Intentional Living

The Woman at the Well – Jesus’ Encounter with a Sinful Woman (Part 2 of 4)

The woman was in her dark place… even though it was high noon, her shame had driven her to the “dark” time to go to the well. And what did Jesus do…He didn’t say come back during a better time, he didn’t say come back when you are accepted, come back when you have it together… He met her where she was… he met her in the dark.

What’s your hard??  What’s your dark??

It’s time to EXPOSE it to the Light. Give it to Jesus.

The Woman at the Well – Jesus’ Encounter with a Sinful Woman (Part 2 of 4)
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

The Woman at the Well – Jesus’ Encounter with a Sinful Woman (Part 1 of 4)

The woman was in her dark place… even though it was high noon, her shame had driven her to the “dark” time to go to the well. And what did Jesus do…He didn’t say come back during a better time, he didn’t say come back when you are accepted, come back when you have it together… He met her where she was… he met her in the dark.

What’s your hard??  What’s your dark??

It’s time to EXPOSE it to the Light. Give it to Jesus.

The Woman at the Well – Jesus’ Encounter with a Sinful Woman (Part 1 of 4)
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

All About Attitude!

Attitude!?! What attitude?? Sometimes, people and circumstances can make us have a negative or bad attitude.  

 In today’s video I will equip you with 4 ways to CHANGE your attitude. Because we can’t always change our circumstances or the people around us but we can CHOOSE to change something about ourselves, choose to change our attitude.

After you’ve watched the video, I would love to hear from you! Please leave your comments below and tell me, “What do you believe is the most important thought or attitude you need to change in your life? How will your life be affected if you change your attitude?

4 Tools to Change Your Attitude
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

 

All my best to you!
Tracy Lynn Dougherty

Live your passion now!

What if you decided that in 2019 you’re going to live your passion!?! That you are going to be intentional about making sure you are spending time on what you’re passionate about.

If I looked over your calendar would I be able to see you living the life you’ve been called to live, that you desire to live?

Don’t let 2019 be just another year of doing the same ole, same ole. Start praying now about what God is calling you to and then start pursing it… do the thing. It’s not too late.

Live your passion now!
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach


In the comments below share what’s your passion and what are you doing to live it out.

All my best to you,
Tracy Lynn Dougherty

How to get through the hard in life; what I learned on the playground.

A few summers ago, I was hanging out at the playground with some friends when the young son of a friend was trying to eat a WarHeads Extreme Sour candy.

Life can be like that piece of candy. We start to notice a not-so-pleasant taste in our mouths, we really don’t like what’s going on, then next thing we know, life has gotten really hard. The secret to when life is hard, when life isn’t palatable, is to add water, but not just any water - Living Water.

I’m going to share with you where to find the Living Water you need when you’re going through the hard of life.

 

How to get through the hard in life; what I learned on the playground
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

In the comments below share how you get the Living Water to sustain you during the tough times of life.

All my best to you,
Tracy

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.”

 

Tracy, you’re naked! The power of accountability.
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

 

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. 

The Race of Life
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

 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.

 

James 1:22 & Spiritual Gifts - Just do it!
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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 (Full Session)
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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 4 of 4
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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 3 of 4
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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 2 of 4
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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.

Let Your Light Shine - Obedience 1 of 4
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

Forgive Yourself!

Today, we’re going to talk about forgiving ourselves. Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all mess up “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If you’re like most of the women I meet, we tend to be very hard on ourselves and slow to forgive ourselves. But here’s the truth:  Col 2:13-14 “Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to the cross.” Do you BELIEVE that? Do you TRUST that? Do you LIVE that?

When you have that feeling of guilt, think of it as an INVITATION to seek forgiveness. To choose to remain guilty, to refuse to forgive yourself, is to choose to reject God’s gift and Christ’s sacrifice. It’s like saying, you know what you did on the cross, dying for me on the cross…it wasn’t enough.

PS 32: 1-2 NLT  “Oh, what JOY for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what JOY for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!”  Tired of feeling guilty? Seek forgiveness and experience His overwhelming JOY!! I would love to hear from you. In the comments below, share with me what’s your next step to forgiving yourself?

Forgive Yourself!
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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.

2 Things Your Husband Needs and You Can Give Him
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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 is a Time to B.L.E.S.S. Others
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

3 Steps to Forgiveness

Back in the 70’s there was a movie that had the quote, “Love means never having to say I’m sorry”, it became very popular. You would see it on posters and bumper stickers. The truth is just the opposite, love means always willing to say “I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

When someone has wronged us, we want them to stay in the prison we’ve created until they apologize or until we understand. We want them to feel the weight of what they have done. We want to make them feel responsible, let them sweat it out….DOES CHRIST DO THAT TO US?

Today I’m going to share with you 3 steps to forgiveness.

3 Steps to Forgiveness
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

In the comments below share what do you think is the key to forgiveness.

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.

Thanksgiving Challenge
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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.

3 Steps to Avoiding Sin
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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?

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?

Where is Jesus In the Storms of Life?
Tracy Lynn Dougherty - Speaker, Teacher, Life Coach

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