The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my
   commandments;
For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own
   understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
Honor the Lord from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new
   wine.
My son, do not reject the discipline of
   The Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in 
   whom he delights.

How blessed is the man who finds
   wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with
   her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take
   hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the
   heavens.
By His knowledge the deeps were
   broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
My son, let them not vanish from your
   sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be
   afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be 
   sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked
   when it comes;
For The Lord will keep your foot from being
   caught.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and
   come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,"
When you have it with you.
Do not devise harm against your 
   neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
Do not contend with a man without
   cause,
If he has done you no harm.
Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
For the devious are an abomination to
   The Lord;
But He is intimate with the upright.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of 
   the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the 
   righteous.
Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
The wise will inherit honor,
But fools display dishonor.

-Proverbs 3 (NASB)


Featured Music:
Touch The Sky - Hillsong United

Shechem

Choose this day whom you will serve. You cannot if you forgot and plot against the Lord. His works, His love and faithfulness serve to swerve remembrance towards Him.
Our God is unchanging, holy and jealous.  Just like it's written, Joshua tells 'em,  give up false gods and choose.  He compelled them at Shechem.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph chose us. You know this.  For His voice has told us.  To follow, serve and obey is to put it away.  Whatever takes favor over the Savior puts us in danger.
Fear The Lord and savor scripture.
God speaks, He moves, and gathered them together; reminded of miracles and protection.
He implores us today, choose Him or walk away. Our ultimatum. Just like He spoke at Shechem.

"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness.  

Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, 

whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, 

or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.  

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

- Joshua 24:14-15

Featured Music:

Brandon Heath - No Turning Back

Mind Over Matter

I came across the following letter I wrote to a loved one back in 2012, three years after I started down this long road of recovery. The path of sobriety is close to my heart, and when I re-read this letter, it tastes just as strong as it did the day I held onto its truths written within.

4/11/12
If you have a breath, you have a responsibility to use it for whom you serve.  Make every moment count towards the goal of who you want to be... and before you know it, that's who you are.  Living life in addiction changes you and makes you believe lies like, "This makes me a better person/ driver/ thinker/ lover etc." Kill that.  When we recognize real... we recognize that lie, and we do something about it.  We move forward... because even if you fall back, time is still passing by.  So you're ultimately moving toward a destination whether we like it or not.  It's just a matter of if you're moving for the better or for the worse.  Because nothing stays the same other than God himself.  Every step you take, breath you take, and decision you make will push you one way or another.  But even at the end of the wrong road, God is faithful and able to save.  He did it for me, he will do it for you.  His unchanging nature is comforting to any soul, especially one in withdraw.  Stand firm in the Lord by actively trusting in His great strength and power.  Fight lies with scripture... "I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me."  And know that He is worth it, He keeps His word and He loves you enough to prove it, with the holes in His hands.  You don't have to worry about the details right now.  Let Christ clean it up, one piece at a time.  Just focus on what He wants from you right now... with this next breath. Stay strong.

It used to seem like there were plenty of time to grow up later. Like the life I wanted in the end would be there waiting for me when I decided to settle down. YOLO, right? I wish I knew then what I know now. There is never enough time.

I believe there is life after death. I believe we do not only live once, and one day there will need to be an account given for the way we lived this side of eternity.  Thanks be to God, when He looks at me on that day He will see Christ's grace instead... He promised mercy because Jesus took my penalty on that cross.  Through Him we are forgiven and told to go and sin no more.  In churchy words, repent.  

I've heard insinuations that basically I'm not worthy to call myself a Christian because of my past. That I'm a hypocrite because now I'm against things I once lived for.  That would only be true if I continued to live in the way I speak against.  Repentance on the other hand, is doing a complete 180. It's turning around and going the other direction. That's what I did back on June 9th, 2009.  No one can love Him more than the one who has been forgiven much!  

If you're going through it, perhaps the way I did, know that God is alive! His heart is near the broken hearted. He wants nothing more than for His people to turn away from the muck and lift their eyes to Him.  He is worth taking steps to move towards, because He first loved us, in all our dirt.  He will help you too if you invite Him.

Have you experienced His mercy? Do you want to know Him? What shackles has he freed you from? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.  Take care, and God bless!

Traci Ann


The Featured Music today is a throw back... The rap song I played on repeat back on 6/8/09; barely able to breathe, literally, pushing on my chest to release the trapped air from my lungs. The song the Lord used to grip me harder than anything beyond the withdraw, the shaking, the headaches, the tears. The struggle is real. But so is God, and He is Mighty to Save.

