word of God
  • sad for men that have to eat gas station sub-sandwiches in their hotel rooms far from the family they love on Christmas night
  • thankful that God’s Word never returns void {Isaiah 55:10-11}
  • wondering why I haven’t taken a single photo while we’ve been here
  • loathing my new MS medication {I’m thinking of a post titled “stings like a bee” to share with y’all}
  • wishing I could read every thought and feeling going on inside my girls … the things they don’t verbalize
  • wondering if it makes sense to “force” people to like your Facebook page, or subscribe to your blog by offering a free download or something or other … I’m thinking I’d like people to subscribe because they want to … not so they’ll get something?  Just wondering …
  • wishing Piper and Wynter would include Hunter more
  • wishing Hunter didn’t whine so much
  • debating another cup of coffee
  • missing my favorite salted caramel mocha at Starbucks
  • about to read the Bible expecting to find a nugget of wisdom to ponder throughout the day
  • thankful for Emmanuel … God with me
  • taking this week off from the blog to focus on the girls and some other writing projects
  • thankful for this place to write, share, dream, encourage and inspire
  • thankful for 5 year olds who love Jesus …

Update for Taylor:

  • I’m thankful for daughters who trust their mothers enough to share what’s in their hearts
  • I’m incredibly proud of my teen
  • I’m thankful for my two furry grand-daughters
  • I’m wishing my teen would focus on her schoolwork :P
Posted in exuma, family thoughts, random | 21 Comments

mary did you know?

By tracie | Published: December 23, 2011

Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord.
Let this happen to me as you say!” Then the angel went away.
Luke 1:38 {NCV}

“Let it be as you say!”  A few simple words of faith uttered that day.  Do you think Mary had any idea that her baby boy would one day be the Great, I Am?

Do you think she had any idea that agreeing to deliver this Child would cause her pain, trials and suffering?

This Christmas song gets me every.single.time I hear it.  I can’t listen to it without being covered in chill bumps.  “When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?”

Do you think she had any idea of the Glory to come through her simple words of faith?

By trusting God, accepting His wishes for her … her Son was Lord of all creation.

What an incredible story … example … of faith.

Oh how I could learn from Mary … “Let this happen to me as you say!”  In our human understanding and knowledge, we simply have no way of knowing what glory beholds us.  But what if we simply believe?  Believe that His plans are far greater than we could ever imagine?

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!
Luke 1:45 {NIV}

Won’t you believe with me today?


Mary Did You Know?
:: Clay Aiken ::

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know …

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great, I Am.

Posted in christmas, faith, family thoughts, music | 7 Comments

our christmas past …

By tracie | Published: December 22, 2011

It’s kind of a weird feeling that our Christmas celebration has come and gone.  I called in a favor to santa, he delivered, and we had our celebration almost a week ago.

On “Christmas” morning, once the girls were all awake and we headed to open gifts, I ran back to my room for my camera.  When I came out, this is literally what I saw.  Think they were excited?

We had a nice morning opening gifts.  Different.  Surreal.  A bit lonely.  But nice.

One little tradition that did keep our spirits up was Mr. … ahem, Mrs. Rosy Cheeks.  Our elf came back this year as a girl.  That required quite the explaning to the girls!  And we still called him her a him.  Follow?

Anyway … the girls had a blast this year discovering all the fun our mischievous he/she elf was up to!

I have to share about the last photo.  The elf had put lipstick on Hunter’s nose one night before the “elf” went to sleep.  And when the elf I went to wake Hunter up the next morning, in the low light of morning, it looked like the lipstick had rubbed off during the night.  So I quickly went to Mrs. Rosy Cheeks and took away the lipstick and note {which says, “look in the mirror”} and put them away for another night.  Only problem was … in the full light of day, she still had remnants of lipstick on her nose!  Before she could see it, I started rubbing at her nose while she’s complaining and asking what I was doing.  Humpf.

As luck would have it, Hunter slept with me a few nights later.  Perfect!  Since she was in bed with me, I waited til early morning to rub the lipstick on her nose and then put Mrs. Rosy Cheeks, lipstick and the note in her bed and waited for her to wake up.  She loved the trick so much, she went to school with the lipstick on her nose.  Simple pleasures.

Lastly … here’s a peek at this year’s Christmas card.  Once again, many thanks to Suann for creating the lovely letterpress design for me.

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Posted in christmas, family thoughts, holiday | 11 Comments

you’re dangerous!

By tracie | Published: December 20, 2011

I heard an incredible message on Sunday at our church away from home, here in Exuma, and I’d like to share some of my take-aways with y’all!

The key quote is this, “When your gift meets purpose, you become dangerous to the devil.”  Only you can’t read it all passive-like … you gotta get fired up and read it with meaning!

John 10:10 tells us there’s a thief, an enemy, out there ready to rob, kill and destroy.  His only purpose in this life is to take us down with him.  Literally.

Sunday’s message was so very timely for me.  I fully admit, I’m growing weary on this path I’m currently walking.  It’s gettin’ real old, real fast.

