Discription

Everything Southern & So Cotton Pickin Cute

Monday, January 18, 2010

Welcome to the very first MIRACLE MONDAYS



Welcome to the very first post in a new series called
MIRACLE MONDAYS. First I’d like to thank you for stopping by.
I’ve had this idea on my mind for years. Way before I knew anything about blogging. I love to hear of others miracles. Big miracles, little miracles, it doesn’t really matter and why should it? Aren’t all miracles huge? I believe there are miracles happening every day, all over the world. It’s funny, we have every kind of news media there is, the newspaper, television news -the local news, the national news and stations dedicated to nothing but news, we even have satellite radio with just news shows. We hear every sensational news story there is. Oh sometimes they throw in a feel good piece here and there but it’s very limited. And I for one refuse to believe that there aren’t miracles waiting to be told. Maybe people don’t talk about them because they don’t want to come across as fanatical or crazy. Maybe the news doesn’t share them because they can’t be substantiated. Well I would rather look on the bright side. I’d prefer to think that most people who are interested in miracles and our Lord want to share their blessing with others and not just someone wanting to write fiction. So I’m appealing to you my friends. Do you have a miracle to share? Do you know someone who shared a miracle with you that you would like to pass along? Big miracles are wonderful but isn’t it the little everyday miracles that keep us going, that remind us of God’s goodness, his ever presence. Those of you that follow Debra’s blog ~ a day in the life, have already heard me share this miracle so please bare with me. Since this is the first in the series I thought I would share my biggest miracle with you. It’s one of those in your face miracles. One of those that is irrefutable to me. The one that God said “Never doubt my love for you, I’m always listening”. I believe it was about 15 years ago Ty (my son and only child) and I were living in an apartment community. I used to work in the office but wasn’t any longer employed by them. I was hanging wall paper as a contractor for them at this point. My own hours, it was perfect for me at the time. Neil and I were on a break. I started spending a lot of time studying the word and spending time in prayer with the Lord. The more I spent time seeking him, the more I enjoyed reading the bible. The more sense it started to make. I seemed to be absorbing it, instead of just reading the words and trying to hurry through. For those of you who don’t know me, let me tell you I have always been late. Late everywhere. It’s not that I don’t respect other peoples time, this has just always been a big issue for me. Just like my dad who my mother said would be late for his own funeral. The reason I’m telling you this is to give you an idea of how much I was sincerely seeking the Lord. Whenever I would wake up late or be running late for church, I would speak out loud that nothing was going to stop me from getting up and going on to church. I basically would rebuke the devil. I was feeling good and very content at this point. Oh’ a little background. I have battled depression for a long time. Similar to bi-polar, kind of an up and down thing. Well working my own hours was perfect at this time. I was trying to find peace with myself being without Neil. Every other day or three, I drove out to the beach in the mornings and stayed for 2 to 3 hours. Got a great tan that year, ha-ha. I took my bible and would spend most of that time in prayer. For me the beach or water in general has always brought me peace and relaxation. One day I said to the Lord “Father, I know this sounds crazy, I don’t have the money and don’t see me ever being able to afford a home on the water but Lord it brings me such peace, it calms my high strung nerves so much. Please father I pray that someday, somehow I might be able to live on the water so I can enjoy the beauty and peace of it, I have no earthy idea how but this I ask”. Now, even as I’m saying this I’m thinking to myself this is crazy, you don’t ask and have things drop in your lap. But somehow this didn’t feel wrong. I even remember believing that all things are possible in his name and speaking that. This wasn’t asked for in the text of I’d like a pretty house, new clothes, a fancy car. This was truly about seeking relief and peace. I'd better get on with this story. Is everyone still with me? Within 2 weeks of asking this (maybe even less) I got a call from an apartment community needing an assistant manger. I was hired. That same week I called another very nice apartment community about doing wall paper for them on the side. A few days later I went to meet the maintenance Manager (really big apt comm.) He told me he'd be happy to hire me to do their wallpaper but asked would I be interested in applying for assistance manager there. The apt complex just got bought and they were hiring all new staff. The next day I met the manager and she and I hit it off immediately. She said the job was mine if I wanted it. She then asked would I like to live on sight because she had her own place and wouldn’t be living on the property. Of course I said yes. Free rent!!!! That was a miracle right there. But don’t think that was it, oh no! The manager had a leasing agent show me around. She told me about what the manager might offer me to move into. I was told no one that worked there had ever had a river view apt. These were the most expensive. Well God had something else in mind. This manager offered me the only river view apartment available. 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1600 square feet with a fabulous view! Can you believe that? Then she said take a look at the carpet samples and we’ll put in what ever color you choose. A day later she told me that they would re-tile both of my baths including the master walk in shower. And she had all my appliances refinished. Oh’ my Lord you can’t imagine how my head was swimming. I wanted to shout to everyone what the Lord had done. He hadn’t just given me a better life, he had actually heard me and exceeded my dreams. Here I was with a new job, a better salary, a bonus on all leases that any agent made, a HUGE new apartment on the RIVER, free cable t.v. I was already so blessed. Well that wasn’t the end of it. Neil and I did get back together. While we were separated he rented out the house he was living in and moved to a condo at the beach. So of course when we got back together, here I was on the water again. The beach can you believe it. What I didn’t see possible God did. The beach condo was just a year stay, while waiting for the renters to leave a house he had bought years ago and had been renting out. This house was on the river. A 1920’s cottage that he had done some remodeling to and then moved to a new house which was where I first knew him from. We moved back to the cottage. We call it the Campbell House (Campbell Ave). We have totally knocked out tons of walls, built on, bricked the exterior, new roof, new kitchen and on and on. Unfortunately we are still working on it, and probably will be for the rest of our lives – ha-ha. But my point is ~ that prayer to my father was over 15 years ago. Within three weeks of that prayer I was living on the water and have moved 3 times and each time was to a place one the water. I have never been off the water since. I know in my heart that was an astounding miracle! I was blessed to have seen the grace of God. He knew my heart and answered my prayer. I was an emotional wreck when I made that prayer and feeling so lost. The Lord did this to show me that he had never left me and was always listening to me. I had been suffering so much after the deaths of my parents. I had felt orphaned, he showed me I was not. Please if you have a miracle or someone else miracle that you could share please do. I love the small miracles as much as the big ones. Maybe you’ve had a friend show up at the perfect time, maybe God’s answered your prayer or perhaps you’ve just felt the grace of God. In this time of so much turmoil and financial hardships your story could give hope to someone else. Let’s pass on some good news. We can never have to much of that. Next week I hope to link up with McLinkey so you can share your stories. And my sweet friend Sarah from Gypsy Mermaid Life has offered to create a button for me. I hope that you’ll check back and maybe put the button on your side bar to share the news. Thanks to everyone for reading my long post. May God bless each of you this week in all you do. Love…..Tracy :)

