Tracy, you’re naked! The power of accountability.

Many of us surround ourselves with people who tell us how awesome we are, who affirm all our decisions as the right decisions, who constantly lift us up. We do need women like this but we also need women who are willing to say the hard things, the honest things.

So, let me ask you -  do you have any women who will speak truth in your life? Women who are willing to say the hard thing? I encourage you to INVITE accountability into your life because Proverbs 12:15 reminds us, “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.”

In the comments below, share about your experience with having accountability in your life.

All my best to you,
Tracy Lynn Dougherty

The Race of Life

Recently I was on Facebook and saw a video that was so encouraging! The video was of a woman running a half marathon. Actually, she wasn’t running, she was hobbling and wobbling, she was really struggling, trying to reach the finish line. She could literally see the finish line but her body wasn’t cooperating.

Three men sacrificed their race time to help this stranger complete her race.

As you run through life, headed to your own finish line, are you paying attention? Are you aware of the people around you? Sometimes we need to come along side someone, give them a chance to take a break, catch their breath and then complete the race that has been set before them. 

 In the comments below, share your story about someone that came alongside you during a challenging time in life and gave you a chance to take a break and catch your breath.

All my best to you,
Tracy

James 1:22 & Spiritual Gifts - Just do it!

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking at a Women’s Conference in Carl Junction, Missouri. The theme verse was James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Many of us are nodding our heads on Sunday morning or when we’re at home reading our Bibles…we’re agreeing with what the Bible says – but that’s not enough. We need to actually do what it says. It doesn’t say do what it says when we feel like it, when we have the time, when we’ll be perfect at it…Just Do It!

If you are a Christ follower, you have been given spiritual gifts. Your gifts are the key to fulfilling the Kingdom Purpose He has set aside just for you.

I would love to hear how you use your spiritual gifts for the Kingdom of God.

Let Your Light Shine - Obedience (Full Session)

By popular demand - welcome to the full session on “Let Your Light Shine - Obedience!” God expects His women to be obedient but obedience can be hard! In this podcast, you’ll hear why we struggle with obedience and strategies for success.

Let Your Light Shine - Obedience 4 of 4

Welcome to the final video of my 4-part series “Let Your Light Shine -  Obedience!” We’ve been talking about the tools and steps we need to take to be obedient.

We need to lean into the Holy Spirit! We cannot achieve obedience without Him. Also, we women need to encourage one another.

Let Your Light Shine - Obedience 3 of 4

Welcome to the 3rd of my 4-part series “Let Your Light Shine - Obedience!” We’ve been talking about what keeps us from obedience. Now we’re going to focus on the tools and steps we need to take to be obedient.

The first one is the easiest, and so critical - open our Bible. The Bible is the best place to find what God expects and how He has provided for you to achieve obedience. We must also exchange the lies of the enemy with the Truth. 

Let Your Light Shine - Obedience 2 of 4

Welcome to the 2nd of my 4-part series on “Let Your Light Shine - Obedience!” God expects His women to be obedient but obedience can be hard!

 I continue with why we struggle with obedience due to things such as “not nice” women. Anyone know a not nice woman? Anyone been a not nice woman? Another thing that keeps us from obedience is comparison.

Let Your Light Shine - Obedience 1 of 4

Welcome to the 1st of my 4-part series on “Let Your Light Shine - Obedience!” God expects His women to be obedient but obedience can be hard! In this series you’ll hear why we struggle with obedience and strategies for success with obedience.

We’ll start with what causes us to struggle with obedience. I think other people’s expectations and busyness are two of the biggest things that keep us from obedience.

No Room at the Inn

Tomorrow is the first day of December and the “crazy” is now on steroids.

Luke 2: 7 “Mary wrapped Jesus in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Do you have room in your home this December for Jesus? Or have you filled it with busyness, craziness?

It is especially easy to catch the “crazy fever” now that we have Facebook and Pinterest to remind us of what we are failing to do – create the “picture perfect” Christmas.

Some of us get caught up in the perfect gift for our child. Do they KNOW that the most important, most special, the highest paid price for gift they could ever receive is JESUS?

In the comments below, share your strategy to not get caught up in the crazy and to experience the awe of Christmas.

2 Things Your Husband Needs and You Can Give Him

Today I want to talk about 2 things your husband needs and that you have the power to give him!!

First, he needs you to hang out with him. Be his playmate. Have some fun together!! If you think back to before you were married, back to when you were dating, what did you used to do together? You probably weren’t talking about the kids, you weren’t snapping at each other about who does what household chores, you weren’t feeling bogged down in responsibilities. You were most likely doing everything you could to spend time together.

Your husband still has that desire – he wants to spend time doing things that are fun to him with YOU!!! What did you use to do together? Go hiking, attend concerts, have coffee together… I would encourage you to intentionally work some of these things back into your schedule. Men really like to spend their down time with their wives!! When’s the last time you and your husband had FUN together? Can’t remember? Then it’s been too long.

Thanksgiving is a Time to B.L.E.S.S. Others!

We’re in the season of Thanksgiving. A time to remember how blessed we are and to have an attitude of gratitude. I think a great way to say, “Thank you” to Jesus for my many blessings is to BE a blessing to others. In fact, I have been blessed so that I WILL BE a blessing to others. I’m not to just take in all the blessings and hold on to them…I’m to share them with others.

My church, Westside Family Church in Lenexa, Kansas came up with an easy 5 step way to bless others. B.L.E.S.S., it’s an acronym.

