by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
“The Lord also will ROAR from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16, NKJ
The roar of a lion will stop you dead in your tracks and bring a chill down you spine – trust me on this! I was able a few years back to go behind the scenes at the Atlanta Zoo and I will never forget my encounter with the lion! I was so thankful for the steel bars that were present between this massive creature and me!
According to the scripture above, God is a ROARING lion and if you feel like you are in a battle – hold tight – because God will ROAR from Zion on your behalf!
When God speaks, the earth cannot help but tremble. So can you imagine the impact on the earth and the enemies of God when He ROARS? I believe that when God ROARS from Zion on our behalf, everything that is standing between us and God will be shaken down! God is our shelter during the storms of life and He is our strength when we are weak. Be encouraged friend – If you are currently in a battle – run to the shelter of God’s love and know that He will protect you. Make no mistake that the enemies of God will not prosper much longer. God is fighting on behalf of His chosen people!
Prayer:
Lord, I run to you for shelter this day. You are my refuge and my present help in trouble. No weapon formed against me shall prosper and I declare, “If God is for me – who can be against me?” Father, I thank you for your ROAR from Zion concerning your people and Israel this day! I know the end of the story – WE WIN! I love you God and I trust that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Amen.
Photo Above is from: www.freefoto.com
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy
“He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.” Luke 1:51b-52
Grab a cup of coffee and sit back because I have some good news to share with you! Today we are going to dig a little deeper into the scripture above and I think what we discover just might make you want to shout!
The word “proud” according to the scripture above is defined as one whom “appears to be above others, haughty and proud.” These are individuals whom the world would call “powerful,” yet it is through their imagination and faulty perception of themselves that God is able to pull them down! The proud believe that they are worthy to sit on a mighty throne, but you and I know differently – only Yahweh is worthy of such a position!
So, here is what God is saying to us today: I (God) am removing those who think they are exceedingly, abundantly better than their fellow man and even Me and it is through their own egotistical thinking that I will pull them down from their high positions on earth. I (God) will personally lift them out of their high places and replace them with those who have a humble and contrite heart.
Here is the best part for you and me: While God is pulling down the proud – He is looking for those of a humble heart to replace them and friends that can be you and me!!! So, let me ask you: Do you daily seek God’s will? Are you quick to repent when you are wrong? Are you a person after God’s own heart? If you answered, “yes” to these questions, then God is going to exalt you in 2008! So, go ahead and give a shout!
Prayer:
“Lord I thank you for pulling down the proud and exalting me in their place. If you can choose anyone Jesus, please do not overlook me. I choose to use my position to promote You and I refuse to give into pride. I declare that 2008 is going to be great! I declare God’s choice for our next President. I silence the voice of the media and man from bringing confusion to our minds. Lord, show us Your choice. And as we hear Your voice, I declare that on election day there will be a BLOWOUT in the polls as never before! It is time for unity. It is time to unite and bring forth God’s choice! May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Amen.
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be the sign to you; You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12, NKJ
I found myself singing a song last week while playing with my daughter in our back yard and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind! Some of you may remember this chorus, it goes something like this…“Lord, you are more precious than silver, Lord you are more costly than gold and Lord you are more beautiful than diamonds and nothing I desire compares with You.” I remember singing this song in church many years ago, but I can honestly say that these words are now truth in my life. I am a woman with many dreams and ambitions, but when it comes right down to it – Just give me Jesus!
I find myself in an unfamiliar place this Christmas. In years past I have longed for so many things – material possessions, peace, safety and love – all of which are fine, but the truth of the matter is, Jesus holds all of these things and more. As the song so beautifully illustrates, I no longer care about fame or riches untold – Just give me Jesus!
What do you need this Christmas? Do you need money to pay your bills or food for your pantry? Do you need peace for your mind or a son or daughter to return home? Do you need restoration in your marriage or a healing miracle? No matter what you need, your answer is found in Jesus. He came to this earth and performed miracles; He gave His life willingly on the cross and arose from the dead; He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords – He is Jesus and He is everything you need!
Merry Christmas Friends,
Tracy Hurst
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many become defiled.” Hebrews 12:14-15, NKJ
No matter how careful you are people on occasion are going to misunderstand you. But the truth of the matter is we can also fall prey to jumping to conclusions ourselves! This is why I am so grateful that God knows the intentions of our hearts. As much as we long to live at peace with man, our overall goal is to remain at peace with God. Whatever people may say or think about you, if you can lay your head down on your pillow at night knowing that everything is okay between you and God – all can be well with your soul.
