Category Archives: Grace

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace and the Law of First Mention

27 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by in Christianity, Grace, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Law of First Mention, Leadership, New Covenant, Tracy Gatewood Alabama

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heritageofsaints

The Law of First Mention is commonly looked upon by biblical scholars and teachers as the place that the word seen for the first time sets the standard for the remaining references throughout scripture. As we know, the Bible is penned through men by the Holy Spirit and in the unchanging mind of God – a word remains in context from the first time spoken or mentioned. The word Grace can act as both Noun and Verb. The first mention of Grace is found Genesis 6:8 in the story of Noah and his family. Gen.6:8  “But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord“.  (Verb Grace – a verb you may recall is an ACTION word)

GRACE IS A GIFT
Like Abraham, Noah was found by God to be a just and righteous man. Gen.6:9 Noah walked in intimate relationship with God. The Lord gave to Noah explicitly detailed instruction on how to build an ark that would house Noah’s own family and pairs of every animal species – saving them from a destruction designed to wipe out an entire generation for their wickedness. A holy re-set on all of humanity.

The most used definition for Grace is ‘undeserved, unmerited favor‘. It denotes a gift from God, only obtainable by His enduring mercy. Grace cannot be purchased or performed, it is purely an extension of His loving nature. God’s love for us is far reaching and immutable.

Romans 11:6 “ But if it is by grace (His unmerited favor and graciousness) it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise grace would no longer be grace [ it would be meaningless]”.

JESUS AS TRUTH AND GRACE  –  JESUS AS TRUTH AND FAVOR
Has God revised His context of Grace since it was ushered in by the Last Adam – Jesus ? Christ Jesus is the actual embodiment of Truth and Grace.  If Romans 11:6 is accurate, where grace is not conditioned on works – Noah’s righteousness (right standing) came through His close relationship with God Himself and God’s own knowledge of Noah’s heart. When given the option to choose, God knew that Noah would be the one to move forward on this critical mission. There was little margin for error on the assignment.

The first mention of grace refers to how God saw Noah – Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of  God.  Jesus, Abraham, Moses and Noah all found favor with God and each were given world changing assignments. All of these men were seen as righteous and  possessing mature character traits.   If grace is ‘undeserved, unmerited’  (one cannot earn it)  would it be fair to say that to just be nominated for the Assignment we must still have our attention focused on Him, possessing mature character and be in very close relationship? Devotion would be an even  better word. Devotion prioritizing Him. This involves no striving or work – it is simply a completely yielded, love relationship with the Father resulting in continual restful responses of service and obedience out of love and respect for who He is and what He has done. Being in position for the Assignment definitely requires faith –

Hebrews 11:7  [ Prompted] by faith, Noah being forewarned  by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance for his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God]  he passed judgement and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness (that possession of being right into which god puts the person who has faith).

BEING SEEN WITH FAVOR BY GOD
Jesus as we know lived an irrefutably righteous life – much more so than Noah. When Noah “found favor in the eyes of God” he was not seeking it nor was God’s grace lost until it found Noah. The action of God’s grace was always there and still is. Jesus like Noah was favored by God and given an assignment that required complete focus, determination and rigorous discipline to complete. Jesus like Noah remained in very close communication and relationship with God – the Amplified states Noah walked in ‘habitual fellowship’ with God and we know Jesus did as well.  Jesus like Noah was honored by God with a Covenant (promise, pledge). Noah’s covenant covered him and his family’s safety and a very large zoo’s worth of animals.  God’s Covenant with Jesus served to save all of mankind from eternal damnation by exchanging our own sin for His sinless body and blood, retroactive from the beginning of time to the end of time.  Both assignments changing the course of mankind – one on earth the other for all eternity.

Should we consider Jesus as all Truth and Favor ? To have grace is to have favor and to know Jesus intimately is to have both of these. I could write a number of articles just on rounding out the favor in Jesus.  Interestingly,  Jesus never mentioned the word Grace (Charis in Greek) in His teachings however His actions of grace are abundantly evident throughout His teachings and interactions with people. He modeled grace and illustrated grace repeatedly in His spoken parables (prodigal son, woman at the well, the demoniac). Grace (Noun) was the word used liberally by the Apostle Paul to describe Christ Jesus and as Paul traveled he greeted people with Grace (Action) teaching people the meaning of God’s gospel of grace as embodied in His Son Jesus. Jesus was (and is) Grace and Paul had the responsibility to draw out the meaning of Grace.

His Grace is Active.

Acts 20:32
And now I commend you to God [placing you in His protective, loving care] and [I commend you] to the word of His grace [the counsel and promises of His unmerited favor]. His grace is able to build you up and to give you the [rightful] inheritance among all those who are sanctified [that is, among those who are set apart for God’s purpose—all believers].

