Category Archives: Leadership

Daniel the Great

01 Monday Nov 2021

Posted by in #BookofDaniel, Christianity, faith, God, God's Plan and Purpose, Healing, Holy Spirit, How God Answers Prayer, Jesus, Jewish, Leadership, Nation, Prayer, SpiritofExcellence, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer

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“The King said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, are you able to make known to me the dreams which I have seen and the interpretation of it? Daniel answered the King, The [ mysterious] secret which the King has demanded neither the wise men, enchanters, magicians nor astrologers can show the king;
But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what it is that shall be in the latter days (at the end of days). The dream and the visions in your head upon your are bed are these: ……. ”
Daniel 2:27 – 28 AMP

In the 6th Century BC during the Babylonian reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, lived a youth born into Jewish nobility whose name was Daniel. The King had asked the head eunuch to bring to his court youths from Israel that were “without blemish, well-favored in appearance, and skillful in wisdom, discernment and understanding, apt in learning, knowledge, competent to stand and serve in the king’s palace – and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans” Daniel 1:3-4 It was the King’s intention to train these children up in the way of his own culture and for them to serve in his kingdom court. Daniel was in this group of Jewish youths that had been taken from all that they knew – loved ones, temple, rabbis, friends – and brought to a nation with a completely different set of rules, laws, gods and cultural way of life. It is in this context that we must study just how remarkable Daniel truly was-

Upon their arrival, the king set out out to change the palates of the young Jewish boys by serving them his “dainties” or rich foods and wine. Daniel wisely requested of the king’s eunuchs that he and his friends might not defile themselves (Dan. 1:8), but that instead might be allowed to consume a diet of vegetables and water. The eunuch consented but placed a restriction of 10 days on the request. After the 10 days, the young men were noticeably looking better and “had taken on more flesh” ( had gained weight). God rewarded their obedience to his laws by “giving them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all kinds of visions and dreams.”

“And in all matters of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the learned magicians and enchanters who were in his whole realm.” Daniel 1:20 AMP

One night King Neb (who was given to violent rants and raging ) had an unsettling dream. He called in all of his wise men; the enchanters, sorcerers, diviners to come to the palace to interpret his dream. If they were unsuccessful in the interpretation – then all of them would be killed and their homes would be covered in camel-poo; a “dunghill”.

Daniel, after speaking to the king’s guard to gain understanding, then went to the king to ask to be allowed to be given more time to hear from God. “Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of Heaven“. Daniel 2:19 Daniel then gave God all praise and worshipped Him for answering the request of the king in the interpretation of his dream. He gave an accurate interpretation to the king, thus saving his friends and the wise men from certain destruction. The dream occurred in the 2nd year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign when Daniel would still be considered a youth having only been in Babylon one full year.

Throughout the life of Daniel, there were a number of well known biblical accounts of hardship, persecution, and near-death experiences. God would continuously move to save Daniel, his friends; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and at least in the beginning, other wise men in the inner court of the king. Well into his 80’s, Daniel remained true and his convictions steadfast to his God. There probably was not a Jewish temple in Babylon. Daniel & Friends worshipped God and not the idols of that day. How did Daniel maintain this spirit of excellence in the matters of the spiritual without consistent formalized training and the support of teachers and rabbi’s in his surroundings ? The only answers that I can derive from reading the book of Daniel is his strong, intimate relationship with God through a discipline of prayer and remaining in close fellowship with friends and fellow Jewish believers.

From quite an early young age, Daniel must have been introduced to the stories of his forefathers; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the great history of the people of Israel. Even as a youth, Daniel’s knowledge of God’s laws and commands were on display as he was decisive in matters of diet, maintaining a consistent discipline of daily prayer, honoring those in authority and possessing overall a spirit of wisdom and discernment in many matters. His childhood exposure to prayer would unveil living proof that the Great God of Israel would hear and respond if he released his needs and desires to heaven. Although the scriptures chose not to pull back the curtain on Daniel’s earliest upbringing, we can be confident that he was brought up in a culture that deeply esteemed and revered the One True God of Israel.

It is important to note that the Holy Spirit did not dwell within Daniel. He (Holy Spirit) was not released until after the resurrection of Jesus, hundreds of years later. (see Acts 2:1) In fact, Holy Spirit did not dwell within Abraham, Sarah, Esther, Ruth, King David, Joseph, Isaiah nor any other Jewish Old Testament Hero. The scriptures state that God was with Abraham, David, and Joseph but His Spirit did not reside within them. Old Testament heroes did not have the advantage of the Spirit’s power and might to help them accomplish the will of God as the redeemed do today.

