by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!” Proverbs 3:5-8, The Message
One morning last week while driving down I-285, I was pondering the difficulties in my life and those around me. Needless to say, my heart was extremely heavy, as I could not figure out “why” these challenges were going on or “what” to do about them. These thoughts led me to feelings of hopelessness, but then the Holy Spirit whispered ever so quietly to me, “Tracy, you may never know why these situations are going on but you know “Who” God is.” Within an instant I began to feel better. I got my eyes off the problem and onto God – The Solution.
The truth is:
- When my body is sick – He is my Healer.
- When I cannot pay my bills – He is my Provider.
- When my mind is filled with worry – He is my Peace.
- When my family forsakes me – He is my Father, Mother, Sister and Brother.
- When my heart is filled with anger – He is my Forgiving Father.
- When strife is all around me – He is my Protector.
- When my friend betrays me – He is my Loyal Companion.
- When I am rejected – He is my Acceptance.
- When I don’t know what to do – He is my Wisdom.
- When I do or say the wrong thing – He is my Grace.
- When I can barely get out of bed – He is the Lifter of my head.
- When I am afraid – He is my Perfect Love that casts out all fear.
I look forward to being with Cumberland Community Church on Mother’s Day! God has put a message on my heart and I am confident that He will show Himself faithful. Be encouraged today that no matter what you are going through, God is everything you need. Run to Him and as the scripture states, “your body will glow with health and your bones will vibrate with life” (Proverbs 3:8)!
Got Faith? Promo from Cumberland Community Church on Vimeo.
See you Sunday!
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:5
“Many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not con-fess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” John 12:42-43
There was a time in my life when I longed for the approval of man. I wanted to be a person of great importance. I drank in the praise of man and became intoxicated with what people thought and said of me. Yet my approval addiction was never satisfied and thankfully so because it brought me to the place of brokenness and total surrender to God. I have come to the place where I no longer desire the praise of man, but only to hear my Father say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
In our society we are encouraged to glorify the accomplishments of man. Many strive to achieve titles, positions of power, wealth and to be deemed by the world as a noteworthy person. And although we are promised much favor and success as children of God, a lot of individuals believe that the praise of man alone will bring them a sense of worth. They crave to hear man say of them, “Wow, look at them and what they have accomplished.” This is true even in the Christian culture. There is often a mixture of longing to glorify God while also enjoying the seduction of the praise of man.
Let us be reminded today that the praise of man is temporal and it will never bring true satisfaction. The only true satisfaction in this life is a relationship with God. And friend, God has already deemed you worthy! Through the Cross of Jesus, you are the righteousness of God and He loves you – the real you!
You can rest your head tonight knowing that no matter what man may think or say about you, God loves you! It is my prayer that each night you will fall asleep pondering God’s amazing love for you. Oh how He loves you! Jesus gave His life for you, what more could He give? Oh how He loves you and me!
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for loving me. I acknowledge that there is nothing this world can offer me that will bring me true peace or satisfaction but You! I will choose this day forward to meditate on what You say about me. No matter what man may say, I am the righteousness of God, I am the head and not the tail and the blessings of the Lord will chase me and overtake me (Deuteronomy 28). Amen.”
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy
Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed.” Isaiah 61:9, NLT
Ask any of my closest friends and they will tell you that one of my mantras in life is, “Go where there is favor!” In my opinion, life is too short to spend time with those who do not celebrate you and the gifts God has placed in your life. Think about this for a moment. You are God’s unique creation in Christ and even during hard times, God’s love and favor rests upon you, as you trust in His Word.
When we choose to live for God and follow His plan for our life, we cannot help but experience supernatural favor. Our scripture above tells us that not only will we be seen as God’s favored but our descendants will also be recognized and honored among the nations. And did you know that we are promised to obtain favor even with our enemies? Proverbs 16:7 states, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”
There was a situation a few years ago where I clearly was in the wrong place at the wrong time and there was no sign of favor anywhere. I felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Nothing I did worked, which I came to realize was a clue that I had somewhere, somehow, gotten off track. I had become so accustomed to receiving God’s favor everywhere I went that when it wasn’t there, it was a bizarre experience for me and one that I do not want to repeat anytime soon. It did not take me long before I realized that I unknowingly had stepped out of God’s path for my life. I was swayed by man’s opinion rather than seeking God for where I needed to be for such a time as this. Hence, I made a change as quickly as possible and I found myself once again living where God’s favor reigns.
I do believe there are times in each of our lives when God allows us to walk through difficult places to stretch us and show us what is really within our hearts (Deuteronomy 8:2). Yet when God leads us to a valley, He promises to provide us everything we need, including His rod and a staff to comfort us (Psalm 23). The question is, has God led us to this valley or did we unknowingly step out of the path of life and lead ourselves there? Selah (pause and think about this for a moment). If this is the case, then we can run to God and trust that He is bigger than every circumstance in our life. He loves us and will show us His path of life.