Tracy Gatewood
Alabama

Twitter:  @TracyLGatewood
Facebook.com/TracyGatewoodChristianWriterTeacher
Author: Doorways of Grace, available on Amazon
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Related Post:  The Assignment:  http://wp.me/p1zoxs-4C

The gift of salvation is a Grace gift – as one is drawn by the Holy Spirit to receive Jesus as Savior – there is no work or striving involved. It is simply a decision – an act of will, a surrender. Have you prayed to receive Jesus ?
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace [ God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgement and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own efforts] but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God.

Prayers of Grace – Day 4

09 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by in Gospel of Grace, Grace, Holy Spirit

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Whitedove

Lord –

You are my Architect and Craftsman – make me suitable in your sight for the work you have set before me to accomplish for your Kingdom. You have known me – even knitting me together in my mother’s womb in the secret place. You chose my parents and assigned them to me because you needed their specific characteristics to design what was necessary to complete your work in a desired and specific season. You designed my personality, my talents and spiritual gifts to your liking.When you completed making me you said, It is good and set me out into the world to become who you desired me to be.When I accepted the sacrifice of your Son as payment for my sin debt, your breath entered my body. My spirit became activated,  made alive by Your Spirit.

Allow me Father to not lay any other Foundation other than the foundation of your Son – let not my work be considered for naught because I have not put your Son first. When my work is less profitable and even frustrating, I look to you and remember that you think of me, and that you have plans for me and that your plans are for my welfare and for my peace and not for evil. You will give me hope in my final outcome.

I ask that my final outcome be to have accomplished the purpose, plan and destiny that you have set before me. When I finish the race, as my Chief Architect, you will look at this creation and  I will hear you say  ‘ Well done, my good and faithful servant.  In you I am well pleased.’

Prayers of Grace-
Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
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Author: Doorways of Grace, available on Amazon

Prayers of Grace – Day 1

05 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in Fear, Grace

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Whitedove

Dear Father –

I praise you with thanksgiving for this day, and  for the many blessings that You have set before me.  The work of your Son is complete so as I stand from victory for my prosperity,  my safety and protection, my healing and wholeness, I hold on to the truth of Your Word.  As I look unto Jesus and in the knowledge of His perfect sacrifice, I will move forward in confidence and boldness that He is partnering with me and mediating on my behalf.  I remain fixed and focused on Jesus , relinquishing all self-occupation, fear and condemnation.

I am grateful that I have  a good, good Father that loves me with an immutable, infinite caring love. The knowledge of this great love fills me with the light of hope and happiness.  Knowing that my Father loves me and that Jesus is partnering with me in all family, career and ministry  matters,  keeps me grounded and provides a stable foundation for all areas of my life. While my sapphire foundation was established through affliction, You Lord set my gates, walls and foundation with precious stones.  Your love and kindness never depart from me and your covenant of peace and completeness will never be removed.

I have been established in righteousness and I am in right standing because  I seek to live in conformity to God’s will and His order. I am far from thoughts of oppression or certain destruction because I fully embrace the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ over my life. Righteousness, peace and victory over opposition is my heritage as a servant of my Lord  and my God. I gladly receive the reward of peace as vindication for all unrighteous acts done to me.

 

In the Name of Jesus I Pray – AMEN  (So be it)
Prayers of Grace –
Tracy Gatewood

Twitter:       @TracyLGatewood
Facebook:   Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author:        Doorways of Grace,  available on Amazon

 

My Name is Rose

29 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Emotions, Fear, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant

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Cameobrooch

“Hello my name is Rose”, said the elderly, kind-faced woman as she looked straight into my eyes. For a moment, I could not believe her words. I knew the point she was making, as it was impressed into my spirit. I received it with an emotional mixture of shock and extreme gratitude.

When Rose entered the store where I was working as a greeter that bleak Christmas season – she began to admire my cameo brooch.  “It is very unique – your brooch. A very fine example of a cameo. I collect cameos and I know them well”, she said. “This is a beautiful woman depicted on yours, rare, I have seen few like it”.   “It belonged to my grandmother, and I love it”,  I responded.  “One of my most cherished possessions,”.  “I can see why, ” she stated. As she began to walk away she turned, looking me straight in the eyes and said, “My name is Rose.  What is your name?”  My eyes widened, so startled I could barely speak, “My name is Tracy.  My grandmother’s name was Rose.” She smiled and then turned as she walked up the stairway and onto the selling floor.  I dropped my head so no one could see as a big tear rolled down my face. The times I had heard the name Rose used ever could be counted on one hand – less than 5 fingers even. I knew that she had been sent by God – an angel perhaps but certainly sent as one to deliver encouragement in the guise of my long deceased grandmother. He was letting me know that He was with me, and watching all that was happening in that extremely sad and difficult season of my life.

