by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
He (God) will validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” Psalm 37:6, Message Translation
Rejection is an issue that touches all of humanity. No matter our age, culture, race, or social economic status, we have all encountered rejection at one time or another. I have come to define rejection as not receiving love or acceptance from someone we deem as “important.” The problem is that when we have experienced tramatic circumstances of any kind, we often deem everyone as “important” from whom to receive love and approval. I am all too familiar with rejection and how it affects our identity, self-esteem and relationships. While many things have helped me overcome rejection in my life, the remedy that continually soothes my soul is the Word of God. One Word from God can transform my entire day. Jesus can take me to a higher place than my thoughts and emotions and comfort me like no one else can. Recently I was battling feelings of rejection and I turned to my trusted medicine of God’s Word. I found Psalm 37:6 which states that God will validate my life in the light of day and stamp me with approval at high noon. As I read this verse, tears filled my eyes, my feelings of rejection were quickly pushed away and faith in God’s Word arose within my heart. This verse was just what the doctor ordered to calm my roaring emotions and bring tranquility to my wounded soul.
What’s even better is that God not only shows His approval of us, but He shows it at the brightest part of the day for everyone to see! He doesn’t stamp His approval on us in the dark of the night, but at the noon hour – which is the brightest point of the day! We can walk in confidence knowing that we are loved and approved by God in the clear light of day for even our enemies to see! We are the favored one of the Most High God and His approval is better than any humans being!
Prayer:
“Lord, I forgive those who have wounded me. I bless those who have cursed me. I extend mercy to them, because I need mercy extended to me in my own life. I thank You for Your love and approval this day. I hold my head high knowing that the King of Kings is my Father and that You validate me today! I thank You that rejection will not be apart of my life anymore because I deem You the most important person to receive approval from in my life.” Amen.
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“God has had it with the proud, but takes delight in just plain people. So be content with who you are and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; He’ll promote you at the right time. Live a carefree life before God, He is most careful with you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7, Message Translation
I was always the kid in gym class that was overlooked by my peers when selecting a team for softball. I will admit that if they were looking to win, it was in their best interest to not choose me. Thankfully whenever a friend was team captain she would save me the embarrassment of being last and select me simply because she liked me. Have you ever noticed in the Bible that God also chose the least likely to do great things for Him because He loved them? Peter the stinky fisherman, Paul the Jew who persecuted and killed Christians, Zacchaeus the tax collector and Mary the simple virgin girl. While man may be quick to overlook you, God sees you! He sees your potential when no one else can. He looks down from heaven and declares, “That’s my girl and I am going to use her to bring people to Me.” Once God makes His mind up – it’s settled. God loves using the foolish to confound the wise. He hates the proud, but takes delight in the simple (that’s me alright). This scripture tells us to just be ourselves and to live carefree before God. You mean I can be free to just be me? That’s right! We don’t have to put on the airs of this world, but be who God calls us to be! You don’t have to look a certain way, have a particular degree, or come from a prestigious background. While God may use these things, you can trust that God will promote you and provide all the gifting you need to fulfill your destiny in Him. He has chosen you, knowing your past, present and future. You don’t have to do a thing, except live a carefree life before God. He will do all the rest.
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for seeing my potential when no one else does. I now realize that You have chosen me because You love me! Help me to be content with who I am. You created me and You only create good things. I choose to accept and love myself even with all my faults. I trust you to promote me at the right time and protect me from potential harm. Thank you for loving me just as I am. Take me to the next level in You. I want to fulfill my destiny.” Amen.
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Life With Alyssa, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28, New International Version
Yesterday was one of “those days” – you know the kind of day when you feel discouraged, overwhelmed and alone all at the same time. The most amazing thing was that I did all the “right things” – I spent time in God’s Word, worked out, went to the grocery store, picked up the house, checked my email, took care of Alyssa, made dinner, yet at the end of the day I felt depleted and empty. Anyone else been there? To my dismay all of these “right things” did not fill my soul with peace. I needed to hear from God, I needed His tranquility. So, I found a quiet spot and poured out my heart to God. I simply sat in His Presence. Then suddenly I heard Jesus say, “Let’s exchange – you give me your day that has been burdensome and full of stress and in exchange I will give you my life that is full of peace.” He continued, “Tracy, there is a place of rest I have provided for you. Just come to me every day and we will exchange: My peace for your stress, My joy for your sorrow, My forgiveness for your sin, My healing for your sickness, My wisdom for your confusion, My love for your fear, My grace for your wrong choices, My strength for your tiredness. Just come to me and I will give you rest.”
Needless to say my day changed within an instant! My question for you is what do you need to exchange? What is heavy on your heart? Take these concerns and run to God with them. Sit in the lap of your heavenly Father and exchange your needs for His provision this day. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!
Prayer:
Lord, I take a moment to exchange my pain, my past, and every issue that is heavy on my heart this day. As I hand these things over to you I receive your strength, hope, power, truth, healing, wisdom and every spiritual blessing you have for me this day. I place my eyes on You Lord Jesus and not my circumstances. Keep me close to you Jesus and open my ears to hear your voice each and every day.” Amen.
