Category Archives: Emotions

To the Ones on the Fence

07 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by in America, Christianity, Emotions, God, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Pro Life, Purpose, redemption, the Spirit, Wisdom

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Fairhope baby 2

In Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, there are 10 complete pages,  87 verses per page,  devoted to the word ‘child’ or ‘children’. Children are clearly on the heart of God the Father, and Christ the Son. As I ponder all that is currently happening in the ‘Right to Life‘ movement and the ‘Right to Choose‘ movement, it seems, from a Christian perspective, to boil down to One Thing – What would Jesus instruct a woman to do with the life of her unborn child?  Clarifying question isn’t it but too simplistic? I don’t think so –

Psalm 139: 13-16 AMP   A Psalm of David
“For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret (and) intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.”

King David’s Psalm pays homage to the Father for forming him before the beginning of the earth, actually “knitting him” in the womb of his mother. The Amplified version further emphasizes that he was embroidered with various colors, meaning David, as are we all, is a unique fabric ‘intricately and curiously’ made by the hand of God with individual skills, spiritual gifts, talents that are given to us by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

To know Jesus is to understand that He returned to earth in a “flesh tent”  for the redemption of all of mankind, to give each an eternal life that could not be attained through any other means. If we know Him, we are now considered a ‘child of God’ and given a re-birth, not caused by the will of flesh, or the desires of man.

John 1:12-14 AMP 
“But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God. That is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) – His name. Who owe their birth neither to bloods, nor to the will of the flesh (that of physical impulse), nor to the will of man (that of a natural father), but to God. [They are born of God!] And the Word [Christ] became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacle (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we (actually) saw His glory [ His honor, His majesty] such glory as only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.” 

Why would someone displaying the highest degree of value of the existence of human life and souls, Who lived solely to die  – be approving of taking the life of a child before it is ever given the chance to see the light of day?  A person knitted together in a womb with a soul; mind, will, and emotions, uniquely fashioned by the hand of God for specific and extraordinary purposes to be accomplished upon the Earth? Can a Believer embrace abortion and still truly Believe? Search your heart.  I say no. Emphatically no.

On the eve of Easter, I will share two verses that describe the sacrifice of our Lord, the One that died to give life eternal:

Isaiah 52:15 [ For many the Servant of God became an object of horror; many were astonished at Him] “His face and His whole appearance were marred more than any man’s and His form beyond that of the sons of men, but many were astonished at Him, ” ….. ”

Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him and with the stripes (that wounded Him), we are healed and made whole.”

Understanding the terrible price that Christ Jesus paid to redeem and then ratify through resurrection, mankind’s ability to have a life eternal – would He approve of a woman’s right to end a human life – a life for which He paid the ultimate price?

I pray for the ones on the fence, in the throes of this decision, that you turn to Jesus and not to self. I pray for the ones that made the decision to choose death, that the voices of  condemnation and suffering over “the choice” would cease and you would now raise your voice to stopping this bloodshed – and speak for the voice of the one silenced – until you see them at Heaven’s gate.

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved  2019

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Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness
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Is There A Doctor in the House ?

20 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant, Prayer, the Spirit, Tracy Gatewood Prayer

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Swiss Red Cross

I think alot. This is probably what makes me a good strategist, non-fiction writer, master builder but for whatever reason God created me like this – to think ….. alot. It is sport for me to dismantle ideas and concepts; taking them apart and putting them back together in my mind to make them more efficient, faster, smarter. This “sport” also spills over into the way I consider spiritual concepts like prayer, healing, and the body, a subject that I have studied for two decades. There are few things that fascinate me more than prayer, emotional healing, the body and the mind. If I haven’t thought it I have probably read it from someone else. Thinkers tend to be voracious readers –

To that end, some of what I am about to write I can take little credit. The dots that were connected from the knowledge that I do have on this particular topic over to the Ah Ha! was a pure download from the Holy Spirit; a “Rolex Revelation” that floated into my spirit from The Spirit of Grace. I release it here now in hopes that it will help someone.

For many years I have had an active hobby of studying the mind, and negative emotions and how they impact the physical body. Not only have I walked through several seasons of illness into healing, but like everyone, I have watched at close range others struggle from trauma, fear, etc into disease. The primary culprits of long term emotional distress into physical impairment are: Trauma, Shame, Abuse, Protracted Fear / Terror, Rejection / Abandonment. These negative emotions typically emanate from harsh situations such as death, divorce, prolonged job loss, extreme financial lack, and shaming.  If left unchecked or remain unaddressed – these negative emotions begin to terrorize the physical body. You have the ability to bind these negative emotion “terrorists” – really spirits – before they become like metal balls in a pinball machine, bouncing throughout the body creating dis-ease, conditions and infirmities.