Pruning is a gardening term that can be used to describe a spiritual season where God trims away the dead leaves and branches that are not bearing fruit. The word ‘pruning’ sounds like a gentle snip, snip depicting a peaceful, singing gardener carefully pulling down a branch in a beautifully manicured English garden. As he trims,  it is only the old, really dead leaves and branches that are cut away. Nothing green is considered. Yet in reality, the pruning experience can resemble more like napalm where just a tilted tree stalk remains, standing practically naked bearing only twiggy branches and a few scant leaves. This had been my season as a bud-less sprig, unknowingly ripe for the shears.  😦

John 15:2    Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. 

Isaiah 18:5    For before the harvest, when the blossom is over And the flower becomes a ripening grape, He will cut off the sprigs [without buds] with pruning knives, And [He will] remove and cut away the spreading branches.

A real pruning by a loving Father can only be considered good when seen from a rear view mirror advantage and at times even viewed only back through a multi-year lens. It is from this vantage point that I can provide a scope of work that begins to plumb the depths of any comprehension of  God’s goodness and His grace.  His unending, and infinite love – a love so deep and immutable,  that He would even see fit to tweak, this little speck of light down here on earth.

Below is an albeit incomplete collection of highlights on lessons learned through the cutting away –

Regarding the Godhead

God is all love. His love for each of us is so wide and deep. We can only truly understand this depth when we have lost everything (and perhaps everyone) then we can see that He is all we need.

Jesus the Son is the sole representation of our righteousness – not our works, striving or performance. When Jesus is acknowledged as the true source and supply – the benefits of the Covenant for which He died transpire supernaturally and with little human effort.

Jesus is all Truth and all Grace. Grace is a gift given by God to us – we do not earn grace. We are given grace because we are the righteousness of God by our faith in His son.

The Holy Spirit is our best friend and is an essential relationship to cultivate. He is the administrator and coordinator of the benefits of the Covenant. We more commonly know Him as the Comforter, Advocate, Teacher,  Healer.

The sacrifice of Jesus signaled  His finished work on earth. With this act began the Dispensation of Grace (the Church Age) which will end in the great taking away of the believers. He has paid for all sin from the beginning of time to the end of time – it was taken on His body for us. As Jesus’ dropped His head, declaring ‘It is Finished’ He dismissed His own spirit – told His spirit it was OK to leave Him. His life was not taken from Him. He left this earth of His own accord, and in His own natural timing.

Regarding Life

 Chance and Opportunity flow through Him and in His divine timing and the correct season. It is our responsibility to rest in Christ and allow His timing to unfold and His intersections of chance come to pass.

We are deemed righteous by God through Faith …. only. As we move forward in our faith, God moves forward to bring our desires (His desires ) to fruition.

Rejection, which can appear as a lack of opportunity,  is more often a redirection toward a promotion rather than a curse.

We as believers have dominion over evil and must take authority over circumstances through the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus. We can ‘place a demand’  by prayer or through speaking on the New Covenant and what has been paid for through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Fear is a spirit and is as deadly as a fast growing cancer. Fear acts as a gateway for all of the dangerous emotional spirits to enter into a person’s soul.  Fear must be stopped in its tracks and bound up as quickly as it is discerned. Trauma, abuse, abandonment/ rejection, and shame are the most damaging emotions and all tie back to a fear root. These cannot be ignored and should be dealt with through emotional healing prayer.

Many of these points were discussed in depth in my book of testimony, Doorways of Grace.  If you are in a season of pruning, stay in the word and in prayer as God shapes a new and better you – mirrored more in the likeness and the understanding of His Son.

Hot Rod

29 Sunday May 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Armor of God, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Grace, Healing, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jewish, Leadership, Tracy Gatewood, TracyLGatewood

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Moses

The book of Exodus details the story of Moses. Through instructions delivered via a burning bush, Moses was informed by God of his appointment to rescue His people out of the hands of Pharaoh.

Exodus 4:2  “And the Lord said to him, what is that in your hand? And he said, A rod.”

Because Moses was a sheep herder, he approached the burning bush holding a common, yet important tool of his trade; a staff. God chose to impart a divine purpose into this one yielded man. His trade tool was a humble piece of equipment that revealed to everyone who he was and how he made his current living.  God had bigger plans.

Exodus 4:3  “And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he did so and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said to Moses, Put forth your hand and take it by the tail. And he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. This you shall do, says the Lord that the elders may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has indeed appeared to you.”

Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey and returned to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the rod of God (Exodus 4:20) When Moses arrived, he and brother Aaron went to the house of Pharaoh and followed the Lord’s instruction, asking Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Pharaoh refused.

