Letting Go

I want to share with you something that God has done in my life recently. I have recently come to the point in my walk with God that I feel like God has proven how faithful He is in my life and how amazing He is. He provides, protects, leads and takes care of me; he has been amazing in my life! I have realized this for awhile but I always seem to keep things in my own hands and never really give God every area of my life for fear that something won't go the way I had planned it to in my life. Yes, as I have been loving and following after Jesus things don't always go my way, but it's been God's way in the end, my life isn't mine, but His and He has a GREAT plan for it! This life isn't about "me" or "I," but about Him and His plan for my life. Every time I am scared in my life for some reason, God has always been there and has been there for me! He rescues me in time of need and when I just want to talk to Him He is ALWAYS there! God's plan hasn't been what I had expected over and over again, BUT it's been HIS plan and NOT MINE. God's plan for our lives is the best plan, who could make a better life and story for HIS glory than Himself.

Recently I have been (by God's grace and Him working in me to help me do it) let go of every area of my life, yes I am STILL learning and growing (and I'm not saying I am perfect, I think letting God lead is a daily submission to Jesus not just a one time deal), but I am tired of doing things my way, I want His way and His plan because He's my Father and I know He will and does take care of me and love me as high as the heavens are above the earth and as far as the east is from the west. There is no reason I should ever doubt Him at all! I could make a list of the things God has done in me and in my family to show me and us that He loves us and that He is faithful and true and is a wonderful father! The list is HUGE! Every time I call, He is there, every time I am weak, He is there. EVERY TIME HE IS THERE!!!

Here are some things that I have seen God's love and faithfulness in my life and in my family:
1)when I was young and in an abusive home-God was there and nothing went too too far and I am still loving Him!
2)When God led my sister and 2 brothers to my new parents
3)When I actually became adopted-which I never dreamed up in my own thinking-but God knew and that was the best plan for us!
4)When my sister lost her memory-God was there and brought her memory back and has healed and continues to be there for her!
5)When my youngest brother drowned-He died, but by God's wonderful grace, mercy and Him helping my Mom and our family, He heard our prayer and He is still alive and has nothing wrong with Him
6)After being abused by several men in my life-I still am following Jesus and He's been there and has protected me EVERY time!
7)When we left our church of 9 years of being there, God was there and has guided us to another great church, even in the pain of leaving-GOD was there and is still Here with us guiding our lives!

THE LIST could go on, this is just some things God has done! :)


So, one area that is my hardest and biggest area to let go of is: my future and I always worry about so much! I am tired of worrying and I honestly believe God has the best in store, so I am taking my hands completely off. I will not try to make anything happen for my life-I am giving it to Jesus. I really do trust Him and I need God to do this in me to help me let go of things that are hard in my life, but I really believe He is giving me the strength and the ability to let go of me worrying about things in my life and trying to make things work out the way that I want them to. I Give it to YOU Jesus, I can't take care of me! I want to love You the way that You love me! I want to be Yours COMPLETELY! I am letting Go of my life and really, truly surrendering every area over to You! You take authority and control, I will just sit back and watch You work as I walk in what You have called me to in Your Word. I love You Jesus, please live through me and in me! All I want is YOU above everything in this world and everything in me! Let this life not be about me, but about YOU and Your Kingdom! I want You! Take total control Jesus! I love You!

Completely His,
Traci

Healthy Relationships

There's more to relationships than the feelings. There's more to relationships than what the media and the ways of this world says. Relationships of any kind are built on a commitment of love and support, of forgiveness and truth and ultimately it is built on God and the His ways, well at least a good healthy relationship is. When we seek our own selfish desires in a relationship, it doesn't get us anywhere. We must look to the needs and interests of the other person. We must learn to die to our selfish desires in many ways. I am learning this right now and have been for a while now. I know I won't be perfect and neither will you, but it's in our weakness we must ask ourselves if we are willing and have a desire to learn and overcome the trials and sins in our lives. Every relationship takes work, they don't just happen. Every relationship takes time as well. We will always be growing and we must be willing to grow and learn things about the other person and about oursleves to make the relationship work out. We must be humble and grow in the fruit of Christ. After marriage the growing doesn't stop, but it keeps going. We must get to the place that we are willing to admit we are wrong in an area and commit to pray and ask God to help us by living His word out in our lives.

I am no expert on relationship and I've never had a boyfriend, but I have seen great marriages and terrible marriages and I have great friends and others that I watch how they live and I notice that in marriages when a couple is struggling and wrestling through hard issues in life, that it's in those times that can break or make the marriage. You can't just "throw in the towl" if something goes wrong or bad, it's a life and death commitment to the person you chose to marry-in the good and bad times, in all times, seasons and things that this life brings us. That goes for ANY relationship, whether marriage or true friendships or family. We must remember that!

There is SO much that I have learned even though I am not in a relationship like marriage and I don't have a boyfriend and never have (someday I hope to-for the purpose of marriage at one point), but I have seen so many relationships and I just wanted to share with you a few things I have learned! I hope this helps!