But Pastor Duerre reminded me of truth the enemy had stolen from me.  The path I’m currently on has purpose.  Big purpose.  Huge purpose.

And the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, mercy and grace has been revealing to me some gifts I never knew or thought I’d possess.

Let me repeat this again, “when my gift meets my purpose, I am going to be the devil’s worse nightmare!”

I was also reminded that when satan messes with me, he messes with the wrong one!  Messing with me has only made me more powerful.  I’m digging into the Word like I never have been before.  I’m putting on my armor and I’m raising up warriors with me.

Here’s one last truth for you think about … “Whenever you are walking in purpose, the devil will do whatever he can to stop you from walking in purpose.  The devil will try to stop your purpose.”

Are you walking a difficult, painful, seemingly-no-end-in-sight path?  I’d like to encourage you with this … stop where you’re at and ask God how you can use this story, for His glory.

And don’t let nothing get in the way.

The enemy will do all he can to take you down.  To rob.  Kill.  Destroy.  You are dangerous to him.  A threat.  Don’t give in to fear, depression, anxiety, worry.  Don’t let the enemy have victory over you!

You were created fearfully and wonderfully.  Stand tall in that.  At the name of Jesus, satan has to flee.  You have the upper hand.  You are victorious, more than a conqueror!  The battle’s already been won.  God is for you.

Take these truths and arm yourself with them … don’t back down.  Don’t let your trials be in vain.  Every single one of us has a story.  Seek His face today, right now where you’re at, and ask Him how you can use that story for His eternal glory.

Posted in faith, inspiration | 12 Comments

giving …

By tracie | Published: December 19, 2011

I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty,
and you gave me something to drink.
I was alone and away from home,
and you invited me into your house.
I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear.
I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.

“Then the good people will answer,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food,
or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you alone and away from home
and invite you into our house?
When did we see you without clothes and
give you something to wear?
When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

Then the King will answer,
‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the
least of my people here, you also did for me.’”
Matthew 25:35-40 {NCV}

As I was listening to the radio the other day, the DJ shared her thoughts about losing faith in humanity and their capacity to care for others.  Especially during this Christmas season.  She went on to share a story she’d read about recently that gave her hope.

A woman went into a big box store, walked over to the layaway department and told them she wanted to pay off a certain number of people’s layaway accounts.  And she did.  But she left just $10.00 on each account, so when they came to pay, they would feel they contributed to their gifts too.

I can’t begin to explain the warmth I felt when hearing this story.  It made me think of our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness project and I couldn’t help but wonder if this woman had gotten a hold of it and performed her own RACK.  The RACK project has been global this year.  Global!  I’ve gotten emails and encouragement from South Korea to Australia.  This isn’t about promoting “my project” … it’s about promoting Kindness.  His Love.  “I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you did also for ME.”

In our own hustle and bustle of the Season, it’s easy to pass by someone whose only need might be a kind smile.

I’d like to share the outcome of our recent giving project with you.  As I mentioned, it was so hard to choose.  My heart broke over every request and it felt like I didn’t have a right to play God and decide who should receive and who shouldn’t.  Guess I didn’t think about that when I posted the request.  In the end, I enlisted Taylor’s help and she narrowed it down with me.  We ended up giving a lot more than we set out to do, but it was too difficult to “turn people away.”  A couple of people sent photos of the recipients who were blessed … looking at those photos and knowing, not just the blessing, but the hope they received … brought tears to my eyes.

I’ve said many times and believe with all my being … the Lord has greatly blessed me, how can I not turn around and share that blessing with others?

In the end, I didn’t share our giving details with the littles.  Wynter’s heart, especially, was fragile this year.  She was in tears recently claiming she didn’t want any Christmas gifts and to give them to others who needed them.  I don’t know … maybe I should’ve shared who was blessed, so she could see the good … and maybe I will someday … but right now my mama heart is protecting her fragile heart.

Anyway.

I know not everyone can walk in and pay off numerous people’s layaways.  But everyone can have a caring, giving heart.  Everyone, no matter how destitute, has something they can do or share with others.

There were some kind acts that came out of our project that I’d like to share:

  • A few families, who I know are in need for themselves this Christmas, nominated someone else whose needs are greater.  I saw love and sacrifice in that.
  • A couple of readers contacted me that they’d like to give as well.  And to let them know of some of the smaller needs and they’d like to help meet them.  {I’ll be in touch with you ladies!}

We’ve been commanded to love others as ourselves.

If people say, “I love God,” but hate their brothers or sisters,
they are liars.  Those who do not love their brothers and sisters,
whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen.
And God gave us this command:
Those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters.
1 John 4:19-21 {NCV}

Showing kindness, love, compassion, caring … they don’t have to be grand acts and big gestures.  Love can be shown in the smallest of ways.  As quickly as a harsh word or evil glare can cut a heart … a smile or kind word can put a heart back together.

What can you do … just one small act, to show God’s love today?

Posted in giving, inspiration | 6 Comments