Exodus 7:8  “And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron. When Pharaoh says to you, Prove your authority by a miracle, then tell Aaron, throw your rod down before Pharaoh that it may become a serpent.”

And so they did. Moses threw down his rod on the floor of the court and it turned into a serpent. The wizards, and magicians did the same and their rods turned into serpents. A serpent was a symbol of divine power and royalty, even being worn as an adornment on the crown of the Pharaohs however God’s divine serpent overpowered and devoured the serpents of the sorcerers. God’s power is the ultimate authority and the ultimate source of all authority – not man.

Moses and Aaron raised this rod over the Egyptians again and again bringing plagues of blood into rivers, dust, frogs, pestilence (bloodsucking gadflies), destruction of all livestock, breakout of boils and sores,  hailstorms and lightning, and finally the killing of all first-born Egyptian children (which is where we get the term Passover as all Israelites were spared or “passed over” during this plague). Then Rameses finally  understood that Moses was the representative of God and allowed the Israelites to walk free from slavery.

Moses was a common man used for uncommon means. He was given a rod with divine power, a small inner circle, and an instruction from God. He married these three crucial components to an unwavering faith to what he had been called by God to do and accomplished remarkable things.

Moses ( whose name means ‘drawn out’) was clearly drawn out of his governmental position as a prince to become God’s leader of Israel and the shepherd of His chosen people.  Moses was drawn out of the river as a baby to be saved and raised by the daughter of a Pharaoh, only to lose that princely worldly position, but then to become one of God’s chosen Kingdom Princes. Moses was also drawn out to be the author of the Jewish Torah, the Pentateuch which are the first five books of the Old Testament.

But like Moses, each person is assigned, by God’s Holy Spirit, “a rod” that can carry them forth into their God given assignment as support for their true calling. It is a gifting, a talent, a unique ability to move God’s Kingdom forward in such a way that only they can.  The Marketplace Army is composed of teachers, writers, artists, speakers, managers, financial minds and medical personnel – all possessing gifts that are to be used as rods for a calling and for God’s purposes. God will add His Super to the Natural (abilities) to draw out His purposes for your life.

Exodus 4:17 “And you shall take this rod in your hand with which you shall work the signs (that prove I sent you).”

Moses went on to raise his divinely empowered rod over the Red Sea, parting its waters and allowing God’s people to escape across a dry bed, away from Pharaoh’s army and into a land of safety. He lowered his rod drawing the waters back together, and drowning the warriors, intent on destroying God’s people.

Psalm 23:4 “Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me, Your rod  [Protection] and Your staff  [ to guide ] they comfort me.” 

The rod is a symbol of protection and even a trade tool of Jesus our Great Shepherd who watches over us, moving harmful things from our path with His rod. Move forward with your rod of unique gifts and abilities for His Kingdom and watch God bless and protect you on your journey.

#destiny  #purpose  #Moses  #Israelites    #Faith   #God   #Christianity

Tracy Gatewood
Hot Rod
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved  2022
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Author: Doorways of Grace, My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
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In Defense of Healing

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, #Proverbs, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Healing, Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, Tracy Gatewood, TracyLGatewood

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Romans: 8:32 AMP He who did not withhold or spare (even) His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all (other ) things?

The theology of grace teaches we can walk healed and free because of the sacrifice of Jesus – as we contend through prayer to maintain the healing for which He has already purchased.  Recently I read a blog post on Prosperity Gospel written by a Texas seminary student that theorized  that the Atonement of Jesus’ sacrifice as detailed in Isaiah 53:5 referred to sin only and that His Stripes were not taken for the healing of Diseases. I vigorously disagree.

Matthew 8:17 AMP When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons; and He cast out the evil spirits with a word, and restored to health all who were sick [exhibiting His authority as Messiah], 17 so that He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES [upon Himself] AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

IMG_1822-2 (2)

We Are ‘In Christ’

 Isaiah 53:5 AMP 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. Vs 6 all we like Sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to His own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.

1 Peter 2:24 AMP He personally bore our sins in His (own) body on the tree (as on an altar and offered Himself on it), that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds, you have been healed. For you were going astray like (so many) sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian (the Bishop) of your souls.