I have particularly noticed when a traumatic experience converts into a cancer as the human cells actually absorb or “take in” the trauma becoming damaged. I personally have walked through this in 2012 when a Stage 4 melanoma mole erupted onto my forearm following a highly traumatic season of protracted job loss and related rejection(s), even from a close fellowship with which I had been associated. It was a brutal season to say the least.

But this is not the Rolex Revelation – the Piece de Resistance that the Spirit laid on me regarding emotions, the mind and body and how to bind up / and control these spirits through The Spirit went much further and for the rest I am mostly a messenger –

When parents and grandparents experience significant seasons of trial and testing, oftentimes these valleys unsurprisingly hold the same result by producing severely negative impacts on their physical body. Unforgiveness, divorce, death of a spouse or child, bankruptcy or foreclosure, addiction cycles – parents go through situations at times of which even their children are unaware. These difficulties can and frequently do leave physical conditions. Arthritis, heart disease, cancer, colitis – an endless list of conditions spring from what started as a hardship that spawned negative emotions that lingered, and festered and lingered some more.

                Fear is the most damaging of all and is the root of the others.

These same illnesses are believed by the medical community to have the ability to be inherited, ie that same child is now “genetically pre-disposed” to a particular illness that a parent acquired when he / she refused to deliver their package of circumstances to Christ the Healer;  the Healer of all things; finances, relationships, health.

If a parent has onset of a particular condition, disease or infirmity that came through the mind (extreme negative emotions) and into the body, that child should not be pre-disposed to this same illness UNLESS the child mirrors the same negative reaction that moved their parent into that condition in the first place. If your parent or grandparent went through a divorce (trauma), or suffered an extreme loss of any kind (more trauma) and then developed a physical condition (unrelated to an accident and typically not structural but can be) then you are not at risk for developing this disease. Also, and even more importantly, if you are in Christ, then Christ is in You! You now possess the power to overcome severely toxic negative emotions through the Blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s power.

So what is the solution? I realize what I am about to write will sound very simplistic given life’s extraordinary obstacles. Step #1 is the continual and persistent management of fear and other deadly emotions through new covenant prayer and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus by the Holy Spirit over the mind of a righteous person to erase torment.  You must ask the Holy Spirit to sprinkle the blood over your mind. There is nothing more holy than the blood of Jesus nor more powerful.

Once the mind is stabilized, then and only then, the brain and spirit can begin to rein in the circumstances. One needs to listen to and follow the Spirit’s leading out of these woods and onto the correct path. The ever present understanding of the immutable love of God and belief that He is working on our behalf provides needed peace and security in every storm; Tropical or Category 5 hurricane.

I have walked through two Cat 5 level hurricanes of circumstances, both occurring within a 10 year span. These were life altering but over time – life improving. The first Cat 5 I was in boot camp learning God as Father as well as Phase 1 on how to hear from the Holy Spirit. Had I not gone through the first storm I would never have survived the second which was worse. I suffered PTSD after these two storms but with the help of God successfully navigated out.  I can say without reservation the most stabilizing stance for anyone is to have a very close relationship with Jesus, having Him as the very foundation of life where here there is always a doctor in the house.

#prayer   #emotionalhealing   #Jesus  #ChristtheHealer   #mindfulness  #healing  #pray

Tracy Gatewood
All Rights Reserved 2019  Sacred Ramblings

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What If ?

02 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, God, Grace, Healing, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Transformational Leadership, Wisdom

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Canva RunnerJames 4:14 AMP  “Yet you do not know (the least thing) about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life?  You are (really) but a wisp of vapor (puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears (into thin air). ”

What if we were chosen by God to live at an appointed time, supplied with designer DNA given everything necessary to fulfill a very specific purpose on the earth and even formed “pre-packaged” with essential nutrients of spiritual gifts and talents needed for others?  Consider that you were truly born for one reason: just to be given the opportunity to participate in an ongoing Olympics as a Spiritual Athlete. Your Olympic performance – more commonly known as LIFE – allows for God your maker to watch you develop, train and execute this spiritual athleticism on the Earth.

Even further – that the sole reason you were even knitted and then birthed into the world was to allow for the opportunity to have an eternal relationship with God because quite obviously without ever being born – you could never live – eternally. God Himself desired that you be with Him in Heaven.

