Author / tracycpoetry

by tracycpoetry

From MESS to Masterpiece (or, “From MESS to the Master’s Peace”)

Perhaps we think we deserve the mess we’re in because we helped make the mess. Perhaps we falsely believe we have to clean up the mess and THEN invite God into our situation. But the truth is, our Father God is longing to be near us in the midst of… whatever. But He is a gentleman will not enter our situations uninvited. But when we let Him into our mess, we will be amazed by the masterpiece that results.

by tracycpoetry

Never Too Late to Get Back On Track

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

by tracycpoetry

Abiding Prayer: The Peace & Power of Praying IN Him – Not Just TO Him

(Breakout Session from #ConquerConference2016)

 I was so blessed to participate in #ConquerConference2016 and spend an afternoon with some beautiful women as we learned together how to better hear the voice of our #GoodGoodFather through #AbidingPrayer. And the beautiful church we were in recorded our breakout session – so you are more than welcome to join us through the power of technology.

(The information below was included on the handout mentioned in the conference video).

Thank you for joining me in this journey of learning to pray and live from a position of “pre-paid” connection with the only source of Truth and LIFE rather than from a position of constant seeking and chasing for blessings and answers from God.

Key verse:

Key Verse: “If _________________ abides in me, and my words abide in _________________, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for _____________.” –John 15:7 

(Write your name in the blank instead of “You”)

Abiding Challenge:

  • Meditate daily on Key Passage, John 15:1-11. 
  • Also, dig deep into the whole “root system” of God’s word by finding other passages referencing the same or similar concept of abiding, staying, or uniting with God. 
  • Commit the passages that touch you most deeply to memory. Write personalized confessions based on these passages and speak them out.

Key Concept:

  • Checking where you are praying from is just as important as how you pray. Visualize your position in Him (whatever reminder picture He puts on your heart that helps you see yourself as a much loved daughter who has always had her Father’s ear).
  • Don’t be afraid of imagination and visualization in your Prayers. God is the author of these concepts – not the new age movement. Consistency combined with a passionate listening style of prayer that incorporates all of the senses God gave you will change prayer from a task that may or may not produce results to a lifestyle of powerful connection with your Creator.

Recommended Reading:

  • Abide In Christ: A 31-Day Devotional for Fellowship with Jesus – Andrew Murray
  • The Practice of the Presence of God – Brother Lawrence
  • God Is Closer than You Think – John Ortberg
  • Fervent – Priscilla Shirer
  • Hosting the Presence – Bill Johnson
  • Seeing is Believing: Experiencing Jesus through Imaginative Prayer – Greg A Boyd
  • 10 Confessions for Living – Ilya Golden 
by tracycpoetry

When You Don’t See God In Your Situation….

When you don’t see God in your situation – it doesn’t mean He’s not right there in the middle of it. It means you simply may not be aware He is in the middle of it.

To illustrate this point, take a look at this little video and do what it asks. How’s your focus? Can you count the correct number of basketballs with so much else going on? What spiritual principles can be applied? 

Hope this helps you #ThinkDifferently about what you are focused on. Just because you look at something doesn’t mean you’re getting the whole picture.

by tracycpoetry

Let’s Start Asking Better Questions

http://usuncut.com/black-lives-matter/united-nations-us-should-give-reparations/

This thought-provoking article makes some really good points. I am so glad my pastor, Derrick Golden, shared it on his Facebook page.

Because… it saddens me (but doesn’t surprise me) that I wasn’t yet aware this was even a consideration or discussion.  I am praying for healing from mass cluelessness in my country… especially among my race.  Scales need to fall off eyes, minds and hearts – just like happened for the Apostle Paul in the Bible in his “Saul days” when he thought that killing Christians was a righteous thing to do.

And please don’t tell me “They should just get over it” or “stuff like this rips the scab off”. That’s as heartless as telling the millions of Americans who still weep on Patriot Day over the atrocities of 9-11 to “get over it”. 

There is a collective mindset of accepted devaluation that needs to change before we will see impactful and lasting change in this country. Let me illustrate: When the New York/New Jersey bomber was taken into custody in recent days – he was shot in the leg. There is a strong likelihood that there were orders out there (and rightly so) to “take him alive if possible” because he could be holding on to valuable information about other possible plans to harm people. So… careful aim was taken in order to stop him from escaping and causing possible harm to others while preserving his life so questions could be asked. Those officers demonstrated the ability – in the heat of the moment when they had to think and act quickly – to make a decision to preserve rather than end life because there was value involved. In the emotion and intensity of that moment there was likely something in those officers that wanted to kill the perpetrator of such a horrible act against other humans – but they did not because they had important questions to ask him. So I would implore officers to make every attempt to use non-lethal force. That way, there will be the opportunity before any triggers are pulled or other potentially tragic actions taken to ask two valuable human beings (yourself and the person entrusted to your protection) this important question: “Is anything being done that justifies such a drastic response or are assumptions being made based on appearances and preconceptions?”. 

Now, are the reparations in the article the answer? I honestly don’t know. I mean… how can I know?  I – and many who share my skin tone – haven’t even been asking the the right questions… or even thinking much about this important issue at all, for that matter. So we shouldn’t be claiming to have any answers. But we should begin listening to the questions many broken hearts are asking.