Every person on earth is made up of three components: Spirit, Soul & Body (the spirit is activated when a person accepts Jesus and the Holy Spirit is imparted). The Soul is comprised of the Mind, Will and the Emotions. Jesus is now the Bishop, or Overseer, of every soul. God has given as a gift to Jesus every person that believes in Him. John 17: 24

The Great News – Our Sins for His Righteousness

It is Christ that imputes His righteousness to us Romans 8:10 AMP – Christ’s righteousness cannot be earned but through His sacrifice on the Cross, this righteousness has been given to us in exchange for our sin. It is not that we now live to strive for righteousness, if we even could live righteously enough on our own, Jesus would not have had to become our sacrifice. He became a propitiation for our sins – our substitute by assuming our obligation to maintain a sin free life because we cannot.  He alone reconciles us to God.  1 John 4:10

It is through recognizing that He paid for our righteousness and that we now look to Him for our transformation into His likeness. I cannot but He can…. Not only that – because our sin was redeemed (bought back) by Jesus, God remembers our sins No More. From the beginning of our life to the end of our life, Jesus’ blood constantly cleanses us from our own sin. We are no longer under condemnation – we have been saved once and for all by a once and for all sacrifice. Oh what a Savior!

But what about habitual sin  1 John 3:9 AMP points out, No one who abides in Him engages in the habitual practice of sin. The key here is the word Abide – like Abiding in the Vine. This does not mean that a person that is sinning habitually is not saved (although it is entirely possible) – it means they are attempting to tackle this sin struggling by their own works or performance – there is no win in their sin. To ABIDE in the grace of our Lord Jesus, recognizing His love and the immutable Love of God despite failings has the capacity to extinguish condemnation and fear while offering the ability to break the cycle of sin. And thankfully –

Where sin increases, Grace increases much more Romans 5:20 AMP
For sin shall no longer be your Master because you are now no longer under Law but under Grace – Romans 6:14 AMP
Furthermore, if we are believers in Jesus, our flesh has now undergone a Spiritual Circumcision:

Colossians 2:11-15 In Him, you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature], 12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins, 14 having canceled out the [g]certificate of debt consisting of [h]legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. [My note: Debt certificate is a reference to the over 600 Jewish Laws.]

So this verse tells us that we no longer live helplessly under the oppressive nature of sin but we have been permanently disconnected from that nature by a spiritual cutting away of our flesh – as we are now “In Christ”.

 THE PRESIDING BISHOP OF YOUR SOUL

For several decades, I have studied physical and emotional healing and personally experienced a season of of divine healings; two were structural, and one was from an illness. I have witnessed healing miracles of others and have attended a multitude of healing conferences. Some people attend college football games, I love a good healing conference (and, I too, am a college football junkie). My remaining remarks on the subject of healing have come through my own personal journey as well as watching circumstances of others at close range. I will not comment or theorize why some people become ill, or even die, unless I have personally observed their situations. Even then I may not have an answer but this I know to be true: there is a direct and undeniable correlation between disease, and our emotions. How we walk through extremely difficult and especially traumatic situations has a profound impact on our health and opening the door to disease.

It is almost without exception that I meet a person struggling with disease or a condition that does not have a spiritual root cause of their disease based on one of the following: Fear, Condemnation, Shame, Anger / Rage, Bitterness, and Unforgiveness or have gone through a protracted experience of Trauma, Rejection / Abandonment, or Emotional or Physical Abuse.  Cancer is one very difficult disease to track but, an extremely high number of people battling Cancer have previously walked through a season of trauma, or protracted period of intense Fear (can be Stress but all Stress is based in Fear). So how does Fear cause cancer?  One way is by giving access to a powerful spirit that wreaks havoc from within the mind, impacting the body, down to its cellular level. Fear also causes heart conditions and heart attacks. You can also believe that Fear is the spiritual root cause of  forms of mental illness – people in extreme poverty live in constant Fear for their survival opening their minds to exposure to schizophrenia, bi-polarity, paranoia.

Jesus is the Overseer of our Souls and the soul is the seat of our emotions. When we maintain our focus and trust on Jesus as our Overseer allowing Him to maintain a reign over (or rein on) our soul, our minds are at rest and we experience peace, and that peace permeates throughout our body. We are trusting God through our valleys and a bi-product of that is health and wholeness. We focus on Jesus and remain in Him. Your Faith is the Positive Response and Acceptance of What God Has Already Provided by His Grace.

So if the work of Jesus is finished and complete, why is understanding emotions important? When one can identify the offending emotion, and underlying cause of the illness, they can release the cause of the emotion to Jesus, resting in what He has done for them by Covenant as enough to guarantee their health, finances, protection and safety.  Petition, Pray, Rest, Focus – again – Petition, Pray, Rest, Focus

“Bless the Lord, O’ My soul and forget not all His benefits; He forgives our iniquities, He heals our diseases, He redeems our lives from the Pit and Crowns us with Love and Compassion and satisfies our desires with good things and renews our youth as the eagles”  Psalm 103

There is a very important reason, imperative to understand in fact, why God admonishes us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. A person impacted by deep emotional stress-ors for a protracted period can and must pray over their own mind and body, binding up their own emotions. Destructive emotions can be controlled. As one exercises their authority, these emotional and negative spirits must submit to the blood and name of Jesus.