Hello Mr. Mist and Ms. Vapor: You are given the brief chance to display your gifts and talents to and for God to the best of your ability for one primary purpose – to insure the name of His Son’s renown and to advance God’s kingdom.  #thatisall

Well (you might say) I am 43 years old and did not know this – my training has not yet begun,  I do not even know where to start! Why is God so cruel as to set me up for such a high stakes game I was unaware I was even playing ? Mr. Mist, this is why you are reading this post. Lace up your Converse and start those wind sprints. (Pray for wisdom and understanding of your purpose asking God to give you an abundance of clues that reveal your purpose.)    Change your diet and consecrate your life. ( Purchase a bible version that you understand. Feed on the word daily. Spend time daily with God. )  Identify mature mentors that are where you would like to be spiritually.  (Find a strong bible based church with a pastor that teaches Jesus and the full gospel. Volunteer for Christ centered initiatives that truly impact people)  For then,  you will be on the practice field in no time! Hallelujah!  #GoFightWin

II Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive (His pay) according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing.]”

So God not only allows you the opportunity to live in Heaven with Him // FOREVER //  because (please remember) He wants you there – while on earth He gives you the chance (and ability) to run this race earning medals and trophies along the way to be exchanged for eternal rewards handed to you by Christ Himself.  It is unclear if these “rewards” are physical or simply greater responsibilities in Heaven. Certainly the ‘Greatest Reward’ will be living in Heaven itself.

So back to James 4:14 “what is the nature of your life” aside from being “just a vapor”?  What does this word “nature” mean? Nature is personality, make up, character, temperament, identity.  The nature of God is one of the most difficult things to explain, but we do know He is: holy, love, just, divine, sovereign, righteous – the following is an in depth article on the nature of God:

http://hermeneutics.kulikovskyonline.net/hermeneutics/god.pdf

How does your nature affect your ability to become a Spiritual Athlete? Are there hindering roadblocks in your life? Potholes, water hazards, high prevailing winds? Your nature can be changed through your committed relationship with Christ and a sincere desire to run His race, unshackled, and not your own. Then You Will Be Free.

Tracy L Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings 2018  All Rights Reserved
What If?

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Why You Should Give to the Poor

01 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in #HolySpirit, #Proverbs, America, Christianity, Disasters, Emotions, Fear, God, Grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Mercy, The Bible, the Spirit, TracyLGatewood, Wisdom

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The Poor 2

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 AMP 
You shall give to him freely, without begrudging it; because of this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake. For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, You shall  open wide your hands to your brother, to your needy and to the poor in your land.
Written by Moses in the Deuteronomium, or the Second Law Giving, as told to the Israelites.

Have you ever been truly poor?  I have. While in that place of poverty, I understood with great certainty that I should not have been there however no matter how hard I tried to find a job, absolutely nothing would come together. A B.A. degree with honors from an esteemed college did not help, intellect and a good resume was of no assistance, a professional appearance did not move the needle, diligence in networking and seeking came to no avail.  It was a desperately lonely season that dragged on. A survey held in 2010 determined that 1 in 7 Americans are poor (14.8% and 46.7 million).

But at the age of 50, after several years of living in extreme financial lack, I decided to stop allowing life to work against me and grabbing it by the collar, forced it to come into alignment with my prayers for financial safety. Being completely broke with no prospects of employment had taken me down a dark and dangerous road of traumatic depression and total desperation.

Honestly, memory has not erased the cruel remarks and behaviors received from “good people” that either thought my situation was fabricated or simply judged harshly with no action or compassion. Slanderous remarks swirled all around like fiery darts that pierced and ripped my soul. That season tried and tested me on every conceivable level  – almost to complete breakdown – however the experience of living in the pure hell of daily survival mode sensitized me to the plight of the poor.

We are called – yes even commanded – to help the poor.  References to serving the poor are consistent throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Paul writing while in Galatia, Galatians 2:10 AMP  They (the Galatians)  only (made one stipulation) that we were to remember the poor which very thing I was also eager to do.

Paul knew the Truth regarding poverty – that a person is reckoned righteous and in right standing with God through faith and reliance on Jesus Christ therefore has the spirit of God within them; The One Who possesses the blueprint – the tactical plan – that can spring the release from poverty.  The Spirit of God knows the will of God and God’s will is for each to understand they are no longer under the Curse that was broken by His Son’s sacrifice.

Poverty is a Curse
Galatians 13:3 Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the curse of the law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified): [Deut. 21:23 ]

The book of #Proverbs has a number of verses that describe what to do – and not do – pertaining to the poor:

Proverbs 12:13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will cry out himself and not be heard.
Proverbs 17:5  Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he who is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent or go unpunished.  (Reproach defined means to criticize, disapprove, rebuke ) 
Proverbs 29:27 He who gives to the poor will not want but he who hides his eyes from their want will have many a curse.

