I’ve got a new home, a new look, and a new name!

This announcement has been over three months in the making and I’m excited for the big reveal!! Won’t you hop over and join me at my new place? www.traciestierjohnson.com

As of today {11.26.12}, I’ll no longer be posting on this site. If you’re subscribing in a reader, you’ll need to change to the new URL. And if you subscribe via an RSS feed {email}, well … I’m still working out a few kinks. Truth be told, I’m still working out a few kinks all over the site. But I just couldn’t wait no more! When the email feed is up and working, I’ll be sure to let you know!

In the meantime, come on over and celebrate with me … in fact, maybe a house warming party is in order? Hmmm … I’m thinking on that one! Stay tuned I just may have something fun planned for a little later this week. On the new site of course!

If the heights of our joy are measured by the depths of our gratitude, and gratitude is but a way of seeing, a spiritual perspective of smallness might offer a vital way of seeing especially conducive to gratitude.

Ann Voskamp, one thousand gifts, page 166

799. putting my writing aside to spend the day with my girls
801. “It is finished.” John 19:30
803. the 6yo cleaning her room completely … vacuum usage involved!
807. cream cheese muffin + salted caramel mocha – to start my morning of writing
808. Ole Miss excitement
810. a cover designed
814. coming undone by lessons from the prodigal son
816. my snaggle tooth
821. (in)courager launch with her
832. dolphins in our wake
836. a swing in the middle of nowhere
839. an afternoon movie with my loves
847. HE loves me!
851. 100 on her math test
856. digging deep into God’s Word
862. after work chats with the teen
870. no concussion
872. my own private allume with her
876. freedom of prayer before 1st grade school programs
878. she bought a stack of SAT and college books
883. discernment
885. Emily’s brick at the Billy Graham Library
888. from my 9yo, “I don’t know how you take care of us – you’re a good parent.”
890. continued walk through Colossians
895. kids lounging like cats
910. praying birthday blessings over my new 9yo
926. remembering
930. “Thank you for encouraging mom, I had a really fun time.”
936. uneven bars and her enthusiasm
943. God’s chiseling – He sees me beautiful!

No one else will ever know the depth of my LOVE for you.
After all, you’re the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.
{quote source}

This girl amazes and surprises me almost everyday. Honestly, she always has.

Some of you may know I’d been homeschooling Taylor the last 2 years. She’s had some issues with learning in the past, so last summer I decided to have her academically tested. The results weren’t too far off base from what I’d already observed, but one finding had us quite shocked.

It’d been recommended Taylor not go to a four year college. Given the results of her testing and the fact that she’d missed key educational facts throughout her schooling years, there didn’t look to be anyway she’d thrive, let alone succeed, at a four year school.

Needless to say, we felt deflated and started thinking about other options.

After a school year of falling very far behind, much to my surprise, this past summer Taylor started talking about going back to “real school.” Given that she was very behind in her schoolwork {like still doing 10th grade work at the end of her 11th grade year}, I wasn’t too sure how realistic her request was. I told her if she buckled down {what a mom thing to say!} and got all her schoolwork done, that I’d look into it.

Wouldn’t you know? A few weeks later, she came down with stacks of books and schoolwork, she’d had it almost all completed! If you had any idea how much work I’m talking about, you’d think she’d hired someone to finish her work for her! With just a few other things to complete, I started calling the local high school to find out what we’d need to do to get her registered.

No easy feat.

But we did it.

Taylor started high school this past September and she is full-on loving it! Like loving. Like she’s a self-proclaimed nerd and loving it!

She works with a tutor four days a week, she’s working part-time at Justice, and she continues to ride her best-buddy Cozmo.

Taylor started the year as a junior {instead of a senior}, and will graduate a year behind “schedule.” But she’s completely focused and determined to get herself into a four year college of her choosing!

Although this kid continues to be stuck in the middle of adversity and stress, she takes it in stride … offers grace and forgiveness.

I continue to learn oodles from this love of mine. Namely, perseverance.

Not sure why, but a scene from Dirty Dancing comes to mind … it’s the final show, Baby’s stuck sitting with her parents, and in walks Johnny with his now famous line, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

Others have wanted to put my baby in a corner … with labels, with lies, with negativity. But my baby in all her amazeball-ways consistently declares to herself, “Nobody will put me in a corner!”

I love, love, love the song, Beautiful Things by Gungor. It reminds me of my sweet babygirl every time I hear it.

Taylor … my sweet babygirl … you truly are God’s beautiful thing. I wub you with all my heart and soul.

I can decide now what I want to be known for — words that sum up my life, my impact, my influence, my contribution to this world. What will be my lingering words?

