"My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me."
 Psalm 63:8

I remember reading our Scripture shortly after I was saved, and it was like someone throwing gasoline on a fire.  It warmed my soul, and ignited a blaze in my very being. It set off a desire that I believe was sent from heaven. I wanted what it was that David was speaking about in regard to the picture he painted with his Holy Ghost led words.  I wanted my soul in that same place, position and posture- following hard after God. We have many choices in this world that we live in when it comes to where we will place the main focus of our desires. The young and old alike must must choose wisely. One's life will have purpose; one's life will know true passion and one’s life will prove in the end to be the best life one could ever live, when they follow after God in such a manner. 

We have the gift of time.  What will you do?  How will you live?  What choices will you make?  Where will you place God at in your life?  Today is the day and now is the time to start to come after God in such a sold out manner. You will not be disappointed. Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) Draw deep from the well of God’s Word (Psalm 119:130) Get into the prayer closet (I Thessalonians 5:17).

Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Bro. Tracy

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are able to overcome it.  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Numbers 13: 30-31




Our faith is often exposed for what it truly is in the moments when it is put to the test.  Obstacles are opportunities to watch God work powerfully. Believe God and you will live a life that is pleasing to God no matter how many giants you encounter.  I want to encourage you to not allow the unbelief of another to discourage you today.  Walk with God and watch Him work.

Thanks for visiting and thanks for Praying,
Bro. Tracy

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” II Timothy 3:14

In these days that we are living in I want to encourage you to continue!  Continue in God’s Word. Continue in God’s instructions; don’t stop, but my friend continue. That which you have learned from godly parents; that which you have learned from a godly family member and that which you have learned from a godly preacher or teacher, continue in that which the Bible teaches.  Don’t look around and allow your faith and your trust in the God of the Bible and His Word to be diluted by those who doubt, dispute and deny the truth of God’s Word while they laugh at and persecute you.  Continue down the path of righteousness and pray for the salvation of those who make sport of you.  It will always be better to suffer for Christ than to turn to the ways of the evil men.

This is a Call to:

I. Continue in the Word.
Be true to that which is true.

“And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.” Psalm 119:47

God's Word:
Comforts- When we hurt
Convicts- When we sin
Confronts- When we stray

There is Power in the Precepts  
         
2. Continue in prayer.

“Pray without ceasing.” I Thessalonians 5:17
      There is Power in Prayer

3. Continue seeking the Lord’s face.
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” Psalm 27:8

4. Continue seeking the heavenly.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right  hand of God.” Colossians 3:1

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:6-9

Have you ever given thought to the love that God has for each individual lost soul.  Many sin over and over and over again.  Many curse God's name and laugh out loud as His word is shared or preached.  Time after time after time they turn again and again. Imagine all of the brokenhearted parents who have pleaded and patiently gone to a son or daughter in meekness and love with a great concern for their child’s salvation.  If we would step back and gaze at such situations we would see that the Lord is in the middle of each plea and prayer and that His word and will for each individual lost person is, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4).  God’s love is a love like no other.  While there is physical life in each individual there is the possibility for a spiritual rebirth through the Lord Jesus Christ.  I want us to be reminded of three aspects of God’s love.

I. Sacrificial Love- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16a). God gave His Son the Lord Jesus Christ and a heavy price was paid.  Salvation is made possible by the indescribable sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Let’s consider the sufferings within the sacrifice.

A. Emotional Suffering- “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). The scene was Gethsemane; it was the prelude to the cross. It was a time of prayer before a season of suffering. These words capture the emotional suffering of Christ.

B. Physical Suffering- “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him” (John 19:1). This would have been a brutal and bloody site to see let alone endure. “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away” (John 19:16).  The only begotten Son of God was beaten, bruised and bloodied and nailed to a cross. The wrath of God came down on the Son of God. One learns the measure of God's holiness by the violence of the cross.  From such violence came victory.

2. Saving Love- “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17). Our sins have separated us from God and on the cross Christ made it possible for the relationship to be reconciled. I still look back in wonder and amazement at the mercy and grace of God.  It was while I was dead in my trespasses and sins that God saved me.  My sin filled soul had a stench to it yet the Holy and Righteous God of the universe came when I cried out, not after I cleaned myself up.

3. Shared Love- “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16b).  I am so thankful for the “whosoever” of the Bible; it is the definition of shared love. 

This love like no other is available to everyone who will come by faith to our Lord Jesus Christ. If you have come, have you given thanks for such love? Take time today to consider where it was you once were and where it is you are at this very moment in Christ Jesus.

Remembering those who went above and beyond duty and devotion in fighting for our nation as well as the well being and freedom of others. They were true heroes who against insurmountable odds pressed and pushed on in the day of days.  The battle was great, but our heroes were great in the battle. May we never forget or take lightly the freedoms we enjoy today.

Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Bro. Tracy

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
 I Corinthians 10:31
 
I want us to focus in on, “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”   My Dad taught me a Biblical principle when I was growing up and I am sure that he was not aware that he was doing such a thing.  My Dad use to do construction for a living.  He worked hard while he was on the job site. I’m certain there was not a whole lot of chit-chat.  The lesson didn’t stop there for me.  When he came home after a hard day, before he ever walked in to the house he would pull out his pocket knife and go to work on cleaning his work boots. When he was finished, every groove in the bottom of those boots was clean.  He gave his all.

If we will place our whole life under the canopy of our key words today, “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” we will live a life that will be filled and full with the right motives for our everyday lives.  You will never go wrong when you approach the totality of your life in such a way.  What is your approach towards the small things in life?  Does it measure up to how you approach the bigger task you have in your life?  I believe this can be a challenge that God can use to deepen our walk with Him.  If we approach all things in such a manner we will grow closer to the LORD as we look to bring glory to Him in all that we do!

Let’s give our all to the One who gave His all for us upon Calvary. 

Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Bro. Tracy