Category Archives: Careers

The Distraction That Destroys A Destiny

10 Saturday Jul 2021

Posted by in Careers, Christianity, faith, God, God the Father, God's Plan and Purpose, Holy Spirit, How God Answers Prayer, How to find life purpose, Tracy Gatewood Alabama, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, TracyLGatewood, Wisdom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

” And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Him and said to Him, Teacher, we desire You to do for us whatever we ask of You. And He replied to them, What do you desire Me to do for you? And they said to Him, Grant that we may sit , one on Your right hand, and one on Your left hand, in Your glory, (Majesty and Splendor). But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism (of affliction) with which I am baptized? And they replied to Him, We are able. And Jesus told them, The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit at My right hand or at my My left hand is not Mine to give, but (it will be given to those) for whom it is ordained and prepared.” Mark 10:35-40 AMP

In the Greek there are two primary meanings of the word compete, or competition. One means strive or to out-do, the other relates to taking part (as an individual or team) in a competition. The first has a total focus on self – the other implies a desire for excellence to be the best, a leader, in a particular category. The latter could be a team with a business or athletic team, unified with a specific purpose. No stand-outs or rockstars, but a crew of souls rowing in the same direction to a rhythm that only they can hear.

In the above passage, the two disciples, James and John attempted to get the inside track on acquiring the most important real estate anywhere – the seats to the left and to the right of Christ Jesus. After all, isnt it always about location, location, location? What better location of power and authority could there be other than being seated in Heaven right next to Jesus Himself. Jesus informed James and John that these location decisions were not His to make but those of the Father. The Father is always the One that decides then orchestrates promotion, both then and now.

At times, I feel like I live in what must be the most competitive place on the earth. Where ‘for-no-reason’ competition abounds, including on the low end of the scale stomping the gas peddle when the light turns green to be first or racing below the yellow turning to red street light to be the last car through an intersection. These actions are irritating but the competition that I see among people is far more unsettling and a life disrupter of the highest order. A zero sum game with a goal that goes nowhere is to desire to be someone other than yourself. This seems to occur mostly in people (hate to say it but mostly women) that believe they have fallen short of a desired outcome for their life, or people going through a season of failure. There are a number of reasons why no one should succumb to the spirit of competition (envy).

It is the Holy Spirit that fashions and then enables specific gifts, skills and talents bestowed on each individual –

” All these (gifts, achievements, abilities) are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same (Holy) Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually (exactly) as He chooses. ” 1 Corinthians 12:11

Notice that the gifts, achievements and skills that one possesses are …. as He chooses. The Spirit of God Himself has designed each person with precision and in a way that He has desired them to be equipped and outfitted for life.

“And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord [ Who is served]. And there are distinctive varieties of operation (of working to accomplish things), but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the [ Holy] Spirit the (evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit) for good and profit. ” 1 Corinthians 12:6-7

If the Spirit of God, the exact source and force of power that hovered over the earth to form it ‘In the Beginning, has fashioned each person with very specific skills and gifts that are placed there to benefit them for both good and profit, why would people not focus on perfecting their own gifts ?

For it is the Holy Spirit Who knows the specifics of God’s plan and purposes (Romans 8:27-28). He also is the One that determines your assignment (Acts 13:2-4). Spending times of intimacy in prayer, reading God’s Word and listening are the best ways to get to know His plans and what He wants for your life, through what He has given you. What is magnificent, is that the God that created the Universe even has a specific plan and purpose for each life. Remarkable!

Yet there is one more crucial element to understand about your plan, purposes and giftings. It is Jesus.

Because of the completed work based on Jesus’ sacrifice, every person that embraces Him as their Savior can look “unto Him” with expectation of finishing well and being a success in the eyes of God. Your victories are based on the knowledge of what Jesus did for you, over and above your own natural abilities and certainly over the natural abilities of others. The natural is important – these are how God has equipped you – however they are less than the supernatural transformation and breakthrough that will come when focused on Jesus.

God can and will place you into position to utilize your greatest gifts, skills and talents and can suddenly, even supernaturally open doors on your behalf.