So why are we not more open to giving to the poor, while not giving under compulsion or with reluctance?  I believe it is fear that our finances will not hold but God’s word states something very different:

II Corinthians 9:8-9  And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [ possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation. ] As it is written, He (the benevolent person) scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!

We are exhorted to remember God’s work when He provides increase so as to establish His covenant upon the earth which includes helping those in need.

Newsflash: GOD WORKS THROUGH PEOPLE

Deuteronomy 8:18 But you shall earnestly remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers as it is this day.

I ask that as God provides wealth, that you remember that it solely comes from Him to establish His Covenant upon the earth. This Covenant is what He gave to you through Abraham who is the channel of blessing and then to Abraham’s son Isaac and then onto Jacob and so on.  Genesis 12:2-3  And I will bless those who bless you (who confer prosperity or happiness upon you) and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed (and by you they will bless themselves).

Jesus Christ has formed a New Covenant with God through His sacrifice. This Covenant flows from the Abrahamic covenant but is superior in that it is forged by the efficacious flow of the Supreme Blood and perfect body of Christ and is also superior as it empowers the Holy Spirit (the spirit of God) to live within to provide all things necessary to walk out your life of faith.  // G I V E //

#Poverty   #Giving   #Faith    #Favor   #Christ   #Christianity   #Generous  #Generousity  #Righteousness   #AidingthePoor #HelpingtheNeedy   #Proverbs  #Philanthropy
Tracy L Gatewood
All Rights Reserved  2018

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I Pray for You a Doorway of Grace – to Witness the Power of the Word of God on Display

10 Saturday Mar 2018

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Jesus Christ, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, TracyLGatewood, Uncategorized

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Book Cover: Doorways of Grace 2015   Photo Credit: Allison P. Adams

Revelation 19:12-14   His eyes [blaze] like a flame of fire, and on His head are many kingly crowns (diadems), and He has a title (name) inscribed which He alone knows or can understand. He is dressed in a robe dyed by dipping in blood, and the title by which He is called, The Word of God. And the troops of heaven, clothed in fine linen, dazzling and clean, followed Him on white horses.

John 1:1-5  In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it.

If the Word of God is actually Christ Jesus, the Anointed One, our ratified Savior, I must question why we don’t speak His Words more frequently to impact circumstances. There is nothing more powerful than God’s Word that we can invoke into any situation.

The above verses illustrate that there is Dunamis power held up in words of scripture. Dunamis refers to “inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth”.   To speak aloud these power-Words and verses and to utilize them as arrows directed into situations and circumstances provides the defining strategy of how to walk in these times. Christ in and Through You is The Archer.  Through His sacrifice and His blood – Jesus allows for the power contained in these Words to run with His Spirit. Speak the Word Friends, where there is Power and Life and Protection.  Hallelujah!

I will confess – I have struggled writing this post on the Word of God for several weeks. The complexities and mysteries surrounding this great topic have given me breath stealing  pause. How do I communicate words that became flesh?  How do I adequately articulate  A Man, A King – who is actual words?  The Word as Jesus,  was with God from the beginning of time, before the earth was even formed. The Word as Christ Jesus, returns at the end of days as King Jesus with His robe dipped in His own blood bearing the title – the Word of God.  Again, I confess this great mystery is beyond my scope to understand therefore I am reduced to merely demonstrating the importance of the Word and to reveal the undergirdings from which it breaks forth for maximum impact, the most important: possessing faith.  { But one day,  asserts the Sacred Rambler, I shall crack this code of mystery. }

And faith is required. The following is a statement from the Reverend Andrew Murray regarding faith:

When I have a word of God in which He promises to do something, I can always remain sure that He will do it. I need simply to take and hold firmly the Word, and then wait on God, who will make sure that He fulfills His Word to me. Before I ever feel or experience anything, I hold firmly the promise, and I know by faith that God will keep it for me. (Luke 1:38, 45; John 3:33, 4:50, 11:40, 20:29; Hebrews 11:11, 18)

What now is Faith? Nothing other than the certainty that what God says is true. When God says something exists or is, then faith rejoices, even though it can’t see anything of it. (Roms 1:17,4:5, 5:1; Gal 3:27, Eph 1:19, 3:17) When God says that He has given me something , that something is mine. When God says that something shall take place, or that He will do something for me, in faith this Word is just as good as if I had seen it.  (Rom 8:38, Phil 3:21, 1 Thess 5:24, 1 Pet. 1:4-5 )

Your Faith backed by the Word of God can be illustrated as the equivalent of one solid ounce of pure gold backing every one dollar bill. The gold is the Word and not your faith.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we (especially) thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God (which you heard) from us, you welcomed it not as the word of (mere) men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe (exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to, trust in and rely on it).

