by Tracy | Practical, Tuesdays With Tracy
Dinner Anyone?
“I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity; Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street…Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I’ve prepared a wonderful spread – fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning.” Proverbs 8:11,9:3-4, Message Translation
Do you ever have days when you feel as if you are losing your sanity? There are times when confusion and worry fill my mind and when this happens, I literally turn into a different person! And while I am usually a person of peace and joy, those precious gifts are nowhere to be found. I have learned that when I am in this state, I need to sit down and have “dinner” with God! The truth is that according to Proverbs 8, Lady Wisdom is calling to us everyday. The Wisdom of God will show us how to live well and enjoy life. The problem is that there are other voices calling us as well: The voices of the world, opinions of man, fear, temptation, greed and the list goes on and on.
My question for you today is: whom are you dining with tonight?
Let’s choose Lady Wisdom as our dinner host and enjoy a wonderful meal. You see, if we choose to dine and fellowship with the other voices listed above (the world, opinions of man, fear, temptation or greed) -we will surely be eating worms…to which my daughter would reply “ehh”! It is our choice to which dinner invitation we reply a “yes.” I don’t know about you, but fresh-baked bread and roast of lamb sound good to me. Will you join Lady Wisdom and I for dinner tonight? I promise you will leave her table feeling spiritually satisfied. And remember that Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street – who knows maybe we can join them for dessert – I’m sure they will be serving chocolate🙂 .
Prayer:
“Lord, I seek You for Wisdom this day. I give you all the concerns heavy on my heart. I ask that you take away the plate of confusion and worry from my life and replace it with heaping portions of Your Wisdom and Peace. Thank you for inviting me to eat “dinner” with You. I answer, “yes” to your invitation. I know that everything I need will be discussed and that your guidance will be given as we dine together tonight.” Amen.
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.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past of age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11
“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a ticket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide…” Genesis 22:8, AMP
Most of us are familiar with the story of Abraham and Isaac found in Genesis 18 & 22 and yet I believe there is a message that God wants to impart to us today – THE-LORD-WILL-PROVIDE. If God will provide for Abraham, a man well over a hundred years old with an heir, then God will also do the impossible for you as well. I don’t care what your situation looks like or what the experts have told you, I am here to encourage you today that the Lord will provide.
Just think if Abraham and Sarah lived in the world we live in today….our doctors would laugh at their belief for God to bless them with a son, they would appear foolish (even to church folk) and yet they would be the foolish used to confound the wise of this day. Abraham and Sarah believed that ALL things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26). They had faith for Sarah’s womb to become fruitful – the deadness of her womb was the ALL in their life and God did the impossible when He gave them Isaac!
What is the ALL in your life? Is it your marriage, finances, health, promotion or job? I realize that it may appear that you are in an impossible circumstance, but I am here to declare to you today that just as God provided for Abraham and Sarah, He will also provide for you.
Why is it that we focus on our lack rather than God’s provision anyway? I believe one reason is because we live within our natural senses. If we don’t see it, feel it or smell it, then we don’t have faith for it, yet the Bible clearly tells us in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
God has been speaking to my spirit the past few weeks, “Tracy, get your eyes off of your lack and onto My provision.” I believe that just as God provided a ram in the thicket on the day of worship for Abraham and Isaac, God will provide whatever it is you are in need of today. I want to encourage you to take your eyes off of your lack and begin to meditate on God’s provision for your life. You can rest in the fact that God loves you and He will perfect that thing which concerns you this day (Psalm 138:8).
Prayer:
“Lord, Thank you for supplying ALL of my needs according to Your grace. Please forgive me for always focusing on areas of lack rather than Your Provision for my life. If you can provide a son for Abraham and Sarah and cause a ram to be caught in the thicket for the sacrifice needed that day, then You will also provide for me. Amen.”
A sneak peek of my book, “Tuesdays With Tracy: Real-life Devotions that Speak to the Heart of A Woman” at a local Family Christian Bookstore…Get your copy today!
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Hear my cry, o God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:1-2, NKJ
The high place….it’s a place above the chaos that can so easily weigh us down. It’s a place of rest and tranquility for our weary mind. It’s a place where God’s perspective Reigns and where Supernatural peace abounds. Although trials may come our way, there is a higher place to which we can run and receive comfort and grace – it’s the place of God’s Presence.
It is through this high place of God that we are lifted up and out of our circumstances. The emotions and thoughts of our flesh must bow in the high place of God thus allowing our spirit to rule. It was in this high place where David was able to declare in Psalm 46:1-4, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God.” This high place in God quiets our heart and gives us a heavenly vantage point to view our circumstances below.
It is my goal to remain in the high place of God. Some days are easier than others, but even when my emotions and thoughts begin to overwhelm me, I can immediately cry out to God to take me up and out. It is through reading our Bible, worshiping God, praying and spending time with God-centered friendships that we are able to come up and out of our circumstances and enter the high place of God.
Is it time for you to come up and out friend? Has the trials of life been pulling you down? I promise there is a sweet presence of God waiting for you in the high place. God is longing to take you up and out of the bondages that hold you down and show you His wonderful plan for your life. He longs to give you His heavenly perspective and shower you with His wisdom and grace. Will you join me today in going to the high place of God?
Prayer:
“Lord, take me to the high place today. I give you my hurt and disappointment. I run to Your Word and ask that it speak to me for such a time as this. Show me how to go higher in You and give me the strategy for the situations on earth. I declare that You are my refuge and strength and I will not fear. Amen.”
by Tracy | General
The faithful readers of Tuesdays With Tracy, have picked the devotional below as one of their “favorites.” Read & enjoy – It’s that time once again to…. Seize Your Summer!
“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 enjoy my summer, 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 either overwhelmed with activity or feeling the dread of a new 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 | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret – it only causes harm.” Psalm 37:7
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:9-10
What if I were to tell you that there was a place of rest for you today? Rest for your mind, rest for your body and rest for your spirit. It is in this place where peace and hope abide and where earthly trials cannot touch you. It is a place where you are above every circumstance, emotion, thought and accusation of the enemy. This place is the Presence of God.
When a situation arises in our life, we have a choice to make – we can either rest in God or be tormented through worry. When we choose to rest in God and what He says about our situation – we are immediately swept under the shadow of His wings and no evil can come near our dwelling (Psalm 91). It is in this resting place where the great exchange occurs. We exchange our life, concerns, thoughts, emotions and plans for Christ’s life of peace, favor, strength and wisdom.
Our ability to rest in the Presence of God is freely given to us through the life of Jesus. Jesus conquered death, sickness, lack, unrest and so much more on the cross. Resting in God is by no means an excuse to live a life without purpose, or to become lazy, but it is a place of protection provided by our Heavenly Father through His covenant with His children.
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for providing a place of rest for me. I am so grateful that I do not have to live in fear, worry, doubt or condemnation, but I can go boldly to Your throne of grace to obtain mercy and help in my time of need. I ask for the great exchange today – my life for Your life. I choose to rest under the shadow of Your wings and declare that no evil shall come near me. Amen.”
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