Drew Brees talks about his faith

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New Orleans Saints Quarterback (& Superbowl MVP) Drew Brees takes a few minutes to discuss being one of "God's Men."

A puppy to borrow

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Hi friends!

I am still missing Benny, my labradoodle. He was so adorable and smart and sweet, but just not a great match for me so I gave him back to the breeder last Fall and he is happily in a new home. I am still longing for a dog, honestly, but just not ready to take that step just yet. So I figured what I need is a puppy I can borrow.

And so, God said "Yes!"

On Friday, I went with my friend Nancy to get her new golden retriever puppy. We drove over 2 1/2 hours to a charming place in Port Royal, Pennsylvania where this little guy lived. And he was worth the wait! I am now getting my doggie fix by loving on my friend's puppy and her furniture gets chewed not mine! Not a bad deal.

Isn't Jackson cute?

I trust God with the desires of my heart and I am so thankful for the simple joy I can get from enjoying my friend's dog, even when I'm still aching for my own. God knows how to bless us, doesn't He?

Smiles,

Tracey

Blogging from Bed

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Well it's been a good year and I was reveling in the fact that I really haven't had illness this year. And perhaps I was almost a bit "righteous" in my spirit about it. After all, I never get a flu shot. I've lost some weight, gained some of it back, then lost some again. I've been consistently going to the gym and working out now for the last 4-6 weeks. And considering how hard 2007 was, I was feeling pretty good that I made it through 2008, a stronger, healthier me.

And then.. Mr. Flu paid me a visit. I was out with some friends Sunday evening when he showed up. He crashed our party, singled me out and took me down. I hate Mr. Flu. He's not the kind of sick you can mildly enjoy.. you know.. get all cozy in your sweats and sip tea in front of the fireplace and feel like a little kid, watching cartoons and taking naps. Oh no. Mr Flu isn't fun at all. There's nothing cozy about feeling like you've been run over by the Iditarod. I have had a fever courtesy of Mr. Flu for 2 days now, along with body aches that make you feel twice your age. I had to take out a loan to buy stuff at the CVS that would maybe, possibly, help me. And to add to my misery, my doctor's office said, yes it sounds like the flu. Can you come in?

No- I can't come in. I have the flu! What are they thinking?

I have tried to use this time to be productive. I worked on my upcoming book, "How to Kill a Pointsettia in Less than a Week". I've even practiced developing the fruit of the spirit known as joy, whilst in my bed and missing out on some things I wanted to do. While I haven't felt well enough to read, I lay my bible over my chest and just hope by some miracle, that the Word just kinda oozes into me while I sleep and cough and toss and turn.

And I am reminded yet again.. of my complete dependence on my Lord for everything. Even my health- which because it's usually so good and just seems to maintain all by itself, I can take for granted that it is a gift from God. "In Him, we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28)

Every day that we feel good, isn't just because we do all the right things, and take our vitamins and eat right..It's a gift from the One who made us. Thank you Lord for this gift! And now that I have realized how much I took it for granted, would you make Mr. Flu go away?

If you feel great today, just pause and thank Him. And if you don't feel great today, thank Him for that too. Surely, even there, He is with you and working out something in you and others that is good.

I miss you and hope to back with you soon. Pray Mr. Flu takes a hike, ok?

Ok, now back to sleep.

Tracey

Divine Collaboration

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I’m a big fan of the Beatles. Please Please Me, She loves You, Eleanor Rigby, Yesterday, I want to hold your hand…John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote tons of songs together and decided before they even formed the Beatles that they would put both their names on all the songs they wrote-whether or not both of them had contributed. They would be a songwriting partnership- everything they wrote would say, Lennon/McCartney. Both would get equal credit.

I was always fascinated by this. I am a songwriter too and when I was younger, I occasionally would collaborate with other people. And one of my writing partners always felt the need to explain to others in great detail which part of the song was his contribution and which part was mine.

“Well, yea we wrote it together, but the 3rd line of the 2nd verse was mine and that really was the inspiration for the hook in the chorus. And she had some different chords in the chorus, I just tweaked them a bit and from the bridge to the end, that was pretty much all me, but we wrote it together, really… it was a collaboration.”

We do like to get credit for things don’t we? That’s why it can be a bit tricky when people collaborate- because we can be so insecure. We want to make sure, someone knows, hey- I did that!

Well God isn’t insecure. He knows who He is. And even though He doesn’t need our affirmation to make Him feel better about Himself, He does desire, and deserve to get the glory for the great things He has done and is doing. -- And guess what? He will.

Revelation 4:11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Whether you recognize it now or not, whether you lift Him up as the source of every great accomplishment in your life, whether or not you ever acknowledge that God has anything to do with the good that comes out of you.. One day, He will get the glory. And we will clearly see how all the good things we were able to be a part of in our lives weren’t because we were super talented, or smart, or rich, or beautiful, or really nice… but rather, … that we were a part of a divine collaboration with a gracious Author who did most of the work but let us put our name on it.

Tracey