It is crucial to know and to hide the Word in your heart. Now what does this mean ? It means that you must know the Word of God, meditate on it’s meaning and receive it into your heart by faith. Again I lean onto Andrew Murray’s work to articulate this point:

“The heart is the temple of God. In the temple there was an outer court and an inner sanctuary. It’s the same way with the heart. The gate of the court is the understanding, meaning that what I do not understand cannot enter into the heart. Through the outer gate of the understanding the Word comes into the court. There it is kept in memory and reflection. Still it is not yet properly in the heart. From the court there is an entrance into the innermost sanctuary, meaning that the entrance to the door is faith. What I believe I receive into my heart. Here it then becomes held firmly in love and in the surrender of the will. Where this takes place, there the heart becomes the sanctuary of God. His law is there as in the ark, and the soul cries out: “The law is within my heart”.

 You may know that the Soul is comprised of  3 things:  1) the mind (which is separate from the brain)  2) the will  3) the emotions. The Soul itself must engage in a desire to want to know, to understand, and to produce the will to embrace and surrender to the truth of the Word of God.

There is no greater relationship for us mere mortals to develop than with the Spirit of Jesus; God’s Holy Spirit – Who has been tapped as The One to bring us revelation. It is through trusting Him that we have the ability to adequately plumb the depths of the riches of the Word of God, allowing these Words to reveal to us all things desired by God for us to know.

Hebrews 4:12  For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power (making it active, operative, energizing and effective); it is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit, and of joints and marrow [ of the deepest parts of our nature ], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

To use the Word of God for any purpose – you must know it, and at the risk of stating the obvious; this mean you must First Be In It. The desire for knowing and understanding the Word becomes more important than events and other forms of entertainment; cheap counterfeits that fill the soul with temporary refined sugar highs rather than the lifesaving “leafy greens” provided by God. To deliver the Word with faith and power, you must be stabilized in it while also understanding how to “rightly divide it”.  When you begin to walk away from the Word and consider gravitating toward carnal things, you know the true enjoyment that you crave is held within the Word because “it is alive and full of power“.

I Pray for you a Doorway of Grace that you will learn the importance and the power of the Word of God and will utilize it today for your good and for His Kingdom.

Tracy L. Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings  March 2018

Twitter:  @TracyLGatewood
Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
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I Pray For You a Doorway of Grace – That You Will Be Taught A Better Way to Pray

07 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Emotions, God, Grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Prayer, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Alabama, Tracy Gatewood Prayer

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


This is a prayer series for the opening of Doorways of Grace for my readers in 2018;  praying into specific topics in this the Year of the Open Door, Hebrew Year 5778. You can follow this prayer series and many more posts from my blog at http://www.sacredramblings.com    #Prayer


I Pray for You this Year –

that a Doorway of Grace will open in 2018,  and God will provide revelation to teach that there is a better way to pray.  Because of the Finished Work and Completed Sacrifice of Christ Jesus, there is no longer a need to plead with Him for your breakthrough. You have been given dominion and authority to speak directly to your mountains in Jesus’ Name.  The blessings given to Abraham by Covenant have also been provided to you;  faith is your bridge of access and prayer ignites the flame of God on your behalf.  You will pray from the stance of a victor and no more as one defeated.

that you see Prayer as an opportunity to gain deep intimacy with God and the result of your ongoing communion with Him brings forth personal transformation. The DNA of Christ apprehends your own nature as you praise, worship and glorify the Father and your own personal needs become secondary in your time with Him.  As you seek first His kingdom in prayer, you witness the fruit of God’s provision and promises as they supernaturally release into your life.

that as you pray the Word of God, you pray the Will of God, which will activate spiritual places and Heaven will command angelic forces on your behalf.  You will have what you speak in prayer and understand that the power of life and death is in the tongue. You shall speak what shall be, rather than – what is.  God’s word will not return void.

that as you align with God’s will,  you speak aloud to your body and emotions, commanding them into alignment and into God’s proper order and complete health and wholeness. As you take authority over your body and soul (mind, will, and emotions) you will bring these under the submission of your spirit. Every cell, bone, muscle, joint, organ and system in your body can be called into alignment and order when you speak directly to your body in prayer. Pull down the Covenant benefits of healing and your body into 100 percent functionality  – in the Name of Jesus.

that you now see and understand All Righteousness given to Jesus from God has also been given to you as a gift through His sacrifice.  You Are Righteous in the sight of God in fact you are purified, justified, made righteous and whole just as if you had never sinned, because of the blood of Jesus that continually flows to give you freedom.  The Good News of Jesus equals a Grace Gift from God.

that you will pray from a confident position and no longer cower before the voices of fear or condemnation and feel that you are “less than” for you are in Christ Jesus, permanently installed as one of God’s Beloved as you step boldly before the throne of grace to commune with Him in praise, and glory and honor forever. AMEN (So be it)

1 Corinthians 1:30 AMP  But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden , manifesting  itself as ] our Righteousness  [ thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God ], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [ providing our ransom from eternal penalty penalty for sin]
So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice and glory in the Lord.

