Stretching… God’s way!

Hahahaha… what a funny name for a post huh? I bet the first thing you thought of was getting ready for a workout. Maybe you envisioned a runner getting ready for a run or sprinter getting ready for a short sprint…

Whatever your first vision was the stretching I am referring to is quite a bit different. Yes, it sometimes hurts (makes you ill at times), it sometimes pulls the muscles a bit and makes you uncomfortable, but it’s much more of a spiritual stretching than a literal physical stretching.

I won’t lie, its hard! I don’t like it, its not fun, its difficult to say the least, I mean in all reality it hurts; but, its the most wonderful place to be spiritually! When God begins to stretch you there is no doubt your on the right track!

I came home tonight to find an e-mail from a friend that struck home with me and really stirred this up in me. In the e-mail it spoke on Malachi 3:3 And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver… Now this isn’t the full scripture but this is what I want to focus on…

He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver… now think about this… In the e-mail the writer speaks on the process of refining silver. I took the liberty of researching it myself and that is what I will share with you.

Upon researching I discovered that silver has the highest optical reflectivity which basically means it has an unbelievable reflection. This means that a reflection seen in silver is much clearer than a reflection seen in other metals… You see as God begins to burn those impurities out of us, His reflection becomes clearer in our lives… He can see Himself in us and so can all those around us.

Notice that He sits as a refiner, He always has his eye on us! He will never give us more than we can handle during the refining process! Though the fire may be hot, God is sitting right there with you watching as every second goes by. He will never leave you in the fire longer than you need to be and He will always pull you out right on time!

I want to share with you some other things I pulled from this scripture… First, God is the refiner! Let’s look at what the word refine means:

1. To reduce to a pure state; purify.

2. To remove by purifying.

3. To free from coarse, unsuitable, or immoral characteristics.

You see God desires to refine us. He desires to free us from unsuitable, immoral characteristics… the thing is, He is the ONLY ONE who can do that. He sometimes has to take us through something to break us through something or to break us of something. We carry to many things in our lives that we just aren’t supposed to carry. Past hurts, habits, bad morals, views, unforgiveness, hates and so on and so forth.That brings me to the purifier He is. Let’s look at what purify means:

1. To rid of impurities; cleanse.

2. To rid of foreign or objectionable elements.

3. To free from sin, guilt, or other defilement.

In order for God to take us where He wants to take us, He has to purify our hearts in the fire. He has to go into every dark place in you! No matter how many locks you have on a specific spot in your life, until you allow God to unlock it and burn it up, it will continue to drag you down and keep you from the full promise God has for your life.

Now hear me when I say this, the enemy will attempt to drag you down because of your past. He will throw things in your face and tell you your not good enough. The enemy will sometimes use other people to bring you down too. The enemy will have them remind you of your past and he will have them throw your past in your face. Don’t fall for the lie! God is purifying and refining you and when people begin to do this to you YOUR IN THE RIGHT SPOT!!!!

Now to bring this all back to where I began, stretching! Let me share with you the definition of stretching as referred to in this writing:

1. To become lengthened, widened, or distended.

2. To extend or enlarge beyond the usual or proper limits.

3. To expand in order to fulfill a larger function.

WOW! I love the last definition of stretch… You see God has a bigger picture in mind when He refines and purifies you! He has to stretch you so that He can fulfill a larger function in the body of Christ! During the refining process He will extend you beyond your usual and proper limits. He knows just how far He can take you to bring you into the place He desires for you to be! It may hurt, it may be uncomfortable, it may be painful at times, your not gonna like it in most cases but understand it is all part of growing! It’s a good place to be as difficult as it may be at the time, the reward is so great!

So I encourage you today, if you find yourself in the fire, stretched beyond what you believe to be your boundaries, REJOICE because God has His hand on you and He is about to pull you from the fire, refined and purified reflecting His glorious image!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Tracy

It’s Beautiful…

 

 

It’s Beautiful…

 

Lost in this crazy world of emotions…

Drowning in my tears and yet soaring on my hopes for the future.

Torn between my passion and my call…

Both of them are one in the same!

How ironic isn’t it!

Confusing and yet so clear the direction I must go.

Still, painful is the choice as my feelings are so strong.

My heart cries out to stay, but my Spirit says go and soar on eagle’s wings.

I am excited…

I am scared…

I am happy…

I am sad…

I am sure…

And still I question?

Why?

Why is it so hard to trust?

Why is it so hard to step out in faith?

I thought I was out of my comfort zone here but I guess the reality is I am very comfortable!

Maybe that’s why I have to go…

It’s time for God to move me out of my comfort zone again!

I have learned so much and yet I still have so much to learn.

So much growing to do even still!

It’s a process… a process that I will go through till the day I go home!

It hurts and it’s hard… and yet it’s joyous…

I glow from the inside out in anticipation for what the future holds, what God has in store…

It’s so scary… and yet in the same breath…

It’s beautiful…

~Tracy Brown July 21st, 2008~

When Is Enough Just Simply Enough?

I find in the past I have asked myself this very question on more than one occasion, as I am sure many of you have. When faced with difficulties or put into circumstances that are beyond your control you tend to ask this question of God. Do you feel ashamed to ask such a question given what Christ went through on the cross?

