Category Archives: Nation

A Word on the upcoming Alabama Senate Race: The Number of Government

29 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by in God, Law of First Mention, Nation, Transformational Leadership, United States of America, Unity, Wisdom

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SPECIAL WORD:  This article was first posted on my other blog; Marketplace & Ministry and pertains to the upcoming U.S. Senate election in Alabama to finish out the remaining turn of Jeff Session’s. On this blog, Sacred Ramblings – I never wade into politics but am making one exception because of the extraordinary political climate in which we now live.  Even if you do not live in Alabama, I hope you will find something in which to relate.  God Bless America – Tracyamericanflag2015
In the Hebrew language, everything, even numbers, has a specific meaning. Every letter, every name of a person, place or thing, every number and combination of numbers has meaning. Early in scripture we see that God intentionally changed Abram’s name to ‘Abraham’ or Father of Many Nations. The name David means ‘Beloved’, the Hebrew word Petros, means ‘large piece of rock’. The Apostle Peter’s given name was Simon but Jesus changed it to Peter (Cephas) because He would ask Peter to be the builder to lay the foundation for the Church. The name Jabez means ‘Pain’. The city of Bethel is Hebrew for House of God, Beersheba means ‘oath’ or ‘well of seven’ and was the place where Abraham and Abimelech struck an oath or pledge. I hope you are getting my point that everything in scripture is rich with meaning and is quite specific.

Dates have meaning. Most know that 5 is the number in Hebrew representing Grace and Favor. The number 6 is the number of Man, 7 is completion and perfection – Christ was pierced 7 times signifying His work was perfected and complete. (Note: The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament Greek ). We are currently living in the Hebrew Year of 5778 – 5 (Grace), 7 (Completion or Perfection), 8 (New Beginnings). I have heard many refer to this as the Year of the Open Door.

The number ’12’ is the Hebrew number for faith, the church and divine rule and is most commonly referred to as the number of Government. It is considered a perfect number and symbolizes God’s power and authority in scripture. The number 12 is used in scripture when the Government of God is being established. Twelve serves as the perfect foundation for Government.

Jesus had 12 Disciples  (Apostles)
Jacob had 12 sons, each representing a different tribe
Solomon had 12 Governors over Israel
12 spies were sent into the Promised Land or Canaan
Jesus boyhood age was mentioned once, when He was 12
There are 12 judges in the book of Judges.
12 Gates in Heaven

Using the law of first mention for the number twelve – it too points to government.  Gen. 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard and heeded you, behold, I will bless him and will make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly. He will be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.  (Gen. 25:16 ).

The book of Revelation has the most references to the number 12.

Revelation 22:1-2
“Then He showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Though the middle of the broadway of the city; also, on either side of the river was the tree of life with its twelve varieties of fruit; yielding each month (12) its fresh crop; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing and for the restoration of the nations.”

Within the United States Government – there are also established uses of the number 12:

12 Circuit Court judges
12 Jurors to deliberate a trial
12 Districts for the Federal Reserve

The number 12 represents authority, appointment and completeness.

It would be impossible for me to notice and then not mention that the upcoming #ALSEN Alabama U.S. Senate race between Roy Moore (GOP)  and Doug Jones (Democrat) to replace Jeff Sessions Senate seat falls on the date of  Tuesday, December 12 or 12-12.  This is very significant. The number 12 is used in scripture when the Government of God is being established. I find this fascinating given Judge Moore’s history [ Refusing to remove the 10 Commandments from the Federal Courthouse and taking a stand against same-sex marriage)  the decisions over the past few years that he has made while in office even through his loss of office (twice!) as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama.

This is a crucial time to review the party platforms. A person occupying this high level office will be bound to support, undergird and uphold the planks of this platform as well as support the President’s agenda.  In the event that you need a refresher; please see supporting links for these parties and related document –

RNC:  https://www.gop.com/the-2016-republican-party-platform/

DNC:   https://www.democrats.org/party-platform

I will leave you to read these and determine for yourselves which one of these two men should be awarded your vote to hold this office.  Either way, if God is establishing His Government in and within Alabama – I believe that we already know who has His vote.

