Create an Abundant Life through Faith.
2020 Blogs
January 5, 2020
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020! HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE
THIS NEXT DECADE THE BEST YET TO COME?
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.."
~ Jeremiah 29:11
The past 10 years may have had its joys, triumphs, and successes, but it may have also had its challenges, rough patches, disappointments and maybe it was outright trial after trial after trial! One of the things I have learned is you just have to make up your mind that you are going to do the best you can with what's in front of you good or bad.
Everything may not be perfect. You might rejoice, be happy in one moment, break down a few times in the next, cry it out, search for the Lord to give you clarity and understanding, or just keep praying and waiting for your circumstances to get better. But have you considered that the reason you are going through some of these difficult things is so that under the beauty and fire of life, God can prepare your heart and your ability to find joy and peace no matter what is going on from moment to moment?
Now I know that might be a hard reality to swallow. But just imagine how powerful you would be if nothing phased you? What if no challenge or problem had the opportunity to move you? Moreover, God just wants to know that you are able to function and complete His divine purposes and tasks no matter what you face.
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
~ Luke 16:10
"All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD. Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved. The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.…" ~ Proverbs 16:2-4
Your value is placed on you by God. You are precious to Him. Therefore trust and believe that He wants to see you have the best outcome for your life.
So start writing down in a notebook, what you want to see happen for you this decade. Make a plan. Remember, those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Take time to really hear from the Lord. What direction you should go and the things you should focus on. It's not about making New Year Resolution plans. It's about building your life around His plans and purposes for you so that you can succeed and add value to your friends, family, and community.
We here at Soulful Image Magazine are wishing you and your loved ones a powerful year. Let go of the past troubles and mistakes and expect to have an incredible year and your most exuberant decade.
Keep up-to-date with our magazine issues, events, and webinars. We have a great year lined up to provide you with great content, mindset tools, affiliate opportunities and more!
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.." ~Psalm 23:6
Sincerely Yours,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
Feb 25, 2020
WE ARE NEAR THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2020!
HOW HAS YOUR YEAR BEGUN FOR YOU?
ARE YOU WINNING? ARE YOU NEEDING A RESTART?
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
By now you are either feeling accomplished or failure towards the plans you set out to achieve at the beginning of the year. Now don't be hard on yourself if you are having a hard time getting started. Or perhaps things are going but not as quickly as you intended. Keep in mind that no matter where you are today, if you started you are doing great. If you haven't started yet, there is still time to get in the game.
Ultimately, somethings will not happen the way you want or plan. If you are working on your discipline level and you are getting into the routine of consistency, you have more control over things of that nature than trying to get accepted for a specific job, house for rent or sale, getting into the college or university of your choice, or applying for a large loan/credit advance.
Regardless of what your needs or desires are, submit it all over to the Lord and He will direct your path.
Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.~Proverbs 10:17
It's wise to focus on the ways of discipline or correction within your life. Think about the areas of your lifestyle that needs correction or more discipline. Maybe it's your health, eating patterns, or lack of exercise or physical activity. Perhaps it's your spending habits, overspending or lack of paying your bills on time. Or maybe it's your lack of planning ahead for your future. Maybe you just live life to let things happen rather than planning the path that you want to work on or towards.
God cares more about your character than the things you desire from life. Yes its important to us about where we live, or the kind of car we drive, what career, job or ministry we have, or the style we present ourselves in.
God's Word tells us that all discipline is necessary for training toward righteousness. No one likes to be disciplined or to give discipline but when it is Godly discipline, it comes from a place of love.
Discipline is a component of Godly Character, Order and Structure in the life of a successful believer. We all should strive to work on discipline in our lives towards gaining stronger godly characters, maintaining order and structure in every area of our lives. As you consider these things towards your life, the ultimate goals you are building is towards eternity. Take time to think about these things. And determine where you are and what things you need to do to make the first quarter of the year a successful start. The only way to be successful is to get started. Remember there are ten more months of 2020 to make it the best beginning of this new decade.
They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. ~ Hebrews 12:10-11
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore do not run like someone running aimlessly; do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, strike a blow to your body and make it your slave so that after preaching to others, you will not be disqualified for the prize. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. ~ Psalm 94:12-14
To your successful start, endurance, discipline, and consistency!
Sincerely Yours,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
March 23, 2020
COPING THROUGH THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.."