Hundreds of years later, the beloved Spirit’s power flowed effortlessly through Jesus and his disciples in frequent displays of healing that were demonstrated across entire regions, displaying God’s heart and the depth of His concern for the oppressed. This is the same Spirit-power that raised Jesus from the dead, Who would heal the sick and the infirmed, and deliver the mentally ill and the addicted. Healing, which is typically associated with Jesus, is documented in the Old Testament, occurring in specific, infrequent circumstances and by God’s direction. The first mention of prayer occurred when Abraham was directed to pray for Abimelech and the wombs of the women in his household were healed. Genesis 20:17 ( https://sacredramblings.com/2015/12/05/prayer-and-the-law-of-first-mention ) It is interesting that God never directed Daniel to pray to heal Nebuchadnezzar in the 7 years he turned the king into a yard animal. Daniel 4:25-25

Now more than perhaps ever, it is the disciplined, excellent spirit displayed by Daniel that is required to impact our broken and failing world. It is time to stand and to wisely lead in our marketplace, in our families, and in our communities and our governments as servants of hope and agents of God. We must not only be know-ers of His word but unconfused, confident doers. Daniel was uniquely gifted by God to be His prophet for that season. It is doubtful that Daniel asked God for foretelling of futures or the ability to interpret dreams – that is why it was a gift – but it was the obedient, strategic utilization of these gifts that carried Daniel to greatness. It is the knowledge and use of your own gifts that will carry you to yours.

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
Daniel the Great
All Rights Reserved 2021
Sharing Link: https://wp.me/p1zoxs-2Xc


To my Readers:

I have been “rambling” on Sacred Ramblings for 10 years because I believe that the Holy Spirit reveals insights and knowledge that the Lord would like to be made known. In researching these posts, I do not refer to commentaries but depend solely on the bible and Holy Spirit. ( I am also a TBN-aholic as well as an avid reader). This blog is utilized as a simple platform to release my work as a labor of love and expression of my thoughts on scripture, my favorite topics being the work of Jesus and emotional healing. There are many articles in my archives that stand alone and I encourage you to find ones under your topic of choice and read what the Lord has given me.

Please know these posts are never edited by anyone so at times I understand may appear abit rough as many take10-12 hours to write. It has always been my hope that the readers of Sacred Ramblings will have takeaways that provide important insights on a given topic that would be of assistance in their daily walk. ( Writing is also therapeutic and beats working in a garden.)

And finally, WordPress has changed the editing to a frustrating block format that has made inserting photo images, quotes and other visual aids much more difficult. I hope to master this change at some point in my lifespan but at this time, can make no guarantees. It is my hope that the content, on its own merit, carries each post.

I am honored that you read my Sacred Ramblings –

Thank you,

Tracy Gatewood
The Sacred Rambler



Jesus the Unlikely King

19 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by in Christianity, faith, God the Father, Gospel of Grace, How to find Peace ?, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Jew, Jewish, Leadership, Mercy, Nation, Prayer, Prayer University, Prophets, redemption, righteousness, Salvation, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Transformational Leadership, Wisdom

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As we continue our study of Jesus in Prayer University it is important to understand this time of history, and factors that were influencing the culture and decisions of the day.

During the time of Jesus’ life, the Jewish people were looking for their Messiah, the saviour of their people, that would liberate from the grip of the cruel Roman empire and its Kings. This Messiah was frequently referenced in the Torah and spoken of by the Prophet Moses and the Prophet Isaiah. The Jewish Messiah was to be the One to save the nation of Israel and establish it in its rightful position in the world – restoring Israel to its former glory and prominence as in the days of King David and King Solomon. The Messiah would come from the line of King David.

Then there was the issue of the Jewish Law. Chief Priests and temple priests were experts and masters of the Rabbinical Law and were held in high esteem. The attributes of this law abiding Messiah for which the Jews were seeking was reinforced by the temple priests and their teachings. There were 613 laws required for adherence to proper Judaism – laws that pertained to most every aspect of life. We are all familiar with the “Big 10” but there were 603 lesser known laws of the day. These laws were burdensome and oppressive, making Jewish life unnecessarily challenging. Jesus came to fulfill the Law.

Jesus had grown up in Nazareth in a quiet, unassuming family, the son of a carpenter. At the age of 30 when Jesus was actively inviting men to become His disciples, He met and encouraged Phillip to “Come and see”. Philip then asked Nathanael to meet his friend Jesus who was from Nazareth. Nathanael stated, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth ?” (John 1:46) Jesus was seemingly a Man of no name from no where – certainly not a mighty political or military force or even perceived religious leader possessing qualities required to lead the nation of Israel out of bondage. Yet Jesus was the most powerful Man on the earth and no leader knew Him.

