Winsome Wednesday - So How is Your Vehicle Doing?

My lovely sister-in-law, Minky, sent the following to me that she shared with her prayer/inspiration group on her phone.  Now, I am someone who loves cars.  Not to own, although I am fond (very) of my own car (love all the gadgets).  I used to drive on business trips with my dad as a pre-teen as he went around the province servicing cash-registers and we used to play games identifying all the cars.  I have that unusual quirk for a woman, that I can identify most cars (in South Africa), make and model I'll have you know, lol!

I also was short-sighted as a youngster and could not really see into cars very well, as to who was driving, so I tended to recognize people by what they drove and then confirmed who they were by their number plates.  So if the moms are talking about another mom (not in a bad way you understand) at school and I'm trying to identify her, I ask, "What does she drive?"  which most times illicits a response of, "a white car!"  Not very helpful, but you get my quirk right?!

So Minky's encouragement to her prayer group really got to me and I loved the analogy:

"Hi Tracy.  I started a prayer/ inspiration group on whatsapp with my cell group and when I read your status this morning,  it was confirmation!  I have to share this something that is turning and twirling in my rock spider mind. When I got the polo, I was so proud, I want to wash it and keep it clean. I didn't want to park too close to other cars, etc., etc, its like my baby.  But then the thought came to me, my life is like my car and I wrote this and shared it with my Home cell group:

 "One's life is like your car, what you put in is what you get out.  If you wash and polish it, it will not rust and will always shine, and dirt won't stick to it.  If you spot some rust, fix it before your car becomes permanently marked.  If you regularly check your oil and water, your pistons will always run smooth, you won't smoke and, you will not overheat, and you won't blow your top. But if you overheat, start smoking and blow your top, eish!  Big cost to fix the damage. Check your wheel pressure, that you can drive another mile if you have to and make sure the nuts are fastened, that those wheels can't come off  ~  So girls, look after your Car even if it feels like a "Tjorra" (car with personality) some days. Its a free gift, all you have to do is to Fill up with the GOOD quality petrol, oil and water (prayers, positive thinking, gratefulness,happiness laughter, caring...) Pump your wheels and fasten the nuts. Wash it With Jesus shampoo and polish it with His Spirit inside and out, that it can shine. Come on girls, Pump up "da performance".  "

Are you encouraged to spend some time on your vehicle?  As in you?
I hope you are encouraged to do so.

God bless
Tracy

 BLOGHOP TIME

This is a space to come and be encouraged.  You can link as many posts as you want so long as they bring glory to the Lord.  If you have time, please visit the person ahead of you and I am sure you too will be encouraged.  I look forward to seeing you here.

 Feel free to link up below:

A GOD Word When you Need It!

The other night my teen daughter had a nightmare, scary enough for her to come to my room.  I asked her what it was about and her one-line statement made me so sad and mad!  This nightmare should NOT BE HERS!  This nightmare was the result of the last 6 years of family drama.  THIS-WAS-NOT-HER-FIGHT!

I prayed!  I asked God to please give me a scripture I could give her to remove her fear and give her peace in the situation.  By this time I was getting anxious myself because her nightmare has been a fear of ours on and off over the last 6 years too.  The rest of the night was restless for us all.

In the morning I checked my phone for messages as I do and there was a daily word which gets sent every morning from Alive To God!
This is the word sent that morning:  Isaiah 41 v 10:  Do not fear for I am with you, Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God!

AMAZING!  ASTOUNDING!  HUMBLING!  This so spoke into our feelings and fears of the night before!  I quickly shared this with my daughter.  We determined to pray together before she went to sleep that night and we both felt easier for God's word!

And as that morning progressed I was thinking how awesome it was that God gave that scripture right away.  I was grateful!  I was thinking how maybe the nightmare was a warning from the Lord perhaps... And immediately a thought came to me: "What did the nightmare produce?  FEAR!  Thus it is not from the Lord!   The Lord does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of sound mind (2 Tim 1 v 7)".

AMEN and AMEN!  We can discount that nightmare because we know who sent it - NOT THE LORD!  Nope, God cancelled it out with His word.  Thank you Jesus!!!! 