These open doors are ‘doorways of grace‘ that cannot be forced but swing from their hinge in the perfect time and pre-ordained season to utilize your gifts for higher purposes. (At times ,this means in other geographic areas for the purposes of “special forces”.) Your personal experiences are also very beneficial in the decisions of plans and life purposes. Many people have lived through serious difficulties and the successful navigation of these unique experiences can be used to minister to many that are currently walking that road.

There is danger in the distraction of remaining mentally focused on a perceived competitor – always looking to the left and the right, overly concerned about the abilities of another. Striving to always be in competition is very counter productive and is guaranteed to steer a person off course – away from God’s desired direction. This will sound too simplistic but focus on Jesus and let everything in the periphery fade to black. Keep Jesus in the forefront and concentrate on what He has given you to do – this is the way to win your race. When people feel that they are not where they should be or experience failure, the spirit of competition can creep in and steal or derail God’s best, veering the unsuspecting off course. Envy, listed as one of the 7 deadly sins, is the root cause of the spirit of unhealthy competition. It is critical to remain vigilant against this spirit.

There is no reason to envy the abilities of others when the Father has something just as wonderful for you. The purpose of these skills, gifts and abilities that are knitted into the fabric of each person by the Holy Spirit is for the use for service of others. If you are properly engaged in serving others, there simply is not enough time to look at anything else. Serve well friends, serve well.


Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved 2021
The Distraction that Destroys A Destiny
Sharing Link: https://wp.me/p1zoxs-2UC


Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
Available on Amazon and through Parson’s Porch

Related Article: The Assignment
https://sacredramblings.com/2011/12/22/the-assignment/





The Process of A Process

01 Wednesday Jan 2020

Posted by in Careers, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Journey of Life, Leadership, peace, Process of Life, the Spirit, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Wisdom

≈ Leave a comment

For the past few months I have had this unsettled feeling in my spirit that comes as part and parcel when I embark on the process of transition. I am feeling that it is time for a change, a move, a desire to go to something else.

One day this week as I was waking up in bed, and just as the sun was beginning to rise up and claim the morning, I began to ponder these unsettled feelings. As my mind began to track back through this decade and then rewind through previous decades,  I noticed something interesting, well at least interesting to me.  Since growing into adulthood, with every single change in a decade, I have moved to another city, and typically to another state. I have undergone many of my life’s most profound seasons of change while journeying through the ‘9’ and into the ‘0’ .  1) From an Alabama high school senior to Virginia-bound college freshman,  2) a career upgrade requiring a move from Alabama to Atlanta, 3) freshly single and broken in Atlanta to single yet still alive returning back to Alabama, 4) then 10 years later single and broken again (not marriage related!) and still in Alabama with a return to my hometown, and now this new decade (still single ha!) but strong, self employed and now stabilized in a foundation built upon Christ Jesus.

This week, I was reading a book on the life of King David. One of the chapters went to great lengths to show the process that David went through before God opened the door for him to become King. Even (and especially after) David became Israel’s second King, he continued to experience trial after trial. He was trained through so many trials that when he encountered his most serious they did not consume. We all know that David was by no means perfect but undeniably a great leader possessing a connection to God as His Beloved, that was and may still be unmatched. Only God knows this but throughout the process, David strengthened himself in the Lord and no other. This is a great lesson for all of us.

As I move through life, I see there are no shortcuts; neither in business nor in ministry nor apparently as David’s life illustrates, in kingdom management. Its all process, process, process. My life compared to King David, although not without some steep almost vertical degrees of difficulty, has been by comparison, simple. David got an early start as a giant killer and in doing so got an early leg up to be groomed for a great destiny. Despite being raised in the church, I was a late bloomer to Jesus and to the understanding of true faith. How I wish I had not lost those precious years circling in the weeds of life, unaware that there was a divine GPS to guide me along a righteous path but again I say – it’s a process, and don’t let anyone convince you  differently. There is no microwave growth in Christianity – its water, son-light and roots growing deeper and deeper and deeper into the verdant soil of the Divine.

I have noticed that doors, particularly meaningful spiritual doors, swing open on just one or two hinges. These doors cannot be pushed, kicked or broken down – these doors swing wide with no known pressure. Again reflecting on David, he was thought the least of Jesse’s sons and was not even presented to Samuel. David was out in the field, diligently doing his job, minding the sheep and BOOM – a life changing encounter came out of nowhere, an encounter undeniably from the hand of God.