16 comments:

  1. Just want to say sorry all the paragraphs ran together. I know I separated them but apparently blogger decided to do it's on thing.

    Hugs...Tracy :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful story of God's miraculous grace! Here is my own miracle..the short version.
    I had 3 children in 3 1/2 years, the first 2 were girls. Before even trying to get pregnant with my 3rd, I had been drawing closer to God in study and prayer. One day I began to pray for a son...my husband also had a daughter from a previous marriage. I prayed earnestly for God's will, but if it be in His plan, that He give us a litle boy. At the end of my prayer time, I heard God tell me I would have a son. About 3 months later I got pregnant and immediately began telling people it was a boy. We had hoped for a boy with each pregnancy, but in my heart I knew they were girls. We loved them immensely and once they arrived I didn't care what they were. People told me not to get my hopes up, wait for a sonogram, etc. But, when I did have a sonogram, I refused to be told the gender of my baby. I didn't need someone to tell me.. I already knew. God had promised me a son. The day came for the delivery by c-section. No family members went in with me. As my doctor delivered the baby, I told him not to tell me what it was until the baby was placed in my arms. As my son was placed in my arms, the doctor asked me what this lttle boy's name was going to be. I proudly told the world his name was Levi James. As I was wheeled back to my room with my baby, I told all that would listen that God keeps His promises, I had been promised a son and now I had him. That was nearly 17 years ago and that promise is just as special to me today as the day God spoke it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Tracy, My miracle took several years to happen. Ron and I were having difficulties in our marriage. Those of you who follow my blog know that Ron and I are divorced, best friends. We had been married 35 years. Ron was not a believer, I was. He wasn't happy in our marriage or life in general. He left, we divorced and his life hit bottom. Now to back up, I prayed for Ron, seriously, with all my heart. The Lord gave me a promise that Ron would become one of His. I waited and waited, prayed and prayed. Things got worse, for Ron,for me. And they got even worse. I won't go into all the details but I railed at God. Why? Why am I having to go through so much when it's Ron who needs to hit bottom. Well, to make a long story short, Ron did indeed turn to God one Glorious Sunday morning, before church. He's such a good man now. God does truly change people. My daughter through all this asked God for a miracle in her life. She needed a miracle as she was going through a rough period besides the problems with her Dad. So I got my miracle, my daughter got her miracle. You have to understand that when you ask for something, you might have to suffer for it. But it's okay because the joy in the morning is worth it all. During all this I had no income, but what Ron might send me. The Lord provided just what I needed. I never wanted for anything. I had to sell the house I loved so much, my kids helped me get another and even helped me with the mortgage till I could get back on my feet. I started my own business with no income. My life isn't what it was, I don't have the things I had. But I have so much more. Ron is a wonderful Christian man. My daughter saw the Lord work and saw prayers answered. It was truly a miracle in our lives. Blessings, Pat.