1John1:2 NKJV  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

I rest my case.

#healing   #emotionalhealing   #physicalhealing  #trauma   #fear    #faith

Tracy  Gatewood
Writer, Teacher

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Related Articles on Sacred Ramblings:
The Spirit of Peace
Jesus the Bishop of Our Souls

 

 

The Brilliance of His Glory

06 Saturday Feb 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, #Proverbs, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Disasters, Emotions, Fear, Grace

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100 miles below the earth’s surface in the lower mantle; located between the earth’s crust and its super-heated core, the substance called carbon is transformed into diamonds at 2700 degrees Fahrenheit.          [https://youtu.be/nke87ObYxXY ]   The combination of a super-heated state and extreme pressure (equivalent to 4000 men standing in one place) changes the molecular structure of carbon, re-arranging its future by moving it from utilitarian pencil lead (graphite) to a brilliant, and precious cluster of diamonds.

Scientific opinion on the length of time it takes for diamonds to form range from millions to billions of years. The bible sheds light on this timing question –

Ezekiel 28:13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the carnelian, topaz, jasper, chrysolite, beryl, onyx, sapphire, carbuncle, and emerald and your settings and your sockets and engravings were wrought in gold. On the day that you were created, they were prepared.” emphasis mine

The bible confirms that precious stones were prepared on the day that the former archangel Lucifer was created. Satan is a created being as are all angels. Scripture continues, “ You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing wings, and I set you so. You were upon the holy mountain of God, you walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire [ like the paved work of gleaming sapphire stone upon which the God of Israel walked on Mount Sinai. ] vs 15  You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until iniquity and guilt were found in you. ” Lucifer was the beautiful worship leader of heaven and his entire body may have been designed as an instrument of worship.

Diamonds buried deep in the crust of the earth are transported to or close to the surface through rock pipes that burst through the earth at Mach 1 speed. The diamond clusters are encased in igneous rock called kimberlite protecting the clusters on their journey to the surface. It seems miraculous that they even arrive at the surface for use.

Ephesians 2:10AMP – “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He pre-arranged and made ready for us].”

Consider the journey that us mere mortals take – just the right sperm must connect to just the right egg in the perfect time and season, created from just the right two people that came together to make you. God knitting you together in the womb of a woman that He chose – you are His workmanship, and the one that has the attributes He needs in the very correct time and season necessary for use. Transporting you from that womb out to earth, then growing you up, keeping you from getting killed or killing yourself – you, a creation of His own design and making, not for display on a person but for personal display on behalf of His Kingdom as a gifted, brilliant light uniquely faceted to reveal hope, healing and transformation to the world.  Accepting God’s Son, doing so drawn by His grace, you are transported to Heaven and seated at His right hand – in Christ Jesus. Crucified with Christ and risen with Him. Wow – what a journey ! [ Ephesians 2:6]

It is also in these inevitable furnaces of life, that re-arrange a person from soft lead to a diamond. The Greek word for diamond is adamas or the word adamant meaning hard, or unconquerable.  We can be confident and comforted that in these furnaces we are encased In Christ Jesus, our own personal Kimberlite and as we are propelled through life, He not only surrounds us but more importantly, His Spirit lives within us. Unlike the formation of diamonds from heat and pressures from external forces – a Christ Follower’s brilliance shines through the pressure and heat from the inside out as Christ is more precisely engineered within His workmanship; the grace-birthed warrior inching closer to the goal of unconquerable. The process, never one of ease, is made more bearable by the Spirit’s power and counsel, while remaining steadfast in the knowledge of the infinite, immutable love of God.

As His masterpiece, you are a Thoroughbred, fashioned for His purposes through the paths that He set for you to walk until you are fully endued with knowledge and understanding on your purpose.  The word “understanding” is referenced in the book of Proverbs 52 times and means to actively seek discernment, mature comprehension and interpretation. Wisdom and understanding are two separate things. Understanding gives one the full ability to execute, strategize or even accurately communicate to others, involved in the assignment.  Might, a third crucial element for purpose, is the great power and strength to walk out understanding.  Might is what is required to erupt from the core up through the surface and into the place of accomplishment to finish the course.  When you pray for your purpose, O Diamond,  ask God for wisdom, understanding and the spirit of might!

Proverbs 4:7 AMP  “The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]”.

As standard bearers, Master-worked for His Kingdom, we must reflect the brilliance of His glory, allowing His light to shine through us,  penetrating into the darkness of the earth.  We are new creations, re-engineered by God for the purposes of the work of His Kingdom.