Tracy L. Gatewood
2018 All Rights Reserved – Doorways of Grace

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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

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

This is a prayer series for the opening of Doorways of Grace for my readers in 2018;  praying into specific topics in this the Year of the Open Door, Hebrew Year 5778. You can follow this prayer series and my blog at http://www.sacredramblings.com


I Pray For You This Year  –

that a Doorway of Grace will open in 2018, which brings peace in your career. You will find the appropriate place in your current organization or for a door to swing 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.  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, 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, and that you train your mind to instinctively default to Him in faith and with expectancy, until He activates 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.

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, and into His hearts 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
2018 All Rights Reserved  Doorways of Grace
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The Spirit of Peace

25 Monday Dec 2017

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, God, Healing, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant, peace, Prayer, Salvation, Tracy Gatewood Prayer

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A word on Peace (again) in the Season of Peace – and yes YOU can have it.

Tracy Gatewood

TranquilityandPeace

I once heard Andrew Wommack say in a broadcast that ‘Peace is an emotion’.  I had always thought of peace as a state of being or a lack of emotion or even state of rest, never having considered peace to be like other emotional responses to adverse circumstances such as fear, shame, trauma, etc. As white is the absence of all color, peace, to me, has always been simply the absence of negative emotion. This week, I decided to do a word study on peace because let’s face it – peace is a big deal.  I am glad to say that we, as Believers, can stand confidently, #stableandfixed victoriously rooted in the soil of peace.

John 14:27“Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be…

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Observations From A Soul Dive

24 Friday Nov 2017

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Armor of God, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, God, Gospel of Grace, Healing and the Armor of God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant, Prayer, Salvation, soul, the Spirit, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Alabama, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, TracyLGatewood, Wisdom

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Duck DivingThe study and understanding of the soul; the mind, will and emotions needs a fresh look. How we calibrate our souls to the rhythm of the Spirit and away from the insanity of the world determines the trajectory of the success of life. How do we get and stay happy? This is a deep dive into the issue of soul management –  an expedition into how to intentionally acquire and maintain a still and quiet soul.

The following is an excerpt from a booklet by George Muller, who directed until his death in 1898, the Ashley Down orphanage, Bristol England.

“It has pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, the benefit of which I have not lost, for more than fourteen years. The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord, or how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in other ways seek to behave myself  as it becomes a child of God in this world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit.
Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, as a habitual thing, to give myself to prayer, after having dressed myself in the morning. Now, I saw that the important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed, and that thus, by means of the Word of God, while meditating on it, my heart might be brought into experiential communion with the Lord.”  ……….
–  George Muller 1805-1898,  Soul Nourishment First

George Muller, a man that depended totally on donations to feed and educate thousands of children, positioned himself daily by first being strengthened by the Word of God, so that he might get his soul into a “happy state”. He then relied on meditation to bring his heart into communion with God – he did these two things before engaging in prayer. This was eye opening and confirming at the same time. There are certainly mornings where my mind will not quiet into a state of rest, distracting me from focusing on prayer and hearing from the Lord. Muller’s order of   1) Reading the Word  2) Meditation on the Word  3) Prayer – steadied his soul first before launching out into the spirit depths of his morning prayer.

The Ashley Downs Orphanage in Bristol England served over 10,000 orphans in Muller’s lifetime while also establishing 117 schools, mostly educating orphans. George Muller opened orphanages to prove to the world that God not only hears prayer but answers prayer.The Autobiography of George Muller, Amazon.

Settling the mind, and emotions into a state of rest must become an intentional act

The Lord Jesus bequeathed to all that believe in Him the Gift of Peace – John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My [own] Peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid, [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

Ephesians 6 also makes reference to peace:  vs15And having shod your feet in preparation (to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and readiness produced by the good news) of the Gospel of Peace. 

This verse implies an intention on the part of the Believer, that they should be #StableandFixed and in total awareness of  the Gospel. The Amplified frames the Gospel as the “Gospel of Peace.”

Yet there is even one more mechanism for the acquisition of peace. This very Peace that is guaranteed through the Blood of Jesus still available and direct deposited into the soul, Special Delivery, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is a peace that erupts from the inside out, pressing away the ‘screaming critters’ of fear, condemnation, hopelessness, rejection, shame and effects of traumatic incidences. It is only His ministry that quiets the soul, and can apprehend and supernaturally route-out thoughts, ideas and suggestions that arrive like nuclear warheads into the mind, derailing the will and emotions creating distraction and at times, destruction.