Jesus migrated quietly from city to city, “conquering” these cities through healing, delivering, prayer and teaching. He primarily taught through parables or stories illustrating truthful and righteous principles that He desired people to understand. As the Son of God, Jesus was a King and represented a powerful Kingdom. On earth, He had no authority to legislate or impose rules or laws. If people were instructed by law that they could not heal on a Sabbath day, the only way He could communicate that it was the Lord’s will was through demonstration, thereby raising the ire of the Rabbinic priests.

For 3 years, The Teacher taught openly in the temples, to large masses of people in the countryside, one on one to those in need and to the 12 disciples so they could spread His Good News. The only aggression was what emanated from city leaders that resisted His teachings. His disciples were flogged, beaten and imprisoned. Following Jesus’s crucifixion, they were all individually put to death, except John the Revelator, who was exiled to the Island of Patmos. There was no violence recorded for which they were involved with the exception of Peter slicing off the High Priest servant’s ear but Jesus’ immediately restored Malchus and rebuked Peter.

Jesus’ esteem and influence grew and grew as He taught the principles that God the Father instructed Him that would reveal His true heart. Without one military strategy or tactic or any political maneuvers – Jesus and the 12 humbly and without fanfare, walked, taught and saved thousands in their surrounding region, sparking a spiritual revolution that began a new way to consider God – a way that showed Him as a loving, caring Father, merciful and full of grace for His people.

Jesus’ lowly entrance on a donkey into Jerusalem must have confounded and enraged the priests even more as they heard the citizens yelling, “Hosanna ! Hosanna!” Hosanna means “Save us, Rescue Us, Deliver Us! “. Surely this could not be the Messiah that they have been waiting for, for centuries – coming in on a donkey ? What kind of liberator of a nation arrives to save on a donkey? And He is calling Himself the Son of God – how does He know to respond I AM ? This is heresy. We MUST get rid of Him – this is what the priests had to have been thinking.

And we surely know the rest of the story. Pontius Pilate gave the people a choice between Jesus and Barabbas and the priests were wildly yelling for Jesus to die. Pilate had Jesus severely flogged first, thinking that this would assuage the thirst for His death but it did not. What they could not know was that this was the plan from the beginning of time, and part of the final assignment. After Jesus was hung on the cross, He dismissed His own Spirit and announced to the world; “Tetelestai!” All is accomplished! The temple curtain tore from top to bottom signifying no more separation between God and man. And then they knew.

Christ Jesus, the true Messiah, as prophesied, came from the line of David. His father Joseph, was a descendant of King David however Jesus’ true bloodline, was the blood of deity; the blood of God. Jesus came to earth to fulfill God’s plan to redeem His people back to Himself. He is still today seen through the eyes of those that want Him, those eyes and hearts that are opened by His Spirit – the Spirit of Truth. If you have not prayed to receive Jesus as your Messiah, and personal Lord and Saviour – You can do so today.

Lord Jesus, please forgive me for my sins. I repent and turn from my sins and with your help, I will overcome them. You exchanged my sins for Your righteousness, and paid a debt on my behalf to God that I could never pay. I acknowledge that You are the Son of God and I receive You now as my Lord and Saviour. Amen

Prayer University
Session #9
Sharing link: https://wp.me/p1zoxs-2ND

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved

Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Sacred Ramblings
Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus









The Weapon of Praise

21 Monday Sep 2020

Posted by in America, Armor of God, Christianity, faith, Fear, God, Holy Spirit, Keys to the Kingdom, Leadership, Nation, peace, Prayer, righteousness, The Bible, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Unity, Worship

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Driving home after a long day, my radio tuned to a worship music station, praise music saturated every inch of my vehicle’s interior. Despite the frustrations and strife of the day – the negative emotions clinging to my soul fell away, as a welcoming spirit of peace wafted through my mind, lifting up and away all the tensions of the day.  This effortless transference of peace was sent special delivery from the courts of heaven. Peace is a gift bequeathed to us from Jesus, by Jesus Himself, as reward when we focus on Him.

II Chronicles 20:21-25 AMP “When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy (priestly) garments as they went out before the army, saying’Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever’!

And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against  Judah, and they were (self) slaughtered; For (suspecting betrayal) the men of Ammon and Moab rose against those of Mount Seir utterly destroying them. And when they had made an end of the men of Seir,  they all helped to destroy one another. And when Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked at the multitude, and behold they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none had escaped!

When Jehosophat and his people came to take the spoil, they found among them much cattle, goods, garments, and precious things which they look for themselves, much more than they could carry away, so much they were three days in gathering the spoil.

On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah. There they blessed the Lord. So the name of the place is still called the Valley of Beracah (blessing).

Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, Jehosophat leading them, to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house of the Lord.

And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.”