#KingDavid #NoPressureNoDiamonds #Destiny

Tracy L Gatewood
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The Brilliance of His Glory

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Prayer and the Law of First Mention

05 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Emotions, Fear, God, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Law of First Mention, New Covenant, Prayer, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Unity

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God’s Kingdom system works with a set of guidelines much different than secular processes. Leaders are promoted through servant leadership principles, as well as heart attitudes versus achievement through measurable goals and increased revenue. Finances are considered God’s and as stewards, they are protected through a system of tithes and offerings (sowing and reaping).  Prayer is considered the vehicle of communication to God allowing for wants, needs and desires to be met. Prayer offers praise to God while also releasing blessings on others, healing, prosperity, safety.

The first nod to prayer is found in Genesis 4:26 AMP “And to Seth also a son was born whom he named Enosh. At that point men began to call (upon God) by the name of the Lord.” {Seth was the son of the first Adam }. Although no “how to” guide or FAQ was provided on prayer within the Old Testament, praying to God was and still is instinctive by those in need.

The first recorded prayer is found in Genesis 18 and resembles more of a negotiation between Abraham and God regarding Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham petitions God repeatedly to save these cities from destruction because there were righteous (in right standing with God) people among their numbers. Abraham and God had a unique level of relationship – more like old friends, freely conversant – casual yet respectful.

Genesis 18:23-28 “And Abraham came close and said, Will You destroy the righteous (those upright and in right standing) together with the wicked? Suppose there are in the city fifty righteous ; will You destroy the place and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing – to slay the righteous fare as do the wicked! Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth execute judgment and do righteously? And the Lord said, If I find in the city of Sodom fifty righteous (upright and right standing) I will spare the whole place for their sake. Abraham answered, Behold now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. If five of the fifty righteous should be lacking – will You destroy the whole city for lack of five? He said, If I find forty five, I will not destroy it.“

This negotiation  / prayer continues until the Lord agrees not to destroy these cities for even the sake of 10 found righteous.

Can this dialogue be considered prayer? I say yes. Prayer is simply communicating with God and primarily in the form of petitions or requests to Him. 
 
(Definition of the word Prayer; http://kingjamesbibleverse.com/definitions/p/prayer/ ) .

Abraham was clearly petitioning for the survival of these cities which makes this the focus of the very first recorded prayer. A righteous man (and a prophet) stood and interceded for the cause of cities, assuming that there were righteous people living there because his relative Lot and family were in Sodom. We must therefore assume that a merciful God hears the prayers of the righteous on behalf of cities and nations even accepting prayer as the preferred method to achieve His results because of the example of the Law of First Mention.

Unfortunately, for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, God dispatched two angels in the appearance of men to find 10 righteous. The men were themselves greeted at Lot’s home by a homosexual mob surrounding his house, demanding the two come out and “play”. Genesis 19:4-5 It is interesting to note that God, prior to the prayer conversation with Abraham, was already in the process of dispatching these two angels as intel to these cities to confirm what He already knew. Had the angels found righteousness among the people, they would have lived. Lot and his family’s lives were spared and were led from this city by the angels of God. (We know Lot’s wife did not make it out).

The bible records Genesis 29, “When God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain, he (earnestly) remembered Abraham (imprinted and fixed him indelibly on His mind), and He sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities where Lot lived“. Although He did not see fit to spare these cities, God remembered Abraham’s prayer and took care of his family.

The Law of First Mention means that it is the first time an important word, doctrine or principle is used in scripture therefore it is the most complete and accurate meaning serving as a key to its understanding and a foundation for its biblical concept in subsequent chapters. The fundamental concept in the first occurrence remains dominant, and colors all later additions to that doctrine.

The word ‘Prayer’ is not used in Genesis 18 but the principle of prayer is described. The first time the word ‘Prayer’ is mentioned is in Genesis when God Himself instructs Abimelech to ask Abraham to pray for him following his near miss in taking Sarah, Abraham’s wife, as his own concubine. God spoke to Abimelech in a dream and instructed him to restore Abraham’s wife so that Abraham would pray for Abimelech so that he might live. (Abimelech had unknowingly taken the wife of the prophet Abraham for his concubine which was a sin. In response, God sealed fast all the wombs in Abimelech’s house. ) When Abraham prayed for Abimelech, he, his wife and concubines were all healed.

With God’s own acknowledgement of prayer and request to pray – no one can deny the weight that it carries on the earth and in the Heavenlies as well as the authority that is held by the person praying. Even though Abraham lied to Abimelech about his wife (twice) – God rescued and brought Abraham favor because of His established covenant. (see Genesis 15 ). This was a clear act of grace.