Lecrae - Breathin' To Death:

   

Fitly Fruit Filled

   How do we know an apple tree?  Stepping out into our large backyard as a child, one of the first things I'd do would be to run out to my favorite tree, climbing up and swinging through the branches, some of which I engraved names of those closest to me.  Next to that tree was the small, fragrant apple tree I loved.  It filled the air with that familiar summer sweetness.  I could see the apples decorating the branches with it's lovely hues contrasted against the green leaves. I could see the fruit it left around the ground where it stood.  I often could hear the buzzing of bees that were attracted to the fruit of our old apple tree.  You could quickly come to the obvious conclusion of what type of tree it was, simply by its fruit.

   I love how the Word of God describes the Spirits nature. I love that it compares it to fruit, for then it quickly becomes obvious who is walking in the Spirit of God.  It makes it obvious to us when the enemy is at work, when the contrary inevitably arises.

"...the kingdom of God...
the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, 

joy, 

peace,

patience,

kindness,

goodness,

faithfulness, 

gentleness, 

self-control;..."
-Galatians 5:..21-22..

    This is how we walk as a true follower of Christ, we declare Jesus is Lord, and we bear the fruit of the Spirit. That is the clear, obvious fruit that begins to form in our hearts, in our minds, and pours out around us in our lives as we surrender to God's work in us.  {Lord, may we walk in the Spirit, all the days of our lives. May we bear this fruit so that it is evident beyond any doubt to whom we belong - all for the glory of Your Kingdom.}  With Christ, this is possible.  When we stumble, we stand back up again and remember our roots. Remember to whom you belong, and bear the fruit we claim. There can be joy where we never thought there could be. There is a peace in Him that surpasses all understanding.

   The Spirit filled person changes the atmosphere where they are.  May others sense the difference.  We can leave the signs of the Spirit all around us, letting our patience and kindness, gentleness and goodness surround us. We can let the buzzing, buzz.  Bear fruit. Become the person you want to be. The person God wants you to be.  

   "The old saying is familiar and true: "First you make your habits; then your habits make you." So it's always a good time to ask this question: "What kind of person are my habits making me?""
- VeggieTales 365 Devotions for Boys 

May we fitly live fruit filled lives! 

Love.

Joy.

Peace.

Patience.

Kindness.

Goodness.

Faithfulness.

Gentleness.

Self-control.

Featured Music:
Jeremy Camp - Christ In Me

You Heard?

  There are some things that once you've heard, there is no "un-hearing" it. You know what I'm talking about?  Or once something has happened to you, you are forever holding a different claim to life.  There's no going back to that old you, who never smoked, or holding the ability to claim your perfect driving record.  Once you have had or heard that something, You. Own. It. And there will never be any forgetting it. You cannot go back to the ignorance you once had, for the rest of your life, sometimes certain knowledge will strike you and leave a lasting impression that will forever leave you changed.

  The free gift of God's Holy Spirit is like that.  He will hit you, seal you, and keep you, to where you will be forever changed if you believe.  There is no turning back to the way life once was, once this truth is revealed to you.  Only instead of tarnishing you, Christ leaves you blameless. (1) (See Spring Cleaning the Soul.) The Spirit then comes to us (2) to help, teach (3), and seal us. (4)

  But to be "sealed" describes a message of authenticity. It shows that it's genuine, completed and not tampered with.  God is the one who sent the Holy Spirit as guarantee of our delivery unto Himself.  To be sealed with the Spirit is an identification of ownership, of protection, and security. This is something that can never be taken away. (5)

"In him you also, when you heard the Word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation,

and believed Him,

you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire

possession of it, to the praise of His glory."

-Ephesians 1:13-14

   It has always been about salvation through the promised Messiah.  Jesus Christ has paid our penalty in full by what He did on the cross. (6) Thereby releasing us from the slavery of our sins.  God gives the Holy Spirit as a deposit to our soul, once believing, life-changing deposit. Not as a "down payment" but the transaction is completed. It has been paid in full.  It is a promise of commitment to seal us.  Jesus Christ is the bridegroom and the Holy Spirit is a promise that nothing can break.

"... and no one will snatch them

out of my hand."

-John 10:28

  Salvation is not temporary. It is eternal!  This is a knowledge that is beyond life changing. This is an assurance that can never move backwards. Once you have this sweet salvation, You. Are. His.  It becomes a part of you, a new you that will never be the same. Epic.  