~ Jeremiah 29:11
I know for some of you this scripture may be hard to believe especially facing this global pandemic of the COVID-19 Virus that has affected hundreds of thousands across the world. But let me assure you, this is not something that God has inflicted upon us through judgement.
God loves you. He is not the author of confusion. I believe this virus is an enhanced strain of the flu. With all sorts of germs, sickness and unhealthy things we face every day, this is not really that different.
The world is panicking because it is spreading very quickly and many are dying. Therefore strong action is needed.
So it is imperative you take the necessary steps to ensure you keep yourself and your family safe.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. ~Psalm 91: 1-3
The best way to cope right now is to put your complete trust in the Lord. He will work things out for you. Just believe in the blessings during these trying times.
When you do your best to take this time to get closer to Him, it will prepare you to seek Him towards His will for your life in these prophetic end times.
What is it that you can do to take advantage of this free time you have now? Social distancing can be and is a good thing. Work on a project you have been procrastinating on. Spend time talking to your children about God and teaching them what is important. Take this time to look at your life and evaluate if you are on track with your goals or the things you need to change.
If you have been laid off, take time to evaluate what you want to do next. Ask the Lord for direction in everything. Look for a new job or start an online business.
The point is you need to be positive and not let fear overwhelm you. Do your best to adhere to the warnings in the city where you live. Stay home. Keep yourself in good health, well-rested and wash your hands often.
Drink lots of fluids and take this time to enjoy your family and make plans for the next project, vacation, or goal that you want to tackle.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8: 28
Simply put because you believe in the Lord and love Him You are the called according to His purpose to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are a great value to Him. He will work out everything for you for your good. Even if you don't understand His plan right now, that's ok!
When you continually seek Him, He will make His plans known to you eventually. Continue doing good and all will work itself out.
Let's pray for the world right now, all the government officials, our healthcare aids, and emergency respondents that they will submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I pray for every person who is confirmed to have the COVID-19 virus that they will recover. I also pray for the carriers of the virus and don't know that they have it, that they will be compelled to stay home and quarantine themselves. I pray for those who have lost loved ones and those overwhelmed by fear. I pray that everyone will increase in good health and that this pandemic will start to see fewer cases every day until its completely eradicated.
May the Lord be with you all, guiding you, loving you, giving you His peace and soundness of mind, body and spirit. I pray for supernatural protection over your households and everything concerning you, in Jesus name, Amen.
May the peace and favour of the Lord be with you all as you continue to push forward in intentional well being!
Sincerely Yours,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
June 10, 2020
WHERE DO YOU STAND IN YOUR FAITH?
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.."
~ Jeremiah 29:11
During these uncertain times, where do you stand in your faith? While everything seems to be going wrong, where is your faith right now?
Maybe you are having a hard time with change, your finances are failing, and your thoughts are inundated with thoughts of uncertainty, anxiety, or fear. Friends, no matter what is happening we must stand firm in God’s love for us. Everything is happening for you, not to you. And I know that it sounds impossible when you turn on the news and hear about all the deaths and tragedies around you. It may have even impacted you personally or to someone close to you that you know. Regardless of the situation, let us hold tight and strong to our faith.
I spent a lot of time reflecting in isolation, asking God, what do I do now? What do you want me to do? And He said to me, analyze your life. Look at how you’ve been living and make an inventory of each area of your life, and take this time to make some adjustments. Look at your health, your finances, your family, your children, your prayer life, your relationships, your marriage, and your businesses and ministries. What can you do to implement change, tweak things to work more effectively, and start doing to get the results that you want?
You must understand that you are responsible for your life. What you do and how you do it will dictate the results you receive! Right now many people are struggling financially. People have lost their jobs, have been stuck at home with their children, are uncertain about where they stand in their careers and are confused or uneducated about what direction to go. As more and more jobs are going online, people are being replaced by computers, software, and auto bots. Companies are realizing they can still make great profits and not have physical bodies in expensive offices. But what does that really mean for you? Aren’t you unsatisfied living paycheck to paycheck in a job or career you do not love?
