by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies.” Psalm 18:13, NLT
When the going gets tough, to whom or what do you run to for help? For so many of us, without even thinking, we run to a list of faulty sources, such as, food, television, unhealthy relationships, busyness, alcohol, vanity, performance, spending or making money or anything that helps us temporarily feel better about ourselves and our situation. However, these temporary solutions are just that – TEMPORARY! And these faulty solutions often become long-term problems if we are not careful.
I don’t know about you, but there have been many difficult days when all I could do was say the name “Jesus” out loud as an act of running to Him. When we reach the point that we are too tired to read the Word, search for a scripture concerning our situation or even call a friend for prayer, we can run to God just by speaking “Jesus” out loud. When we do this, we are proclaiming that HE is the solution and the One we need to run to. I have personally found that when I speak the name “Jesus” out loud throughout my day, His peace is able to fill my mind, as I trust in Him.
The truth is, there is nothing wrong with eating chocolate:), buying a new outfit or watching a fun movie, but when we turn to these sources as our solution, we will end up gravely disappointed! God is the only solution that will never disappoint. When we run to Him, we won’t gain any weight (hallelujah) or have buyer’s remorse:) God is the Solution that is always moving on our behalf. He is our Rock, our Shield, our Protection and the Lifter of our head.
Prayer:
“Lord, forgive me for running to everyone and everything but You. I choose to stop running to faulty sources and I run to You for everything I need today. I declare “Jesus,” over every situation I am dealing with at this time. I am forever grateful that You are always with me. Amen.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Have the roots (of your being) firmly and deeply planted in Him, fixed and founded (in Him), being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7, AMP
It is officially summer my friends – school is out, the weather is hot, pools are open and life as we knew it, is no more (I know all the mom’s are shaking their heads in agreement with me right now:)! But, I have an important message for you today: It is important that you seize the summer and not let the summer just pass you by.
Summer is often a time of activity, rest and relaxation, but it can also be a season where the days feel like they are never-ending! I made the decision several months ago to take the summer “off”, but hadn’t yet grabbed a hold of what my summer would entail. The problem was that I had no vision for what the days of summer would hold for me. I was quickly becoming bored and I began to dread each day as another day with nothing to do! You see, I was letting the summer seize me, instead of me seizing my summer!
Just this morning, I sought God about the next few months. I heard the Holy Spirit clearly state, “Tracy, how you spend your summer will determine how you spend your fall.” I felt within my spirit that the summer (for me), is a time of preparation and that I have three main goals: (1) Word (Spending time with Jesus and reading my Bible), (2) Workouts (walks and weights) and (3) Quality time (spending time with those that I love). Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God), the people perish…” With these three goals in mind, I now have a vision for my summer. I can already see myself getting up early to spend time in God’s Word, I can see Alyssa and I taking walks and I can imagine enjoying precious time with family and friends! With this new vision I know that I am going to have an awesome summer!
What is your vision for your summer? If you are not sure, then ask God. He will give you some guidance on how you can enjoy your summer and be prepared for your fall, which is also known as harvest time! What you sow in the summer, you will reap in the fall. I pray that God speaks to you today. Remember to seize your summer and do not let summer seize you! Be encouraged because no matter what your summer holds, God will use these months to prepare and propel you into your promise land!
Prayer:
“Lord, please speak to me today. I want my summer to be filled with purpose and destiny. Show me the areas of my life you want to strengthen. As You give me a vision for this summer Lord, I can see goodness and mercy following me. I see days of laughter, revelation and enjoyment! In Christ I seize my summer. These next few months will prepare me for Harvest – get me ready Lord, for my greatest days in You are yet ahead! Amen.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:8
“Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in TRIUMPH in Christ, and through us manifests the fragrance of His knowledge in EVERY PLACE. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
No matter who you are or where you are headed in life, if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are at war! It seems that there has been an all out attack on God’s people as of late, BUT I want to encourage you my friend – no matter how things may appear at this time, you will triumph in every place!
It is vital that we clothe ourselves in God’s spiritual armor at this time. Just as a soldier would never go into the battlefield without his riffle and grenade in hand, we are soldiers for Christ and it is essential that we put on the whole armor of God during the battles of life.
We MUST encourage ourselves in God’s Word! It is not time to back up or give in! Our greatest days are yet ahead. As David declares in Psalm 42:5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? HOPE IN GOD, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”
Isaiah 60:2-5 states, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you. And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and Kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.”
Hold on -your greatest days in Christ are yet ahead! Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us how to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Let’s pray the prayer below together, shall we?