I believe the Lord has provided a spiritual tactic designed to strategically dismantle dangerous mayhem.  This is an interior piece of the puzzle given just to believers who are forced to confront a unified tsunami of opposing forces that incite strife, division and evil across the globe.  The piece? The Weapon of Praise. A powerful tool that can be enacted outside of the four walls of the church, strategically positioned in external outposts at the forefront of the lines of battle.

In today’s society, the media is weaponized, some departments of our national intelligence community appear to be weaponized, and even certain members of the conservative movement are weaponized – but these are not spiritual weapons of warfare from heavenly places.

In II Chronicles, The Lord provides for us an example of ‘battle’ in spiritual places, instructing us to ‘battle’ with praise to Him then promising to deliver us from our enemies. Seems simple. So why aren’t we using it?

With the clashing of swords in this Hebrew year of 5777 (Authors Note: we are now in 5781, this post was written in 2017) , we are witnessing unprecedented levels of lawlessness and civil unrest, and not witnessed since the 1960’s. During the latter part of the Obama administration, the cities of Ferguson, Baltimore and Miami – were hosts to incendiary levels of rage and violence incapacitating city governments, in some instances, destroying the livelihoods of people that they purported to defend. Now the American people are clashing over its very history and heritage.

But what about praise? Jehosphat sent his worshippers praising God while walking ahead of these armies, each wearing priestly garments saying ‘Give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!’  I have a theory – and as yet untested on a modern day battlefield;  to release praise music in advance of or during demonstrations to disengage these spirits of violence. Like opening a fireman’s hose on a raging fire, the aggressive flames of emotional spirits of anger, hatred, aggression, murder and rage, could go silent.
I ponder why the impact of praise music would be any different within the atmosphere of my own vehicle than on any modern day battlefield. Imagine the impact of Hillsong, Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe, Christy Nockels songs released prior to a demonstration or during the fray in the heat of the battle – singing the name of Jesus over and over and over again –  above these protests. It is Jesus Christ Himself that has bequeathed us Peace.  Would He not send us His Peace if we proactively sought it? Peace is a spirit.  [ July 2017  The Spirit of Peace:  http://wp.me/p1zoxs-24p ]

ll Timothy 1:7 AMP
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

To effectively confront the societal enemies of our time we must come from a secret place of  ‘power, and of love, and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control’. The songs of praise set us into another dimension  – apart from fear, self righteousness, and our human tendency to dissect the what’s and how’s of every situation. Praising God is a declaration that He is trusted as our defender (Jehovah Nissi). Praise positions our minds for right instruction and divine strategy from Him in how to move ahead in these troubling and even dangerous environments.

Could Jehosophat have understood that the instruction from God to send the  ‘Praise Team’ ahead of the armies would result in a strong confusion and in-fighting among the enemy camp? Could Jehosophat foresee that a win of his armies positioned his people for a significant wealth transfer? I doubt it. He simply followed God’s orders and won….. BIG.

We must engage in praise to God while listening for the the Holy Spirit’s direction for ourselves and our nation amidst the clamor and chaos of today.  He is surely speaking.


** The Weapon of Praise is a repost and was originally written in 2017.


Tracy L. Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved 2020

The Weapon of Praise Sharing Link: http://wp.me/p1zoxs-2iC

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

Christ, Healing, and the Power of Words

20 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Armor of God, Christianity, God the Father, Healing, Healing and the Armor of God, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Law of First Mention, Leadership, Prayer, Prayer University, redemption, Sword of the Spirit, The Bible, the Spirit, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Unity, Wisdom

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heritageofsaints

“In the beginning 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.”   John 1:1-3 AMP 

Words have Power. With no access to devices, medications, or advanced technology equipment, while moving from city to city, Jesus as The Word used His words to communicate a release of healing into the infirmed, the possessed and the diseased. The Greek word “Logos’ (lo-gaas) is translated ‘word, speech, principle or thought’. In Greek philosophy it is also translated into ‘the mind of God’ or ‘divine reason’.

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and every weakness and infirmity.”  Matthew 9:35 AMP

Christ came to earth to reveal the will of the Father. It is interesting to note that two thirds of Jesus’ ministry involved healing. It was the perfect will of God for His Son to heal. When praying for healing, that oft used qualifying prayer phrase, “If it be thy will” can only be met with an emphatic “Yes!”

When learning to pray like Jesus – it is imperative to know the Word of God. Aside from the blood of Jesus and the Name of Jesus – the Word of God is power packed and the required dunamis or dynamite needed to move out negative circumstances and redeem, deliver, and heal. To pray effectively for oneself or for other’s in healing – there must be agreement with the Word of God.

