by Tracy | Inspirational, Practical, Tuesdays With Tracy
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26, NIV
Everyone has their “top reads” of their life other than the Word of God and I can say that hands down that GRACE WORKS by Tony Sutherland (www.tonysutherland.com) is one of my top three reads! As a Professional Counselor, I recommend this book for my clients who struggle with performance based self-esteem, guilt, condemnation, fear, shame or any psychological problems for that matter as this book will go to the root and bring freedom in its place. As a mom, GRACE WORKS has helped me in my parenting and given me a new perspective on how to love my child in greater ways. And as a child of God, this book has been revolutionary to me. Please read some the clip below and the back cover and I encourage everyone to pick up a copy or download it to your laptop today! Blessings and remember…..GRACE WORKS!
“…Now-a-days people are confused, troubled, and desperately hard-pressed for help. A doctrine or expose’ won’t fix broken lives. Desperate people don’t need a word. They need a ROPE! God’s grace is that rope! Carrying guilt is destructive. In fact, CONDEMNATION KILLS! Most people have enough trouble in their life without having to bear the heavy guilt from not doing enough for God or failing Him altogether… Our Heavenly Father does not want His children to live under guilt and condemnation (Romans 8:1). I truly believe we can live guilt and worry free lives through the power of God’s grace!” (From Tony’s New Book – GRACEWORKS)
“Have you every wondered how to get from here to happy? That’s what Tony Sutherland’s new book is all about! In fact, God’s plan for you is nothing short of spectacular! The way to freedom is just at hand. Through personal experiences, Tony Shares profound secrets to the overcoming life through his own marvelous grace awakening. Once you get a revelation of the truth that is in Christ, you will never want to go back to your old life of dead religion again! Only one thing works to break the bondage of sin… Grace… GRACE WORKS! You no longer have to suffer from self-defeating perfectionism, anxiety and condemnation from your failures. So get ready to encounter a whole new dimension of God’s power as He views you through His amazing love. As you read through the pages of this book one thing is certain… you will be surprised by grace!”
by Tracy | General
“All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15
As our days of summer are heating up, it is important that we take the these next few months to simply have fun in the Son! God wants us to laugh & enjoy our loved ones as never before! Proverbs 17:22 states that laughter is like medicine for our soul, but did you know that it also reduces pain and allows us to tolerate discomfort? Laughter reduces blood sugar levels, increasing glucose tolerance in diabetics and non-diabetics alike. Laughter can improve our job performance (as a business woman or stay-at-home mom), especially if our work involves creativity or solving complex problems. Laughter also plays a vital role in all our relationships, especially in marriage.
Bottom Line: Laughter is underestimated!
Tip #1: Set aside time for fun.
Vacations are great, but don’t wait to enjoy your family and friends until then! A colleague of mine did this and a few days before his family ski trip, he broke his leg! Ugh! It is important to make time for fun in your everyday, ordinary life. Host a game night at your home or invite your loved ones over for a dessert night – the key here is to enjoy your family and friends!
Tip #2: Do Something Out of the Ordinary.
Do something unpredictable! All of us tend to be creatures of habit, but I want to encourage you today to break out of the mundane and do something extraordinary! For example, take a day off and go somewhere you have always wanted to go! Take a trip to the zoo, buy a new pair of shoes and strut your stuff or rent a stack of DVD’s and declare a “national pajama day” in your honor! (P.S. – Don’t forget to laugh:)
Tip #3: Find one thing to laugh about each day.
Laughter releases stress and tension in our body and when we laugh, we feel refreshed! It is important to laugh at yourself and at life when possible, especially when difficulties come our way. Whether you find a joke online to giggle about or apply one of the tips from above – it is my prayer that you will allow laughter and fun to change the atmosphere in your home and life!
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for the gift of laughter. Psalm 16 tells us that in Your Presence is the fullness of Joy and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Please fill me with Your Presence and help me to set aside time for fun and do something extraordinary today that will make me and others laugh! Amen.”