It is my prayer that we continually live in God’s favor and that when people see us coming, whether at the grocery store or in our workplace, they will declare, “Surely they are BLESSED of God.”
Prayer:
“Lord, show me Your path. I long to be where Your favor is for me and my family. Forgive me for the times when I trusted in anything other than You. You are my God and when I follow Your path I cannot help but walk in the favor of God. Make every crooked place straight in my life and may everyone around me see supernatural favor on my life. Amen.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.” Psalm 71:20, NLT
Let me share with you what God has done in my own life:
- I know what its like to be abused, but I also know its like to forgive my abuser and be set free.
- I know what its like to have thoughts of killing yourself, but I also know what it’s like to carry life inside my womb.
- I know what its like to be full of fear to the point of rocking back and forth with my Bible just to make it through the night, but I also know what it’s like to see God’s angels moving on my behalf.
- I know what its like to feel all alone in this world, but I also know to have the honor of Jesus as my EVERYTHING.
- I know what its like to live in depression and despair, but I also know what it’s like to be pulled out of the pit for God’s Gory.
- I know what its like to worry to the point of almost losing my mind, but I also know what it’s like to be renewed in my mind with God’s Word.
- I know what its like to have fame within my grasp only to have it taken away, but I also know what it’s like to have perfect peace in that Nothing or No one can rob my destiny in Christ.
- I know what its like to put my hope in man and be disappointed every single time, but I also know it’s like to put my hope in God and watch Him make streams in the desert for me.
- I know what its like to barely get out of bed, but I also know what it’s like to experience God’s joy that comes in the morning.
- I know what its like to wonder if my dreams will every come to pass, but I also know what it’s like to have faith in Jesus and know that He never withholds anything good from me, He only sets me up to be blessed.
- I know what its like to be diagnosed with liver-failure, but I also know what it’s like to have Jesus miraculously heal me.
- I know what its like to only have oatmeal in my pantry to eat, but I also know what it’s like to have all of my needs met.
- I know what its like to run for my life to an abuse shelter, but I also know what it’s like to have God make purpose out of my pain and that my best days are yet ahead.
- I know what its like to be told that I am stupid and invaluable, but I also know what it’s like to read that Jesus died on the Cross-for me and I am the apple of His eye.
- I know what its like to lose something precious, but I also know what it is like to have it restored back to me 20 years later!
I believe 2012 is our year to flourish. I have a great anticipation for 2012! Let us declare and believe that our mighty God is not only willing BUT ABLE to restore us to life again and lift us up from the depths of the earth and may this restoration bring great glory and honor to God Almighty!!
Happy New Year!
Tracy
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.” Psalm 71:20, NLT
Let me share with you what God has done in my own life:
- I know what its like to be abused, but I also know its like to forgive my abuser and be set free.
- I know what its like to have thoughts of killing yourself, but I also know what it’s like to carry life inside my womb.
- I know what its like to be full of fear to the point of rocking back and forth with my Bible just to make it through the night, but I also know what it’s like to see God’s angels moving on my behalf.
- I know what its like to feel all alone in this world, but I also know to have the honor of Jesus as my EVERYTHING.
- I know what its like to live in depression and despair, but I also know what it’s like to be pulled out of the pit for God’s Gory.
- I know what its like to worry to the point of almost losing my mind, but I also know what it’s like to be renewed in my mind with God’s Word.
- I know what its like to have fame within my grasp only to have it taken away, but I also know what it’s like to have perfect peace in that Nothing or No one can rob my destiny in Christ.
- I know what its like to put my hope in man and be disappointed every single time, but I also know it’s like to put my hope in God and watch Him make streams in the desert for me.
- I know what its like to barely get out of bed, but I also know what it’s like to experience God’s joy that comes in the morning.
- I know what its like to wonder if my dreams will every come to pass, but I also know what it’s like to have faith in Jesus and know that He never withholds anything good from me, He only sets me up to be blessed.
- I know what its like to be diagnosed with liver-failure, but I also know what it’s like to have Jesus miraculously heal me.
- I know what its like to only have oatmeal in my pantry to eat, but I also know what it’s like to have all of my needs met.
- I know what its like to run for my life to an abuse shelter, but I also know what it’s like to have God make purpose out of my pain and that my best days are yet ahead.
- I know what its like to be told that I am stupid and invaluable, but I also know what it’s like to read that Jesus died on the Cross-for me and I am the apple of His eye.
- I know what its like to lose something precious, but I also know what it is like to have it restored back to me 20 years later!
I believe 2012 is our year to flourish. I have a great anticipation for 2012! Let us declare and believe that our mighty God is not only willing BUT ABLE to restore us to life again and lift us up from the depths of the earth and may this restoration bring great glory and honor to God Almighty!!
Happy New Year!
Tracy