Don’t worry, so did I, but the truth is you shouldn’t be, we are human! Look God knows what you’re thinking even before you think it. I used to get upset at my circumstances because I couldn’t wrap my brain around what was going on in my life! But guess what, I wasn’t supposed to and neither are you. Some things are better left misunderstood! I know that seems silly to say but it’s the truth! In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says… 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

 

This scripture has been hard for me to swallow at times, but it doesn’t negate the fact that its truth! Have you ever felt like your situation and lack of an immediate answer is a result of something your doing or not doing? Have you asked yourself these questions before: What are we doing wrong? What have we not done? Have we not given it all to God? Have we not trusted Him enough? Do we not have enough faith? What will it take for God to move on our behalf?

 

You know one woman had the audacity to ask us this question one time as she was praying. She very blatantly said, “What have you not repented of? What are you still doing that you’re not supposed to be doing?” Has anyone ever asked you this question? She was under the misconception that healing had not been fulfilled because there was a repentance problem. I thought to myself, are you kidding me? You can’t begin to imagine how many movies and X-box games and music CD’s we have gone through in an attempt to do away with ANYTHING that might be hindering God! As if throwing away some video is going to open the doors of heaven and allow healing to miraculously manifest the instant the trash leaves in the garbage truck. COME ON! If only it were that simple… But it is not that simple though that is the mentality of some people. The bad part is that it causes the people to go crazy trying to find WHAT it is that is hindering their healing from coming. It causes them to beat up on themselves because people make them feel like its something they are not doing right or they try to make them feel like their faith just isn’t big enough. Let me tell you this, God CAN heal, God WILL heal and God DOES still heal but it is in His time not ours! You can’t buy, shout, stomp, claw, cry, beg or grovel your way into receiving a healing until it is God’s will! PERIOD! When you have done all you can do and given it all to God, its time to put into operation Proverbs and lean not on your own understanding! I promise you this, if you will acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will make your paths straight!!!!!

God has to take us through some valley’s to prepare us for the mountaintops! Look, how are you ever going to have a victory if you’ve never been in a battle! Really! Some things are just beyond our ability of understanding, hence the scripture from Proverbs. God has seen the countless times you have prayed, He has been there when you’ve laid it at His feet, He has seen the endless times you have come to the altar, He has heard your prayers… and He will answer you! It may not be in your time but it will be right on time!

So don’t be discouraged, be encouraged! You are the apple of God’s eye and He delights in the praises of His people, so start praising! Praise Him through the storm, praise Him through the valley, praise Him through your difficulties, praise Him through your sickness no matter how bad you feel just begin to praise Him! Please understand that He knows how you feel! He knows right where you are and He does not hold it against you that you have good days and bad days. Just get back up on those bad days and remember who loves you, God (trust me I know from experience)!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Tracy

Have Your Way…

Have Your Way… my hearts cry is for God, my King, to have His way in my life! I remember the day God gave me this song just like it was yesterday. I had to call my two best friends Yvonne and Angela and tell them about it. I just cried and cried and cried over this song. Let me share this scripture with you from the Amplified Bible…Psalms 86: 10-12  10. For You are great and work wonders! You alone are God. 11. Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart to fear and honor Your name. 12. I will confess and praise You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart; and I will glorify Your name forevermore.

See you can’t just glorify God and praise Him in your circumstance half-heartedly, you have to praise Him with your whole heart, with EVERYTHING that is within you! Your going to have times where your going to face some things in your life that are hard and painful and confusing, but the way to make it is to not lean on your own understanding, but to acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make the paths straight as it says in Proverbs 3: 5-6.  

This is such a powerful song and it speaks such truth. Guys, you can’t do anything without praying! On your knees, humbled before God, you will find everything you need! It may not come on your time frame, but rest assured the answer is on the way! I encourage you, if you have not already done so completely surrender  your life to HIm so that He can have His way! Don’t carry the burdens of your life and of this world, lay them at His feet and ask God to have His way… We must trust him at every turn in our path, every bump, every hill, we just have to trust Him completely!

If you would like to listen to a copy of this song right now go to www.myspace.com/tracyannbrown or you can send me a comment and I can forward the song to you! Please let go and let God be God! He knows far better than we do guys!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Tracy

Have Your Way:

Verse 1:
On my knees that’s where I find You,
In my closet as I pray.
I can feel Your arms around me
As You softly whisper my name.

Chorus:
I bow at Your feet, I give You my heart
With all that’s in me, cause that’s where it starts
Surrendered to You, with my hand’s lifted high,
I trust in You, I give You my life, Have Your way.

Verse 2:
On my knee’s I find Your comfort,
When this world throws things my way.
When I need a shoulder to cry on,
You are there to wipe the tears away.

Words and music by Tracy Brown
© 2006 Tracy Brown’s Collection of Music

Welcome to the RITDM Music Web Blog

Welcome to the River In The Desert Ministries Music Web Blog! I am so excited you have dropped by… Soon I will begin posting blogs with some of the wonderful songs God has given me. In these blogs I will share the words as well as what I believe God was speaking to me as He gave the song and the different emotions etc… that I went through when putting the song to paper. I hope that you will enjoy the songs and if you like the songs and the message, you will be able to contact me to get a clip of the song and possibly chord charts etc… if you feel a desire to use the song. I am very excited about this venture as I really want to share these wonderful songs God has given me with other believers in the hope that they will bless others as they have blessed me. Keep checking back in and I will begin the song blogging very soon. 

Have a wonderfully blessed day and remember my saying, “Be blessed and be a blessing!”

Blessings,
Tracy Brown