And the word of the Lord came to Nathan (the prophet) saying –
11 Samuel 7:8-9  So now say this to my servant David, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over My people. And I was with you where you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name like that of the great men of the earth.”

Some of the most important opportunities that have come my way, those of which I can take no credit, have emerged from out of the blue.  These “doorways of grace” glided open easily with no striving, occurring only in their proper time and season. There was no planning, foresight or known cause for God’s invisible, provident breath to blow these doors of opportunity open wide. But there is something of importance to note: When these doors swing open we must be ready to move as they are on a hinge that snaps back and will slam like that old wood frame screen door on your grandmothers house. Whap!  I can still hear that door slamming closed on a few opportunities that I did not walk through due to fear, self doubt and over thinking but because of the goodly nature of God – I, like you, can rest in His second chances.

Not typically associated with “fun”, the process of being in the process is certainly punctuated with times of enjoyment but rarely would anyone describe the work involved as “fun”.  “Fun” relates to entertainment – if being constantly entertained is what it took to become great then one would not have to journey through “a process” to arrive. Entertainment is typically reserved for endeavors that engage the soul on a surface level but never engage with the spirit – as it takes The Spirit to successfully navigate The Process. Are you still with me ?

As I write this on the first day of the year and even a new decade, I remain expectant of what and where the process will take both you and me. As we look backward to 2010 and consider where we have come – remain encouraged. I am not where I wish to be but definitely have made significant progress in the 10 years spent (some would consider) in this wilderness, a place where I never desired to grow content or become familiar. When I look in the mirror I am reminded that although “my youth is being renewed as the eagles” those eagles are definitely older eagles – I’m no eaglet!  But God has given me a greater peace for the process. Perhaps this is to become my desire for 2020 that I wish for you and for me: Peace.

Happy New Year!

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved
1/1/2020

Related article: My Journey with Jesus Part Two http://wp.me/p1zoxs-gR

Tracy Gatewood is the author of Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus  (2015)

Twitter:  TracyLGatewood
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracyGatewoodWriterTeacher
Instagram:  tgatewood1
Soundcloud:  Tracy Gatewood

 

 

 

 

I Pray for You a Doorway of Grace – For God to Establish the Work of Your Hands

02 Tuesday Jan 2018

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Careers, Emotions, Fear, Grace, Holy Spirit, Jerusalem, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Prayer, redemption, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, TracyLGatewood, Wisdom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

CoverPhotoDG1
Cover: Doorways of Grace; Photo Cred. Allison P. Adams


I Pray For You This Year  –

that a Doorway of Grace will open, which brings peace in your career. You will find the appropriate place in your current field, or a door will swing wide toward a better opportunity. You will transition to a place of abundant provision that embraces your unique Holy Spirit deposited skills, gifts and talents. I pray for a special welcoming place where you will be surrounded with like-minded people with whom you compliment.

That the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord will confirm and establish the work of your hands. (Psalm 90:17) That you will prosper in the land and gain promotion and influence within your organization and throughout your community. That the skill and excellence in your craft will bring you before leaders, kings, and authorities in high places.

When you pray prayers of protection for Israel and Jerusalem and have understanding of the desire of God for its peace and prosperity (Psalm 122), He, too, will prosper you. The Blessing of God on your life will be evident as you walk in happiness, prosperity and admired by many.

That you learn to see Jesus Christ high above every circumstance, in the mountains and in the valleys. That you train your mind to instinctively default to Him in faith and with expectancy, until He activates and releases His covenant of supply and protection. That you will earnestly remember the Lord your God daily as He provides, as He is the One that gives the power to get wealth so that His covenant may be established by and through you upon the Earth. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Through forces of Uncommon Favor, I pray for God to swing wide a door that gently delivers you with joyful clapping and singing into the field of your expertise (Isaiah 55:12) and into His heart’s desire for you. Through prayer and intimacy with Him, for you to have no fear and accept the signs of seasons ending and welcome new possibilities consistent with His design for your life.   AMEN  (So be it)

Psalm 90:17 AMP And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands – yes the work of our hands, confirm and establish it.

Tracy L Gatewood
2022 All Rights Reserved
Doorways of Grace

Website:  http://www.SacredRamblings.com
Facebook.com/Tracy Gatewood Sacred Ramblings
Author:  Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus