The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16b

Consider this thought:

Prayers from around the world will make a difference around the world!

Oh, if God's people would just be people of prayer! We have been afforded the powerful and wonderful privilege to pray through the finished work of our Lord and Saviour upon the cross- The Lord Jesus Christ has made the way! When the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom the way was made that we can come boldly to God!! (See Matthew 27:51)

The opportunity is ours! What will we do with the opportunity?

“The men who have most fully illustrated Christ in their character, and have most powerfully affected the world for Him, have been men who spent so much time with God as to make it a notable feature of their lives.”  E.M. Bounds

 Shortly after I was saved I had a dear friend who had a study that was full of books in his home. He invited me over and sent me home with an arm load of books. One of the books that I carried home that day was, “Power Through Prayer” by E.M. Bounds. I had never heard of E.M. Bounds!  The book only consist of 128 pages, but it had such an impact on me as a new Christian. First and foremost Almighty God spoke to my heart in such a powerful way through His Word, but I truly believe that the Lord also used “Power Through Prayer” to stir me as well. As I would read the words of E.M. Bounds it was like throwing gasoline on a flame thrower. It still is!!

David led of the Holy Ghost wrote, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” (Psalm 63:1) Now- if that doesn’t set a fire a blaze in your heart you might need to a spiritual check up! So- imagine me as young Christian reading Psalm 63 and reading such things as I quoted in the beginning of this article from Mr. Bounds.  The Bible is life changing and I truly believe that God has used many down through the ages in a life changing way as well.

I believe too many Christians have grown distant and cold towards our Saviour.  We need Revival! We need to Return to our Saviour! We need to Return to our Redeemer! Oh the life we are missing out on all because we have become so enamored with a place that is not our home. We have stopped coming to the secret place and are no longer abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Why not return?

 I first posted this blog in November of 2013- Time sure seems to fly by!  I pray that it will be a blessing and a challenge as we are quickly approaching the Christmas season.

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

 I recently read, “When Benjamin Franklin wished to interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting, he didn’t try to persuade them by talking about it; instead, he hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket before his own door.   Then he kept the glass brightly polished, and carefully and religiously lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk.   It wasn’t long before Franklin’s neighbors began placing lights in brackets before their homes, and soon the entire city awoke to the value of street lighting and took up the matter with interest and enthusiasm.”

I want you to be encouraged to, “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.”  The path you continue down in Christ Jesus and His Word, which you have been taught, will be a powerful example for those around you.   As a Christian, you are being watched.   The lost watch to see how sincere you are about that which you have spoken to them about.  The saints watch to see how serious you are about Christ as not only Saviour, but as Lord of your life.   As we desire to be more Christ like and live Holy Spirit filled lives we are presenting a pattern for others, and when that pattern is based on the Lord Jesus and the Word of God that we have been taught by many along the way it will shine like those lanterns up and down those streets in Philadelphia so many years ago. 

 Our faithfulness to God will speak mightily and it will have an effect on many today and tomorrow.  We may never know here on this earth what impact we have had upon those around us.  It is first and foremost about being faithful to God and not about putting on a show for man.   By setting a godly example, you will present a pattern for the young and old alike.  Consider that when you set such an example you will be a stepping stone for the next generation to witness today and an example for them to emulate in the future.

"Our faithfulness to God will speak mightily and it will have an effect on many today and tomorrow"

During the Christmas season the emphasis seems to be more and more about lights and decorations and the true meaning of Christmas is buried under a landslide of commercialism and secular celebration. Please don’t misunderstand me my wife and I love to decorate our home and we truly enjoy such things that goes into the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus during this time of the year. We can be a light that leads those around us to the true light of the world- "For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

Set the example this season that will bring glory to God and the Good News of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to a lost world.

Praying that you have a wonderful day! I want to thank all of our visitors to the site and I also want to thank those who pray for us as well as those who invest in our ministry! I am blessed to be able to Preach, Sing and Write for the glory of God!

Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Bro. Tracy

Before I was saved I was a musician.  I started playing the guitar at the age of fifteen. To say that I practiced and had an interest in becoming the best that I could would be the understatement of all understatements.  As time went by I began to write and later record my music as a solo artist.  Eventually I started a band named Blues Story.  We described our music as high energy blues.  I sang and was the guitar player of the band.  We played at bars, parties and pubs in and around the area where we lived as well as southern Indiana.

 The guitar was my idol.  I ate, slept and drank playing the guitar. I often get the question, “Are you still playing the guitar?”  I still play, but not the way that many remember.  You see, after I was saved God began to do a work in me.  Praise the Lord!  The Holy Spirit soon was dealing with me about what I was listening to and the style of music that I wrote and played.  I remember the thought bubbling up in my heart that the music that was such a big part of my life was steeped in the philosophies of a life without God and promoted sin and sadness.  I did not mourn the turning away from what once was the biggest part of my life.  How could one ever mourn the loss of that which is contrary to God’s Word and way?  The darkness and sensuality of such lyrics no longer had a place in my life.  The rhythms and music fed my flesh.  The devil is a liar and flesh cannot be trusted.

The Lord has blessed me with new songs.  I absolutely love singing for the glory of the Lord and want nothing more than to be a blessing in the churches the Lord sends me to. What a blessing! I sing and then I get to preach!!! I praise the Lord for saving my soul!  I am truly, truly alive.   I recall those nights when I was playing out and the notes just flowed.  I have no desire to go back in time even on the best night when I was playing at my best- I shudder at the thought of being dead in my trespasses and sins.  What hope is there in hell?  NONE!  I do not have the testimony of many who grew up in church and were saved at a young age. Thirty-six is relatively old when it comes to salvation.  This I know, “Amazing grace! how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I’m found was blind but now I see.”  Glory to God!

We will be teachable when we are reachable.  We have to give ourselves over to the Lord and be submissive to His will for our lives.   We cannot come to God with our plans in our hands and expect Him to bless them.  When our hearts are fixed upon Him and His plans for our lives we will be reachable and teachable.  David wrote in Psalm 25:1-5, “Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.  Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.  Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”  David did not lean on his own understanding.  He had three requests of the Lord that made him reachable and teachable.

I. Show me- Thy Ways.

II. Teach me- Thy Paths.

III. Lead me- In Thy Truths.

David said, “O my God, I trust in thee.” And “On thee do I wait all the day.”  David was trusting in and submissive to the Lord.  We would do well to follow his example.  There will be times in our lives when we will not understand the outcome or circumstances of various situations.  I have known such times first hand.  Our peace will be plentiful when we place our trust in the all-knowing God and lean upon Him and not our own finite understanding. Oh, to be clay in the masters hands and allow Him to guide, lead and direct in any way that He sees fit.

God’s peace is more than able to transcend our circumstances. 

 
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:31-39
 
What powerful truths we find in our scriptures from the book of Romans.  We often need to be reminded by the Holy Ghost of our position and place in Christ Jesus. When the Lord saved me I had no clue of what precious truths awaited me as the Word of God was illuminated in my heart through the Holy Spirit. As I heard God’s Word preached the foundation was being set.  As I read the Word’s of the Living God I was having times of being overwhelmed by God’s Grace, Care, Compassion and Love.  As I am writing this tears of joy and jubilation are welling up in my eyes.  Oh, the power, that God has provided His children within the pages of His inspired Word.
 
1. We Learn of our Past.
2. We Learn of our Position.
3. We Learn of our Place.
4. We Learn of HIS Power.
5. We Learn of His Provision.
 
I pray that many will read this and return to God’s Word. I pray that many will allow the Holy Spirit complete control so that God’s Word will again have its right place in your life.

Would you begin by praying this prayer and meaning it? “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalm 119:18)
 
Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Bro. Tracy