Lingering words are words that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy {Philippians 4:8}. Think about such things. Don’t get overwhelmed thinking about living these words for the rest of your life. Just think about waht words you want to live today, because today is a great day for some intentionally chosen words. ~ Lysa Terkeurst, Unglued DVD

As I continue this study of Lysa Terkeurst’s Unglued, I’m becoming so aware of my own unglued tendencies and what triggers them. Chapters nine and ten were like gold to me … especially chapter ten.

In chapter nine, we read about “The Empty Woman.” Lysa describes her as “the woman who drops seeds of comparison into the furrows of her soul.” And shares, “the more I compare, the emptier I become.”

I’m embarrassed to say how many times have I been guilty of this. I know jealousy is not life-giving and yet … sometimes I go there.

So then, how to switch those thoughts into something that is life-giving?

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Galatians 6:4-5 MSG

Lysa encourages us to carry our own loads. To turn our jealous spirits into a giving spirit. The choice is ours.

And chapter ten? It’s got me undone.

Lysa warns, “toxic thoughts are so dangerous because they leave no room for truth to flourish. And lies are what reign in the absence of truth.”

We are to park our minds on constructive thoughts, not destructive thoughts … thoughts that breathe life into us, not suck life from us. ~ Lysa Terkeurst, Unglued, page 144

I posted the above quote to our Facebook group the other day and received comments saying, “We know this, but it’s so hard to do.” Oh friends don’t I know it?! I constantly struggle with negative chatter. I have to make a conscious effort not to spiral so far down in my own negative chatter that it’d take a rescue team to pull me out of my self-inflicted pit of negativity.

I have to consistently ask the Holy Spirit to quicken my thoughts when they dip into the pool of negativity.

Because ultimately, doesn’t it go back to Lysa’s wisdom at the top of this post? What I think relates to how I speak. And how I speak relates to how I live. What will be my lingering words? What will my life reflect?

Lysa ends chapter ten with these words, “How a woman thinks is often how she lives. May we think on and live out truth, and only truth, today.”

Praying I can always be that woman!

This next week we’ll be covering session six in our participant’s guide and chapters eleven and twelve in the book. Lysa calls this next session, “Imperfect Progress for the Unglued.” She’ll discuss taking time for our souls to exhale and taking an honest peek inside our souls … our “underbellies.”

Jacque and I continue to be thankful for each of you walking along side us on this journey of imperfect progress. I truly believe God has great things in store for each of us. Let’s not get discouraged with the “imperfect” and instead focus on the “progress.”

Wynter’s birthday was this past weekend and to help her get “jiggy wit it,” we brought in a 40 foot obstacle-course-bouncy-thingy. Needless to say, the party-goers had a blast!

Until the injuries started.

The girls weren’t following the natural flow of the obstacle course. They’d sit on top of the slide. They’d attempt to climb up the slide. And run through the course from finish to start … which is why you can’t see any of the 15 party-goers at the starting point … they’re all climbing through backwards.

When I realized what was happening, I stepped in and told them they needed to follow the course the way it’s intended or injuries would continue to occur. And sure enough, wouldn’t you know? As someone was coming down the slide, the final step of the course … another girl standing at the exit decided to jump in, got hurt, and came out a bundle of tears!

As the party ended and we were cleaning up, it struck me again and again that rules are set for our protection.

How many times do I try to bypass the “entrance” and take a short cut through the exit … only to end up disappointed, injured, and in a bundle of tears?

God’s given us a rule book and guide to follow. And He gave it to us for a reason. For our own good.

This is an extreme example, but think about it … if those ten commandments hadn’t come down, and we had no moral compass … would we know it isn’t okay to kill people? To steal? To have sexual relations with whomever we pleased? Can you imagine that world?

God tells me to never stop praying. He tells me to put no idol’s before Him {that would be anything that takes my time and attention away from Him}. He tells me to love my neighbor as I love myself. He tells me not to worry or be anxious. He tells me to trust Him with the plans He has for my life.

Yet how many times do I try to skip the course He’s laid out for me and go through life jumping head-first into the exit?

Not cool Tracie, not cool.

Sometimes it takes that knock on the head and puddle of tears for me to remember I need to follow the course the way He’s intended or injuries will continue to occur.

I strongly believe God brings hope to hopeless situations and Lysa is proving it to be true with each word I read in her latest book, Unglued.

I’m so thankful Jacque and I are leading this journey of (in)couraged to Hope and pray God is meeting over 80 women in our “messes” as we read through the truths Lysa is sharing.

I don’t know about you, but I love me a step-by-step instruction guide! I think Lysa must’ve known most of us would need some clear cut guidance along our journey!

My biggest take-away from this past week is this “short version” Lysa’s put together. She calls it her “predetermined biblical procedure manual,” and it’s a tool I plan to use over and over again!

1. Alarmed, Lysa resolved to remember who she is.
2. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
3. Stay in the flow – my job is obedience, God’s job is results.
4. Shift from an attitude to gratitude.
5. Reactions determine my reach.

I’m looking forward to connecting and hearing what your favorite take-aways were this week!

Join me today over at Jacque’s today, as we dive into the next chapter in Lysa’s book Unglued.

When God forgives, there is an immediate and
complete change in relationship.
Instead of hostility, there is love and acceptance.
Instead of enmity, there is friendship.
~ Billy Graham

In the deepest depths of our heart and soul, can we say we’ve truly forgiven someone?

A quick check might be to ask ourselves, “What does Jesus see?”

When my girls have misbehaved and try to cover it up with a lie, I ask them one simple question, not in judgment or condemnation—they don’t even need to give me an answer. The question is this, “What did Jesus see?” The fact is, it doesn’t matter if I know the truth or not, what’s important is they keep their hearts pure before the Lord.

Only God knows our hearts.

If Jesus were to look into our hearts, would He see true forgiveness?

Granted, forgiveness doesn’t always happen overnight. In most situations, forgiveness comes in stages and there’s nothing wrong with that. God knows our hearts and our heart-motives. So then, how do we know when we’ve truly forgiven?

Following are a few things to keep in mind:

• When we can wholly give the situation over to God.
  Because let’s face it, sometimes we want to hold onto it and play it over and over in our minds. We want to talk about it, justify ourselves, and prove our point.

• When we can follow the command found in Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.”
  Personally, I’ve been guilty of this. When an offense has happened to me, I don’t always immediately want to pray blessings over them and love them. But I know true forgiveness has come when the prayers finally come.

• We stop thinking about it. We forget the crime.
  All I have to say is—thank goodness God doesn’t remember our transgressions. If He brought to mind every sin in my life over and over again . . . well let’s just say it would be a sorry life to live.

• Spiritually, an unexplainable peace finds its way into our hearts and minds.

• Physically, it feels as though a burden has been lifted.
  I have multiple sclerosis and when I’m under the stress of a situation needing me to look through the eyes of grace, my symptoms start to flare. The worry and stress cause a physical reaction in my body. When I’ve truly forgiven, I feel a literal physical change in my body.

• Finally, I believe true forgiveness has come when we see the offender and can wish him/her well.
  

Father, I thank You—from the depths of my soul I thank You—for putting this series topic on my heart to write and share with others. Thank you for your great Word and lessons. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for being the perfect model of forgiveness. Thank you for the work you’ve done in our lives through this series.

Father, I pray lives are changed. I’m praying for a break-through for everyone who reads these words. I pray Lord we trust you with our everything and know You’ll be faithful, loving, and just.

In Your mighty name I pray,
Amen

####

Friends, I thank you for following along on this journey with me. I can’t believe it’s already come to an end. If there’s one thing I could encourage you with? If you’ve read this series over the last 31 days … I urge you not to get stuck on one particular day. I believe all 31 days are intertwined in your process. I hope you’ll pray over them, asking God to work and apply specific inspirations to your specific situations.

I’ll be taking a little break over the next few days, but hope to be back next week with a few resources/videos I’ve found on forgiveness.

If you’d like to keep up with 31 Days of Forgiveness, you can
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{read 31 days of forgiveness from the beginning}

To be able to look into God’s face, and know with the knowledge
of faith that there is nothing between the soul and Him,
is to experience the fullest peace the soul can know.
Whatever else pardon may be, it is above all things admission
into full fellowship with God.
~ Charles H. Brent

Forgiveness is an act of faith, trusting God will bring freedom and allow healing, both in our lives and in the lives of others.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, believing God has commanded us to forgive.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, trusting God will work in our situations.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, allowing us to release our holds on each situation knowing God has greater plans.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, knowing God will handle any justice, mercy, or grace that needs to take place.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, trusting God will give us the power to forgive.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, trusting God will replace unforgiveness with peace.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, believing Jesus was sacrificed for our sins so we could live forgiven.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, when we choose to love instead of hate.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, when we pray blessings over those who persecute us.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, trusting redemption is probable.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, believing we’ll hold no record of wrongdoings.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, realizing it’s a gift money can’t buy.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, forgiving seven times seventy.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, knowing there’s no other option.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, believing in God’s unconditional, unending, and unfathomable love for us.

Forgiveness is an act of faith, believing forgiveness will bring us into full fellowship with God.

If you’d like to keep up with 31 Days of Forgiveness, you can
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{read 31 days of forgiveness from the beginning}

It’s week four of our Unglued study and I need to be perfectly honest with you … I’ve gone done and become unglued!

Most definitely when:

• My Piper could only find ONE shoe and we were already late for school.
• My eight year old fell down the stairs and split the back of her head open, requiring five staples … 45 minutes before a fundraiser I was hosting in my home.
• My teen forgot her school project in her car {parked 1.5 miles from school … don’t ask} and asked me to bring it to her.

and in the middle of this writing deadline:

• Two people show up at the door asking for donations. {the good news is, I was able to invite them in, give them some dinner, a copy of Jesus Calling, my 31 Days of Faith e-book, a draft of my newest e-book 31 Days of Forgiveness … and a donation. Oh! and a ride to their car a couple of miles away}

and when I get home it’s my girl’s bedtime and:

• The ten year old’s toilet is clogged {grossly clogged!}. And the kitchen seemed to have exploded. And the dog needed to be let out. And kidlets need to get to bed. And doesn’t anybody know I’ve got a writing deadline?!

I could go on, but I’m certain you get the idea! :)

All that “ungluing” isn’t even my point. My point is … life happens. Intentions fail. We get behind.

And that’s where I am. I’m behind in my reading of this Unglued study. And I want to label myself with all the ugly things the enemy is whispering to me. But as I open Lysa’s book, and as I look at our Facebook page, I’m reminded of the encouragement found in imperfect progress wrapped beautifully in grace.

So that’s me. I wonder if any of you can relate? I would so love, even if we’re behind, if we could still encourage each other to push on to push through. Chances are, many of us are feeling very attacked right now. The enemy would love nothing more than to keep us from pushing through our labels and self-doubt. I wonder … as we head into week four, could we commit to helping one another continue on this journey?

Here’s what I’m looking forward to in week four. First of all the title has me a little giddy, “A Procedure Manual for the Unglued.” Who doesn’t love a procedure manual?!

Instead of avoiding the reality that I come unglued, I’m tackling it head-on. I want to give myself every fighting chance to make wise choices in the midst of raw emotions. And having a predetermined plan is a good thing to create and implement. Care to join me? Not that your plan will look the same as mine. Feel free to take this idea and make it your own. The best kind of plan for you is the one you’ll follow. ~ Unglued, page 117

What do you think? Care to push forward with me this week? I believe God’s got something great planned for us on the other side!

If you’ve written a post on your imperfect progress, we invite you to link up below. If not, no problem! Jacque and I would still love to hear from you! If you have a moment, leave a note on where you’re at and what you’ve learned so far?

Now this shows how we tend to make the worst of everything
and to paint the picture in the darkest colors, which is not doing
as we would have others do to us, nor as our heavenly Father does to us.
~ Matthew Henry

The prodigal son experienced true humility that led him back home and his father extended true forgiveness, but the story doesn’t end “happily ever after” at that point.

Instead we have the elder brother. The good son. The one who Matthew Henry says, “represents those who are really good and never went astray, who—by comparison—need no repentance.”

The elder son was out in the field when his father and brother reconciled. Luke 15:25 says, “. . . when he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.” And he became angry and refused to go in {verse 28}.

“This shows us a common fault,” Henry notes. And he has these two important points:

1. In people’s families. Those who have always been a comfort to their parents think they should have a monopoly of their parents’ favors, and they tend to be too sharp toward those who have disobeyed.
2. In God’s family. Those who are comparatively innocent seldom know how to be compassionate toward those who are clearly penitents.

We read in Luke that the father went out to him and “pleaded with him.” But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.”

According to Henry, “It is too common for those who are better than their neighbors to boast about it.” He goes on to say, “Those who have served God for a long time and have been kept from gross sins have a great deal to be humbly thankful for, but nothing to proudly boast about . . . Some good people tend to be caught up in this fault; they look down on those who have not kept their reputation as clean as they have, even when those who have soiled themselves in this way have given good evidence of their repentance and reformation . . . We have too high an opinion of ourselves if we cannot find it in our hearts to receive those whom God has received.”

Henry continues, “If we are true believers, all that God is and all that he has are ours, and if others come to be true believers, all that he is and all that he has are theirs too, and yet we have no less.”

The parable in Luke ends with the father assuring his oldest son, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

Oh how I wish there were more to the story!! I want to know if the oldest son embraced his brother. If his heart softened. If they had a “happily ever after!”

Know what? I have to believe that’s exactly what happened. It may be no use to speculate, but it makes my heart happy to think they did get their happily ever after.

When those brothers saw each other the first time, I can’t help but think the youngest brother, full of remorse, newly redeemed, and humbled to the bone, made a huge impact on his older brother.

And with a father who, by the way, should win Parent of the Year—gently, lovingly, and humbly came alongside the oldest boy to speak truth into him. He didn’t shame that boy, or pull the “parent” because-I-said-so card. Instead he gently shined truth into the situation.

I’ve heard this parable countless times throughout my life, but the study, research, and revelation I’ve just experienced will stay with me a lifetime.

These three men have taught me so many lessons. Who I mirror, who I’ve been, and who I want to be.

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{read 31 days of forgiveness from the beginning}