The best thing you can do during this downtime is to figure out what you love and start a business if that is your heart desire. Learn some new skills online, and figure out how to make money that is not affected by the economy. I know dealing with all of this stuff all at once can cause some depression, anxiety, or even feelings of anger being forced in this situation you were not ready for. But consider this, maybe God is allowing this to happen so that you will be moved to position yourself for the best outcome of your life! Imagine finding the job of your dreams during this pandemic. Imagine starting the business of your dreams, or even finishing that project you’ve been putting off for months or years?
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
The point is you can trust that God will work all things for your good if you love Him, surrender your life to Him, and completely trust the outcome to Him. He will never fail you. And even when it looks like failure, it isn’t because God can create for you the greatest comeback you have ever experienced in your life!
May the Lord be with you all, guiding you, loving you, giving you His peace and soundness of mind, body, and spirit. I pray for supernatural protection over your households and everything concerning you, in Jesus' name, Amen.
May the peace and favor of the Lord be with you all as you continue to push forward in intentional well being!
Sincerely Yours,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
July 25th, 2020
BE FAITHFUL AND BE BLESSED!
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
God, I pray like Jabez that You will bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand will be with me, and that You would keep me from evil.
~ Adapted from I Chronicles 4:10
One of the things we remember when we see Joseph's name in I Chronicles 2:2 is that he was faithful to God. Even though he was a slave in Potiphar's house, God blessed him and prospered him because He was with him everywhere he went (See Genesis 39: 1-6).
Even when we are going through difficult times, God will bless us in them, not just when they are over. The important thing for us to do is keep a good attitude, which includes being thankful for what we do have and giving praise to God, worshipping Him for Who He is.
For example, even if your boss treats you improperly, does not recognize your true value, and will not let you do anything but sweep the floor, if God is with you, He can prosper you and make you successful in so many other ways. God can certainly promote you in His timing because all true promotion comes from the Lord (see Psalm 75:6, 7). Do not look to anything on this earth as your source; look only to God as your Source.
The world will soon recognize that God is with us. Some of those people who have rejected us in the past will come to see that God is with us; they will see the evidence of His presence in our lives. If we, like Joseph, will take our positions and be faithful in them while we wait on Him, God will raise us up in His timing, and it will become obvious that God's hand is upon us for good.
(taken from Joyce Meyers Everyday Bible pg 614)
May the Lord be with you all, guiding you, loving you, giving you His peace and soundness of mind, body, and spirit. I pray for supernatural protection over your households and everything concerning you, in Jesus' name, Amen.
May the peace and favor of the Lord be with you all as you continue to push forward in intentional well being!
Sincerely Yours,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
August 20th, 2020
WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE!
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.."
~ Jeremiah 29:11
Sometimes you walk through life and experience challenges, difficulties, and regrets that try to pull you down and stop the vision and blessings God has for your life. Well, I am here to tell you that you have the Power To Change Anything You Want. You are not a product of your circumstances. You are a divine creation, created to make a change and be the better version of yourself.
I have been through so much in my life, broken childhood, had low-self esteem, and suffered betrayal from friends and family. I've lost people and dear ones close to me because of a lot of unresolved issues I just didn't have the strength at the time to overcome. I've made many mistakes, failed at many things, and have made so many bad decisions based on how I was feeling.
But I did something right when I gave my life to Christ, He healed me one day at a time. It was the best decision I ever made. I joined the church choir, sang back up, and then became a worship leader. I started to study the bible and made the decision to give my life to Him as He restored me from the inside out. Now I aim to live a lifestyle of faith in my Creator, cultivating the gifts and talents given to me to impact the lives he divinely has connected me to.
So hear me when I say this, your power to change is dependent on your decision and your decision alone. You have to want it. You have to work for it. You have to chase it.
In this season of my life, I am changing. And I encourage you to stand in your truth and become all that you desire to be. Nothing is more fulfilling than walking in the path God has designed for you without fear, in confidence, strength, and led in full faith.
It's important for you to know that if you want it bad enough you can change your life, your financial position, your self-esteem, your circle of family and or friends, your support system, your belief system, your mindset, your health, your thoughts, and even your dreams.
I hope this encourages someone. If it has please share your positive thoughts and testimonies to info@soulfulimagemag.com. Abundant blessings to you all!!!
May the Lord be with you all, guiding you, loving you, giving you His peace and soundness of mind, body, and spirit. I pray for supernatural protection over your households and everything concerning you, in Jesus' name, Amen.
May the peace and favor of the Lord be with you all as you continue to push forward in intentional well being!