The first mention of the word “prayer” was in relationship to healing when Abraham prayed to God on behalf of Abimelech, King of the Philistines so that God would forgive Abimelech for taking Sarah. His words, spoken in faith to God, produced a powerful result.

Canva - Abraham praying

“So Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, and they bore children, For the Lord had closed fast the wombs of all in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”  Genesis 20: 17-18 AMP

We have no record of the actual words in Abraham’s prayer for Abimelech but Abraham operating as Priest released Abimelech of sin thereby restoring his entire household.

It is widely accepted by Christians that nothing occurs on the earth unless it is prayed into action by a Believer. God as Jehovah Rapha, is the God Who heals. It is in this knowledge of His desire and willingness to heal by covenant that we can pray boldly, and speak aloud with confident expectation. It is because of the eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ Who defeated, death, hell and the grave – the One whom took lashes on His Body for our healing, and thereby allowing access to His Name. He has enabled us to take authority and dominion over every sickness, disease, infirmity, even accidents: “and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole”.  Isaiah 54:5 AMP

There is power in every word of God.

“He sent forth His Word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. ” Psalm 107:20 AMP

It is important to note that there is a difference between power and authority. Power is the ability to exercise one’s will in the way needed to impact a situation and authority is exercised by someone holding a position or title. There is a legitimacy or at least perceived influence by a person that holds authority.  Because of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, we have both power (dunamis) and authority to influence and alter negative behaviors, patterns and circumstances in order to bring heaven to earth. We use prayer and the Word of God to accomplish His will upon the earth.

Canva - Authority gavel

Lucas Pols, a contributor to Forbes, describes secular servant-led authority this way – “Authority is about who you are as a person, your character how you interact with others and the influence and empathy you build with people.”  While this is accurate, one has a God-given authority that comes with power; ratified by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus who was raised from the dead by the very Spirit that now lives in you.

“Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon snakes and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy (possesses); and nothing shall in any way harm you.”  Luke 10:19 AMP

It is important to highlight that all confidence and power must be placed in the authority of God, Jesus and God’s Word and not in the actual pray-er. The Word of God is oiled with the Spirit of God and referred to as “the Sword of the Spirit” in Ephesians 6:17 AMP “And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.”

Luke 10 continues – “Nevertheless do not rejoice at this that the spirits are subject to you but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven.”  This confirms that we do have power over the spirits of the earth including virus’.  To be specific, the Covid-19 virus is a spirit of infirmity. Virus’ have an intelligence. Covid seeks to aggressively insert itself into cells in order to explode in growth and then mutate, thereby causing “infirmity”. In scripture “weakness and infirmity” are almost always used together. When praying for someone with Covid 19, pray in the authority that Christ has given you to dismantle and decree that this spirit of infirmity and all associated weakness must leave in Jesus’ Name.

Session 7
#PrayerUniversity

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved 2020

Related Article:  https://sacredramblings.com/2015/06/07/healing-and-the-armor-of-god-prayer

The Process of A Process

01 Wednesday Jan 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy New Year!

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

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

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

Twitter:  TracyLGatewood
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracyGatewoodWriterTeacher
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Ministry Matters: Why the Marketplace Should Incorporate Ministry Leaders into Their Sphere

14 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Disasters, Fear, Leadership, Prayer, Purpose, Salvation, the Spirit, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Wisdom

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Dr. T.L. Lowery

From the beginning of opening business social media accounts, as a marketplace professional, I have been intentional about incorporating pastors and para church ministry leaders into my communities as “followers”. The Why is very simple. We need each other. The Marketplace needs and benefits from the influence and insights of mature spiritual leadership, ministry leaders depend on the skills and resources delivered from an innovative Marketplace to move their visions forward.

In the spring of 2011, I witnessed this relational need during a time of total devastation. In the transition back to my hometown of Tuscaloosa, AL, I watched, stunned, as meteorologists began frantically broadcasting during a “perfect storm” of atmospheric collisions resulting in an EF-4 tornadic holocaust that cut a 6 mile long swath of devastation killing 56 and taking out 12% of the physical buildings in the city. Immediately, church and lay and marketplace leaders moved into overdrive to save lives and rescue thousands of citizens. It took 3 years for the city to recover. Observing this concert of ministry and marketplace blending forces to create unified chords of hope, healing and restoration was a breathtaking, life altering event. (May 2011: Sacred Ramblings, Equip the Bride:  https://wp.me/p1zoxs-k )

I witnessed the church and para church ministries immediately respond to citywide trauma by creating individual “city halls” each with their own leadership structure, and systems of communication and distribution channels to serve the recovery efforts with speed and efficiency for each “embassy”.  Its Ambassadors; spiritual and marketplace leaders worked in different capacities;  the spiritual leadership moved quickly to provide an efficient platform of infrastructure from which to work providing staff, physical space, communication and distribution channels while marketplace (and then government) moved with speed and agility, providing vital resources of people, time and money through this stabilized infrastructure to create, innovate, and restore order as quickly as possible.