Tracy L Gatewood
Sharing Link: https://wp.me/p1zoxs-2yp
Originally posted on Marketplace and Ministry
All Rights Reserved 2017
All scripture presented from the Amplified version.

Twitter:  @TracyLGatewood
Amazon Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
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Discerning the Will of God

12 Sunday Nov 2017

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

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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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Soul’s Response to Righteousness

07 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by in America, Jerusalem, Nation, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, soul, Tracy Gatewood

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Jerusalem
Luke 19:41 – 44 AMP
“And as He approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it. Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace – your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness – depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank (with pointed stakes) about you and surround you and shut you in on every side.
And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ.]”

In this passage of scripture, Jesus grieved openly knowing what would be forthcoming for the people of Jerusalem. Despite what the people had personally witnessed, Jesus the Prince of Peace, Who had been presented to them as the living Son of God, would not be received into the hearts of the Jewish people.

What He knew for them: Know Jesus-Know Peace, No Jesus-No Peace

All Christians are commanded by God to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (PS122:6). The passage continues,”May they prosper who love you, May peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces”  To be a Christ-follower is to love and pray fervently, frequently for the entire nation of Israel. Although the peace of Jerusalem was not accomplished in Jesus’ earthly life, it has been left for us to cover His people in prayer and other means until His return. I fully believe that America’s first responsibility is to cover and protect Israel.

The following scripture describes the Peace that will come with God’s Reign:
Isaiah 32:15-18
“Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is valued as a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever. My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

 We can experience His Peace Prior to His Reign Through the Understanding of  Righteousness. Righteousness means in right-standing with God and in conformity to His will and purposes. We cannot be righteous, or in right standing with God without understanding and accepting the working power of the blood of Jesus. The Blood is Heaven’s Clorox, its only cleansing agent.

It is impossible to work or perform our way into right-standing with God. Churches may teach that by watching our words, making our vessels (our bodies) more holy [yet holiness is important to God], or praying lengthy prayers every.single.day, or confessing sin can put us in right standing. This is erroneous. True righteousness welcomed by God comes by complete acknowledgement that His Son’s sacrifice fully achieved everything necessary to remove the dividing wall between God and You. This puts the focus (and responsibility) totally on Jesus for this achievement, one that no mortal could ever accomplish. To assume that one could actually be made righteous by a person’s own merits, clearly illustrates a lack of understanding of the magnitude of the Cross. This positioning creates ‘self-righteousness’ There may be nothing more noxious to God.

The Book of Romans could easily be named ‘the Book of Righteousness’, providing more information on this subject than any other chapter in the Bible. Romans 4:3 refers to Abraham, the Father of our Faith –
“For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

Have you ever exhibited ungodly behavior? Yes ____  No ____ Is it comforting to know that your behavior has already been justified by God through the blood of Jesus?  Yes_____ No _____Does this make you want to sin more? No ______  (of course not)

One cannot be justified by works – God imputes His righteousness ASIDE FROM OUR WORKS in exchange for our sin. This is called Grace – undeserved, unmerited favor which is freely given. We are only made righteous BY FAITH in Jesus and His sacrifice. His resurrection served as ratification for a New Covenant.  This is the only way pleasing to God. Does this soothe the soul (mind, will, emotions) bringing a quietness and a confident trust? (Isaiah 32:17).  That peace you may feel is the result of  Jesus’ righteousness and the acknowledgement, by resting in faith, that He (not you) has paid it all on your behalf.

Copyright 2019  All Rights Reserved Doorways of Grace

Tracy Gatewood
#TheWriterWhomJesusLoves

Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
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Amazon: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus  (2015)

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Psalm 91 AMP

29 Monday May 2017

Posted by in Christianity, Disasters, Emotions, Fear, God, Jesus, Nation, Prayer, the Spirit

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CherubsandWoman
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High,
shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.
[ Whose power no foe can withstand.]
I will say of the Lord, His is my Refuge and my Fortress, My God;
on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I (confidently) trust! 
For (then) He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and the
deadly pestilence.
(Then) He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall
you trust and find refuge;  His truth and His faithfulness are a shield
and a buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the
evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction
and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand but
none shall come near you, only a spectator shall you be, yourself inaccessible
in the Secret Place of the Most High as you witness the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your
dwelling place, there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity
come near your tent.
For He will give His angels (especial) charge over you to accompany and defend 
and preserve you in all of your ways [of obedience and service].
They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone,
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent shall
you trample underfoot.