My encouragement to you is to recognise a nightmare for what it is, a trigger for fear!  Thus not of God.  Replace that fear with the truth of His word!

God bless
Tracy

Linking with these lovely ladies this week:
(You will find their links HERE:)

Winsome Wednesday - Profound!

Today I'm going to share with you a simple, but profound statement I saw this week.  I'm sure many of you have seen this before but don't you find it amazing how God brings things like this across your path just when you need to hear or see them?  God is a gentle Father who never forces His hand...

Found on Pinterest...

Very profound right?

Prov 12 v 18:  There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Let what we say and write be wise and bring healing, not hurt and harm.

God bless
Tracy

 BLOGHOP TIME

This is a space to come and be encouraged.  You can link as many posts as you want so long as they bring glory to the Lord.  If you have time, please visit the person ahead of you and I am sure you too will be encouraged.  I look forward to seeing you here.

 Feel free to link up below:

Mother's Day - A Different Perspective!

I know we as mothers tend to be the ones giving and giving and giving.  Giving of our resources, our time, our energy, our natural hair colour (lol)!  Seriously, I look forward to Mother's Day to get a guilt free cup of tea made for me (smiles)!

This past week I was wondering, as my girls are older, what were they going to do for me this Mother's Day?  I thought, if I get a cup of tea made for me, a hug and a kiss and the desire to be "available" all day, I would be happy.  And my mind kept mulling...

Then a thought came across my mind!  Why not bake up a storm?  Why not instead of just phoning my Mom (I know, not very loving and daughter-like right?) invite her over for lunch.  I thought, I am going to be a blessing this Mother's day, instead of waiting for my kids to bless me, I'm going to bless them.  I felt so inspired, so free, so happy.  I was going to use this opportunity to bless my girls so they go away feeling happy and lucky blessed to be my daughters!

I have been so excited to do just that.  The focus of Mother's day for me, was not on me!  It was on them.  Now I know we daily try to bless our children but in myself it was a mind shift, a perspective change of instead of waiting to be blessed, or expecting nothing so as to not be disappointed (have you done this before?), I chose to bless first.  It felt good.  And in looking to bless them, they blessed me anyway and I was so chuffed!

Cupcake teapot from my girls :)

My point is, an attitude shift, a change in perspective away from ourselves and our needs is certainly freeing. Now I am not trying to say give and give and give some more!  I am just saying that for me, instead of feeling sorry for myself for not being acknowledged for my great sacrifices (sarcasm here), I pre-empted that negativity in me - by blessing!  I feel as though it was a lesson from the Lord to say, if you are feeling sorry for yourself, turn it around and bless someone else!  IT WILL LIFT your heart and joy and peace.

Acts 20 v 35(b):...And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." 

I encourage you today as you acknowledge the Lord's blessing in your life, to bless others, so they see Him too.

God bless
Tracy

Sharing this week with these lovely ladies:
(Click HERE to go to links to all these lovely bloghops)

Winsome Wednesday - To God ALL the Glory!

Today I celebrate a victory.  A victory in Christ.  God's word shows us in so many places where He gives His people victory and all He wants in return is the glory.  Today I declare, "Lord, all the glory is Yours!"

Glory to You Lord!

My faith has been tested and in my mind, my faith failed me often.  But, despite ourselves, God remains faithful.  He does what He says He will do!  It is really that simple.  All of God's promises are conditional.  They are dependent on our hearts.  Our hearts are to be towards God.  He knows we are going to mess up, He knows we will not always get it right!  But He is gracious and merciful and His desire is for us to come to Him daily, for relationship with Him.  It is why He created us in the first place, for relationship!

I leave you with this scripture:
Proverbs 16 v 3:  Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.  

With God on your side, you need never fear and you need never lose heart!  His strength and His love WILL sustain you and see you through your desert!

God bless
Tracy

 BLOGHOP TIME

This is a space to come and be encouraged.  You can link as many posts as you want so long as they bring glory to the Lord.  If you have time, please visit the person ahead of you and I am sure you too will be encouraged.  I look forward to seeing you here.

 Feel free to link up below: