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 now seem to have the hardest time receiving! Anyone else out there in cyberspace struggle with this too? I just love to give though! It is a joke among my closest friends, “Never tell Tracy that you like something in her home, because all of a sudden she’ll just hand the item over to you.” The truth is, it thrills my heart knowing that people have left my home holding lamps, clothing, shoes, books, hats and baked goods! I get so much joy from giving, but the receiving-thing…well that’s a different story!
In just the past seven days, three women have paid for my lunch! Of course I gave the “Oh-no you don’t,” but they quickly replied, “God told me to do this Tracy and do not rob my blessing!” Well, who can argue with that? Their statement made me ask myself, “What if my friends had left my home empty handed rather than receive what I deeply longed to give them?” I believe that if this had happened, a blessing would have been stolen from me!
I have come to the conclusion that in order to give, I 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. Now let’s say this prayer together, “Jesus I want to receive everything You have for me today. Amen.”
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.
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat – refreshing!” Proverbs 25:13, The Message
Many of us are longing for so many things in life – money, recognition, a clean house or maybe your like me and would just love an occasional nap! 🙂 But no matter who you are or where you come from, I think we can all agree that God-centered friendships are priceless and a gift from Heaven above!
The truth is, if we have just one reliable friend – we are truly blessed. When the trails of life come knocking at our door, it is important for us to know whom to call upon for prayer and support. I often think about when Jesus himself asked a few disciples to come and pray with him at the Garden of Gethsemane. Isn’t that amazing? I mean, just think about this for a moment…even Jesus needed his most dependable friends near him during the darkest hours of his life. This fact has given me a new freedom. When the storms of life begin to blow, I immediately run to the shelter of God’s Word and I also know it is okay for me to call upon a few reliable friends to stand with me in prayer. We don’t have to fight the battles of life alone. We can call upon God and His people to stand by our side.
My prayer for you today is for God to shine a light on your reliable friends – those He has called to stand with you. And do not forget that YOU can be a reliable friend to those in your life! In Christ you have the power to offer a cool drink to a person in need today – now that’s refreshing!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for always being with me. You are with me at every mountaintop and valley throughout my life. Please help me to be a reliable friend to those in need today. Shine Your light on the individuals You have called to stand with me for such a time as this. Thank you God for always being my most dependable friend. Amen.
by Tracy | Life With Alyssa, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love.” Ephesians 5:1-2, The Message
Lately, Alyssa has been repeating everything we say. Therefore, my husband and I have been extra careful to mind our “P’s” and “Q’s.” And while our scripture today clearly states that our children learn proper behavior from us, I will admit to a recent “slip-up” with my daughter just this past week. You see, out of nowhere, Alyssa let out a huge burp and without thinking, I began laughing and said out loud (to myself – or so I thought) “Good one Alyssa.” Well, to my dismay, now every time Alyssa lets out a burp (which seems to be a constant occurrence right now), she breaks out into laughter and declares “Good one, Alyssa!” Ugh!
When circumstances come our way and we don’t know what to do – we simply need to look toward Heaven and ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” God will always give us proper wisdom and guidance for the situation at hand. The best news for us today is that even when we make wrong decisions, God still loves us! Let that truth sink into your spirit….”God loves me.” No matter how much we mess up or say the wrong thing, God loves us! Depending on the situation, God may encourage us to ask forgiveness or turn away from a wrong behavior, but all the while He loves us! Selah (pause and think about that).
Needless to say, I am working with my daughter to say “excuse me” when air expels from her tummy through her windpipe, ? but no matter what Alyssa says or does, I will always love her! I pray that you will receive God’s love for you this day. And may we all continually keep company with Jesus and learn how to love as He loves!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for loving me no matter what! I get so frustrated with myself when I make wrong choices, but you always love me. Please give me peace while working things out in my life. I am amazed at your grace and mercy! I long to love as You love and give an as You give. I choose this day to look toward heaven and keep company with You. Amen.
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25
Have any of you had a dream that you knew was from God? I know that sometimes our dreams are a result of the pizza we ate the night before, but I have found in my life that God still speaks to His people through dreams from time to time. Today I would like to share with you a dream that has greatly impacted my life these past few months.
One night I had a dream that I was lying on the beach on a hot sunny day. I was alone and simply drinking in the beautiful views of the ocean, when all of a sudden I noticed that God was standing behind me. And although I was a little perplexed as to why He seemed so distant, I did not let this bother me and I continued soaking in the rays of the sun. Then I decided to go for a walk on the beach and once again I noticed that Jesus appeared to be following me. Puzzled, I turned to Him and asked Him, “Why are following me? And why were You standing behind me earlier?” Jesus replied ever so sweetly, “Tracy, I love you so much and I long to sit and talk with you, but you expect Me to follow your dreams and plans for your life, instead of what I have for you.” Tears filled my eyes at His response and I was so grieved by the fact that somewhere, somehow I had lost the art of following God. I did not realize that I was requiring God to bless my plans, my way and my dreams. Needless to say, I told Jesus how sorry I was and then we took a walk together. This time I followed Him 🙂 He led me to a beautiful cliff overlooking the majestic ocean. I turned to Him and stated, “This is so beautiful Lord and I never knew this view was here.” Jesus looked me straight in the eyes and lovingly told me, “Tracy I have so much I want to show you – if you will follow me.”
This dream has changed my life and I pray that it will encourage you and me to continually surrender everything to God. I cannot leave our time together today without asking you: Are you following Jesus or are you expecting Him to follow your plans and aspirations? We serve an awesome, loving God who is just waiting to show us amazing things – if we will follow Him.
Prayer:
Lord, I give you my life. I surrender my dreams and desires to you this day. Please forgive me for expecting You to follow my plans. My greatest passion in life is to follow You Jesus and fulfill my destiny on earth. I choose this day to embrace what is before me. I may not like all that is going on around me at this time, but I trust that according to Romans 8:28 – You will work all things out for my good. I know that as I follow You that my best days are yet ahead! I love you Lord and thank you for your grace and mercy. Amen.
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
Dear Jesus,
I find myself overwhelmed this morning with gratitude for the Cross and all that it represents for me. I have always been thankful for the Cross, yet it seems that the older I become the more I am aware of exactly what You did for me that day on Golgotha. And while I cannot fully understand nor comprehend why You would willingly lay down Your life for me, I cannot help but wonder, ….what if You hadn’t? What if You had ordered ten thousand angels to come to Your aid? What if you decided that following God’s plan for Your life was more than You could bear? What if…. Jesus, what if?
But because You willingly GAVE Your life for me, I cannot help but willingly GIVE You my life in return. If it were not for You, I would not be alive today and I can honestly say without hesitation that I can never repay You for what you did for me on the Cross. I love you Jesus and I give You my life – Everything I am and everything I am not is Yours Jesus. Take my life and may You be glorified through me.
Thank you for shedding Your Precious Blood for me. Thank you for conquering the devil, death and every disease for me that day. Thank you for eternal life that is now available to all believers and me. Thank you for the resurrection power that abides in all believers to overcome every obstacle that comes our way because of Your Precious Blood.
May we all be full of thanksgiving for the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus this Easter season. While the world is consumed with it’s commercialism of Easter, help us Lord to not become entrapped in the world’s way of thinking. Let us always remember that Easter is about You. It is Your day and I choose to acknowledge Your willingness to give Your life on the Cross that I may live forever with You in Heaven- Now that is something to celebrate! 🙂
Many Easter blessings to you and your family!
Tracy