I know that I usually just publish on Tuesday’s, but after hearing from several of you, I decided that we all needed a little encouragment to conquer the “post-holiday blues.” I pray this word has encouraged you today. I love you!
P.S. Is anyone else cleaning your house from top to bottom? I am noticing that every woman I speak with (including myself) is cleaning out closets, cabinets, painting, getting rid of things. I believe this is symbolic of what God is doing in our lives to prepare us for the new year. So clean on!!
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.” Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone.” Luke 5:12-13, Message Translation
Jesus is willing and able to heal us everywhere we hurt. He longs to touch our mind, body and spirit with His healing power. I will never forget when He touched my life on a cold winter night in Oklahoma City. I was a sophomore in high school and looking at a prospective college with my youth group. It was at a college chapel service where my life was completely changed. As a student preached, I felt a strong pull from God to give my life over to Him. I remember kneeling at the altar and praying, “God, I have tried everything else, but you. I am willing to give you a try.” I am happy to say that not only was Jesus willing, but He was ready and able to touch my life that night. He healed me, saved me, delivered me and set me free. I left that altar changed in His Presence. Maybe you need God to touch your life today. Let’s start the New Year off right: Let’s kneel our hearts before Jesus and ask Him to heal us everywhere we hurt. After all He is willing and He is able!
Prayer:
Lord, I want to start 2007 off right. I come before you today knowing that You are willing to touch me. I ask for your healing power to flow through my life and those lives around me that need you so desperately. I expect 2007 to be the best year of my life. I choose to renew my mind with Your Word and embrace that the best is yet to come! Thank you for being a willing Father who longs to encourage and touch me this day.” Amen.
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
As the Christmas season beckoned at my door, I could not help but reminisce about the memories of Christmas past. A lot of my flashbacks revolve around running to abuse shelters from my stepfather who was physically abusive. Even when things seemed calm on my home front, I could always count on the never-ending drama within my family to spice up the holiday season. Holiday drama and my family seem to go together like macaroni and cheese. While the majority of my early memories could put anyone in therapy, I did think about one Christmas that still puts a smile on my face even to this day.
It was the Christmas that my aunt, uncle, and cousins drove 12 plus hours in the sleet and snow to be with us during the holidays. I was in sixth grade and I still remember the smell of burning wood in the fireplace and the amazing meals my mom prepared. But, the best part of that Christmas was a present I received. To the outward eye it appeared that my aunt gave me a game, “Stop Thief” by Parker Brothers, but it was much more than that.
You see, that evening my family gathered around the dining room table and played until the wee hours in the morning. The entire room was filled with laughter as we chased the fictitious thief all over the game board. As an abused child who later nearly took her life at the age of 15, I held onto the laughter of that night during some of the hardest times in my life. The memory of that Christmas is still with me today. I am not sure when it happened or which state I lived in at the time, but I lost my most prized game, “Stop Thief.”
Now in my thirties, I decided it was time to replace my favorite game. My research uncovered that Parker Brothers no longer makes the game, and to my dismay, “Stop Thief “ is now considered a vintage game! My husband suggested that I attempt to locate the vintage game on E-Bay. I held my breath as I typed in the words “Stop Thief” on the E-Bay website, and there it appeared before my eyes, not only one, but several “Stop Thief” games were being sold that very day. I placed my highest bid, and to my surprise, won the game. I eagerly anticipated its arrival, and just three days later it was placed at my front door in Atlanta, Georgia. I opened the package, pulled out the game and saw my very own handwriting on the front cover that stated, “I love Michael Jackson” in red ink. The memory of using my brand new ink pen with multiple ink colors flooded my mind and I remembered choosing red because Michael Jackson wore a red leather coat in his Thriller video. Tears filled my eyes as I realized that I had not just received any “Stop Thief” game, but my original game from my childhood.
It was a miracle and I knew who had done it for me- my sweet Jesus. I had known of His love for me, but the fact that He found my original game that I had lost a long time ago is beyond amazing. God led a stranger in Illinois to end up with my game, sell it years later on E-Bay, and then have it delivered several states away to my front door. That shows me the restoration power of God! Joel 2:21-26 talks about how God will restore the years the locusts have eaten. I don’t know what you may have lost over the years; maybe the locusts of life have stolen from you as well. I encourage you to ask God to restore unto you things that you have lost. God is able to not only restore former things, but He always brings things back with increase beyond its original state. Jesus truly is the restorer of all things lost. After all, we once were lost, but now we are found.
Prayer:
Lord, I declare that the enemy must give back everything he has stolen from me! I proclaim that 2007 will be a year filled with the restoration power of God. I ask that you restore my body, my mind, my spirit, my relationships, my family, my reputation, my finances and anything else needing the restoration power of God. I love you Jesus and it because of your love that I believe 2007 will be the best year of my life.” Amen.