Prayer:
“Lord I put on the whole armor of God that I may be able to stand against the scheming of the devil. I recognize that I am not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. I choose to take up the helmet of salvation and ask that every thought we made captive to the Word of God. I put on the breastplate of righteousness and declare that my emotions and thoughts come under the authority of God’s Word. I wrap my waist with the belt of truth that I may know the truth of God’s Word and that this truth will set me free. I pick up the sword of the spirit, which is God’s Word and I declare that it is living and active and sharper than any sword, piercing through soul and spirit. I raise my shield of faith so that every fiery dart of the enemy will be quenched and not prevail against my family or me. And I will pray continually for God’s people. I know the end result – WE WIN! If God is for us, then who can be against us? I declare victory over the lives of God’s people this day. I rebuke the devourer. I take back what the enemy has stolen from me and I declare confusion in the enemy’s camp. I choose this day to stand strong in the Lord and I will triumph in every place! Amen.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” – Psalm 139:13-14
If you are reading this blog, then I know one fact about you today– you have a mother. Just think about this for a moment. If it were not for God as your “Creator” and your mother as your “carrier” – you wouldn’t be alive today! Isn’t that amazing? It took your mother’s cooperation with God’s will for you to be here on earth. Selah (pause and think about that for a moment).
When someone calls you Mom:
– It means that for nine months your body is not your own.
-It means that sleeping late on a Saturday morning is no longer possible (at least for a while).
-It means saying “good-bye” to dress-up clothes and “hello” to leisure suits.
-It means that your days are consumed with bottles, burps and diapers.
-It means that your quiet baby will later become a talkative teen.
-And it means that you fall into bed most nights totally exhausted.
But when someone calls you mom, it also means:
–You are the one they run to when they get hurt.
-You are the one they want to hug and kiss before bed each night.
-You are the one who gets to see their “firsts” in their life.
-You are the one who can comfort them like no one else.
-You are the one who gives them confidence to explore the world through your love.
-And you are the one that God chose for them to call “mom.” God searched the earth and selected you!
No matter the relationship you currently have with you mother, she loved you enough to carry you in her womb for nine months (and for most of us that includes nausea, weird cravings, weight gain, bed rest and much more – can I get an Amen? 🙂
As Mother’s Day is fasting approaching, I declare abundant blessings upon all the mother’s, grandmother’s and future mommies-to-be! I give honor to you today and I pray that you will forever relish in God’s love! To Moms: Thank you for giving us life on earth. To our Heavenly Father: Thank You for giving us eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for creating me in my mother’s womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I celebrate my mother this day. Thank You for selecting my mom to bring me into this world in order to give glory to Your Name! Amen.”
A special note to my mom, Penny: Thank you for always believing in me. I love you and I am so thankful that God chose you to be the one that I get to call “mom!” Love, Tracy
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11, NLT
I think we all grew up hearing the phrase from our parents, “Don’t cry over spilled milk!” But so often when our plans go “sour,” that is exactly what we do – we boo-hoo our eyes out! (Trust me, I know a thing or two about this:) I am a planner by nature and I wish I could tell you that I always respond in faith when “my plans” don’t work out, but that would not be the truth! In the past I have cried for days and questioned God. But through my grieving process, I have come to this conclusion: “When it appears that God is withholding something from me, He is only setting me up to be blessed!” This revelation has changed my life and I pray it does the same for you today.
I believe that statement with my whole being. I know, that I know, that I know, that my God loves me and He has good plans for me. I also realize that God can see things in His infinite wisdom that I unaware of here on earth. In the late 90’s I applied to a particular graduate school and didn’t get in, but God knew that attending this school was not His best. You see, God had a better school choice for me that would allow me to work full-time while pursuing my studies. And that full-time job was at Mount Paran Central where I met my husband!!!! It appeared that God was withholding something good from me, but He was only setting me up to be abundantly blessed!!! Let me just say that other than accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, meeting my husband has been the greatest blessing in my entire life! As Garth Brooks so beautifully sings, “I thank God for unanswered prayer!”
No matter how things may appear, you can trust God. He loves you and has awesome plans for you. I pray that the revelation God gave me years ago will encourage you today. I am currently leaning on this revelation in my own life. I have a situation where “it appears” that God may be withholding something from me, but I know the truth – He is only setting me up to be blessed and I choose to trust Him this day!
Prayer: “Lord, I choose to believe that You love me and have awesome plans for my life. Thank you for loving me even when I question You and fail to trust You. I give you my dreams, my plans and desires. I give you permission to re-arrange anything in my life and I ask that You line it up with Your perfect will. I love you Jesus and thank you for always looking out for me and wanting the best for me in every situation. Amen.”
Photo above is from: http://www.freefoto.com
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.