If you are a business person and feel that a church or para church ministry leader may not be a fit for your Linkedin account, I respectfully submit – this is misguided. Incorporating these leaders into your “sphere” is not just for the purposes of disaster prep. You need them and they need you. People in ministry have accepted the highest call. It’s far easier to become a University professor, a real estate practitioner, an attorney or a business owner, than walking out the vigorous testing journey required for accepting and walking out a ministry career call.

Most spiritual leaders are highly educated, but more importantly – they hear from God and have the ability to move and operate from a spirit driven perspective. This form of operating system is crucial for survival now and will be more so in the days ahead. If you had someone on your board that could accurately provide advice that could avert a really bad decision saving thousands would it not be worth it, even if it did not appear they possessed the technical experience to make those decisions?  You can have this.

Job 32:8 “But there is (a vital force) a spirit [ of intelligence ] in man, and the breadth of the Almighty gives men understanding. ”
Proverbs 2:8  “He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it up for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him): He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, That He may guard the paths of justice, yes, He preserves the way of His saints.”
Proverbs 24:5-6 “A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power. For by wise counsel you can wage war, and in an abundance of counselors there is victory and safety.”

But this relationship model goes both ways. In 2013-2015, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. T.L. Lowery multiple times as well as attend his 70 years of Service Celebration at the T.L. Lowery Foundation in Cleveland. A stream of internationally known pastors stepped to the podium to praise and thank him for his many achievements. Dr. Lowery was a prolific healing evangelist in the 50’s and 60’s, using a “canvas cathedral” housing 10,000 people in every city that he reached during a 17 year period. ( Impartation video:  https://youtu.be/FsIXkxT578I  )

T.L. Lowery, Ph.D, held one earned doctorate, and was awarded two more.  He pastored two churches, one in his home town of Cleveland TN, the other in Washington DC. (The latter, the National Church of God, is currently led by his son, Stephen). Dr. Lowery built a Christian school, started a bible college and seminary, built homes for the elderly and established the T.L. Lowery Foundation. He authored 87 books, edited 3 magazines, wrote multitudes of teaching articles and traveled to over 100 nations.

A prolific Apostolic and prophetic teacher, he brought multitudes to Christ through his life’s work which was more than enough but not for him. In addition to pastoring, teaching and writing; T.L. Lowery was a leader in civic organizations, serving faithfully in his community and nationally –  an Ambassador to Project One for the United Nations, and in local leadership roles for the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, the United Way and Rotary. Yes, the great T.L. Lowery was also a Rotarian! He died at the age of 87 on February 21, 2016.  Interestingly, this date was one year to the day Rev. Billy Graham died as well as Doug Coe, founder of the National Prayer Breakfast. Three American evangelical leaders died within a 12 month period on the same date.

Marketplace professionals with access to ministry leadership should ask themselves how they can incorporate these leaders into the business realm. Ministry leaders – how can you incorporate yourself into the business arena as well as become proactive in your efforts to build relationships within and outside of your current sphere of influence? How can you establish yourself as a community leader outside of your “embassy”?  The strength of the fabric in our community’s is dependent on the number of threads effectively sewn between ministry and marketplace leadership.

tl-lowery-2-e1542210059689.jpg

Dr. T.L. Lowery and Tracy Gatewood following a fiery preaching session in 2013.  On that day, the devil didn’t have a prayer anywhere in Mississippi!

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings  All Rights Reserved

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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
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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.

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
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Healing and the Armor of God prayer

07 Sunday Jun 2015

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

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Armor of God image

Few of us live with the reality that there is a spirit realm that has an ability to impact our minds through thoughts, ideas and suggestions. All thoughts, good and bad, right and wrong are not all completely generated from within our minds. Because our flesh has actually been circumcised – cut away, made separate from us [ Colossians 2:11]  we can, through the power of the Holy Spirit and because of Christ’s sacrifice take dominion and authority over our flesh and this disruptive spirit realm.

The Apostle Paul instructed the Church at Ephesus to put on the complete Armor of God as a primary source of resistance in combat against “spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) spheres” Eph 6:12 AMP. “ Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day (of danger) and having done all ( the crisis demands), to stand ( firmly in place). Eph 6:13 AMP  Notice the Apostle Paul says here to stand, so we must be able to do it. We must stand rooted from a position of victory, not pleading from a defeated stance. Our victory has already been won by Jesus.

