Y’ALL ARE COVERED

by Tammy Phillips
May 1, 2021

I attempted to share this message with my son and his bride-to-be at their rehearsal dinner.  The room was full of nearly seventy family and friends.  I was overwhelmed because I do not like to speak in front of people at all.  I was already crying from my husband’s welcome even though I had promised my self—“no tears.”  Seriously, I would not have felt any different if I was slated to speak to a capacity crowd of 92, 746 fans at Sanford Stadium.  I told my fearful self, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   This celebration is about them not me.  Off I went.  I know I went way off script.  Writing is so much easier  than speaking to me.  I wanted to share the full message what Holy Spirit inspired me to say so they can read what I meant to say and because it is a message for all.  In the beginning, indulge me as I share a little of how blessed we truly are.

 When I found out that Mary Claire’s favorite color was yellow, that  was no surprise to me.  She is always aglow.  She lights up every room she enters.  Radiant, bright, shining and the most brilliant yellow… defines her.  She is sunshine. She is joy.  Interestingly enough, since Brayden was a baby, his Mimi has called him sunshine.  Bray, I don’t know how many times in your young life that I sang that song to you.  You were and…  

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You’ll never know Bray, how much this Mama loves you
Please don’t take my sunshine away.

But now I know…

Mary is your sunshine, your only sunshine.
She makes you happy when your skies are gray.
I know she will always love you and make you happy,
Don’t you do anything  to make her run away!

We are going to pray a little differently.  Do not bow your head and do not close your eyes.    See that empty chair… Jesus is sitting right beside you.  I hope to change your view of the God I love so much.  You know what my  favorite picture of God is?  Him sitting in heaven laughing, and saying NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME.  Impossible is the web He wove to bring Mary Claire and Brayden together.

 Seriously, My Bible says, “Do not fear.  Let us come boldly to the throne of grace…”  That’s what we are going do.  There is nothing about closing your eyes in that verse.  So…we are just going to chat with God for a few. 

Father, we thank you for this time of celebrating Brayden and MC.  We thank you so much for bringing them together and for making them better together than they are apart.   

We gave the kids these 3 cloches sitting on a piece of their pottery to illustrate and remember this message from Holy Spirit.

 Father, You say in Psalms 91:4, “That You  cover us with Your feathers and that under Your wings we shall take refuge.”

You also say in Isaiah 51:16, “I have covered you with the shadow of My hand and you are My people.”    

Father, You say that You, the Word who is Jesus , and the Holy Spirit; are  three in one. (1 John 5:7 NKJV) 

This first and largest cloche represents the seamlessness of the trinity and  the infinite covering of the hand of God over your lives.

The second cloche represents your parents.

Lord You say, “Have I not made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because You seek godly offspring.”   God made us one to create and cover y’all, our  godly offspring.  Then y’all’s mission… become one…you know the rest of the story.

Lord You said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”  We have asked, prayed  and believe for our children’s perfect helpers.    Father, you have done  exceedingly,  abundantly, above all that we could ask or think in gifting Mary Claire to our family.  Thank you for covering and answering the prayers we have thrown to you.

Father You also : A friend loves at all times.  The second cloche also represents all the family and friends in this room who have covered and prayed for Brayden and Mary Claire—those who have loved them so very well!   We are so very thankful for each one of them and what they  have meant to all our lives.

Father  to be honest, Matt 19:5 is not a verse I like so much…

You know where you say:   “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they will be one flesh?” … I get it.  He is yours anyways. I just don’t like the leaving part, but he gave his heart away and left long ago.

The smallest and last cloche represents you both.

Lord, Your words says that tomorrow B and MC  are “no longer two, but one flesh and that what God has joined together, let no man separate.”  Father we declare that over their lives right now in Jesus’ name.

Father, thank you for Your Word that instructs us and guides us in the ways to go.

Thank you for  bringing the way of Brayden and Mary together.  Father, thank you for the favor and blessing that is one their lives.  And now, after tomorrow may they fulfil your will in all they do.  Now in Your words Father we altogether agree and encourage them to  “Be fruitful and multiply.”

Thank you for your abundant blessings.  Thank you for Jesus.  Thank you for providing this great food.  Bless it in the mighty name of Jesus.  And everybody said?  AMEN.

I enCOURAGE you to know that God has got you covered with His mighty hand!