Loving Someone’s Backside by Guest Blogger Tracy Steel

Hope all are having an amazing day! Tracy Steel from One Degree Ministries is providing some awesome inspiration on Teagan's Travels today!

The Bible teaches that there is a time and purpose for everything under Heaven (Ecclesiastes chapter 3). The older I get, the more I realize and embrace the time and purpose for each backside that I encounter…

Besides being a mother, I am a military wife and mentor. These privileges have given me countless opportunities to make new friends and to talk about God and His Word with women all over the United States.

Unfortunately, at some point our mentoring season ended or my husband’s assignment in that city ended. Though I still remain in contact with these women via phone calls, Facebook, or Skype, I still had to hug them, say “see you later,” and watch as they turned and walked away.

These bittersweet backside moments left me wondering:

Did I encourage her?

Did I help or comfort her in any way?

Did my friendship bring glory to you, God?

A One Degree moment:

I love someone’s backside and the change it symbolizes. I am learning to embrace “see you laters” and am finding freedom from the need for life to remain the same.

Life just isn’t going to remain the way it is now. I need to allow the Holy Spirit to help me let go, so I can embrace what God is doing now.

So next time you are watching a friend walk away, or when you watch your child achieve a milestone, I encourage you to pause. Rejoice over their backside and remember that life is not going to remain the same. The people in your life will change, and so will you.

May we allow God to help us embrace change and fill our hearts with joy despite our bittersweet tears.

Ok, so I have to pray ALOT for God to help me rejoice when saying “see you later.” (BTW, I dislike saying the words “good-bye”) I also assume that I will bawl my eyes out as I watch my children graduate or move away. Who am I kidding? Moving and change stinks. However, letting go is often a process. I am finding that change is tolerable once I allow the Holy Spirit to help my heart adjust. Go figure, right?

“There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on earth… A right time to cry and another to laugh… A right time to embrace and to part… A right time to hold on and another to let go…”

~Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4a, 5b, 6b The Message

Tracy is proudly married to Chad, a pilot in the United States Air Force.  Whenever they are not being relocated, she loves to drink green tea and watch re-runs of LOST. She also enjoys chasing their two children, Jackson (3) and Katherine (1), throughout their toy-infested home.  Tracy graduated from Phoenix Seminary in 2005, and served as the Director of Student Women at Scottsdale Bible Church from 2005-2007. She is also the author of Images of His Beauty, a newly released Bible Study, for young women who struggle with self-image issues and eating disorders. You can find out more information about the study and follow her blog at www.onedegreeministries.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OneDegreeMinistries, or chat with her via twitter @tracy_steel.

Home is Not the House Itself by Guest Blogger Tracy Steel

I am delighted to have guest blogger Tracy Steel from One Degree Ministries encouraging and inspiring us with her words today!

Home is Not the House Itself

by Tracy Steel

Our recent move across state lines was a challenging one for my children. Katie’s heart has only known one home. So when our new home was finally ready, the children’s rooms were the first to be unboxed and arranged.

In fact, I couldn’t wait to show them their new rooms. My heart was blessed as they rushed in and saw their beloved toys and beds. They knew they were finally home. The wait was over. Their expressions and giggles said it all.

However, as much as my children love their new rooms, they will not stay in them for long. They love to follow me around the house. They long for my presence. To them, home is not their room, it is wherever mommy is!

The Father’s House

Jesus finished washing the feet of the Disciples. To add to their confusion, Jesus told them that He would be leaving them (John 13:33) and that they could no longer be with Him. 

Knowing the condition of their troubled hearts, Jesus said:

“Do not be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

~John 14:1-4 NIV (emphasis mine)

There is a room in the eternal house of God for those who have called on the name of Jesus to save them.

Now I know some of you are already wondering what the curtains in your room will look like, if you will have a queen or king size bed, or if you have a view of the Tree of Life from your kitchen window. Hang with me, I used to be an Interior Designer, and my imagination goes there sometimes…Scripture doesn’t go into detail about my room specs. So I need to STOP it!

Just keeping it real…

Home is not the House Itself
Please re-read the portion of Scripture I underlined above again. 

Did you catch what it says?

Whoa…

Our home is where the presence of God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are. We, the forgiven and redeemed, will dwell with them for forever, and ever, and ever.

I needed to be reminded of this and to remember where I am headed.

And the present isn’t it.

Our wait for our new home will end.

Jesus is in Heaven.

He is preparing…

He will come back and take us home.

Through the eyes of my children, I caught a glimpse of what awaits. My home is not just a room.

Jesus is where my home is.

When I see Him face to face, my expression will say it all…

Blessings, Tracy

“Long Way Home” by Steven Curtis Chapman 

Tracy is proudly married to Chad, a pilot in the United States Air Force. Whenever they are not being relocated, she loves to drink green tea and watch re-runs of LOST. She also enjoys chasing their two children, Jackson (3) and Katherine (1), throughout their toy-infested home. Tracy graduated from Phoenix Seminary in 2005, and served as the Director of Student Women at Scottsdale Bible Church from 2005-2007. She is also the author of Images of His Beauty, a newly released Bible Study, for young women who struggle with self-image issues and eating disorders. You can find out more information about the study and follow her blog at www.onedegreeministries.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OneDegreeMinistries, or chat with her via twitter @tracy_steel.

Announcement & Destination: Inspiration Linky Party #18

Hope all are having a great week so far and ready for another Destination: Inspiration! I've been thinking about how to build more community on this blog. Then I had an idea! In addition to upcoming guest blogs, I will feature one blogger each week to share more about their blog and writing as part of the weekly linky party! Hopefully that will get more traffic over to your site and let us get to know you better!

I took a quick pass at five possible questions but feel free to change them up if there is something else you want us to know!

1) Tell us about you, your blog and/or your ministry. 

2) Share something unusual about your life.

3) How did you discover blogging and why do you do it?

4) Where was your favorite trip and why?

5) Show us what you've got! Share the title, description and link to your favorite post!

If you are interested in guest posting or being featured here send an email to teaganstravels@yahoo.com. It would be great if you include a picture as well and a blog button, if you have one. 

Alright, onto another great party. Share as many posts as you like!

Passport to an Awesome 

Destination: Inspiration Party!!!

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background-repeat: initial initial; ">jpg</span></span>" border="0" alt="I Was Featured, 2012 February" /></a><center></center></center>

*I  am trying to grow my little blog so I'd really be excited if you would follow me using Google  Friends Connect or Linky Followers on my sidebar!

*Grab my button and post it somewhere on your blog if you want to totally make my week.

*Link to your post instead of your overall blog address.

*We all love comments so spread the love to at least one other blogger.

Have a great week! 
Blessings,
Michelle