by Tracy | Inspirational, Practical, Tuesdays With Tracy
“So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts of Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pride-fully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t’.” Romans 12:4-5, The Message
In the past I have dreaded shopping for a new bathing suit…can I please get some sisterly love on this one? I have literally walked into a dressing room with 20+ swimsuits in hand and left the room empty handed and feeling as if none of them looked nice, but this may have been because I was under a faulty delusion that somehow my size-12 body would magically turn into a size-8 body whenever I went shopping – of which I thought I could experience a “Tadah” moment. However this “Tadah” never happened and I was quickly snapped back into reality that simply putting on a new article of clothing does not cause immediate weight loss! LOL!
However, somewhere along the journey of life, I have come to the place of simply longing to be the best me. I don’t know if this revelation has come with age or by consciously choosing to love myself, but I no longer walk in trepidation at the thought of shopping nor do I compare myself to others because I just want to be the best me.
I no longer give my energy or thoughts over to what the world would say about me, (my accomplishments or lack of, my weight, my values, etc) because as our scripture states above, God excellently and marvelously formed me. This truth has become a line in the sand for me. I no longer expend precious time comparing myself to others – I just need to be the best me…whether size 12 or 8…I am fashioned and formed by God, I am created to be a blessing to the body of Christ.
So let’s all make the choice to go ahead and be who God made us to be and lets choose to let others be who God made them to be. Bottom line: I am free to be me and you are free to be you!
You see, God fashioned and formed you and you are vital to the body of Christ. There is no other “you” on the face of the earth. The gifts and talents God put into your life are greatly needed by those around you. It is my prayer that today you will make the choice to no longer compare yourself to others and that you will simply be the best you!
Prayer:
“Lord, I choose from this day forward to love myself. You tell me in Your Word to love my neighbor as I love myself. Help me to embrace the fact that you fashioned and formed me and that You have good plans for me. I will no longer give my time and energy to what others may say or think of me but I will honor You with my thoughts. Help me to be who You created me to be – the best me! Amen.”
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God is that Jesus can and does.” Romans 7:24, The Message
A few weeks ago and I had the honor of seeing our God show up and show off for His precious daughters. As our scripture states above, “The answer, thank God is that Jesus can and does.” The weekend was full of worship and digging into God’s Word. Needless to say, it was amazing and the testimonies from our time together keep coming.
I prayed for one woman who was diagnosed with colon cancer. The doctors informed her that the cancer was also spreading into her bladder and ovaries. We prayed together and asked that God would remove all cancer from her body and replace it with His love. We declared that she would live and not die and declare the works of the Lord for His glory. She and I have been communicating through email and I want to share with you how God has showed up and showed off in her life.
Last week this young woman went in for her scheduled surgery. Although she was scared, she held onto God’s Word and believed that all things were possible with God. When the surgeons opened her up – they could not find any trace of cancer! God truly showed up and showed off for this precious woman. The doctors were baffled but she knew exactly who removed the cancer from her body – Jesus!
Friend, whatever needs be removed from your life – God can remove it! If you need the removal of debt, sinful behavior, fear, depression, sickness, bitterness, shame or anything you want rid from your mind, body and spirit, God can remove it and He will replace it with His love.
Beloved, whatever needs to be brought into your life – God can bring it! Whenever God removes something, He always replaces it with something. When fear is eradicated, God replaces it with His perfect love. When sickness is confiscated, God replaces it with wholeness and health. When God plucks out bitterness from your heart, God replaces it with joy. When God lifts the label of shame off of your life, God gives you a new label – the Righteousness of God. Whenever God eliminates poverty from your life, He replaces it with prosperity for your mind, body and spirit. We serve a God who loves to show up and show off for His people simply because He loves us.
The truth is that God loves you – period! And He is longing to show up and show off on your behalf.
If you have a prayer request today, please click on the “Need Prayer” button found on my website and I would be honored to pray for you.
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God is that Jesus can and does.” Romans 7:24, The Message
A few weeks ago and I had the honor of seeing our God show up and show off for His precious daughters. As our scripture states above, “The answer, thank God is that Jesus can and does.” The weekend was full of worship and digging into God’s Word. Needless to say, it was amazing and the testimonies from our time together keep coming.
I prayed for one woman who was diagnosed with colon cancer. The doctors informed her that the cancer was also spreading into her bladder and ovaries. We prayed together and asked that God would remove all cancer from her body and replace it with His love. We declared that she would live and not die and declare the works of the Lord for His glory. She and I have been communicating through email and I want to share with you how God has showed up and showed off in her life.
Last week this young woman went in for her scheduled surgery. Although she was scared, she held onto God’s Word and believed that all things were possible with God. When the surgeons opened her up – they could not find any trace of cancer! God truly showed up and showed off for this precious woman. The doctors were baffled but she knew exactly who removed the cancer from her body – Jesus!
Friend, whatever needs be removed from your life – God can remove it! If you need the removal of debt, sinful behavior, fear, depression, sickness, bitterness, shame or anything you want rid from your mind, body and spirit, God can remove it and He will replace it with His love.