As we embark on Christmas gatherings this year, lets remember to extend grace. When our friends or family members misunderstand us – we can trust that God knows our heart! We can do everything humanly possible to create a warm, loving environment, but at the end of the day, if our hearts are clear before God – everything is a-okay! The one person who will never misunderstand you is your Heavenly Father. He knows you inside and out and nothing can separate you from His love! Selah (pause and think about that for a moment).
Many blessings to you this Christmas season and remember the greatest gift of all is Jesus!
Prayer:
“Lord, I love you and I am so thankful that you know my heart. I don’t like it when people misunderstand me, but as long as you and I are alright – everything can be well with my soul. Help me to not judge others. Help me to be quick to forgive and extend mercy. Please bless my friends and family this Christmas. May Your Presence be with us and may our focus be on the celebration of your birth. You are the Reason for the Season and I bless Your Holy Name.” Amen.
Check out this awesome video by a pastor concerning the debate between retail stores verbalizing, “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” – you will love it:) //www.citizenlink.org/content/A000005834.cfm
Photo Above is from: www.freefoto.com
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Tuesdays With Tracy
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
There have been times when something I have said or done has made me feel like the biggest failure on earth! It is one thing to fail man, but the very thought of failing my Lord and Savior is devastating to me! Romans 8, has been my safe haven during times of failure in my life. I have found that while God is quick to forgive and extend mercy, the hardest part is for ME to FORGIVE MYSELF!
Since becoming a Christian, I have found one thing to be true: God’s Word does not lie. What God says in the Bible is true, everything else is just a fact and facts can be changed! So when God says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – He means it! Even when we “feel” like complete failures, if we confess our sins to God, we are forgiven and washed clean by His Blood.
Friend, your past, present and future is secure in Jesus. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it! Receive your forgiveness today. You do not have to walk around life carrying the sins of your past – they are covered under the Blood of Jesus Christ. A friend of mine recently told me when I was battling feelings of failure, “Tracy the devil is telling you that you’re a failure, but the truth is always the EXACT opposite of what the devil says.”
So let me ask you – what lies have you been holding onto as truth? If the devil says you’re a failure, then God says you’re a success! If the devil says you are worthless, then God says you are extremely valuable to His Kingdom! If the devil says you will never pay off your debt, then God says your financial breakthrough is on the way! The devil is a liar, but God ALWAYS tells us the truth.
Prayer:
“Lord, I confess every known and unknown sin to you this day. I ask that you forgive me and cover my sin under Your Precious Blood. I repent and turn away from my sin and I choose to follow Your will for my life. I declare that today, I am forgiven, redeemed and washed in Your Blood. The enemy is a liar and God always tells me the truth! God’s Word says that I am the apple of His eye, God says He has good plans for me to prosper me and not to harm me, God says He will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you Jesus for always telling me the truth through your Word.” Amen.
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:22-24
It was exactly one year ago that Tracyhurst.com was launched into cyberspace. My goal back then was to reach 200 women and create an outlet for myself to encourage others while staying at home with my daughter. Little did I know, that in just a year’s time, “Tuesday’s With Tracy” would have over 11,000 first time visitors and over 177,000 repeat visits (not including all of you who receive my blog each week through feedblitz)! These facts lead me to the conclusion that God can do whatever He wants! I am just a simple testimony that if we will give our lives completely over to God, He can do amazing things!
I had dreamed of having a website for years. But it wasn’t until having lunch with a new friend by the name of Angel Cope (www.fromonemomtoanother.com) that God would awaken my dream and make it a reality. You see, unbeknownst to me, Angel’s husband is the founder of Epoc Designs (www.epocdesigns.com) and within a matter of weeks my site was up and running! Ben Cope has an amazing ability to hear your heart and create a website to fit your vision. Once again these facts lead me to declare: God can do whatever He wants!
When God wants something to happen – HE will put everything in place!
I don’t know what is deep within your heart at this time, but I encourage you to give it over to God and trust that in the RIGHT TIME, HE (not you) will bring it to pass! What is so amazing to me is that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ask or imagine in our lives (Ephesians 3:20).
So as we celebrate the One Year Anniversary of Tracyhurst.com, I pray that my website, somehow, someway, has encouraged you to fulfill your destiny in Christ! If my site has impacted your life even in the slightest way, I would love to hear from you! You can click on the “view comments” button and leave a comment or click on my “contact page.” I want you to know that it is an honor to speak into your life each Tuesday!
We are on this journey called life together and I pray that as we stand before the Lord, each of us will hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”
Blessings,
Tracy Hurst