    ReplyDelete
  5. so glad everything worked out so well for you...great story...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tracy
    What a beautiful and inspirational story. I too have had a rough time in the last three years but for about a six month period in 2009 I became really frustrated and felt hopeless. Prayer became to me such a place of strength and a source for inspiration to remain positive. Sad events have occurred in the last so many months but I have approached them with the knowledge I am not alone facing them and God is at my side. I feel remarkably at a peace I have never felt. I too suffer from clinical depression and with this new found peace I am no longer on any form of antidepressants and feel terrific. Miracles do happen if we only allow God to preform them when he sees to do so when its best for us. Sending love,Lori

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi there!
    Thank you for coming over and leaving that sweet comment. Thank you for sharing your heart with us! What a sweet blessing you are~

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a wonderful post idea you have! And wow! Did God ever answer your prayers! It's amazing how he takes care of us, isn't it?
    Kate
    PS-thanks for stopping by, so good to hear from you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a wonderful testament to God's goodness!
    Love it!

    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great story! That's awesome. Today I'm thankful for the miracle of waking up healthy in a warm bed with a wonderful husband and too many blessings to count. Hope you have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tracy, Love your Miracle, Love the idea of this post. I'm sorry I don't have time to post a miracle for you this morning, but I've had so many, and the lesson my miracles always teach me is that when I let go of thinking "I" can handle things and remember him, he is always there waiting. Most all of my miracles have been during times that I was at the brink and just said, "what ever will be, will be..." instead of trying to control everything, was when God could come in to shower his blessings. I hope you continue this Miracle series, I agree we need more positive msg. instead of the evening news... XO, Hope your well! Love, Keke

    ReplyDelete
  12. G'day ~ What a beautiful powerful story. It would take me all day to share the joys He has given to me, in my life. I know that He is always there, He hears every word, & He takes care of my needs (which may not be exactly what I'd like them to be but He knows better than do I).

    So happy for you & the joys in your life ...

    Have a beautiful weekend.
    TTFN ~Marydon

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love you Tracy, I'm sorry it took me so long to get over here. You are so precious! love you!
    hugs and blessings,
    Debra

    ReplyDelete
  14. TY for your sweet note. Please come follow me, & if you'd like to read some past posts, pop over to our old blog ~
    feedsackfantasy.blogspot.com ~ lots of good read
    there, too, sweetie.

    I am following you now.
    Have a beautiful weekend.
    TTFN ~ Marydon

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Tracy, Glad you watch the Haitian Telethon, I was in Tears much of the time, while working on some items to go in Rebecca Sowers Haitian Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/haitibyhand .... Like You, I never watch the Music Award shows, not the type of music I am interested in, but this was truly different, I Love seeing the Nation Unite! I hope you are having more Miracle Mondays, My Baby Grandson Miller is a Miracle for Us!
    Have a Wonderful Weekend
    cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  16. beautiful story you've shared. thanks for stopping by French Lique for a visit.. it's so nice to meet you!

    Happy Pink Saturday!

    ReplyDelete