Sincerely Yours,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
September 25th, 2020
WRITE YOUR NEW STORY!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I’m sure you have heard the news by now of the unexpected passing of Chadwick Boseman. Many of the emotions people have expressed were shock, heart-break, unbelief, and great sadness. How does an on-screen super-hero as he played so well, the comic book character Black Panther, look so strong, fit, and regal suddenly pass away from something like Cancer??
I’ve sat and watched so many inspiring videos of this man. And every single time, I felt an overwhelming sense of loss. Not just for the black community finding a hero who transformed the black stereotypical roles from slavery and street violence to the King of Wakanda and a superhero for all little boys and girls to look up to. He became the representation of another level of strength for us all.
Let me explain.
Chadwick Boseman was a baptised Christian and he lived his faith and convictions so powerfully. Can you imagine working with someone who put his calling, his work ethic, his commitment to representing a part that was bigger than him, and not once putting himself first or even acknowledging to anyone that he was battling cancer?
It absolutely blows my mind. The selflessness, the humility, the absolute commitment to God’s purpose and blessings despite the knowledge of the limited time he may have had.
What are the lessons we can learn from him? Do not allow your circumstances to dictate your present actions. Do not let your negative story stop you from creating a new story to follow, tell or pursue. Do not allow yourself to get self-absorbed within the things that are not a part of God’s promise to you. Simply put, you have the power to override fear, rejection, sickness, brokenness, and poverty to decide for yourself what you will live for. What you will stand against. What you will work towards in order to create your new story towards life, fulfilling every destiny, purpose and calling God has for you.
I hope this encourages someone. If it has please share your positive thoughts and testimonies to info@soulfulimagemag.com. Abundant blessings to you all!!!
May the Lord be with you all, guiding you, loving you, giving you His peace and soundness of mind, body, and spirit. I pray for supernatural protection over your households and everything concerning you, in Jesus' name, Amen.
May the peace and favor of the Lord be with you all as you continue to push forward in intentional well being!
Sincerely Yours,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
October 15th, 2020
TAKE TIME TO WORK ON YOU!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
The world is constantly changing. We are expected to change or get left behind. But you decide for yourself and your family what kind of change you want to pursue. With COVID-19 affecting our lives, we must be more vigilant to stay healthy, know what is happening around us, and take action on the things that are most relevant to our lives.
While change is a consistent part of our life's journey, we must know and understand that when we are seeking transformation from the old to the new, strength, determination, consistency, and tenacity are all common traits needed to see success.
And whether you feel that change is needed for you today or tomorrow, the simple fact that God will never leave you or forsake you should be comforting enough to attain what you seek. While many are struggling through addictions, bad habits, lack of discipline and more, there is an outpouring of an energy shift that you can tap into in order to receive the fuel or the inspiration for your next chapter in life.
Take this time to work on you! The more you refine your skills whether it be towards a new job or career, learning a new business, teaching yourself new financial habits, or making changes to your diet and exercise routine, transformation requires a physical change. You have to see something different as an outcome in order for it to actually have been successful. Because you cannot lose weight without seeing a change on the scale. You cannot make financial savings plans without seeing an increase in your bank account. You cannot stop eating sugar without seeing a change in the sugar levels in your body. Whatever it is you are changing, make the most of it now while you can.
My heart says there are more things that are going to unveil itself in the next several months. Things that may create more fear, insecurities, and loss. The best thing you can do is pray about everything and ask God to direct you, give you the knowledge and wisdom needed to handle what's to come next, and to follow the path you are destined to take.
God already knows what's to come and has already set your route. Just trust in Him. Believe for the best and all will work out for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.
May the Lord keep you and your family safe. Please do as much research as you can to stay on top of things. And do not wait for tomorrow because tomorrow is never promised.
May the peace and favor of the Lord be with you all as you continue to push forward in intentional well being!
Sincerely Yours,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
November 25th, 2020
GOD IS TAKING YOU THROUGH A TIME OF TESTING!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
The flow of life is this, you are born, you learn to walk, talk, and create with your thoughts. And once you learn that you can manifest the things that you think about and say, you have the power to create anything you want. When you walk in alignment with your words, thoughts and actions great things will happen. But everything that has meaning to you will change once you find out the reason you were put on this earth. When you find your purpose, you will begin to live to attract things, experiences and people that will help you fulfil your life’s calling.
