by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy may be complete.” John 16:24, NIV
I don’t know about you, but I grew up hearing, “It is better to give than receive.” And while this statement is oh-so true, I also believe there are a lot of us who love to give, but have a difficult time receiving! Does anyone else out there in cyberspace struggle with receiving?
I simply love to give – It is a joke among my closest friends that they are never to tell me if they like something in my home because I have been known to just hand the item over to them! I honestly get tremendous joy when I am able to give, but the receiving thing…well that was a much more difficult thing! Yet, I have come to the conclusion that in order to give, we must also be willing to receive!
Did you know that God is daily longing to give us gifts from Heaven? Yet, so many of us are trying to please God rather than simply receive from Him!
Will you do something with me today? Will you place your hands out in front of you and open them up toward Heaven? Go ahead…I’ll wait for you here. Okay, now with raised hands toward heaven, let’s pray this simple prayer together, “Jesus I want to receive everything You have for me today. Amen.” Now just wait and receive from God. Whatever you need today – God longs to give you His provision and all you have to do is receive from God.
Why do we struggle to receive? I believe that we are more comfortable giving to others rather than receiving because when we give, we are in control. But when we receive from someone else, we are in the more vulnerable position. It is when we open our hands to receive that we are acknowledging to others and to our God that we can’t do it on our own. The very act of lifting our hands toward heaven in prayer is admitting to ourselves that we cannot make it without a Savior. It is my prayer that we receive from God this day and forevermore.
Prayer:
“Lord, I am so thankful that You love me and nothing can stop Your love from flowing into my life today! I choose this day to receive everything that You have for me. I willingly open up my hands, my heart, my mind and all that is within me to receive from Heaven. I also long to have a giving spirit. Help me to know when to give and when to receive according to Your perfect will. Amen.”
TWT Readers: Do any of you use coupons?
If so, I have developed a blog (www.couponswithtracy.blogspot.com) where each week I will share tips on how to save money on groceries and more. Blessings & Happy Couponing Everyone!!!
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 10:6
Did you know that blessings are on your head today? As a follower of Christ, no matter where you go this day, the blessing of God is upon you and there is nothing you can do about it! You see, when Jesus gave His life for you on the Cross, you were made righteous through His Blood.
What I want Proverbs 10:6 to awaken within your spirit is the fact that: You are highly favored of God and His blessings are on your head! Isn’t this good news?
When we meditate on God’s Word something powerful happens – we become aware of God’s promises more than life’s challenges! As a counselor, I am aware that what we focus on becomes our reality – it’s what Psychologists call, “our phenomenological world.” Bottom line – if you meditate only on the bad things that happen to you then you will continually see bad things happen in your life, but if you meditate on God’s Word and the fact that God’s blessings are on your head then you will see God’s blessings not only come upon you but overtake you as you obey the voice of God (Deuteronomy 28:2).
Isaiah 61:9 tells us that even our descendants will be blessed and that when the world sees us, they cannot help but acknowledge us as the one whom the Lord has blessed! Psalm 37:12-15 explains that our enemies may plot wicked schemes against us and gnash their teeth at us, but the Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked may draw their sword and bend their bow to cast us down, but their sword shall enter their own heart and their bows shall be broken. Why you ask? Because God’s blessings are upon our head!
Friend, no matter what you are going through, you can run to God’s Word in your time of need. If you are in the fight of your life, then you may need to put index cards with scripture all over your home, but you can rest in the fact that God loves you, He is moving on your behalf and His blessings are upon your head today and forevermore.
Prayer:
“Lord, I run to You and Your precious Word today. It may not look like it right now, but I am highly favored and Your blessings are upon my head this day. I will not give up. I will not back down. I will stand and fight every obstacle before me with Your Word. No weapon formed against me and my family will prosper and every idle word spoken against me–You will condemn (Isaiah 54:17). I rest in the fact that You love me Jesus. Thank you for giving Your precious blood for me which deems me worthy to receive every blessing from heaven. Amen.”
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him with a shield.” Psalm 5:12
Did you know that you are blessed with God’s favor today? You can rest in the fact that God is the Blesser and the One who gives you the capacity for living a full, rich life. You and I are simply the recipients of His favor and there is nothing that can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). It is through the love of Jesus and the power of the Cross, that we are deemed righteous, blessed, and highly favored of God.
No matter what you are going through at this time, God will surround you with favor like a shield. When you walk into a room, God’s blessing is with you. When you walk through a dark valley, God’s favor will go before you and enlighten the way to victory. When your enemies are out to eat you for lunch, God will surround you with His favor like a shield and none of their plans will prosper.
It has been my experience that God’s favor is not only seen upon us by man but that God can even shield our areas of weaknesses in order for His favor to be manifested toward us on earth as it is in Heaven. God is the potter, we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8) and man’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1).
Is there a place in your life where you need the favor of God? I want to encourage you today to declare Psalm 5:12 over your situation. As you declare God’s Word, you can wait expectantly for God to move on your behalf. You, my friend are the righteousness of God and He will surround you with favor like a shield this day. I declare that no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for surrounding me with favor like a shield. I can never repay You for what You did on the Cross, but in return, I willingly give you my life, my dreams, my desires and I ask that You alone be glorified through me. I declare Your Word over my life and I wait expectantly for You to move on my behalf. Amen.”
PS: Ladies – Thank you for your recent prayer requests. I am agreeing with you in prayer that God is willing and able and I look forward to hearing your praise reports! If you are in need of prayer today, please click here, it would be my honor to cover you and your need in prayer. Blessings!
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
A picture from my recent trip to Costa Rica
“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Matthew 8:2-3
Most of us know that God is able, but did you know that He is also willing? I love the story above because it demonstrates the true heart of God – He was not only able to heal this man of leprosy- He was willing. God longs to touch you, heal you, restore you and move every mountain in your life today. He is an amazing God who loves you and longs to bless you every single day out of His abundant grace.
As I ponder this truth, I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude for God my Father, Jesus my Savior and the Holy Spirit my teacher. The Trinity is able and willing to move on your behalf this day. Whatever you are in need of friend, God is not only able…He is willing. There is not enough space to tell you of the miracles God has done within my life. God has rescued me, healed me, restored me and given me favor beyond my wildest imagination – I boast in the Lord today – He alone is worthy of all glory and honor. Friend, God is not only able…He is willing to do miracles in your life this day.
When the going gets tough – don’t give up, but press into God’s Word. No matter what you are going through, there is a scripture for you to stand on. If you are believing God for a miracle, please send me your prayer request through my “Prayer Button.” I want to stand in agreement with you. You can simply click on the Prayer Button located on the top of my website or click here.
Be encouraged today. God is a God of miracles and NOTHING (No-thing) is impossible with Him! God is able and willing to remove every obstacle before you as you rest in Him and His precious Word.
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for being able and willing to move on my behalf. I declare that every obstacle, which stands before me, must bow at the Name of Jesus! Holy Spirit, show me scriptures to stand on and profess as I walk through difficult situations. Help me to hold onto God’s Word with expectancy. I give You my life and ask that You show me Your truth in every situation, for the Truth sets me free. Amen.”
by Tracy | Practical, Tuesdays With Tracy
“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 slowly come to an end, it is important that we take the next few weeks to simply have fun! I believe it is time for 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!
Let’s change the atmosphere in our home through laughter and fun! I have come up with a few tips, from myRadio Series titled, “Setting the tone in your home” which aired on “The Dottie Coffman Show”. Let us continually feast on laughter and fun with a merry heart!
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.”
