no answers

A baby girl is born but never goes home from the hospital, friends battle cancer, children in a remote part of Zambia are malnourished and in need of mana RUTF. They wait patiently for us to help, because The Salvation Army's Chikankata Mission Hospital  is down to its last two boxes of RUTF.  This list could go on and on.

Life. At times, it is unfair, unjust and sad. I do not understand why babies die, why moms have to battle cancer and why I have so much in my refrigerator and pantry and others have so little. 

When it comes to my plenty and others need, I can do something. I can give and by giving make a difference. But there are other injustices that I can't help to make right.  And let me be honest that is hard... because of my western mind-set, I want answers. I want things explained and I want it to all make sense. I want to have answers to give and I want to be able to give a reason for why things are happening. 

But then I'm reminded that this is my, our desert wandering. This is not home, this world as it is right now is broken and messed up. There are no answers sometimes. And thankfully, this is not all there is to life.   There is a day coming when all will be right, when Jesus returns. All I need to do until then is love. Love with my actions, not just my words. 

Tonight we will go to a memorial service for a sweet baby. I have struggled all week with God...why? There are no answers, but there are  things that I know are truth, no matter what is happening here.

He is...

Shalom/ Prince of Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

Our Help

So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:6 

Our Deliverer
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2 NASB

Our Perfect Intercessor 

He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Our Burden Bearer

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

 Our Healer

“... for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26b

 
Gentle Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need ... Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because You are with me. Your rod and Your shepherd’s staff comfort me. Psalm 23:1; 4 NCV

El Roi- The God who sees 

The slave girl gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are ‘God who sees me,’ “ because she said to herself, “Have I really seen God who sees me?” Genesis 16:13

 Breach-Mender

“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:12

 Unconditional Love

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

The Answer
On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.

Psalm 138:3



join us

If you live in Charlotte, like to craft and help others then I have the perfect thing for you..... 

Craft Night at Julia's Cafe and Books!  Please join me and others on Thursday, June 20th from 6-8 to make a craft out of used books. We will be making book letters. Just like the ones in the picture.

I'm sure you have heard of Habitat for Humanity but you may not know about Julia's. Julia's is a coffee shop located in the Wendover Road Habitat for Humanity Re-store.  All of the profits from the drinks and goodies and used books that Julia's sells go directly to Habitat for Humanity.  

As you can imagine, the Habitat Re-store gets tons of donations of used books each week.  While Julia's is able to put out many of those books to sell in the bookstore, there are still many they can't use (you wouldn't believe some of the books they get!). Here is where craft night comes in...we will be using those books that can't be sold in the store to make our crafts. All proceeds from craft night go to Habitat. 

Please join us! 

Here are the important details...

For $19.98 we’ll provide all the materials you’ll need for a book-page project and a local blogger to lead you through the process. We’ll even throw in a drink (we have caffeinated and decaf options). All you have to bring is your creative side. The letters are perfect to hang in your home or use as bookends. All proceeds from Julia’s support Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. For more information, or to register, visit Julia's or call 704-295-4585. Julia's is located at 1133 Wendover Road Charlotte.

Love

Tracy

linky love and a recipe

front

back

This. Father's. Day. card. I love it.  I cannot  think of a better way to honor dad this year than to invest in the lives of these moms and their children at The Mercy House in Kenya.  My dad and my father in law are getting one of these cards! Go to the Mercy House shop to order yours.   

If you haven't checked out Sacred Made Shop. Go do it. I love their prints and their tagline... adorning  your space with grace and truth! The prints are beautiful and speak words of truth! I have the silhouette print...one for each of my kiddos, and I was able to pick the scripture background for each of the portraits. 

We are attending a wedding this weekend and I needed a gift for a very special couple,  so I ordered a print like this one...

 this one is on my list 

and this one

 Go check out the prints.  It is hard to choose just one!

This song. 

If there's a road I should walk, help me find it 

If I need to be still, give me peace for the moment

Whatever your will, whatever your will 

Help me find it, help me find it 

- Sidewalk Prophets

Banana chocolate chip muffins...my kids love this recipe

1 1/2 cups of flour (unbleached or whole wheat)

2/3 cup of sugar 

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

1 egg

1 1/3 cups of mashed ripe bananas ( about 3 medium)

1/3 cup butter (melted)

1tsp. vanilla extract 

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

In  another bowl, whisk egg, bananas, melted butter, and vanilla until blended. 