Beloved, whatever needs to be brought into your life – God can bring it! Whenever God removes something, He always replaces it with something. When fear is eradicated, God replaces it with His perfect love. When sickness is confiscated, God replaces it with wholeness and health. When God plucks out bitterness from your heart, God replaces it with joy. When God lifts the label of shame off of your life, God gives you a new label – the Righteousness of God. Whenever God eliminates poverty from your life, He replaces it with prosperity for your mind, body and spirit. We serve a God who loves to show up and show off for His people simply because He loves us.
The truth is that God loves you – period! And He is longing to show up and show off on your behalf.
If you have a prayer request today, please click on the “Need Prayer” button found on my website and I would be honored to pray for you.
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3, AMP
In Isaiah 61:3 a great exchange occurs. God gives us His beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of morning, the garment of praise instead of a heavy, burdened and failing spirit. Friend, I don’t know what you have been through in your life, but I do know that Jesus gave His life for you on the Cross. He exchanged your sin, sickness, and every curse and nailed it to the Cross in exchange for His mercy, healing, grace and salvation. One day while reading Isaiah 61, I was led to write down all that God had exchanged in my life and I pray that it will bring encouragement to you today.
I know what it’s like:
To be abused, but I also know what it’s like to forgive my abuser and to be set free
To have thoughts of killing myself, but I also know what it’s like to carry the life of my daughter inside my womb.
To be full of fear to the point of rocking back and forth with my Bible in hand just to make it through the night, but I also know what its like to see God’s angels moving on my behalf.
To feel alone in this world, but I also know what it’s like to have the honor of Jesus being my EVERYTHING
To live in depression and despair, but I also know what it’s like to be pulled out of the pit for God’s glory.
To worry to the point of almost losing my mind, but I also know what it’s like to be renewed in my mind through God’s Word.
To barely get out of bed, but I also know what it’s like to experience God’s joy that comes in the morning.
To wonder if my dreams will ever come to pass, but I also know what it’s like to have faith that God never withholds anything good for me but He only sets me up to be blessed.
To be diagnosed with liver-failure and need a liver transplant, but I also know what its like to have Jesus miraculously heal me.
To only have oatmeal in my pantry to eat for dinner, but I also know what it’s like to see God provide all of my needs through the body of Christ.
To run for my life to an abuse shelter, but I also know what it’s like to have God make purpose out of my pain and know that my best days are ahead of me.
To be told that I am stupid and invaluable, but I also know what to read in the Bible that Jesus died on the Cross-for me and that I am the apple of His eye.
My question for you today is: What do you need to exchange?
It is my prayer that we will embrace the Great Exchange this Easter Season.
Easter Blessings,
Tracy
by Tracy | Inspirational, Practical, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37, KJV
We are triune beings – spirit, body and soul. From the moment you were conceived, you were a spirit. Your body was uniquely formed in the womb of your mother with the purpose to house your spirit and soul. Your soul is made up of your will, emotions, intellect and imagination. As believers, God’s Spirit within us is to reign over the soul and body, however this will not happen without the help of the Holy Spirit because the soul wants to dominate. Our soul is moved by what it sees, feels, hears and touches. It longs to be entertained and if we are not careful – our feelings, intellect, and personality can rule our lives rather than God’s Spirit.
Roberts Liardion states in his book, Sharpen Your Discernment, “An unharnessed soul wants to be the center of attention of everything. If the atmosphere is not exactly what the soul wants, it becomes depressed. If the soul doesn’t get what it wants, it becomes unhappy. If someone wrongs the soul, it becomes bitter. If someone hurts the soul, it becomes engulfed in self-pity. If the soul is in a hurry, it pressures everyone. If the soul does not like someone, it becomes rude. If the soul is rejected, it becomes obsessive or withdrawn. If something scares the soul, the soul worries. If someone has what it wants, the soul becomes jealous. If the soul thinks it has to please everyone, it becomes phony and deceitful.”
Our mind, will and emotions are gifts from God, but these gifts are never to dominate over God’s spirit within us. When trials come our way, it is vital that only God’s Spirit direct our plans. This is why we need to make sure that our body and soul are submitted under the Word of God and not vice-versa. It is extremely important that we hear directly from God concerning every area of our lives for such a time as this.
There are places God longs to take us. People God desires to touch through us. And God is currently repositioning His people for Kingdom purposes. So, let me ask you: Who is ruling your life? Is God’s Spirit reigning or are you allowing your thoughts and emotions to run your life? I can tell you from personal experience that when my thoughts and emotions rule my life, I live in a state of constant anxiety, confusion, fear and depression. But when I let God direct me and rule my soul, then I can remain in perfect peace no matter what is going on around me.
Prayer:
“Lord I ask that Your Spirit within me arise once again. I declare that my thoughts and emotions must submit to the Word of God. No matter what is going on around me, I declare that if God is for me, who can be against me.I give you permission to correct me and re-align my life for Your purposes for such a time as this. Amen.”
