Releasing His Love in Colorado

My friend PJ Clark
worships at the conference.

We recently joined 1,000 others at a healing conference in Denver, where there were people of all ages from Colorado and other states, and from different church backgrounds and denominations. Rick and I had the wonderful opportunity to serve on the ministry teams and we prayed for many people. We witnessed hundreds of physical healings and the power of the Holy Spirit touched people deeply.

I never get tired of ministering and watching the goodness of our Father. People are hungry to know this One we love so much. They are willing to travel to meet Him – just like the wise men when they followed the star to the manger. And they are willing to gather at His feet even on a weekday night – just like Mary did when nothing could budge her from sitting at Jesus’ feet.

Following the conference, we ministered to churches and groups in Evergreen and Carbondale where we met many new friends who have been praying for revival in their valleys for years.

As followers of Christ, we all have been mightily empowered and assigned a job to continue the work of Jesus, the Christ, and walk His walk among our families, communities, churches and where He calls us to go. As we bless others in what He has asked, He blesses us in greater measures of joy, favor, and more opportunity to do this work we love. Will you join us? Will you go, too? Watch for what He will do through your hands, your heart, and your love. We are blessed to be a blessing. I pray that this holiday season will reignite the lamp of your spirit to release what He has given you. 

Take Another Little Piece of My Heart

Did you know that God talks to you? He is always talking to you. Are you hearing? Are you listening for Him?

I was praying the other day and I heard in my heart Janis Joplin singing her famous “Take Another Little Piece of My Heart,” and it made me laugh. God knows that I need humor and joy in my life, and He sometimes uses what is familiar to me to teach me something. I asked Him what that was about. And soon something was in my thoughts I would never think up myself.

I felt like God was saying “When you cry out to me for help, I will respond. When you give me a piece of your heart, I will replace it with a piece of mine.”

We are made in the image and likeness of the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He wants to go deeper with you. Can you imagine how I felt when I understood that every time I sought God for help in my circumstances in the past, He was exchanging my heart with His? His Spirit lives in those who have made Him their Lord. Our own spirit is able to communicate with His Spirit. The Bible says that our prayers are lifted up to God and the Holy Spirit presents them with utterances that God will understand – even when we ourselves do not know what or how to pray about something.

What a mighty God we call Father.

Papa God – you can have another little piece of my heart today, and tomorrow, and the next day. 

Enter in!!!!

If God made this - and we are made in
the image and likeness of Him, Jesus, and
the Holy Spirit - then we must
be simply amazing!

If we are made in the image and likeness of the Godhead, then are we made for greatness, and goodness, and with purpose? Or not? Were we given a life for no reason?

I know I have sabotaged my life. I have been my own worst enemy at times. My own voice hurls insults at me. “Stupid, clumsy, dumb!” My own odd sense of humility has turned down opportunities that would have launched me into my destiny and my family quite possibly into prosperity. 

Many of us, believing lies about our abilities, or trying to stay humble under the wrong belief that we should not promote ourselves, have taken a wrong route, or stayed stuck where we are instead of heeding the wonderful life God wants us to step into.

David understood this life when he boldly challenged Goliath. Weak and insecure Gideon learned about it when God called him a “mighty man of valor.” Can you hear the voice of God? Can you hear him calling you out, asking you to take a risk, a step toward the purpose for which He has called you?

When we rise up, believe, and step forward, confident in what He is doing in us, that is not self-promoting. It is God-promoting. We dishonor Him when we hold back under the guise of false humility. We honor Him when we step into the abundant life His Son died to allow us to enter.

It’s time. Enter in!

For the million things...Remembering 9/11

I still can’t imagine the horror it must have been for the people of 9/11 in the buildings, on the streets, and in the cities and countryside, watching the terror that seemed to never end; fearing for their lives and the lives of their loved ones; hoping for signs of life only to find death and destruction.

How do we as Christ followers respond in such disaster? Does God get the blame? How do we watch for His hand in times of crisis? How do we minister to those who are fearful and grieving?

God is still a good God, even when there is crisis, destruction, natural disaster, and war. He created a perfect world and gave it to man to govern. His will is that Earth will be like heaven—as the Lord Jesus taught us to pray. In the new covenant that Jesus came and died to birth, our understanding of God must be in the character of Jesus, who came in human form to reveal our Father in heaven. Any understanding we have of God that is not in the character of Jesus is not in line with what Jesus taught us about a God who loves, wants to bring life, desires that no one perish, and who wants to bless.