A little known truth is that most disease begins from within the mind and travels through the body wrecking health – either through emotional spirits (ie fear, bitterness, condemnation, anxiety, trauma, shame, abuse)  or generational spirits that repeat patterns of disease from prior generations. Through prayer, we can take authority over spirits of disease and infirmity and the Spirit of God will move forward to do His work [ Matthew 12:28 ]. Like prayer, the partaking of the Lord’s Supper should become a daily part of times of devotion; properly discerning the Body and expressing gratitude and appreciation to Jesus for the lashes that He took, to purchase health and healing. The blood spilled from His head by the crown of thorns purchased healing, and restoration for our minds to enable rest. Prayer and the Lord’s Supper are readily available and much easier than driving to a pharmacy.

Fear is enemy #1. The spirit of fear is the red carpet on which the enemy makes a grand entrance to walk out onto the stage of a person’s mind. Fear is like oxygen to the enemy, the atmosphere in which he thrives. Both fear and condemnation open portals from hell, allowing the sewage of paranoia, bitterness, anger, malice, mistrust, confusion and even lust, and addictions to pour forth into a person.  It is for these reasons, Jesus commands us not to fear. If we remain free of fear, the enemy has nothing on which to grab hold to move us into poor decisions, and life altering reactions, or to damage our emotional or physical health.

The following is Ephesians 6:14 -18 from the Amplified version which highlights the key components of armor as described by Paul:

Eph 6:14
Stand therefore, (hold your ground), having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put the breastplate of integrity, and of moral rectitude and right standing with God.

The belt of Truth is Jesus Who is the Truth and the One who holds the armor together, keeping it securely in place. The breastplate of righteousness guards the heart and chest cavity.  For those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, we are the righteousness of God by faith in Christ Jesus, so therefore in right standing with God. Righteousness is a free gift that cannot be earned, nor can it be lost. Guarding the heart, which is the gateway to the soul (the soul is comprised of the mind, will and emotions), could be second in importance only to the direct protection of the mind.

Eph  6:15 And having shod your feet in preparation (to face the enemy firm-footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produced by the good news) of the Gospel of peace.

Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. This rich Jewish word also means wholeness, safety, completeness, perfection, prosperity. Strong’s Concordance further states that shalom means rest and the absence of agitation or discord.  Jesus is Shar Shalom, the Prince of Peace and the Prince of Rest. Jesus bequeathed peace to His followers [John 14:7]. We possess it and own it by right as a gift from Him. When you are prepared you can be at peace – in peace there is no fear, and without fear, the enemy has nothing on which to grasp.

For many of us, it takes more than just the knowledge that Jesus gave us peace to actually be peaceful. Enter God’s Holy Spirit to bring a person into rest as the comforter.

Phillipians 4:6-7 AMP
Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort is, that peace) which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians vs 6:16
Lift up over all the {covering} shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked (one).

As previously mentioned, our minds can become mine fields of thoughts, ideas and suggestions that are not our own nor are they from God. It is our responsibility to fix our focus on Jesus, keeping minds focused on things above and not beneath while standing on faith in His finished work. Faith defined in the Amplified as the leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power.

Have you ever put out a candle with a wet paper napkin and heard that quick sizzle sound when the candle snuffs? That is a quench. Your faith acts as a shield around your mind, quenching harmful effects of negative thoughts, keeping them from penetrating further into your soul. Ask the Holy Spirit to apprehend every spirit that is not from the spirit of God out of your mind. This works.

Ephesians vs 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

Like Hebrew word Peace (Shalom), the word Salvation (Sozo) has multiple meanings translated from the Greek: healed, made whole, forgiven from sin, saved, deliverance, financial prosperity. It is a beautiful word of hope. We are seated in heavenly places and free in Christ Jesus, holding all hope; a confident expectation of good throughout any  circumstance.

When the Holy Spirit revealed to you the truth about Jesus and you asked Him into your heart, that same revealed truth and your willingness to be healed can through that same action provide your healing. The word Sozo means salvation and healing. Your mind is made whole, and healed by putting on the helmet of knowledge that Jesus’ death and resurrection was all that was required for your restoration, and that the blood of Jesus will re calibrate your mind and emotions to a state of rest and freedom if it is applied.

The Sword of the spirit is the Word of God and one of the two offensive weapons in the Armor of God prayer.  Reading the Word of God provokes a cleansing action over your mind, rinsing away dust, debris and toxic thinking that collects on a daily basis. Reading the Word aloud allows not only you to hear it but you-know-who hears it as well. Significant power is released into the atmosphere when speaking God’s Word aloud. In God’s Word there is Spirit and life! The Word, and the Blood and Name of  Jesus are the most powerful tools of weaponry for a Believer. No foe or circumstance can withstand these three sources of Holy Spirit packed dynamite.

