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One Step Is Enough

May 21, 2012 by Tracee

One step….

One step is all we get.

One step is all we can really handle.

I am a visionary by nature. I see the big picture and get so frustrated with the steps to get there. To a visionary, every step is the one that should be right before the big picture. It usually is far from it.

I need steps.

Steps take courage. Steps take risk to not only just step into, but to believe and trust that the step is okay – that it’s necessary.

Steps require obedience and courage to know I’m not finished. Steps let me know that who I am right now cannot handle the right weight of what is to come. Steps get me there. Steps ready me for the value of the weight.

I have been stuck in Joshua the past couple of days. Joshua is a man of surrendered steps. Joshua was Moses’ successor to lead the Israelites into the Promise Land. He has some big steps to fill.

I have just shaken my head and smiled at how awesome God is to only give Joshua what he can handle. God only gave Joshua each step. Joshua had the choice to obey – he had a choice to surrender and trust, and he did! Without knowing the how or what of anything, Joshua stepped up.

The first several chapters of Joshua are laced with steps. In chapter one, God told Joshua that he must obey and follow after me before any next step can happen. Joshua agreed. God then told Joshua to order the officers to tell the people that they were to pack up and get ready to leave in three days. He had no other information than that. He just said okay.

God then gave instruction on how to advance and the exact order that needed to play out. No other explanation. Joshua obeyed.

In chapter two, Joshua sent spies into Jericho to scope it out. He waited days to hear the report. Joshua did not move until they returned.

Chapter three, Joshua is given one step at a time to cross the Jordan. Everyone was to wait three days and followed the instructions to only go when they saw the Ark of the Covenant pass by. Not before then. Why not? Joshua did not ask.

Chapter four, all pass through the Jordan on dry land unharmed. Twelve Israelites representing the twelve tribes obeyed Joshua as he commanded them to gather twelve stones as a reminder of what God had done for them.

No one moved without the command of Joshua. Joshua did not move without the command of the Lord.

One step at a time. No more. No less. That was the necessary enough.

One step takes courage and risk. One step takes surrender and obedience. One step at a time crosses Jordan’s and conquers nations.

I am learning to surrender to my steps.

What one step are you taking today?

Posted in Daily Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Turning The Page.

May 14, 2012 by Tracee

Sunday marked the end of an era for the church I spent half of my life attending.

I spent my junior and senior year rocking out with the youth group. I spent several summers learning how to build community with our college ministry. After moving back to the DC area, I served on the leadership team and led a a bible study for our young adults group.

This church has discipled and shaped my life and faith.

A couple of years ago our church decided to make the hard and challenging decision to leave the Episcopalian diocese and join the Anglican community. We stepped up and stepped out because we are a church who wants to be known for following hard after the truth of scripture.

After a long fought out legal battle, we lost our property. I don’t think anyone anticipated this change to our story.

While I am home visiting, I got to be a part of our “lasts” for this chapter of our church. We celebrated hard the last chapters of life lived out in faith in that building.

I watched as generations of leaders who changed my life stood up and were honored. I looked around and smiled as I saw so many friends, new and old, that I have experienced different chapters of life with. I just felt a deep sense of gratitude.

New chapters of life always begin in unexpected and uncertain ways. All of my initial thoughts about this legal process is that it’s unfair, and not the way it “should’ve” ended. We are trying to stand up for the right thing.

 But doing the right thing does not always yield the “right” ending that we think should happen.

Nonetheless, we are asking God to flip the page and start again. Sitting there Sunday night, I realized that I have been asking God to do the same thing in my own life. This new chapter for me has been written in ways I have never anticipated.

Honestly, some of it has seemed unfair or not the way I think it “should” be written. Today, part of me smiles as what seems unfair is also what is “right” for me.

I have been limiting God’s writing skills by trying to figure out what is understandable and responsible, rather than believing in His abilities.

Some endings have no rhyme or reason they only make for good beginnings.

My hope stands in this, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

That’s a good beginning!

He is the author and perfecter of me. I just need to let Him write.

Posted in Daily Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

What’s up?

May 7, 2012 by Tracee

I hate being blocked from Twitter! I have no idea what is going on with my account. Trying to work on getting back up and tweeting.

I have really enjoyed connecting on Instagram (@traceepersiko) or find me on FaceBook!!

BUT I miss you all!!

What is going on in YOUR world!!

Catch me up!!

1) What is one thing you are really excited about?

2) What is one thing that is really frustrating?

3) What is one surprising thing for you in the past couple weeks?

4) What is one wish you have?

Posted in Daily Thoughts | Tagged , , | 21 Comments »

Words That Changed The World..

May 6, 2012 by Tracee

There are speeches that have revolutionized our culture. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, “I Have a Dream” speech did wonders to change the minds of millions. Abraham Lincoln’s monument walls echo with wisdom and leadership that I could spend all day reading.

The life of culture changes direction by the courageous actions of others. Fighting for what is right and truthful takes courage.

I listened to a talk that Andy Stanley gave about Matt 5. He unfolded the way the Sermon on the Mount changed life and culture as we know it.

Jesus took the courageous step to introduce a better way of living then that of the current culture. He spoke and revealed words of truth that pierced the heart. Life was meant to be known and lived differently than that of tyranny and abuse.