Holy Spirit is given to us as our internal healer and power supply while living on earth yet He is the most underutilized and least understood of the Godhead.

In managing our own souls, our very first duty is the recognition and identification of strong negative emotions. These “hinges” have the  ability to swing wide a portal into the soul from the enemy. The following hinges are what release unwanted and involuntary –  Thoughts, Ideas and Suggestions.

1) Protracted Fear
2) Unforgiveness
3) Resentment
4) Anger/ Rage / Hatred
5) Trauma
6) Rebellion
7) Envy / Jealousy
8) Shame

Thought, idea and suggestion warheads are preceded by allowing one of these 8 hinges to swing. We have a responsibility to keep our emotions in check but as mere mortals – all of us swing a hinge from time to time. Our first duty is to identify the hinge for what it is and then allow the Holy Spirit to Clorox the soul from the offending spirit(s). We can verbally and spiritually place the Helmet of Salvation  (ref: Ephesians 6) on our heads through the Holy Spirit which will deflect emotional darts – the word ‘salvation‘ (Greek) is all encompassing and means deliverance, wholeness, restoration, preservation , safety.

How does this work ?

Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain peace) and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. ”

The word ‘Chastise’ in the Hebrew can mean to scourge (mastigoo) and punish (physically). The following passage is spoken by Pilate –

Luke 23:14-16 AMP  And said to them, You brought this Man before me as One Who was perverting and misleading and turning away and corrupting the people; and behold, after examining Him before you, I have not found any offense (crime or guilt) in this Man in regard to your accusations against Him; 15 No, nor indeed did Herod, for he sent Him back to me; behold, He has done nothing deserving of death. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and deliver Him amended (reformed, taught His lesson) and release Him. 17 For it was necessary for him to release to them one prisoner at the Feast. 18 But they all raised a deep cry saying, Away with this Man! Release to us Barabbas! 19 He was a man who had been thrown into prison for raising a riot in the city, and for murder. 20 Once more Pilate called to them, wishing to release Jesus; 21 But they keep shouting out, Crucify Him, crucify Him! 22 A third time he said to them, Why? What wrong has he done? I have found (no offense or crime or guilt) in Him nothing deserving of death; I will therefore chastise Him (in order to teach Him better) and release Him.

In this case, clearly the meaning of Chastise was violent, not merely a verbal chiding like warning a child, but a punishment that drew blood – and in this case ALOT of blood. Jesus was so violently beaten,  He was unrecognizable.

The Blood and the Spirit are One and Inseparable. There are two primary places in scripture that reference that the blood of Jesus flowed from His head; the Garden of Gethsemane and when He wore that crown of thorns on the day of His crucifixion. The blood that He shed from His head purchased for us His peace for our minds. His blood releases the Spirit. The Blood is what allows the key of access to the soul and the Spirit is Who can turn the key to control the soul.

When we 1) acknowledge and affirm the sacrifice of Jesus  2) enlist the partnership of the Holy Spirit, inviting Him to apprehend every spirit that is not from the spirit of God from our mind 3) Focus on Jesus, standing in victory,  in His completed work for our lives 4) And lastly – because it has worked for me and others so many times however should not exalt itself over the focus on Jesus –  personally take authority over these “hinges”, rebuking and binding them in the spirit – WE ARE FREE. We walk liberated and we walk in freedom through the Ministry of the Holy Spirit and because of the finished work of Christ Jesus.

Tracy L Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings – 2017 All Rights Reserved
All scripture from Amplified version.

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Discerning the Will of God

12 Sunday Nov 2017

Posted by in #HolySpirit, America, Christianity, Disasters, Emotions, Fear, God, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Jesus Christ, Nation, New Covenant

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Wooded Path

The phrase “the will of God” most frequently appears tied to a strategy to find God’s will and purpose in life. There is another reference to His will and that is of observing it, discerning His hand in times and seasons while trusting He is behind the scenes working from His own blueprint and specifications. Oftentimes God’s will comes as a counter-intuitive movement, springing forth from the mysteries of the heart and the mind of the Father, impossible to predict.