"... so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

For God so loved the world,

that he gave His only Son,

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,

but have eternal life.

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world,

but that the world might be saved through Him."

- John 3:15-17

Featured Music:
TobyMac- Feel It (Audio) ft. Mr. TalkBox

1.)  Colossians 1:22
2.) 1 Corinthians 3:16
3.)  John 14:26
4.)  Ephesians 1:13-14 (See it quoted above.)
5.)  John 10:28-30
6.)  John 19:30

Eternal Profits

Like flowers bloom for the stinging bee

Bringing sweet honey;

Invisible songs allure mischief

A means to an end, just money.

Coins impede mere reason.

Blinding importance in effects 

of attention altered; Lord's treason. 

Rather trust provisions will come

for those who follow the Son.

Work for the Kingdom come

cannot be worthless in the eyes 

of the Most High, sovereign King.

He who keeps us.

Loves us.

Unfailing.

        I say to myself, 

           "The Lord is my portion;

            therefore I will wait for him."
       Lamentations 3:24 (NIV) 

Featured music:

Lauren Daigle - Trust In You

Spring Cleaning the Soul

Hello friend, and hello Spring!

Sometimes, in order to clean my house it involves getting rid of insects - especially living down in the southern pines of North Carolina.  Unwanted spiders or ants can make their way in, and if I'm not keeping up on my cleaning, they can nest and eventually reproduce.  Then my house would become infested.  To prevent that problem from growing, I have to destroy any little homes I find forming. I rid them from my home, where they don't belong.  Some could even be a fatal threat to my family, like poisonous spiders or scorpions.  Therefore, I need to clean, treat, and repeat to prevent or stop infestation.  

In a very real way, sin can take on the same role.  Our bodies are our home, and our souls need cared for within just as do our bodies.  When we wash our faces and brush our teeth, lets remember the importance of being renewed in our minds as well. (1) {Wash our souls, Lord.}  Sin has a subtle way of creeping in, and if left unchecked, can nest and take root in our hearts.  In order to prevent sin from infesting and growing in our souls, we need to clean, treat, and repeat.

We clean our hearts of sin by accepting Christ's payment for them on the cross. Confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead and we will be saved (2) - This is cleansing us from our sins.  Asking God to forgive us from our sins and going on to sin no more, repentance. Understanding that our salvation is not contingent upon what we have done, but what our Lord and Savior did for us. (3) An unconditional gift, not conditional by what we can do. Christ payed the price and said, "It is finished.". (4)  Washed clean our souls.

To treat our souls, we must walk in the Spirit thereafter.  Preventing any infestation of sin.  The Word says a house swept clean is left wide open to the enemy if the house is left empty (5), or not filled with the Holy Spirit.  First, pray for God to fill you, I am praying this for us even now.  Studying God's word to learn who He is will treat your soul.  The Living Word.  May it stay fresh in our minds, wiping away any webs of the enemy.  Take up the armor of God (6) and see the fruit of the Spirit {love..} take root. (7)  This way we have an unchanging standard to hold everything.  A standard of Truth. When that little pest, selfishness, creeps in - or drunkenness wants to crawl up and make itself comfortable in your life - you stand on the Word of God. We remember Galatians 5: 24 and know that "those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to the cross and crucified them there.  If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives." Wipe it out.  Pray.  Treat your soul. 

Repeat. Lets not forget to remain in the body of believers. We need the church, we are the church.  I saw a meme that said, "Not going to church because of hypocrites is like not going to the gym because of out of shape people." How true that is! I pray we remain in a Bible based church to worship and fellowship, for encouragement, accountability and warning. (8)  Furthermore, the music we fill our minds with will be what's on repeat in our souls.  May we take care in humming along with the Spirit, not otherwise.  I promise this is the foundation on which your house will always stand through eternity. (9)  Peace will then reign in Him.  May God bless you, my friend, as we together work on spring cleaning our souls.  My thoughts and prayers are with you, as I hope I might be in yours.  

In Christ's Love,

Traci Ann 

Featured Music: Tobymac - City On Our Knees

Biblical References: 

(1.) Ephesians 4:21-24 (Read through the end of Eph. for details on how.)    

(2.) Romans 10:9

(3.) Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 5:1-6

(4.) John 19:30
(5.) Luke 11:24-26

(6.) Ephesians 6:13-18

(7.) Galatians 5:22
(8.) Hebrews 10:25

(9.) Matthew 7:24-28