Through one man—Adam—sin, evil, and destruction entered the whole earth. Through one man—Jesus—there is promise of redemption and reconciliation. Through the revealing of the sons of God—that’s us—there is promise of the earth being healed. The creation is crying out for the children of God to know who they are.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Romans 8:19

Jesus told us that whoever we forgive, He will forgive; and whoever we condemn, He will condemn. We are partners in this governing of earth. When we rise up in intercession and stop judging and condemning and instead start forgiving and asking God to give others the favor He has bestowed on us, the healing will begin.

It’s a frightening thing when the church judges a nation like Japan or a city like San Francisco with condemning remarks that “justify” God allowing disaster. Instead of condemning and judging, we need to forgive, bring mercy, and extend a hand of help and love. Do they all deserve it? No. But neither do we.

We don’t know all of the answers, but we do know that God does respond to prayer, He is with us in disaster, and He is working. Again, we need to be thankful for what He is doing and has done and not focus on what He hasn’t done.

On every anniversary of 9/11, I thank God that He has been revealed to our nation in mighty acts of heroism, love, mercy, protection, provision, and unity.

I thank Him for intervening in a million things we will never know about.

Excerpt from Tapestry - The Divine Design For Your Life by Christine Tracy, Tate Publishing,  Release date - winter, 2013.

You Are More Than You Think

"And the Divine Artist – who created the universe, the earth, and all that is in it – created you. His tools were love, color, and the elements of earth. 

He planned what would make you different from every other human – personality, character, appearance, gifting, ability, and purpose. “Let us create man in our image,”  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit said, and then they poured into you a portion of their divine life and imagination.

You were created to be creative, thinking and moving with God and like God.

You are way more than you think you are."

Excerpt from “Tapestry - The Divine Design for Your Life,” by Christine Tracy - Release date - Winter 2013, Tate Publishing.

Miracles? Yes! And more! Check out Bethel School of Ministry

Students Rick (left), and Chris (right)
with Bethel 's senior pastor Bill Johnson.

We loved our two years at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, California. It was life transforming, inspiring, encouraging, building, and there we were launched into the amazing last half of our life. Though in Colorado now, we still miss everything about Bethel and will visit our "second home" often.


Those of you considering going, sending your kids, or supporting a student can ask us anything about it. We are so thankful to God to have been summoned and sent. So thankful that nothing that was "spent" on us by teachers, mentors, and supporters has been lost in the transition from school to life and work in our beloved Colorado. God is keeping us busy!

When we graduated - the main message was "go" - you have what it takes. Students  are equipped for the life God has called them to - whether business, arts, medicine, technology, industry, or church work. It's about carrying the Presence of the Father - loving Creator; the Son - forever with us as we walk out His example on earth; and Holy Spirit - our wisdom, comfort, and guide. Not taught - but imparted...not learned intellectually as much as spiritually and through sheer experience.

If you are considering BSSM, be sure to click on the links at the left to find out more. Consider a weekend visit to Bethel - where you will encounter love so amazing from the Friday night service, to the Saturday healing rooms, to time in the prayer chapel, to three inspiring, healing, prayerful, encouraging, worshipful services on Sundays.

You can't go for a weekend and not have God touch you in some way. Ask my daughter, Bess, and granddaughter Sami - or any number of friends that paid us a visit while we were there.

Is God summoning you to a meeting with him? I one-hundred percent encourage you to "go!"

Here's a short, two-minute youtube video about the BSSM experience. Yes!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc4zvoOYOac&feature=player_embedded

What If We Prayed Over Our Babies?

What if we prayed over our babies, making declarations like:

“You are destined for greatness; you are smart; you are going to be the happiest person alive; you are special; your Papa in heaven loves you so much; He created you unique and special; there is only one you; you are amazing; you are creative; you will make a difference in our family and on this planet; you are so loveable; watch out world, because this baby will turn you upside down; God knew you before you were in your mommy’s tummy; He has mighty dreams for you; you make Him so proud; He gave you to us to bless you and to bless us; you have purpose; your life means so much; your mom and dad love you more than you will ever know; your smile lights up our lives; you are an inspiration to your family; you have special gifts; God protects you; He provides for you; He has given you His DNA and you will know Him in your life; you are made in His image and you carry His glory; your days are in His hands; His thoughts about you are like the number of sand particles on beaches and the number of stars in the sky; He laughs over you and dances; He thinks you are funny; you, our child, are His favorite. What an awesome privilege it is to be chosen to raise you!”

What if?