God wants to use you to bless your community – your home, your neighborhood, your workplace, wherever you do life. I would love to hear from you. In the comments below share how you plan to BLESS others this Thanksgiving season.

Thanksgiving Challenge

We’re preparing to enter the season of Thanksgiving...and the season of CRAZY!! When the holidays begin, if I'm not intentional, I can sometimes allow the "crazy" to take over and forget all about the "thanksgiving."

 Last year, I tried something new...to seek the Thanksgiving daily. I’m going to share my VERY SIMPLE plan to keep the attitude of my heart focused on Thanksgiving, not the crazy.

I would love to hear from you! What’s your strategy to have an attitude of thanksgiving instead of crazy during November?

3 Steps to Avoiding Sin

I don’t know about you, but unfortunately there are times that it seems like I suddenly realize that I’m in the middle of a pit of sin. I didn’t mean to end up in the pit of sin but somehow that’s where I find myself.

I think Proverbs 7 is an illustration of how we end up there. It shows us how we are seduced into sin.

So how do we not lose ourselves to sin.  The answer…is also in Proverbs 7.

I would love to hear from you. In the comments below, what boundaries, what protection from sin, have you placed in your life that could encourage others?

How to have an Affair…with your Husband!

I get that sometimes life can fall into a routine, a rut, and actually be kinda boring. But why not take a break and escape with your husband!!

I’m going to share with you four ways to have an affair with your husband. I’ll give you some ideas, but be creative – go for it!

This is an affair that can have a happily ever after.

In the comments below, share your ideas on how to have an affair with your husband. 

All my best to you,

Tracy

3 Things Every Woman Wants

Today I want to talk about what every woman wants and what every woman has the power to give.

Our lives have become so crowded that many of us feel invisible. My friend Kristen, who has a huge heart for women, taught me the power of helping every woman to be seen, valued and known. You don’t have to have a special talent. It starts with a simple smile and hello.

I would love to hear from you! In the comments below tell me what’s your favorite way to “see” someone or to make someone feel valued.

All my best to you,

Tracy

Where is Jesus In the Storms of Life?

Matthew 14:22 says, “Jesus INSISTED that the disciples get in the boat.” God already knows the storms we will face, all the storms of your life - past, present and future. Sometimes He will direct you away from a storm, or around a storm. Sometimes…He’ll send you into the storm.

We want Jesus to hurry up and calm the storms of our lives. But, have you ever considered that maybe He wants to hold your hand, have contact with you, carry you through the storms of life?

Peter was the only one in the storm that called out to Jesus for instructions. Are you asking God for instructions? Are you reaching out to hold His hand?  The thing is, God is more committed to developing our character than to our comfort. Are you in the middle of a storm right now? I would love to hear from you. In the comments below, tell me what you're learning about yourself. What is God showing you about Him?

All my best to you,

Tracy

3 Reasons You Need a Friend

This sounds like a strong statement, but I am terrible at making friends! Don't get me wrong...I love women. I want friends but anytime I think about finding a friend, every insecurity I have comes boiling up, screaming ugly things about myself to myself. Insecurity is awful – we’ll talk about that in another episode.

Despite the fear I have about making friends, today I want to share with you three reasons why I (and why YOU) need friends. Studies show that many women don’t have any close friends, but I think most of us would agree that is important. So why are so many of us going it alone?

“Friendship," wrote CS Lewis, “is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You, too? I thought I was the only one.’”

In the comments below, share how you push past the fear to make a friend. What's a good way to make friends?

All my best to you,

Tracy

P.S. Does anyone else feel like singing out, "You've got a friend in me!" ?? ;)

Becoming Courageous, Ordinary Women - Acts 4:13

Hi friends,

Today I'm going to share a favorite verse of mine that offers me encouragement as an ordinary woman. Acts 4:13 says, "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

If you sometimes feel like an ordinary woman like me, take note: if you choose to spend time with Jesus, He will give you the courage to be bold. You will be anything but ordinary. Check out the podcast below to hear more. In it, I talk about how we can spend time with Jesus and grow in His love.

Once you've listened to the podcast, I'd love to talk with you further in the comments. What have you done lately that took courage? What's your favorite way to read the Bible?

All my best to you,

Tracy

The Garden of Your Life, Part 3: Jesus & the Word

In the third and final segment of our Garden of Your Life series, we’ll talk about the two most important things that our garden needs.

First: the Son, Jesus. We need Jesus. Second: the Word of God, the Bible. This doesn’t mean a Bible sitting on the shelf in your home. This means a Bible that you are reading and engaging with daily.

The Bible is our SOP - our Standing Operating Procedure for life. You must spend time daily reading the Bible to have the healthiest, most productive garden (the healthiest, most productive life). Sometimes we act so surprised by what’s coming up in our lives but we’re not paying attention to the seeds we’ve thrown into our garden of life.

The Garden of Your Life, Part 2: Fences & Stakes

Today we continue with the second part of The Garden of Life series. The next thing we’ll add to our garden are fences. Fences place boundaries in our lives and keep out the small things, the things that look so innocent but can cause significant damage if we aren’t paying attention.

Got any issues in your life? If so, maybe you need to reset your boundaries. It’s okay to set boundaries. In fact, it’s critical to keep our garden protected and our life healthy.

The second thing we’ll add to our Garden of Life are stakes. Stakes help us to hold up, to remain firm during the storms and the challenges of life. We need to intentionally seek out other women to stake ourselves to so they can help us, and we can help them, during difficult times. When we stake ourselves to one another it allows us both to bear more fruit!