Add the egg/banana mixture to the flour mixture, stir until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips.

Grease muffin tin and fill muffin cups 3/4 full. 

Bake for 17-20 minutes. 

Love,

Tracy

you don't deride us, chide us, or hide from us

“For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. (2 Cor. 7:5–6)

“At times I still labor under the myth of an omnicompetence. If I just prayed enough, believed enough, or was filled with the Spirit enough, I would never get discouraged or downcast. What a groundless lie. What a horrible burden. What a humorless joke.

Thank you for comforting us when we’re downcast. You don’t deride us, chide us, or hide from us. You comfort us. You’re “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). And thank you for the comforters you send us. Though you’re quite capable of sending ravens and rainbows and manna and miracles, more often than not you send a Titus to a Paul (2 Cor. 7:6) or a Phoebe to a Paul (Rom. 16:1). You love to show your kindness for your people through your people.”

                                                        - Scotty Smith

Love

Tracy

wordless Wednesday

good reads and ideas...and a way to help others

This. is. a. must. read. Wise words for moms of daughters from Emily over at Chatting at the Sky.

I can't read Sara Barton's blog and not be encouraged, challenged or learn something. I met Sara in Uganda. She was on the mission team in Jinja that we were able to spend a summer with while we were in college.  She talks about Praising God when we realize we have been wrong... who wants to do that?  Who wants to even admit that?!! Sara talks about this topic with grace and wisdom. This post is well worth your time...

Thriving Families has a great activity to do with your kids this summer. Around The World in 60 Days covers 27 different countries on six continents. In each day is included a Bible lesson and a glimpse into another culture. Included in the printables is a passport and stamps along with a world map.

Reading...we all know how important it is to the development of our children. If you have about six hours to spare this summer then I have an opportunity for you.  I learned about the YMCA's Y Readers program through our church. This is the second summer our church has partnered with the Y Readers volunteer program. Have you heard of it? We take summer reading for our kids for granted.  Of course they'll be reading books during the summer break, right?  But, do you know that many children go home for the summer to homes that have no books?  They won't visit the library or Barnes and Noble.  They won't sit down with a book at all this summer.  Research shows that children who do not read during the summer months lose 2.5 months of reading proficiency. The students the YMCA helps through these literacy camps are the students who attend Title 1 schools. These students need help and the Y has stepped up to bridge the gap for them. The Y needs volunteers, too. They need volunteers to commit to one hour a week, for six weeks, to listen to a child read and then read to a child. That's it! It's practicing justice right here in our own backyard. This program was started in Charlotte and has expanded nationwide. If you live in the Charlotte area you can contact Michelle Mosko at michelle.mosko@ymcacharlotte.org to volunteer. If you don't live in Charlotte you can contact your local YMCA to see if they participle in the Y readers program. You can also go here and here to read about the Y Readers.


Happy Monday!
Love,
Tracy

even on my best day

Last weekend Jason and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. Where did the years go? I wish that I had just a half an hour with that 22 year old girl that walked down the aisle...there were so many lessons that took so long for me to learn! :) That is a whole other blog post. In light of our anniversary approaching I pulled out the gift that the minister who performed our ceremony gave to Jason and me. It's a book with the message that he delivered at our wedding and the vows we spoke to each other. I love it! It is such a wonderful gift and I'm so thankful Nathan did that for us.

In his message he reads part of the 1 Corinthians 13 passage. We all know it. You may have even had it in your wedding ceremony! The whole chapter wasn't included in our ceremony, so I pulled it out to read again. Wow...the words and the description that Paul gives us of love is so intimidating. They are so intimidating because I know I haven't loved that way. I know I can't love that way. Read the words of Paul.

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(New International version)


Even on my best day...the absolute best I have ever had in my life...I can't even begin to be the love that is described in this chapter. But, what if Paul isn't describing for me how I should love, but instead is describing how Jesus loved? When I look at in that way...all of the pressure is off. Paul is describing Christ not me. He is showing us the only one capable of perfect love. I can't be those things but I don't have to, because Christ is those things and it is him living in me. My commentary (Bruce, Zondervan) suggests taking out the word love and substituting Christ in its place. Reading it that way has given new meaning into this passage. I am so thankful for the grace and the abundant perfect love of Christ.

13... But the greatest of these is Christ.

Love
Tracy