God gives you the opportunity to explore your gifts, talents, likes and wants. But when you evolve to a place where you redirect your blessings back to Him, He will begin a relationship with you sharing His divine power and spirit so that you will become a vessel of ultimate blessings to this world. Right now there are many opportunities to be a blessing even in the midst of suffering, uncertainty and chaos. But the ultimate question is how powerful are you really? Is your power based on the things that you own? What about the titles or jobs you may have had that has kept your life stable? Or are you conscious that your power is given from the one who created you?
Have you considered that right now during this global pandemic, God is taking you through a time of testing to see how strong your faith is? What will you do once a few things or everything is stripped away from you? Will you still love Him? Will you still push through life with the beliefs and morals you swore to uphold? Will you fight for the life you say you really want? Or will you make excuses based on what you see happening around you making you feel it’s happening to you?
How can God give you what you have been praying for if you refuse to release what you have? Most often people follow their own plan to try to attain what they want instead of trusting God with the end result of their lives. In other words are you ready to surrender to His will and ways of being so that you can finally receive what you truly want? Can you be open to shift when He says to shift with no fear or questions?
My heart says that we are in a season of great global testing. God is testing His people because He is getting ready to promote those who pass His tests. When the day comes that He rises up His leaders to reign with Him, no one can say that they were overlooked. We all have the same types of tests to take (that produce patience, endurance, and steadfastness), the same types of opportunities (that develop the character of Christ), and the same resources we all need to achieve the same things (faith, power and authority). But God is waiting for you to step out of the boat, keep your eyes on Him, and walk towards Him ignoring all the storms and chaos around you towards your destiny. He wants you to Act Like You Cannot Fail today and to do what needs to be done to achieve what most people are not willing to do.
Are you ready?
Some of you who have been receiving His messaging downloads will fully understand what I am saying here. While some of you are just not prepared yet to receive this revelation. You must open your spirit to receive Him and draw closer to Him so that you too can find His treasures. Stop running from Him. Now is the time to submit, pray, seek, ask, knock and study His Word thoroughly or you will be left behind. Life’s answers are written in His WORD, but only those who are baptized by the Holy Spirit will have the eyes to see beyond the common understanding.
I truly pray this blesses you all. I pray that you will find the strength, power and peace you need to make it through this season. Share this magazine with your family and friends. Purchase a subscription or gift a few copies to your loved ones. May the blessings of the Lord be with you all!
Sincerely,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
December 27th, 2020
CREATE YOUR BEST YEAR YET!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
With 2021 just around the corner, I believe it is important to renew your mind and begin to think about the things that you truly want to accomplish next year. Everything that happens is created from your thoughts, your words, and your actions. Fear is something that shows up to derail you from the manifestation of something great in your life. I believe when fear or anxiety shows up it is nature's way of saying, are you sure you believe what you believe? Because faith and fear cannot exist at the same time.
If you are dedicating your life to faith, you must diligently guard your thoughts, your words, and how you respond to things. It sounds easy, but it takes real commitment to see it through.
So in order to experience the miracles and destiny things you have been asking God for in this next season, you must fully understand that the power is in your mouth. Proverbs 18:21: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Through your consistent decrees, declarations, and affirmations; your WORDS will cause a DIVINE REACTION! God will miraculously put into action what you consistently speak through unshakeable faith over your life.
My heart says that after all that you have gained and lost in this last season through the pandemic, you will realize that there is no time to waste. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. So run your race. Run it strong, without doubt, and knowing that God is with you and has your back. You cannot fail when you know with everything in your being where you are supposed to be and all that you want to achieve.
When you surrender to God's will for your life, every miracle, every blessing, every resource will be available to you. You must go out and take it by force. Speak those words every single day! Do not let up. Speak them in the morning, at lunchtime, and before you go to bed. Pray them with your spouse, your prayer group or with a friend. Your miracles are waiting for you to take action. Once you decide that you are not willing to live a life of poverty, sickness, disease, or defeat ever again, you will have access to everything God wants for you to succeed. Just go get it!
I pray you will focus on all the blessings you have right now in Jesus' name. Let your gratitude and worship provide the fuel that you will need to end this season and begin the next. Have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, now and forevermore.
Sincerely,
Tracey-Acadia Thomas
Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
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