Because he has set His love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on
high, because he knows and understands my name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness – trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no never].
He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble,  I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

A Prayer For Our Nation

14 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by in America, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Nation, Uncategorized, United States of America

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americanflag2015Most Merciful and Loving Father –

We come before you with praise and thanksgiving for the many blessings that you have bestowed on us, on our families on our communities and on our great nation. We thank you for placing us in this time and season of history because we know that your divine timing is perfect and You make no mistakes. Your ways are as pure as they are wise and your ways are as good as they are wise and pure and ALL of your actions are done for Your glory.

Today I petition for your help for our nation the United States of America. This beautiful country which was crafted by your hands through men and women placed in a holy crucible, as they were led by your spirit to form this nation. Lord we ask you for your mercy on us as we again come to a crossroad of opinions and agendas. I ask you to blow the smoke away from the nation and set a right order, your order – within every official – coming in or departing.  Show them the way – the right and honorable way – to lead during these times. I ask that You please move to restore order to our communities and across this Land with speed.

You are the Almighty –  El Elyon –  and as those who believe seek you in the Secret Place, we know that we remain stable and fixed under your protection, while covered underneath the shadow of your power.  We call out the death spirits of LAWLESSNESS and FEAR and command them by the power of Jesus Name and by our authority in the Blood of Jesus that these spirits be bound and silenced across our communities and this nation. We accept our duty as Holy Warriors of the Kingdom to exercise our abilities to defeat demonic forces through spiritual means by taking our authority in prayer to dismantle their assaults. We also call on angelic forces to surround our communities and bring them to order. We ask that in Jesus Name. I decree a bloodline of protection around my city, my state and our nation from these demonic spiritual attacks.

In these uncommon times Lord, we ask for uncommon levels of GRACE – for you to show yourself as Mighty, calming the hearts of the people and showing them that your hand is on this hour for all people, not just the ones that claim you as Lord.  We pray that quivering hearts and minds will turn toward you in this hour and claim your truths afresh rather than defaulting to fear and the fearful tactics of anger, rage and even murder.

We need you Father here in America. We depend on You to navigate our nation through supernatural means to extricate our government away from the precipice of economic destruction due to $20 trillion dollars of debt.  We depend on You for wisdom in how to make determinations on people that have moved into this country by illegal means.  We depend on Your wisdom Lord to shine the light on all of the major social issues that are consuming the minds of the American people and to assist our leaders in making these profoundly impactful decisions. We cannot move ahead successfully without you, Father. We must have your strength, your power and the wisdom that comes through You from above.

Hope defined is a confident expectation of good in every situation. Please restore HOPE and CONFIDENCE in the people of America, reminding each one of the great things that you have done in past times. Remind them that You are God – and Republicans and Democrats are not nor will ever be. That You alone direct the water courses of Kings and Nations and that work in this Nation will glorify You or change can occur with no notice to insure your will is done. We ask for your Spirit to lead our Nation to a balance of HOPE and RESTORED ORDER beginning now, today. Shut the mouths of the slanderers, mockers and gossipers who are filled with hate and who are stoking the flames of fear among the people. Quench the fire of the Religious and Fan the Flame of anointing in people that are in true authentic relationship with Jesus. Draw people to your Word for Truth and Knowledge, away from political pundits and mere men that cannot properly discern these times and seasons.  Give your people 20/ 20 Vision in the Realm of the Spirit to see what you want us to see and to help those that cannot see You in these circumstances and have them help without judgment.

Now to the people listening – I speak to every spirit of Fear and I rebuke you in Jesus Name. Jesus bequeathed peace to everyone that claimed a relationship with Him and I release Peace into your mind. Jesus bore a crown of thorns on His head that drew the blood that Purchased peace in our minds for all of mankind so by the power and authority that I have in the Name of Jesus and By the Blood of Jesus – I bind up Fear and I release Peace, and Calm. I decree that the Tormenter be Silenced in Jesus Name.

God Bless You and  May God Bless America. AMEN.