God’s actions frequently defy our own religious thinking and law – based assumptions: do good, get good – do bad, get bad. Although there are civil laws that must guide our governments,  this do good get good formula is no longer the way of God in the era of the sixth dispensation in which we now live, the Dispensation of Grace. Grace is dispensed as a gift from God, unable to be earned, worked for or performed. Grace is undeserved, unmerited favor. This word in Hebrew is Chen, and in Greek means Charis or literally favour.  When used in reference to God, it is the benevolent action of Him stooping down to us in His kindness to reach us in our need, and convey upon us a benefit. His grace has been termed ‘unmerited favour’ but it is more than an attitude of favour or mercy. His mercy is an expression of His compassion toward us, but His grace is an extension of benevolence translated into action that releases His enabling power into our lives. **

[ The greatest example of Charis or Grace from God is the gift of His Son, Christ Jesus – the Love of the Father is infinite and immutable and His presence is with us in every time of need. ]

We cannot know or comprehend the ways of God, but we can make every effort to be aware of the times and seasons, praying for discernment and for the recognition of signs and patterns that provide assurances of what is His will. Daniel praised God for giving him insight and understanding which was delivered through a dream – Daniel 2:21-23 

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.

23 “I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

When seeking to understand the will or direction of God,  watch for His clues. These clues are unable to be discerned through the usual ‘operating system’ of the soul  (mind, will, emotions). Discerning requires the removal of the glasses of regular reason and the placing on of spiritual-lenses.  When viewing from the stands, watch for the supernatural plays or the highly unusual to unfold.  Eventually the smoke clears and the direction becomes obvious, “Hey this is it – this is the direction, follow Me here.” Here are several clues :

1) God’s chosen person, organization or direction has strikingly different platforms or approaches running parallel to opposing themes that appear to be in the majority
2) The person or organization, or city, nation, etc that is involved as a choice of God’s will is almost always subjected to great, even unnatural resistance, and far greater resistance experienced by anyone else. Despite the resistance, doors open to allow God’s direction to prevail through each fire.
3) God’s knows the heart, He can discern the heart of a person – no matter their past mistakes and behavior. It is not unusual for God to make a choice that others do not see or understand.
4) Extreme circumstances can unfold as a pre-cursor to a great wave of favour and as introduction to a breakthrough.

One of the most powerful accounts in scripture of the grace of God is illustrated in the account of Moses. Moses, who’s name means ‘drawn out’ , was born into the family of Hebrew slaves. The King of Egypt ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill the Hebrew sons at birth. The Hebrew midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt ordered. (Exodus 1:18)  Moses’ mother who had seen he was beautiful, hid him for 3 months then placed Moses in a basket in the river to be found by another in order to save him.  Moses floated over to Pharaoh’s daughter who was bathing in the river. She reached for Moses and fell in love, taking Moses out of the water and raising him as a prince in the court of Egypt.

After becoming a grown man, he came upon an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Enraged,  Moses murdered the Egyptian and then buried the body.  A man mentioned that he was aware of the murder, and Pharaoh shortly after learning, demanded that Moses life be taken. Moses fled as a fugitive, to the land of Midian where he was taken in by a tribe. From here – the story of Moses’  life takes a dramatic turn:

EXODUS 3: 1 -13 AMP
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the back and to the west of the wilderness and came to Horeb or Sinai, the mountain of God. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, yet was not consumed.
And Moses said, “I will not turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. And when the Lord  saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said,” “Moses! Moses! And he said, “Here am I.”  God said, “Do not come near, put your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.” Also He said “I am the God of your Father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”  And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
And the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters and oppressors; for I know their sorrows and sufferings and trials. And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand and power of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a land good and large, a land flowing with milk and honey  (a land of plenty) – to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzitte, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Now behold the cry of the Israelites have come to Me, and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore I will send you to Pharoah, that you may bring forth My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
And Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelite’s out of Egypt?” God said, “Surely, I will be with you; and this shall be the sign to you that I have sent you; when you have brought the people out of Egypt; you shall serve God on this mountain. (Sinai)”

In one of the most stunning acts of grace, mercy and favour ever recorded in Biblical history,  Moses – a murderer and a fugitive – experienced a visitation from God Who Himself asked Moses to be the Deliverer of the Nation of Israel! “Surely I will be with you” states God to Moses who had executed one of the greatest of sins, taking the life of another.  How then can any single unrighteous man or woman attain promotion? It is because God looks at the heart. Despite sins and unrighteous acts – God’s grace still offers promotion and opportunity to the worst and to the least.

Recently I have pondered  how “Dis-grace” could truly be a word. To be a “disgrace” means that you have been extracted from Grace, or there is a reversing force removing a person from grace. There is no such word in the Kingdom of God.  If that existed,  grace itself,  could never exist. The very essence of grace is that it will always be extended for the repentant as an undeserved gift offered for unrighteous acts whose debt has been paid by the perfect and righteous blood of Jesus Christ.

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings – All Rights Reserved

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Discerning the Will of God is the 60th published post on Sacred Ramblings!