Ephesians vs 6:18
Pray at all times (on every occasion and in every season) in the Spirit, with all manner of prayer and entreaty. To that end, keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the Saints (God’s consecrated people).

Praying in the Spirit refers to a heavenly language, or a prayer language, that is only revealed to God and unlocks great mysteries in and by the Spirit. We are exhorted by the Apostle Paul to use our prayer language at every opportunity and to intercede for fellow Believers. To intercede means to stand in the gap for a person, nation, or organization. We are to be very intentional with our prayer habits and intercession. We live now under the Eternal Covenant of Grace, leaning with full confidence into Jesus and the blessed assurances that have been purchased for us.

Here are the verses in sequence without my comments:  Ephesians 6:10-18 AMP

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.

18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

Tracy Gatewood

Sacred Ramblings

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Sound the Trumpet – A Call to Action for Apostolic Leadership

23 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Leadership, New Covenant, the Spirit, Transformational Leadership

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The Apostles and Jesus
Sunday morning in response to the appeal on 21martyrs.com, I prayed for the persecuted church and Christians around the world that are falling into the hands of extremist murderers.  My big question to God was, Where are the Apostles? Where is Apostle Peter, Where is Apostle Paul, Where is Apostle John – We need them, What would they do in this situation? If they don’t show up, I’m yelling, “Come Lord Jesus and Come …. Now! ” Anybody out there with me?

Where are modern day Apostles; global Generals of The Church of Jesus to condemn these practices, and convene other leaders of the Church for calls to action as its people and churches are under attack by these devils? Where is the voice for the zero tolerance on these atrocities by Christians worldwide? We need our global Christian leaders with Apostolic callings that hear from the Holy Spirit to step forward to devise effective global solutions, partner with governments and lead the spiritual sectors of the world. The Church can no longer function  where it simply prioritizes Small Group member numbers and volunteer headcounts as their primary focus.

I’m not a prophet, but I do have an educated theory that Satan has unleashed these devils at this time upon the earth because he too believes that Jesus’ return is very close. These tyrannical practices of murdering Christians are a last ditch effort to subdue the earth. I further believe that this outpouring of evil fueled by Satan is occurring as a direct reaction to the preaching of the gospel of Grace that is pouring across the entire world. Grace is the true gospel message based on the Love of God for all mankind, and the power held in the sacrifice of Jesus; in His body and His blood. The true Gospel is built on the foundation of the blood of Jesus and not in identity or performance. The blood of Jesus simply enrages Satan. I guess by now he has read the end of The Book.

Every church in the world can be engaging in weekly, Jesus-focused, unified prayer over these atrocities. God responds to the prayers of His people – He is Listening. Prayer is the most powerful source of communication that we have as Believers. Praying back these devils and showing gratitude to Jesus who by His blood and mercy, has put ALL demonic power under His feet. Jesus has provided His people with the same authority and devices to put these forces out of business by using the creative power and understanding given by the Holy Spirit. Are we listening to the Spirit on what to do? I have to believe He is Speaking.

Every church in the world can have an ISIS / Extremists line item in their budget to earmark toward prayer rallies, funds for refugees, and programs like Congressman Frank Wolf’s Wilberforce Initiative. The combined Protestant and Catholic churches have practically limitless financial resources and human capital if we can agree together on objectives that will have the strongest impact and stop depending upon the governments of the world to figure it out. For the moment, we need global Christian leaders to step forward that have the power, the influence and the courage to convene other Christian leaders and all Christian people around the world. I can call them out in this article however I will let the Holy Spirit speak to them individually and in His own way, but we as Christians know who they are across the globe.

Anti-Christ is a spirit and we are watching in real time this demonic spirit seduce people into believing that crucifying children, repeatedly raping women and beheading men for their beliefs is justified. We watch as they overtake city’s, regions and soon nations. To date, the nation of Israel has not been overrun by these devils. These enemies will know they will get their teeth kicked in when they cross Israel’s borders, and will be in for the fight of their existence. The United States must send aid to Israel to fight these extremists. In case you need an idea, sending Israel money to combat terrorism is another objective that can be considered under your church’s budget line item of Extremists. Israel will need aid and lots of it to fight this accursed plague that is swarming its neighbors in the Middle East. Israel requires our support to win.

As a New Covenant intercessor, I am committing my prayer time and focus to the global Church, the Kingdom Government and all Apostolic Christian Leaders around the globe that will hear from the Spirit and move on their specific role in these final days of fortress building around the Saints and the innocents of the world. It’s time to move.

Tracy Gatewood
#Prayer

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Author:Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus

Today is George Washington’s 283rd birthday: 2/ 22/ 1732