The cities and nations of the world now more than ever before are in need of resources and protection. God has clearly provided a method to hear from Him on his strategies and to call in the forces necessary to equip us in this great time of need. Jesus Himself has paid the ultimate penalty to preserve and protect His own. It is time for the unified righteous to pray boldly and confidently as this would be the will of God in these heavy, tumultuous times.

#pray #prayer #Abraham #Genesis #God  #localchurch #church #lawoffirstmention #TracyGatewoodprayer #sacredramblings

 

Tracy Gatewood 
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The Heritage of the Saints

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in Armor of God, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, New Covenant

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When you become a Christian a birthright is inherited that is gifted to you by the grace (unearned, unmerited favor) of God. The totality of the inheritance of this birthright is so enormous, one cannot navigate its many benefits and Godly bequests. To be bequeathed this heritage through a risen Savior is a gift like none other that can ever be given – it brings with it re-birth and regeneration, a new beginning, and an impartation of God’s own Spirit. There is no price or finite value that can be placed on this privilege that the Creator of the Universe releases for an individual. Though no thing adequate, the only response must be one of perpetual thanks and praise for the goodness and mercy of the Father.

Psalm 33:12 AMP   Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His heritage.

As Christians we are consecrated, holy and a set apart people; Citizen Ambassadors of Heaven – our churches acting as earthly Embassies and places of light for a dark world in need of comfort, hope and purpose. We are granted access to the Kingdom of God and its privileges, its legal systems that function supernaturally and separately than the world’s systems. In exchange we are asked to be “living memorials” to His faithfulness and promises.

In these times of unspeakable atrocities, we watch organizations violently come against this grace given to us by our Creator (and theirs) – all the while we hold the promise of the Heritage of the Saints, and in the end, will stand as the most protected.

Psalm 94:14 AMP  For the Lord will not cast off nor spurn His people neither will He abandon His heritage.

In a message dated 1904, Charles Haddon Spurgeon stated: “There has never been a time when a weapon has not been forged against the church of Christ. Yea, even at the present moment, as I stand here, and with the eye of fancy survey our world, I see a fire blazing — fierce is the flame and high its pile of fuel. I see a monarch forging a weapon; a crowned tyrant longs to bring forth chains of iron for the liberties of Europe, and smaller despots long to destroy the germ of all true liberty, the glorious gospel of the blessed God. I see the armies ready against the Lord of hosts, ready to do battle against the servants of God. Still here is the sweet comfort; they may forge the weapon; they may fashion the sword; they may shut the prison door; they may confine the prisoners, they may make their instruments of torture; but they can not prosper; for God hath said it: He “breaketh the bow; and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.” “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. He will not let it do so.”

It is our responsibility to hold fast to the confession and profession of our faith without wavering as our heritage includes a High Priest – a holy Advocate – that has been installed into this office by His own blood. This heritage includes a blueprint, the Word of God, that has its own divine power when claimed as truth for an uncompromising hope and future despite what swirls about. Jesus is the High Priest of our Confession and when we confess aloud with our mouth what we have and who He is,  He is faithful to act upon it but we must speak. It is for us to lay hold of this heritage tightly, not with limp-wristed hands but with strong hands confident in the goodness of the heritage of our God. This same heritage in which we were grafted claims of a Red Sea that parted and then flowed back killing Pharaoh’s army, a plan to kill all Jews foiled by a young Jewish Queen, a victorious army of only 300 led by the least of his tribe, a bleeding woman of 12 years healed in an instant by faith,  a freed man that was possessed by a legion of demons.

I submit that the very future of our country and our world depends upon our stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that from Him was borne liberty from which this very nation was birthed. With each assault on this Gospel message that is inextricably tied to the foundations of this place we so love and embrace, we watch as the life blood of the free world drips drips, drips from these wounds. Although we will never lose our heritage as Saints in God’s Kingdom, we appear to be losing the battle for our Promised Land that was so hard fought by our #FoundingFathers who always put its future and God first.

No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.
– George Washington, First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789

Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render to Him is in doing good to His other Children. That the soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with Justice in another Life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound Religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever Sect I meet with them. As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and His Religion, as He left them to us, is the best the World ever saw, or is likely to see.
– Benjamin Franklin, letter to Ezra Stiles, March 9, 1790

We must remain intentionally cognizant daily of the heritage we have been given by God, and who we are as if the very future of the whole world depends upon our remembrance.

No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.


The Heritage of the Saints
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Tracy Gatewood
Doorways of Grace
#hope  #KingdomofGod  #HighPriest  #Jesus  #ReligiousFreedom
#stableandfixed  #America   #FoundingFathers

Twitter:  @TracyLGatewood
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Author:       Doorways of Grace –
My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus

Related Posts:
The Bishop of Our Soul    http://wp.me/p1zoxs-vq
Jesus the Constant             http://wp.me/p1zoxs-uI