Life was to be leveraged in love not power.

Jesus delivered a speech that laid the foundations for life as we know it to be, or at least knew it to be. I feel like we are moving further and further away from those words that Jesus spoke.

Before Jesus ever delivered one of those words from the Sermon on the Mount that day, He lived them out first. Jesus introduced his truth through life lived first and then put words to them.

Once people got a glimpse of His very different life, He sat them down and said…

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This speech changed everything about how life was to be known and lived. These words set the new path for culture and our world views. Life and people have meaning through these words. This speech eventually redefined Rome.

Life is to be lived and leveraged from love not power. It changed everything.

This speech still stands true today. These words can still change culture by the way we live them out.

Let’s change the world.

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Stamps of My Life

April 29, 2012 by Tracee

Last week I filled out the paper work and sent my passport into be renewed. It may seem stupid, but it took me a few minutes to let my passport go.

I flipped through her pages and smiled at all of her stories. The last ten years of life being told through stamps. 

I couldn’t help but get teary eyed.

This was my second passport completed. I am so thankful for the words and memories she holds in her pages.

I would have to say that my passport is my most priced possession. She is one thing that I hold most dear to me. My passport is the diary of my passion and heart. 

I have traveled to over 14 different countries and used her over 23 times.

I have spent time drinking wine in Spain and  Italy. I’ve lounged on the beach in the Dominican.

I ran around the hills and sights of Greece eating gyros, drinking “Ouzo, ” and yelling, “OPA!”

I’ve swam with Great White sharks, held tigers, gone on safari, served the poor through faith conversations, and had my life changed by the people of South Africa. 

I have had life changing conversations and experiences in Lebanon. I floated on the surface of the Dead Sea in Jordan, and watched as scripture came alive on the streets of Israel.

I have stories for many more. Life has been full of goodness and exposure. I would trade any of my adventures for anything.

I’m excited for what new adventures are to come. I am REALLY excited to check more off of my bucket list!!

What stamps are in your passport?

What tops your list of places to visit and experience?

Posted in Daily Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Cliques and Community

April 24, 2012 by Tracee

Right now, I’m sitting in a Starbucks watching a group of high school girls hang out. I listen as they talk about their day, and thought, “you know…nothing has really changed about the conversations and topics of high school.”

We are a culture that operates out of created groups. We learn how to “belong” through gravitating towards like-minded people. Every high school has the same social groups now as they did 15 years ago when I was there.

We called our like-minded group of friends our community, but in reality they were cliques. Cliques do not allow room for community.

I watch these girls and laugh because my friends now are so different. My closest friends are made up of a mismatch group of gifts, personalities, fears, looks, and passions. One of my closest friends and I joke all the time that we would not have been friends in high school. Our groups and judgments would not have let that happen.

Community ceases to be community when it becomes a clique.

There is no room for community in a cliques. Cliques are closed to anyone new joining in. Cliques enforce a hierarchy of judgment someone needs to pass in order to be allowed in.

It makes me sad when I see adult cliques in the church. Clique mentality has no room in the community of the church body. We are all made in his image. We are all invited to walk a life journey with the same God.

Look at the disciples.

Some would say that the 12 disciples were a clique. No one else was allowed to be a disciple. But look at the mixed match up of those guys!

The community of disciples consisted of different personalities, passions, interests, looks, temperaments, gifts, strong wills, extroverts, introverts, popular, and the loathed. There was no reason these guys should’ve been doing life together – they didn’t go together. They didn’t make sense.

But isn’t this true community?

Community is made up of all of those who are trying to do life well, and follow after the invitation to do life with Him.

Community takes a chance on people. Community sees and wants the heart. Community is inviting.

What are your thoughts on community?

What makes community for you?

Posted in Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Foundational Firsts

April 16, 2012 by Tracee

“We love because He first loved us.”

These not so small words have been bringing me to tears lately. I have been sitting and stare at this truth.

I know love at all because He first extended it to me.

So often I can pride myself on the self effort of love. I crave loving deeply. I make every effort to do so. What I forget is that it’s not my love that I’m offering.

Love comes from somewhere.

Love started with someone.

THE only reason we know love at all is because He first loved us. THE only reason we recognize love at all is be He was the first to present honest, right, true, and deep love to us.

I am realizing how much further this extends into so many other deep truths.

I know grace because HE first had grace on me.

I know forgiveness because HE first forgave me.

I want to make people feel seen because HE first saw me.

I want to make people feel valued because HE first valued me.

Love, grace, forgiveness, value, and life come from a someone. They are started with a someone. Any parts of those words that I know is because of his firsts. To know more of the depth of those words is to know Him.

I am sitting in the weight of what I know because of Him. I am sitting in the weight of wanting to extend the offer of those because they were first offered to me. I just shake my head at the gift.

I smile now at the glimpses of those firsts I see of Him as others offer those words. Whether they realize it or not they accepted something, and someone, that was first offered to them.

My love is not my own. It started with a someone first. I am only offering the extension of that same gift given to me.

I hope to give that gift deeply more and more every day of my life. 

Posted in Faith Challenge | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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